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      03-02-2019, 12:00 PM   #1
CeEl
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30i Test Drive at dealer

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Ok, can only echo what others have said: car looks much better in person than in the pictures! Red with white seats. Was afraid I wouldn’t like these trim pieces on front bumper that hide the sensors/electronics, but they don’t look nearly as pronounced as in the pictures (which is good).

It doesn’t look (feel) all that bigger to me, but it does look more ‘broad’ from front than the old one. Lights look great. Trunk may be larger, but with the roof up, the old one had a very useful trunk as well, especially if one used the parts of the trunk they didn’t want you to use.

Back doesn’t look busy at all to me.

Biggest surprise was the engine: it sounds great, very responsive, hard to tell during these short test drives that it is just 4 cylinder. Doesn’t have the engine farts and burble of the 6 cylinder however. I really liked the ride.
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      03-02-2019, 12:40 PM   #2
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Did you test ride it with the top down? If you did how was the amount of rumble and noise?

Did you run through the paddle shifts and were they as smooth as all the reviewers have claimed?
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      03-02-2019, 02:46 PM   #3
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28 F in the morning … no, did not drive it with the top down ;-) Did have top down in the parking lot, walked around it, etc. at both dealers I visited.

From what I could tell, the car is nicely sound & temperature insulated, there was no 'flapping' due to the soft top, no wind noise (drove for a couple miles on highway), etc.

Engine noise was great for the 4 cyl, I was very pleasantly surprised. Nice deep rumble (but very light, not pronounced, more like a deep continuous pur sound) and a bit of higher pitch when accelerating, but nothing like the burping and engine farts that my 35i had.


I was able to play a bit with the paddle shifters in manual mode and yes, they were nice, response was immediate as far as I could tell. I hardly use them in my daily driving though (only every now and then when passing) so I am probably not the best source of whether they are 'good' or not.


The red light auto engine shut off disables when in Sport (or was it sport plus?) mode, I liked that. The ride is noticeable stiffer and more uncomfortable in the sport modes than in the comfort mode. Driving on poor road was acceptable in comfort mode (given the type of car it is, it's not a Rolls Royce!).
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      03-04-2019, 07:04 AM   #4
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Handling? Cornering? Did you feel connected to the road at all? Was the engine purr real, or the sound it plays through the speakers?
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      03-04-2019, 07:35 AM   #5
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Originally Posted by TK421BMW View Post
Handling? Cornering? Did you feel connected to the road at all? Was the engine purr real, or the sound it plays through the speakers?
There are a bunch of local dealers who share a closed off test track to show off capabilities of a wide range of cars. It's not a real track by any means, just good enough for a 0 - 60 run and two nice left turns, drive over cobble stones, and artificial hill... and it was cold, and I was probably the first one to drive the car.

So, with all these caveats out of the way: cornering and road handling was great!

They just pulled the car out with the top down when I arrived. I thought the engine sounded good when hearing it outside the car, but was admittedly more focused on looks of car at that point. Honestly didn't pay attention as to whether engine sound comes from speakers or not.
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      03-07-2019, 07:20 PM   #6
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If a dealer has one in stock, can you buy them now, or do you have wait until after a certain date?
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      03-07-2019, 08:32 PM   #7
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If a dealer has one in stock, can you buy them now, or do you have wait until after a certain date?
Here in the US you can buy them now!
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      04-01-2019, 12:50 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by SoCalKarl View Post
Did you test ride it with the top down? If you did how was the amount of rumble and noise?

Did you run through the paddle shifts and were they as smooth as all the reviewers have claimed?
This guy is test driving M40i (Europe spec) and talks about how his buddy following him perceives the rumble & pops louder versus him inside the car (with roof down). Sounds like the engine noise is 'real' and not piped in through the car's speakers:

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      04-02-2019, 12:49 PM   #9
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Couple weeks ago i went to my local dealer to test drive the base model which i am interested in but they only has a M40i and i was given the key for half a day. Initial impression was that it looks better in person than in pictures/videos online. It even reminds me of a smaller version of AMG GTC. The first time i saw and i knew right away that i like the styling of it. Interior quality, techs, HUD and dash layout is also the best in it's class imo. B58 engine is responsive as you would expect and ZF gearbox downshifts much faster than in my F30 i had before. I like the bubbles from exhaust with roof down and you get a few louder pops when going through high rpm and lift off the throttle, however i thought the pops and bangs in original X3 M40i was louder. Dealer explained me that the new Z4 M40i is fitted with PPF (due to new EU emission regulations bullshit) which makes the car sound a a bit quieter compared to original X3/X4 M40i models. Anyway, it is a fantastic car and i prefer it to M2, M3 or even M4 to be honest. It may not be the fastest or loudest, but it is a cool "sports car" in which you sit low with roof down and then let B58 do the talking. M40i US version is rated 3.9 secs 0 to 60 mph that's faster than Porsche 718 models and F-Type V6s. I have driven all these cars and i think Z4 M40i is the winner overall especially value for money and techs. "Overpriced" F-Type V6S (380bhp) was the loudest and best looking for me and wasn't impressed with cooled air Beetle sounding 718 Boxster S and Cayman although they feel lighter at the front and harsher ride like in real sports car. Whoever buys the new Z4 M40i will be happy with their choice and give this B58 JB4 or a stage 1 remap it will produce over 430+bhp and will shock many people in more expensive sports car.
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      04-02-2019, 12:59 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by P1 PET View Post
Couple weeks ago i went to my local dealer to test drive the base model which i am interested in but they only has a M40i and i was given the key for half a day. Initial impression was that it looks better in person than in pictures/videos online. It even reminds me of a smaller version of AMG GTC. The first time i saw and i knew right away that i like the styling of it. Interior quality, techs, HUD and dash layout is also the best in it's class imo. B58 engine is responsive as you would expect and ZF gearbox downshifts much faster than in my F30 i had before. I like the bubbles from exhaust with roof down and you get a few louder pops when going through high rpm and lift off the throttle, however i thought the pops and bangs in original X3 M40i was louder. Dealer explained me that the new Z4 M40i is fitted with PPF (due to new EU emission regulations bullshit) which makes the car sound a a bit quieter compared to original X3/X4 M40i models. Anyway, it is a fantastic car and i prefer it to M2, M3 or even M4 to be honest. It may not be the fastest or loudest, but it is a cool "sports car" in which you sit low with roof down and then let B58 do the talking. M40i US version is rated 3.9 secs 0 to 60 mph that's faster than Porsche 718 models and F-Type V6s. I have driven all these cars and i think Z4 M40i is the winner overall especially value for money and techs. "Overpriced" F-Type V6S (380bhp) was the loudest and best looking for me and wasn't impressed with cooled air Beetle sounding 718 Boxster S and Cayman although they feel lighter at the front and harsher ride like in real sports car. Whoever buys the new Z4 M40i will be happy with their choice and give this B58 JB4 or a stage 1 remap it will produce over 430+bhp and will shock some people in more expensive sports car.
Don't hate me but what is a JB4?
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      04-02-2019, 01:16 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SoCalKarl View Post
Don't hate me but what is a JB4?
Very affordable tuning box popular among M140i owners.

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      04-03-2019, 10:53 AM   #12
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I had a chance to test drive a SF Red 30i yesterday and was positively surprised by its agility and sound track for a 4 cylinder engine. The SF Red looks great with shadowline trim and black grill etc. Unfortunately, the M40i comes with metal mesh grill and silver mirror caps.

Compared to my M235 through I felt the 30i was lagging. Hence, I am reserving judgment until I get to drive the M40i. Hopefully soon.
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      04-03-2019, 12:17 PM   #13
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The SF Red looks great with shadowline trim and black grill etc. Unfortunately, the M40i comes with metal mesh grill and silver mirror caps.
Yes, agree, would have been great to get the extended shadowline trim and black that out completely. It looks more like that cerium grey than actual silver? I think the first deliveries for the M40i will happen around the 17th in the US, we’ll hear from the first owners then. I should be able to pick mine up around the 23rd. Maybe an inexpensive part later on (yeah, right, inexpensive ... )
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      04-17-2019, 10:19 AM   #14
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Took a quick test drive in a White 30i over the weekend.

Enjoyed it but had an '09 35i and will wait to see how the 40i feels/sounds.

After I left the lot though, I didn't recall seeing buttons to turn on the neck/seat vent heaters. The 435i has this "neck scarf" for warmth and I use it a good bit. Think it was part of the Cold Weather Package. Along w/ heated seats and steering wheel, the top down season can be extended nicely.

I know the new Z4 has seat vents around the neck area but are they just for "show"?
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      04-17-2019, 10:44 AM   #15
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Originally Posted by STR3T View Post
Took a quick test drive in a White 30i over the weekend.

Enjoyed it but had an '09 35i and will wait to see how the 40i feels/sounds.

After I left the lot though, I didn't recall seeing buttons to turn on the neck/seat vent heaters. The 435i has this "neck scarf" for warmth and I use it a good bit. Think it was part of the Cold Weather Package. Along w/ heated seats and steering wheel, the top down season can be extended nicely.

I know the new Z4 has seat vents around the neck area but are they just for "show"?
Just heated seats, no neck scarf.

And no ventilated seats either (which I am missing more than the neck scarf).
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      04-17-2019, 12:14 PM   #16
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Dang, no neck scarf in the Z4 is a real bummer. Obviously not for those in the warmer, year round states.

I don’t know for sure but doubt there’s any other tech in my 2016 435i that isn’t enhanced or updated, much less missing, from the new Z4.

The dealer I visited said they have an M40i that is already built and on it’s way…Red/Black. Hmmm.

So far, literally, the only negatives I have: 1. Price, seems high to me unless I get ~8%-12% discount, 2. Lack of neck scarf, 3. Cup holders.

I won't put ventilated seats but I'd use the heck out of those too if they were available.

Pros…too many to mention

Last edited by STR3T; 04-17-2019 at 12:47 PM..
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      04-17-2019, 08:36 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CeEl View Post
Just heated seats, no neck scarf.

And no ventilated seats either (which I am missing more than the neck scarf).
Agree that ventilated seats are fantastic and would be missed on the Z4. This is especially true for those of us in horribly humid climates.
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