This was my first BMW after having two VW golfs. I know im going to struggle to let go! It's been fantastic!! First of all it looks great! The best looking BMW in the current range as HJ says. Especially in white, clean lines and it sits low down so looks mean and menacing.

How it drives.
I, like most other 4 series customers, chose the 420d, the 2 litre diesel engine has more than enough performance for me and it feels like it has way more than 184bhp. The nice thing is the 280lbs/ft of torque so it accelerates effortlessly and the auto box is silky smooth! I can't even perceive the gear changes I can only tell by the change it engine note and the flicking down of the rev counter.

I chose the xdrive version as I didn't want to be stuck in winter ice and snow with a car I can't drive. So far as its been summer I can't say much about it but it seems safe when going fast around roundabouts and really flat probably because it has low centre of gravity. Plenty of telling off by the wife! The only criticism of the drive is the overly light steering so the car can snake I little if you haven't got both hands on the wheel when powering out of a corner or when braking hard.

Fuel economy
Not as good as I hoped but ok is the best word to sum it up. 40mpg is what I am averaging but maybe I am forgetting that it's twice and powerful as my 1.6tdi golf which gave me 50mpg. To be fair I haven't put the car in the eco pro mode much as comfort and sport mode are so much more fun!

Cost of maintenance and experience at dealership.
The car was from Stratstone BMW derby and to be honest they were great. I don't think a got amazing deal especially as my trade in for my golf wasn't what hoped but in terms of friendliness and communication I could not fault then. Tax is £110 and insurance wasn't as high I feared.
The only potential problems I can see it the cost to replace the run flat tyres though I hope they last my 2 year PCP term. The 18 inch standard M sport wheels wear continental 225/45 R18's at the front and wider 255/40 R18's at the rear. So tyres wont be cheap. The days are gone when I could replace my golf four tyres for under £250 from Costco!!! Never mind!

How practical it is.
The rear seats have plenty of leg room and the rear seat fold down with a pull of a handle in the boot. The boot is deep and large but as the car is low putting shopping at the back means a strong back. Also the boot is more deep inwards rather than high so large cereal boxes may need to be laid flat to get home.
There is cup holders at the front which are exposed by lifting off a cover but there is no where to put this cover when you are using the cup holders. Also this is the same place where you would put your keys and they do slide off especially if you're putting the car through it paces going around corners quick or even accelerating quickly from standstill.
The steering wheel needs careful height adjustment so you can see either the top end of the speedo or/and the satnav direction arrows. I couldn't afford the heads up display but that would solve that problem!
The idrive infotainment system is nice however it can be tricky put in post codes and addresses with the rotatory wheel. There is a function where you can actually write with your finger letters and numbers on the touch sensitive idrive knob but its best suited to left handers are in my case the wife sitting in the passenger seat! Fine I suspect for right handed drivers in European LHD cars.
I like the fact it has a conventional handbrake rather than the electronic parking brakes most cars are adopting now.

Well I have nattered on quite a bit now the car is great but I have only had it 10 weeks so I am sure other things will pop up. If you take the plunge you won't be disappointed!