When designing a car, you have to keep the essentials in mind, even if they may be minor for one or the other. With the new BMW 4 Series Convertible, these include a strong appearance, outstandingly smooth handling – and that two crates of beer fit under the roof cover in the trunk when the roof is open.
In the case of the BMW M440i xDrive Cabrio, there is also the wonderful engine (built in Steyr), which is one of the most pleasant things you can currently put under a bonnet. Three liters, six cylinders, 374 hp and an engine sound that caresses the ears. The TwinScroll turbocharger ensures that from 1900 rpm. Push 500 Nm of torque wonderfully relaxed, the area below is filled by the 48-volt mild hybrid system with an 8 kW / 11 hp starter generator.
Yes, even with something as puristic as a BMW convertible with a six-cylinder engine, electricity is already in it. This means that you can actually slide. If you take your foot off the accelerator, the engine is switched off and decoupled and you “sail”. At least when you slowly take your foot off the gas. If you do this quickly or simply switch off the cruise control, the gear stays in and the system recuperates. In addition, the automatic stop-start system is so quick that it is not noticeable.
The question of conscience
This is all very helpful for the mind, because in times like these you are sometimes close to having a guilty conscience when you let yourself be moved by a large motor (when eating meat or fish, however, you should think about it, regarding Climate change). Consumption is therefore kept within pleasing limits: in practice it was 8.5 liters, despite the frequently unprofitable driving style. The WLTP consumption is given as 6.9 to 7.4 l / 100 km.
If your conscience allows, you can let the BMW fly to 100 in 4.9 seconds with its 1890 kg DIN curb weight, while the standard eight-speed automatic does its benchmark-like service.
But what are numbers? It is more the emotional that ensures well-being here. The relaxed way the car accelerates, the dosage of the air flow with the top down, but also that of the optional neck blower, the first-class operating system (it’s still the BMW Operating System 7, luckily. We would describe the OS 8 differently) and in the In the case of the test car, the powerful and brilliant Harman Kardon sound system, which does not reach its limits even at high speeds and in a storm.
So you can dance through curves or rush along, depending on the choice of music. The optional adaptive chassis adapts to the driver’s wishes (including the seat back bolsters), and the limited-slip differential on the rear axle is standard.
One wants to heat in a convertible, one way or another
If you are serious about driving a convertible and really open the convertible top at every opportunity, we recommend the auxiliary heating option for almost 2000 euros. Being able to warm up from the start on a cold day is wonderful. The neck warmer as part of the Austria package is nice too, but less essential. The wind deflector is also an asset, not least because it is not in the way when not in use, but is behind the rear seat backrest, which can be folded down from the trunk. You only need another place for the wind deflector if you want to load something.
As good as the wireless Apple CarPlay connection is – on a cold day it can be problematic to use the smartphone as a navigation device. At least you shouldn’t put it in the inductive charging cradle when it is fully heated: The heater is so gas that the cell phone overheats and temporarily refuses to work.
A case of convertible top, two cases of beer
The convertible top can be opened or closed in 18 seconds, up to a city speed of 50 km / h. When it is closed, the 4-series convertible hardly differs from a coupé, because in this case the full trunk volume of 385 liters (okay, that’s less than the 440 liters of the 4-series coupé) is available and the wind noise is almost kept up the level of a soldered car. The so-called surface bow roof provides excellent insulation. In order to be able to open it, you have to fold down a kind of box in the trunk, which takes up a large part of the volume. At first glance, the cargo space looks full. In fact, some things still fit between the box and the loading sill. Above all, however, two crates of beer go out underneath. This is important in a car from Munich since this food has a special tradition here. After all, the purity law was invented in the Bavarian capital in 1487.
Beer and cars have one thing in common: they have both become more expensive over the years. While beer is still affordable, you have to dig deep into your pocket for the 4-series convertible: the test car comes in at 105,000 euros, including extras for over 20,000 euros (base price BMW 420i convertible: 58,550 euros, M440i xDrive convertible: 83,750 Euro).
Fahrzit
What’s the best beer? Free beer, says the Bavarian. Accordingly, the best BMW should be one that costs nothing. In fact, the longer you are on the road with the BMW M440i xDrive Cabrio, the more you get a different impression: it is worth the money, but you have to be able to afford it. In that case you can definitely call yourself a lucky guy. Duslbruada, says the Bavarian.
A Munich brewery describes its own beer as the “Heaven of Bavaria”. BMW could also hang the slogan on the M440i convertible.
Why?
A great convertible that is not unreasonable despite the six-cylinder engine and lots of driving fun
The front, which was extremely polarizing when it was introduced, fascinates in the long term
Why not?
The price is already an announcement
Or maybe …
… the diesel? The whole thing will soon also be available as an M440d xDrive with 340 hp and 700 Nm.