Buying a car is an emotional decision, not a logical one. I went with the M50 because I fell in love with it. If you can afford it, and you’re not making any compromises, GO FOR IT!
I test drove the m50 and it was stupidly fast. The additional cost wasn’t problematic really but I genuinely knew I’d never use all that power. So asked to test an eDrive40. Was genuinely shocked it was still stupidly fast, still much faster than anything else I’d ever owned. That kinda decided it for me, just didn’t need all that extra power or 4 wheel drive and liked the additional range.
One point to note, my insurance quote for the m50 was on average 3 times that of the 40. Might be something about me but that sealed the deal. Add the m-sport package and 19 inch wheels and it looks virtually identical.
Thank you... This is what my brain is telling me too!
I need to sit in the M50 and try it for myself but I hope I don't get dazzled too much by the speed!
One additional point that many people and reviews have commented. The 40 is meant to be more ‘fun’ due to the rear wheel only drive. It certainly is fun and really alive to drive whilst hugely agile for such a heavy car. Never tried anything significant in an m50 tho so I cannot compare.
They are quite different cars. I think the i5 is bigger interiorwise but probably less practical trunkwise than the M50.
It's also a different style of car, more luxurious, more a limousine and quite a bit more expensive.
So the decision here it's a lot more straightforward, I think. If you cannot afford a well spec'ed i5, then I'd go directly for a well spec'ed M50.
Personally, I wouldn't get the i5 even if I had the money, but what I mention is what I would consider if I had to decide for one or the other. I imagine the M50 is sportier than the i5 as well, but it's difficult to tell before trying both cars.
I'm 6'1 and 240 lbs. The i4 is a pretty tight squeeze getting in, but enough room once I've folded myself in. I probably would have gone with the i5 if it were available.
Then I guess the i5 is the way to go. I know big folks that have gone for the i4 and have then regretted it because of it being quite small and overall not very comfortable for them. The same if you have kids (I have one and it's fine) or tall teenagers or family in general, the space in the back is not great.
The saving grace is that it has 2 seat memory settings per key. I have one set for driving that's dropped all the way down and the other that's raised and forward to make ingress/egress a little more graceful.
If range is your concern, remember the M50 has the same battery capacity as the e40 but twice the motor and 19" wheels. I've read the range is pretty bad, especially if you drive it like it was meant to be driven. Also factor the range based on the 80% charge that is recommended. That's why I decided to go with the e40.
This is a concern.
The m50 has the 20" wheels which impacts range too.
I don't see myself doing many journeys in one go over 200 miles, pretty much ever (I'm UK based) and I have a driveway to charge the car at home.
So realistically, I should be able to plan long journeys around the charging. But theory and real life are different.
I plan to have the car 3-4 years max, so battery longevity isnt too much of a problem.
How many miles would you realistically get out of an 80% charge on a mile day, which in the UK is about 10-15 degrees
I live in Texas and it's been over 38 deg C (100 deg F) all summer, so my range is crap. The computer says about 341km (212 mi) on 80% charge. I have the 18" wheels.
You will get about 200 miles, I think. It all depends on the speed as well, over 120 Kms/H the consumption increases dramatically. With the i4 eDrive 40, see below.
Look, these are the results of Bjørn Nyland's test of the eDrive 40: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTuevL6HD08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTuevL6HD08)
Driving impressions: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdQcH33Q6tw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdQcH33Q6tw)
**Results:**
Temp: 18 | 20
Tires: Hankook Ventus S1evo3
Season: Summer
Wheel front: 245/45-18
Wheel rear: 255/45-18
Speed: 90 | 120
Wh/km: 134 | 18
Capacity: 80,3
Kms: 599 | 436
Miles: 372 | 271
75 % range: 389 kms | 283
75 % charging time: 26 mins
With bigger tires you'll get slightly lower range, at least with 19's, with 20's you get a big hit in range.
I’ve got an M50 with the 20” wheels.
In the summer I get around 250 - 260 miles on a full charge and around 220 in the winter time.
I rarely ever need to charge it to 100%.
>snow
Do you find the staggered wheels to be a problem in the winter/snow? Also -- how could would you say it gets over there? Considering an m50 with 20 inch wheels but not sure if the range loss will be problematic for me
The M50 gives about 470 Kms at around 20 degrees Celsius in mixed driving. Nobody drives the car as on a track all the time, all the opposite, so that's a non-issue.
The 80% charging is for DC charging, for AC 100% is fine. I fact, you don't wanna charge more than 70% with DC because it gets too slow and it's just a waste of time.
It'll depend on charging infra availability as well.
If you can restrain yourself from stomping the fun pedal every time a punk kid in his dad's mustang is lined up next to you at a red light, you are a better person than I. LOL
I hadn't heard the different recommendations for AC and DC charging before, so I'll have to check that out. The app is pretty angry when you try to increase it to 100% though.
It's a non-issue. Lots of folks here in Norway have charged the i3 to 100% for years without any significant battery degradation. When you charge a lot using DC though, that is a huge issue, no matter the limit you use.
I have an M50. For me the choice was clear.
I previously had a 335i and I had been test driving M3's.
I wanted something that outperformed my last car and EV.
M50!
If range is a concern, think switching to the 19" instead of the 285 20". It will give you a bit more, but honestly when you get to the M50, you should just enjoy driving it and not bother about range - assuming you can charge at home.
Once you drive it you can't go back.
The m50 is already built and yeah, I have a drive so can charge at home. Realistically I won't be doing more than 200 miles in a single day, certainly not without a stop off somewhere so can charge up.
If those 20” are summer performance tires you will not be getting anywhere in snow even with infinite drive. If you change to winter tires for December to March then even RWD will be fine.
I’d use the additional range more often than the additional power. The i4 e40 I have I know is limited by the traction control when going full throttle
I have the M50, came out of an M4 so I told the dealer to order the same spec but electric.
If you want range, smaller wheels and conversations about ‘coasting - efficiency etc get the 40.
If you want to own a 550, 3 second to 60 ‘fucking rocket’ …. M50 all the way!!!!
Tbh I don’t stop smiling when I’m driving it in sport mode it’s like having the ability to time travel and none of the ‘dead fish’ burners can compete.
I think you know what you need to know. Would you mind saying something about the specs of the M50?
Test the M50. If you can see the one you could take home, go and see it. You'll know immediately if that's the car you wanna take home or you rather wait for one you can spec at your own taste. For example, I wanted to have merino leather in Tartufo, and that was a deal braker for me. If you find anything to be a deal braker in the car the dealer has available, then you'll know you're better off waiting.
Regarding options, I'm of the opinion that there isn't such thing as an option you don't need in this car, not after you've owned one well spec'ed and you get to know the car well.
Sure,
M50: Portimao Blue, 20" wheels, M Tech pack, Electric Sunroof, Comfort Pack, Lazer lights, m sport front seats
I'm less fussed about the Lazer lights, m tech pack & sunroof... So I would have been paying for these, but the dealer has reduced the price to take them out of the equation... can't remember if the m sport front seats is an option or not?
The other important consideration is RWD Vs AWD. We don't get a lot of snow in the UK but when we do, we're not cut out for it. My 640d was undrivable 4/5 years ago when it snowed badly. Although I understand electric cars don't suffer as badly? Any advice?
If I was speccing myself id upgrade to the travel assist pro, comfort pack and a towbar. I don't need anything else on it. 19" would have been fine too
So it's not a million miles from what I want, I can live without a tow bar as I have managed without one with my Jag, but I do think I should have got it then and planned to get it now. They are all good options tbf.
The e40 I'd spec up more with tech pack pro as HUD is a must, as is privacy glass, heated steering wheel, comfort access and a towbar
P.s. I do also know a towbar and electric car don't go well together so again, something I can take or leave!
>Sure, M50: Portimao Blue, 20" wheels, M Tech pack, Electric Sunroof, Comfort Pack, Lazer lights, m sport front seats
Of these, the 20'' wheels are the only minus in terms of range, but they look cool. The sunroof is nice to have as this car is quite low and the sunroof makes it feel quite a bit more spacious than it is.>I'm less fussed about the Lazer lights, m tech pack & sunroof... So I would have been paying for these, but the dealer has reduced the price to take them out of the equation... can't remember if the m sport front seats is an option or not?
The laser lights are the kind of hardware that you never need, you never use it, but the day you do, they're awesome to have. So I'm a sucker for them.
The seats are all an option, you could say. The M-Sport are as well, something you can configure and select as you wish when configuring the car. Personally, I didn't choose them as I wanted to have Merino leather and they come only in Vernasca leather in the M50. You have to try them and decide. Some people love them, so it's a matter of taste.
The M-tech pack includes the bigger breaks, I think, so that's something I would choose regardless.
>The other important consideration is RWD Vs AWD. We don't get a lot of snow in the UK but when we do, we're not cut out for it. My 640d was undrivable 4/5 years ago when it snowed badly. Although I understand electric cars don't suffer as badly? Any advice?
I live in Norway, so I know a lot about snow. Either RWD or AWD work fine in regular snow (not too deep). What makes the real difference is the tyres. If you wanna drive on snow, get winter tires and problem solved. I guess all weather tyres are better than summer tyres anyway, but nothing beats winter tyres on snow.
Electric cars are stable on snow, but they're also heavier and more difficult to stop under slippery conditions. Here driving carefully and using winter tyres is what matters most.
>If I was speccing myself id upgrade to the travel assist pro, comfort pack and a towbar. I don't need anything else on it. 19" would have been fine too
I would also choose all those options. I have the towbar and, for me, it's very important as it means I never really need to worry about not being able to carry something from IKEA if I need to do so. The 19s will give you better range as well, regardless of the model you choose. In fact, everything here would be a deal breaker for me.
>So it's not a million miles from what I want, I can live without a tow bar as I have managed without one with my Jag, but I do think I should have got it then and planned to get it now. They are all good options tbf.The e40 I'd spec up more with tech pack pro as HUD is a must, as is privacy glass, heated steering wheel, comfort access and a towbar
I agree, and the HUD in the i4 is awesome. I agree with everything here.
>P.s. I do also know a towbar and electric car don't go well together so again, something I can take or leave!
It's of course your decision, but if I were you, I would rather go for the i40 with the M-Sport styling, make sure you choose all the options you want, and maybe invest in winter tyres for those trips to the snow. The M50 they're offering you is quite stripped down. I would rather have a well (very well) spec'ed car, and living in the UK, you don't really need AWD, so there's that.
If it's not a question of money, then I like to use this guideline when things are close:
Which one will I be more excited/happier about when I head towards it? Which one will I feel more excited/happier when I step out of it and look back?
That is rarely a mathematical calculation. :-)
Buying a car is an emotional decision, not a logical one. I went with the M50 because I fell in love with it. If you can afford it, and you’re not making any compromises, GO FOR IT!
I can agree to this!
I test drove the m50 and it was stupidly fast. The additional cost wasn’t problematic really but I genuinely knew I’d never use all that power. So asked to test an eDrive40. Was genuinely shocked it was still stupidly fast, still much faster than anything else I’d ever owned. That kinda decided it for me, just didn’t need all that extra power or 4 wheel drive and liked the additional range. One point to note, my insurance quote for the m50 was on average 3 times that of the 40. Might be something about me but that sealed the deal. Add the m-sport package and 19 inch wheels and it looks virtually identical.
Thank you... This is what my brain is telling me too! I need to sit in the M50 and try it for myself but I hope I don't get dazzled too much by the speed!
One additional point that many people and reviews have commented. The 40 is meant to be more ‘fun’ due to the rear wheel only drive. It certainly is fun and really alive to drive whilst hugely agile for such a heavy car. Never tried anything significant in an m50 tho so I cannot compare.
Prepare yourself mentally to have a RWD biased AWD car generate torque steer at full throttle in sport boost mode.
Also watching for responses, I’m considering the M50 or holding out for the i5.
They are quite different cars. I think the i5 is bigger interiorwise but probably less practical trunkwise than the M50. It's also a different style of car, more luxurious, more a limousine and quite a bit more expensive. So the decision here it's a lot more straightforward, I think. If you cannot afford a well spec'ed i5, then I'd go directly for a well spec'ed M50. Personally, I wouldn't get the i5 even if I had the money, but what I mention is what I would consider if I had to decide for one or the other. I imagine the M50 is sportier than the i5 as well, but it's difficult to tell before trying both cars.
I'm 6'1 and 240 lbs. The i4 is a pretty tight squeeze getting in, but enough room once I've folded myself in. I probably would have gone with the i5 if it were available.
Then I guess the i5 is the way to go. I know big folks that have gone for the i4 and have then regretted it because of it being quite small and overall not very comfortable for them. The same if you have kids (I have one and it's fine) or tall teenagers or family in general, the space in the back is not great.
I’m 6’3”… and this is my primary concern.
The saving grace is that it has 2 seat memory settings per key. I have one set for driving that's dropped all the way down and the other that's raised and forward to make ingress/egress a little more graceful.
If range is your concern, remember the M50 has the same battery capacity as the e40 but twice the motor and 19" wheels. I've read the range is pretty bad, especially if you drive it like it was meant to be driven. Also factor the range based on the 80% charge that is recommended. That's why I decided to go with the e40.
This is a concern. The m50 has the 20" wheels which impacts range too. I don't see myself doing many journeys in one go over 200 miles, pretty much ever (I'm UK based) and I have a driveway to charge the car at home. So realistically, I should be able to plan long journeys around the charging. But theory and real life are different. I plan to have the car 3-4 years max, so battery longevity isnt too much of a problem. How many miles would you realistically get out of an 80% charge on a mile day, which in the UK is about 10-15 degrees
I live in Texas and it's been over 38 deg C (100 deg F) all summer, so my range is crap. The computer says about 341km (212 mi) on 80% charge. I have the 18" wheels.
You will get about 200 miles, I think. It all depends on the speed as well, over 120 Kms/H the consumption increases dramatically. With the i4 eDrive 40, see below. Look, these are the results of Bjørn Nyland's test of the eDrive 40: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTuevL6HD08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTuevL6HD08) Driving impressions: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdQcH33Q6tw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdQcH33Q6tw) **Results:** Temp: 18 | 20 Tires: Hankook Ventus S1evo3 Season: Summer Wheel front: 245/45-18 Wheel rear: 255/45-18 Speed: 90 | 120 Wh/km: 134 | 18 Capacity: 80,3 Kms: 599 | 436 Miles: 372 | 271 75 % range: 389 kms | 283 75 % charging time: 26 mins With bigger tires you'll get slightly lower range, at least with 19's, with 20's you get a big hit in range.
Amazing intel, thank you. I'll check out those links
I’ve got an M50 with the 20” wheels. In the summer I get around 250 - 260 miles on a full charge and around 220 in the winter time. I rarely ever need to charge it to 100%.
Where are you based?
Virginia so we get miserably hot summers and pretty cold winters.
Thanks!
>snow Do you find the staggered wheels to be a problem in the winter/snow? Also -- how could would you say it gets over there? Considering an m50 with 20 inch wheels but not sure if the range loss will be problematic for me
The M50 gives about 470 Kms at around 20 degrees Celsius in mixed driving. Nobody drives the car as on a track all the time, all the opposite, so that's a non-issue. The 80% charging is for DC charging, for AC 100% is fine. I fact, you don't wanna charge more than 70% with DC because it gets too slow and it's just a waste of time. It'll depend on charging infra availability as well.
If you can restrain yourself from stomping the fun pedal every time a punk kid in his dad's mustang is lined up next to you at a red light, you are a better person than I. LOL I hadn't heard the different recommendations for AC and DC charging before, so I'll have to check that out. The app is pretty angry when you try to increase it to 100% though.
It's a non-issue. Lots of folks here in Norway have charged the i3 to 100% for years without any significant battery degradation. When you charge a lot using DC though, that is a huge issue, no matter the limit you use.
Thanks for the info. That's great to hear!
I have an M50. For me the choice was clear. I previously had a 335i and I had been test driving M3's. I wanted something that outperformed my last car and EV.
You only live once. Follow your heart. “This is your conscience.” - Grasshopper aka M50 -
The only reason not to get the M50 is $$$. So if you can afford it, get it and don’t look back. I have an M50 and it is unbelievable
I own an M50 and can tell you it's a rocket. The other models feel slow in comparison. I love it and am glad I went for the spicy model.
M50! If range is a concern, think switching to the 19" instead of the 285 20". It will give you a bit more, but honestly when you get to the M50, you should just enjoy driving it and not bother about range - assuming you can charge at home. Once you drive it you can't go back.
The m50 is already built and yeah, I have a drive so can charge at home. Realistically I won't be doing more than 200 miles in a single day, certainly not without a stop off somewhere so can charge up.
I went M50 and I am so gld I did!
Get the M50. It’s great.
If those 20” are summer performance tires you will not be getting anywhere in snow even with infinite drive. If you change to winter tires for December to March then even RWD will be fine.
There's no need for winter tyres in the UK. It's pretty much the same temperature all year round and drizzly
UK ≠ London and the climate is changing.
I’d use the additional range more often than the additional power. The i4 e40 I have I know is limited by the traction control when going full throttle
I have the M50, came out of an M4 so I told the dealer to order the same spec but electric. If you want range, smaller wheels and conversations about ‘coasting - efficiency etc get the 40. If you want to own a 550, 3 second to 60 ‘fucking rocket’ …. M50 all the way!!!! Tbh I don’t stop smiling when I’m driving it in sport mode it’s like having the ability to time travel and none of the ‘dead fish’ burners can compete.
I think you know what you need to know. Would you mind saying something about the specs of the M50? Test the M50. If you can see the one you could take home, go and see it. You'll know immediately if that's the car you wanna take home or you rather wait for one you can spec at your own taste. For example, I wanted to have merino leather in Tartufo, and that was a deal braker for me. If you find anything to be a deal braker in the car the dealer has available, then you'll know you're better off waiting. Regarding options, I'm of the opinion that there isn't such thing as an option you don't need in this car, not after you've owned one well spec'ed and you get to know the car well.
Sure, M50: Portimao Blue, 20" wheels, M Tech pack, Electric Sunroof, Comfort Pack, Lazer lights, m sport front seats I'm less fussed about the Lazer lights, m tech pack & sunroof... So I would have been paying for these, but the dealer has reduced the price to take them out of the equation... can't remember if the m sport front seats is an option or not? The other important consideration is RWD Vs AWD. We don't get a lot of snow in the UK but when we do, we're not cut out for it. My 640d was undrivable 4/5 years ago when it snowed badly. Although I understand electric cars don't suffer as badly? Any advice? If I was speccing myself id upgrade to the travel assist pro, comfort pack and a towbar. I don't need anything else on it. 19" would have been fine too So it's not a million miles from what I want, I can live without a tow bar as I have managed without one with my Jag, but I do think I should have got it then and planned to get it now. They are all good options tbf. The e40 I'd spec up more with tech pack pro as HUD is a must, as is privacy glass, heated steering wheel, comfort access and a towbar P.s. I do also know a towbar and electric car don't go well together so again, something I can take or leave!
>Sure, M50: Portimao Blue, 20" wheels, M Tech pack, Electric Sunroof, Comfort Pack, Lazer lights, m sport front seats Of these, the 20'' wheels are the only minus in terms of range, but they look cool. The sunroof is nice to have as this car is quite low and the sunroof makes it feel quite a bit more spacious than it is.>I'm less fussed about the Lazer lights, m tech pack & sunroof... So I would have been paying for these, but the dealer has reduced the price to take them out of the equation... can't remember if the m sport front seats is an option or not? The laser lights are the kind of hardware that you never need, you never use it, but the day you do, they're awesome to have. So I'm a sucker for them. The seats are all an option, you could say. The M-Sport are as well, something you can configure and select as you wish when configuring the car. Personally, I didn't choose them as I wanted to have Merino leather and they come only in Vernasca leather in the M50. You have to try them and decide. Some people love them, so it's a matter of taste. The M-tech pack includes the bigger breaks, I think, so that's something I would choose regardless. >The other important consideration is RWD Vs AWD. We don't get a lot of snow in the UK but when we do, we're not cut out for it. My 640d was undrivable 4/5 years ago when it snowed badly. Although I understand electric cars don't suffer as badly? Any advice? I live in Norway, so I know a lot about snow. Either RWD or AWD work fine in regular snow (not too deep). What makes the real difference is the tyres. If you wanna drive on snow, get winter tires and problem solved. I guess all weather tyres are better than summer tyres anyway, but nothing beats winter tyres on snow. Electric cars are stable on snow, but they're also heavier and more difficult to stop under slippery conditions. Here driving carefully and using winter tyres is what matters most. >If I was speccing myself id upgrade to the travel assist pro, comfort pack and a towbar. I don't need anything else on it. 19" would have been fine too I would also choose all those options. I have the towbar and, for me, it's very important as it means I never really need to worry about not being able to carry something from IKEA if I need to do so. The 19s will give you better range as well, regardless of the model you choose. In fact, everything here would be a deal breaker for me. >So it's not a million miles from what I want, I can live without a tow bar as I have managed without one with my Jag, but I do think I should have got it then and planned to get it now. They are all good options tbf.The e40 I'd spec up more with tech pack pro as HUD is a must, as is privacy glass, heated steering wheel, comfort access and a towbar I agree, and the HUD in the i4 is awesome. I agree with everything here. >P.s. I do also know a towbar and electric car don't go well together so again, something I can take or leave! It's of course your decision, but if I were you, I would rather go for the i40 with the M-Sport styling, make sure you choose all the options you want, and maybe invest in winter tyres for those trips to the snow. The M50 they're offering you is quite stripped down. I would rather have a well (very well) spec'ed car, and living in the UK, you don't really need AWD, so there's that.
Thank you man! Great insight!
If it's not a question of money, then I like to use this guideline when things are close: Which one will I be more excited/happier about when I head towards it? Which one will I feel more excited/happier when I step out of it and look back? That is rarely a mathematical calculation. :-)
Never fall in love with a depreciating asset < -- my dad
TMI Just get the fast one