BMW 4 series gran coupe

Theboinkmaster

Hi

I already have a 2011 f10 520d mport and need new second car for my wife, she likes the look of the 4 series gran coupe.

For 2 small kids etc. I thought another f10 would be ideal, she has heart set on black exterior and oyster black interior which is fine. But then part of me doesn't want 2 f10s in the driveway....

So I like look of gran coupe, think we'd go over to UK and get 428 petrol.

Anyone any thoughts? Boot looks fine my concern is back seats for 2 car seats and getting in and out as door frame seems narrow. Other than that seems like a fine car, would want m sport, pro nav, sports steering and sun protection glass and buying a 2 year old one.

Alternatives were x3 for about same money but we weren't mad on the interior and she's not pushed about being high up.

Any thoughts on this car?

bazz26

It's a 4 door coupe so your biggest headache with baby seats will be the width of the rear doors and low roofline which might make rear access a right pain strapping children in and out of those rear seats. The 4 GC will feel quite cramped when used to a 5 Series.

I'm looking at the 4 Series GC as my next car too coming from an F10 but child seats won't need to be a concern for me.

carsfan2

If buying 4 series, make sure it's an m sport. So much better looking.
With small kids access to rear might be an issue and it is a little claustrophobic with high window line.
Have you thought of f31 3 series touring?

Theboinkmaster

carsfan2 wrote: »

If buying 4 series, make sure it's an m sport. So much better looking.
With small kids access to rear might be an issue and it is a little claustrophobic with high window line.
Have you thought of f31 3 series touring?

wouldn't buy any BMW without msport. No don't like look of touring so won't go for that.

might just have to test drive one with kids seat in the back and try it out.

bazz26

Definately M Sport. Dealer in Dublin has a 162 430d GC in Luxury trim for sale since the beginning of the year and cannot shift it. I seen an identical car pop up on their youtube channel but with M Sport wheels, in the last week or so. I'm convinced it's the same car as both have a sunroof and the same colour combo.

F34

The rear bench in the GC looked to me to be very narrow when I looked at it. You might need to check before moving further with it that it will accommodate the two seats comfortably

listermint

It would not be my choice of cars to have to effort kids in and out of child seats or the child seats in or out.

The F10 may even be better in that respect for access

Theboinkmaster

Yeah I know it's not very practical but it's the only beemer I like other than my 5 that's in budget (€35k about 2 years old).

6 series GT nice too, but not much bigger.

bazz26

A coupe no matter how many doors it has ain't really the answer to your predicament but I'm sure you knew that all along.

Theboinkmaster

bazz26 wrote: »

A coupe no matter how many doors it has ain't really the answer to your predicament but I'm sure you knew that all along.

yeah they're just such a nice looking car

carsfan2

Theboinkmaster wrote: »

yeah they're just such a nice looking car

I agree
Probably Bmw's best looking car along with 6 gran coupe.
A 430d gc would be on my radar as my next car.
Not so sure if I had two small kids though.

James Bond Junior

The rear doors are tiny making it hard to get in and out. There is one in our house with a baby seat in the back. Baby's feet touch the drivers seat very easily so driver spends the journey having their seat kicked.

The rest of us almost refuse to travel as passengers in it as it is so motion sickness inducing and it is only an SE. As much as I'd love to wax lyrical about as a bmw fanboy that I am I simply can't. If you were coming on asking for yourself as a lone driver or childless couple of say go for it, just don't inflict it on the kids too. And I don't say that lightly.

Funnily enough it replaced an x3 which was a fine car especially when ferrying small baby.

listermint

Theboinkmaster wrote: »

Yeah I know it's not very practical but it's the only beemer I like other than my 5 that's in budget (€35k about 2 years old).

6 series GT nice too, but not much bigger.

Em... Give her the 5.

You take the gt.

Problem solved

Theboinkmaster

listermint wrote: »

Em... Give her the 5.

You take the gt.

Problem solved

she wants black with oyster interior, mine is silver with black interior

back to the drawing board, might check out x3 again - looked at 1.8D in non mport and it was a dog.

So might try a 2.0D im msport and see what she thinks.

James Bond Junior

Theboinkmaster wrote: »

she wants black with oyster interior, mine is silver with black interior

back to the drawing board, might check out x3 again - looked at 1.8D in non mport and it was a dog.

So might try a 2.0D im msport and see what she thinks.

X3 in M Sport is fine looking machine over the SE. Would a 141 X5 25d fall into the budget?

Theboinkmaster

James Bond Junior wrote: »

X3 in M Sport is fine looking machine over the SE. Would a 141 X5 25d fall into the budget?

Love the x5 but not a chance, don't want to spend more than €35k. X5 is way too expensive. I'd say a 141 would be €45k+ at least.

James Bond Junior

Theboinkmaster wrote: »

Love the x5 but not a chance, don't want to spend more than €35k. X5 is way too expensive. I'd say a 141 would be €45k+ at least.

This would be got for under the budget including vrt.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201709149292649?postcode=bs324nf&fuel-type=Diesel&make=BMW&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&year-from=2014&keywords=oyster&model=2%20SERIES%20ACTIVE%20TOURER&sort=sponsored&year-to=2017&advertising-location=at_cars&radius=1501&page=2

I know it's a bit different to the original brief but with kids it ticks most of your wife's boxes.

Theboinkmaster

James Bond Junior wrote: »

This would be got for under the budget including vrt.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201709149292649?postcode=bs324nf&fuel-type=Diesel&make=BMW&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly%20New&onesearchad=New&year-from=2014&keywords=oyster&model=2%20SERIES%20ACTIVE%20TOURER&sort=sponsored&year-to=2017&advertising-location=at_cars&radius=1501&page=2

I know it's a bit different to the original brief but with kids it ticks most of your wife's boxes.

oh sweet jesus no thanks, no way would I get something like that. The only BMWs I like out of current range are:

4 Gran coupe
5 series
6 Gran coupe
X5

James Bond Junior

Theboinkmaster wrote: »

oh sweet jesus no thanks, no way would I get something like that. The only BMWs I like out of current range are:

4 Gran coupe
5 series
6 Gran coupe
X5

I thought as much but just a suggestion. What about an Audi a7? It is a lift back so might be more practical with buggies etc

bazz26

The problem isn't really the boot in these cars, it's the coupe sloping roofline and narrow opening rear doors. Getting children in and out of rear child seats becomes painful. These cars aren't designed for that.

James Bond Junior

bazz26 wrote: »

The problem isn't really the boot in these cars, it's the coupe sloping roofline and narrow opening rear doors. Getting children in and out of rear child seats becomes painful. These cars aren't designed for that.

I will say having put a 2 year old into a car seat in a 4 gran coupe a few times recently it is far from easy. Even trying not to bump the childs head on the roofline when putting her in was difficult and to be fair that was when the child was being good and not squirming.

Getting in and out as a 5' 10 adult male is very hard without bumping ones head too and the rear is fairly uncomfortable for even a medium length journey. If you want the coupe look go with a 6er.

All of these coupes with rear doors are hard to get in and out of and rather uncomfortable to be rear seat passengers in. I did 150 mile trip to Dublin and back in the back of an X6 last month and boy was I glad to get home. Just remember kids get bigger and you'll have plenty of other passengers too.

Theboinkmaster

James Bond Junior wrote: »

I thought as much but just a suggestion. What about an Audi a7? It is a lift back so might be more practical with buggies etc

Don't like audis thanks anyway.

Think the dream of the 4 series GC is over