[yobro 24]

European consumers in addition do not need these cars and do not drive very long distance as in US.

Not sure I follow your logic. If you do big miles in the US then you want the e40, it has a bigger range, hence fewer stops?
You certainly don't need the extra power. Your roads tend to be straighter and hence easier overtakes.
I must be missing something 😕

 

[Jurgen W]

Not sure I follow your logic. If you do big miles in the US then you want the e40, it has a bigger range, hence fewer stops?
You certainly don't need the extra power. Your roads tend to be straighter and hence easier overtakes.
I must be missing something 😕

My logic was simply that because of higher taxes for more powerful cars European drivers forgo that to save $ and would rather drive a little further per charge.

 

[yobro 24]

My logic was simply that because of higher taxes for more powerful cars European drivers forgo that to save $ and would rather drive a little further per charge.

Can only speak for the uk but our taxes aren't based on power. It is influenced by emissions (so doesn't impact EV).
Government is, in the future, going to charge more tax for EVs costing more than £40k.

 

[elh93]

I took delivery in August of the e40 and love it. I had the choic of M50 and e40 and the sales person did not try to steer me either way. However: as far as I know you can only test drive the M50 in the USA.

I think the main reason for choosing the M50 is the two electric motors deliver more acceleration and all wheel drive.
e40 is rear wheel drive only. In climates with snow the all wheel drive is better plus Americans like the "muscle car" aspect of the M50.

My dealer only has a e40 to test drive

 

[Dhdcf]

I wanted the m50 because I wanted the power. Plain and simple. I had a decked out one on order but got tired of waiting and bought an entry level e tron gt. That car was horrible. Fairly quick, but crap options for 105k car and fastest engagement comes from the launch control. The car, when driving, was....meh at best. Looks amazing though - they get that much.

Now I'm in a decked out e40 as of last night actually. While it's nowhere near as powerful as the m50, nor did I spec it, I'm glad I have it as it has everything I want and then some (a last minute customer canx). I'm happy with it and at peace w not having m50 . It's getting stealth wrapped next week and can't wait to drive it more.

 

[ssh]

I think in general, the American consumer, BMW drivers, are used to the fact that the power or luxury level of a car isn’t being taxed extra whereas in Europe, many countries are taxed more for higher performance cars and higher cc/hp a car has. European consumers in addition do not need these cars and do not drive very long distance as in US.

Again that’s in general. I’m sure there are plenty of other reasons, like winter driving…. If edrive 40 came as 4wd it would be in higher demand in the US.

"What's the difference between the UK and the US?"

"In the US, 200 years is a long time. In the UK, 200 miles is a long way."

Goes for most of Europe, too.

 

[ssh]

I wanted the m50 because I wanted the power. Plain and simple. I had a decked out one on order but got tired of waiting and bought an entry level e tron gt. That car was horrible. Fairly quick, but crap options for 105k car and fastest engagement comes from the launch control. The car, when driving, was....meh at best. Looks amazing though - they get that much.

Now I'm in a decked out e40 as of last night actually. While it's nowhere near as powerful as the m50, nor did I spec it, I'm glad I have it as it has everything I want and then some (a last minute customer canx). I'm happy with it and at peace w not having m50 . It's getting stealth wrapped next week and can't wait to drive it more.

Looking forward to seeing the photos!

 

[salinas2127]

I got an m50 because I live in NH and wanted all wheel drive for the snow

 

[Jose1977]

American need AWD to drive like a maniac, turning and cutting cars on highway efficiently without losing control

Finally the real reason has come forth.

 

[JoeK]

I can see the AWD being a make or break in some situations. I took delivery on my e40 three weeks ago. I drove both the M50 and the edrive40 pretty hard through city streets and highways around Seattle where I live. In all the conditions I encounter driving, I just could not tell a difference in acceleration or handling. (I did drive adaptive suspension and ordered it on my edrive40). We have an 8 cylinder SUV with studs for ski trips. Since getting my i4, hilly Seattle has had snow and ice and honestly, the car is so heavy, with 19 inch wheels, it does fine in the snow. I don’t have a steep curvy driveway. I didn’t like the cut in range (which is already cut by getting any legit performance wheels), and I didn’t like the idea of waiting several more months to take delivery on an M50 that didn’t seem much different for daily driving. For me the tax benefit changes on January 1, so it would have been substantially more money. I did have some regrets about not having the M badge and the analysis upthread about Americans wanting the biggest, best is insightful. In the end, I was happy to spend the extra money getting the options I wanted (except the wrap around cameras which were taken out as an e40 option after I ordered — dealer gave me the chance to change my order) and the edrive40 is a total hoot to drive. No regrets, but if this was my ski car, I likely would have picked rhe M50. Like I said, normal snow commuting is fine in this car.

If you want to improve winter driving you could (and you should consider especially if you have summer tires which handle/stop poorly under 45 degrees) either winter tires or winter tires and 18 wheels ( both better range and winter driving ). I just did that. Enjoy!

 

[i4m50Norway]

I can see the AWD being a make or break in some situations. I took delivery on my e40 three weeks ago. I drove both the M50 and the edrive40 pretty hard through city streets and highways around Seattle where I live. In all the conditions I encounter driving, I just could not tell a difference in acceleration or handling. (I did drive adaptive suspension and ordered it on my edrive40). We have an 8 cylinder SUV with studs for ski trips. Since getting my i4, hilly Seattle has had snow and ice and honestly, the car is so heavy, with 19 inch wheels, it does fine in the snow. I don’t have a steep curvy driveway. I didn’t like the cut in range (which is already cut by getting any legit performance wheels), and I didn’t like the idea of waiting several more months to take delivery on an M50 that didn’t seem much different for daily driving. For me the tax benefit changes on January 1, so it would have been substantially more money. I did have some regrets about not having the M badge and the analysis upthread about Americans wanting the biggest, best is insightful. In the end, I was happy to spend the extra money getting the options I wanted (except the wrap around cameras which were taken out as an e40 option after I ordered — dealer gave me the chance to change my order) and the edrive40 is a total hoot to drive. No regrets, but if this was my ski car, I likely would have picked rhe M50. Like I said, normal snow commuting is fine in this car.

It would be interesting to see if you will continue driving V8 SUV to the ski slopes. My experience (with the BMW i3) is that I nearly always prefer an EV - especially in Winter conditions.

 

[i4m50Norway]

My logic was simply that because of higher taxes for more powerful cars European drivers forgo that to save $ and would rather drive a little further per charge.

Your logic works in Norway - No tax on EV's before 2023 - iX is 4th most sold car in Norway 2022, and nearly every i4 is the i4M50 - most of them with "all" options. With 5 million people, more than 1/1000 owns an iX and 1/500 probably waits for the i4M50.

 

[BMC17]

I ended up ordering the M50 because for a short while BMW took a few of the tech related options away from the edrive40. Removal of the tech options was a non-starter for me, hence my ordering of M50. But yes, my preference was the edrive40 for range and price.

 

[Dmitri]

Im realy interested why people choose the M50 model mostly in the US region? You dont have the choice to order e40 because it is not built or M50 is more fancy?

I read i4talk.com every day and I realized that most of the bmw funs ordered M50 model in your region. I was considering for a while to ask about that. Can you tell me please?

Why I picked an eDrive 40 VS M50

I owned BMWs for past 17 years. I started with E92 335xi and advanced to 3 different M3s. So, I do love BMWs especially more powerful models of BMW:) However, my favorite M3 was always have been E9x M3 for many reasons. Naturally aspirated V8 was probably the biggest one. So, when Corvette C8...

www.i4talk.com

 

[Dmitri]

Same here. 16 degrees (30%) slope to my house. Only cars with AWD can get up to my garage in icy/snowy conditions.

View attachment 21067
View attachment 21068

I had a way worth slop to my unit in MD. I had no issues with my M3 rear wheel drive, winter tires and good driving abilities. Most of my teammates could not make it on their 4x4 trucks in winter.

 

[Dmitri]

"What's the difference between the UK and the US?"

"In the US, 200 years is a long time. In the UK, 200 miles is a long way."

Goes for most of Europe, too.

For UK may be. However, after the tunnel was bult, brits can travel very long distances now. I've done over 50 long drives (some over 2500 miles) in Europe when I was stationed in Germany.

 

[Dmitri]

American need AWD to drive like a maniac, turning and cutting cars on highway efficiently without losing control

I don't think Americans need AWD for that. If you know how to drive you want lose control, despite of you driving stile. If you don't, AWD is not going to help you.

 

[steffo]

I had a way worth slop to my unit in MD. I had no issues with my M3 rear wheel drive, winter tires and good driving abilities. Most of my teammates could not make it on their 4x4 trucks in winter.

I can assure you that no 2wd whatsoever can climb my slope in snowy and icy conditions. Many have tried

 

[Dmitri]

I can assure you that no 2wd whatsoever can climb my slope in snowy and icy conditions. Many have tried

my unit consists of over 100 people. Our slope is over 0.5 mile long.12 to 35% incline. I was usually the only one parked at the top during winter months.

 

[PH46]

I went for M50 becuase it is more cost effective in general. The price of a e40 with added options (ie. m sport package, suspension, etc.) is almost a m50, while a m50 has already included all the options and gives more power and AWD.