Current model M4

Current model M4

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Discussion

anonymous-user

69 months

Monday 15th April 2024
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E90_M3Ross said:
The auto is good, although not as engaging as DCT when on it and using the paddles, but better than DCT as an auto.
I see people say that, but I'm never quite sure what they mean?

I've had an auto M140 and diesel 3 series with the ZF8, various Volvos with the Aisin 8, a current DSG and previously an M3 (F80) with the DCT. The DCT changed gears every bit as smoothly as the regular autos, but with the advantage the throttle response (i.e. from throttle through tx to engine, rather than as a measure of engine response) was better. It meant you needed to be less hamfisted than with the autos, but with better low-speed minute control. Best of all worlds as far as I could see it.

I haven't driven a current Mx so can't compare that one.

cerb4.5lee

37,052 posts

195 months

Monday 15th April 2024
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Forester1965 said:
E90_M3Ross said:
The auto is good, although not as engaging as DCT when on it and using the paddles, but better than DCT as an auto.
I see people say that, but I'm never quite sure what they mean?

I've had an auto M140 and diesel 3 series with the ZF8, various Volvos with the Aisin 8, a current DSG and previously an M3 (F80) with the DCT. The DCT changed gears every bit as smoothly as the regular autos, but with the advantage the throttle response (i.e. from throttle through tx to engine, rather than as a measure of engine response) was better. It meant you needed to be less hamfisted than with the autos, but with better low-speed minute control. Best of all worlds as far as I could see it.

I haven't driven a current Mx so can't compare that one.
For me the ZF8 does smooth better than the DCT(especially at low revs and moving slowly forwards or backwards), however I find the DCT a far better gearbox for when you're pushing on a bit though.

E90_M3Ross

36,177 posts

227 months

Monday 15th April 2024
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Forester1965 said:
E90_M3Ross said:
The auto is good, although not as engaging as DCT when on it and using the paddles, but better than DCT as an auto.
I see people say that, but I'm never quite sure what they mean?

I've had an auto M140 and diesel 3 series with the ZF8, various Volvos with the Aisin 8, a current DSG and previously an M3 (F80) with the DCT. The DCT changed gears every bit as smoothly as the regular autos, but with the advantage the throttle response (i.e. from throttle through tx to engine, rather than as a measure of engine response) was better. It meant you needed to be less hamfisted than with the autos, but with better low-speed minute control. Best of all worlds as far as I could see it.

I haven't driven a current Mx so can't compare that one.
The ZF is smoother to engage, moving off in first or reverse, for example. But really, I think DCT is fine.

anonymous-user

69 months

Monday 15th April 2024
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I'm guessing we're probably agreeing; the torque converter autos respond less 'directly' to throttle movements when setting off/parking speed manoeuvring. There's that buffer. Once moving my experience of the DCT is it's every bit as smooth as the autos. It was never an issue for me using the M3 on the daily commute.

E90_M3Ross

36,177 posts

227 months

Monday 15th April 2024
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Forester1965 said:
I'm guessing we're probably agreeing; the torque converter autos respond less 'directly' to throttle movements when setting off/parking speed manoeuvring. There's that buffer. Once moving my experience of the DCT is it's every bit as smooth as the autos. It was never an issue for me using the M3 on the daily commute.
Yep, I agree smile

liner33

10,847 posts

217 months

Monday 15th April 2024
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I think most people that drove the rwd G8X back to back with a F8x dct were amazed at how planted they are in comparison , a lot of that credit lies with the gearbox , the dct would often unsettle the car when driving hard and upshifting, the faster shifts of the dct don't really offer an advantage imo it's just that some prefer jerky shifts

There were a lot of good reasons BMW went with a ZF8 instead of DCT

1) The DCT wasn't rated for 500hp+
2) The DCT wasn't suited to 4wd or electric motor additions
3) The ZF8 is more fuel efficient
4) The ZF8 is cheaper to produce
5) The ZF8 is more reliable
6) The ZF8 is more suited to start/stop applications and town/traffic use

E90_M3Ross

36,177 posts

227 months

Monday 15th April 2024
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liner33 said:
I think most people that drove the rwd G8X back to back with a F8x dct were amazed at how planted they are in comparison , a lot of that credit lies with the gearbox , the dct would often unsettle the car when driving hard and upshifting, the faster shifts of the dct don't really offer an advantage imo it's just that some prefer jerky shifts

There were a lot of good reasons BMW went with a ZF8 instead of DCT

1) The DCT wasn't rated for 500hp+
2) The DCT wasn't suited to 4wd or electric motor additions
3) The ZF8 is more fuel efficient
4) The ZF8 is cheaper to produce
5) The ZF8 is more reliable
6) The ZF8 is more suited to start/stop applications and town/traffic use
1 - was used in the 550bhp M5 and M6...

liner33

10,847 posts

217 months

Tuesday 16th April 2024
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E90_M3Ross said:
1 - was used in the 550bhp M5 and M6...
and was awful in both

anonymous-user

69 months

Tuesday 16th April 2024
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Would've thought it was torque rather than power limited.

E90_M3Ross

36,177 posts

227 months

Tuesday 16th April 2024
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liner33 said:
E90_M3Ross said:
1 - was used in the 550bhp M5 and M6...
and was awful in both
That wasn't my point smile

liner33

10,847 posts

217 months

Tuesday 16th April 2024
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E90_M3Ross said:
That wasn't my point smile
You referenced a old gearbox no longer used by BMW and never used in the M3 , I was referring to the DCT that was actually used in the F-series

Stark999

181 posts

21 months

Sunday 3rd November 2024
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Well I just bought a new M4 Convertible this week, with about £17,000 off list and 4.9% apr. Using it as daily runaround and hope to keep it for a while


Stark999

181 posts

21 months

Sunday 3rd November 2024
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E90_M3Ross

36,177 posts

227 months

Sunday 3rd November 2024
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Stark999 said:
Well I just bought a new M4 Convertible this week, with about £17,000 off list and 4.9% apr. Using it as daily runaround and hope to keep it for a while
If I may be so rude to ask....what was your deposit and monthly payments, and is there a final "balloon" payment? Just curious to know what the numbers are. In this day and age 4.9% seems very reasonable.

ukpolak

186 posts

54 months

Sunday 3rd November 2024
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Car looks beautiful.

I have been looking at (LCI) m440i verts of which there are hardly any on AUC, including one which is £65k for what would likely be RRP new of £78k but £68k after discount.

However there are plenty of (non-LCI) very lightly used M4s for not much more money. I wondered if the m440is were particularly expensive or the M4s particularly cheap, but then none of the M4s for sale have the flat-bottom steering wheel etc ie not LCI.

Wills2

26,013 posts

190 months

Sunday 3rd November 2024
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liner33 said:
E90_M3Ross said:
1 - was used in the 550bhp M5 and M6...
and was awful in both
I didn't notice any awfulness in my F10 M5, MDCT was a great gearbox kept some of the feel from the SMG but toned it down a lot, the ZF8 that I had in my X3m was meh no character at all.


Stark999

181 posts

21 months

Monday 4th November 2024
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Well with a £5000 deposit the repayment is about £1150 a month. I haven’t looked at the GFV. The miles are 8000 per annum. And I have the first service free, the one you need after about 1000 miles. That’s on a 48 month agreement btw. I thought the finance figures were a good incentive

anonymous-user

69 months

Monday 4th November 2024
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Just make sure you have gap insurance.

My old M3 was stolen after 18 months on a similar deal and the hole in the finance was £9k.

Luckily I had 'return to list price invoice' so I not only got the £9k covered but also another £15k in cash.

Wills2

26,013 posts

190 months

Monday 4th November 2024
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Stark999 said:
Well with a £5000 deposit the repayment is about £1150 a month. I haven’t looked at the GFV. The miles are 8000 per annum. And I have the first service free, the one you need after about 1000 miles. That’s on a 48 month agreement btw. I thought the finance figures were a good incentive
To me that's madness £60k to rent a car over 4 years, I've loads of new M cars but the current pricing is bonkers, for that outlay I'd want something to show for it at the end.

Stark999

181 posts

21 months

Monday 4th November 2024
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Gone are the days of handing cars back and getting equity back to use as a deposit