I attended to MetLife UDE and drove the i4 m50 for 10 laps. Being a BMW guy, I fell in love. I realize 10 laps is not the 400 miles I was able to spend with the M3.
I did the same, except I also own an F80 and a TM3P. I'm looking to (maybe) replace one or both in the not too distant future.
I think the BMW is a great car. I think you can't compare the driving experience until you test drive the Performance version which is very different than the base model. The stereo is also much better in the higher trims.
TM3P accelerates brutally faster than anything you can get from BMW, at any price.
One really needs to compare i4 to a Model 3 LR. TM3P is way beyond anything i4 should dream to compete against,
Incidentally, base i4 and LR are priced almost the same, and i4 M50 is ~$10K extra over LR. My i4 build added up to ~$20K over LR. The price points for i3 are a major miss by BMW marketing, if you ask me.
In terms of driving dynamics and handling on the street, i4 is not that different than a base TM3P, so <zoepup> observations are valid. BMW handling is very good, as always.
TM3P acceleration is in another league altogether, so much so, that I've stopped accelerating at above 75% of throttle in TM3P after a few months of ownership. One's head slamming into the head rest is just too jarring for the driver, never mind the passengers. Although, it's great while merging or managing traffic, or impressing new friends.
I like, appreciate, and usually par for good audio in my cars. I have HK audio in F80, and it's very comparable to the top of the line LR/P audio setup. The base is a bit better in the BMW, but the higher frequencies are a bit crisper in the Tesla. Overall - the two systems are equally excellent. The base/intro-level audio setups in BMWs and Teslas both suck.
BMW HK audio sounds better at highway speeds, as Model 3 wind noise is significantly more intrusive.
The seats are actually very comfortable on long trips even in hot weather but I do wish I had a cooled function.
Tesla front Model 3 seats are OK, rears ones are deficient for anyone other than elementary school kids. I've heard similar complaints about rear seats in Model S from friends as well.
Model 3 front seats are better than regular 3-serious fronts, but are not a match to BMW ///M3 front seats. ///M seats hug and brace you in all the right places, and provide way more lateral upper body as well as thigh support. I've taken 5+ hour long trips in ///M3 and TM3P, and BMW seats are more comfortable on long road trips. Tesla's fronts are adequate.
Tesla plastic seat surfaces are, overall, a downgrade from quality leather in BMWs or in most other vehicles. Both in terms of feel and grip.
Early Teslas head proper quality leather seats, before PETA got into Elon's brain, and he, unfortunately, switched to plastic fantastic surfaces. They don't breath, and your butt slides in them during enthusiastic turns. Not ideal.
Having said all of the above, I am not a customer for either the i4 or the iX.
The former is an overpriced and heavier Model 3 competitor, with a more luxurious interior in the front, and more cramped everything in the back. I have almost fully grown kids who are already starting to complain about Model 3 space in the rear. i4 child-sized rear space rules it out from consideration, even before one realizes that i4 has little to show for the $10-20K premium pricing over Model 3 LR.
iX is a monstrous boat with a very luxurious and spacious interior, and dated exterior styling. The oversized fake front grills is hideous (to me), and the overall boxy look just does nothing for me.
Thus I move on to continue comparison shopping between Model S and Lucid.
HTH,
a