Everyone knows the windshield isn't for seeing out of while driving anymore, it's to provide natural lighting for the small cinema suite of screens glued to the dashboard.
This review is a great example of why this is the absolute best car review channel on UA-cam. The technical details combined with the knowledge gained by experiencing so many vehicles and the interaction between Mark and Jack make this second to none.
I test drove the i4 M50 today. As a Tesla Model Y driver for the last year and a half, I was blown away. It’s the first EV I’ve ever driven that actually feels like a high performance luxury vehicle. The lack of a frunk really annoys me, but I’m having the dealership appraise my Tesla to see how plausible it is for me to get one. I was not a BMW fan until I drove this gorgeous machine. Thank you for your review. It inspired me to schedule the test drive.
Tesla had so much lead time to make the workmanship of their products better but no, they'd rather add fart noises and video games to their console instead.
@@pissupehelwan They stagnated hard. The Model S and X going on 11 and 8 years old. Model 3 and Y look somewhat modern but even then the Model 3 is about to be 5 years old. They can't build the cybertruck, semi, or Roadster.
As a Tesla owner, don't you care range? 227miles with 20" wheels is pathetic. I am not sure what's different from other BMW in terms of interior. Well if you didn't experience other BMW, then maybe you could say it's nice. I've never used frunk my frunk by the way.
@@bhbae1 I test drove the one with 19" wheels, which is closer to 270 miles of range. Not stellar, but I'm not getting much better in my MY. The newer EVs seem to be a lot more accurate with their range estimates. Tesla's ranges are inaccurate because they're based on keeping the acceleration on chill, not running autopilot, not running sentry mode or dashcam, not running AC, etc. Real world range for the MY LR is closer to 250-280. My parents have a Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the range is spot on, even with AC running and traveling at highway speeds.
@@Lazirus951 well your car doesn't have Twitter, til too, and Instagram. As a pro truck driver people aren't fooling with their infotainment this jack and mark make it sound. Now phones on the other hand.....
@@nguyep4 What a dumb comment. When you're required to take your eyes off the road to deal with necessary car functions, yes it's distracting, not driver error at all.
Ok. It’s heavy. And that grill again. But I like that BMW are subtly futuristic rather than trying to make their EVs into spaceships. At least it’s a regular car. With proper quality. They just need to work on efficiency. That’s where Tesla’s USP is right now.
The 227 mi range i4 M50 with 20" wheels blew away its EPA rating, actually beat some of the Teslas, which are the worst for not meeting their EPA ratings.
Best car review channel. Doesn't sugar coat stuff and focus on the areas that are lacking, NOT JUST talk about the features, which people can learn from the car company website. Keep it up. Continue to be a real/tough reviewer.
Man, you would think at this thing's price point, they could find a way to figure out that glitch where the speedo goes all fuzzy and unreadable above 60mph!
After test driving lots of EVs, we ordered an i4 eDrive 40 M Sport. Less weight and RWD translates to better driving dynamics than the M50, with the added benefit of more range. Our net-positive efficient house produces an excess of solar power, so essentially free charging for life. When our Audi S4 reaches its sell-by date we’ll get a B58 BMW or an Audi RS3, so the i4 doesn’t need to operate like a 2.5 ton sports car. Our goal is a chill, efficient drive with no disagreeable handling or braking quirks and a cabin we won’t mind spending time in. My only gripe, which applies to many manufacturers, is that optioning up means bigger wheels. The M Sport package on our car ups the wheels to 19 inches with a corresponding ~7% range cut. Hopefully, some aftermarket company will produce lightweight forged aero wheels in future.
Who cares about 7% range? Are you driving 300 miles+ per day? I ordered the M50 as daily because I don’t care about the range and I want the punch. I don’t care if I get 450 or 400 kilometers range. There are only maybe 10 days per year when I need the range. And this means I will be on the charger maybe 5 minutes longer.
LOL@"Sell-by-date"..😅. Good one. I never thought of applying that principle to cars. Have you considered going with some 18' after market wheels? 18 seems to be the sweet spot for these EVs. Better range and comfort since your tire side wall will be slightly taller.
@@Bimmer_i4_M50 First off, the -7% range drop the OP was talking about is between the 18” vs 19” tires on the e40. He wasn’t talking about the m50. The range drops dramatically more between the e40 18” vs m50 20”. Secondly, you can’t judge how another person places value into what’s important for them. Maybe the OP commutes a lot more than you and needs a better range. Who cares about the getting 0-60 1.8 seconds faster than the e40 under normal traffic conditions??LOL. 😂😂😂
Great review!! Happy I stumbled upon it! As for costs, you need to remember 2 things: 1. US Fed Gov rebate of $7,500 (possibly more in states rebates). 2. BMW gives you 2 years of FREE 30 minutes charging at Electrify America stations. With fast charging that's going for about 10% to 80%. Theoretically making fuel free for two years! Both these factors amount to HUGE savings.
This review is amazing. You discuss so many nuances about the car that other reviewers gloss over or don't cover, especially about how the rear feels when rotating through a corner compared to the traditional BMW 3/4 series with a LSD. I really appreciate that about your channel.
The Kia EV6 offers 3 unique choices for sounds. It's very cool and although a KIA product, definitely worth looking into. Me on the other hand, I prefer just listening to metal and flooring it.
@@ajlee6933 The loudest voices are the complainers. Companies look into the complaints they get and make changes, but fail to recognize the vast majority of customers NOT complaining.
@@ajlee6933 it's the car journalists who complained. These companies bow down to these out of touch with reality people. It was car journalists who complained about "too many buttons"...well have fun with your capacitive touch interface now
From a manufacturing perspective it's so much easier to attach on a screen than putting dials & screen in a dash, cut down on time, workforces and less machineries (usually there's a whole line dedicated to the dials etc) .. Yet they now charge a premium on the car for "screen"
I think the iDrive 7 got it right. It was the right mix of physical buttons and touch screen if you wanted it. I do like the instrument cluster display in the iDrive 8 better though.
That interior is stunning except for the glued on screen. I wish they would have integrated a hood over it and gave it more of a traditional look. At this rate, I'll be able to buy one more 8-10 year old BMW before our next daily driver is electric I guess.
After your use of the word "stunning" I went back to revisit the video and unfortunately, I just can't see it. I mean, here you have this 'ugly' tacked on screen taking up so much real estate and is the focal point in the car and the rest is just typical of what one should expect from a luxury car costing upwards of $70000.
@@Mark-de4hj I can see that. Thinking back, it screams classic BMW to me, and looks really good. Like an interior that will look great 20 years from now too.
I LOVE how there is no time wasted at the start and you jump right into the review. And I know its been said multiple times but wth, I love all the technical details. I always learn something new when watching your reviews.
Interesting dialogue in this video. I like that you guys have adapted your reviews for EVs by making comparisons about things like vermal management for the batteries. Keep it up!
This is my favorite EV right now, mostly because it doesn't look like an unfinished spaceship. However, that front grill. I try really hard to love it, but it just won't grow on me. Also, i say it again and again, but this TV sticked to the dashboard is horrendous and i can't see how it's safer to use than nicely laid out physical switches. On a positive note, thank you again for your high quality reviews.
Interesting. I normally am a BMW fan, but this is one of my less favorite EVs because of the compromises inherent in shoehorning EV components into a platform that was primarily intended for gasoline cars. If I'm going to make the sacrifices that come with an EV, at least give me the perks -- more storage space (frunk), no back-seat floor hump. I do think there are some good/interesting things here, like making a real effort at good sound design, and the car looks "normal" rather than an amorphous blob, but those are the tradeoffs I guess.
Please, shut up with this stupid "that front grill" blah blah, because it's getting too old an fucking boring! The vertically grill design fits absolutely perfect to these BMW models, like 4 Series, M3 and M4 models. BMW double kidney grill design language absolutely doesn't mean, that it only has to be wide or even stupidly wider. And this has to go on for ever??? Come on, dude!! The more vertically grill design fits these new BMW models perfect. The design of this more vertically designed grill is kind of menacing and looks absolutely cool on the road. It has a presence! I just can't see a downside of its design. And at least, it's a matter of taste. But people like you and a lot of other "that grill" trashtalkers really think, that they are kind of "style police" and having "the only opinion about its design which make sense", and who can critizise everything which is coming from BMW. Honestly, you are way too uneducated in design, dude! Therefore just stop your stupid design critizism blah blah, because you know fucking nothing about it! The annoying "that grill" blah blah goes on for way too long now and is nothing but boring!!! After two years of "that grill" comments from idiots on the internet, this blah blah is just fucking BORING, but nothing more! And by the way: it's just your taste and the taste of a few other styling clowns, who are totally small minded, who seemingly can't get over the fact, that design is always moving forward and isn't frozen for decades. BMW customers absolutely like this new 4 Series grill design. All these real BMW customers are the only people who really matter for BMW, but not all these fucking annoying "that grill style experts" on the internet, who don't have money for a new BMW model! The new vertically BMW grill design is absolutely perfect for these cars, period! If the BMW 4 Series, M3 and M4 wouldn't have this vertically grill, they all would be looking quite the same in the front like a BMW 8 Series model, which still has this classic wide double kidney grill. BMW did this for a purpose. The vertically grill in 4 Series and i4 looks unique and is totally cool. Greetings from Munich, Germany!
@@rogersmj EVs I think should look apart from gasoline car. My reasons being it is new technology and should have new feel and look to it. Similarly, how smartphones are distinct post-Apple compare to pre-Apple smartphones.
Form me the tv is there only for the navigation and to set up some things when stationary. By moving basic functions there they are forcing me to interact with it while driving. That's not good
The ultimate UK company car (you pay tax based on emissions, so essentially nothing for one of these) but less desirable than an M440i. Will sell absolutely bucketloads of these.
Because EVs pay no road tax due to no emissions, the government are rolling out something similar to road tax for ev owners, since they still use the roads. Something like contributing towards maintenance and etc.
Totally agree with your review with one exception. The delta is $10k, but that's before the federal and state incentives which can approach $10k, in my state around $8300 minimum. So the i4 is actually cheaper when combines with operating costs. Then it comes down to other factors like range, do you want/need an HOV lane sticker for single occupant, etc.
That's assuming you actually can redeem all of those tax incentives. It's not a discount and frankly if you never owe a dime to uncle Sam come tax time it doesn't matter. The loan is still for that 10k delta whether you can redeem 1k or 8k in tax incentives.
@@bigcjm These are common myths. If you pay no taxes to the federal government and cannot utilize a $7500 federal tax credit, then I can pretty much guarantee you you are not buying an EV, as you have no income, and won't qualify for a loan or lease. So, maybe I should clarify, for the incredibly rare situation where you can afford a Tesla, or BMW i4, iX, or a Mustang Mach E, or any of the other BEVs which are typically $50k+, and you have no taxable income, then yes, the credit will not be of use. For the overwhelming majority of consumers who can afford a modern day BEV, they have taxable income to shield and can utilize the tax credit in full. Technically you are correct, in reality, no. In addition, for those who lease, many of the captive finance companies, allow you to take up to 100% of the federal tax credit as a capital cost reduction. A bigger question is do incentives matter? For the fossil fuel industry, they will tell you they don't matter and consumers don't need them, hey look at any of these BEVs there are waitlists. For the rest of us, not in the fossil fuel camp, those who want to see an energy transition, who care about the future of the planet, 100%, incentives are not only necessary, but warranted.
@@ultradaves that’s just not true. Many people like my self pay very little to no fed income taxes. If your business strategy utilizes tax loopholes/incentives/write offs… I’m putting in an order this week.
@@MrGStache You're an outlier. The vast majority of those buying these cars will have a normal 9-5 job where they make $100k+. At $100k it's a 15% effective tax rate, so $15k owed federally (usually taken out of the paycheck by the employer). All you need is $7500 of tax liability which is very little. It's prorated too, so if you managed to only owe $5k of taxes, they still slap on a $5k credit.
My i4 will be my 4th BMW. I have never put a bottle in the door space. However, I know many people who use that area for bottles and umbrellas. Also, my previous and current BMW does not have a button in that area. So, I agree that the design choice was not smart. The interior design is dated. The base price of 4WD M50 led me to get the RWD i4 edrive40 which allowed me to add Driver and Parking assistant packages, HUD which includes Premium package, drive recorder, and wireless charging for 61K. When I considered I would never go to the track or race anyone on public highways or streets I could not justify the M50 performance over the edrive40 range. Also agree with leasing EVs. The tech will change too rapidly with each generation. One of the fairest and most comprehensive reviews I have watched. You won me. SUBSCRIBED!!!!!
The USB port by the cup holders is waterproof. Given how solid BMW's EVs are on CLAR architecture, I can only hope they don't continue this design language trend for the next gen of EVs on dedicated architecture (planned for 2025-). They will definitely be among the best, and will be compelling buys if the styling and pricing aren't off-putting.
@@valdius85 It just means that it's not constantly powered, so getting liquid in it isn't going to cause a short (if dried before using). Like most electronics. I agree that you still don't want to spill things in it, though. Although I've personally never spilled anything near the center console in any car, only on myself...
I'm curious how that'll be changing moving forward. Plenty of non-Tesla cars are capable of very quick fast charging now. Largely just need the non-Tesla infrastructure to keep building out. It's better now than it was two years ago, and it'll be better in another two years. I do also think the necessity of fast charging is often overstated. Quite a large percentage of drivers do not make huge road trips very often if ever, and have short daily commutes and weekly grinds.
I watch a few other channels for car reviews, but when I need to make a decision, I wait for you guys to come out with a video if I want to know exactly what I need to know. Keep ti up!
I am a UX designer by trade, that iDrive UI is a hot mess. Really compliments the hideous exterior. I’m pretty desperate to get out of my Tesla Model Y because the shitty suspension is killing me, but this BMW just isn’t quite there, all these ICE platform conversions are 200kgs+ heavier than cars with proper EV platforms. Powerful motors can make them feel swift but the weight kills range. BMW was pure unobtainium when I was a teenager, but now that I can afford one, I find they’re just not desirable.
I agree this is visually horrible and I think it will make you tired having to look at it if you drive it all day. The EV market isn't yet at the level where these cars are amazing, give it 5 to 10 years of heavy investment and adoption and I think we will start to see insane cars that are worth the money.
@@henkondemand Feels like some crappy android UI. I have more than enough of computer screens and would much rather have a few simple buttons so I can relax from having to deal with menus and enjoy the view outside.
Tesla 3/Y doesn't have air suspension. So that's why your ride is shitty. If you can afford Model X, it has an air suspension which is good, not as good as MB S class though.
15:28 The first time I saw that corner you were pulling 1g in a 811 and wondering what would happen if there was gravel. Today must be odd to have a quiet motor and hear more feedback from the tires.
Sound in EVs is not just a gimmick. Without it, you will notice a lot more road and wind noise. Having a certain level white noise, whether coming from the engine or generated artificially, is a good thing.
For $76k, I'm just not seeing it. The ugly front end, tacked on touch screens, lack of physical knobs. It's a necessary stop-gap to make an EV on a traditional combustion engine frame, but this feels like a lease rather than something to own.
@@directorjustin plus the price of electricity is a lot more stable than the price of fuel. Maybe this car can't be your only car, but it can be the car you use for 90% of the time.
15:21 I'm not sure if it's the video edit or the frequencies the mic has emphasized, but the shepherd tone in the car sounds like it isn't working correctly? Does anyone else just hear a bass tone rising an octave, then starting repeatedly over and over? Like an alarm? Once you notice it, it's not nice at all. I'm not trying to be deliberately argumentive here, i know the guys praised it. But I can literally hear how the shepherd tone repeats and i don't think you should. Not sure what's gone wrong.
I'm a current 4 series owner and was really hoping this would be a daily driver option, but at that price and without the physical buttons I don't think I could live with it. I'm miss the Saab black dash button....
This video gave me an idea: as you're blasting past a certain MPH, the audio system should emit a low-frequency sonic boom like effect that you can feel
We bought an e40 msport that I think, based on test drives is more balanced and refined than the M50. Over 11,000 miles the average efficiency has been 3.7 mi/kWh. Very pleased with this car.
Just traded my model 3 performance in for this got tired of the minimalistic dull interior and this looks far more sleek and aggresive. Someone said my m3p looked like an egg and that hit me hard 💀 having no HUD or gauge clusters is just cost cutting. The fit and finish is just night and day. The luxury is insane. This thing just keeps pushing harder and harder when u hit the gas. I decided on this car after seeing all its benefits and it being faster then the tesla. As shown on carwow. Couldnt recommend it enough for around town driving. I still love my bmw m5 for the weekend when i wanna have fun
You’ll be saying the same thing about the 7 in a few years. This design was the same shock to people when it first came out. You’re just used to seeing it now.
@@ajlee6933 dude, shit is shit. it's not gonna look better in 20 years. there are some examples where designs grew on people, fair enough. but there are also more than enough examples where they didn't. The thing about this design is not just that it's ugly. It's also stupid because they obviously forgot that a license plate needs to go there, cutting that already stupid grill up in such an unrefined way. this design is never going to look good any way you look at it
Does the Shapard Tone start replicating an increasing cacophony of breakage as the car approaches 100k miles to give that true BMW ownership experience?
Having sat in a 3 series and this back to back, the new infotainment makes the old one look archaic. The screens being stuck is much ado about nothing. They’re big, beautiful and far easier to read than the old one.
I cannot get over how good you guys are! Your reviews are top notch, so informative, sharp wit, realistic and you generally care about the things that matter to me too. Best car channel on UA-cam. I am a huge Bimmer honk (currently '13 X5 (wife and 3 kids), '08 M3, '08 128i) and love that their take on an EV was not awful. But they gotta do something about those dollar store plastic grills, gahhhh, shoot me in the face! I am sure the aftermarket crowd will find a solution. That being said, until the government rips my petrol car from my frigid lifeless hands, I am sticking with my manual transmission ICE car; currently an '06 Subi manual wagon that I aim to trade up for an E39 manual wagon. I find it very difficult to get excited about any modern car other than the 992 GT3 6MT and that one is a wee bit out of reach currently. Now Savagegeese, show me your God-like powers and find me an awesome shop that will stuff an S65 into my 128i in the Pacific Northwest. PS, my wife reletlessly makes fun of me every time she sees me watching one of your films because when I first saw your films I commented that I thought you guys were brothers. I proudly informed her that in one your Arby's fueled live streams, you commented that on a trip to Hawaii some local asked if you guys were brothers. To which she replied, I guess there really are people more face-blind than you. Keep up the ace work. If you find me that shop I will become a patreon member and buy a shirt. I place my trust in the brothers Mark and Jack.
@1:45 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Great review as always guys, love your work. Wonder if this is still the case - back when I had my E82 and F30 cars there was a table that had a list of all the fake engine noises you could select from if you had access to tuning software. So you could change the sound of your 4cyl 328i to that of the M3 (from within the cabin at least, and sort of...). If you could take the i4M50 noise and add it to a G series car with a combustion engine, wonder how it'd sound?
I really don't get screens in luxury cars.... they all look so cheap and gimmicky, what looks better a Rolex with all the cogs and gears visible or black screen on your wrist?
I only have one issue, why rag on the manual steering wheel adjustment? I don't even remember what the one on my F80 is, I adjusted it once to my liking
Multiple drivers since profiles are a huge part of BMWs iDrive setup. Matched to different keys or face it can change entire car to match your settings. The wheel is part of that.
Thank you for a complete review as always and thank you for providing your opinion on the car while taking in consideration the different type of drivers, which many reviewers do not take into account.
100% agree that the new infotainment looks cheap, stuck on and is a massive step back in terms of aesthetics and practicality in subsuming the physical controls
Ah yes, the "Beaver" as my girlfriend calls it - and she is by no means in any way a 'car person' or aware of the discussion on the latest BMW design decisions. That is a legitimate impression by a person on that car. However still not as bad as the iX/X >3 abominations
U guys knocked it out of the park. This channel is by far the best car review channel, keep it up! Plz do a ss 1le manual review. Would love to hear your takes.
Impressively normal is a bulls eye description of the i4... It really is an amazing car that feels so natural even though it's brand new. Very familiar territory.
I wanted to get away from a petrol engine and going to a gas station. This is the perfect EV for me and I don't miss my RS6 at all. I can charge at home and it is always ready to drive, with no warm up time, no limiting RPM and interior heat when cold. BMW have made a winner for me. :-)
At about $10K more than the M340i, the tax credit pretty much makes this have price parity with the gas version. If you live in a high gas tax State get this, if not get the gas one. Same car, your choice of power train. Makes far better sense than some ugly weird new EV-only pod; just give us the car we like in EV form. Now, please get rid of the tacked on screen design BMW. It looks cheap. Integrate the screen into the dash. Please. Oh and all car makers: Stop spending time and money on sounds for EVs. We bought an EV; we know it makes no sound. The stupid sounds are annoying after about 9 days and we turn it off forever. Many modern gas cars make little to almost no sound under 3000 rpm. We are used to things being very quiet. We have music. Please. Stop.
Calling Hans Zimmer to make "prenium engine sounds" well it makes sense, some fake engine noises are just ridiculous Love "in the shoppe" segments! You guys are the best!
The fact that this car weighs 2.5 tons (more than teslas and basically any EV on the market) and BMW have the audacity to call it "the ultimate driving experience" when it weighs as much as a freight train
@@henrik1743 Tesla's are all plastics, hence why they are so cheap (relatively speaking, given the crazy performance). I don't hate either, I mean to each his own.
I drove this at an Ultimate Driving Experience event. Believe me, you don't feel the weight as much as you think. Will this outperform a M3 on the track? No, it wouldn't. But, it's not designed to do that. Because of the low center of gravity with the battery packs, it surprisingly doesn't feel heavy. BTW, I own a 3100 lbs e36 M3.
@@haywood41 If you drive an e36 M3 you should hate the new steering in all bmw's, I sold my F30 335d, I couldn't handle the steering when you wanted some spirited driving. The e36 was amazing, could even get factory LSD on non m models. But I drive E46 again. Started collecting manual 330i's, looks and drives amazing. I think those will go up crazy in value when people start missing them after driving these new "bmws'"
I can forsee these touch controls being regulated to some extent. Having to navigate through multiple menus on what is essentially just a giant smart phone slapped onto the dash of your car also equally leads to much more distracted driving. You may not be texting, but if you're having to fumble with your car's tablet to turn down the AC, I except you're more likely to hit someone or something.
Revisiting this review - if I hadn’t moved from my Civic to a TLX in late ‘22, I’d instead be saving up for an i4 (or whatever comes after this). I’m the kind of buyer who wants a smooth, capable freeway cruiser for infrequent commuting and weekend errands, and my weekly mileage is well within the range estimate of this car. I’m getting excited about EVs nowadays.
The PIG nose grille makes zero sense on an EV. I thought that it’s purpose was to help cool down the ICE cars. Unless EVs require air cooling or radiators that I didn’t know of.
The buried the forward sensor hardware behind these grilles. I saw a pic on Google somewhere of this car with the front bumper off and there is a lot of stuff going on back there… so whatever you do don’t hit anything because it’s going to be💰 😭
Soon you're going to get a UA-cam strike for copyrighted "driving sound" being used in the video... BTW, you blurred the speedometer in the driving section but you didn't do it in the final thought. You might want to fix that. Cheers and thanks for your honest reviews and great work.
This EV shows some hope for enthusiasts, but weighing over 5000 lbs for a smallish sedan is a massive alarm for material requirements, crash compatibility, pedestrian safety, and overall efficiency. A Model 3 is 1000 pounds lighter
Model 3 is like nothing but plastic... I'm all aware and fully acknowledge that Tesla simply has the best tech (look at the performance numbers), but it's a joke to consider Tesla luxury.
@@dailyrant4068 most of the weight difference is from the inefficiencies of converting a gas car to ev. A little more sound deadening is not contributing a whole 1000 pounds
@@rudyyyxu It's not just sound deadening. Everything is heavier when you want nicer things. Suspension parts, doors, panels. Could BMW have gone to more weight saving? Sure, but to dismiss it as sound deadening is just wrong
Nice review. You have to keep in mind: electric cars are born out of necessity…..the need to reduce emissions. In Europe people drive a lot of the time in urban environments…. And in congested areas , in traffic jams. That’s where an electric car makes sense. Plus: electricity is much cheaper than fuel, and sometimes sourced from ‘green energy’. You could top up the battery with 200 km for 10 of 15 usd….try doing that with petrol or diesel…!On top of that, BMW builds great cars. The perceived quality difference with Tesla is so big.
Despite it’s shortcomings I would rather choose this than any Tesla. We know for a fact that the build quality is going to be immensely better, alongside with better materials and this will be more engaging to drive.
I've driven a this model AND a Tesla Model 3 LR, the LR handled better overall, the BMW had better ride quality i.e. did a better job of handling the road, bumps etc... but the Tesla Model 3 LR was more engaging to drive this surprised me. I have seen reviews in the UK (checkout Joe Achilles) of the base model i4 eDrive 40 that handles and drives better than the M50.
Absolutely. If you want to go with one that's a bit less money, Polestar 2. I can't deal with the mediocrity and indifferent build quality of Tesla no matter how good the software and efficiency is or their charger network. Fundamentally, there is a certain refinement in what Tesla fans like to call "legacy auto" that Tesla doesn't even seem to be trying to do. I do think BMW put a lot of compromises into packaging this that a pure EV won't have.
More engaging to drive? How so? It’s a slug compared to even a Model 3 DMP and certainly a Plaid anything. Tesla is way ahead of BMW in technology and battery management.
@@Osmosis909 I’d agree. As a Tesla owner, the one thing Elon could really add to the Y and 3 is adaptive air or electronic suspension. The Model 3 is much quicker than this BMW. An M3 or M4 it is not. One other thing, Tesla does not do like BMW or Porsche/Audi and force option the car to raise the price. As to being a worthy alternative to Tesla Model 3, the $16k price delta says different.
@@Osmosis909 That’s actually surprising to hear and impressive on Tesla part! For me I wouldn’t even consider a Tesla no matter how good the tech is, the quality for what you pay for is hilariously awful. In the longterm materials and quality of the ride is something that matters to me rather than a 0-60. Also although it’s subjective I find every Tesla to be ugly, it doesn’t give me that look back at my car everytime I exit type of feel. Don’t get me wrong though they’re not bad cars overall!
I love how you mention that electric vehicles have more room for design expression in the front end and then we see the i4 and it looks like a wreck with a massive fake grille. Way to be creative bmw!
I find it smart to think about the worldwide car market, and not specifically US one. Because yep, it's not extremely relevant for now in the US, but in Europe a B58 engine can be heavily taxed, therfore a EV may make sense especially in the coming years
Everyone knows the windshield isn't for seeing out of while driving anymore, it's to provide natural lighting for the small cinema suite of screens glued to the dashboard.
Cynical much?
@@Tomoyo0827 let him vent.
you should be hired by savagegeese
One day BMW will put the screen in windscreen.
Honestly I don’t see anything wrong with this trend
This review is a great example of why this is the absolute best car review channel on UA-cam. The technical details combined with the knowledge gained by experiencing so many vehicles and the interaction between Mark and Jack make this second to none.
Agreed. As someone in the auto industry with a UA-cam addiction, I'll say I trust these lads opinion over any other channel.
The sexual tension between Savage and Turbowski was way better.
I concur, sir!
What technical details? The Hanz Zimmer sounds they discussed for 1/2 the show? What about charging, efficiency, route planning, 0-60, etc.
Best no. They lead with negative and that’s why I unsubscribed to them. Their hate the world anti attitude is draining.
I'm amazed that all these touch screen controls aren't outlawed. These are just as dangerous as texting while driving.
$$$$$$ every fuckin thing is about that
100%
If you don’t have the coordination to be able to switch track on a touchscreen while driving you shouldn’t have a license…
@@linusheim Is that part of the test, though?
Yes bmw could have just kept their already excellent hug controls and make everything else built in to screen tbh!
I test drove the i4 M50 today. As a Tesla Model Y driver for the last year and a half, I was blown away. It’s the first EV I’ve ever driven that actually feels like a high performance luxury vehicle. The lack of a frunk really annoys me, but I’m having the dealership appraise my Tesla to see how plausible it is for me to get one. I was not a BMW fan until I drove this gorgeous machine. Thank you for your review. It inspired me to schedule the test drive.
Tesla had so much lead time to make the workmanship of their products better but no, they'd rather add fart noises and video games to their console instead.
@@pissupehelwan They stagnated hard. The Model S and X going on 11 and 8 years old. Model 3 and Y look somewhat modern but even then the Model 3 is about to be 5 years old. They can't build the cybertruck, semi, or Roadster.
As a Tesla owner, don't you care range? 227miles with 20" wheels is pathetic. I am not sure what's different from other BMW in terms of interior. Well if you didn't experience other BMW, then maybe you could say it's nice. I've never used frunk my frunk by the way.
@@bhbae1 I test drove the one with 19" wheels, which is closer to 270 miles of range. Not stellar, but I'm not getting much better in my MY. The newer EVs seem to be a lot more accurate with their range estimates. Tesla's ranges are inaccurate because they're based on keeping the acceleration on chill, not running autopilot, not running sentry mode or dashcam, not running AC, etc. Real world range for the MY LR is closer to 250-280. My parents have a Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the range is spot on, even with AC running and traveling at highway speeds.
Did you get your i4? I am in a similar boat as you…have a model S and seriously considering the i4.
Law: You can't use your phone while driving
Also Law: Use the infotainment instead which is more confusing and more dangerous
It's a $200 fine to use a cell phone in a school zone. Tapping all over your car's infotainment? Go for it!
@@Lazirus951 well your car doesn't have Twitter, til too, and Instagram. As a pro truck driver people aren't fooling with their infotainment this jack and mark make it sound. Now phones on the other hand.....
Idiocracy in its full extent.
Are you planning on texting with the car's touchscreen? Maybe driver is the problem?
@@nguyep4 What a dumb comment. When you're required to take your eyes off the road to deal with necessary car functions, yes it's distracting, not driver error at all.
Ok. It’s heavy. And that grill again. But I like that BMW are subtly futuristic rather than trying to make their EVs into spaceships. At least it’s a regular car. With proper quality. They just need to work on efficiency. That’s where Tesla’s USP is right now.
I do want my car to look like a spaceship , just not the ugly one
Wear?
aka a half developed stopgap without the batteries in the floor where they should be
@@papa_pt batteries are in the floor AND trans tunnel.
The 227 mi range i4 M50 with 20" wheels blew away its EPA rating, actually beat some of the Teslas, which are the worst for not meeting their EPA ratings.
Time really flies. I bought an off lease Kia K900 after watching your review and now I have a i4 M50 on order!
"after a certain mile-per-hour you should go to the next level like WOAH"
5/2/22: Mark invents EVTEC
Best car review channel. Doesn't sugar coat stuff and focus on the areas that are lacking, NOT JUST talk about the features, which people can learn from the car company website. Keep it up. Continue to be a real/tough reviewer.
Man, you would think at this thing's price point, they could find a way to figure out that glitch where the speedo goes all fuzzy and unreadable above 60mph!
Well, they seem to have fixed it by the end of the video
😂
After test driving lots of EVs, we ordered an i4 eDrive 40 M Sport. Less weight and RWD translates to better driving dynamics than the M50, with the added benefit of more range. Our net-positive efficient house produces an excess of solar power, so essentially free charging for life. When our Audi S4 reaches its sell-by date we’ll get a B58 BMW or an Audi RS3, so the i4 doesn’t need to operate like a 2.5 ton sports car. Our goal is a chill, efficient drive with no disagreeable handling or braking quirks and a cabin we won’t mind spending time in. My only gripe, which applies to many manufacturers, is that optioning up means bigger wheels. The M Sport package on our car ups the wheels to 19 inches with a corresponding ~7% range cut. Hopefully, some aftermarket company will produce lightweight forged aero wheels in future.
Who cares about 7% range? Are you driving 300 miles+ per day?
I ordered the M50 as daily because I don’t care about the range and I want the punch. I don’t care if I get 450 or 400 kilometers range. There are only maybe 10 days per year when I need the range. And this means I will be on the charger maybe 5 minutes longer.
LOL@"Sell-by-date"..😅. Good one. I never thought of applying that principle to cars. Have you considered going with some 18' after market wheels? 18 seems to be the sweet spot for these EVs. Better range and comfort since your tire side wall will be slightly taller.
Lol, so you bought a slower car to go 30 miles more? You really driving 300 miles a day? 100% doubt it. So stupid.
@@Bimmer_i4_M50 First off, the -7% range drop the OP was talking about is between the 18” vs 19” tires on the e40. He wasn’t talking about the m50. The range drops dramatically more between the e40 18” vs m50 20”. Secondly, you can’t judge how another person places value into what’s important for them. Maybe the OP commutes a lot more than you and needs a better range. Who cares about the getting 0-60 1.8 seconds faster than the e40 under normal traffic conditions??LOL. 😂😂😂
Hans Zimmer can't fool me. Clearly all he did here was sample the sound of Homer Simpson's toaster time machine.
Great review!! Happy I stumbled upon it!
As for costs, you need to remember 2 things:
1. US Fed Gov rebate of $7,500 (possibly more in states rebates).
2. BMW gives you 2 years of FREE 30 minutes charging at Electrify America stations. With fast charging that's going for about 10% to 80%. Theoretically making fuel free for two years!
Both these factors amount to HUGE savings.
The tax credits are not long term. Im sure they will go away in a few years. They will sell tons of these. The free charging is slick.
This review is amazing. You discuss so many nuances about the car that other reviewers gloss over or don't cover, especially about how the rear feels when rotating through a corner compared to the traditional BMW 3/4 series with a LSD. I really appreciate that about your channel.
I love that my car has LSD, but I could imagine giving my car up if I could still have the LSD. 😄
Definitely one of the coolest "sounding" EVs I've heard
I think the taycan is alot better. It has real bass and does sound like an engine at a distance. This is just funky noises.
Both Taycan and this sound pretty good, this is less complex but still effective.
This is the best in my opinion, it’s not some monotone drone. it actually feels like something is going on under the hood.
The Kia EV6 offers 3 unique choices for sounds. It's very cool and although a KIA product, definitely worth looking into. Me on the other hand, I prefer just listening to metal and flooring it.
@@macaron3141592653 this has a lot of bass
Man, I really hope that at some point BMW starts using the design flexibility afforded by EV powertrains and returns to smaller kidney grille designs.
I’d be okay with them getting rid of the kidney grille altogether. They have a very recognizable emblem that many associate with the brand.
@@User.Joshua I kind of like what some concept EVs have where the "grille" is just an outline drawn with LEDs.
Or turn the car into a pair of kidneys
@@phreshone1 that seems to be where the design language is heading...
They've gone on to say that this design language is here to stay so that's just out of question, it's never coming back.
My last gen bimmer looks really basic in the interior but everything is physical and clean and works great so can't complain for sure
But everyone complained, so now they changed it. I don’t get people. We are never satisfied.
@@ajlee6933 The loudest voices are the complainers. Companies look into the complaints they get and make changes, but fail to recognize the vast majority of customers NOT complaining.
@@ajlee6933 it's the car journalists who complained. These companies bow down to these out of touch with reality people. It was car journalists who complained about "too many buttons"...well have fun with your capacitive touch interface now
Enjoy it working great while it lasts.
From a manufacturing perspective it's so much easier to attach on a screen than putting dials & screen in a dash, cut down on time, workforces and less machineries (usually there's a whole line dedicated to the dials etc) .. Yet they now charge a premium on the car for "screen"
Sure, less wires and switch gear. At least Mercedes blends the screens into the dash and console with a sense of style.
I don't care about the ease of manufacturing, there needs to be regulations against this shit just like distracted driving from phones...
I think the iDrive 7 got it right. It was the right mix of physical buttons and touch screen if you wanted it. I do like the instrument cluster display in the iDrive 8 better though.
That interior is stunning except for the glued on screen. I wish they would have integrated a hood over it and gave it more of a traditional look. At this rate, I'll be able to buy one more 8-10 year old BMW before our next daily driver is electric I guess.
You must enjoy working on cars.
@@fcv1967 I do 😂
After your use of the word "stunning" I went back to revisit the video and unfortunately, I just can't see it. I mean, here you have this 'ugly' tacked on screen taking up so much real estate and is the focal point in the car and the rest is just typical of what one should expect from a luxury car costing upwards of $70000.
@@Mark-de4hj I can see that. Thinking back, it screams classic BMW to me, and looks really good. Like an interior that will look great 20 years from now too.
“We moved to a new grille design to provide airflow to the radiators and intake.”
_still puts them on an electric vehicle_
Because it's just the ICE chassis with an electric engine slapped into it.
@@toddp9286 but they could've done alway with the "grill"
@@toddp9286 what does the chassis have to do with grille styling?
@@matthewp9015 They didn't bother to redesign anything with the EV in mind, so they kept everything.
I LOVE how there is no time wasted at the start and you jump right into the review. And I know its been said multiple times but wth, I love all the technical details. I always learn something new when watching your reviews.
Interesting dialogue in this video. I like that you guys have adapted your reviews for EVs by making comparisons about things like vermal management for the batteries. Keep it up!
This is my favorite EV right now, mostly because it doesn't look like an unfinished spaceship. However, that front grill. I try really hard to love it, but it just won't grow on me. Also, i say it again and again, but this TV sticked to the dashboard is horrendous and i can't see how it's safer to use than nicely laid out physical switches. On a positive note, thank you again for your high quality reviews.
Interesting. I normally am a BMW fan, but this is one of my less favorite EVs because of the compromises inherent in shoehorning EV components into a platform that was primarily intended for gasoline cars. If I'm going to make the sacrifices that come with an EV, at least give me the perks -- more storage space (frunk), no back-seat floor hump. I do think there are some good/interesting things here, like making a real effort at good sound design, and the car looks "normal" rather than an amorphous blob, but those are the tradeoffs I guess.
Please, shut up with this stupid "that front grill" blah blah, because it's getting too old an fucking boring!
The vertically grill design fits absolutely perfect to these BMW models, like 4 Series, M3 and M4 models.
BMW double kidney grill design language absolutely doesn't mean, that it only has to be wide or even stupidly wider. And this has to go on for ever??? Come on, dude!!
The more vertically grill design fits these new BMW models perfect. The design of this more vertically designed grill is kind of menacing and looks absolutely cool on the road. It has a presence! I just can't see a downside of its design. And at least, it's a matter of taste. But people like you and a lot of other "that grill" trashtalkers really think, that they are kind of "style police" and having "the only opinion about its design which make sense", and who can critizise everything which is coming from BMW.
Honestly, you are way too uneducated in design, dude! Therefore just stop your stupid design critizism blah blah, because you know fucking nothing about it!
The annoying "that grill" blah blah goes on for way too long now and is nothing but boring!!! After two years of "that grill" comments from idiots on the internet, this blah blah is just fucking BORING, but nothing more!
And by the way: it's just your taste and the taste of a few other styling clowns, who are totally small minded, who seemingly can't get over the fact, that design is always moving forward and isn't frozen for decades. BMW customers absolutely like this new 4 Series grill design. All these real BMW customers are the only people who really matter for BMW, but not all these fucking annoying "that grill style experts" on the internet, who don't have money for a new BMW model!
The new vertically BMW grill design is absolutely perfect for these cars, period!
If the BMW 4 Series, M3 and M4 wouldn't have this vertically grill, they all would be looking quite the same in the front like a BMW 8 Series model, which still has this classic wide double kidney grill.
BMW did this for a purpose. The vertically grill in 4 Series and i4 looks unique and is totally cool.
Greetings from Munich, Germany!
@@rogersmj EVs I think should look apart from gasoline car. My reasons being it is new technology and should have new feel and look to it. Similarly, how smartphones are distinct post-Apple compare to pre-Apple smartphones.
in real life it looks good
Form me the tv is there only for the navigation and to set up some things when stationary. By moving basic functions there they are forcing me to interact with it while driving. That's not good
The ultimate UK company car (you pay tax based on emissions, so essentially nothing for one of these) but less desirable than an M440i. Will sell absolutely bucketloads of these.
Because EVs pay no road tax due to no emissions, the government are rolling out something similar to road tax for ev owners, since they still use the roads.
Something like contributing towards maintenance and etc.
@@Patient_Lion_BS Fixed until April 2025 so company car drivers taking cars for the next few years will be fine.
I am so glad to see car reviewers coming around, fairly quickly, to something that I thought was evident back in 1996...
Screens aren't all that.
They can be. Implementing a screen is one thing. Maximizing its potential is another thing entirely and is where most brands fail.
Totally agree with your review with one exception. The delta is $10k, but that's before the federal and state incentives which can approach $10k, in my state around $8300 minimum. So the i4 is actually cheaper when combines with operating costs. Then it comes down to other factors like range, do you want/need an HOV lane sticker for single occupant, etc.
Very good points, sir!
That's assuming you actually can redeem all of those tax incentives. It's not a discount and frankly if you never owe a dime to uncle Sam come tax time it doesn't matter. The loan is still for that 10k delta whether you can redeem 1k or 8k in tax incentives.
@@bigcjm These are common myths. If you pay no taxes to the federal government and cannot utilize a $7500 federal tax credit, then I can pretty much guarantee you you are not buying an EV, as you have no income, and won't qualify for a loan or lease. So, maybe I should clarify, for the incredibly rare situation where you can afford a Tesla, or BMW i4, iX, or a Mustang Mach E, or any of the other BEVs which are typically $50k+, and you have no taxable income, then yes, the credit will not be of use. For the overwhelming majority of consumers who can afford a modern day BEV, they have taxable income to shield and can utilize the tax credit in full. Technically you are correct, in reality, no. In addition, for those who lease, many of the captive finance companies, allow you to take up to 100% of the federal tax credit as a capital cost reduction. A bigger question is do incentives matter? For the fossil fuel industry, they will tell you they don't matter and consumers don't need them, hey look at any of these BEVs there are waitlists. For the rest of us, not in the fossil fuel camp, those who want to see an energy transition, who care about the future of the planet, 100%, incentives are not only necessary, but warranted.
@@ultradaves that’s just not true. Many people like my self pay very little to no fed income taxes. If your business strategy utilizes tax loopholes/incentives/write offs… I’m putting in an order this week.
@@MrGStache You're an outlier. The vast majority of those buying these cars will have a normal 9-5 job where they make $100k+. At $100k it's a 15% effective tax rate, so $15k owed federally (usually taken out of the paycheck by the employer). All you need is $7500 of tax liability which is very little. It's prorated too, so if you managed to only owe $5k of taxes, they still slap on a $5k credit.
Some hate the grill, but as one who’s owned BMWs since the early 80’s, I love it. Ordered the 35 model two weeks ago.
Thank you for the work you do, it sounds like a regular person reviewing cars
My i4 will be my 4th BMW. I have never put a bottle in the door space. However, I know many people who use that area for bottles and umbrellas. Also, my previous and current BMW does not have a button in that area. So, I agree that the design choice was not smart. The interior design is dated. The base price of 4WD M50 led me to get the RWD i4 edrive40 which allowed me to add Driver and Parking assistant packages, HUD which includes Premium package, drive recorder, and wireless charging for 61K. When I considered I would never go to the track or race anyone on public highways or streets I could not justify the M50 performance over the edrive40 range. Also agree with leasing EVs. The tech will change too rapidly with each generation. One of the fairest and most comprehensive reviews I have watched. You won me. SUBSCRIBED!!!!!
The USB port by the cup holders is waterproof.
Given how solid BMW's EVs are on CLAR architecture, I can only hope they don't continue this design language trend for the next gen of EVs on dedicated architecture (planned for 2025-). They will definitely be among the best, and will be compelling buys if the styling and pricing aren't off-putting.
I still wouldn’t risk it. It’s not a good placement for it to begin with. Why would you put it on the door?
How do you define a waterproof electrical outlet?
Especially that likely it would be detailed water inside but coffee or soda. :)
@@valdius85 It just means that it's not constantly powered, so getting liquid in it isn't going to cause a short (if dried before using). Like most electronics. I agree that you still don't want to spill things in it, though. Although I've personally never spilled anything near the center console in any car, only on myself...
EV reviews really should include a segment on the DC fast charging experience.
Hint: nothing comes close to Tesla yet. And non tesla chargers cost around same as gasoline so what's the benefit?
@@grahamstefaan I own a tesla, i already know how good the supercharging network is. Im curious at how the other brands are like.
@@grahamstefaan I expected from Savagegeese at least the charging curve.
When it comes to DC fast charging, there's the Tesla experience, and then there's, well... everything else.
I'm curious how that'll be changing moving forward. Plenty of non-Tesla cars are capable of very quick fast charging now. Largely just need the non-Tesla infrastructure to keep building out. It's better now than it was two years ago, and it'll be better in another two years.
I do also think the necessity of fast charging is often overstated. Quite a large percentage of drivers do not make huge road trips very often if ever, and have short daily commutes and weekly grinds.
I watch a few other channels for car reviews, but when I need to make a decision, I wait for you guys to come out with a video if I want to know exactly what I need to know. Keep ti up!
Im glad I came across this video, I’m currently on the market for an EV and I’ve always wanted a BMW. This is a great non biased review.
I am a UX designer by trade, that iDrive UI is a hot mess. Really compliments the hideous exterior. I’m pretty desperate to get out of my Tesla Model Y because the shitty suspension is killing me, but this BMW just isn’t quite there, all these ICE platform conversions are 200kgs+ heavier than cars with proper EV platforms. Powerful motors can make them feel swift but the weight kills range. BMW was pure unobtainium when I was a teenager, but now that I can afford one, I find they’re just not desirable.
I agree this is visually horrible and I think it will make you tired having to look at it if you drive it all day. The EV market isn't yet at the level where these cars are amazing, give it 5 to 10 years of heavy investment and adoption and I think we will start to see insane cars that are worth the money.
@@henkondemand Feels like some crappy android UI. I have more than enough of computer screens and would much rather have a few simple buttons so I can relax from having to deal with menus and enjoy the view outside.
Tesla 3/Y doesn't have air suspension. So that's why your ride is shitty. If you can afford Model X, it has an air suspension which is good, not as good as MB S class though.
The chinese market like that "bling bling" look at the exterior and interior (specially the UI) so isn't going to change any soon.
@@MuitoDaora Eh it's not just the Chinese, they are chasing Tesla's design trend, if you can even call it "design."
55k seems pretty good for an EV
Also, hans zimmer looks really funny riding around listening to his own car noises, like smugly satisfied
15:28 The first time I saw that corner you were pulling 1g in a 811 and wondering what would happen if there was gravel. Today must be odd to have a quiet motor and hear more feedback from the tires.
Sound in EVs is not just a gimmick. Without it, you will notice a lot more road and wind noise. Having a certain level white noise, whether coming from the engine or generated artificially, is a good thing.
For $76k, I'm just not seeing it. The ugly front end, tacked on touch screens, lack of physical knobs. It's a necessary stop-gap to make an EV on a traditional combustion engine frame, but this feels like a lease rather than something to own.
I'll get myself an Audi Q7 for that price even though it also has touch screens at least it will fully charge under 3 minutes.
@@111danish111 waiting 30min for 0-80% really isn't a big deal. When most people re fuel they usually stretch out or eat.
@@dragospahontu Not to mention if you charge at home, you will most likely spend less time waiting to charge than waiting to refuel at a gas station.
@@directorjustin plus the price of electricity is a lot more stable than the price of fuel.
Maybe this car can't be your only car, but it can be the car you use for 90% of the time.
@@dragospahontu stable today. Governments will require EV chargers to be on a different meter in the future. To make up for lost gas tax revenue.
15:21 I'm not sure if it's the video edit or the frequencies the mic has emphasized, but the shepherd tone in the car sounds like it isn't working correctly? Does anyone else just hear a bass tone rising an octave, then starting repeatedly over and over? Like an alarm? Once you notice it, it's not nice at all.
I'm not trying to be deliberately argumentive here, i know the guys praised it. But I can literally hear how the shepherd tone repeats and i don't think you should. Not sure what's gone wrong.
I'm a current 4 series owner and was really hoping this would be a daily driver option, but at that price and without the physical buttons I don't think I could live with it.
I'm miss the Saab black dash button....
I enjoy your videos so much. The comedy, analysis and viewpoints are so complete. Keep it up, can't wait for the next one!
This video gave me an idea: as you're blasting past a certain MPH, the audio system should emit a low-frequency sonic boom like effect that you can feel
... and that would be a goal to many people in any kind of road...
@@kuchodin self control still applies
We bought an e40 msport that I think, based on test drives is more balanced and refined than the M50. Over 11,000 miles the average efficiency has been 3.7 mi/kWh. Very pleased with this car.
The more I see these cars with screens everywhere the more I love my 02 corvette.
Just traded my model 3 performance in for this got tired of the minimalistic dull interior and this looks far more sleek and aggresive. Someone said my m3p looked like an egg and that hit me hard 💀 having no HUD or gauge clusters is just cost cutting. The fit and finish is just night and day. The luxury is insane. This thing just keeps pushing harder and harder when u hit the gas. I decided on this car after seeing all its benefits and it being faster then the tesla. As shown on carwow. Couldnt recommend it enough for around town driving. I still love my bmw m5 for the weekend when i wanna have fun
After seeing the monstrosity that the new 7-series has become… this dosen’t look so bad anymore 🤷♂️
You’ll be saying the same thing about the 7 in a few years. This design was the same shock to people when it first came out. You’re just used to seeing it now.
@@ajlee6933 dude, shit is shit. it's not gonna look better in 20 years. there are some examples where designs grew on people, fair enough. but there are also more than enough examples where they didn't. The thing about this design is not just that it's ugly. It's also stupid because they obviously forgot that a license plate needs to go there, cutting that already stupid grill up in such an unrefined way. this design is never going to look good any way you look at it
Huge fan of the channel, and had my biggest surprise laugh so far at the Miller Lite bottle fumbling clip applied to calm dialog. Quietly hilarious.
Rear blinkers are a $3,499.49 add on option.
And their operation will be subscription based
And according to my local BMW sales guy the take rate on the blinker package is 1%.
People wonder why BMW drivers don’t signal their turns. Simply costs too much.
I love that you go really in depth. The nerd in me really appreciates you talking about Hans Zimmer.
Does the Shapard Tone start replicating an increasing cacophony of breakage as the car approaches 100k miles to give that true BMW ownership experience?
Having sat in a 3 series and this back to back, the new infotainment makes the old one look archaic. The screens being stuck is much ado about nothing. They’re big, beautiful and far easier to read than the old one.
Hopefully you guys get a chance to drive the eDrive40 version as well, most people that have driven both seem to say it's the better driving one.
I cannot get over how good you guys are! Your reviews are top notch, so informative, sharp wit, realistic and you generally care about the things that matter to me too. Best car channel on UA-cam.
I am a huge Bimmer honk (currently '13 X5 (wife and 3 kids), '08 M3, '08 128i) and love that their take on an EV was not awful. But they gotta do something about those dollar store plastic grills, gahhhh, shoot me in the face! I am sure the aftermarket crowd will find a solution. That being said, until the government rips my petrol car from my frigid lifeless hands, I am sticking with my manual transmission ICE car; currently an '06 Subi manual wagon that I aim to trade up for an E39 manual wagon. I find it very difficult to get excited about any modern car other than the 992 GT3 6MT and that one is a wee bit out of reach currently.
Now Savagegeese, show me your God-like powers and find me an awesome shop that will stuff an S65 into my 128i in the Pacific Northwest.
PS, my wife reletlessly makes fun of me every time she sees me watching one of your films because when I first saw your films I commented that I thought you guys were brothers. I proudly informed her that in one your Arby's fueled live streams, you commented that on a trip to Hawaii some local asked if you guys were brothers. To which she replied, I guess there really are people more face-blind than you.
Keep up the ace work. If you find me that shop I will become a patreon member and buy a shirt. I place my trust in the brothers Mark and Jack.
@1:45 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Great review as always guys, love your work. Wonder if this is still the case - back when I had my E82 and F30 cars there was a table that had a list of all the fake engine noises you could select from if you had access to tuning software. So you could change the sound of your 4cyl 328i to that of the M3 (from within the cabin at least, and sort of...). If you could take the i4M50 noise and add it to a G series car with a combustion engine, wonder how it'd sound?
I gotta say hearing the rain and the thunder in the background of the shop segment was strangely soothing. Maybe I like engineering and rain ASMR?
I really don't get screens in luxury cars.... they all look so cheap and gimmicky, what looks better a Rolex with all the cogs and gears visible or black screen on your wrist?
I only have one issue, why rag on the manual steering wheel adjustment? I don't even remember what the one on my F80 is, I adjusted it once to my liking
Multiple drivers since profiles are a huge part of BMWs iDrive setup. Matched to different keys or face it can change entire car to match your settings. The wheel is part of that.
Damn, that's a proper review.
California drivers will absolutely benefit from this power train as opposed to the B58! Great video.
Thank you for a complete review as always and thank you for providing your opinion on the car while taking in consideration the different type of drivers, which many reviewers do not take into account.
100% agree that the new infotainment looks cheap, stuck on and is a massive step back in terms of aesthetics and practicality in subsuming the physical controls
Ah yes, the "Beaver" as my girlfriend calls it - and she is by no means in any way a 'car person' or aware of the discussion on the latest BMW design decisions. That is a legitimate impression by a person on that car.
However still not as bad as the iX/X >3 abominations
Beavers are better than Tesla Frog Cars!
I think the EV shouldn’t have a fake engine or any sound when drive it. You made your choice.
That digital dash looks way over the top, it's impossible to see what's going on at a glance.
The substitute engine noise reminds me of the Bisimoto Porsche 935 EV, and that's a great thing. It's an authentic sound for the electric experience.
I sat in one at a dealership and found the back seat to be quite cramped. The battery raises the floor so your knees end up in your chest.
Perfect mix between old and new. This and the Skoda Enyaq is the best looking EV:s in my opinion.
That color is so popular this year on several makes. But to me it just looks like primer. Like an unfinished paint job.
U guys knocked it out of the park. This channel is by far the best car review channel, keep it up! Plz do a ss 1le manual review. Would love to hear your takes.
I'm going to call it the Hans Bimmer
Impressively normal is a bulls eye description of the i4... It really is an amazing car that feels so natural even though it's brand new. Very familiar territory.
I would take this over a Tesla right now
I'll have a 340i thanks
heavier than most evs. enjoy your "ultimate driving machine"
@Nomen Clature lol
@Nomen Clature at least compare Tesla to a proper build from a ground up electric car. Not this pos converted gas car
@@rudyyyxu It is really heavy, heavier than teslas (I don't like teslas either btw), it basically weighs as much as a X5 lmao
I wanted to get away from a petrol engine and going to a gas station. This is the perfect EV for me and I don't miss my RS6 at all. I can charge at home and it is always ready to drive, with no warm up time, no limiting RPM and interior heat when cold. BMW have made a winner for me. :-)
Backroom casting couch at 8:18 timestamp
Harvey Weinstein stains located on arm rests.
As always you make some of the best reviews on you tube! Well done
At about $10K more than the M340i, the tax credit pretty much makes this have price parity with the gas version. If you live in a high gas tax State get this, if not get the gas one. Same car, your choice of power train. Makes far better sense than some ugly weird new EV-only pod; just give us the car we like in EV form. Now, please get rid of the tacked on screen design BMW. It looks cheap. Integrate the screen into the dash. Please.
Oh and all car makers: Stop spending time and money on sounds for EVs. We bought an EV; we know it makes no sound. The stupid sounds are annoying after about 9 days and we turn it off forever. Many modern gas cars make little to almost no sound under 3000 rpm. We are used to things being very quiet. We have music. Please. Stop.
Calling Hans Zimmer to make "prenium engine sounds" well it makes sense, some fake engine noises are just ridiculous
Love "in the shoppe" segments!
You guys are the best!
Seems like no reviewers in the US get the base car... That seems like the one to buy
I suppose fleet review vehicles the dealers give out are usually the fully loaded examples
Indeed, probably the best car reviews chanel and author . Congratulations.
The fact that this car weighs 2.5 tons (more than teslas and basically any EV on the market) and BMW have the audacity to call it "the ultimate driving experience" when it weighs as much as a freight train
Not disagreeing with you but maybe drive it first, then judge it!
@@MRMV483 Maybe I should, but I don't want to drive anything I don't have the possiblity to own (I can't charge at home)
@@henrik1743 Tesla's are all plastics, hence why they are so cheap (relatively speaking, given the crazy performance). I don't hate either, I mean to each his own.
I drove this at an Ultimate Driving Experience event. Believe me, you don't feel the weight as much as you think. Will this outperform a M3 on the track? No, it wouldn't. But, it's not designed to do that. Because of the low center of gravity with the battery packs, it surprisingly doesn't feel heavy. BTW, I own a 3100 lbs e36 M3.
@@haywood41 If you drive an e36 M3 you should hate the new steering in all bmw's, I sold my F30 335d, I couldn't handle the steering when you wanted some spirited driving. The e36 was amazing, could even get factory LSD on non m models. But I drive E46 again. Started collecting manual 330i's, looks and drives amazing. I think those will go up crazy in value when people start missing them after driving these new "bmws'"
Does that gauge cluster display have a notch…?
Thats next.
Always a pleasure watching.
For the car tho, and idrive8. I think they’re as wrong as their previous car design such as the 2 and 4 series… 🤢
How is this any different from texting while driving? Really, how many accidents are these screens causing?
This is what I’ve always wanted. Make the same car, but just make it electric.
You've always wanted a Fugly car?
@@EvoraGT430 not the BMW, specifically. The mustangs for instance, or a hot hatch.
@@Yellow_Flannel The Mustang's are also fugly. Why do you want a fugly car?
I can forsee these touch controls being regulated to some extent. Having to navigate through multiple menus on what is essentially just a giant smart phone slapped onto the dash of your car also equally leads to much more distracted driving. You may not be texting, but if you're having to fumble with your car's tablet to turn down the AC, I except you're more likely to hit someone or something.
Laughed out loud when he put that Miller Lite in the center cup holder. Well played.
Revisiting this review - if I hadn’t moved from my Civic to a TLX in late ‘22, I’d instead be saving up for an i4 (or whatever comes after this). I’m the kind of buyer who wants a smooth, capable freeway cruiser for infrequent commuting and weekend errands, and my weekly mileage is well within the range estimate of this car. I’m getting excited about EVs nowadays.
Another car no one can buy! Awesome!
Not sure why you bothered blurring the speedo when you were clearly speeding... as you can see it later in the video anyway. 83 mph at 23:26 ;)
The PIG nose grille makes zero sense on an EV. I thought that it’s purpose was to help cool down the ICE cars. Unless EVs require air cooling or radiators that I didn’t know of.
The buried the forward sensor hardware behind these grilles. I saw a pic on Google somewhere of this car with the front bumper off and there is a lot of stuff going on back there… so whatever you do don’t hit anything because it’s going to be💰 😭
Soon you're going to get a UA-cam strike for copyrighted "driving sound" being used in the video...
BTW, you blurred the speedometer in the driving section but you didn't do it in the final thought. You might want to fix that.
Cheers and thanks for your honest reviews and great work.
This EV shows some hope for enthusiasts, but weighing over 5000 lbs for a smallish sedan is a massive alarm for material requirements, crash compatibility, pedestrian safety, and overall efficiency. A Model 3 is 1000 pounds lighter
I think someone actually went and checked and saw the ICE BMW 4 series is also heavier than some of the Model 3s.
Model 3 is like nothing but plastic... I'm all aware and fully acknowledge that Tesla simply has the best tech (look at the performance numbers), but it's a joke to consider Tesla luxury.
@@dailyrant4068 most of the weight difference is from the inefficiencies of converting a gas car to ev. A little more sound deadening is not contributing a whole 1000 pounds
@@rudyyyxu It's not just sound deadening. Everything is heavier when you want nicer things. Suspension parts, doors, panels. Could BMW have gone to more weight saving? Sure, but to dismiss it as sound deadening is just wrong
@@dailyrant4068 but heavier than a taycan while being smaller? come on now
Nice review. You have to keep in mind: electric cars are born out of necessity…..the need to reduce emissions. In Europe people drive a lot of the time in urban environments…. And in congested areas , in traffic jams. That’s where an electric car makes sense. Plus: electricity is much cheaper than fuel, and sometimes sourced from ‘green energy’. You could top up the battery with 200 km for 10 of 15 usd….try doing that with petrol or diesel…!On top of that, BMW builds great cars. The perceived quality difference with Tesla is so big.
Despite it’s shortcomings I would rather choose this than any Tesla. We know for a fact that the build quality is going to be immensely better, alongside with better materials and this will be more engaging to drive.
I've driven a this model AND a Tesla Model 3 LR, the LR handled better overall, the BMW had better ride quality i.e. did a better job of handling the road, bumps etc... but the Tesla Model 3 LR was more engaging to drive this surprised me. I have seen reviews in the UK (checkout Joe Achilles) of the base model i4 eDrive 40 that handles and drives better than the M50.
Absolutely. If you want to go with one that's a bit less money, Polestar 2. I can't deal with the mediocrity and indifferent build quality of Tesla no matter how good the software and efficiency is or their charger network. Fundamentally, there is a certain refinement in what Tesla fans like to call "legacy auto" that Tesla doesn't even seem to be trying to do. I do think BMW put a lot of compromises into packaging this that a pure EV won't have.
More engaging to drive? How so? It’s a slug compared to even a Model 3 DMP and certainly a Plaid anything. Tesla is way ahead of BMW in technology and battery management.
@@Osmosis909 I’d agree. As a Tesla owner, the one thing Elon could really add to the Y and 3 is adaptive air or electronic suspension. The Model 3 is much quicker than this BMW. An M3 or M4 it is not.
One other thing, Tesla does not do like BMW or Porsche/Audi and force option the car to raise the price. As to being a worthy alternative to Tesla Model 3, the $16k price delta says different.
@@Osmosis909 That’s actually surprising to hear and impressive on Tesla part! For me I wouldn’t even consider a Tesla no matter how good the tech is, the quality for what you pay for is hilariously awful. In the longterm materials and quality of the ride is something that matters to me rather than a 0-60. Also although it’s subjective I find every Tesla to be ugly, it doesn’t give me that look back at my car everytime I exit type of feel. Don’t get me wrong though they’re not bad cars overall!
I love how you mention that electric vehicles have more room for design expression in the front end and then we see the i4 and it looks like a wreck with a massive fake grille. Way to be creative bmw!
That front end - still hideous.
I find it smart to think about the worldwide car market, and not specifically US one. Because yep, it's not extremely relevant for now in the US, but in Europe a B58 engine can be heavily taxed, therfore a EV may make sense especially in the coming years
The only car that can make the new 7 series look good.
did they mention the weight? because i looked it up, its 2.3 ton.....
Isn't think that pretty normal for a full-size EV?
@@dielaughing73 i do not know, just seem heavy for me.