F06 650 vs F32 440

[djacinto]

Hey bmw friends,


I have come to a very interesting predicament of choosing a next car. I've been in love with my f32 428 since the day i bought it and am still in love with it today. The way it handles, sounds and overall daily drivability is just amazing after all the maintenance and mods I've done to the car. With that being said, I've finally been promoted in my job and am looking to upgrade in the next year.

I've always wanted an m4, but in the recent years I realized I'll never be able to take advantage of the performance of one, and am more interested in the luxury aspects anyways since i would mainly be street driving it.

In comes the 650: I test drove one today and can say that I wasn't in love with it. Granted, I don't think I was as in love with my car as I am today because I've done work on it since then, but this car in particular just didn't have that oomph, understandably since the 650 gc is more than 700 pounds heavier

However, the 6's fit and finish is a league above the 4, you can get bang and olufson sound system, it's much more common to get adaptive cruise, you can have massage seats, AND ventilated, which is impossible in our f32.

So that brings me to the predicament I'm in today. There are 4 main contenders: 2 650's and 2 440's. The first tier is at 35k and the second is at 40. Aside from price, I feel like I would be missing out on a lot in the 440 due to the reasons mentioned earlier. Of course you can get adaptive cruise but it's a very rare option in my research. At 40k, even more so, I feel like the 6 just gives more bang for the buck,

As for maintenance, I do all the work myself. I am a fairly experienced bmw diy'er at this point as I've worked on multiple, and are around them all the time for my job. Understandably the 650 is going to be more expensive, and I have taken that into consideration but is not a main concern, purely driving experience and livability.

At the end of the day, I value performance/handling the most, with luxury as a close second. I'd only be looking at a gran coupe for the 6 because at least the back seats are useful, but it's not a deal breaker. Does anyone have a similar experience in their car search?

[Chaos236]

I liked my 435i waaay better then my current 640i GC.

[djacinto]

Originally Posted by Chaos236

I liked my 435i waaay better then my current 640i GC.

Good to know. Is there any reason why? Do you think the extra power from the v8 would’ve helped?

[Ralph III]

We just spent about 4 months looking for another BMW, having a 2007 530xi which is still in near pristine condition. Love the car, btw.

The first car we looked at was a, I think 2018 430i GC. It was really nice and very sporty. We decided against it because it's slightly smaller than desired.

So, we spent many months exhaustively looking at 2019 and earlier 5 series with sport packages. We searched throughout CONUS looking for a specific package.

We love the 5 series but we then came across a 2017 650i locally and took it for a test drive. There just was no turning back. The 6 series has the sporty feel/look of the 4 series but it also has the luxury and room of the 5 series. It's just a beautiful car and looks much better than both the 4 and 5 series, IMHO.

Why do you feel the 6 series doesn't have much "oomph"? Because the car has 445hp and offers quite a bit better performance than the 4 series. It's also more luxurious. So, it gets the nod in both of those categories over the 4 series. You'd have to get an M4 to get better performance. You could opt for an M6 which offers right at 600hp and still more luxury. Otherwise, our 650i has plenty of power, especially in sport mode.

You just have to be sure to get one that has been taken care of.

Take care,
Ralph

[Chaos236]

Rear wheel drive,light nimble, always put a smile on my face

[FinalRenegade]

I upgraded from F36 4-series GC to a 650 and did not look back, like you said - fit and finish of the 6 is lightyears ahead

I don't think you'll regret choosing the 6er, the N63 if treated properly will be hell of an engine to have and the substantial power boost is noticeable

[Opie55]

A couple things - don't put much stock in the "massaging" seats. They do not really massage, and it's only the seat bottom. What it is supposed to do is relieve tension on your back on long drives by rocking you side to side VERY SLOWLY. It's a small airbag under each butt cheek that alternately inflates and deflates to rock you. I always have new passengers try it just for laughs, they always say "that's so weird" and turn it off. I occasionally turn it on if I'm driving more than 100 miles, but usually forget. Ditto for the ventilated seats. Although some people swear by them, I, and most others find them pretty useless. As I usually put it, I would bet you $100 that if I had them on full blast and you got in my car you would not notice. Like the seat massager, I pretty much forget I have them. The best thing about the ventilated sets is that the perforated leather looks better. Finally, you don't say what years you are looking at, but 2016 and earlier was based on AT&T 3G that has been dismantled so you lose all the comms features. Best to get 2017 or newer.

[djacinto]

Originally Posted by Opie55

A couple things - don't put much stock in the "massaging" seats. They do not really massage, and it's only the seat bottom. What it is supposed to do is relieve tension on your back on long drives by rocking you side to side VERY SLOWLY. It's a small airbag under each butt cheek that alternately inflates and deflates to rock you. I always have new passengers try it just for laughs, they always say "that's so weird" and turn it off. I occasionally turn it on if I'm driving more than 100 miles, but usually forget. Ditto for the ventilated seats. Although some people swear by them, I, and most others find them pretty useless. As I usually put it, I would bet you $100 that if I had them on full blast and you got in my car you would not notice. Like the seat massager, I pretty much forget I have them. The best thing about the ventilated sets is that the perforated leather looks better. Finally, you don't say what years you are looking at, but 2016 and earlier was based on AT&T 3G that has been dismantled so you lose all the comms features. Best to get 2017 or newer.

Great advice, and that’s basically what I’m looking at. 2017 plus have mostly fit my needs and wants, so that’s what I’d go for. Realistically I’m looking at 2018 440’s vs 2017/18 650’s

[Opie55]

And I will add that the thing I like least about my 650 is how cumbersome it is to maneuver around town or in parking lots. It's like trying to steer an aircraft carrier with poor visibility. Nimble it is not. But once I'm in the open I love it.

[Alpine650]

I have an early 2017 (forget exact build date) and have the 3G that got dropped.

[FlyinLowSD]

Originally Posted by Alpine650

I have an early 2017 (forget exact build date) and have the 3G that got dropped.

I think the change date was 3/17, but there’s a tech service message out there that says yours should be upgraded. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/20...00249-9999.pdf

To OP: I test drove an ‘18 440 and found it to be a blast and nimble, but in summer of 22 they were disgustingly overpriced. I’m so happy for that because it turned me back to my true love… the 6. I was able to find the build that I wanted, and I will tell you I thoroughly enjoyed my drive through the Rockies on my way home with it. Mind you, I have a much lighter and more nimble 300ZX in the garage so that takes care of that. My 6-er though, every time I get in it is just an absolute pleasure to drive. Controls are all driver centric - the most unique feature of a 6 that was not carried through to any other BMW since.

Perhaps you should test drive one for half day and see what you think. Best of luck! And, congratulations on your promotion!

[SWFLf10]

Those are two vastly different vehicles. The 4 series is definitely much more nimble, easier to maneuver around town, better on gas mileage.

However, I absolutely love my boat of a 6 series. It is indeed much nicer inside than a 4 series is. If you’re really after the nicer interior and comfortable ride, it’s a no brainer. The N63 may be known for issues, but from what I’ve read the updated N63TU has far less issues.

Something I have realized after driving long distances in both my 5 and 6 series is the fact that my F10 535 has comfort seats which are super comfortable. My 6 series isn’t quite as comfortable. You may want to see if you can find a 6 series with the comfort seats to compare them. To me it’s a night and day difference at least comparing the 5 series comfort seats to the 6 series standard seats. That being said, I believe the standard 6 series seats are superior to the standard 4 series seats.

[djacinto]

Originally Posted by SWFLf10

Those are two vastly different vehicles. The 4 series is definitely much more nimble, easier to maneuver around town, better on gas mileage.

However, I absolutely love my boat of a 6 series. It is indeed much nicer inside than a 4 series is. If you’re really after the nicer interior and comfortable ride, it’s a no brainer. The N63 may be known for issues, but from what I’ve read the updated N63TU has far less issues.

Something I have realized after driving long distances in both my 5 and 6 series is the fact that my F10 535 has comfort seats which are super comfortable. My 6 series isn’t quite as comfortable. You may want to see if you can find a 6 series with the comfort seats to compare them. To me it’s a night and day difference at least comparing the 5 series comfort seats to the 6 series standard seats. That being said, I believe the standard 6 series seats are superior to the standard 4 series seats.

What differentiates comfort to non comfort? I believe the one I test drove did. I believe it’s called multi-contour but maybe comfort was the package it came in

If so, I did like the seats, but I do wish they were a touch tighter like my 4

[SWFLf10]

Originally Posted by djacinto

What differentiates comfort to non comfort? I believe the one I test drove did. I believe it’s called multi-contour but maybe comfort was the package it came in

If so, I did like the seats, but I do wish they were a touch tighter like my 4

I don’t know what the differences are exactly, but it’s almost like sitting in a sporty lay-z-boy chair. I know that it has it based on the options the car has when I checked with a vin decoder. It is incredibly comfortable, but still sporty if that makes sense.

My 6 series seats are still great, but almost feels like less padding everywhere.

[Low Country Larry]

I agree 100% with Opie55 about the almost fraudulent massaging and ventilated seats. Really disappointing, both of these features, especially as compared to Porsche ventilation (which practically makes you airborne) or Mercedes (which ripples all up your bottom and back, almost like a newbie massage therapist).

One additional thought for you - more generic than specific to the 650 - is the adaptive cruise control. I have it, and I love it, but it really can get frustrating at times, and my wife says that I really don't use it. Why? (1) In traffic, cars just dart in and out, and the adaptive cruise then slows down, and it does not catch back up before the next jerk cuts you off and starts the process again. (2) On clear roads, adaptive = regular cruise.

Fwiw, I do agree with the general tone of most of the responses to you, which is that the 650 is an elegant cruiser, one of the loveliest cars on the road, and you will enjoy every minute behind the wheel.

[JBF650]

Originally Posted by djacinto

Hey bmw friends,


I have come to a very interesting predicament of choosing a next car. I've been in love with my f32 428 since the day i bought it and am still in love with it today. The way it handles, sounds and overall daily drivability is just amazing after all the maintenance and mods I've done to the car. With that being said, I've finally been promoted in my job and am looking to upgrade in the next year.

I've always wanted an m4, but in the recent years I realized I'll never be able to take advantage of the performance of one, and am more interested in the luxury aspects anyways since i would mainly be street driving it.

In comes the 650: I test drove one today and can say that I wasn't in love with it. Granted, I don't think I was as in love with my car as I am today because I've done work on it since then, but this car in particular just didn't have that oomph, understandably since the 650 gc is more than 700 pounds heavier

However, the 6's fit and finish is a league above the 4, you can get bang and olufson sound system, it's much more common to get adaptive cruise, you can have massage seats, AND ventilated, which is impossible in our f32.

So that brings me to the predicament I'm in today. There are 4 main contenders: 2 650's and 2 440's. The first tier is at 35k and the second is at 40. Aside from price, I feel like I would be missing out on a lot in the 440 due to the reasons mentioned earlier. Of course you can get adaptive cruise but it's a very rare option in my research. At 40k, even more so, I feel like the 6 just gives more bang for the buck,

As for maintenance, I do all the work myself. I am a fairly experienced bmw diy'er at this point as I've worked on multiple, and are around them all the time for my job. Understandably the 650 is going to be more expensive, and I have taken that into consideration but is not a main concern, purely driving experience and livability.

At the end of the day, I value performance/handling the most, with luxury as a close second. I'd only be looking at a gran coupe for the 6 because at least the back seats are useful, but it's not a deal breaker. Does anyone have a similar experience in their car search?

Im perhaps a bit late to the party here but I’m perplexed by your experience re 650 lacking ooomph compared to the 440…. There is over 120 HP difference in the power plants obviously the greater being the 650, yes the 6 series is heavier … but 443hp vs 322hp is a significant difference. You sure you were driving a 650 and not a 640? A mate of mine has a 340(the same engine as the 440) which without doubt is more nimble and feels ‘lighter’ around town but I’ve driven both cars and I can assure you the 650 will leave a 440 in the dust when moving on a motorway or country roads. My 650 has never felt like it needs more oomph, I can say quite honestly I find myself having to be careful not to over speed too much
The 650 is stunning at most speeds but 100mph and above it just goes like hell….. this is where the 440 concedes to the V8…. However as has been said the 650 is no sports car…. It’s far too heavy for that and while it will do a reasonable job of a B road it’s a GT car. Far more stylish and elegant than the 440 and certainly more refined interiors.
I would say the 440 is lovely car and probably an easier everyday city car than the 6 series but I’d have my 6er every day of the week and twice on Sunday without question. I doubt you will find anyone on this ‘6series forum’ that would recommend or have the F32 over their 6 series …. I know I certainly wouldn’t.
Happy hunting and hope you find the right car.

[Qsilver7]

I'll confess...there was ONE time when I felt my 650ix GC didn't have any oomph...but that was in comparison to any of the other modes (Comfort+/Comfort/Sport/Sport+). Never did that again.

[FlyinLowSD]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

I'll confess...there was ONE time when I felt my 650ix GC didn't have any oomph...but that was in comparison to any of the other modes (Comfort+/Comfort/Sport/Sport+). Never did that again.

Hahaha yep. I put it in Eco mode the other day while in mostly stopped stop-and-go traffic to see what would happen, then forgot to take it off when things picked up. Was like “what the heck!!??” for a moment. Never again.

[JBF650]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

I'll confess...there was ONE time when I felt my 650ix GC didn't have any oomph...but that was in comparison to any of the other modes (Comfort+/Comfort/Sport/Sport+). Never did that again.

Hahahah yes I tried ECO mode once years ago and never ever again…. Maybe it was in ECO mode when he drove it ? 🤷🏽*♂️ . I did like the pretty blue screen but that was it, I’ve never again put the car down into that mode.

[djacinto]

reviving my old thread lol

so the old dealership where i used to work just got in an f13 on trade (one of my buddies' trades actually lol). Said it was an older gentleman in his 70's, and it's in great condition, as per the pictures minus the dirt

I plan on seeing the car on friday, and aside from numbers, the thing I worry about is the mileage. Most of the 6er's I've been looking at are sub 50, but between 30-40k. My ever long debate between the 4 and 6 is reliability, and at the end of the day, the 4 is, majority of the time, going to be the more reliable car, and if not, at least cheaper to repair. I do my own diy's and I'm exceptionally handy, but I just don't want it to always be on my mind that the timing chains, the oil seal, and other random v8 problems are going to pop up. I already own an n20 for god's sake.

I think i could get an absolute steal of a deal cause my managers hated these cars with a passion since they never sell. That's why I'm not worried on the numbers. I need to hear it from you owners: If you did it again, and saw this car come up, what would you do?

link to the car!

quick edit: build date on the car is 5/14. this is not an lci, correct?

[Staszek]

Reading through this I would go with what you love and what you will be more comfortable with long term.

I will give my opinion, but its just mine so who cares. I REALLY wanted to like the 4GC when it came out, I already loved the look of the 6 and I thought maybe a smaller 6 with nimble handling would be ideal. The 4 just didn't do it for me in both GC and even in coupe form, the only one that I thought looked decent was the M4 and I liked the look of the M3 better.

I also always felt like the interiors of the F series 4's were a let down. Definetly a step back in quality of materials from the older 3 series.

As for the drive though it drives really well, definetly a better all around handler then the 6. As others have said I am not sure what you mean about the umph, a 650 will easily show the 4 the door. Its possible that you are confusing seat of your pants feel, the 650 is fast you just dont feel it, its very smooth then you look down and are at 100. I had a 750 with the same engine and it moved it just was really smooth and quiet.

Looks are subjective but the 6 is probably one of the best looking cars that BMW made in the past 5-10 years. The 4 looks good, just kind of common.

The interiors are not even close in terms of design and quality.

On the flip side, the 4 will probably be easier to live with, and definitely cheaper to own over the lifetime. So if you value that most of all then you have your answer.

If you value luxury and looks though the 6 is a better fit, if you can stretch get the B6, its everything you will ever want and more, they are coming down in price.

[Opie55]

Originally Posted by djacinto

reviving my old thread lol

so the old dealership where i used to work just got in an f13 on trade (one of my buddies' trades actually lol). Said it was an older gentleman in his 70's, and it's in great condition, as per the pictures minus the dirt

I plan on seeing the car on friday, and aside from numbers, the thing I worry about is the mileage. Most of the 6er's I've been looking at are sub 50, but between 30-40k. My ever long debate between the 4 and 6 is reliability, and at the end of the day, the 4 is, majority of the time, going to be the more reliable car, and if not, at least cheaper to repair. I do my own diy's and I'm exceptionally handy, but I just don't want it to always be on my mind that the timing chains, the oil seal, and other random v8 problems are going to pop up. I already own an n20 for god's sake.

I think i could get an absolute steal of a deal cause my managers hated these cars with a passion since they never sell. That's why I'm not worried on the numbers. I need to hear it from you owners: If you did it again, and saw this car come up, what would you do?

link to the car!

quick edit: build date on the car is 5/14. this is not an lci, correct?

Not LCI, but a good car. Has B&O stereo and adaptive cruise.