Where would you go next...

Axel Angry Income wrote: »

Insane they are still fitting manual handbrakes to this level of car, looks so ugly and out of place when you get used to not seeing them in loads of normal cars nowadays (and of course much nicer to use).

I love a manual handbrake in a car, and no not for doing hand breakers!

Give me a proper handbrake all day long! Way more control, and another thing to not go wrong. BMW handbrakes are rubbish at the best of times anyway, don't need to make things worse still by having the electric one pack up (like it does in some models, most notably the E70 X5). At least with the manual ones, the worst thing that happens them is they constantly need adjusting and the shoes can pack in on them, too, but that's very cheap to fix.

maddness wrote: »

If you are buying a 440i it’s for the amazing engine and the fact that’s it’s in a very nice looking car. Realistically the chances of owning an engine like this are getting less and less and I don’t care how fast a diesel six or turbo petrol four are as the experience is just lacking compared. The interior is a generation old but absolutely fine.
I’d have one even if it came with wind up windows!

Without a doubt the engine is the reason to get one. You can't beat a straight six petrol, although the naturally aspirated port injected straight sixes that were BMW's staple up until the 2010s are so much purer, silkier and creamier sounding. None of this fake exhaust nonsense through the cabin like you get in some of the newer cars, either - everything got the real engine noise through the cabin back then.

That said, the B58 hardly disgraces itself on the noise department, and it is still a much more appealing soundtrack than any smaller engined BMW (naturally aspirated or not), and obviously the power and torque are far beyond what the old engines could achieve. The 440i doesn't pump a fake exhaust note in the cabin in any event (unlike some 428i and 430i models).

And, as you rightly point out, straight sixes are a dying breed, I'd rather one with a compromised exhaust note compared to its predecessors, over no straight six at all, they're such a lovely smooth and refined engine, and the straight six is the classic BMW engine and the one that made them stand out from their rivals - back in the good old days even the entry level 520i got a silky smooth straight six as standard.

That said, BMW's straight six diesels are sublime, it's just the exhaust noise and lower rev limit that they give away to the petrol ones.

Will someone just get the finger out and buy that 440i. Ye BMW fanboys are going on about it for months now:D

carsfan2 wrote: »

I watched those 440i videos from Joe Achilles again. I love the grey. I think JoeA3 on here has his 4 gc in that colour.
A lot to love about the car. Only the dated interior puts me off but maybe the digital cockpit and the merino leather would be enough to bring it up above the norm.

That’s right yes, mine is the same colour. Identical car... until you fire up the engine!

It’s a very striking colour, particularly when the sun hits it when it’s clean, I’m regularly asked about it. I think I’d pick something a bit brighter next time though tbh.

As for the handbrake... I never use it, the gearbox in Park is sufficient, so it’s a non issue. It’s probably the last of the BMW’s to have a manual handbrake.

hooch-85 wrote: »

Will someone just get the finger out and buy that 440i. Ye BMW fanboys are going on about it for months now:D

I couldn’t deal with the colour of it, that blue is poxy and a lighter interior makes a big difference to the cabin too

I think they should have called it snapper rocks green. I would say it's also a reason why it hasn't sold. We like our greys, blacks and whites in Ireland.

I don't think it's that far off from Estoril Blue which is very popular in them. Not as loud as Misano Blue anyway that alot of the M and M lite cars seem to come in these days.

I seem to be in the minority as I really like the colour. It has a lovely depth to it and it's nice to see something different which strays away from the usual black/white/silver trend in Ireland. Although who I am to talk, I drive a white car!

JoeA3 wrote: »

Yeah, it may be a factor, its certainly not helping. It reminds me of the big spec'd Golf GTI that sat on a forecourt in Galway for 2 years. It was officially known as "Black Rubin". It should have been called Barney the dinosaur purple.

I love that colour in the GTI!

bazz26 wrote: »

I watching these reviews of the 440i earlier that had notions being put in my head:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoBFUgHVW68

That colour really suits the 4 series IMO

The front bumper on the non msport is a stinker.

Was surprised as the new 0-100kmph times, the 540d drive is 4.6s, 545e xdrive is 4.7s and the 540i xdrive is 4.9s. The M550i would be class, but would imagine you would be as well just stumping up the extra bit for th me M5 as you would always be looking at the M5 thinking why didn’t I do that.

Would definitely be interested in a 545e touring or saloon in the future.

Overall I really like the LCI upgrades, the new red brakes could look super as well with the right colour combo