AUTOWEEK: 2018 BMW 430I COUPE

July 24th, 2018 by

ALL THE FUN YOU WANT, WITHOUT LOSING YOUR LICENSE

What is it: The BMW 430i is the coupe variant of BMW’s venerable 3-series. The two-door coupe is more stylish than its more utilitarian sedan sibling, but it lacks the ever-important rear seat ease of accessibility. The 2.0-liter powering the 330i and 430i BMWs makes 248 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque.

Key Competitors: Infiniti Q60, Mercedes C-Class coupe, Lexus RC

Highlights: The most important part of the 4-Series, at least in the BMW alphanumeric naming system, is its coupe body. For 2018, the 4-Series gets some revised rear styling, a stiffer tune for the suspension and an upgraded steering system. BMW also offers extra optional 18-inch and 19-inch alloy wheels for the 2018 4-Series.

 Our Opinion: The BMW 430i makes more of a statement than its nearly identical 330i sibling. Despite sharing almost everything with the four-door 3-Series, living with the 4-Series is almost a commitment — you lose the rear doors. Without rear entry, that makes hauling passengers, getting groceries and stashing anything in the rear seat slightly more painful to do than the 3-Series it sits next to in a dealer showroom, and that’s perfectly fine as this 4-Series has enough style to make up for the inconvenience.

This entry-level 4-Series is powered by the 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 and makes just shy of 250 hp. That might not sound like much when a similarly priced Ford Mustang makes 460 hp, but it’s more than enough to have a ton of fun while behind the wheel. Actually, as cliché as it might seem, you’ll have more fun wringing power out of this 2.0-liter because you won’t send your license to the shredder if you put your foot into it. Of course, it’s the most fun when you don’t check the box for the automatic. The manual shifts smoothly, with good positive engagement. The shifts feel solid and mechanical and the selector feels stout. The clutch is on the light side, but it’s linear with a smooth friction zone throughout the pedal’s travel.

What is it: The 2018 BMW 430i xDrive Gran Coupe is, at its core, a 3-Series sedan with a liftback rear hatch. The name, along with its inclusion in the supposedly 2-door 4-Series lineup, remains a …

The suspension was stiffened up for 2018, which would have been a good thing were it not for Detroit’s terrible roads. Even still, the car felt flat during spirited driving but didn’t rattle any teeth loose (or destroy any tires or wheels) when going over bumps. Even when hitting harsh bumps, the cabin was rattle free and felt solid. The automatically engaging seatbelt extension for the front seats isn’t as quick or pretty as you’d find on a Mercedes coupe, but it does the job well enough.

The interior of this 430i wasn’t as cool as an M4, but it features soft-touch materials anywhere you put your hand. The 430i’s infotainment system is a pleasure to use, with the rotary wheel controlling all of the system’s functions. The navigation system was foolproof and quickly found some more obscure parts of the city without trouble. Of course, on the off chance that a poorly named restaurant can’t be found, punching in the address of the establishment is quick and easy.

Making a statement that you care more about how your car looks than how practical is, is a hard sell in today’s world of crossover utility. However, if you’re looking for a fun, quick coupe, this stick-shifted 430i does the job in spades, and it’s a hoot to drive without losing your license.

Options: M Sport Package with 18-inch M star-spoke wheels, adaptive M suspension ($700), sport seats, aluminum dark carbon trim, M steering wheel, aerodynamic kit, shadowline exterior trim, anthracite headliner ($2,600); Premium Package including lumbar support, heated front seats, navigation, remote services ($2,300); cognac leather with dark brown highlights ($1,450); Snapper Locks blue metallic paint ($550); wireless charging ($500); Apple Car Play ($300)

Article By:  WESLEY WREN

Posted in Auto Knowledge