[Tengocity]

I picked the new M4 up last weekend, but only did a few miles before giving it to the detailer for some XPEL to be fitted and G Techniq Crystal serum and Exo to be applied during the week. Having picked it back up on Friday I've now used for a few days, including a mundane jaunt on the busy M25, and also a 3 hour blast this morning.

I have two points of comparison - the 335d which will be going shortly to a new home in Scotland, and the Boxster. Both of those cars are fairly modified, and whilst not obvious comparators, they're what I've been driving most recently.

The M4 has been around a while and plenty have made the a similar move from 335d to M4, though possible not too many from such a well fettled 335d, so probably none of this is new or surprising to most, but it's my tuppence worth anyway.

First things first, there is no real comparison of the M4 against the standard BMW on which it's based. Even compared to my 335d on very expensive coilovers the way the M4 goes down a road is night and day different. The steering is on a whole different level of responsiveness and accuracy, with more than enough feel to give a lot of confidence. Not Boxster levels of feel, but more than enough to feel very keyed in to what the front of the car is doing.

As the pace goes up you then start to realise that the front end has more grip than I can ever imagine using on the public road, and turn in is limited more by how much confidence you have that the rear will follow (which it will in this warm dry weather!). The stability it has when pushing on is spectacular, and along with the good levels of refinement at speed, gives you a remarkable level of confidence to carry speed, massively helped by having excellent brakes.

Given the calipers are the same as a the standard M Sport ones it seems hard to believe how good the brakes are in comparison to the what was standard on the 335d. They have better feel than the 335d ones do, even though it's now got a big brake kit. The outright stopping power is not something I've really tested, nor how resistant to fade they are, but I doubt I would ever need to unless I'm on track.

One of my biggest frustrations with the 335d was always the throttle response, which was so tardy that I found it really limited your enjoyment and options of "how" you were going to enjoy a corner. The Boxster throttle is telepathically sharp in comparison, which allows you all sorts of sensations to enjoy and options of how to alter the cars balance and line through the bends. The M4 is very close to the Boxster, and again, like steering feel, is more than good enough to give you everything you need to enjoy the car to it's fullest.

In terms of outright pace I would say if feels like my 335d (remapped to 370bhp) up to about 4k rpm, but where then instead of needing another gear like the 335d it just actually goes up a level and flies to 7k revs, and then you realise you have a grin the size Jeremy Clarkson's gut, before pulling on the paddle and doing it all over again. If there was a remapped 335d behind you when this started then it would be looking a fair bit smaller in the mirror. The Boxster is slow in comparison, and overtakes are now such a cinch that I've now a little understanding of how it must feel on a bike.

The sound is good, and I suppose matches how the car feels when you're on it, but I stopped and coded the ASD off half way round by route this morning, to see what it was like. It really does make a difference, and took a little getting used to (car felt slower believe it or not), but I think I prefer it. I might do the exhaust mod as from inside the car it's not all that loud, but will do some back to back tries in MarkG_M3CP 's car first to be sure.

I absolutely love how it looks. The Silverstone inside and out just looks very classy to me, and I'm not looking for attention as I drive along, so it's got the right amount of presence to look like not a normal 4 series, but not so much that says look at me. I hadn't realised how much other folk looked at an M4 either. No untoward attention, but you can see the glances, that I never had in any other car I've owned.

Inside it has a a lot of familiarity to me of course, but in a good way, but all the M touches and the full merino leather on doors and dash, make it seem like the best version of what an F3x generation of car can be. Only downside is that the latest versions of Idrive seem like a backward step to me, and have lost a little of the utter simplicity of use of the older versions. God knows why they swapped the map zoom direction around from previous.

My run this morning ended up at 20.7 mpg, which is actually about the same as what the Boxster does the same route, and the 335d would do the same at about 28mpg as an estimate on similar driving styles, so all in all not too bad. Yesterday's run to friends in South London on the Motorways ended up at 28mpg, compared to around 36mpg in the 335d. I can live with that.

Having modified the last car so much a few folk have asked what my plans are for this one. Right now, I really don't think it needs anything, and my modifying of the 335d was down to it "needing" it!

I've already forked out for the detailing work, and will buy some used 19 inch wheels and some winter tyres come Autumn time. So the only thing I'm definite on is some M Performance pedals like I have in the 335d, as the standard 3 series ones look a bit crap in comparison.

However, if bonus at the end of the year is good then may be tempted, especially if I continue to bond with it as I have done so far. Items that I could imagine being under consideration are:

CF boot spoiler and diffuser
Exhaust mod
BMW Height adjustable springs.

It doesn't needs springs for handling as far as I can tell, but next to the 335d it seems really high (I'll add pic for comparison).

So to summarise. The 335d never got close to my initial expectations as standard, and even after modifying extensively, it was a car that went about it's business impressively and effectively, but always felt so functional. To be fair to it, my expectations were unrealistic and not at all what it was designed to do.

My expectations of the M4 were even higher, and to be honest, it's actually been even better than I expected. I will caveat that with saying that this is after 1 week, and in glorious dry weather, and perhaps my first drive come a wet Autumn day will lead to a change of heart.

Thus far it feels like it has completed the lesson from the 335d of really buying the car that you want from scratch, rather than modifying to try and get it, and that there is so so much more to the character, performance, enjoyment of a car than what's written on paper. Really understanding what it is you want and need from a car sounds so obvious, yet how many of us have got it wrong over the years.

Anyway, probably not news to many folk, especially those who've made the change to an M car, or even diesel to any car with the 40i engine, but hope that's of help to someone, especially anyone mulling over buying an M3/M4 right now.

[....,,,,..,,..]

Good review and some great pics.


Will be interesting to see how it all develops

Congrats on a great looking car.

[Rbrown]

Good to hear about the new car! Look forward to ongoing updates!

In terms of winters, mrwinterwheels do a 19” set for the M4. Comes in at £1.7k, may be an option.

[pdk42]

Looks the biz! Congratulations!

[TouringPleb]

Good write up and a lovely car.

Bonus marks for not being grey!

[Rbrown]

I just got these ones for my M40. BMW cap badges still to be added...same size as the ones on the current wheels.

[SteveChester]

Yep it's a great car - I went 330d to M4. I reckon it needs some ACS springs though.

[225]

Sounds rubbish, looks rubbish so give it to me...

[Hooded]

Good review.. car looks great

[Wills2]

Lovely looking car, I wouldn't do anything it either as you end up chasing something that isn't there to be had.

[Zippee]

Thats exactly the review I wanted to read and thankfully has put my mind at rest. Roll on Sept when mine arrives

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by T_M4CP

Thats exactly the review I wanted to read and thankfully has put my mind at rest. Roll on Sept when mine arrives

Glad it's been useful!

What were you concerned about?

[Kal101]

Need people to stop with these kind of posts showing a great car.

I’m trying to hold onto Mine for a couple more years

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by Kal027

Need people to stop with these kind of posts showing a great car.

I'm trying to hold onto Mine for a couple more years

If it's the car for you then do so. If it isn't, then you've stuck it out a reasonable amount of time... life's too short to be a petrolhead in the wrong car!

[Kal101]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

If it's the car for you then do so. If it isn't, then you've stuck it out a reasonable amount of time... life's too short to be a petrolhead in the wrong car!

True but just done a couple of mods so want to get my moneys worth. It’s a fine balance now on getting moneys worth and having to overspend on consumables eg brakes tyres etc

For me it’s not the “wrong” car asitticks all the boxes I’d want but it’s not my aspirational car if that makes sense.

See what the new G series brings.

Glad your enjoying the new car.

[MarkG_M5Comp]

Great write up and as I've said previously, really pleased you're happy with it.

Can't believe I've not seen it in the flesh yet!

[Zippee]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

Glad it's been useful!

What were you concerned about?

Not really concerns as such, probably not the best descriptor. I guess you've confirmed the delta between a tuned x35d and the M4 is more than tangible. From my test drive, it was the sharpness of the chassis and the slot car like front end that was the biggest revelation and you've highlighted the night and day difference.

Since ordering, I've become more attuned to how the chassis on my current car is lacking and how AWD is a double edged sword. Great to shove 700Nm of torque off the line but under/over/understeer through a bend with little predictability is tiresome.

Its been useful you've done a comparison to the Boxster too as I used to have one.

Now, is it Sept 24th yet??

[stefan4]

very nice write up and I completely agree with you on all aspects, I was worried about the car just feeling like my last 2 f30s but it doesn't in any way apart from the dash layout, it feels special. I only really get to drive the car at weekends and it's such a joy when I get in it, it's a car that just begs to be driven!

[OneExtra]

Felt the same about the M5 when moving from the 530D it's not just a top of the range 5 series is a totally different car that happens to look like a 5 series.

You could have sorted the throttle response on the 335d with a pedal box, £250 and the throttle response is instant, exactly what you were missing.

[Consett Mag]

Thanks for that write-up. Very interesting.
Can I ask you if you've had much difference with respect to road noise? My 330d with runflats doesn't shield as much road noise as the 520 loaner I had.

How's the M4 in the road noise department?

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by Consett Mag

Thanks for that write-up. Very interesting.
Can I ask you if you've had much difference with respect to road noise? My 330d with runflats doesn't shield as much road noise as the 520 loaner I had.

How's the M4 in the road noise department?

Overall I would say that it generates more than the 335d, but on most roads that wasn't a significant difference.

However, on the southern section of the M25 there is a fair section of what I think of as being (probably incorrectly) a concrete surface.

Whatever it is it's bloody noisy in most cars, much more so than any other surface I've been on. It was really quite bad in the M4 and sounded quite different than when I've done same section in the 335d or 330e, generating quite a high pitched whine.

Thankfully that's not a bit of road I use regularly, but if you have noisy road you use regularly then I'd recommend you test drive it there first if you were considering one.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by T_M4CP

Not really concerns as such, probably not the best descriptor. I guess you've confirmed the delta between a tuned x35d and the M4 is more than tangible. From my test drive, it was the sharpness of the chassis and the slot car like front end that was the biggest revelation and you've highlighted the night and day difference.

Since ordering, I've become more attuned to how the chassis on my current car is lacking and how AWD is a double edged sword. Great to shove 700Nm of torque off the line but under/over/understeer through a bend with little predictability is tiresome.

Its been useful you've done a comparison to the Boxster too as I used to have one.

Now, is it Sept 24th yet??

Yes, massive difference on every level, no doubts about it.

Whilst it has a completely different driving character to the Boxster, they share the same transparency or clarity of response to your inputs, within the given characteristics of how they drive, that makes driving truly pleasurable for me.

But wrapped up in everything that is great in the F3x platform, that makes it an eminently usable everyday car.