[MashinBenzin]

After all the fun of speccing, ordering, tracking and racing Grant_7 and crazybones to our respective dealerships, the real excitement happened on Thursday. Thanks to Rukka and Daftasabrush for all the tracking and ship info along the way!

After a two and a half hour train journey, I arrived at a (thankfully) sunny Blue Bell BMW in Crewe. Dave Thompson took me through the last bits of paperwork and completed the handover - if anyone wants a fantastic deal and a great guy to deal with, give Dave a call. The car was prepared perfectly and looks amazing in Carbon Black.

I will later add some interior shots as I didn't manage any on the day (oops). Thoughts on the car to follow in the next post, summary is I bloody love it - everything is spot on

[MashinBenzin]

First thoughts on the car, after just one drive...

I had a 130 mile drive home planned down the M6/M5, but decided to go cross country for the first half, via Shrewsbury and the Welsh borders. So it was a lovely 160+ mile 3.5 hour run home.

As the car is brand new and very tight, I am keeping to the run-in 4000rpm limit, apart from an accidental second or so pulling off one roundabount - the revs are there before you know it - what an engine. But really, full impressions on the engine need to wait until its run in. Sounds fantastic though - a lovely rev and burble on start up

The key points that stood out on that first drive...

Adaptive Suspension
This is witchcraft No car on 19" alloys has a right to ride so well on our roads. In comfort mode it just smooths away road imperfections that my old E90 would have thumped over (or indeed our other car - a newish Auris).

I'm already convinced that this is one of the key options I chose, the ride is streets ahead of the non-adaptive car I borrowed for 24 hours a few weeks ago.

It really does 'adapt' - after a few miles of no lane change on a smooth motorway, I went over a cats-eye with the right wheel and then another with the left - both elicited a noticable thump. A few seconds later, I crossed lanes again. Now the car has adapted from 'perfect road' to 'this has bumps' and the cats eyes were absorbed almost entirely.

Haven't tried sport mode much yet...

HUD
Love this. Barely used the instruments after the first few miles, it puts all you need to know right where you need it. Thanks to everyone that said it was a must have - you were right!

That will do for now, got to take the wife's car for a service this morning, so the 440i will have to wait for a few more hours

[CazuaLLUK]

Awesome man, looks stunning!

[Riffs]

Wow, looks amazing! Very interested to hear more and see more pikkies. Carbon black is a great choice.

[....,,,,..,,..]

Great write up, and congrats on your new car, have happy driving

Black front bit next I guess

[philiper1]

Beautiful what about some interior photos?

[GaryUFM]

Beautiful! ��

[Jack_is_Back]

Awesome, so many 40i pickups happening at the moment, good to hear you're so pleased with it.

Reading all the reports is great but just making me more impatient, this month can't go fast enough.

[djcowlin]

Great car and spec - interested to hear about how the adaptive works in practice.

[Rich9600]

Looks amazing, that is a fantastic colour! Really suits the 4's lines.

[black stig]

Congratulations. Car looks great and interesting to hear impressions of AS.

[HelmutVisor]

Congratulations! That is a very very nice looking machine. Totally agree with you regarding adaptive suspension.

[Grant_7]

Congrats, firstly on winning 'the race', and secondly on your lovely 440i. So happy to hear it's living up to expectations

Really look forward to seeing some pics of the interior too

And agree with you on both Adaptive and HUD. The 335d loaner has both; the Adaptive is definitely nice to have and, IMO, is a no-brainer in terms of cost (longevity may be something else entirely!).

I think HUD is absolutely superb and, like many others say, is something I would not want to be without on our camera-infested roads.

Anyway, lets have more piccies, on-going impressions and maybe even a cheeky cold start video for us poor race losers still awaiting our cars (yep, me and crazybones )

[F20MAW73]

Lovely car there op and the positive review is very welcome seeing as I have one on order.

I have also spec'd the adaptive suspension. Phew!

[SkyJawa]

40i. It's the future

Carbon is a great colour!

[Ss66]

Fine looking machine that,glad it's meeting your expectations,specced adaptive on my next car as well really makes a difference on our wonderful roads lol.

[MashinBenzin]

Thanks everyone for your very kind comments, much appreciated!

Here come a few more pics from today, including some of the interior. Not great light I am afraid, and I don't have photoshop on this computer to adjust them, so they leave quite a lot to be desired. Enough to get the idea of how it looks though.

[planemad]

is it me or is the rear bumper a few shades out

[MashinBenzin]

Originally Posted by Brigand

Great write up, and congrats on your new car, have happy driving

Black front bit next I guess

Thanks

Funnily enough, I am one of the (seemingly) very few that likes the silvery kidneys, especially on a dark car. Maybe will try something different in the future though...

Originally Posted by philiper1

Beautiful what about some interior photos?

Done

Originally Posted by Jack_is_Back

Awesome, so many 40i pickups happening at the moment, good to hear you're so pleased with it.

Reading all the reports is great but just making me more impatient, this month can't go fast enough.

You'll get there. Funnily enough, the last week before pickup passed in a bit of a blur, it was the first few weeks that seemed interminable! Believe me, the car makes all the waiting so worthwhile

Originally Posted by Grant_7

Congrats, firstly on winning 'the race', and secondly on your lovely 440i. So happy to hear it's living up to expectations

Really look forward to seeing some pics of the interior too

And agree with you on both Adaptive and HUD. The 335d loaner has both; the Adaptive is definitely nice to have and, IMO, is a no-brainer in terms of cost (longevity may be something else entirely!).

I think HUD is absolutely superb and, like many others say, is something I would not want to be without on our camera-infested roads.

Anyway, lets have more piccies, on-going impressions and maybe even a cheeky cold start video for us poor race losers still awaiting our cars (yep, me and crazybones )

Thanks mate! Good to know that the loaner is giving you a taste of all the good stuff, you will just get it all topped off with your individual choices and the engine

Had another quick spin today, the wife's first trip in the car - she loved it too. Tried a little sports mode and really enjoyed the extra noise (and that was all below 3500 rpm!).

I did do a short start-up video on my phone inside the car, but frankly it was rubbish...will give it another go from outside the car if I get chance. Sorry guys!

[MashinBenzin]

Originally Posted by planemad

is it me or is the rear bumper a few shades out

I think it's the play of light on the differently angled surfaces. Carbon black changes colour (to the deep blue shades) very abruptly with light and angle. I hope that's all it is anyway

[BMWChap]

Nice car , I assume you'll never be wearing jeans again ??

[djcowlin]

I like the piano black trim round the inside of the doors. I'm assuming you have brushed aluminium - I've gone for piano black with hexagon aluminium and am hoping it looks as good as yours.