[UGA99]

Hey everyone I am in the final stages of my car search process and I am narrowed down to nearly identical spec and price 335i and 435i's. I am trying to weigh the pros and cons of each model and my main concern with the 435 is that the longer doors will be a huge pain to get in and out of in parking lots and garages.

Can anyone who has a 4 series speak to if this is a problem and if it is how they manage it?

Also what is your rating of the back seat on the 4? Is it suitable enough to use in a pinch or for the odd road trip with a smaller adult to be in the back?

[AK415]

I have a F32 and my friend used to have a F30.

Yes, I would say the opening angle of F32's door is marginally less than F30. But I coded my F32 to move the seats back when I open the door. I haven't had trouble getting onto the car.

Back seat space is good for me. I am 5'6" and don't feel cramp in the back. My friend with the same height said the same when we were on a 500 miles road trip. I feel like F32 has less headroom than F30, but legroom is about the same. But both F30 and F32 are smaller than your M35.

[visionaut]

Maybe you should check out a 4 GC? ;-)
Shorter doors than the coupe, better rear seating, and way more useable storage room with the hatch... just sayin’

[peter3hg]

The frameless doors actually make the F32 easier to get in to in my experience if you drop the windows.

[pshovest]

The cool factor far outweighs the minor awkwardness in getting in. If I need room for more than two, I take the 535.

[johnung]

Originally Posted by UGA99

Hey everyone I am in the final stages of my car search process and I am narrowed down to nearly identical spec and price 335i and 435i's. I am trying to weigh the pros and cons of each model and my main concern with the 435 is that the longer doors will be a huge pain to get in and out of in parking lots and garages.

Can anyone who has a 4 series speak to if this is a problem and if it is how they manage it?

Also what is your rating of the back seat on the 4? Is it suitable enough to use in a pinch or for the odd road trip with a smaller adult to be in the back?

HaHa, reminds me of the old two doors of the 60's/70's. You could take up two parking spaces if you opened the doors on both sides. Looked like a plane! Doors were so heavy that the hinges would wear out.

I know people like the current sloped back styling that the various car makers are doing but it makes me think of a 2+2. I'm 6 foot and can't sit in the backseat without my head hitting the ceiling. Mercedes is worse where I have to bend my neck with my ear towards the ceilings. My kids are taller than me so an F32 wasn't an option. If I need to take both grandparents somewhere it's tough to get an older person in and out of the backseat of a two-door.

Get in the backseat yourself of any cars that you are considering. I also like the utility of the 4-door. So easy to fold the rear seats forward and load up cases of water and other cargo. My wife fills it up with bags of potting soil and plants.

All depends on your own situation. Only you can make that decision.

[Billfitz]

What you need to consider is the ease of entrance and exit for rear seat passengers. If you typically don't have any go with a 2 door, if you do go with a 4 door.

[tex2670]

Originally Posted by UGA99

Hey everyone I am in the final stages of my car search process and I am narrowed down to nearly identical spec and price 335i and 435i's. I am trying to weigh the pros and cons of each model and my main concern with the 435 is that the longer doors will be a huge pain to get in and out of in parking lots and garages.

Can anyone who has a 4 series speak to if this is a problem and if it is how they manage it?

Also what is your rating of the back seat on the 4? Is it suitable enough to use in a pinch or for the odd road trip with a smaller adult to be in the back?

Huge pain? Coupes have existed for decades--with much longer doors than on the 4 Series. I think your decision should be "Do I like a 2-door or 4-door better?". Plain and simple.

[J555]

Depends on your height and flexibility. I am just 6'3" and the difference between F30/F31 and F32 is beyond acceptable for me. Parking and getting in/out of F32 is pain; sunroof no go in either. Surprisingly, the best seats and seating position for me is in F33. The F36 is a good compromise.

[Elvisfan]

I know that Covid has changed things. But in the old days,we used to go out and evaluate cars ourselves. 2 doors have larger doors. Yes of course you need more room in parking lots. As far as getting in and out. You have to determine that.

[rebattery]

have had both, my issue with coupe is in cold climate the frame less window freeze and won't allow the window to drop! PITA!

[Gen13 F36]

Get an SUV... so easy to get in.... no more backaches

[smrtypants44]

I found the f32 to be much easier to get in and out of than f30- bigger doors=bigger space between a and b pillar= dont have to squeeze around the steering wheel

[bellguy]

Plus one

Recently come from F30 to F32 and a LOT easier to get into, I love the coupe looks and big doors, if in tight car park spaces just take a bit more care and time getting in and out, don't see the issue really

[Billfitz]

There's also the KISS principle. If you need four doors fine, but if you don't two less doors is two less things to potentially have problems with.

[f30paul]

Recently came from an Audi convertible to an F30, so much easier not worrying about narrow parking spaces. Yes I'm quite tall, but with the large doors of the convertible it was sometimes a body contortion act to get in the car without the door smacking against the car next to it! The F30 doors are a fair few inches smaller and make all the difference.

Not that it was the reason I changed back to the F30, just something I'd noticed, and something that towards the end of the ownership of the Audi I'd got completely sick and tired of!

[Elvisfan]

Originally Posted by f30paul

Recently came from an Audi convertible to an F30, so much easier not worrying about narrow parking spaces. Yes I'm quite tall, but with the large doors of the convertible it was sometimes a body contortion act to get in the car without the door smacking against the car next to it! The F30 doors are a fair few inches smaller and make all the difference.

Not that it was the reason I changed back to the F30, just something I'd noticed, and something that towards the end of the ownership of the Audi I'd got completely sick and tired of!

Life is full of comprises. Having the convertible far outweighs the inconvenience. I’m over 70. At some point I may not be able to do it. But right now I can. My wife too.
OP has to decide.

[psyki]

Originally Posted by rebattery

have had both, my issue with coupe is in cold climate the frame less window freeze and won't allow the window to drop! PITA!

This issue is definitely not unique to frameless windows.

[tex2670]

Originally Posted by Elvisfan

I know that Covid has changed things. But in the old days,we used to go out and evaluate cars ourselves. 2 doors have larger doors. Yes of course you need more room in parking lots. As far as getting in and out. You have to determine that.

Having to be spoon-fed info rather than determining yourself is not a Covid development....

[upsidedownfunnel]

This is one of those things you just have to live with and is not a big deal. If you live in America and are not overweight, you will be fine. I've had a coupe before and I never really ran into an issue with it. Once in a while you'll have to squeeze into the car and have your date get out before you park, but otherwise not a big deal overall.

[Desertnate]

I own an F32 and never had any issues with the length of the doors in parking lots, but I've never really had to deal with it in a tight parking garage. I do know that some urban areas make parking spaces smaller than others your YMMV.

As for the rear seat, I find it very roomy. I'm 5'9" and can sit behind myself without my knees touching the front seat. I've done 1~2 hour road trips with two adults and two late-teenagers onboard and everyone was comfortable. A few weeks ago I did a 6~7 hour (each way) road trip with my 18-year old in the back (5'7"-ish) and they had no issues either.

The only complaint I really hear from rear seat passengers is more about visibility than space. In the case of my kid, it wasn't that big of a deal once they pulled out the electronic entertainment device of choice and started playing a game, they didn't care.

[Machinebuilder]

I have had both. Its a tough call because the 2 door coupes are wide as you noted. But I like the looks of the 2 door but the practicality and access of the 4 door. If it was my only car I would get a 4 door, but if you have another car with easy access get the 2 door. It is livable and much better looking.