F30 340i vs F20 M140i? Barely any real differences?

[FakeCarGuy]

What actually are the differences?? Everyone talks about how much lighter and nimble the 1 series is in comparison, but there’s less than a 60kg weight penalty and a 12cm larger difference in wheelbase for the 3 series - so I find it incredibly hard to believe that there’s much in it at all, especially if you consider that everyone says that the 3/4 series have much nicer suspension/chassis setups stock.

(Infact, if you go back to old Chris Harris reviews, he states that the rear axle is in a much nicer position on the 3/4 series compared to the 1 and 2 series).

And then on the other hand, everyone says that the 3 and 4 series are higher quality and better built - but then the materials on the inside are the same as the 1 series and i’ve never heard anyone suggest that the overall finish is worse on the 1 series either.

I’m looking at 2017+ M sport shadow editions for both - but does it mostly come down to aesthetics and looks at the end of the day? Because, funnily enough, I can’t make my mind up there either!!

I like them both, but just dont want to regret getting one over the other!

Whichever one I get will be getting the Birds Dynamic Suspension package (+Quaife LSD), a tune to 400bhp+, and 18” wheels on 255/40/18 all-round - so a lot of the comparisons between stock ride quality/comfort/handling/damping/power etc. will all kind of be moot points to me anyway.

If I could tolerate 2 doors it would make this whole thing a lot easier and I would just get the F32 because it’s the sexiest - but because I’m adamant on having 4 doors, it makes the decision of which model to settle on quite a bit more difficult unfortunately.

[Tango222]

Get the 440 gran coupe

[paradigital]

Extended leather makes all the difference to the premium feel of the cabin.

My 440i feels a nicer place to be than my friend’s 1er.

[FakeCarGuy]

Tango222 said:

Get the 440 gran coupe

Funny you should say that, because I test drove a 330e about a year ago, and then a 420i GC the day after (because originally I was shopping for the Gran Coupe last year) - and I couldn’t believe how much I disliked the Gran Coupe compared to the 3 series once I sat in it.

Even though on paper there’s another minimal weight gain of like 70kg (infact, i’’d imagine the 330e is heavier and so doesn’t actually apply to this comparison, but whatever) and no significant size difference between the two, the 4 series Gran Coupe felt like a boat. I think it was the visibility difference with the coupe roofline vs saloon roofline that just messed with me psychologically. Not to mention knowing in the back of my head that the majority of the weight gain between the f30 and f36 was in that hatchback above the rear axle.

Very, very strange subjective experience. I do like to look at the Gran Coupe and I think it does look a bit fancier than the 3 series - but psychologically it feels wrong for me to sit in and drive.

Edited by FakeCarGuy on Saturday 15th March 14:46

[FakeCarGuy]

paradigital said:

Extended leather makes all the difference to the premium feel of the cabin.

My 440i feels a nicer place to be than my friend’s 1er.

It’s hard to even find any 340i or 440is with the extended leather imo! I originally had the full extended leather + upper dash leather as a ‘must have’ option when window shopping - but after seeing how rare these options actually were, I could no longer afford to keep them as dealbreakers!

[MitchT]

FakeCarGuy said:

It’s hard to even find any 340i or 440is with the extended leather imo! I originally had the full extended leather + upper dash leather as a ‘must have’ option when window shopping - but after seeing how rare these options actually were, I could no longer afford to keep them as dealbreakers!

This.

My holy grail would be a 440i with full individual merino leather, including the individual dashboard so the lower dash has the same contrast colour as the seats and the contrast inserts on the door cards and the upper dash is black with contrast stitching - like this - but most have the lower dash in black which, to my eye, makes it look unfinished. I'd rather have the dakota leather 'cause at least then the lower dash is in a plastic that's the same colour as the seats and the contrast inserts on the door cards.

[Aiminghigh123]

Don’t get a 440i one of the worst looking BMW cars.

Just looks like an old Sierra Hatchback.

[MitchT]

Aiminghigh123 said:

Don’t get a 440i one of the worst looking BMW cars.

I think it's a given that we're talking about the F32. Your example is a G26.

[Jamescrs]

I went from an F series M240i to an F82 M4, the interior space is significantly better on the 4 series and interior is an uplift in quality overall but I still have a big liking for the 2 series and in some ways it’s smaller size was a benefit in day to day use.

It’s personal preference but I don’t think I’d go back to anything smaller than a 3 series now.