Quick M4 - Test Drive

[Mahlzeit]

As an original 1M owner I've been really curious about a few things.

I finally happened upon a 6MT, sunroof, passive suspension, M4, and got a chance to drive it a few miles. I only drove it with everything cranked to sport plus. Here are my observations:

1. Appearance - very aggressive front fascia, rear fenders are very bulbous, but it could be more aggressive.

2. Seat height - I don not feel like I'm sitting on the car, like I did in e9x's. I'm 6'4" and the seat defn feels low. Perhaps even a little lower than my manual 1M seats (which sit an inch lower than powered 1M seats). The seats defn were also very comfortable. Like me old e36 vaders.... I should note I never really did love the seats in my 1M.

3. Transmission - clutch engagement, travel, brake pedal and gas pedal placement is perfect. I needed zero pedal adjustment time coming from my 1M. The shifter looks just like the 1M's. BUT it defn is a longer, in my estimation 1/2-3/4 inch taller. Which necessarily makes the throws feel longer than the 1M. I kept finding myself trying to move the center console armrest out of the way, b/c the whole thing felt really high. And I found it interfering w/ my elbow when changing gears. A bit annoying. I suppose it goes to show the cockpit design really assumes some sort of automatic transmission vs, manually rowing a lever. I will defn say it is waaay better than any e46 or e36 I've driven. Never did drive a manual e9x.

4. Steering - Didn't even think about it until I was on my way home in the 1M. A good sign I suppose. When I realized my car takes very little effort to point the nose someplace else. And the M4 defn felt more 'massive' - but ultimately I'm left wondering if the steering effort were dialed back a bit - would the M4 feel more tossable??

5. Motor - Very linear deliver. Too linear? 1M still feels like it's got a kick in the pants to it. For some reason I wasn't left thinking 'wow - this is crazy fast'. 1M certainly didn't feel slow afterwards. The thing is friggin loud, snorting, blapping, all sorts of noises came of that motor. I liked it alot.

6. Back seat - I've got kids, and need the back seats. There didn't appear to be much more room back there than in the 1M oddly.

7. Trunk - really big. I liked it. Bigger than the 1M

8. Handling - had no opportunity to push anything, but

9. Ride - This car had the passive suspension. It defn felt softer than the 1M. And I kind of was wanting more stiffness. I hear that sport plus on the active suspension is indeed stiffer. I presume it's even stiffer than the 1M suspension.

9. HUD - This M4 had it, but I didn't invest time in trying to turn it off. My polarized sunglasses actually really helped me ignore it.

10. ipad - I couldn't figure out how to remove the ipad on the dash. And oddly couldn't find any DIYs to get it off. Let me know if you come across one, and pls link here.

Verdict: I need more time with one, to make up my mind. But if I were to buy a two door $75k car - I would look really hard at a used 997.2 GTS for the kind of giggles the 1M induces. And, I have to believe the M3 sedan is where you mix ultimate practicality with 'grown-up' refinement, plus a huge helping of sports-car.

note - guess I can't edit the title?

[wobbles1]

To remove the ipad you just need to pull really hard. Then pay alot of money. Its not an ipad but i cant tell if your serious or not.

[Mahlzeit]

Well I did jiggle it a bit. Also noticed tapping on it's icons didn't do anything.

Sales guy did say I could check my twitter feed on it - which would just be fabulous! I could be like all tweeting "YOLO Bitches" right before piling into the semi in lane 3.

[Dee Pee]

I'm actually going to drive the M3 and M4 tomorrow at Portland International Raceway at a special event. I'll post photos and let you know how it feels compared to the 1M.

[nachob]

Originally Posted by Mahlzeit

5. Motor - Very linear deliver. Too linear? 1M still feels like it's got a kick in the pants to it. For some reason I wasn't left thinkg 'wow - this is crazy fast'. 1M certainly didn't feel slow afterwards. The thing is friggin loud, snorting, blapping, all sorts of noises came of that motor. I liked it alot.

thank you, nice review. Which one was loud snorting, blapping?

The 1M or M3 or both.

I find the new BMWs mild now. I have also noticed everything is softer in the new ones. I have driven the 228, 235i, 328, 335i...all softer.

It's refreshing to hear someone other than me doesn't want on ipad in the field of vision. I get a lot of heat for not liking it, it's rare to find someone else that shares that. I used to not like it on any car, nowadays, I would be happy if it was just lower like E46M3, Cayman, GTI, etc.

[Mahlzeit]

M4 is louder, or at least makes more noises.

Non-Ms have gotten soft. M4 defn is an M.

BMW and Merc seem to really believe in big screens on the dash. Ironically GM can get it out of the way. Trend clearly is towards in car gadgettry, but in a car that is all about driving, and has a HUD is it necessary?

[nachob]

Originally Posted by Mahlzeit

M4 is louder, or at least makes more noises.

Non-Ms have gotten soft. M4 defn is an M.

BMW and Merc seem to really believe in big screens on the dash. Ironically GM can get it out of the way. Trend clearly is towards in car gadgettry, but in a car that is all about driving, and has a HUD is it necessary?

Thanks. Yeah, non Ms are soft as well as M-Sports.

I wonder how much of the sound is natural and how much of the sound in enhanced through speakers? I hope someone turns off the Active sound and gives a report...I'm curious. I have a personal issue with enhanced sound...to me it's like stuffing a sock in your pants.....apparently most guys are good with it but it just feels wrong to me.

: )

Thanks again.

[Mahlzeit]

I had read somewhere here that the active sound is not active w/ the windows down.

With the windows up, the motor defn was 'loud' inside the cabin and did sound aggressive. I did remember to roll the windows down, and defn heard the exhaust popping, and blatting, which I did not hear when the windows were up.

It defn makes a lot of noises windows up or down. No idea what was faked or not, but it did sound good.

I was outside and in front of the car when the salesman fired it up (it was still warm from last test drive). And I really didn't hear much of anything - which is a good sign, as my neighbors occasionally tell me stuff like "I always know when you leave for work." Would be nice to be a bit more stealth when leaving the house.

[nachob]

LOL

I used to get up at 4:30 am Saturday mornings to go to cars and coffee and I was always scared i was going to get shot by a neighbor when I fired up the 1M cold in the mornings. The whole house shook and it echoed the entire block. One time my in laws were sleeping in the room next to the garage and they thought it was an earthquake and the house was coming down. Man. I miss that car!

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by Mahlzeit

note - guess I can't edit the title?

Yes you can: "Edit" - "Go advanced" - change title.

[VMRWheels]

Interesting take on the M4 from a 1M owner. Thanks for sharing!

LOL @ the iPad comparison

[IEDEI]

Originally Posted by nachob

LOL

I used to get up at 4:30 am Saturday mornings to go to cars and coffee and I was always scared i was going to get shot by a neighbor when I fired up the 1M cold in the mornings. The whole house shook and it echoed the entire block. One time my in laws were sleeping in the room next to the garage and they thought it was an earthquake and the house was coming down. Man. I miss that car!

bloody hell will you just buy one already!!!! quit shopping around! there is no substitute for a 1M yo! you already know this

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by nachob

I wonder how much of the sound is natural and how much of the sound in enhanced through speakers? I hope someone turns off the Active sound and gives a report...I'm curious. I have a personal issue with enhanced sound...to me it's like stuffing a sock in your pants.....apparently most guys are good with it but it just feels wrong to me.

: )

Thanks again.

The OP said he likes the way the car sounds... So clearly he doesn't HATE active sound, and it clearly didn't negatively affect his driving the car.

You used an Incorrect analogy.

Try this : Active sound is like stuffing a Viagra down your throat.

It helps. But You just don't want to admit that you used. it. :-).

Originally Posted by Mahlzeit

I had read somewhere here that the active sound is not active w/ the windows down.

With the windows up, the motor defn was 'loud' inside the cabin and did sound aggressive. I did remember to roll the windows down, and defn heard the exhaust popping, and blatting, which I did not hear when the windows were up.

It defn makes a lot of noises windows up or down. No idea what was faked or not, but it did sound good.

Sure **Makes sense ** to me....

I am not sure why people get so wrapped up with this ... But the simple fact is that turbo cars today are almost too quiet. Put another car beside you on track, or at a drag strip or just dial up the tunes and You definitely can't hear your own motor until it's banging off the rev limiter. Luckily there IS a rev limiter. ?

Perhaps rev limiters annoy you too? Who needs a rev limiter dammit ! Let me just bend valves! I don't need any of these newfangled contraptions to help me ! Hehehehehe !!

[nachob]

Originally Posted by M3 Adjuster

Incorrect analogy.

Active sound is like stuffing a Viagra down your throat.

It helps. But You just don't want to admit that you used. it. :-).


I am not sure why people get so wrapped up with this ... But the simple fact is that turbo cars today are almost too quiet. Put another car beside you on track, or at a drag strip or just dial up the tunes and You definitely can't hear your own motor until it's banging off the rev limiter. Luckily there IS a rev limiter. ?

Perhaps rev limiters annoy you too? Who needs a rev limiter dammit ! Hehehehehe !!

Sorry can't help it! Love rev limiter though! I was happy with 1M sound without the enhancement! Just matters to me!

[Mahlzeit]

I'll agree that enhanced sound is unnatural - but again didn't sound bad. But the more I think about, the more I feel like it was just louder inside than it needed to be. Oh well.

I will defn say though that HUD and ipad are technologies I'm not crazy about. But alas technology is so good now, that drivers cars have the luxury of still being able to have luxury features while still being driver's cars. F8x cars proved that to me. But damn I have too many screens and complex decisions in my life as it is, I don't really need my driving experience tied-into them too.

Which points to what I love so much about my 1M (non-idrive car). It's just about a simple and fun, refreshing driving experience. With speed to boot!

I'll add I'm aware of the argument that supports the ipad's location - which is that is located as close as possible to eye level, so you don't have to look far from your normal field of vision. My counter to that would be that the car's interface shouldn't be so complex that I need a screen to manage it all in the first place.

Anyway - the M3/4's are pretty awesome machines, and as my kids get older and if I finally start growing up, I can see myself swapping the 1M for an M3.

[nachob]

I'm with you 1000%. We are surrounded by iPads and worse yet in work in IT fixing, debugging and programming stuff. I want my car to be an escape from that. If I would've known that it was mandatory in all the new cars I would've tried harder to keep my 1M when the economy went south here in the pyrite state. I'm still probably going to end up with M2 unless prices on 1Ms come down but it will no longer be an escape from LCD OD!

[trinity_2200]

To me, having a screen in the car is good only if it's the GTR style (i.e. for displaying all sort of metrics able the car). If it's just another "IPAD" (i.e. allowing you to browser the net, access facebook, etc), then no :P

[ozinaldo]

Originally Posted by Mahlzeit

......Anyway - the M3/4's are pretty awesome machines, and as my kids get older and if I finally start growing up, I can see myself swapping the 1M for an M3.

The essence of the 1M imho, is to convince us not growing too much and not take needs and pains of life too seriously. So, don't swap it for the reason you quoted, you will regret it deeply. You know that I had to sell mine recently and there is not a day that I don't remember and miss that car.

[Dee Pee]

Just drove the M3, M4, M5, and M6 today.

Here's some photos to start off. The day is still a whirlwind, but bottom line is that while the M4 is VERY impressive, I'll still take my 1M. None of the cars were MT and I do have to say that the DCT is pretty impressive, but really not that engaging which makes the whole experience suffer for me.

[IEDEI]

Originally Posted by Dee Pee

Just drove the M3, M4, M5, and M6 today.

Here's some photos to start off. The day is still a whirlwind, but bottom line is that while the M4 is VERY impressive, I'll still take my 1M. None of the cars were MT and I do have to say that the DCT is pretty impressive, but really not that engaging which makes the whole experience suffer for me.

man I LOVE that Orange M6. if i am ever in need of a 'family sedan' i will definitely be looking at the M6 Gran Coupe.....am pretty in love with that car. What did you think of driving it?

The best thing about the M6 Gran Coupe is they were available with Manual gearboxes too! For me, it could never replace the 1M, but would love to have one in the garage to carry people in...

[nachob]

Originally Posted by trinity_2200

To me, having a screen in the car is good only if it's the GTR style (i.e. for displaying all sort of metrics able the car). If it's just another "IPAD" (i.e. allowing you to browser the net, access facebook, etc), then no :P

If it was lower in the console like the Cayman or GTI, I could live with that now. Still prefer clean basic instruments but the position is a double strike for me. I know I'm only .00000001% but it is what it is.

[nachob]

Originally Posted by IEDEI

bloody hell will you just buy one already!!!! quit shopping around! there is no substitute for a 1M yo! you already know this

Touche!

I check autotrader every day. Prices to high and most are not serious sellers, just prospectors. I'm not of those guys that owns an M235, M3 and M5 and GT3. Just a regular car guy with kids that loves the 1M and hard to take out a loan on a car with little or no warranty left. Most were modified at some point, many tracked and most are fully loaded which I don't like. So that leaves few 1Ms left. Also in California, we have to make sure it passes smog so the modifications have to be undone, pay 8% sales tax, high registration, etc. So a $55K 1M becomes a 60-61K car after shipping, etc

That's an ED M3 with 4 years of warranty and service during loan period! While I prefer the 1M, I still live in the real world.

I'm hoping to find the right mix of mileage and price and care given to the car. Otherwise, I will probably have to "settle" for M2 with iPad and fake sound! : ) I hope they at least put a temp gauge in the M2!