Just test drove an M4 ....hmmm not sure

[PinkFatBunny]

Afternoon all,
Just taken an M4 out for a test drive and thought I'd pen my thoughts whilst they are fresh.
I could go into the balanced chassis and the decent handling but I'll skip that and that go straight to the main point ....the sound it makes.
Maybe I biased as I'm coming from an E92 M3 but the sound is going to take a lot of getting used to. At start up it sounds like a diesel, and even once it's warmed up it just sounded too deep and flat. You get a grumble when the turbos spin up but it certainly isn't a sound that makes your balls tingle like my first time in an M3 did.

So to the owners out there - does the sound grow on you?
I know a lot swap the exhaust but seems silly spending £60k to change the exhaust straight away.

Adam

[dulcinea]

I've had mine less than a week and find the noise fine. It seems louder than my E92 and the noise starts lower down the revs so I have found I get a more sporty noise earlier with less need to red line. Its each to their own though.

[spunko2010]

Have you seen this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FuLBewO1b0

[benm3evo]

I also had a decent test drive in an M4 this week. I expected to think the same as you about the sound but I actually quite liked it! Not as good as the V8 but I did like the pops on over-run.

Was impressed with the low down torque but I actually thought that once you get going there wasn't much in it performance wise compared to the V8....but perhaps I'm being sub-consciously biased.

M4, bloody good car but I don't think I could justify the extra 30K or whatever as I definitely didn't fall in love with it how I did the V8.

PS. Apologies if I've gone a bit of topic there!

Cheers, Ben

Edited by benm3evo on Friday 30th January 14:39

[dxg]

spunko2010 said:

Have you seen this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FuLBewO1b0

More importantly, have you seen this?
http://t.co/74yBswa5VL

[bodhi]

spunko2010 said:

Have you seen this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FuLBewO1b0

That sounds filthy imo, love it.

Must admit I had a little run a couple of months back with an M4, me in the 125i, and at that point the M4 sounded great. Not too loud, but a definite six cylinder howl I could hear over the N52 in the 1 series. Sounded pretty good imo, but each to their own as mentioned.

[spunko2010]

dxg said:

More importantly, have you seen this?
http://t.co/74yBswa5VL

Interesting, but I think someone testdriving an M4 would probably be more interested in the upcoming M2. I know I would be, as much as I like the M235i, I wouldn't opt for it when I could afford an M2.

Although it is tempting. It'd work out at around £350 a month... !

[JMBMWM5]

spunko2010 said:

Have you seen this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FuLBewO1b0

Thats better, sounds more like it.

[Pole84]

I am on the same page I think...

Despite wanting to like it, after my 3rd test drive today, i came away thinking I was being demoed a chipped 335i... aboslutely no soul...

Salesman took note of my deep disappointment and got me into an F10 M5.... now thats what I am talking about...

Mega power... check; sound... check; replacement for the E92 M3.... check.

[JMBMWM5]

Pole84 said:

I am on the same page I think...

Despite wanting to like it, after my 3rd test drive today, i came away thinking I was being demoed a chipped 335i... aboslutely no soul...

Salesman took note of my deep disappointment and got me into an F10 M5.... now thats what I am talking about...

Mega power... check; sound... check; replacement for the E92 M3.... check.

I enjoyed my LCI M5 for 14 months, you will too.

[Davel]

Got my test ride on Wednesday at Chester.

What are they like in heavy traffic - not that I'll be in it that day?

[JMBMWM5]

Davel said:

Got my test ride on Wednesday at Chester.

What are they like in heavy traffic - not that I'll be in it that day?

Hi, If you mean the M5, they are a breeze in heavy traffic, no problem.

[Davel]

JMBMWM5 said:

i, If you mean the M5, they are a breeze in heavy traffic, no problem.

No M4...

[Bradders901]

There are some cold start videos of the M3/M4 on youtube and it sounds like a moped - I'd be gutted with that noise as the e92 sounded like a race car on cold start. Saying all that though, I test drove the new M3 and I thought it sounded fine although not sure how synthetic that noise was - its not C63 fine but still not pants. The new M3/M4 is a fine looking car though.

[Mosdef]

JMBMWM5 said:

Pole84 said:

I am on the same page I think...

Despite wanting to like it, after my 3rd test drive today, i came away thinking I was being demoed a chipped 335i... aboslutely no soul...

Salesman took note of my deep disappointment and got me into an F10 M5.... now thats what I am talking about...

Mega power... check; sound... check; replacement for the E92 M3.... check.

I enjoyed my LCI M5 for 14 months, you will too.

Apologies for hijacking the thread, but the lease on my E63 AMG ends in June, which I'm not that upset about because other than the car sounding good and having a decent interior, it struggles for traction even in average conditions under 4th gear and I didn't spec a LSD when I bought it! It also rides quite badly, which is quite a contrast to previous E class AMGs I've owned/driven and I'm bored of the amount of road and suspension noise as well.

How is the traction in an M5 in anything other than optimum conditions (forgetting the current snow)? Also, is it as refined as something like an E39 M5?

[joscal]

I got my F10 M5 four weeks ago and the weather has been dreadful since. Traction is fine unless you're silly, I haven't turned traction control off though! Needless to say it is absolutely rubbish in ice or snow but to be expected with 20" wheels and summer rubber.

I couldn't be more happy, really is a fantastically well rounded car.

[JMBMWM5]

Mosdef said:

Apologies for hijacking the thread, but the lease on my E63 AMG ends in June, which I'm not that upset about because other than the car sounding good and having a decent interior, it struggles for traction even in average conditions under 4th gear and I didn't spec a LSD when I bought it! It also rides quite badly, which is quite a contrast to previous E class AMGs I've owned/driven and I'm bored of the amount of road and suspension noise as well.

How is the traction in an M5 in anything other than optimum conditions (forgetting the current snow)? Also, is it as refined as something like an E39 M5?

I had the LCI M5 for 14 months, traction is good IF you feed the power in, I have a set of 20" Michelin PA4 Winters on winter wheels, they are great in these conditions, I now have the M6 GC CP which at the moment I have fitted the said winters on, this again is excellent in poor cold weather.

I test drove the C63 AMG and E63 AMG before buying the M5, no comparison IMO, BMW miles better in all but sound.

[Mosdef]

JMBMWM5 said:

Mosdef said:

Apologies for hijacking the thread, but the lease on my E63 AMG ends in June, which I'm not that upset about because other than the car sounding good and having a decent interior, it struggles for traction even in average conditions under 4th gear and I didn't spec a LSD when I bought it! It also rides quite badly, which is quite a contrast to previous E class AMGs I've owned/driven and I'm bored of the amount of road and suspension noise as well.

How is the traction in an M5 in anything other than optimum conditions (forgetting the current snow)? Also, is it as refined as something like an E39 M5?

I had the LCI M5 for 14 months, traction is good IF you feed the power in, I have a set of 20" Michelin PA4 Winters on winter wheels, they are great in these conditions, I now have the M6 GC CP which at the moment I have fitted the said winters on, this again is excellent in poor cold weather.

I test drove the C63 AMG and E63 AMG before buying the M5, no comparison IMO, BMW miles better in all but sound.

That doesn't surprise me. The AMG is great in good conditions but is frustrating when it's cold, let alone damp.

[Davel]

Went for a spin in the demo model today at Chester.

The salesman drove first and then we changed over for a while.

Now this is the first M class that I've driven and I was very impressed.

I thought the performance and handling was really good but, whilst it looks good too, I'm not sure that it looks that special.

I'm torn between a new M4 and a two year old 911 Carrera Cabriolet now....

[ZX10R NIN]

JMBMWM5 said:

had the LCI M5 for 14 months, traction is good IF you feed the power in, I have a set of 20" Michelin PA4 Winters on winter wheels, they are great in these conditions, I now have the M6 GC CP which at the moment I have fitted the said winters on, this again is excellent in poor cold weather.

I test drove the C63 AMG and E63 AMG before buying the M5, no comparison IMO, BMW miles better in all but sound.

The OH had the choice of C63 or E92 M3, she chose the C63 great car our's had the diff my brothers M3 stepped out just as much if you wanted to drive like Clarkson in crappy conditions. She replaced the C63 for the D3

I've had the new M3 since November after replacing the Exhaust system with an Akropovic System K&N's it sounded better(turned off the speaker) but I wasn't overly impressed with it yes it's fast yes when really leaning on it , it's great BUT this moments were to few & far between for me. It went at the weekend & the new owner was over the moon, if it was my money & here's another reason the M3/4 loses out for me this car was 72k before discounts with BMW doing deals with 48 months 0% interest etc on the M5/6 why would you buy the lesser car.