Which BMW ?
Author
Discussion

DJPLJP

Original Poster:

3 posts

37 months

Tuesday 27th June 2023
quotequote all
Looking at a couple of BMWs around the £15k mark and torn between a 2013 640d (60k) and a 2014 420d (48k)

Head says 420, Heart says 640.

Do I need to listen to my head ?

MikeM6

5,947 posts

129 months

Tuesday 27th June 2023
quotequote all
I would be all over the 640d, it's another league of car. The 420d will be sufficient, but the 640d will be an overall better thing to own.

As long as we are talking nice examples of each though!

Pica-Pica

16,400 posts

111 months

Tuesday 27th June 2023
quotequote all
As long as you can cope with size - the 640d.

DJPLJP

Original Poster:

3 posts

37 months

Tuesday 27th June 2023
quotequote all
640d is quality and the 420 looks and feels like a new car.

The 640 maintenance bills scare me more than the size!!

Maxym

2,943 posts

263 months

Tuesday 27th June 2023
quotequote all
DJPLJP said:
640d is quality and the 420 looks and feels like a new car.

The 640 maintenance bills scare me more than the size!!
Maybe you've answered your own question... 6 Series is very special though: a proper GT.

MikeM6

5,947 posts

129 months

Tuesday 27th June 2023
quotequote all
DJPLJP said:
640d is quality and the 420 looks and feels like a new car.

The 640 maintenance bills scare me more than the size!!
Are the bills that much more?

Mr Tidy

30,762 posts

154 months

Tuesday 27th June 2023
quotequote all
Jus a thought but what about a 435d?

cerb4.5lee

43,637 posts

207 months

Tuesday 27th June 2023
quotequote all
MikeM6 said:
I would be all over the 640d, it's another league of car. The 420d will be sufficient, but the 640d will be an overall better thing to own.

As long as we are talking nice examples of each though!
I agree with this as well having had a F13 640d and I've now got a F82 M4. The interior in the 6 series is a completely different kettle of fish to the 4 series I reckon. The 40d engine feels more special to use than the 20d engine as well(I used to have a 520d).

DJPLJP

Original Poster:

3 posts

37 months

Tuesday 27th June 2023
quotequote all
Mr Tidy said:
Jus a thought but what about a 435d?
Yeah, nice car but would add another £4-5k to the budget

numtumfutunch

5,154 posts

165 months

Tuesday 27th June 2023
quotequote all

Serial BMW tart reporting for duty

In my experience the quality of the interior changes the further you get up the range

For example my 335d was a bit plastic however my current 530 is a much nicer place in which to spend time


cerb4.5lee

43,637 posts

207 months

Tuesday 27th June 2023
quotequote all
Mr Tidy said:
Jus a thought but what about a 435d?
This is a good shout I reckon, and as much as I loved the 640d...the 4 series does feel smaller and a lot more nimble I think. The 640d is very much a GT and it isn't really into going around tight corners, and it prefers the long sweeping corners and generally cruising for me.

Mr Whippy

32,453 posts

268 months

Tuesday 27th June 2023
quotequote all
6 series are big.

Probably not an issue on the road too much, but parking spaces, garages, etc, will all grate a bit depending on use.

I’d go with the 6 series over the 4 series if size won’t be an issue.

Chicken Chaser

9,010 posts

251 months

Tuesday 27th June 2023
quotequote all
4s are lovely cars. The 420d isn't slow, but it's not fast either. They are great for covering distance

E63eeeeee...

5,766 posts

76 months

Wednesday 28th June 2023
quotequote all
640d all day. I found the 420d too slow. My 640d is a fantastic thing for long journeys and it is phenomenal value for the comfort and performance. If you have a chance, get a Euro 6 one though. It'll hold its value better.

435d would probably be a good compromise though.

E63eeeeee...

5,766 posts

76 months

Wednesday 28th June 2023
quotequote all
On the size point, it's not *that* big - the coupe is 4.8m long - but you sit quite low and the bonnet is massive, the 360 degree cameras are absolutely vital if you go anywhere even vaguely tight because you have no idea where the corners or the front wheels are when manoeuvring. The parking sensors on their own won't save you.

Canon_Fodder

1,775 posts

90 months

Wednesday 28th June 2023
quotequote all
420d is underpowered for its weight

Snubs

1,403 posts

166 months

Wednesday 28th June 2023
quotequote all
Based on my experience with my 2013 530d, i'd go 640d all day long. The straight six is a great engine, sure it sounds like a tractor on start up from the outside, but once you're inside it sounds pretty good. Better than the petrol powered Cooper S courtesy cars I've had recently, that's for sure. Exit a roundabout onto a dual carridgeway and you just just ride that monster torque to elaborate speeds time and time again.

As for the size, the 5 and 6 are both big cars, no getting away from it. If you're going to spend most of your time dealing with tight parking spaces it might get tiresome, but for me I have a driveway at home and in most car parks i just park 20 feet further from the shop where all the empty spaces are to make my life easier. I've been thinking of upgrading to an M6 and the one thing the does come to mind though is that the drivers door would be longer than the 5, making getting out when you've got a car next to you potentially a bit of a squeeze. I've seen people say parking cameras are a must, but mine just has front and rear sensors and they're fine. Indeed, my reverse parking skills have increased substantially since I bought it.

With respect to costs, the engine in mine has been bullet proof so no issues there. Tyres will be pricey, i replaced the ones my car came on with OEM Bridgestone run flats all round for about £1,000. I think i average about 40-42 mpg and that is driving with lead boots on. I rarely use my car so when i do, i make the most of it. The 640d would be a bit lower being more powerful, but with a more mature approach to driving I'm sure you could get into the 40s no worries.

Worth watching Jay Emm's video on the equivalent M6 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-yxtQaASeo


Mirinjawbro

1,061 posts

91 months

Wednesday 28th June 2023
quotequote all
i have a 640d - coupe

- i usually get around 400/450 miles per tank which is a full mix of driving. can get 600 650 or so mainly motorway
- the car is very very big - it does not fit in many (or barely ) car parking spaces. indoor ones are awful
- you feel the weight of the car as you drive around roundabouts and tighter roads
- i lowered the PSI in the RFTS to around 32 ish and the car rides much better (these will be swapped to PS4S once they die)
- not many on the road


Shedding

749 posts

277 months

Wednesday 28th June 2023
quotequote all
As far as I know, BMW 6 cylinder diesel engines are a much safer bet than 4 cylinder from that era.

Jamescrs

6,248 posts

92 months

Wednesday 28th June 2023
quotequote all
I've owned both 4 cylinder and 6 cylinder BMW's albeit mine have all been petrol and I won't buy another 4 cylinder one, I had no reliability issues with either but the 6 cylinder engines are just so much nicer to drive.