[chicagofan00]

Picked up my sixth BMW earlier this week and thought I’d do a quick post about my thoughts of having moved from a 2024 Tesla Model 3 Performance (Highland refresh) over to a 2025 i4 M50.

I’ll start off by saying that I actually really liked the Model 3 Performance for what it is, an insanely quick car for under $60k (under $50k if you don’t get FSD). I found the technology in the car to be fantastic, the speed off the line to be blistering, and the overall ride quality to be adequate given the price point. Despite tons of complaints online, my Model 3 came off the production line with very little paint flaws, no misaligned panels, and what I would call a fairly solidly put together interior (again for the price point).

Now with the above being said, man am I glad to be back in a BMW! As soon as I pulled the i4 out of the dealership delivery bay and out onto the street I got that peaceful sensation of being home again.

Build Quality:
Like I said above, my Tesla’s build quality was actually really good and I never found myself complaining about it or finding things wrong. However, when you take it and compare it side by side with the BMW, the BMW wins hands down. The fit and finish, the quality of the materials used, and just the overall feel of how well put together the vehicle is makes for a noticeable difference between the two. Of course this is going to be a big reason for the price difference between the two cars but in my opinion it is part of what makes the i4 worthy the price in comparison even if the i4 doesn’t have or use highest quality of materials that BMW has to offer. I had spec’d the Ultra Red paint for my Tesla and while there were some minor paint qualit issues, I didn’t find the paint job to be terrible. The color itself was excellent and really shined in the Arizona sunlight, especially after a nice detail and wax. I got lots of compliments on the color. For the i4, I ended up just grabbing one that was on the lot and opted for Portimao Blue. I have yet to have the time to sit down and do a full detail on the i4 and inspect the paint in full but when doing my delivery inspection I did not notice any flaws…and how can you really go wrong with a BMW Blue? They have some of the best blues out there IMO!

Exterior:
For me personally, I’ve never felt that any of the cars in the Tesla lineup were all together good looking but I also don’t necessarily hate the way they look (except for the Cybertruck!). However, overall I do find them to be fairly bland and just OK. I did like the updates they made to the Model 3 with the recent refresh but still found the overall styling just ok. The stock wheels that come with the performance model I found to actually be pretty cool for OEM wheels, at least when you remove the plastic covers (which is one of the first things I did after taking delivery).

I know the styling of the i4 (and the G8x models) has been rather controversial and it is either a love it or hate it with the big grille, etc. but I find the overall look to be really nice. I like the agressive lines of the front end even in the i4 M50 guise comparative to my previous G80. The laser taillights that were included as a part of the LCI for the 4 series line up are awesome though, absolutely love them! I’ve always kind of liked the overall styling to the Gran Coupe since BMW’s introduction of them so it is nice to finally own one in that style. I especially like the hatch back opening for the trunk in comparison to something like the trunk of the Model 3.

Interior:
I had opted for the white interior on the Tesla and really enjoyed it as it made for what felt like a very bright and open interior (even beyond the fact that you have an all glass roof). The performance seats in the performance model were really comfortable, held you in well, but were not a pain in the ass to get in and out of as a daily driver. The added accent lighting that came with the refresh for the 2024 models was a nice touch but outside of that the interior is pretty sparse and there isn’t much to it. The back seat space was ample enough for my two kiddos (ages 10 and 8) but I think the fact that there is not transmission tunnel down the middle also helped with that. The cup holds back there were fairly small in the center arm rest and would not fit most of the various water bottles my kids take with them on a daily basis.

I personally didn’t have a problem with the single display inside the Tesla as it was large enough for usability purposes and always displayed the information that was needed when I needed it. It was definitely an adjustment period at first though.

My i4 came with the black sensa tech interior. It definitely ‘feels’ smaller inside but I think that is just the nature of the fact that it is darker inside due to the color choice as well as it having just a regular sun roof and not a panoramic roof or all glass roof. The back seat is definitely a bit more confined in comparison to the Tesla, however, my kids have not had a single complaint about having less room. The interior overall in the i4 has a much higher level of fit and finish than the Tesla could ever hope for though. Everything just has a solid feel to it and the quality of materials used just feels that much more premium, again even if not high on level of quality offered in other models in the BMW lineup. I have enjoyed going back to having the two screens (even if it is one long iPad tacked on the dash) as you just have more information right your line of sight instead of always needing to glance over to the single screen in the middle of the car.

This item might be better suited under the technology comparison but since it deals with the interior I’ll throw it in here. The controversial lack of a turn signal stalk in the highland refresh of the Model 3….I honestly didn’t find it all that difficult to make the adjustment to using the buttons on the steering wheel and felt comfortable with it enough even on my initial drive home from the delivery center. However, I will say that I never felt truly confident in using the buttons in comparison to the normal turn signal stalk in the i4 (or almost any other car for that matter). I always felt like I had to second guess as to whether or not I pushed the correct button and had the correct turn signal engaged versus on any other car it is a given as to which way your signaling based on if you’ve pushed the stalk up or down. If the turn signal buttons were to ever get more heavily adopted in the car industry I wouldn’t be overly annoyed by it but it is nice to be back to the normal setup at the end of the day.

Technology:
This is the area in which I think Tesla blows just about any other automaker out of the water. The technology and how it is integrated with the car is really top notch and I really didn’t experience any issues with it. I found the UI to be pretty easy to use. I also received regular software updates and often times brand new features being added to the car that even changed how the vehicle functioned which to me was pretty impressive. Not many other auto manufacturers release software updates that are more than just some minor bug fixes or small tweaks versus adding full on new features to how the car operates. In my time of ownership I would say the single biggest new feature that was added Auto Shift as it was a game changer of never really having to even bother manually shifting the car into reverse or drive. Some of my other favorite tech from the Tesla were things like Sentry mode, dog mode, and the turn signal cameras. I’ll definitely miss some of these things as well as missing getting some major new enhancements to a vehicle via just an over the air update.

In comparison to Tesla, the i4 is definitely a bit of a step back in technology in some areas but in other areas it is much better. It is so nice to be back to having CarPlay as the Tesla was just kind of a pain in the ass with regards to using Apple Music or being able to easily send a quick text. Then of course there is the fact that you have the two screens in the i4 as well as the heads up display. While BMW may not be as technologically advanced as Tesla with their current version of iDrive, I think they start to get there with the upcoming version and the move to the Neue Klasse vehicles. Hopefully BMW will start to have more feature rich software upgrades as well.

Performance:
We’ve all probably seen the various YouTube video comparisons of the Model 3 Performance going up against cars like the M3, etc. and the fact that it can to some degree hold it’s own a fair amount, especially in the straight line performance. I found the Tesla to be excellent in this area for a daily drive as it will just go where ever you pointed it and it will do it without much fan fare except for the fact that it will slam you in the back of the seat and just take off like a rocket with that instant torque (especially in Insane mode, which is the mode mine was in 100% of time I owned it). I will say though, it just felt like a fast go kart when trying to actually push the car in anything more than a straight line. Sure you could put it through the wringer but you could also see its flaws pretty easily and quickly when pushing it. I also found that the brakes on it were a bit suspect at times, especially given the kind of speeds you could reach so quickly. I don’t track my cars so have no comments on its performance there.

I don’t have many miles on the i4 just yet so I have yet to really put it through its paces. However, it does seem like it will be able to hold its own against the Model 3 Performance even if it may not be fully to it’s level. I’m looking forward to getting more miles on the car but I don’t anticipate being overly disappointed.

Every day driving:
I found that I really came to love the ease of just hopping into the Tesla to go somewhere. It was easy to operate, it went where you wanted it to go, there was little to no fan fare about it and the one pedal driving just makes the daily commute an absolute breeze.

What I like so far about the i4 is that I can have the same experience of the Tesla but I can also have some added fan fare to the whole experience as well. I can put the i4 into normal drive mode and it operates similar to a normal ICE vehicle but then I can also switch it over to B mode and it will give me almost the exact same one pedal driving experience as the Tesla did.

2025 i4 M50 Specs:
Portimao Blue Metallic
Black Perforated SensaTec
Aluminum Rhombicle Anthracite Trim
19" MY-Spoke Bicolor Black 859M Wheels with Staggered All Season Tires
M Sport Brakes with Red Calipers
Parking Assistance Package
Shadowline Package
Premium Package
M Performance Floor Mats

[LDT]

chicagofan00 Congrats! So.......from X5 M60i in Java Green as I recall to Model 3 to i4 M50 in less than a year. My wife thinks I'm bad about cars but I'm absolutely showing her this thread right this minute!!!! Thanks for taking me off the hook.

[Neon01]

Wow, love those photos of BOTH models. I'm in a very similar boat as a fan of both Tesla and BMW. We're in the process of replacing my wife's Hyundai Palisade with (another) electric car due to Trump's "return to office" and her being nearly 2 hrs from home. As a previous owner of a 2019 Model 3 Performance, later Model S Long Range, and now Model X Plaid (which I'm keeping), Tesla still has a special place in my heart, as I can tell it does yours. To many, the lack of refinement, traditional luxury materials, and premium dealership experience relegate Tesla into a subclass unworthy of comparison. In reality, it's about priorities. Tesla has made this comparison even more polarizing with their divergence from standard design cues such as turn signal stalks and gear selectors.

All that said, I feel both brands display superlative characteristics that complement one another, and I'm happy to be able to keep my Model X Plaid while picking up a used i4 M50. I'm happy to return to BMW after so long away, but part of me will also miss the new tech that Tesla has made status quo.

Very nice review and writeup.

[chicagofan00]

Originally Posted by LDT

chicagofan00 Congrats! So.......from X5 M60i in Java Green as I recall to Model 3 to i4 M50 in less than a year. My wife thinks I'm bad about cars but I'm absolutely showing her this thread right this minute!!!! Thanks for taking me off the hook.

Yep, you got all that right and glad I could help you out!

The Tesla lasted all of about 6.5 months. It was a great little car in my opinion, but I just couldn’t come close to aligning with the brand given the current political climate. I had a lot of depreciation to eat in making the switch back to a BMW but at least I don’t feel self conscious in the car I drive anymore. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Originally Posted by Neon01

Wow, love those photos of BOTH models. I'm in a very similar boat as a fan of both Tesla and BMW. We're in the process of replacing my wife's Hyundai Palisade with (another) electric car due to Trump's "return to office" and her being nearly 2 hrs from home. As a previous owner of a 2019 Model 3 Performance, later Model S Long Range, and now Model X Plaid (which I'm keeping), Tesla still has a special place in my heart, as I can tell it does yours. To many, the lack of refinement, traditional luxury materials, and premium dealership experience relegate Tesla into a subclass unworthy of comparison. In reality, it's about priorities. Tesla has made this comparison even more polarizing with their divergence from standard design cues such as turn signal stalks and gear selectors.

All that said, I feel both brands display superlative characteristics that complement one another, and I'm happy to be able to keep my Model X Plaid while picking up a used i4 M50. I'm happy to return to BMW after so long away, but part of me will also miss the new tech that Tesla has made status quo.

Very nice review and writeup.

Definitely will miss some of the tech from Tesla. I really do hope BMW becomes a bit more tech forward with the Neue Klasse.

[Dave_c85]

Nice spec - I have the same exterior spec on order but an edrive 40, due for delivery mid-May. Cannot wait!

[rebattery]

thanks-----------

[chicagofan00]

Originally Posted by Dave_c85

Nice spec - I have the same exterior spec on order but an edrive 40, due for delivery mid-May. Cannot wait!

Nice, congrats!

[Dave_c85]

Originally Posted by chicagofan00

Nice, congrats!

Thanks. Just wish the 40 had the M50 grille, not a fan of those shadow grey triangles on the 40. The M50 mirrors are nicer too but I guess they need to have a few exterior differences to set them apart.

Enjoy your new motor, it's awesome!

[chicagofan00]

Originally Posted by Dave_c85

Thanks. Just wish the 40 had the M50 grille, not a fan of those shadow grey triangles on the 40. The M50 mirrors are nicer too but I guess they need to have a few exterior differences to set them apart.

Enjoy your new motor, it's awesome!

Those triangles on the grille do look a bit funky. I’m sure you could swap the grille out if they really bothered you though!

[chicagofan00]

A few evening detail shots.

[chicagofan00]

Tints are now done. Xpel XR+. 15% all around and 70% on the windshield.

[LuckyBrand]

Originally Posted by LDT

chicagofan00 Congrats! So.......from X5 M60i in Java Green as I recall to Model 3 to i4 M50 in less than a year. My wife thinks I'm bad about cars but I'm absolutely showing her this thread right this minute!!!! Thanks for taking me off the hook.

Yep lol. I tell my wife, family and friends all the time that give me grief over looking at cars etc all the time I'm nothing compared to guys I see on the forums. It's a drug we can't get away from. There are way worse things to be in life than a car enthusiast.

[Otto Bon Jovi]

Congrats on the car!

It is too bad Musk is Tesla, because I hate him with every fiber in my being and will not buy a car from him because of that. Otherwise, the Model 3 Performance would definitely be something I would consider especially at its price point.

As for the i4 M50, my wife loves hers and I do enjoy driving it, just not as much as I did my M2. The M2 was much more engaging and from a roll it would gap the i4 with no problem (off the line the i4 usually won as it would consistently hook up every time whereas the RWD M2 took a lot of finesse to get it to hook up).

But, I have a new M4 Comp xDrive on order which should arrive mid-May so that problem will be solved. LOL

[chicagofan00]

Originally Posted by ScottyRyan2019

Congrats on the car!

It is too bad Musk is Tesla, because I hate him with every fiber in my being and will not buy a car from him because of that. Otherwise, the Model 3 Performance would definitely be something I would consider especially at its price point.

As for the i4 M50, my wife loves hers and I do enjoy driving it, just not as much as I did my M2. The M2 was much more engaging and from a roll it would gap the i4 with no problem (off the line the i4 usually won as it would consistently hook up every time whereas the RWD M2 took a lot of finesse to get it to hook up).

But, I have a new M4 Comp xDrive on order which should arrive mid-May so that problem will be solved. LOL

The M4 Comp will be a lot of fun for sure! I really enjoyed my time with my G80 M3 Comp RWD.

I’m really looking forward to the upcoming M3 EV though!

[Jsmith007]

Originally Posted by ScottyRyan2019

Congrats on the car!

It is too bad Musk is Tesla, because I hate him with every fiber in my being and will not buy a car from him because of that. Otherwise, the Model 3 Performance would definitely be something I would consider especially at its price point.

As for the i4 M50, my wife loves hers and I do enjoy driving it, just not as much as I did my M2. The M2 was much more engaging and from a roll it would gap the i4 with no problem (off the line the i4 usually won as it would consistently hook up every time whereas the RWD M2 took a lot of finesse to get it to hook up).

But, I have a new M4 Comp xDrive on order which should arrive mid-May so that problem will be solved. LOL

The M2 is be faster than the i4 M50 from a roll but saying it will gap the M50 is a stretch until you exceed 130mph (M50 top speed) which is just unreasonable for street driving. The M4 is a whole different animal & level of speed.

Anyway regardless those cars are just insanely too fast. I drive an M50 and have to remind myself to control emotions but the instant torque in comfort mode let alone Sport Boost is too addictive.

To the OP, welcome to the club!!

[Otto Bon Jovi]

Originally Posted by Jsmith007

The M2 is be faster than the i4 M50 from a roll but saying it will gap the M50 is a stretch until you exceed 130mph (M50 top speed) which is just unreasonable for street driving. The M4 is a whole different animal & level of speed.

Anyway regardless those cars are just insanely too fast. I drive an M50 and have to remind myself to control emotions but the instant torque in comfort mode let alone Sport Boost is too addictive.

To the OP, welcome to the club!!

The best I have run on Dragy with the i4 M50 is an 11.8 at 117 mph. Once the 10 seconds of boost ran out it is all over. That remaining time to 130 is nothing to brag about.

It ran very consistent 0-60s of 3.5 sec which is nice.

-----

The best I ran my 2024 G87 stock was 12.1 @ 121. Perfect conditions with a good launch.

With the 2025 flash and Race Chip it ran an 11.7 at 125 MPH. It pulls like a freight train past 130.

It would usually 0-60 around 3.9 sec as it would not hook off the line. I think one time it got a 3.55 out of it when the stars were lined up and everything came together.

The M2 is so much more of a driver's car. But, when I don't want to screw around, and I just want to get out and mindlessly drive the M50 is really good for that.

Did I read somewhere that this fall they are coming out with a M60 version of the i4 with something like 590 HP?? If so, that will be a nice upgrade.

------

I am really looking forward to the M4.

[chicagofan00]

Originally Posted by Jsmith007

Anyway regardless those cars are just insanely too fast. I drive an M50 and have to remind myself to control emotions but the instant torque in comfort mode let alone Sport Boost is too addictive.

To the OP, welcome to the club!!

Sport Boost mode is definitely fun. The first thing I do when I get in the i4 is hit the sport button to put it in Sport Boost mode.

And thanks btw!

Originally Posted by ScottyRyan2019

With the 2025 flash and Race Chip it ran an 11.7 at 125 MPH. It pulls like a freight train past 130.

Did I read somewhere that this fall they are coming out with a M60 version of the i4 with something like 590 HP?? If so, that will be a nice upgrade.

I am really looking forward to the M4.

Can’t really go and compare a chipped car to a stock car now…

Yes, the M60 version should be hitting the US shores in November of this year. Should definitely be a nice bump in specs to finish out this generation.

BMW really knocked it out of the park with the G8x gen of M3/M4 IMHO. Great all around cars and pretty reasonably prices in comparison to it’s competitors.

[chicagofan00]

Black badges are on. Much better than the ones straight from the factory.

[Dave_c85]

They look so much better! Might buy them for my eDrive40 when it arrives. What did you use to clean up the area before applying the new badges?

[chicagofan00]

Originally Posted by Dave_c85

They look so much better! Might buy them for my eDrive40 when it arrives. What did you use to clean up the area before applying the new badges?

Used 70% isopropyl alcohol to clean off any remaining residue.

[Dave_c85]

So basically floss to remove badges then rubbing alcohol? Sweet, will give this a go then I think

[chicagofan00]

Originally Posted by Dave_c85

So basically floss to remove badges then rubbing alcohol? Sweet, will give this a go then I think

Yep. Whenever I’ve done the badge removal on my cars I just use a hair dryer to heat up the adhesive a bit, use some fishing line to remove the badges, clean up any remaining adhesive with the isopropyl alcohol, and then slap on the new badges.