Rental review - 2024 BMW 430i

[dishdude]

Recently had this drop top as a rental, it was sitting there in the rental car lot calling my name. Hopped in and had a really nice 45 minute drive from the airport to my destination in 59 degree weather with the top down, just a nice chance to clear my head and enjoy the drive.

They call this the "Ultimate Driving Machine", a pretty strong claim. I have to say, the chassis is as solid as can be, especially considering it doesn't have a roof. The steering, brakes, handling were all top rate, truly a machine for someone that enjoys driving. Not incredibly fast, but plenty of power for someone just looking for a nice driving car. I liked the tech, the screens were intuitive and responsive. The seat belt presenters were pretty cool!

Cons - I missed having physical HVAC controls, having to go into the screen to just change the fan speed was distracting. Also, the buttons around the navigation knob in the center console felt incredibly cheap, which is odd considering all the other switchgear had a really nice feel.

Super nice car, I rank my rentals in two categories - ones I want to keep and ones I can't wait to give back. This is a keeper.

 

[02SE]

You're in a safe space... go on admit it, you preferred the 4Runner...

 

[Ed_Flecko]

I think the evolution of technology in new cars is really fascinating, but I just hate all of the gathering of personal data and the, ultimate, invasion of personal privacy. Maybe it's just me.

Ed

 

[ecotourist]

I rank my rentals in two categories - ones I want to keep and ones I can't wait to give back. This is a keeper.

I like your criteria. One rental we really liked was a Renault Megane diesel 6MT 4 door sedan. I would like to have brought that one home.

 

[GMBoy]

Good looking car, especially in black. The grill is starting to finally grow on me but at first I couldn't stand it. I wonder how long those motorized seatbelts will last? I don't care for how the screen is just plopped up there like an after thought - and most new cars are like that. I prefer it integrated into the dash design. With all that, they did a nice job overall on the interior and I like the open pore wood in that color.

 

[IndyIan]

Neat car! I wonder how those screens look in direct sunlight? Seems they have no cowling/shading at all?

 

[Dr_Dr3i]

We had one for a long weekend the last time we were in Vegas. It was a fun car for sure and we got to stretch its legs out on the interstate, because we went out to the Grand Canyon one day and then to Zion NP another day. It feels solid and quiet at high speeds, like any good Euro should.

I did find - and maybe it's just me - that my back started to complain after about 3+ hrs of driving. I tried several adjustments and still didn't get quite comfortable. I also found that I didn't enjoy having my legs stretched out forward like that for too long. Granted, my stable consists of a compact SUV and a Ram truck, so I'm used to sitting a certain way.

I did put this one in the "yeah, i'd buy this" category, same as you.

 

[fantastic]

Nice interior. Particularly the seats.

 

[MCompact]

I've had a couple of 3ers and 4ers as loaners. I didn't hate them, but I didn't love them either. As I have said before, I despise the tacked-on touchscreen and the lack of physical buttons and switches. I even had an M340i for a few days and, while it was relatively fast, it didn't feel all that special. If something happened to the C43 I think I'd hunt down a CPO 2023 Giulia Quadrifoglio; a friend bought a new 2023 and it's been absolutely trouble free.

 

[Dave Hess]

Nice review, love BMW styling.

 

[Marcozi]

We had one for a long weekend the last time we were in Vegas. It was a fun car for sure and we got to stretch its legs out on the interstate, because we went out to the Grand Canyon one day and then to Zion NP another day. It feels solid and quiet at high speeds, like any good Euro should.

I did find - and maybe it's just me - that my back started to complain after about 3+ hrs of driving. I tried several adjustments and still didn't get quite comfortable. I also found that I didn't enjoy having my legs stretched out forward like that for too long. Granted, my stable consists of a compact SUV and a Ram truck, so I'm used to sitting a certain way.

I did put this one in the "yeah, i'd buy this" category, same as you.

There may have been a lumbar support adjustment on the driver's seat.

 

[DannyM]

.

These get over 40mpg at 75 mph in Rwd form. . Wish they would correct that mistake of putting an Amazon Tablet on the dash and get back to the good looking interiors they just abandoned. They just look silly and cheap IMO.

 

[MCompact]

.

These get over 40mpg at 75 mph in Rwd form. . Wish they would correct that mistake of putting an Amazon Tablet on the dash and get back to the good looking interiors they just abandoned. They just look silly and cheap IMO.

The new dash is much cheaper to implement across the product range and it impresses the daylights out of the dweebs who buy cars to wear as a fashion accessory.

 

[Dr_Dr3i]

There may have been a lumbar support adjustment on the driver's seat.

There was, and I had it dialed in as much as possible but the discomfort was more in the posterior regions after about 2 hrs. Probably due to how stretched out the legs are in a low slung coupe. Definitely a subjective thing, comfort.