[wdc330i]

Originally Posted by diablo2112

The hatchback alone is our reason to upgrade. We had several 3-series wagons in the past, and missed them dearly. In the absence of BMW bringing the 3-series wagon back to the US, the GC will have to do.

Exactly.

[toddwalton]

Originally Posted by Cpatel

A 4 gran coup is a 4 series with 4 doors, that basically turns in into a 3 series. What am I missing?

The 4GC is a Coupe, the 3 is a Sedan, different cars entirely. What you're missing is that the 4GC is lower and wider and more of a personal luxury car than the 3 which is a mass produced taller and thinner luxury sedan. While they may seat the same number of occupants, they look and drive differently. 4GC is heavier and more expensive but has a very useful liftback, 3 Sedan is lighter and cheaper and has a traditional trunk.

Essentially boils down to whether or not you want to feel unique and individual or stick with the traditional and common sure thing. Every 4 Gran Coupe owner drove a 3 Sedan for years and wants something fresh. That's why it exists.

[zlatko]

The 4GC seems to be a great car, if only BMW have spared it from "beaver teeth" grille! Liftback is so much more practical than the traditional sedan trunk. It's a shame US does not get the option for Touring body style, which is probably the best for people doing outdoor sports. And it's a shame that in general car manufacturers cut down the interesting body styles on offer - e.g. BMW 3GT, Panamera SportTourismo etc.

[toddwalton]

Originally Posted by zlatko

The 4GC seems to be a great car, if only BMW have spared it from "beaver teeth" grille!

When it first was debuted, I felt the same way. But two things happened that changed my mind:

1. The bad press about the grille started because of the Coupe and the non-M Sport bodystyle. Coupe has extra fascia trim that accentuates the full ovals, the standard bodystyle has tiny air vents that make the grille very dominant. Top photo all you see is giant grille floating above all.

2. When the Gran Coupe was finally introduced, BMW eliminated the contrasting trim at the bottom of the grille, and the combination of that plus the M-Sport bodywork plus the Extended Shadowline took away a lot of the oval vibe. Paint color and seeing it in person also makes a huge difference.

I went from a hater to a lover when I saw my first Gran Coupe M-Sport Shadowline in Brooklyn Grey on the road. The grill fears were eliminated and I could then focus on the rest of the car which is totally brilliant. I get way, way more looks and positive comments on this car than any other BMW I've ever owned including my Convertible which drew a ton of attention.

[wdc330i]

Originally Posted by zlatko

The 4GC seems to be a great car, if only BMW have spared it from "beaver teeth" grille! Liftback is so much more practical than the traditional sedan trunk. It's a shame US does not get the option for Touring body style, which is probably the best for people doing outdoor sports. And it's a shame that in general car manufacturers cut down the interesting body styles on offer - e.g. BMW 3GT, Panamera SportTourismo etc.

I had three BMW wagons in the States before they stopped importing them. They are much better for transporting dogs, because the hatch is lower than on an SUV. And they handle like sedans.

Apparently we will get the M5 wagon soonish, and that’s great. But the price will be stratospheric. BMW is likely only bringing it here to compete with the Audi RS6 wagon, which has been available here for awhile.

[zlatko]

toddwalton - agree, the GC in M-sport trim looks much better. But still the same car with the normal 3-series fascia will be even prettier!
wdc330i - M5 is 2 levels up the price than "normal" cars. And honestly - nobody needs that performance for a daily driver. So it seems like BMW is torturing its NA customers, showing them what a nice BMW Touring can be, but at the same time denying them access to it. At least for me M3 or M5 are cars with price and performance above my paygrade and needs.

[wdc330i]

Originally Posted by zlatko

toddwalton - agree, the GC in M-sport trim looks much better. But still the same car with the normal 3-series fascia will be even prettier!
wdc330i - M5 is 2 levels up the price than "normal" cars. And honestly - nobody needs that performance for a daily driver. So it seems like BMW is torturing its NA customers, showing them what a nice BMW Touring can be, but at the same time denying them access to it. At least for me M3 or M5 are cars with price and performance above my paygrade and needs.

Indeed. I will stick with my 4 GC. It is all the car I need and practical enough to get by with. Having had a zillion 3 series, it also feels like a step up from them. Not quite a 5 series, but a move in that direction.

[toddwalton]

Originally Posted by zlatko

toddwalton - agree, the GC in M-sport trim looks much better. But still the same car with the normal 3-series fascia will be even prettier!

I agree, as I think the G20 LCI is fantastic, but it would make the 4GC look more pedestrian, more like every other (yawn) 3 Series and 5 Series on the road made since 2007 and that's a lot of cars.

I live in BMW Ground Zero, so many around here that you can't go 5 minutes on the road without seeing one, and I'm not lying when I tell you I must see 40 E90's, F30's, and G20's on the daily commute per day, not to mention the 20 F10's and G30's. And you know how many G26's I see daily? None. I'm averaging 1 Gran Coupe sighting per week right now. And I like that.

I get that no BMW is some exclusive/limited vehicle, I know these are mass produced and incredibly popular. But among the ocean of 3's and 5's on the road it is quite refreshing to be driving what I'll allow myself to call a unique/special BMW. It's a very cool feeling.

[CSBM5]

Originally Posted by zlatko

toddwalton - agree, the GC in M-sport trim looks much better. But still the same car with the normal 3-series fascia will be even prettier!
wdc330i - M5 is 2 levels up the price than "normal" cars. And honestly - nobody needs that performance for a daily driver. So it seems like BMW is torturing its NA customers, showing them what a nice BMW Touring can be, but at the same time denying them access to it. At least for me M3 or M5 are cars with price and performance above my paygrade and needs.

BMWNA has always short-changed NA customers with regard to tourings/wagons. Perhaps the vague exception to this was the availability of the E61 535i with a 6MT, but otherwise all the 3-series wagons they allowed us to have were the lower spec engines (i.e. E46 325i, E91 325i/328i, F31 328i/330i) and they all had forced "options" such as sunroofs. At least on the E46 and E91 they allowed you to order it with a 5MT/6MT...all F31s were automatics. BMWNA did not fit into the production design plan for the G21, and they realized that the market had shifted substantially well after the designs were finalized, and it was too late to make the needed changes to allow it to be imported here.

[toddwalton]

Originally Posted by CSBM5

BMWNA has always short-changed NA customers with regard to tourings/wagons. Perhaps the vague exception to this was the availability of the E61 535i with a 6MT, but otherwise all the 3-series wagons they allowed us to have were the lower spec engines (i.e. E46 325i, E91 325i/328i, F31 328i/330i) and they all had forced "options" such as sunroofs. At least on the E46 and E91 they allowed you to order it with a 5MT/6MT...all F31s were automatics. BMWNA did not fit into the production design plan for the G21, and they realized that the market had shifted substantially well after the designs were finalized, and it was too late to make the needed changes to allow it to be imported here.

To me, it felt like when the X5 exploded it was decided that the spacious NA territory was the home for big ol' SUV's and Europe the home for compact Station Wagons and that was that, two different form factors for two different regions, no crossover.

Seeing that BMW has invested so much in SUV production here in the US, allowing consumers a smaller/cheaper alternative to the X3 or X1 would slow SUV sales and throw off their production capabilities.

[madpistol]

Originally Posted by Sam Tango

what is your point tho?

It's called "Implicit Bias"

[diablo2112]

There's lots of differences between the M340i and M440i GC. The interior is substantially different.

To note a few things: the GC has full handles on the doors, the 340 is just a cuby hole. The 440 has a wider arm rest. Interior trim on the 440i has more cerium coatings; the 340 is mainly black plastic (example: door handle surrounds). The 440 has separate lock & unlock buttons on the doors, the 340 has a single, central button. The 440 has recessed door handles. etc.

You can see some of these differences here:

M440i



M340i

[madpistol]

Originally Posted by diablo2112

There's lots of differences between the M340i and M440i GC. The interior is substantially different.

To note a few things: the GC has full handles on the doors, the 340 is just a cuby hole. The 440 has a wider arm rest. Interior trim on the 440i has more cerium coatings; the 340 is mainly black plastic (example: door handle surrounds). The 440 has separate lock & unlock buttons on the doors, the 340 has a single, central button. The 440 has recessed door handles. etc.

You can see some of these differences here:

M440i



M340i

The M440i GC has a much nicer interior around the doors. One of the main things I love about the M440i GC vs M340i is the size of the door arm rest; they are much bigger on the M440i GC, and as a result, much more comfortable as well.

[toddwalton]

Originally Posted by madpistol

The M440i GC has a much nicer interior around the doors. One of the main things I love about the M440i GC vs M340i is the size of the door arm rest; they are much bigger on the M440i GC, and as a result, much more comfortable as well.

And the LED lighting strips as well.

[Randy Johnson]

BMW really fucked up the design of the M440. Just looks like a box with wheels. The grill is just fucken ridiculous. The sides have no style or character. The ass end looks like a fucken buick. The wheels look like pressed on hub caps if you are old enough to even know what that is. Just another abomination created by the new bmw design team. Horrible.

[madpistol]

Originally Posted by Randy Johnson

BMW really fucked up the design of the M440. Just looks like a box with wheels. The grill is just fucken ridiculous. The sides have no style or character. The ass end looks like a fucken buick. The wheels look like pressed on hub caps if you are old enough to even know what that is. Just another abomination created by the new bmw design team. Horrible.

Dang man, do you need a hug? That’s pretty brutal.

[wdc330i]

Originally Posted by Randy Johnson

BMW really fucked up the design of the M440. Just looks like a box with wheels. The grill is just fucken ridiculous. The sides have no style or character. The ass end looks like a fucken buick. The wheels look like pressed on hub caps if you are old enough to even know what that is. Just another abomination created by the new bmw design team. Horrible.

No. Whatever about the grille—that ship has sailed. Everything about this car is better than what has come before it. I say this as someone who has owned many of the cars that came before it. Take whatever your odd anger about this car is and channel it elsewhere. Those of us who actually own one are absolutely delighted with it. I have not been happier with a car in MANY years.

If you love and are happy with your car, then fantastic. No need to plant your land mines for those who come after you.

[toddwalton]

Originally Posted by Randy Johnson

The grill is just fucken ridiculous.

….says the man with a $30 Alibaba fake M striped grille.

[Burrcold]

He's a complete fool, don't fall into his troll trap.

[madpistol]

Originally Posted by wdc330i

No. Whatever about the grille—that ship has sailed. Everything about this car is better than what has come before it. I say this as someone who has owned many of the cars that came before it. Take whatever your odd anger about this car is and channel it elsewhere. Those of us who actually own one are absolutely delighted with it. I have not been happier with a car in MANY years.

If you love and are happy with your car, then fantastic. No need to plant your land mines for those who come after you.

Exactly. Over the last 8 years, I've had 6 different cars. Each time, I got something different because whatever I had at the time was not satisfying me and I wanted something better. This includes my previous 2021 M340i. I almost did it again with an M3 Competition xDrive, but this time, I stopped because I am extremely happy with my M440i GC. I've never thought a car was perfect (for me), but the M440i GC is so close to perfect that I am afraid to get an M3 Competition. I've finally found a car that is so well balanced, so luxurious, and yet so fun to drive, not to mention stylish (I get an incredible number of compliments on this car) that I no longer feel the need to look for something better... because, without going insane on price, I don't think "better" exists. I know an M550i is "better", but it also costs way more, and I don't want the stigma associated with owning a 5 series. The 3 feels generic; the 5 feels geriatric. The 4GC is just cool.

The M440i GC is one of, if not THE best car that BMW currently sells. It just does everything so well.

[Stag77]

Originally Posted by madpistol

You own an M340i, so obviously you’re going to prefer it. Not surprising.

G26 owners saying G26 is better = good.
G20 owners saying G20 is better = bias.



I think the G26 is a fantastic car to drive, and I love the interior. It's my one gripe with the G20. If it shared some elements with the G26 interior, it would truly be the perfect car in my eyes.

But while the G26 has a better interior, the G20 has a substantially better exterior. The G26 styling just isn't for me. The grille, abeit much better than the previous iteration, is still unpleasant to look at, and I've never been a fan of 4 door coupes. I do find the G26 rear end to be quite attactive, though.

[deathmetal666]

I’ve driven both recently.

The m440ix gran coupe is very soft to me. Compared to the m340z
It doesn’t pull nearly as hard as the m340ix. Especially on the freeway.
The acceleration was underwhelming. Surprising from the b58.
My x3 m40i pulls harder.

The suspension also feels very cushioned. The m340 is way sharper.
Steering in comfort much heavier on m340.

The 440 gran coupe felt like an Audi to me.
The m340 feels more BMW like.
My x3 m40i is more exhilarating to drive than the 440i gc.