Carwow compares i4 M50 vs Model 3 Performance

Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
23,892
Location
Los Gatos, CA
The Beemer weighs 800lbs more? Ouch! That's is a tough one to overcome.
Perhaps the Tesla advantage is it's built as a pure play EV while the Beemer is an electrified 3/4 Series.
A good first try for BMW. The Beemer guys will love 'em, for sure!

BMW vs Tesla
 
Tesla definitely has figured out the weight thing better than many. The new Mercedes EQS AMG is really close to 6,000 lbs. A Model S Plaid is 4,833lbs.
 
Tesla has the first mover advantage.

I sold my BMW because it was 20 years old. And bought a Tesla. My (old) BMW was more luxurious and had a better ride. And it had a full size spare tire. Other than that the (new) Tesla is better in all respects. I really hated to sell the BMW because there was so much I liked about it.

BMWs (the older ones anyway) are wonderful. And so are Teslas. Maybe the best plan is to have one of each, an ICE BMW and and EV Tesla.
 
The BMW actually comes with switches that do things, and actual leather, not “genuine imitation simulated leatherette”. Oh, and they don’t look like they were built in a backyard shed. All of our allocations for the entire year are already sold.
I think you know Tesla is not trying to be like BMW or any other car company. BMW is a legendary car company. I'm sure i4 owners will love their cars.
 
Except they are charging the same amount of money for a comparable Model3 as an i4. I know where my money would go.
Of course, buy what you want, it's your money. The i4 is quite a bit more expensive than a Model 3.
I will likely buy a Model 3 Performance if and when the new batteries are used. For now we are enjoying the '18 Mid Range.
Enjoy your beautiful BMW i4!
 
It would be interesting to see the sales figures for the i4 and the Model 3 and see what percentage of each vehicle is purchased vs. leased.

BMW's have been a car that you want to lease rather than buy for a couple of decades now due to the reliability issues and costs of repairs once the cars are about out of warranty. Maybe the i4 will be more reliable than their ICE vehicles but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Tesla is selling every vehicle they can produce. I think people should cut them some slack in certain ares. Other carmakers that have been around for 100 years make plenty of crummy vehicles. Maybe when Tesla catches up with demand they will be able to restyle their best selling vehicles and offer some luxury upgrades like real leather for meat eaters and the non-woke crowd.

I still am quite skeptical of those who make claims of Tesla's build quality. Repeating something you read on the internet, or actual observation ? How about this for a challenge: Call your local Tesla dealer and ask when they expect a carrier to arrive with a batch of new Teslas. Then whip out your smartphone and take pictures of all the poorly fit body panels, paint flaws or other issues and let us know how many cars in that batch exhibit problems.

We'll wait.
 
.
Why do it on your own? There are surveys.
'plenty of crummy vehicles'? I've never seen or heard of missing fasters
on suspension parts and missing brake pads on any other make cars.
Reminds me on 1970s British cars and even worse.
.
 
It will be interesting to see where Mile per KWH settles as well as what the charging speed from single digit to 80% will be in hot and cold weather.
 
It's a good thing that not everyone loves the Tesla Model 3. That encourages the other car companies to work really hard to try to catch up. And having the competition breathing down their neck (they're not that close but you get the point) is good for Tesla. If everyone wanted a Model 3 the prices would be higher and the waiting lists would be longer.

Meanwhile people who do want a Model 3 can still get one at a fairly reasonable price after a reasonable wait.
 
It would be interesting to see the sales figures for the i4 and the Model 3 and see what percentage of each vehicle is purchased vs. leased.

BMW's have been a car that you want to lease rather than buy for a couple of decades now due to the reliability issues and costs of repairs once the cars are about out of warranty. Maybe the i4 will be more reliable than their ICE vehicles but I wouldn't hold my breath.
Tesla is taking market share from the upscale German car companies, that is not in dispute. They are all scrambling to build EVs to compete, but are falling short from EV and tech standpoint. BMW should have built a car ground up as an EV instead of using the 3/4 platform. Then there would be less compromise. The result is a mix of 2 drivetrains and suffers beause of it.

There are plenty of well documented Tesla issues. Missing brake pad? That's just crazy. There are also plenty of BMW owners who say their cars spend more time in the shop than on the road. Repairs and services are costly. I live in Silicon Valley; there are tons of German cars here. And yes, 3 year leases are the norm. There is a reason for it.

If you told me BMW was building an $80K (and up to over $100K) M Series electric car, I would have bet they would deliver an incredible car, but the results are far from that. Heck, in price and weight, this car is close to a Model S. BMW didn't even deliver an M with more performance than a 5 year old Model 3.

Say what you will, but Tesla owners are far happier with their cars, warts and all, then BMW owners.
In the end, each to their own. It's your money. I like them all and worthy competitors make for better products for the consumer.
 
I still am quite skeptical of those who make claims of Tesla's build quality. Repeating something you read on the internet, or actual observation ? How about this for a challenge: Call your local Tesla dealer and ask when they expect a carrier to arrive with a batch of new Teslas. Then whip out your smartphone and take pictures of all the poorly fit body panels, paint flaws or other issues and let us know how many cars in that batch exhibit problems.

We'll wait.
I have commented on the build quality and materials selection based on first-hand experience in both a Model S and Model 3. The Model S I compared to my BMW M5 that I had owned around that period.

For me, it's the interior quality/materials selection that is the issue, as well as lack of things that you'd expect on a high tech vehicle like a HUD.

Speaking of which, that is likely a large portion of the weight difference. Sound deadening material, luxury appointments, these add weight.
 
I have been saying for a long time that the legacy automakers who are offering an EV that is based upon one of their existing platforms and in many cases a kludge design are at a serious competitive disadvantage. This is what happens when you are late to the party.

I did watch a new Jay Leno's Garage episode yesterday on the Lucid Air EV. If definitely has very modern styling but doesn't scream "hey look at me I'm an EV" like so many others. In fact it reminds me of the styling on some recent Lincoln vehicles. They may have a chance of giving Tesla a run for their money

 
I have been saying for a long time that the legacy automakers who are offering an EV that is based upon one of their existing platforms and in many cases a kludge design are at a serious competitive disadvantage. This is what happens when you are late to the party.

I did watch a new Jay Leno's Garage episode yesterday on the Lucid Air EV. If definitely has very modern styling but doesn't scream "hey look at me I'm an EV" like so many others. In fact it reminds me of the styling on some recent Lincoln vehicles. They may have a chance of giving Tesla a run for their money


I have seen one running around here a few times. Looks like an upside down bathtub. And not in a good way like the fabulous bathtub Porsches of the late 50's and early 60's.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
 
Back
Top Bottom