Had my i4 e40 just over a year. More than quick enough, economical, comfortable and handles like a dream. Very practical. Originally ordered an m50 but so glad I got the e40. Range is superb way over 300 in eaten weather and 250 plus in the depths of winter. Great car and reluctant to change it for anything that might be better.
@@georgeholt2753 my i4 e40 driven with care in winter temp approx 4c almost did a return journey to my sons house in the midlands of approx 320mls. I did stop to briefly put a small charge into the battery just to get home safely. In summer the car easily does 300mls plus on local drives. Admittedly one or two cold weather journeys a year isn’t a real test but I am certainly not suffering from any range anxiety. You probably loose 40 to 50 mls range in extreme weather in my case. People sometimes forget that ice cars also loose range in cold weather too.
Had an i4 for a courtesy car a month or so ago when my i3 was in for its MOT. The one I had wasn't as fully loaded as your one but I was impressed overall
I've had my i4 drive 40 for 15 months now. Brooklyn Grey, Tacora Red interior, M Sport enhancements and HK audio. I am absolutely delighted. I too disliked the ridiculously large "grille", (in a car that almost doesn't need a grille at all), but the looks of the car has grown on me greatly over time, and I now really like the appearance. Typical wonderful BMW build quality (it's my fourth BMW). Excellent performance and range. The downsides are the wasted interior space due to its shared platform with the ICE models (there's that huge space wasting central area where the gear box would otherwise be and the tunnel hump along the car and all that wasted space in the bonnet area). You can really feel the weight of the batteries underneath, and the car simply feels less sporty, planted and balanced on the road than say my last BMW, an F32MSport. That heavy mass just doesn't want to change directions as quickly as a lighter vehicle would. And, I hate how I bang my knee all the time on the end of the dashboard getting out of the car! But overall, I am absolutely delighted with my decision to order this car. Not a single regret; it's a wonderful car.
Re your "Different or familiar?" question. I like Jaguar's approach - not "wacky" at all but genuinely taking advantage of the new engineering and packaging opportunities. You don't need a long or high bonnet on an EV so why have one? That Beemer for example I find just dull... Baboon's Arse grill excepted.
Nice to see you guys in the video at Wetherby racecourse. I visit there most days to take my dog for a walk in my i4 but guess I missed you on that day! Seriously the i4 40 is an amazing car! Get between 270-320 miles range although that’s on the lower end at the moment because of winter.. also added all season tyres which have impacted on the range by 10-15%.. Certainly on the classified ads now i4’s are going for just above £40k. Bargain! I wish I had waited as lost so much in depreciation but heyho not selling anyway. Really happy with the car. Best regards from Wetherby! 😊👍
Had my I4 M50 for just over a year and love it. Taken some petrol heads/ant electric for a drive over the Pennines and they were impressed with the instant torque and pleasant and quiet driving experience on long journeys. Price is expensive and UK charging network needs to be addressed but love this car.
I personally do not like large bonnets on EV's as its a waste of good usable space or a smaller car. i3 was a better EV and would still be if they had not stopped production but evolved it. Imagine an i3 with superfast charging, 300 mile range and curvier lines but made from the same material. BMW missed the biggest trick by not keeping the i3. This won't save them its an ICE car with a battery :-(
I have an i4 and got to drive an i3 for a day. Night and day difference.. the i3 drives like a mix of a Smart and a Mercedes Sprinter (sounds weird but had that come to mind). The adaptive recuperation of the i4 makes it ride even better as a petrol, while the i3 really drives like the old EV it is. Further, the materials and suspension from the i3 are really a shame especially at that price point
I've owned my i3 for 2 years and it is fun, but it has critical flaws. Crashy and expensive tyres. Back doors very impractical. Tiny tiny boot. It's a fog monster. It has good battery tech (slow charging but that's fine) and it's great around town. On a longer journey should you need one, not so. BMW EV tech has matured, a frunk would be nice (you can get one from wokeby). I will definitely consider a 2nd hand i4 when my i3 pcp ends.
I'm buying this exact press car you tested here as it was for sale recently, due to get it very soon. Wasnt keen on the idea of an ex press car but the price was very good compared to other used ones and the specs was great.
Nah icl this is probably the most funny and straight forward journalist I ever watched, and the front of the i4 is still nicer than the current 3 series imo.
I have the e Drive 40 with adaptive suspension and I preferred its handling to the M50. I also hear steering feedback is better in the rear wheel drive and range is better. I love my i4 in Brooklyn Grey.
Hi EVM, greetings from Oxford. Like you, I’ve owned a few BMW’s in my time, including my current daily driver, a BMW i3. Like all the other German car makes, BMW has really lost its way in the last 10+ years. The odd one out was the i3 imho, which was brave and radical. I suspect my i3 will be my last BMW - shame, lots of potential just thrown away. 😞
As a company car option it’s great compared to the list of cars we have, especially with a practical boot and the range. But private buying, it’s pricey but that’s BMWs for you. Electric cars need to be more affordable for public to convert over and there needs to be a government drive to get more chargers installed plus in convenient places. As a company car driver it’s something I have to plan for as there are more electric company cars coming unto the roads than chargers installed.
I get the BMW option lots of extras but the base M50 includes a lot over E40 and can work out better value on your wishlist. Used 12-18 month old M50 with many options for around £50k and under 10k miles. Had a company one for 6 months but moved jobs so looking to buy one when it drops a little more.
Great vid lads. I will say, that apart from the M50 having All Wheel Drive, and an insane amount of power, the edrive 40 is the one to get. It''s a little bit lighter, (according to google, the M50 is 2290kg, whereas the e40 is 2120kg) and is a bit more nimble through the twisties. And due to only having 340 bhp, I can easily get 300 miles on a run in summer. The e40 in 2022, started at £52k. With a few options and a towbar, mine came out at £57k after some negotiation. (I managed to get £1100 knocked off).
I've had my 2022 i4 edrive 40 and has only dc fast charged 2Xs in my 1 year 8 months that I've owned it and that was just out curiosity, not necessity. I charge at home. The i4 edrive 40 started at 58K US. I paid $65K back in 2022 with my added packages. I didn't want performance of the M60. I wanted range which is 301 miles
Pity the Tesla Model 3 refresh didnt do a liftback like this. I like the look of this and am typing before the end I have a feeling i may need the heart paddles applied after the price is revealed though ... OK yeh i needed a big jolt from them. I was thinking 55k. 78k. Wow. BMW are quotinga much longer range than you said, they say 320 over your 260. Big difference.
I received my i4 e35 last month and already put some serious milage on it. It's a fantastic car with some weird quirks. But as you mention the price that often: It is expensive, but not as expensive as one might think. You can spec it out very picky and just add what you really want, which can lead to some serious savings. And at least in germany, it's totally normal to get 10-15% off the price afterwards. Considering this, I have a net price of 62k€ on the bill, while the spec I have would cost 69k€ listed. Thats still 19k more than a base Model 3 - even tho after specing the Model 3 to my liking, I end up at 8k difference. But I have an HUD, 360°-Camera and working Driver assist. So it still is expensive af, but it's not insanely more expensive. And the charging network isn't an argument, because... I can just charge at Tesla Superchargers. If I would want to.
I like the i4, it’s just not big enough for us. Advantage of this M50 - any colour is no extra cost, unless you want a Matt finish. Tesla red is over £2k
@@tonyireland2234 - I guess it depends on the market, but this Tanzanite Blue comes at an extra cost. At least I had to pay for mine, but I don't live in the UK though. Only a couple of base colours are free of charge.
New refresh M3 now less £ at £39990! With way better build quality outside and inter. Updated motor and new BYD battery. So I’d keep my Ioniq electric as it’s basically the same as the Beemer but can’t get a new one so I’ll buy either the new Model 3 or a Y for the hatchback to suit my 2 border collies.
Just to note the 2024 model i4 has not conventional gear changer, it has a simple small bar to change gear into drive, that's all. I'm getting mine shortly, good video. Updated 18/8/2024 I got mine 22 May 2024, love the car, disappointed with the range of the car, but, no problems with anything else apart from all the various options of which there are many, it took some time to work them all, There's no problem getting 3 people in the back as long as their not well over 6'6 there's lots of room in the boot. I only got one charging cable, I charge from home, It's well worth a lot more than a Tesla, to me they look horrid, no style and just an oversized iPad screen, look at the large screen of all the BMWs they're brilliant. The car in this video is the top-of-the-range M50 with twin electric motors, the BMW i4 35 is much better with one electric motor rear wheel drive and costs approx £53000 depending on what's added, overall a great car.
Ditto, expected in week 19 (May) unless BMW change my delivery date again, should have been week 12, fingers crossed, correct it is a small bar gear lever and the option of ECO/Comfort and Sports mode.
No matter what comes along it's getting increasingly difficult to look beyond a used Tesla Model 3 standard range Plus with an LFP battery. What do you think? £25K gets you a decent 2 year old. A realistic 200 miles in any conditions, any driving and a possible 250 miles in perfect conditions. That LFP battery means you can just plug it into your house and wake up to a 100% charge every day, plus you get the Tesla Charging Network when needed. I'm really struggling not to go that route.
Please explore what's the BMW Charging card is. You don't need Tesla Superchargers with that card (it activates any public chargers, AC or DC, with the single rate cheaper than Tesla's)
I agree with you that’s expensive yes well built it’s the options that for me tip it over the edge were most other manufacturers fit as standard. The bit I am getting bored of hearing is every car you test is judged around the tesla supercharger network. Hopefully that excuse for basically buying a tesla over almost every other car will fade away as they replace the current V3 chargers with the new V4 chargers which will be open to all. Then we can watch you review a car as a a car and not on how it’s fuelled.
@@ElectricVehicleMan .....except, obviously...a car MUST do everything you NEED it to do.... FIRST!! For example...my car MUST be a hatchback, for practical reasons - so, Model 3, out .. It MUST have a flat load floor - no boot lip - so, several cars, out... ....see what I mean...!?!?
Problem is at near 80k you could buy something quite special lightly used. Very few reasons to go for an i4 when you could buy a Taycan Performance Plus with under 8k miles for less!
Remember the Tesla charging network is opening up to other EV's and therefore charging network advantage isn't one anymore especially as there is now Gridserve, Ionity, & Fastned in the UK for charging networks all being quite reliable with plenty of chargers. I suspect at some point Tesla will be required to open all sites to all EV's there won't be chargers that only certain cars can use the wall will come down not like there is petrol stations that only say a BMW can fill up at but no one else can be it Ford, Volvo, Hyundai, etc.
Tesla will only ever open up your quieter supercharging stations to other manufacturers. Never all of them. Plus the new V4’s will be an option for other manufacturers
@@Uchejnr That won't last. I am sure either government rules or they doing it themselves will open ALL their chargers. There is no more free supercharging for life and the SC network isn't really an advantage anymore not with the likes of Kempower, Alpitronics, etc coming in with just as reliable hardware and the plug&charge standard along with credit card contactless payment options. Maybe not next year but within the next decade yes.
@@TassieEV I think Tesla are just opening up some to apply pressure to governments to ramp up their own third party solutions. Charge rates still favour superchargers over third party from some of the prices I've been seeing and general ease of use. Even the level of software integration from Tesla cars and the supercharging networking make that charging experience unbeatable.
I have one on order and should be delivered next month (eDrive35) as my next company car and looking forward to it. Your review seemed to be very short and seemed to miss/skip a lot of things.
Watching the Kia EV9 review yesterday at £ 78000 for the Top Spec and starting around £64000 thought that was expensive having seen the price of this bmw I now think it's underpriced
The business lease is up on my Model 3 in March, and I'm now faced with a quandary... To get the same car again (Model 3 LR) through my employers new salary sacrifice scheme will cost more than an i4 M50 with a couple of options ticked. Not by much, but the BMW's still cheaper. Can I really bring myself to pay more for a car that actually retails for £25k less than the other one? The Tesla has been great and I've definitely benefitted from access to the supercharger network over the years. But I've not done a tonne of public charging. Still, it feels like getting anything other than another Tesla would be like buying an ICE car that you can only fill up at Esso and BP stations.
BMW didn't publish their CO2e tons for production for the i4, but they did publish 17 tons for the i5. That's compared to 25 tons for the Polestar or XC 40. Chinese built cars are made from coal powered parts industry. That's the new science based reasoning for France denying EV rebates to Chinese buikt cars. Of course there's more to it than that, but if you are choosing an EV for a lower impact, these production emissions matter.
That happens with any car with frameless windows, right? To keep the window from shattering if they're frozen to the seal. Telsas do the same thing. If you're opening the door in sideways rain, a quick window drop prior to opening seems like a drop in the bucket compared to opening the door outright.
@@Astke 60k starting price for a 4 series? I could see the attraction via a possible business lease or 2-3 year old one. Outside of this, I genuinely don't know who would pay this price.
I couldn’t justify that sort of money and I would prefer an EV from the ground up. Why are they using the ICE platform , get rid of the transmission tunnel. I’d have a Tesla without doubt but then again I’d probably get a Kia or Hyundai
The i4 ed40 and the Polestar 2 LR RWD were virtually the same deal on my company's EV scheme. After a test drive of both, if was an easy choice. The BMW is far, far better.
Not that I'm in the market for one of these, or could afford one, but I'll never ever buy a car that insists on hiding common sense controls like heating settings, behind a damn menu. It's a trend that seriously needs to die. In a country where we can experience 3 different seasons in an afternoon, easily accessible heating settings are an absolute must for me.
The temperature controls are _always_ onscreen. You don't have to open a menu to turn up the heat. As good as a physical button without being a physical button.
2:36 also, stuffing the fat charging cable in the trunk when it rains and you‘re charging outside really is a mess. Best case: only hands and trunk get dirty, you can now either go back inside and wash your hands or make your interior dirty as well). Worst Case: cable (which was lying in rain and mud) goes over your trousers and shirt, hit the rear end with your trousers. Probably applies to most EVs tho
Let’s face it £80k is a ridiculous amount of money for any car. Car prices have just gone crazy. Several people where I work have company electric BMWs and they constantly moan about how poor the range is. 150 miles is all they get.
I just cancelled my i4 order for company car and changed to a new Model 3 - the i4 is a car only for Bimmer fanboys or company car drivers who want the 'luxury' interior. Tesla is better in all metrics that I cared about: Efficiency, performance, tech, autopilot, app experience and overall company ethics/mission. The Model 3 RWD is now £40k with the spec that would cost the i4 35 approx £54k...you have to really want one to pay that kind of premium
1/3 of the total length is bonnet! that seems particularly for an EV is Absurd. I have i3 its great drive, great for parking in the city.you do not need a big chunk in front of you. EVs do not need to parrot ICE cars. Most of the time you are parking in tesco not sweeping round unused roads. Personally anyway
People reviewing the M50 is always such a shame. It is overpriced and thirsty. The eDrive40 is the only good option. It drives way better, offers way more for the money and is way more efficient The M50 is honestly not a good purchase because the eDrive40 is still more than fast enough.
This was my wifes dream car - until we test drove it. For such a long car it's really cramped for space. We drove it back to back with Ioniq 6 which feels so much better all around (except maybe the infotainment). Then we went and bought a Tesla, because at the entry level the value for money just blows everything else out of the water. Conclusion: EVs are just better if they are made from the ground up as EVs. As for looks, no fake grilles or exhausts for me thanks.
I have an idea that fast charging is while ev's are exploding but cant be sure as i cant find answers on web probable because govt suppressing it to sell more ev's 😡 unless insurance is coming down ev's are going to stall,i wounder how much andy and Harry's insurance cost at renewal ??? £55K i would expect a camper !!!! WHY ARE MY COMMENT BEING ALTERED BY RUclips
Why, oh why, do manufactures think EVs should look like something that fell off a sci-fi film’s model maker’s bench? Just build normal cars and put an electric motor in it.
Early in 2025 in North America BMW's will be able to use the Tesla Supercharger network. Yeah it's more expensive but then you get the best of both worlds.
As the owner of an iX1, I will criticise BMW for not yet fully embracing EV in the phone app, or their infotainment system - with the mapping/routing a key problem. Compare it to things like A Better Route Planner and see how legacy ICE it still is. I know they are now promising more with iDrive 8.5 and the future iDrive nine, but everyone who has already bought one of their vehicles is not going to be eligible for those upgrades, unless they bought them since June the rest of us, be it i4, iX or iX1 I just being told "sorry your head unit isn't compatible"I feel really let down by this it's a lifespan worse than an android phone. Tesla are in a different league, and VW/Aldi, while they are still struggling to get their software together - have promised things like plug-in charge for their existing customers, which BMW will never deliver to us. How can they treat those of us who spend £50K+ on an EV so badly?
This is far too much money and spec pushing up price a ridiculous amount. When you can buy 2 other EV's for less than this price that are still within maybe 80% of this car, it would be a difficult one to justify. For the very rich people it is maybe a stus symbol, but then Porsche or another brand may be higher up?
Yeah, the front is ugly, and its expensive, but the thing that puts me off the most is how mucb the windows roll down when you open door. That just makes me feel uncomfortable
You can if you like program the windows to not roll down on BMW. Well I can on my i3. The air gap means easier door closing IMO. But you can have what you want it appears.
I don't understand why all these press cars are spec'd like crap: $100k price but all black interior which looks as generic as anything else. I've been eyeing the i4 eDrive40 for a long time and the main reason I would go i4 over model 3 highland is the range of customizability. For example the cognac seats look amazing, or ivory white in combination with some gray wood trim. The day the model 3 highland came out I started to question my i4 choice because the m3 is so much better than before, but the removal of stalks + still no HUD + no hatch, plus the fact that in eastern Europe tesla doesn't yet have good superchargher network and service is still a deal breaker for me. However in the mean time the ID.7 came about, which does not look as good at the interior, but makes muuuuuch more logical sense to get for the same money. The interior room is almost 50% more just because it's on dedicated platform, seems well soundproofed, good base specs, will come in estate version etc. I'm waiting for real world reviews and probably going to get one next year, it seems like such a best buy
New M3 Highlander much better build quality so new Model 3 is still best... Also that i4 probably weighs about 500KG more than the Tesla.. Wheels are 'extra' with BMWs...
The BYD Seal sells for £25K in Australia (albeit pre tax). The fact that it’s coming up at close the £50K over here is the only reason I wouldn’t consider it!
@@pallettowngangster9297 The Seal starts at A$49,888 (before on road costs) which is about £39,800 at today's money. It's been a long time since there was A$2 to the GBP. Judging by the prices of the Atto 3 and Dolphin I would expect the Seal to be 10%-15% cheaper than here in the UK.
Gamers are running Tesla and, now, the wannabes also. Sandy Munro has inspired the ‘cheaper to manufacture’ cheapness that is now on track to destroy sales to the brand agnostic market.
Your first words sum it up. Does it drive like a BMW? No........ I have a Tesla M3P now, but my previous car was a BMW M340i G20 that would be loosely similar to this. Infact it was almost the same inside. Was my favourite car so the I4 was the logical evolution.... The problem with the I4 is its not reminiscent of a BMW at all. Driving it it became very quickly apparent...this a very "fat" car. Because of that, all the things that make BMW great around handling go squarely out of the window. The steering is also as vague as I can remember in a modern car! It is familiar, smooth, refined, but not worth at the pricepoint they want for it! As you say build quality is TOP notch. It looks like a BMW, when you sit in it it feels like a BMW.... Drive wise it was.....meh..The Tesla is less refined, build quality is OK but surprisingly is a really really fun car to drive. The sharp steering and balance of the car is something once you try will just make you smile even when you're doing nothing. Being a BMW nut most of my life thats a hard pill to swallow! Ive driven 5 Series estate BMWs that handle better than an I4, but sure if you want a BMW that looks like a BMW to potter around town in comfort with, its very good for that (if not a touch expensive)
Had my i4 e40 just over a year. More than quick enough, economical, comfortable and handles like a dream. Very practical. Originally ordered an m50 but so glad I got the e40. Range is superb way over 300 in eaten weather and 250 plus in the depths of winter. Great car and reluctant to change it for anything that might be better.
I’ve ordered one due to be delivered in April, I was gonna ask about real world range in the winter , cheers👍🏻
@@georgeholt2753 my i4 e40 driven with care in winter temp approx 4c almost did a return journey to my sons house in the midlands of approx 320mls. I did stop to briefly put a small charge into the battery just to get home safely. In summer the car easily does 300mls plus on local drives. Admittedly one or two cold weather journeys a year isn’t a real test but I am certainly not suffering from any range anxiety. You probably loose 40 to 50 mls range in extreme weather in my case. People sometimes forget that ice cars also loose range in cold weather too.
Exactly the same experience here 👍
Had an i4 for a courtesy car a month or so ago when my i3 was in for its MOT. The one I had wasn't as fully loaded as your one but I was impressed overall
Liking the rear "head lights", useful for blinding tailgaters or simply reversing.
I've had my i4 drive 40 for 15 months now. Brooklyn Grey, Tacora Red interior, M Sport enhancements and HK audio. I am absolutely delighted. I too disliked the ridiculously large "grille", (in a car that almost doesn't need a grille at all), but the looks of the car has grown on me greatly over time, and I now really like the appearance. Typical wonderful BMW build quality (it's my fourth BMW). Excellent performance and range.
The downsides are the wasted interior space due to its shared platform with the ICE models (there's that huge space wasting central area where the gear box would otherwise be and the tunnel hump along the car and all that wasted space in the bonnet area). You can really feel the weight of the batteries underneath, and the car simply feels less sporty, planted and balanced on the road than say my last BMW, an F32MSport. That heavy mass just doesn't want to change directions as quickly as a lighter vehicle would.
And, I hate how I bang my knee all the time on the end of the dashboard getting out of the car!
But overall, I am absolutely delighted with my decision to order this car. Not a single regret; it's a wonderful car.
Familiar did it for me. Had my i4 for a year now. Been faultless, and efficient. Love it.
Re your "Different or familiar?" question. I like Jaguar's approach - not "wacky" at all but genuinely taking advantage of the new engineering and packaging opportunities. You don't need a long or high bonnet on an EV so why have one?
That Beemer for example I find just dull... Baboon's Arse grill excepted.
Also, buy the Model Y for the hatchback and with the Tesla low cost APR!
Nice to see you guys in the video at Wetherby racecourse. I visit there most days to take my dog for a walk in my i4 but guess I missed you on that day! Seriously the i4 40 is an amazing car! Get between 270-320 miles range although that’s on the lower end at the moment because of winter.. also added all season tyres which have impacted on the range by 10-15%.. Certainly on the classified ads now i4’s are going for just above £40k. Bargain! I wish I had waited as lost so much in depreciation but heyho not selling anyway. Really happy with the car. Best regards from Wetherby! 😊👍
Had my I4 M50 for just over a year and love it. Taken some petrol heads/ant electric for a drive over the Pennines and they were impressed with the instant torque and pleasant and quiet driving experience on long journeys. Price is expensive and UK charging network needs to be addressed but love this car.
I personally do not like large bonnets on EV's as its a waste of good usable space or a smaller car. i3 was a better EV and would still be if they had not stopped production but evolved it. Imagine an i3 with superfast charging, 300 mile range and curvier lines but made from the same material. BMW missed the biggest trick by not keeping the i3. This won't save them its an ICE car with a battery :-(
Oh, ffs ....'wont save them'!?..... someone else not qualified to have an opinion......!!
I liked the i3 and would buy a second hand one at the right price but the problem was it was an expensive car brand new
I have an i4 and got to drive an i3 for a day. Night and day difference.. the i3 drives like a mix of a Smart and a Mercedes Sprinter (sounds weird but had that come to mind). The adaptive recuperation of the i4 makes it ride even better as a petrol, while the i3 really drives like the old EV it is. Further, the materials and suspension from the i3 are really a shame especially at that price point
I've owned my i3 for 2 years and it is fun, but it has critical flaws. Crashy and expensive tyres. Back doors very impractical. Tiny tiny boot. It's a fog monster.
It has good battery tech (slow charging but that's fine) and it's great around town. On a longer journey should you need one, not so.
BMW EV tech has matured, a frunk would be nice (you can get one from wokeby). I will definitely consider a 2nd hand i4 when my i3 pcp ends.
you've clearly never driven a i3, you should try it.
@@rogerlapin9809
I quite like them, Always been a BMW fan.
I'm buying this exact press car you tested here as it was for sale recently, due to get it very soon. Wasnt keen on the idea of an ex press car but the price was very good compared to other used ones and the specs was great.
I farted in it.
Nah icl this is probably the most funny and straight forward journalist I ever watched, and the front of the i4 is still nicer than the current 3 series imo.
I have the e Drive 40 with adaptive suspension and I preferred its handling to the M50. I also hear steering feedback is better in the rear wheel drive and range is better. I love my i4 in Brooklyn Grey.
I've ordered an i4 e40 with MSport Pro pack in Brooklyn Grey. Delivery is next month
How’s the adaptive on the e49? Is it worth the M package?
Hi EVM, greetings from Oxford. Like you, I’ve owned a few BMW’s in my time, including my current daily driver, a BMW i3. Like all the other German car makes, BMW has really lost its way in the last 10+ years. The odd one out was the i3 imho, which was brave and radical. I suspect my i3 will be my last BMW - shame, lots of potential just thrown away. 😞
As a company car option it’s great compared to the list of cars we have, especially with a practical boot and the range. But private buying, it’s pricey but that’s BMWs for you. Electric cars need to be more affordable for public to convert over and there needs to be a government drive to get more chargers installed plus in convenient places. As a company car driver it’s something I have to plan for as there are more electric company cars coming unto the roads than chargers installed.
I get the BMW option lots of extras but the base M50 includes a lot over E40 and can work out better value on your wishlist. Used 12-18 month old M50 with many options for around £50k and under 10k miles. Had a company one for 6 months but moved jobs so looking to buy one when it drops a little more.
It's more money than I could ever afford but BMW vs Tesla, don't be daft, no comparison. If I could afford one, I'd have one of these.
Great vid lads. I will say, that apart from the M50 having All Wheel Drive, and an insane amount of power, the edrive 40 is the one to get. It''s a little bit lighter, (according to google, the M50 is 2290kg, whereas the e40 is 2120kg) and is a bit more nimble through the twisties. And due to only having 340 bhp, I can easily get 300 miles on a run in summer. The e40 in 2022, started at £52k. With a few options and a towbar, mine came out at £57k after some negotiation. (I managed to get £1100 knocked off).
At least the BMW has an indicator stalk and parking sensors that actually work (see RSEV) are standard.
But are the stalks connected to anything or just for show? 😉
I think we new a go fund me for "Andy's new Jumper for Christmas"
I've had my 2022 i4 edrive 40 and has only dc fast charged 2Xs in my 1 year 8 months that I've owned it and that was just out curiosity, not necessity. I charge at home. The i4 edrive 40 started at 58K US. I paid $65K back in 2022 with my added packages. I didn't want performance of the M60. I wanted range which is 301 miles
great that in a dark colour the front doesnt leap out at you :D
Please mention the BMW Charging card. It activates any public charger without all those apps and the same rate everywhere.
Pity the Tesla Model 3 refresh didnt do a liftback like this. I like the look of this and am typing before the end I have a feeling i may need the heart paddles applied after the price is revealed though ... OK yeh i needed a big jolt from them. I was thinking 55k. 78k. Wow. BMW are quotinga much longer range than you said, they say 320 over your 260. Big difference.
China customers don't like hatchbacks, apparently. Also like big radiator grilles hence the premium BMWs going overboard there even on EVs
I received my i4 e35 last month and already put some serious milage on it. It's a fantastic car with some weird quirks. But as you mention the price that often: It is expensive, but not as expensive as one might think. You can spec it out very picky and just add what you really want, which can lead to some serious savings. And at least in germany, it's totally normal to get 10-15% off the price afterwards. Considering this, I have a net price of 62k€ on the bill, while the spec I have would cost 69k€ listed. Thats still 19k more than a base Model 3 - even tho after specing the Model 3 to my liking, I end up at 8k difference. But I have an HUD, 360°-Camera and working Driver assist.
So it still is expensive af, but it's not insanely more expensive. And the charging network isn't an argument, because... I can just charge at Tesla Superchargers. If I would want to.
I like the i4, it’s just not big enough for us.
Advantage of this M50 - any colour is no extra cost, unless you want a Matt finish. Tesla red is over £2k
so any colour is a no extra cost option.Unless its Matt ?
@@tonyireland2234 - on the i4 M50 - yes
@@tonyireland2234 - I guess it depends on the market, but this Tanzanite Blue comes at an extra cost. At least I had to pay for mine, but I don't live in the UK though. Only a couple of base colours are free of charge.
Familiar look for me, just with the "E" drivetrain. 👍
New refresh M3 now less £ at £39990! With way better build quality outside and inter. Updated motor and new BYD battery. So I’d keep my Ioniq electric as it’s basically the same as the Beemer but can’t get a new one so I’ll buy either the new Model 3 or a Y for the hatchback to suit my 2 border collies.
I hope you get on with the wacky indicators........
Im pretty sure its only the model y berlin who has the byd battery, model 3 has still catl but might get the new catl lfp battery soon.
@@danielstefanovic2604 it’s the new Highland RWD M3
Just to note the 2024 model i4 has not conventional gear changer, it has a simple small bar to change gear into drive, that's all. I'm getting mine shortly, good video. Updated 18/8/2024 I got mine 22 May 2024, love the car, disappointed with the range of the car, but, no problems with anything else apart from all the various options of which there are many, it took some time to work them all, There's no problem getting 3 people in the back as long as their not well over 6'6 there's lots of room in the boot. I only got one charging cable, I charge from home, It's well worth a lot more than a Tesla, to me they look horrid, no style and just an oversized iPad screen, look at the large screen of all the BMWs they're brilliant. The car in this video is the top-of-the-range M50 with twin electric motors, the BMW i4 35 is much better with one electric motor rear wheel drive and costs approx £53000 depending on what's added, overall a great car.
Ditto, expected in week 19 (May) unless BMW change my delivery date again, should have been week 12, fingers crossed, correct it is a small bar gear lever and the option of ECO/Comfort and Sports mode.
No matter what comes along it's getting increasingly difficult to look beyond a used Tesla Model 3 standard range Plus with an LFP battery.
What do you think? £25K gets you a decent 2 year old. A realistic 200 miles in any conditions, any driving and a possible 250 miles in perfect conditions.
That LFP battery means you can just plug it into your house and wake up to a 100% charge every day, plus you get the Tesla Charging Network when needed.
I'm really struggling not to go that route.
Despite it's ICE platform they are bone outright good EV's.
Luckily not those rolling refrigerator model.
Based off an ICE platform all right, but every detractor leaves out the fact the ICE platform it's based upon is a _BMW._
@@BogeyTheBear that is just suspension works. There is more to it.
Would you get one that's a year or two old at 15-20k miles over a brand new M3P? I imagine they'll be similar prices then.
It's the network which would be the deciding factor.
i4 better car but M3P a better package.
Depends if it's needed.
Please explore what's the BMW Charging card is. You don't need Tesla Superchargers with that card (it activates any public chargers, AC or DC, with the single rate cheaper than Tesla's)
Hope it’s better than the underneath engineering on the i7 that Munro and Associates checked out. Poor engineering in order to reuse a petrol variant.
I agree with you that’s expensive yes well built it’s the options that for me tip it over the edge were most other manufacturers fit as standard. The bit I am getting bored of hearing is every car you test is judged around the tesla supercharger network. Hopefully that excuse for basically buying a tesla over almost every other car will fade away as they replace the current V3 chargers with the new V4 chargers which will be open to all. Then we can watch you review a car as a a car and not on how it’s fuelled.
It’s the ownership experience. With EVs, there’s no easier one to own. It can’t be ignored. Even though we did say all this.
@@ElectricVehicleMan .....except, obviously...a car MUST do everything you NEED it to do.... FIRST!!
For example...my car MUST be a hatchback, for practical reasons - so, Model 3, out ..
It MUST have a flat load floor - no boot lip - so, several cars, out...
....see what I mean...!?!?
@@andymccabe6712 just buy a Ford Transit has big back doors and a very flat floor.
You said rmodel 3 starts at £43k. Actually they're £40k for the refresh.
Since my bmw e46, my two Mazda still have not hit the same level... Though it is unfair to compare a 2019 mazda m3 saloon.
As a Canadian it's a BMW Beaver I4. :D
Problem is at near 80k you could buy something quite special lightly used. Very few reasons to go for an i4 when you could buy a Taycan Performance Plus with under 8k miles for less!
Are superchargers not opened to everyone in the UK? On most of the continent the are, so that takes the charging network out of the equation.
Always love it when you two do your reviews. Always have such a laugh 😂💯
Remember the Tesla charging network is opening up to other EV's and therefore charging network advantage isn't one anymore especially as there is now Gridserve, Ionity, & Fastned in the UK for charging networks all being quite reliable with plenty of chargers. I suspect at some point Tesla will be required to open all sites to all EV's there won't be chargers that only certain cars can use the wall will come down not like there is petrol stations that only say a BMW can fill up at but no one else can be it Ford, Volvo, Hyundai, etc.
Tesla will only ever open up your quieter supercharging stations to other manufacturers. Never all of them. Plus the new V4’s will be an option for other manufacturers
@@Uchejnr That won't last. I am sure either government rules or they doing it themselves will open ALL their chargers. There is no more free supercharging for life and the SC network isn't really an advantage anymore not with the likes of Kempower, Alpitronics, etc coming in with just as reliable hardware and the plug&charge standard along with credit card contactless payment options. Maybe not next year but within the next decade yes.
@@TassieEV I think Tesla are just opening up some to apply pressure to governments to ramp up their own third party solutions. Charge rates still favour superchargers over third party from some of the prices I've been seeing and general ease of use. Even the level of software integration from Tesla cars and the supercharging networking make that charging experience unbeatable.
Comfortable Granite!
That dark blue is great.
Lovely car, but i think the Neue Klasse will be so much better.
So curious about it.
NK does NOT look better than this i4 and this isn't even fully spec'd out.
I have one on order and should be delivered next month (eDrive35) as my next company car and looking forward to it.
Your review seemed to be very short and seemed to miss/skip a lot of things.
@@rogerlapin9809 I would have gone for the 40 but was not on the list (lease puts it in another level above what I can have 😦)
81kWh is the same as the M3LR or M3P?
Watching the Kia EV9 review yesterday at £ 78000 for the Top Spec and starting around £64000 thought that was expensive having seen the price of this bmw I now think it's underpriced
Looks amazing but the price is just eye watering
I can’t take BEV’s with a transmission tunnel seriously
BYD, Nio, Xpeng, Zeekr, Li Auto, Leapmotor EV sales in November 2023
The Electric Viking
The business lease is up on my Model 3 in March, and I'm now faced with a quandary... To get the same car again (Model 3 LR) through my employers new salary sacrifice scheme will cost more than an i4 M50 with a couple of options ticked. Not by much, but the BMW's still cheaper. Can I really bring myself to pay more for a car that actually retails for £25k less than the other one?
The Tesla has been great and I've definitely benefitted from access to the supercharger network over the years. But I've not done a tonne of public charging. Still, it feels like getting anything other than another Tesla would be like buying an ICE car that you can only fill up at Esso and BP stations.
Quite a lot of i4's here in Norway. And all M50's - no-one seems to buy the e40, and they don't even sell the 35 here
I live in Norway, in the capitol and i hardly see any i4, mostly tesla`s, 5000 i4 sold total in norway since it came out.
@@danielstefanovic2604 Maybe they all sold up here in the North. For sure there are a lot more Tesla's than anything else.
BMW didn't publish their CO2e tons for production for the i4, but they did publish 17 tons for the i5. That's compared to 25 tons for the Polestar or XC 40. Chinese built cars are made from coal powered parts industry. That's the new science based reasoning for France denying EV rebates to Chinese buikt cars. Of course there's more to it than that, but if you are choosing an EV for a lower impact, these production emissions matter.
Il say the new model 3 highland interior is almost on par on this bmw interior and you get a hump free backseat.
There needs to be a campaign about the decline of hatchbacks and SUVs that don't have a rear wiper. Are the I4 and Model Y wiperless?
Those window drops when opening the doors seem ridiculous. If it’s raining sideways (like it always is), the interior is going to get soaked 🤦🏻♂️
It’s configurable
Had one for over a year never had the interior get soaked not even once
You're CLEARLY, not qualified to have an opinion, 'cloggsy'....!!!
@@stuartodell2828 Yeah but you live in sunny California.
That happens with any car with frameless windows, right? To keep the window from shattering if they're frozen to the seal. Telsas do the same thing.
If you're opening the door in sideways rain, a quick window drop prior to opening seems like a drop in the bucket compared to opening the door outright.
£78000 for this car is ridiculous
it is which is why you get the eDrive40 which is just a better car not just for the money. It is way more efficient and drives better
@@Astke 60k starting price for a 4 series? I could see the attraction via a possible business lease or 2-3 year old one. Outside of this, I genuinely don't know who would pay this price.
@@benlea19 that you don't understand is your issue. But some people do.
I couldn’t justify that sort of money and I would prefer an EV from the ground up. Why are they using the ICE platform , get rid of the transmission tunnel. I’d have a Tesla without doubt but then again I’d probably get a Kia or Hyundai
Do you honestly think that German engineers lack the insight to do something with that tunnel?
It holds additional battery modules.
The i4 ed40 and the Polestar 2 LR RWD were virtually the same deal on my company's EV scheme. After a test drive of both, if was an easy choice. The BMW is far, far better.
Looks same style shape as my 2020 Ioniq Electric but way, way more ££££
Cheers guys
Not that I'm in the market for one of these, or could afford one, but I'll never ever buy a car that insists on hiding common sense controls like heating settings, behind a damn menu. It's a trend that seriously needs to die. In a country where we can experience 3 different seasons in an afternoon, easily accessible heating settings are an absolute must for me.
Ha!.....you COULD end up never ever buying a CAR, then.......!?!?
@@andymccabe6712 My current car and MANY others still use traditional controls., but thanks for your concern 😉
Nite-owl, if it gets too hot open a window, if gets too cold close the window and if it rains turn on the wipers. hehehe sorry couldn't resist.
The temperature controls are _always_ onscreen. You don't have to open a menu to turn up the heat. As good as a physical button without being a physical button.
@@BogeyTheBearOn EVERY car? The likes of Tesla don't even give indicator stalks now, or even a damn speedo cluster in your eyeline 😂
It's 80 grand because BMW have very high profit margins compared to most carmakers.
2:36 also, stuffing the fat charging cable in the trunk when it rains and you‘re charging outside really is a mess. Best case: only hands and trunk get dirty, you can now either go back inside and wash your hands or make your interior dirty as well). Worst Case: cable (which was lying in rain and mud) goes over your trousers and shirt, hit the rear end with your trousers. Probably applies to most EVs tho
You don’t use your own cable that much. Rarely comes out.
@@ElectricVehicleMan I almost solely charge the car at my workplace and there I need it. 2 - 3 times per week
Get an ICE car.None of these worries.With the £1500 you spend on a charger you can travel 8000 miles.
@@tonyireland2234 Where you getting £1500 from!
There is a niche under the trunk that fits all cables
Boring looking and unnecessarily large in this day and age, the car….and i used to drive a 525i and loved it. Give me the i3 any day.
Wow a BMW driver using the optional indicator 😅
Let’s face it £80k is a ridiculous amount of money for any car. Car prices have just gone crazy. Several people where I work have company electric BMWs and they constantly moan about how poor the range is. 150 miles is all they get.
No pan roof?
EVs and Tesla Model 3+ break records in Europe as buyers ignore strikes
The Electric Viking
I love EVM reviews
Huge gear stick looks very antique in an Electric Vehicle. Waste of space.
I just cancelled my i4 order for company car and changed to a new Model 3 - the i4 is a car only for Bimmer fanboys or company car drivers who want the 'luxury' interior. Tesla is better in all metrics that I cared about: Efficiency, performance, tech, autopilot, app experience and overall company ethics/mission.
The Model 3 RWD is now £40k with the spec that would cost the i4 35 approx £54k...you have to really want one to pay that kind of premium
I love the familiar BMW looks . Prefer this to a bland Tesla.
I love my i4, its fantastic
1/3 of the total length is bonnet! that seems particularly for an EV is Absurd. I have i3 its great drive, great for parking in the city.you do not need a big chunk in front of you. EVs do not need to parrot ICE cars. Most of the time you are parking in tesco not sweeping round unused roads. Personally anyway
Do love a sun roof!
People reviewing the M50 is always such a shame. It is overpriced and thirsty. The eDrive40 is the only good option. It drives way better, offers way more for the money and is way more efficient The M50 is honestly not a good purchase because the eDrive40 is still more than fast enough.
This was my wifes dream car - until we test drove it. For such a long car it's really cramped for space. We drove it back to back with Ioniq 6 which feels so much better all around (except maybe the infotainment). Then we went and bought a Tesla, because at the entry level the value for money just blows everything else out of the water. Conclusion: EVs are just better if they are made from the ground up as EVs. As for looks, no fake grilles or exhausts for me thanks.
Why the "exhausts"?
Because it's an ICE car with a battery
IT’S NO I3S!!!!!!!!
bmw are going backwards
I don't like the fact that you have to pay extra for indicators.
EV, love the tech... Hate the price...... Insurance costs doubled this year (diesel).... Manage to get deal £50 more... How's the cost for you on EV ?
So long BMW. At least you tried!
I have an idea that fast charging is while ev's are exploding but cant be sure as i cant find answers on web probable because govt suppressing it to sell more ev's 😡 unless insurance is coming down ev's are going to stall,i wounder how much andy and Harry's insurance cost at renewal ??? £55K i would expect a camper !!!! WHY ARE MY COMMENT BEING ALTERED BY RUclips
Why, oh why, do manufactures think EVs should look like something that fell off a sci-fi film’s model maker’s bench? Just build normal cars and put an electric motor in it.
That’s exactly what this is. It’s exactly the same looks wise as the 4 series grand coupe
Early in 2025 in North America BMW's will be able to use the Tesla Supercharger network. Yeah it's more expensive but then you get the best of both worlds.
It looks alright for a BMW
As the owner of an iX1, I will criticise BMW for not yet fully embracing EV in the phone app, or their infotainment system - with the mapping/routing a key problem. Compare it to things like A Better Route Planner and see how legacy ICE it still is. I know they are now promising more with iDrive 8.5 and the future iDrive nine, but everyone who has already bought one of their vehicles is not going to be eligible for those upgrades, unless they bought them since June the rest of us, be it i4, iX or iX1 I just being told "sorry your head unit isn't compatible"I feel really let down by this it's a lifespan worse than an android phone. Tesla are in a different league, and VW/Aldi, while they are still struggling to get their software together - have promised things like plug-in charge for their existing customers, which BMW will never deliver to us. How can they treat those of us who spend £50K+ on an EV so badly?
Yes ... expensive ... with new price on the Model 3 RWD (£39990) you could very nearly buy two for the price of this BMW!
This is far too much money and spec pushing up price a ridiculous amount. When you can buy 2 other EV's for less than this price that are still within maybe 80% of this car, it would be a difficult one to justify. For the very rich people it is maybe a stus symbol, but then Porsche or another brand may be higher up?
that is why you get the eDrive 40, which is way more efficient, cheaper and drives better at same time
Yeah, the front is ugly, and its expensive, but the thing that puts me off the most is how mucb the windows roll down when you open door. That just makes me feel uncomfortable
They said it’s adjustable.
You can if you like program the windows to not roll down on BMW. Well I can on my i3. The air gap means easier door closing IMO. But you can have what you want it appears.
All cars with frameless windows go down when opening to get under the rubber seal it’s not a bmw thing
The depreciation would make it unviable
I don't understand why all these press cars are spec'd like crap: $100k price but all black interior which looks as generic as anything else. I've been eyeing the i4 eDrive40 for a long time and the main reason I would go i4 over model 3 highland is the range of customizability. For example the cognac seats look amazing, or ivory white in combination with some gray wood trim.
The day the model 3 highland came out I started to question my i4 choice because the m3 is so much better than before, but the removal of stalks + still no HUD + no hatch, plus the fact that in eastern Europe tesla doesn't yet have good superchargher network and service is still a deal breaker for me.
However in the mean time the ID.7 came about, which does not look as good at the interior, but makes muuuuuch more logical sense to get for the same money. The interior room is almost 50% more just because it's on dedicated platform, seems well soundproofed, good base specs, will come in estate version etc. I'm waiting for real world reviews and probably going to get one next year, it seems like such a best buy
New M3 Highlander much better build quality so new Model 3 is still best... Also that i4 probably weighs about 500KG more than the Tesla..
Wheels are 'extra' with BMWs...
I think if you are looking at a car in the £50k price range you should probably wait and test drive a BYD Seal dual motor.
The BYD Seal sells for £25K in Australia (albeit pre tax). The fact that it’s coming up at close the £50K over here is the only reason I wouldn’t consider it!
@@pallettowngangster9297 The Seal starts at A$49,888 (before on road costs) which is about £39,800 at today's money. It's been a long time since there was A$2 to the GBP.
Judging by the prices of the Atto 3 and Dolphin I would expect the Seal to be 10%-15% cheaper than here in the UK.
Top car ❤ Nice
Gamers are running Tesla and, now, the wannabes also.
Sandy Munro has inspired the ‘cheaper to manufacture’ cheapness that is now on track to destroy sales to the brand agnostic market.
£80k car and BMW are too cheap to give the BEV version its own rear valence without exhaust pipe cut outs. 🙄🙄
Your first words sum it up. Does it drive like a BMW? No........ I have a Tesla M3P now, but my previous car was a BMW M340i G20 that would be loosely similar to this. Infact it was almost the same inside. Was my favourite car so the I4 was the logical evolution.... The problem with the I4 is its not reminiscent of a BMW at all. Driving it it became very quickly apparent...this a very "fat" car. Because of that, all the things that make BMW great around handling go squarely out of the window. The steering is also as vague as I can remember in a modern car! It is familiar, smooth, refined, but not worth at the pricepoint they want for it! As you say build quality is TOP notch. It looks like a BMW, when you sit in it it feels like a BMW.... Drive wise it was.....meh..The Tesla is less refined, build quality is OK but surprisingly is a really really fun car to drive. The sharp steering and balance of the car is something once you try will just make you smile even when you're doing nothing. Being a BMW nut most of my life thats a hard pill to swallow! Ive driven 5 Series estate BMWs that handle better than an I4, but sure if you want a BMW that looks like a BMW to potter around town in comfort with, its very good for that (if not a touch expensive)
I went with the Ev6 over the I4. Love my ev6.