2015 428i xDrive Gran Coupe M-Sport - - U.S.A.
I’ve been driving my new Gran Coupe for a month and am gradually getting to know it.
The Gran Coupe styling is Beautiful and the M-Sport option gives it an aggressive look. The features are excellent, it’s comfortable and the confidence of xDrive makes this another perfect year-round car for us.
After 10+ years with an E39 540i Sport as our highway car, I wasn’t sure how the little 4-pot would stack up in that role. To be sure the handling and feel are vastly different from the 540. The direct, connected feel of the earlier generations has bid us adieu but, the 428xi still manages to be an enjoyable car.
The performance even with the base engine is rather remarkable. The silly thing is actually quicker up to 75mph than its predecessor 290hp V8 540 (that weighed the same!) . At normal speeds, it provides nearly the same performance as our long gone 2008 335xi. ... How is that possible?? ... I don't know but, it's pretty impressive.
We considered and tested the 435xi. We liked it - A Lot. We just didn’t need it for the extra $5,000.
Now let’s talk reality. The 428 still has the same off-idle lag found in BMW turbos. We’ve owned three and driven many. They have all been the same. The 540 was a rocket from idle. In an automatic transmission turbo Bimmer, if you hope to dart from stationary, out into traffic to take advantage of an opening, you MUST plan ahead. If you stab the throttle suddenly, to the floor … virtually nothing happens for a second or two. It works better if initially applied gradually and gently, then it will pull nicely. That’s just life in the new world.
In addition to the 428 performance, the gas mileage has been pleasing. During the first 1200 break-in miles it averaged just over 29 mpg overall. On a short interstate trip at 75+ mph it delivered nearly 31 mpg. Certainly better than the 540 ever got.
The 428xi has yet to make its maiden voyage through the Ozarks and hasn’t yet been to the Rocky Mountains, so time will tell if it can truly replace the E39.
I’m at least hopeful.
I’ve been driving my new Gran Coupe for a month and am gradually getting to know it.
The Gran Coupe styling is Beautiful and the M-Sport option gives it an aggressive look. The features are excellent, it’s comfortable and the confidence of xDrive makes this another perfect year-round car for us.
After 10+ years with an E39 540i Sport as our highway car, I wasn’t sure how the little 4-pot would stack up in that role. To be sure the handling and feel are vastly different from the 540. The direct, connected feel of the earlier generations has bid us adieu but, the 428xi still manages to be an enjoyable car.
The performance even with the base engine is rather remarkable. The silly thing is actually quicker up to 75mph than its predecessor 290hp V8 540 (that weighed the same!) . At normal speeds, it provides nearly the same performance as our long gone 2008 335xi. ... How is that possible?? ... I don't know but, it's pretty impressive.
We considered and tested the 435xi. We liked it - A Lot. We just didn’t need it for the extra $5,000.
Now let’s talk reality. The 428 still has the same off-idle lag found in BMW turbos. We’ve owned three and driven many. They have all been the same. The 540 was a rocket from idle. In an automatic transmission turbo Bimmer, if you hope to dart from stationary, out into traffic to take advantage of an opening, you MUST plan ahead. If you stab the throttle suddenly, to the floor … virtually nothing happens for a second or two. It works better if initially applied gradually and gently, then it will pull nicely. That’s just life in the new world.
In addition to the 428 performance, the gas mileage has been pleasing. During the first 1200 break-in miles it averaged just over 29 mpg overall. On a short interstate trip at 75+ mph it delivered nearly 31 mpg. Certainly better than the 540 ever got.
The 428xi has yet to make its maiden voyage through the Ozarks and hasn’t yet been to the Rocky Mountains, so time will tell if it can truly replace the E39.
I’m at least hopeful.