4 or 5 series

MarcusP12

Posted before about changing car in the coming months. Looking for more opinions on something I thought of. I'm very keen on the Beemer 4 series. Test drove a 435i at the weekend here where I'm based in the ME and although it would be a 420d I'd be going for, I really liked the feel of the car and the looks. I've a decent budget in mind 35k but could stretch that if I wanted. I've seen a couple of new model 5 series m sports and they looks good (current family car back home is a 2008 523i se So am used to their size)....so it got me thinking....would I be mad to pay upwards of 40k to get a fairly new high spec 4 series which will probably be replaced by the time it comes to changing again in 3 or 4 years or would I be better to pay that kind of money on a current 5 series m sport which will more than likely still be a current model in 3 or 4 years time....i like the neatness and sporty but understated looks of the 4 series but is the 5 series a better bet in terms of 're sale value? Just looking for a few opinions.....thanks....

Theboinkmaster

for me hands down it would be a g30 5 series

same money but much bigger and better car in every way imo

the interior of the 4 series looks very dated, especially with the manual handbrake

moby2101

420d owner here!!!

I imported a 6 month old LCI version in January of this year.

Love the shape and look of the car, wife has a 5 G30 and they’re are absolutely loads of them out there.

4 is a bit rarer and hell of a lot better looking car.
with wife’s car we didn’t need another 4 door .
It’s personal taste at the end of the day, do your homework, drive them both and make the best informed decision for yourself.
My 2c!!

MarkN

There aren’t loads of G30s on the roads. 5 series yes but not the new model.

The way you describe OP yes you’d be mad to spend the same amount on an older car in every way and as you have already said, in 3-4 years it will still be the current model.

MarcusP12

moby2101 wrote: »

420d owner here!!!

I imported a 6 month old LCI version in January of this year.

Love the shape and look of the car, wife has a 5 G30 and they’re are absolutely loads of them out there.

4 is a bit rarer and hell of a lot better looking car.
with wife’s car we didn’t need another 4 door .
It’s personal taste at the end of the day, do your homework, drive them both and make the best informed decision for yourself.
My 2c!!

Interesting you have both i'm interested in but by the sounds of it, its the coupe you have. If I went 4 series, it would have to be the GC. So is there much difference in the performance? What about the quality of materials? I'm guessing there isn't much between the two expect the G30 would be that bit more modern?

MarkN

MarcusP12 wrote: »

Interesting you have both i'm interested in but by the sounds of it, its the coupe you have. If I went 4 series, it would have to be the GC. So is there much difference in the performance? What about the quality of materials? I'm guessing there isn't much between the two expect the G30 would be that bit more modern?

The 5 interior is a lot nicer. Newer steering wheel, the centre console has much better quality materials, a lot less black plastic surrounding the gear lever etc

moby2101

I went for the 2 door coupe.

Tbh if I was in your shoes and after a 4 door I would be buying a 5 series, I dont(IMHO)see the point of the GC.

I was scratching an itch for a Coupe that I had for years, love the look of it and the way it handles.
It was a no brainer for me with sterling so low I was able to pickup a practically newcar with huge spec for a hell of lot less than here.
(Demo 6 months old,4K km’s with 13K worth of extras, equivalent price here New was 68K , cheapest 2hand I could find here was 53K with inferior spec..
VRT all in 38K + diesel for 2500km to get the mileage up over 6K)

Driving wise, 420 is a lot more fun to drive, more nimble the LCI update has the same engine as the G30.
8 speed DSG with paddle shifters is great fun to drive, hard on the tyres tho.(put Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S on the rear and it handles much better in the wet)
Interior of the G30 is updated no doubt, I’d love the touchscreen, that’s the only thing I would change I actually like having a handbrake.
Coupe has plenty of room , I’m 6 2 and it’s a very comfortable place to be , only 2 seater in the back.

JoeA3

I have a 4GC 420d since January this year. I came from a Golf R so it was quite a change! Overall very happy with it... Let me see if I can summarise some plusses / minuses...

+ Great looking car imo. Its a head turner and much rarer on the road than a 5. I think its still better looking than say the new Audi A5, which is some testament considering its a far older design. It helps that mine is a very unusual colour, I get asked about it all the time.
+ performance is very acceptable, its plenty brisk for the most part
+ The 8-speed ZF auto box is excellent
+ It's actually really practical. The rear hatch is brilliant. Boot space is great. Rear seating is a bit tight for headroom but I generally only carry a toddler back there!
+ Interior is a nice place to be. Seating position and the low-slung "coupe" feeling, its comfy and cosy (heated seats!). I like it but I'd imagine if you're a 6+ footer it might feel claustrophobic.
+ Interior plastics and overall look is starting to look a bit dated, but with the right colour scheme it still looks great (mine has cream leather and it looks smart imo).
+ Fantastic Nav and sound system

- manual handbrake lever - feels cheap and nasty, I actually don't use it much (gearbox in "P" is sufficient)
- interior plastics around gear lever etc, especially are a bit cheap and dated now.
- the 2.0 diesel is absolutely fine once on the move, but at idle and at low speeds its typically gruff - refinement / noise insulation is poor (I drove a G30 520d and it was much quieter)
- ride can be harsh - it's on 19's, but I am used to firm suspension, so no biggie tbh.


I had a loaner 520d SE for a few days earlier in the year. I did like it and as I mentioned above, it felt much more refined than the 4 (with the same engine). One thing I noticed with it was the surprisingly poor boot. The 4 has a far better boot. Interior was nice, but as it was SE spec, it wasn't loaded with toys, felt a bit spartan. I think M-Sport is a must have in either car tbh - don't buy an SE!

Theboinkmaster

moby2101 wrote: »

Coupe has plenty of room , I’m 6 2 and it’s a very comfortable place to be , only 2 seater in the back.

I'd disagree with that, I'm only 6ft and I found it very tight in the drivers seat (I'm used to f10).

I'd agree the boot is much better than the 5 series.

MarcusP12

moby2101 wrote: »

I went for the 2 door coupe.

Tbh if I was in your shoes and after a 4 door I would be buying a 5 series, I dont(IMHO)see the point of the GC.

I was scratching an itch for a Coupe that I had for years, love the look of it and the way it handles.
It was a no brainer for me with sterling so low I was able to pickup a practically newcar with huge spec for a hell of lot less than here.
(Demo 6 months old,4K km’s with 13K worth of extras, equivalent price here New was 68K , cheapest 2hand I could find here was 53K with inferior spec..
VRT all in 38K + diesel for 2500km to get the mileage up over 6K)

Driving wise, 420 is a lot more fun to drive, more nimble the LCI update has the same engine as the G30.
8 speed DSG with paddle shifters is great fun to drive, hard on the tyres tho.(put Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S on the rear and it handles much better in the wet)
Interior of the G30 is updated no doubt, I’d love the touchscreen, that’s the only thing I would change I actually like having a handbrake.
Coupe has plenty of room , I’m 6 2 and it’s a very comfortable place to be , only 2 seater in the back.

Thanks for the feedback on the coupe.....kinda need the four door as we've kids and although this is not intended to be the "family" car, it will definitely get use with the kids in the back and they're a bit small to be climbing into a couple. I do like the styling of the GC anyway so wouldn't put me off going for a four series if I can't go coupe. Actually test drive a 435i at the weekend....lovely car....babied it I think...

I'm definitely thinking of buying up north myself. Do you mind me asking where you bought?

moby2101

Hi MarcusP12,

I bought mine from Sytner BMW in Birmingham.

https://www.sytner.co.uk/bmw/
Very good customer service, super to deal with.

djivide_

Theboinkmaster wrote: »

I'd disagree with that, I'm only 6ft and I found it very tight in the drivers seat (I'm used to f10).

I'd agree the boot is much better than the 5 series.

Have to agree, im 6ft 2 and like the seat well back and found the position of the B pillar annoying other than that i found it similar enough to my old F10, ended up going for a 530d g30 and couldn't be happier.