i4 M50 vs M3 Comparison Review: Price, 0-60, Range & More

ColinL_UK · 05-03-2022, 01:00 AM

So I live in the Uk and I am a company car driver.

The economics of tax relief make the i4 M50 attainable for me, whilst the M3 would simply not viable. Unless I sold a kidney or two to offset the additional tax. Also it would be unlikely the company would consider the M3 or 4 because of the high running costs.

So I won't get the pure M experience but I will get a car which is exceptional and affordable (and cost effective to run) it's a trade off I am happy with.

I imagine in the UK this applies to a lot of drivers getting into i4's or Tesla M3P over the last couple of years.

footie · 05-03-2022, 01:27 AM

It’s funny but the wife and I took the dog for a walk which means taking her Golf R, no way it’s getting in my car LOL. Anyway long story short I hadn’t driven the Golf for a good two weeks and frankly I was shocked just how unrefined the drive chain was, I never realised just how slow both the turbo spooling and the gearbox kicking down was in this car, something I never notice whilst I owned the M5 which has be thinking would I feel the same about it after spending this long with an electric car.

hotrod182 · 05-03-2022, 04:42 AM

In a way, the power delivery on an auto shifting ICE car is like a rubber band. You step on it a little, not much happens. So you give it more throttle and the trans shifts down, jerks the car, the engine winds out, but you don't need THAT much acceleration, so you let off the throttle and the trans upshifts, leaving you with less power than you might desire unless you go through the same cycle again or put the trans in manual mode. Meanwhile with an EV, your foot just dials in the exact amount of power you want from that torque rich curve.

ColinL_UK · 05-03-2022, 02:56 PM

So I live in the Uk and I am a company car driver.

The economics of tax relief make the i4 M50 attainable for me, whilst the M3 would simply not viable. Unless I sold a kidney or two to offset the additional tax. Also it would be unlikely the company would consider the M3 or 4 because of the high running costs.

So I won't get the pure M experience but I will get a car which is exceptional and affordable (and cost effective to run) it's a trade off I am happy with.

I imagine in the UK this applies to a lot of drivers getting into i4's or Tesla M3P over the last couple of years.

05-03-2022, 01:00 AM	#89
ColinL_UK Col 35 Rep 53 Posts Drives: BMW i4 M50 Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: Poole, UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2017 530e Msport [8.50] 2022 bmw i4 M50 [0.00] 2006 320D SE [0.00] 2010 520d SE [0.00] 2013 330D Touring M ... [0.00]	So I live in the Uk and I am a company car driver. The economics of tax relief make the i4 M50 attainable for me, whilst the M3 would simply not viable. Unless I sold a kidney or two to offset the additional tax. Also it would be unlikely the company would consider the M3 or 4 because of the high running costs. So I won't get the pure M experience but I will get a car which is exceptional and affordable (and cost effective to run) it's a trade off I am happy with. I imagine in the UK this applies to a lot of drivers getting into i4's or Tesla M3P over the last couple of years.
	Appreciate 1 Major Jasper4.50 Quote

05-03-2022, 01:27 AM	#90
footie Major General 1118 Rep 8,016 Posts Drives: i5M60 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: No where fast iTrader: (0) Garage List 2024 BMW i5M60 [0.00] 2022 BMW i4M50 [0.00] 2020 BMW M5 Competi ... [0.00] 2008 E92 M3 [0.00]	It’s funny but the wife and I took the dog for a walk which means taking her Golf R, no way it’s getting in my car LOL. Anyway long story short I hadn’t driven the Golf for a good two weeks and frankly I was shocked just how unrefined the drive chain was, I never realised just how slow both the turbo spooling and the gearbox kicking down was in this car, something I never notice whilst I owned the M5 which has be thinking would I feel the same about it after spending this long with an electric car.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-03-2022, 04:42 AM	#91
hotrod182 . 812 Rep 3,974 Posts Drives: 2023 i4 M50 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: California iTrader: (0)	In a way, the power delivery on an auto shifting ICE car is like a rubber band. You step on it a little, not much happens. So you give it more throttle and the trans shifts down, jerks the car, the engine winds out, but you don't need THAT much acceleration, so you let off the throttle and the trans upshifts, leaving you with less power than you might desire unless you go through the same cycle again or put the trans in manual mode. Meanwhile with an EV, your foot just dials in the exact amount of power you want from that torque rich curve.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-03-2022, 02:56 PM	#92
ColinL_UK Col 35 Rep 53 Posts Drives: BMW i4 M50 Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: Poole, UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2017 530e Msport [8.50] 2022 bmw i4 M50 [0.00] 2006 320D SE [0.00] 2010 520d SE [0.00] 2013 330D Touring M ... [0.00]	So I live in the Uk and I am a company car driver. The economics of tax relief make the i4 M50 attainable for me, whilst the M3 would simply not viable. Unless I sold a kidney or two to offset the additional tax. Also it would be unlikely the company would consider the M3 or 4 because of the high running costs. So I won't get the pure M experience but I will get a car which is exceptional and affordable (and cost effective to run) it's a trade off I am happy with. I imagine in the UK this applies to a lot of drivers getting into i4's or Tesla M3P over the last couple of years.
	Appreciate 0 Quote