BMW i4 M50 vs. BMW M3 | Can the Electric i4 Outperform the M3? | Price, 0-60, Range & More

The BMW M3 Competition is one of the most powerful sport sedans in BMW's lineup, but how does it compare to an all-electric competitor in the form of the 2022 BMW i4 M50? In this video, Ryan ZumMallen takes a deep dive into these two high-performance BMWs to see if the new i4 M50 can outperform our M3 Competition. Both vehicles sport the M badge, and Ryan sets out to see if the electric i4 can match the horsepower, 0-60 time, and overall awesomeness of the ultra-powerful M3 Competition. Ryan also covers the 2022 i4's range numbers, compares MSRPs, and gives a tour of each car's interior. Does the new 2022 BMW i4 M50 have what it takes to match the performance of the 2022 BMW M3 Competition? Ryan answers this and a whole lot more in our comparison test of the BMW M3 vs. BMW i4 M50.

00:00 Intro
01:04 BMW M History
01:52 M3 Competition
02:49 I4 M50
04:20 Testing Numbers
05:38 Driving Impressions
11:24 Interiors
16:37 Edmunds’ Take

[edmundscars]

Are you happy with the way M performance is shifting into the electric space? Tell us what you’d do differently.

[LizardMane]

Maaaan this car is more than enough for the average person it's close to the m3 at half the price in everything and obviously no money for gas. This car is absolutely brilliant

[astroplutonium]

I bought the M50 because the insurance is half, the car price is half and the daily usage is half while everything else is within 90% of the dynamics and performance of a real M. Not a real M but still a much better choice than a fossil burner that stays half of the year in the garage... Not everyone needs loud pipe noise and ridiculous grip and i think BMW is hitting a good market share with what they did with the M50. No wonder delivery times are 12 months+ now...

[textm]

I saw an I4 m50 parked up here in the UK, had no idea of what it was and had never even heard of them. It looked absolutely beautiful, but it was so bizarre when it silently pulled away.

[bmw]

Nice car .I just bought a BMW i4 M550.Picked it up yesterday . I love it .

[rico]

beautiful video - i've never owned an M but this I4 M50 will be the closest I'll get. I know it's not a real M but it will make me smile regardless.

[flashsushi]

Finally. A short but good review / comparo that acknowledges the lack of torque vectoring on the i4.

[johnelegant]

Brilliant review; honest, fair and points out why it is roughly $25K less than the M3, yet the conclusion is that this is still an excellent BMW. What a fun car for 98% of us (in fact more capable than any of us will ever use nor need). Fine with me that later on there will most likely be a true M i40, but in the interim, I will, and almost every one of us will love this car, e.g., driving it as a M-like great sports sedan right now.

[kartikk]

Will you be doing a range test for the rwd model soon?

[richardalberg]

I get mine on the 16th and this review makes me think I have made the right choice. I started with a Tesla M3P - which was brilliant, although build quality frustrated me. I bought a Taycan Turbo which is great in all respects other than being too wide (for London streets). I think the i4 M50 will offer the performance and build quality whilst being more practical when on a narrow road with a 4x4 coming in the other direction.

[Casshern_Sin]

So I've watched a lot of i4 vs whatever and the common complaint is that it feels heavy, it feels slow on corners and doesn't feel agile... I've come to the conclusion that the basis for comparison is always with some of the best handling cars out there. The i4 will still feel excellent to drive to the average driver.

[peterhammer]

I liked the video. Though the steering feel talk is quite boring. Even the 992 has almost no steering feel, so its not only a problem of BMW. You need hydraulic steering if you want proper feel.

[rcsenior]

I've ordered my M50 to be a capable daily performance car with towbar, hatch and the ability to charge at home by soplar panels.
That's why I have never considered the M50 as an M-car, it's an M like an Audi S vehicle and I selected the M50 compared to 440i/440d xDrive and Audi S4 Avant.
I hope that there's an i4M based on the iX M60 powertrain or higher when it's time to replace my M50 in 2024. ;)

[davesax]

The M50 is M enough for me. Excellent driver a few months in. EV brake regeneration is actually an improvement on downshifting a manual. Otherwise, any real driver needs a manual for a true "M" experience. Paddle shifters don't count.

[flaggrad]

Full disclosure I own a g80 m3 comp. Bmw has i4 m50s at the autocross portion of the ultimate drive events. Few observations: it’s not an M car period. It’s fast enough in a straight line but other than that it falls apart quickly. The handling is just not there, the front and back ends of the car seem to be fighting each other, it just doesn’t feel cohesive. Maybe it was the setting they made us drive in too, “b” which is max regen, it might unsettle the car as you come off the brakes (or keep more weight on the front when you want to transfer it rearward). Coming out of a few corners push the accelerator and nothing happens, had to be electronics as the car obviously has instant torque. They are just heavy 5000 plus lbs and no amount of low center of gravity counters that. One other thing typically (in gas powered cars) at the ultimate drives you did 3 laps twice, this time it was 2 laps 3 times which obviously takes a lot longer to get people in and out of cars three times instead of 2. I’m guessing the cars were not capable of running 3 laps in a row constantly. They seem like great cruisers and 90 percent of customers will probably be very happy, but as an alternative to an m3/4 and I cannot agree with that.

[theRappinSpree]

Turn off traction control in the i4 the get full power when turning

[esaedvik]

I'd love to know the longer term upkeep cost difference.

[jordansmith]

Can you please comment on how you guys got 268 miles on full charge with M50? My CA at BMW mentioned it was alot lower from EPA range of 227 by at least 20 miles (closer to 200) miles on full charge with the 20 inch wheels. Thanks.!

[aneebaba]

Have one coming this summer in Metallic Portimao Blue with cognac interior and carbon fiber trim.

[budluo]

I was waiting for i4 and had been reading about it for a while. Honestly if it had come out in mid 2021 I would have ordered it. Tired of waiting so I ordered a Tesla Model Y (and ends up still waiting for the delivery). I would definitely come back to check out their second generation of EVs. I am not a car guy, just that I have been driving a Bimmer for a while and like it.