i4 eDrive 40 review thread

WAY · 12-31-2021, 10:36 AM

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Hi all, I’m very anxiously awaiting reviews of the eDrive 40. Long time owner of many BMWs that are mainly M cars and RWD except for a couple of X5M and X3. For that reason I am more keen on the RWD e40. Coming from M2 Competition I’m not expecting the i4 to be that dynamic but I also daily in Tesla Model 3 RWD so am expecting this to be comparable. The review below is the only one I’ve seen for the eDrive 40. Are there any others out there? Please post all the e40 reviews here!

Encanto · 12-31-2021, 10:58 AM

Good review... BMW specs state that the i4 has rear air suspension standard, regardless of model.

Ken7 · 12-31-2021, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Encanto

Good review... BMW specs state that the i4 has rear air suspension standard, regardless of model.

But we know that's not true in the case of e40. That trim comes standard without the rear air suspension. It can be ordered with the M Sport package, but it's not standard.

Encanto · 12-31-2021, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken7

But we know that's not true in the case of e40. That trim comes standard without the rear air suspension. It can be ordered with the M Sport package, but it's not standard.

You are describing the adaptive suspension option (2VF), not the rear air suspension which is standard.

From press release:

Quote:

Both i4 models also include a rear air suspension, whose automatic self-levelling feature keeps the car at a constant ride height when carrying a heavy load. The air suspension has been configured to increase ride comfort and sharpen handling abilities by greatly reducing body pitch and roll.

Ken7 · 12-31-2021, 01:25 PM

I just checked and you are 100% correct. I was always under the impression the rear air suspension was optional on the 40 and standard on the 50. But upon looking just now, I see as you said, the adaptive is the option in question. I even thought I saw a review where the reviewer mentioned air suspension as an option.

Live and learn, thanks.

WAY · 01-06-2022, 08:20 AM

Another one that came up today. I think the eDrive 40 may suit many who wants a more engaging driving experience.

unfoundnemo · 01-07-2022, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WAY

Another one that came up today. I think the eDrive 40 may suit many who wants a more engaging driving experience.

This is true for the current z4 as well (30i vs M40i), so not surprised. More power, more weight, less-engaging. A true M version should be meant to fix that of it ever comes about.

3RDSECTOR · 01-07-2022, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unfoundnemo

Quote:

Originally Posted by WAY

Another one that came up today. I think the eDrive 40 may suit many who wants a more engaging driving experience.

This is true for the current z4 as well (30i vs M40i), so not surprised. More power, more weight, less-engaging. A true M version should be meant to fix that of it ever comes about.

Same with the 330i M-Sport vs the M340i. That 210lbs makes a difference in engagement and feel.

petrolhead. · 01-08-2022, 04:13 AM

How can they do a review of a new EV and NOT talk about charging speed? Going on about how in a few years the infotainment might not look so fresh any more…the biggest questionmark on this car is the maximum charging speed and how long it can sustain a high charging rate even under less ideal conditions. People want to eventually reach their destination, don't they?

The closest competition to the i40 would be the KIA EV6 - which charges considerably faster being an 800V system.

BryanC84 · 01-08-2022, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petrolhead.

The closest competition to the i40 would be the KIA EV6 - which charges considerably faster being an 800V system.

Did you just compare a KIA to a BMW?

thaalrasha · 01-08-2022, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petrolhead.

How can they do a review of a new EV and NOT talk about charging speed? Going on about how in a few years the infotainment might not look so fresh any more…the biggest questionmark on this car is the maximum charging speed and how long it can sustain a high charging rate even under less ideal conditions. People want to eventually reach their destination, don't they?

The closest competition to the i40 would be the KIA EV6 - which charges considerably faster being an 800V system.

in a few years when everyone tries to pull 30amp of the grid when they come back from work, the grid will be down or everyone will be charging slowly anyway...

Hansn · 01-08-2022, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petrolhead.

How can they do a review of a new EV and NOT talk about charging speed? Going on about how in a few years the infotainment might not look so fresh any more…the biggest questionmark on this car is the maximum charging speed and how long it can sustain a high charging rate even under less ideal conditions. People want to eventually reach their destination, don't they?

The closest competition to the i40 would be the KIA EV6 - which charges considerably faster being an 800V system.

Looking at the real numbers from tests with 350kw chargers that supports 800v on 800v cars tells a different story. Im not able to explain it from my back of the head knowledge but in the real world the effect of 800v vs 400v is minimal to non existant. The charging speed falls so quick it makes close to zero difference in charging time. You get 3 minutes of high kw charging then it drops like a rock, sometimes even lower than the 400v cars..

kbsilver · 01-08-2022, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hansn

Looking at the real numbers from tests with 350kw chargers that supports 800v on 800v cars tells a different story. Im not able to explain it from my back of the head knowledge but in the real world the effect of 800v vs 400v is minimal to non existant. The charging speed falls so quick it makes close to zero difference in charging time. You get 3 minutes of high kw charging then it drops like a rock, sometimes even lower than the 400v cars..

800 volts simply cuts the current in half between the charger and the car. At the per battery cell level, there is no difference.

ghaffari46 · 01-08-2022, 10:25 AM

I have an i8 and Tesla 3 in the garage, 2 different animals but one enjoyable feature they have in common is the clean point of view from driver standpoint, you just see the road and your view is not covered by part of the bonnet. And that's because for an electric car you don't need to put lots of stuff in front (and i8 it's sort of mid engine). You may not pay attention to this until you drive very slopped bonnet car.
I don't see why an electric car needs such a big and regular looking bonnet.

Clefmonster · 01-09-2022, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghaffari46

I have an i8 and Tesla 3 in the garage, 2 different animals but one enjoyable feature they have in common is the clean point of view from driver standpoint, you just see the road and your view is not covered by part of the bonnet. And that's because for an electric car you don't need to put lots of stuff in front (and i8 it's sort of mid engine). You may not pay attention to this until you drive very slopped bonnet car.
I don't see why an electric car needs such a big and regular looking bonnet.

It doesn't. I think this is just a relic of being based on the CLAR platform

ghaffari46 · 01-09-2022, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clefmonster

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghaffari46

I have an i8 and Tesla 3 in the garage, 2 different animals but one enjoyable feature they have in common is the clean point of view from driver standpoint, you just see the road and your view is not covered by part of the bonnet. And that's because for an electric car you don't need to put lots of stuff in front (and i8 it's sort of mid engine). You may not pay attention to this until you drive very slopped bonnet car.
I don't see why an electric car needs such a big and regular looking bonnet.

It doesn't. I think this is just a relic of being based on the CLAR platform

I had a 4 series loaner last week.
Drive a Tesla 3 or i8 and a 4 series back to back. You will see what do I mean.

12-31-2021, 10:36 AM	#1
WAY Brigadier General 458 Rep 4,822 Posts Drives: Fast ones Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia iTrader: (0)	i4 eDrive 40 review thread Featured on BIMMERPOST.com Hi all, I’m very anxiously awaiting reviews of the eDrive 40. Long time owner of many BMWs that are mainly M cars and RWD except for a couple of X5M and X3. For that reason I am more keen on the RWD e40. Coming from M2 Competition I’m not expecting the i4 to be that dynamic but I also daily in Tesla Model 3 RWD so am expecting this to be comparable. The review below is the only one I’ve seen for the eDrive 40. Are there any others out there? Please post all the e40 reviews here!
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12-31-2021, 10:58 AM	#2
Encanto Colonel 1164 Rep 2,180 Posts Drives: 2021 X3 M40i Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Ohio iTrader: (1)	Good review... BMW specs state that the i4 has rear air suspension standard, regardless of model.
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12-31-2021, 01:25 PM	#5
Ken7 Private First Class 32 Rep 133 Posts Drives: Audi e-Tron Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	I just checked and you are 100% correct. I was always under the impression the rear air suspension was optional on the 40 and standard on the 50. But upon looking just now, I see as you said, the adaptive is the option in question. I even thought I saw a review where the reviewer mentioned air suspension as an option. Live and learn, thanks.
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01-06-2022, 08:20 AM	#6
WAY Brigadier General 458 Rep 4,822 Posts Drives: Fast ones Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia iTrader: (0)	Another one that came up today. I think the eDrive 40 may suit many who wants a more engaging driving experience.
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01-08-2022, 04:13 AM	#9
petrolhead. Enlisted Member 24 Rep 49 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 ZCP Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Continental Europe iTrader: (0)	How can they do a review of a new EV and NOT talk about charging speed? Going on about how in a few years the infotainment might not look so fresh any more…the biggest questionmark on this car is the maximum charging speed and how long it can sustain a high charging rate even under less ideal conditions. People want to eventually reach their destination, don't they? The closest competition to the i40 would be the KIA EV6 - which charges considerably faster being an 800V system.
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01-08-2022, 10:25 AM	#14
ghaffari46 Captain 1104 Rep 676 Posts Drives: bmw m3 e90 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: us iTrader: (0)	I have an i8 and Tesla 3 in the garage, 2 different animals but one enjoyable feature they have in common is the clean point of view from driver standpoint, you just see the road and your view is not covered by part of the bonnet. And that's because for an electric car you don't need to put lots of stuff in front (and i8 it's sort of mid engine). You may not pay attention to this until you drive very slopped bonnet car. I don't see why an electric car needs such a big and regular looking bonnet.
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