[mtech8]

Originally Posted by footie

I think in your case the iX is the perfect family motor, tons of room in the back even with an over 6 footer in the driver’s seat. 😉

Tall people really look in mid size category (like the 5 series). iX would be nice, but that's crossover-ish. Porsche Taycan is better suited for taller people.

i4 is compact size category. Very comfortable for 2 people (sitting in the front seats)

[cruzer666]

Originally Posted by mtech8

i4 is compact size category. Very comfortable for 2 people (sitting in the front seats)

I didn't see the specs in terms of total passenger volume + cargo volume.

Typically a compact is 100-109 cuft, midsize is 110-120 cuft, an full-size is 121+.

I4 seems more like a midsize car, since 2 series is a compact.

[jeffc42]

Originally Posted by cruzer666

I4 seems more like a midsize car, since 2 series is a compact.

On the outside, it may be. It's seven and a half inches longer and three inches wider than my F30 335i. But on the inside, the back seat is definitely smaller. I sat in it. It's not just the sloping roof.

It meets my needs, but I can understand why taller people would find it too small. Makes you wonder where those extra inches went.

[jeffc42]

Just got my i4 test drive scheduled for tomorrow.

[cruzer666]

Originally Posted by jeffc42

Just got my i4 test drive scheduled for tomorrow.

Have fun ! Make sure they have it charged above 40% or so so you can get full effect of sport boost!

[BimmerBahn]

Originally Posted by jeffc42

On the outside, it may be. It's seven and a half inches longer and three inches wider than my F30 335i. But on the inside, the back seat is definitely smaller. I sat in it. It's not just the sloping roof.

It meets my needs, but I can understand why taller people would find it too small. Makes you wonder where those extra inches went.

Floor space for the HV battery…. I sat in an 4GC and the i4… that was my only real take away, especially in the back seat. I’m 6’4 and ~230… it was a touch more cramped in the back in the i4 vs the 4GC… neither I’d want to ride in the back for an extended period of time…. But I also said the same thing about my F80 M3.

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by BimmerBahn

Floor space for the HV battery…. I sat in an 4GC and the i4… that was my only real take away, especially in the back seat. I’m 6’4 and ~230… it was a touch more cramped in the back in the i4 vs the 4GC… neither I’d want to ride in the back for an extended period of time…. But I also said the same thing about my F80 M3.

Don't sit in the back of a 3 Series GT. It will spoil you for most other passenger car interior packaging. This is why I'll probably have to get something more UV-ish next.

[jeffc42]

I test drove an i4 M50

I don't have much to say that you haven't heard before. I had to deal with a lot of traffic, but I nonetheless had opportunities to floor it, both on streets and on the highway. Yeah. Let's just say I'm glad no cops were around.

I didn't feel the weight, even when taking a curve somewhat aggressively. It tracked like on rails. And this is with 19" all season rubber. The low center of gravity is definitely noticeable. This isn't to say it won't be a problem at ten tenths, but it's not a problem at any sane speed on public roads.

It felt serene on the highway, when just going with the flow. Perfect for long road trips.

The "iconic sound" got tiresome fast. I'll have it on only to show off to others, then quickly turn it off.

If I have one complaint, it's the brake pedal. It's grabby. Don't know why, as it's engaging regen anyway initially, but it's a good reason to select a more aggressive regen setting so you don't have to use it often.

I forgot to pay close attention to it, but I believe the battery was at about 55% and the estimated range was around 125 miles. Not bad, considering how the car was being abused by test drivers (myself included).

And finally, now that I was thinking about it, the door handles could be better. Maybe grab the upper side with your thumb? I'm sure I'll get used to it fast enough. I found the grabby brake pedal more annoying, but I'll probably get my foot calibrated for that eventually too. (Or maybe a software update will tweak it.)

[footie]

Ok have been driving the i4M50 for more than 24hr and things I notice compared to the i4 40 M/Sport.

1: Steering - it’s the typical difference you experience when comparing a rwd BMW with an AWD variant in that there’s less connection. It’s not a million miles different but it’s definitely there.

2: Range - this M50 is on the 20s and with 81% charge it’s showing 201miles range so not too bad in my opinion and as the weather improves this should increase.

3: Comfort - It’s hard to get a prefect comparison between them because it’s more than a week apart but my guess is the M50 in comfort offers a more composed and comfortable ride but in sport it’s unsettled so will probably work well enough on a good surface but else where best left it in comfort. The ride in comfort is definitely better than my M5Comp and way more relaxing overall, this is in part to do with the ride but I reckon it’s more to do with the lack of noise, electric cars offer a composure not see in ICE cars, that lack of loads of moving parts that cause vibrations is very noticeable by their absence.

4: Performance - They aren’t even close, this thing when you floor it properly from very slow speeds almost gives the impression it could slip itself. LOL Where as the 40 felt a little quicker than the wife’s Mk8 Golf R this feels quicker than my M5Comp, well at least when you floor both from slow speeds.

Weight - When I drive this it’s mass feels remarkably like the M5, I think the added weight vs the smaller overall size almost cancel each other out. I am sure that if you were to really push each the difference would be very apparent and I reckon this is what Joe Achilles and Throttle House are referring to but in day to day driving the difference simply isn’t there.

One pedal braking - I don’t know if I will ever get use to it, it feels so unnatural an experience plus it’s quite aggressive. I find you use far more throttle to move forward with it on so I question how it can actually save you energy in the battery, if the actual answer is it doesn’t then what’s its point????

Likes - adaptive cruise, I like the way is knows the speed limits you are entering and offers you to SET this even a few hundred yards from that point and the car automatically slows its speed as it approaches and is at the required speed as it enters the limit. Pure genius.
Even if you aren’t using the cruise system if you release the throttle it slows as it approaches and when close to the right speed then releases the regen. Again pure genius.

Overall impression - Having driven a few EVs this is probably the easiest to adapt to, it’s the one that feels the most familiar. The Taycan feels futuristic when you step inside and imo offers probably the most rewarding drive of any EV but this i4 is probably the easiest to live with if it’s your first venture towards electric.

[Seaford]

Originally Posted by cruzer666

Here are some additional pictures of it.

Crikey, I literally recoiled when I saw the led displays……I know it’s subjective but to me they look like they have been plonked on top of the fascia without any thought of ergonomics…would have thought bmw might do better than that.

Maybe it looks better in the flesh….

[cruzer666]

Originally Posted by Andybird

Crikey, I literally recoiled when I saw the led displays……I know it's subjective but to me they look like they have been plonked on top of the fascia without any thought of ergonomics…would have thought bmw might do better than that.

Maybe it looks better in the flesh….

Many people love that screen, myself included. It is well thought off and it didn't give me the feel that it was an afterthought. Don't judge it based on my pictures, you maybe just have to see it in person.

[footie]

The only thing I am a little disappoint with the display is it's lack of screen options directly in front of you, the wife has a Mk8 Golf R and it has a multitude of different configurations. Maybe it's a BMW thing to keep it very basic so less distraction.

[spool twice]

One thing I appreciated with the screen is that it doesn't impeded forward visibility, yet has enough displays.

The system is slick, quick, and smooth in transition from menu to menu.

There is a learning curve, but its a short one to become familiar with the ID8 software.

But the same can be said from ID4 to ID5 to ID6 to ID7 so...

[techwhiz1]

Originally Posted by cruzer666

Many people love that screen, myself included. It is well thought off and it didn't give me the feel that it was an afterthought. Don't judge it based on my pictures, you maybe just have to see it in person.

I agree.

I drove the car this past weekend

[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by techwhiz1

I agree.

I drove the car this past weekend

Did u go to east bay bmw for i4 demo?

[techwhiz1]

Originally Posted by bavarianride

Did u go to east bay bmw for i4 demo?

Yes. They have one i4 and one iX. I think they have another coming in.

[footie]

Just wanted to share to those a bit sceptical about switching to electric cars, I have driven the i4M50 for precisely 90 miles and in that time I have topped it up at home totally 44Kwh which roughly works out about £11, my M5Comp does 20mpg and that’s driven rather gingerly so I would have used 4.5 gallon to cover the same distance at a current cost of £33.96.

3 times as much with an ICE car of similar real world performance.

[EdM5]

Originally Posted by footie

Just wanted to share to those a bit sceptical about switching to electric cars, I have driven the i4M50 for precisely 90 miles and in that time I have topped it up at home totally 44Kwh which roughly works out about £11, my M5Comp does 20mpg and that’s driven rather gingerly so I would have used 4.5 gallon to cover the same distance at a current cost of £33.96.

3 times as much with an ICE car of similar real world performance.

It gets even better. I have the roof of my house covered with solar panels. When I charge the i4 in my driveway during daytime, the 'fuel' costs will be close to zero.

[footie]

Originally Posted by EdM5

It gets even better. I have the roof of my house covered with solar panels. When I charge the i4 in my driveway during daytime, the 'fuel' costs will be close to zero.

I have debated getting them on the house, we completely covered the roof on my business and use everything they produce but on the house the distance it’s facing wouldn’t get the full effect so as of yet haven’t done it.

Plus currently looking into electric car house tariff with my energy provider as I believe they offer a night time rate for charging that is less than a third of my current charging rate. Also like the Easee charging unit and it’s smart app that allows me to set the time I want it’s charging to commence.

[cruzer666]

Originally Posted by EdM5

It gets even better. I have the roof of my house covered with solar panels. When I charge the i4 in my driveway during daytime, the 'fuel' costs will be close to zero.

Just curious , how big is your solar system ? How many kW? Mine is tiny 3.0kW not for EV's for sure. You'll need at least a 11kW system for one EV.

[techwhiz1]

Originally Posted by cruzer666

Just curious , how big is your solar system ? How many kW? Mine is tiny 3.0kW not for EV's for sure. You'll need at least a 11kW system for one EV.

I have a 6kW system on my house.
But where I live you also get a time of use rate that is cheap at night.

We already charge the Chevy Bolt. I'm not so much worried about the i4 since Electrify is free for two years.

[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by footie

Plus currently looking into electric car house tariff with my energy provider as I believe they offer a night time rate for charging that is less than a third of my current charging rate. Also like the Easee charging unit and it’s smart app that allows me to set the time I want it’s charging to commence.

Around NorCal PG&E territory, the midnight EV teaser rates are more than offset by shoulder and peak rates, unless there is no electricity used during those hours. On average EV rates or otherwise, the home charging cost is around $0.35/kWh. I think Tesla supercharging is $0.28/kWh off-peak.

Obviously the best deal in town is free charging(including L2) at work, for that reason I really should get a BEV(any BEV).