Home Automotive AdviceMarket Advice & Buyer's Guides BMW 430i – Is The 430i The Best Luxury Coupe?

BMW 430i – Is The 430i The Best Luxury Coupe?

by Jordan Harris
BMW 430i

Are you planning to purchase a BMW 430i and you are looking to find out more about this model like its specs, common problems, and reliability? Well, if that is the case, then you are at the right place since, in this article, there will be quite a bit to cover on the model and learn all about it.

Performing thorough research on the model before you purchase is always a good idea. Doing this will not only save you money. But will also save you a ton of lost nerves if by accident you purchase a lemon.

So, learning more about the model and what the model can offer is the way to go. Another thing to add is that you should not look for perfection because every car has problems. Plus, there’s often a conundrum when comparing sibling cars, such as looking at BMW X1 vs X3.

There is no bulletproof car that has zero issues. When it comes to choosing a car, your task is to choose the one with the least and also the least expensive problems. And this is why we are here to help you out achieve this.

First, we are going to cover the 4 Series by BMW in-depth and get familiarized with this series of cars, then we will cover the body styles of the BMW 430i and see the difference between them.

After we cover that, we will learn more about the specs of the 430i and learn about the problems that this model has. And then, we will discuss the reliability of the 430i. So, if you want to learn more about the model, follow along.

BMW 4-Series

Now before we dive into the BMW 430i, let’s introduce ourselves to the 4 Series. As you probably know, the 430i is part of this series of cars that BMW has introduced. So, let’s familiarize ourselves with it since not all of us reading here are experts on BMW and its lineup.

So, what is the 4 Series? Well, the BMW 4 Series is a lineup of compact executive cars that were introduced on the market by BMW in 2013.

Back in the good old days, BMW only had the 3 Series. And the 3 Series is one of the BMW best sellers, even in 2022. But they saw the need to create something new and different in order to drive more sales. So, the 4 Series was created as a spin of from the 3 Series of cars.

BMW 430i

Basically, both of them are quite the same. The only difference is that the 3 Series now only includes the 4-door sedan model. While the 4 Series includes all the other models. But more on the models, we are going to discuss in the following chapters, where we will cover the body styles.

The important thing to note is that the 4 Series has two generations of cars. The first generation introduced in 2013 carries the codename F32 for the coupe and F33 and F36 for the other two models. While the second generation carries the G22 name for the coupe version and the G23 and G26 for the other two models.

Basically in each generation of the 4 Series, there are three body styles. And each one of them has the BMW 430i model. And more on the body styles, we are going to cover in the next chapter, where we are going to cover them in-depth and understand the differences.

BMW 430i Body Styles

Now as we covered the 4 Series and understood that this is basically a 3 Series with a variety of body styles. And just like the 4-series, the 3-series also has numerous different variants within its line-up. That’s why folks are often confused when comparing the BMW 320i vs 328i, among many other trim levels and models.

We can now move on and cover the different types of body styles that are available with the 4 Series 430i. Knowing the body styles will really help you out in terms of which of these models is the right one for you.

BMW 430i Coupe – Now let’s start with the coupe. The coupe is probably the reason why BMW created this separate new series of cars in order to remove the BMW M3 coupe from the 3 Series cars. So, now we have a 4 Series M4 coupe instead of the M3 coupe that was present up until the E92 model.

And who doesn’t like coupes, especially young people that want to drive something sporty and enjoy their life to the fullest? And as you can probably conclude, this BMW 430i model is probably not intended for people with large families. For that, you have the Gran Coupe.

BMW 430i

BMW 430i Gran Coupe – So, we covered the 2-door coupe version of the BMW 430i, now let’s take a look at the Gran Coupe, what is this model all about?

Well, the Gran Coupe is the same thing as a Coupe but extended. With this body style, you get 4 doors and a decent amount of legroom in the rear for the passengers. And still keeping the same sloping roofline and still getting the same coupe-style looks.

BMW 430i Convertible – And the last body style that we are going to cover is the convertible. The convertible is basically a standard coupe but with a mechanical roof. So, if you want to feel the wind, this model will be right for you.

BMW 430i Specs

Now let’s move on and take a look a the specs of the BMW 430i. Knowing the specs will really going to help you out in terms of whether this model is the right one for you or not.

We will primarily focus on the latest generation of the 430i because this model is more recent and people that want one are more highly likely to buy. And this is the model with the codename G22 for the coupe and G23 and G26 for the convertible and gran coupe.

Later, when we will cover the problems, we will also address the issues with the previous generation. Since this generation has the most reports on problems.

What is important to note is that this generation was introduced in 2020 and is assembled in Germany.

This generation unlike the previous one steps away from the sharp look and introduces smoother lines and follows the path as many other carmakers nowadays. And the front end, we can say that it is rather controversial, with the big kidney grilles at the front.

As people say, you either love it or hate it. I personally got used to it and I think it looks really well, especially on the M-sport trim models or the racier BMW M4 version.

But what about the specs of the BMW 430i? How large it is and all that interesting data? Let’s elaborate more on that in the following chapter in detail and learn in which dimensions this model comes.

BMW 430i Dimensions

Now let’s discuss the dimensions of the 4 Series and see how big of a car this really is and what has to offer in terms of size and practicality. Practicality is really important in our book because if a car is not practical, it is not a good purchase since there are more tasks of what a car should do, rather than only being a good driving machine.

What is interesting to know, is that the dimensions are pretty much the same for all body styles. It doesn’t matter if you go for a coupe, cabriolet, or gran coupe.

The wheelbase of the model is 112.2 inches and has an overall length of 187.7 inches. The car is 72.9 inches wide and 54.6 inches tall. And based on this data, as you can see, it is quite compact and has good dimensions from which you are going to benefit if you have a tight garage or you live in urban areas where roads are pretty narrow. The curb weight of the car is 3571 lbs.

The trunk space varies between 16.6 cubic ft and 45.56 cubic ft. Usually, the Gran Coupe is the most practical of the three models. This is why we recommend this version of the BMW 430i for people that want some extra practicality. But enough of the practicality, now let’s dive into the interior and see what the 430i has to offer in this aspect.

BMW 430i Interior

So, we have covered the dimensions and size and learned more about how spacious the 430i is and whether or not is a good deal in this aspect. Now let’s take a look at the interior of the 430i and learn more about what the model has to offer when it comes to comfort.

In terms of interior options, the car has a lot to offer for the driver. Maybe not as much as the M440i or the M4, but it is still a good purchase.

You get an AM/FM radio with 10 speaker system, as well as a big infotainment system. And not only one screen but two screens actually. One for the infotainment and the second for the cluster.

BMW 430i

In addition to this, you get SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, so you can connect your phone and enjoy the navigation that your mobile phone can deliver. Even though the standard BMW infotainment system is really good.

When it comes to interior comfort, you get sports seats with power rear seats and easy entry for both the front and passenger seats.

In addition to this, you get a manual telescopic steering column with a beautiful leather steering wheel, plus the ability to start the car without a key. The car simply senses your presence and starts up the engine when you press the button.

You also get dual-zone climate control. Overall, the 430i has a lot to offer in terms of comfort. But what about the engine and transmission? More on that next.

BMW 430i Engine And Transmission

So, we covered the interior options and learned what the BMW 430i has to offer. Now let’s learn what kind of engine and transmissions are included with this model. After all, one of the highlights of any BMW is the engine. And, this particular motor is already regarded as one of the most reliable BMW engines made.

The engine used in this model is the 2.0L inline-4. This is the B48 engine which is turbocharged. The engine develops about 255hp and 295lb-ft of torque. Which is plenty for this chassis. And this engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission.

The 0 to 60 for this model is about 5.8 seconds. Not crazy fast but still quick enough to put a smile on your face.

BMW 430i Fuel Economy

So, what about the fuel economy of the BMW 430i? Is this BMW fuel efficient or not? Let’s find out.

The 430i delivers a really good fuel economy. More precisely, about 25 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway with a combined fuel economy of 28 mpg. It has a gas tank size of 15.6 gallons.

Overall, the 430i is rather competitive in this aspect and is perfect for people that want to enjoy improved performance but also not be stuck every day at the pump. Even though, it is worth noting that these numbers are for ideal conditions. If you push the car hard on the road, you can expect worse fuel economy than this.

Safety Rating

The new generation of the 4 Series was tested by the Euro NCAP governing body for Europe. On their tests, the model got 5 stars out of 5.

What is worth noting is that the model was not tested in the US by the NHTSA and the IIHS. So, we don’t know how this model would perform on their tests.

But the Euro NCAP also seems rather a reliable source when it comes to determining the safety of a vehicle. And more on the test, you can read in the following link that we will attach here.

430i Price

So, what about the BMW 430i price? How expensive is this model is and does it worth this amount of money? Let’s find out.

The BMW 4-series coupe is the cheaper model that you can get for the 2023 model year. This model starts at $48,395. But this is the standard RWD model. The AWD model which is the xDrive starts at $50,395.

When it comes to the convertible, the standard RWD model starts at $56,495. And the AWD xDrive model of the 430i starts at $58,495. Rather expensive. But this is understandable since the convertible has a lot more moving parts that cost money to build.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t find any data when it comes to the pricing of the 430i Gran Coupe model. Now that we covered this, we can move on and learn about the problems that this model has.

Common Problems

So, we covered the BMW 430i and learned about the specs of this model. We learned that it has two generations. Now we think that it is time to learn more about the problems that are reported with this model.

What is worth noting is that these models are rather reliable vehicles, as with a lot of BMWs. There were no major issues reported with the B48 engine and the 8-speed automatic transmission that this model is using.

Still, there are some problems that are worth noting. Namely, this engine can have issues with cooling that can lead to overheating. And when the engine overheats, it could blow a head gasket and this could result in a really expensive repair.

The second very common problem with this engine is that it can leak oil. And oil leaks and BMW go together most of the time. This would cause numerous issues, such as noticing how your BMW won’t start.

The main leaking areas of this engine specifically are the oil filter housing, valve cover, as well as oil pan gasket.

And when these leaks occur, they could foul other components like the alternator and the belts. This is why we would recommend addressing any leaks before the problem becomes too large and expensive to fix.

Another problem that owners reported is the increased wear and tear on the leather interior. And as one owner says, this is reportedly due to the fact that the coupe is rather difficult to get in and out.

So, the side bolsters on the seats can take a toll and the seat can wear out quite quickly. So, you will have to redo all that in order to bring the car back to normal condition. Also, the leather on the seat can stretch a little bit especially if you spend a lot of time in the car driving.

Reliability

So, we have covered the common BMW 430i problems, now let’s take a look a the reliability aspect. Does it qualify as one of the most reliable BMWs ever? Is this model reliable or not?

Well, we can say that this model is a really reliable German-built car. The engine that is used in this model is really good. Except for some oil leaks, there is hardly any problem that you will come across and we would frankly recommend this model to you.

In addition to this, the transmission is buttery smooth and delivers extremely smooth shifts 100% of the time. There is nothing better than a ZF transmission nowadays. Especially their 8-speed that is used almost everywhere.

And on top of that, the fuel efficiency is crazy good for this type of model. If you drive normally and don’t push the car too hard, you can get really good fuel economy out of it. 25 mpg can be achieved with ease. But when something breaks down is it expensive to fix? Well, more on that we will discuss next.

Maintenance Costs

And the last thing that we would like to address when it comes to the BMW 430i is the maintenance costs. Is this model expensive to maintain?

Well, the answer to this question depends. BMW as you probably know is a luxury brand. And costs of maintaining a BMW are much higher compared to a Dodge or a Chevy. So, you need to be prepared for this.

But if you purchase a new model right off the showroom floor, there is nothing that you need to worry about. The B48 engine is pretty much bulletproof with no major issues reported except for some oil leaks here and there. But this is common on higher mileage engines.

Performance luxury coupe

If you want to purchase a used model, you need to make sure that you find a relatively low-mileage car. The lower the better. High mileage models can be more expensive to maintain because things break more often on these than on new cars.

Even regular maintenance as a timing chain job can cost a whole fortune to do. And here we are talking about thousands of dollars. So, finding one with 50,000 to 70,000 miles would be the way to go if you want to have a few years without major problems with your BMW 430i.

Final Verdict

In this article, we have covered quite a bit when it comes to the BMW 430i. First, we learned what is this model about and we learned that the model is part of the 4 Series by BMW.

Then we covered the specs of the 2022 430i. We have covered the dimensions and size, engine, and transmission. As well as fuel economy, safety, and other important aspects. Lastly, we discussed the common problems, reliability, and maintenance costs involved in owning this car.

Frequently Asked Questions

Now let’s answer some frequently asked questions.

What Does BMW Stand For

BMW is an acronym that stands for Bayerische Motoren Werke in German. The English translation for this would be Bavarian Motor Works. Since BMW comes from the region Bavaria which is located in southern Germany.

Is BMW German

Yes, BMW is a German carmaker founded in 1916. Their headquarters are in Munich, Germany. But they have a presence globally and cover the whole world. They produce about 2.5 million cars annually and they are one of the go-to brands when it comes to luxury cars.

What Is The Cheapest BMW

The cheapest new BMW that you can purchase in the US is the 2023 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe. This model can be purchased for about $37,595. Other models cost quite a bit more. For example, a 3-Series will set you back about $43,000.

What Is Gran Coupe

A Gran Coupe is basically a coupe with 4-doors. The BMW Gran Coupe models usually keep the proportions of the standard coupe. But have 4-doors and a lot more room for carrying passengers.

Where Can I Buy BMW Coolant

You can buy BMW coolant on Amazon, just open up your browser, type BMW coolant and you can order right away. Or if you want you can go to your BMW dealership and buy some of this coolant from them.

What Type Of Coolant Does BMW Use

BMW uses specific coolant that is designed for BMWs. Their coolant comes in silver bottles and is blue in color. So, finding this type of coolant can be a challenge in parts stores. This is why you can order it on Amazon.

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