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Post by Tim on Jan 6, 2020 15:01:05 GMT
4 Star have always been, er, adventurous with their pricing.
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Post by Tim on Jan 9, 2020 14:32:02 GMT
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Post by racingteatray on Jan 9, 2020 15:20:51 GMT
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Post by Tim on Jan 9, 2020 15:31:16 GMT
Yes but that ones done an additional 30k miles.
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Post by johnc on Jan 9, 2020 17:13:49 GMT
That blue trim was a big mistake by BMW especially when they made it the default choice and many people didn't change it. If you are seriously considering getting a 440i I would look for the adaptive suspension.
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Post by racingteatray on Jan 9, 2020 18:32:11 GMT
Yes but that ones done an additional 30k miles. That barely matters these days. Wouldn't put me off provided it's been properly serviced. |
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Post by Martin on Jan 9, 2020 20:23:16 GMT
Yes but that ones done an additional 30k miles. That barely matters these days. Wouldn't put me off provided it's been properly serviced. It wouldn't bother me either. The blue trim is a non starter for me. The LCI is a much better option and it has voodoo lights as well. |
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Post by Tim on Jan 10, 2020 9:37:49 GMT
That blue trim was a big mistake by BMW especially when they made it the default choice and many people didn't change it. If you are seriously considering getting a 440i I would look for the adaptive suspension. I was just idly browsing. There's a 440i with a red interior at BMW in Kirkcaldy, I might go and have a look in person to see if the red dash is really as horrific as it looks in the photos. The 3 litre 4 series in any form are attractive because I know they'll have electric seats (for Mrs Tim's comfort) so it saves me looking through hundreds of 3 series for the handful that had those plucked from the options list. |
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Post by racingteatray on Jan 10, 2020 10:30:45 GMT
At 5ft2, Mrs RT gets on just fine with our 4GC. The only downsides vs a 340i Touring are less headroom in the back (harder to get in and out of the rear doors but dropping the glass helps given it is frameless) and obviously less height in the boot meaning carrying large square objects isn't easy without dropping the rear seats.
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Post by johnc on Jan 10, 2020 10:38:32 GMT
That blue trim was a big mistake by BMW especially when they made it the default choice and many people didn't change it. If you are seriously considering getting a 440i I would look for the adaptive suspension. I was just idly browsing. There's a 440i with a red interior at BMW in Kirkcaldy, I might go and have a look in person to see if the red dash is really as horrific as it looks in the photos. The 3 litre 4 series in any form are attractive because I know they'll have electric seats (for Mrs Tim's comfort) so it saves me looking through hundreds of 3 series for the handful that had those plucked from the options list. John Clark have also got a silver one with red seats - I got an email from them yesterday. Maybe you should ask Racing what he is doing with his at the end of the PCP. This one looks well specced but no adaptive suspension: usedcars.bmw.co.uk/vehicle/201911134332696? |
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Post by racingteatray on Jan 10, 2020 10:45:18 GMT
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Post by Tim on Jan 10, 2020 11:21:57 GMT
Thanks for those.
Does the adaptive suspension make a massive difference? I don't mind the firmness of mine but I note Bob said the M Sports with xDrive have a different setup to the rwd models.
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Post by racingteatray on Jan 10, 2020 11:43:31 GMT
No idea as I haven't any recent experience of a 3/4 MSport without adaptive. I specced it automatically on mine as I live in an area of London plagued with speed-bumps. Had it on the M135i and M5 as well (I assume it was standard on the M5).
I wouldn't think it a deal-breaker outside London though. Do any of the reviews suggest that it is?
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Post by Tim on Jan 10, 2020 11:52:30 GMT
I haven't seen any reviews about it.
Assuming the suspension isn't unbelievably harsh without it then I think I'd rather not have it - I'd plan to keep the car a long time and additionally some sections of the roads are that bad that I'd really like to know how crap they are to avoid them in future rather than sail across them without realising.
If I haven't broken the 320 in the meantime I expect this to be a serious option for its replacement over the summer.
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Post by johnc on Jan 10, 2020 13:36:07 GMT
Thanks for those. Does the adaptive suspension make a massive difference? I don't mind the firmness of mine but I note Bob said the M Sports with xDrive have a different setup to the rwd models. It did on my 435D and in comparison to my friend's non adaptive 330XD Touring, mine was considerably more comfortable about town. However once speeds increased there was much less between them. If I turned the adaptive suspension to Sport it was a bit harder than the standard 330D and unless there was good tarmac, I seldom used that setting. The XDrive cars don't get the lowered MSport suspension because the angle for the driveshafts and their clearance doesn't allow for it - this is one of the reasons some people said you needed the adaptive suspension if you had XDrive, because they thought the higher ride would destroy the handling. I really don't know what kind of driving those people did on the road but if I pushed my 435D to the point of sideways antics and limit of adhesion on a regular basis I would probably still be locked up. As a standard car it is more than adequate for serious road hustling. The adaptive just makes the hard edged run flats much easier to live with and if you get the Bridgestone S001's RF's it is as comfortable as most non RF equipped cars which have a more sporting bent. EDIT: Adaptive suspension on the 3 or 4 series does not provide anything like the voodoo magic carpet ride that Martin's car has - it just allows you to stiffen or soften the dampers to pre set levels. Martin has an infinitely variable, real time, damper and anti roll bar system. |
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Post by Tim on Jan 10, 2020 14:00:43 GMT
Thanks for those. Does the adaptive suspension make a massive difference? I don't mind the firmness of mine but I note Bob said the M Sports with xDrive have a different setup to the rwd models. It did on my 435D and in comparison to my friend's non adaptive 330XD Touring, mine was considerably more comfortable about town. However once speeds increased there was much less between them. If I turned the adaptive suspension to Sport it was a bit harder than the standard 330D and unless there was good tarmac, I seldom used that setting. The XDrive cars don't get the lowered MSport suspension because the angle for the driveshafts and their clearance doesn't allow for it - this is one of the reasons some people said you needed the adaptive suspension if you had XDrive, because they thought the higher ride would destroy the handling. I really don't know what kind of driving those people did on the road but if I pushed my 435D to the point of sideways antics and limit of adhesion on a regular basis I would probably still be locked up. As a standard car it is more than adequate for serious road hustling. The adaptive just makes the hard edged run flats much easier to live with and if you get the Bridgestone S001's RF's it is as comfortable as most non RF equipped cars which have a more sporting bent. EDIT: Adaptive suspension on the 3 or 4 series does not provide anything like the voodoo magic carpet ride that Martin's car has - it just allows you to stiffen or soften the dampers to pre set levels. Martin has an infinitely variable, real time, damper and anti roll bar system. Thanks John. When the time comes I'm going to have to try all types. Agree with you about the xDrive handling, my 320 really comes alive when you push it a bit and I don't feel like I'm scraping doorhandles or anything like that. I think the ride height difference is only noticeable from the rear, when I view my car from the side it appears incredibly low. |
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Post by racingteatray on Jan 10, 2020 14:22:14 GMT
XDrive equipped 4GCs definitely look a bit tippy-toed compared to sDrive versions. The raised ride height doesn't suit the low-roof styling.
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Post by Tim on Jan 10, 2020 14:43:18 GMT
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Post by Martin on Jan 10, 2020 15:39:28 GMT
It’s been a while now, but I’ve driven a 330d Touring, a couple of 320d M Sport (19” wheels) and a strange spec (Spanish hire car) 320d with 17” wheels and adaptive suspension. I’d really try and find one with Adaptive Suspension if it’s a 19” wheeled M Sport and on anything else, it’s good to have the option of softening things up, but not quite as essential.
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Post by Martin on Jan 10, 2020 15:41:09 GMT
Theres just too much red on the 4’s and red plastic doesn’t look great imho. |
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Post by racingteatray on Jan 10, 2020 16:01:41 GMT
Since it is only 5 mins away you might as well go along and take a look, so that you can contemplate the red dash in person. I don't particularly mind it - the all-black plastic dash is hardly delightful so at the least the split-colour versions are more visually interesting. That car's been lightly barried. It's got a non-standard front splitter, rear aerofoil and the rear lights look slightly tinted. |
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Post by Tim on Jan 10, 2020 17:02:02 GMT
Since it is only 5 mins away you might as well go along and take a look, so that you can contemplate the red dash in person. I don't particularly mind it - the all-black plastic dash is hardly delightful so at the least the split-colour versions are more visually interesting. That car's been lightly barried. It's got a non-standard front splitter, rear aerofoil and the rear lights look slightly tinted. I've seen quite a few pre-reg estates for sale at Peter Vardy with the same splitter and a high rise rear spoiler plus what appear to be 20 inch wheels so I thought it had the 4 series version of that. The steering wheel would make me wary though. The close up photo of the light switch makes the red plastic look as cheap as some found on a 1980s Toyota but I'm hoping the red won't be quite so overwhelming when you actually see it for real! |
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Post by johnc on Jan 10, 2020 18:24:51 GMT
Someone's done 1300 miles in it since it was photographed!
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Post by ChrisM on Jan 10, 2020 22:01:47 GMT
I have a feeling that the red will get a bit overpowering after initial familiarity
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Post by johnc on Jan 11, 2020 8:30:56 GMT
I've seen quite a few pre-reg estates for sale at Peter Vardy with the same splitter and a high rise rear spoiler plus what appear to be 20 inch wheels so I thought it had the 4 series version of that. The steering wheel would make me wary though. The close up photo of the light switch makes the red plastic look as cheap as some found on a 1980s Toyota but I'm hoping the red won't be quite so overwhelming when you actually see it for real! Those add-ons look like they come from the BMW Performance catalogue so they might be genuine parts. The red on the lower dash put me off having anything other than a full leather dash or all black with a sunroof to lighten things. I couldn't find one with a leather dash so went for the sunroof which really brightens the car up when the headlining and everything else are black. The steering wheel would be a big no for me since an original is a good indicator of whether the mileage is accurate and an alcantara one suggests to me that its full sporting capabilities have been tested perhaps a bit too enthusiastically. Make sure you check the onboard computer for service history. This would interest me much more: usedcars.bmw.co.uk/vehicle/201912235557400This, after a proper clean: usedcars.bmw.co.uk/vehicle/201911194505932Or if red doesn't bother you, this: usedcars.bmw.co.uk/vehicle/201911054040362 |
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Post by Martin on Jan 11, 2020 8:47:52 GMT
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Post by johnc on Jan 11, 2020 11:55:23 GMT
If it doesn't need to be as big as a 4 series, there are lots of 240i coupes around for good money. Eastern BMW have a 69 plate with delivery mileage for £27,990 or £385 down and £385/mth (3.9%apr). Unfortunately the Edinburgh one is white but there must be similar deals elsewhere in better colours. Used ones with low miles are also fairly reasonable. However you might find a great finance deal on one of these: usedcars.bmw.co.uk/vehicle/201910303852561 |
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Post by Roadrunner on Jan 11, 2020 12:37:24 GMT
I really like the red leather / aluminium trim combo. Would be my choice.
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Post by Tim on Jan 13, 2020 11:18:18 GMT
I popped in yesterday to have a look at the one near me and I can now say that the red dash is much less offensive in person compared to the photos and is not a deal breaker (with the caveat that Mrs Tim might not agree!). I wouldn't touch that particular car, however, due to the mods - the splitter, spoiler and steering wheel are all from the M Performance catalogue but its clear the splitter is an impractical addition as this one is in urgent need of re-wrapping in carbon effect to hide the low quality plastic its really made of. I assume its met the kerb a few times. The rear lights have some film over them as well. I really don't want a 2 series, I can't get along with the looks in general and the rear lights in particular. So, come the summer I'll hopefully be on the lookout for a 440i of some nature in either black or mineral grey and with the red leather. Thanks for all the links.  |
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Post by racingteatray on Jan 14, 2020 11:18:45 GMT
That's not really black - it's Carbon Black, which I have. It's really a very dark midnight blue. Much nicer than normal black. |
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