[BlueWithEnvy]

Hello everyone, just thought I'd introduce myself as a proud new 4 series owner. Only previous BMW experience was as a very unhappy 1 series owner a number of years ago - so hopefully this time I'll have more fun.

Previous car was an Audi A5 3.0TDi Coupe - Black Edition, that I had for nearly 2 years (as I've gone through 17 cars in the last 15 years it had done very well, and I wasn't particularly looking to change). Anyway, I've gone for a 435D MSport with XDrive in Estoril Blue, that I picked up on Friday last week.

So far my thoughts are:

Engine - much smoother and quicker that the 3.0 (245bhp) in the A5.
Steering - sharper and more responsive, not the ultimate driving machine, but hugely better than the Audi.
Gearbox - I like it a lot, but the DSG was excellent too.
Ride - Non MSport suspension (because of XDrive) means its more comfort orientated than my A5 (with sports suspension). I'm never going to race / track the car, or fling it round corners, so although many on here scoff at the standard suspension, its perfectly fine by me, and at 41 comfort has become more important as of late!
iDrive - much better than the MMI in the Audi.
HK speakers - very good, but the B&O in the A5 was excellent.
Steering Wheel - the one thing I don't particularly like - the flat bottomed A5 one was lovely.
Fuel Consumption - about 10% better than the A5 - which is a surprise as; a) its about 20% more powerful and b) the bloody stop/start is refusing to work as its so cold (-4) at the moment.

Other things I've noticed:
There's more space inside that in the A5, but slightly less in the boot.
From the inside, the front window seems very small compared to the A5.
The superb iDrive's screen can be seen reflected in the top of the windscreen at night which annoys me somewhat.
The colour (which I know is a very personal opinion) is stunning and has got many comments from colleagues and neighbours (my A5 was Lava Grey (almost black) and didn't really enhanced the car's shape at all!)

So overall I'm more than happy with my purchase, and am looking forward to spending at least the next year with her. And can't wait for some half decent weather so I can give her a proper clean and polish / seal.

[Lorcan]

Welcome aboard

[Nick the Greek]

Bloody hell, another Labour stronghold, what's going on?

Oh.

And welcome!

[BlueWithEnvy]

Originally Posted by Nick the Greek

Bloody hell, another Labour stronghold, what's going on?

Oh.

And welcome!

I live there because it's cheap (and because the school I teach in is relatively close) not because of its politics!!

[Nick the Greek]

Originally Posted by Blessed_badger

I live there because it's cheap (and because the school I teach in is relatively close) not because of its politics!!

Good man.

Tory only this forum.

[rocketretro]

So un-PC but funny it could have gone horribly wrong if the OP had come from a Jaguar., anyway welcome to the forum, a great source of information and views, one of which you have been introduced to. A great choice of vehicle and in the best, most interesting colour.

[JonD]

Welcome Badger, good choice of car, although you've just made common blue even more common

Anyway at this time of day shouldn't you be teaching or marking books or something like that

[simon.]

Probably on a teacher training day!!


Hi & welcome.

Code one of the buttons to turn the display off when it bugs you @ night. Simple 1 press then

[Tengocity]

Welcome- interesting to hear the comparisons with the previous car!

[BlueWithEnvy]

Originally Posted by JonD

Welcome Badger, good choice of car, although you've just made common blue even more common

Anyway at this time of day shouldn't you be teaching or marking books or something like that

Yeah, should really be marking books (my day out of class though today to plan, prepare and assess (or otherwise surf the net for some pointless rubbish to spend my money on!)) but instead, I'm saying goodbye to the A5OC (a very welcoming and friendly site for all things A5) and saying hello to all you lot on here - which at the moment seems equally as welcoming and knowledgeable. Tried various other sites BMWLand and Bimmerfest but found you guys thanks to a fellow A5er (S5Mafia) who's also come over to the other side in a 4 series.

I've been lurking to pass the weeks until I picked up the car and found some very useful info / hints and tips etc, and the banter seems to be quite similar to the A5OC, but thought I'd actually start to post now as I now actually have the car.

As for the 'common blue' - all of my many previous cars have either been silver, grey or black, so it's a very daring change for me, and as every car I can see from our bedroom window is either black, grey or silver, it also adds a bit of colour to the neighbourhood too!

[DaveA]

Originally Posted by Nick the Greek

Tory only this forum.

You can speak for yourself... Very far from the truth in my case...

[Nick the Greek]

Originally Posted by DaveA

You can speak for yourself... Very far from the truth in my case...

Lets Hope Its Not Liebore Then.

Or Two Thirds Of Us Are Going To Be Out Of A Job...

[DaveA]

Originally Posted by Nick the Greek

Lets Hope Its Not Liebore Then.

Or Two Thirds Of Us Are Going To Be Out Of A Job...

Don't worry, there'd be jobs for all in DaveALand (copyright)...

[DaveA]

Originally Posted by Blessed_badger

Hello everyone, just thought I'd introduce myself as a proud new 4 series owner.

Welcome...

[Andy30D]

ITS A REDDDDDDD! haha!

welcome, enjoy the new car. and god 17 cars in 15 years, thought i was bad!!!

[335dMSport+]

Welcome to the forum mate, where most questions have been asked before, so the search button is most helpful but if you can't find what you're looking for then someone will pipe up quickly.

[Andrewthefirst]

Hello and welcome!

I'm not long out of a nice 6cl A4 s-line myself so I have enjoyed your comparisons so far. I've had my 3 series now for just over a week, and I would have agreed with you on the steering wheel but now I love the BM wheel! Tho I wish it was heated

As you are maybe indicating, I have a sneaky suspension that the B&O was better than the HK (to my ears anyway) yet I am hoping that like the rest of the car the speakers will improve a bit after a breaking in. I agree that the dsg was an excellent gearbox, I also had the multi-tronic (in the 2.7 tdi) and it was sublime. I have the humble 330, and I find the engine a huge improvement from the Audi, with the 435 you must be laughing like a schoolboy!

[Andrewthefirst]

Originally Posted by Nick the Greek

Good man.

Tory only this forum.

I'd be somewhat to the right of UKIP myself at times. A pity Nige is such a clown.

Though I'd settle for anyone but Milliband or Sturgeon

Another vote here for an off-topic section

[KevinLevin]

Originally Posted by Blessed_badger

Yeah, should really be marking books (my day out of class though today to plan, prepare and assess (or otherwise surf the net for some pointless rubbish to spend my money on!)) but instead, I'm saying goodbye to the A5OC (a very welcoming and friendly site for all things A5) and saying hello to all you lot on here - which at the moment seems equally as welcoming and knowledgeable. Tried various other sites BMWLand and Bimmerfest but found you guys thanks to a fellow A5er (S5Mafia) who's also come over to the other side in a 4 series.

Glad to see you here. On the light/dark side!

However... I'm still weeks from getting my car so now I'm jealous!

Didn't realise you were so close, I'm in Bury.

[Nick the Greek]

Originally Posted by Andrewthefirst

I'd be somewhat to the right of UKIP myself at times. A pity Nige is such a clown.

Though I'd settle for anyone but Milliband or Sturgeon

Another vote here for an off-topic section

The rot started when they stopped public flogging, invented the welfare state and thought "health and safety" was a good idea......

[Nick the Greek]

Originally Posted by Nick the Greek

The rot started when they stopped public flogging, invented the welfare state and thought "health and safety" was a good idea......

And another thing.

Don't get me started on " human rights"!

[JustChris]

Welcome and congrats.

Thinking if running for council office?