M4 updated suspension???

M4 updated suspension???

Author
Discussion

Grayuk

Original Poster:

21 posts

139 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
quotequote all
Hi all,

I'm reaching out to everyone's collective knowledge on the M4. In looking in to purchasing one on these cars ( probably second hand from a BMW dealer with under 10k miles). I have heard/read rumours that there was a suspension/ damping change on cars built after July 2015. Is this true? my 2 local dealers say that there have only been very minor changes to the interior of the car and nothing dynamically has changed. However when speaking with dealers I tend to know more than them, and not sure i trust the response i get from them. So wanted to get peoples feedback.

Is there a difference in a September 2014 car than a 2016 car in terms of handling, excluding the competition pack they have just released. I don't want to buy an earlier car if the newer ones are significantly better.

Thanks in advance for your help.

TallMark

593 posts

226 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
quotequote all
I saw a thread on another forum where the poster had tracked down the parts listing for some of the suspension components on his LCI car (post September 15), and these matched the new competition package parts numbers. Older cars had different parts codes. This was all for cars with tyre pressure monitors, or something very specific like that, which all RHD UK cars do apparently. Therefore he concluded that UK LCI cars actually had the same, or elements of the same, suspension components as the competition car. This was not necessarily the case for other markets, but it was for the UK.



Grayuk

Original Poster:

21 posts

139 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
quotequote all
Thanks @tallmark. I think we read the same article. When I brought this up with BMW they said, it could be a small part change like a washer, and insisted there was no fundamental changes to the car and how it handled. He also continued to say that there are changes to part numbers all the time. He gave the example of the interior of the cupholder changing, stating it wouldn't be communicated to the public as not relevant ( which i agree with in his example).

Also I remember hen the car was launched it got average reviews, its now getting better reviews from the journalists...... Am I reading too much in to this?

Before I part with my money, I want to understand if there was a change to the setup of the car and if i should buy new or save a few £££ and buy used which is my preference.

ZP

14,673 posts

188 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
quotequote all
Could you not test drive a 64 plate and also a new one?
At least then in your own mind you'd know the difference.

For the record, I've grown to thoroughly dislike the set up in our early car.

Timbuk2

1,953 posts

154 months

Grayuk

Original Poster:

21 posts

139 months

Friday 5th February 2016
quotequote all
Believe it or not, Its not as easy as you would think to test two of these cars let alone a new one. I arranged an appointment with my local dealer specifically to test drive a car, we arranged a time and I went and saw him. Total waste of time, he talked about how he was a racing driver, and the dealership was in the top 10 in the country for sales. When I tried moving the conversation to the car and test drive he a) didn't know much about the car apart from it's super, lovely, exciting, fantastic and b) said there is no car for me to test drive!!!! After telling him that he had wasted my time and referred to the conversation we had before this appointment, specifically regarding a test drive. he simply said, i didn't take that away from the conversation!!!! so decided against going back to that dealer.

Anyway, thank you Timbuk2 the above article i the one I read, thank you for sharing smile Do you read it as there have been a setup change, or could it be just a minor part change as BMW have stated???

@ZP are you unhappy with the car? what is it you dislike, do you not have confidence in it when pushing on?

thanks all

SirSamuelBuca

1,353 posts

156 months

Friday 5th February 2016
quotequote all
try and get a 65 plate and it will have suspension changes.
quick review for me
so much better than the e92, I used both for commuting and hooning about.
instant power is not a problem with traction as many complain about. just learn to drive it when to push on and back off.
handling is spot on i leave steering in comfort at all times.
engine note - fantasic with flaps open sounds evil.
great cars and tbh not sure what your budget is but might be worth looking at a brand new one if financing

ZP

14,673 posts

188 months

Friday 5th February 2016
quotequote all
Grayuk - it's heavy, cumbersome, and the ride / suspension is bloody awful even in comfort setting, and doesn't really inspire confidence when pushing on.
Motorway driving, it's fine.
My Exige has better damping...

Everything else is fine (even the noise).

andrewfield23

21 posts

97 months

Friday 5th February 2016
quotequote all
Grayuk, I've just posted a topic about the 65 plate M4 vs f80 m3 65 plate vs 15 plate m3 and m4 convertible which you might find interesting. I've owned/driven all of these cars over the last 4 months and the facelift versions have considerable changes. having driven them all back to back the diffemces are clear. I didn't find much difference in the suspension, but the exhaust note and power delivery seems different and the seating position is significantly changed. Happy to answer any specific questions to help you decide...

Wills2

22,669 posts

174 months

Saturday 6th February 2016
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I drove an early M3 when it launched, I found it handled well, very sharp front with end lots of bite to it, it felt light compared to my e92 and I didn't have any traction issues although it was a very hot dry day around 27c so the MPSS would be in their element.

The only thing I couldn't get on with was the noise, comfort wise it was fine.


Timbuk2

1,953 posts

154 months

Saturday 6th February 2016
quotequote all
Grayuk said:
The above article is the one I read, do you read it as there have been a setup change, or could it be just a minor part change as BMW have stated?
I read it as the LCI M3s have updated dampers which will also be fitted on the Comp Pack cars when they come out, although BMW are keeping quiet about this in order to charge more for the Comp Pack under the proviso it has "Improved suspension"

In reality it's only the springs and ARBs that are different from the LCI models.

I could be wrong but that is the conclusion the M3 Cutters seem to have come to.

Edited by Timbuktu on Saturday 6th February 14:45

SFO

5,162 posts

182 months

Saturday 6th February 2016
quotequote all
I don't see the 'Competition Pack' option on the Jan 16 price list?

what does it include and what is the price?

Wills2

22,669 posts

174 months

Saturday 6th February 2016
quotequote all
•Power output: 450 HP
•Tuned Adaptive M Suspension
•New Springs
•New Dampers
•New Anti-Roll Bars
•Reconfigured driving modes (Comfort, Sport and Sport+)
•Reconfigured Active M Differential and DSC Dynamic Stability Control
•Forged, machine-polished, weight-and rigidity-optimized, multi-spoke 20-inch M alloy wheels (front 9J ×20; rear10 J ×20) Mixed tires sizes (front: 265/30 R20, rear: 285/30 R20)
•Special lightweight M sports seats
•Seatbelts with woven-in BMW M stripes cap
•M sports exhaust system with black chrome tailpipes
•BMW Individual high-gloss Shadow Line exterior trim
•High-gloss Black finish on the BMW kidney grille, the side gills and the model badge on the tail

About 3k? There is some argument around the dampers being "new" the LCI seems to have the same ones, there is no ride height drop though unlike the last CP





SFO

5,162 posts

182 months

Saturday 6th February 2016
quotequote all
I had a quick test drive of a 65 reg M4 Convertible today, first time in an M car

enjoyed it much more than I expected. rides well on London's terrible roads (dampers to comfort). steering not full of feel, but weight (sport setting) seemed fine. engine was very responsive (throttle on sport), and DCT was lovely.

getting it for a day next Sunday to get a better idea.

for such a heavy car, traction is good (not that I booted it much), handling is much better than I expected; firm yet compliant. It does not feel big and it hides its weight very well.

chassis is commendably stiff too.

am impressed.

it's also f'ing quick, even if it's over 250kgs heavier than the saloon/coupe; those cars must be mental.



Edited by SFO on Saturday 6th February 18:27

SFO

5,162 posts

182 months

Saturday 6th February 2016
quotequote all
Wills2 said:
•Power output: 450 HP
•Tuned Adaptive M Suspension
•New Springs
•New Dampers
•New Anti-Roll Bars
•Reconfigured driving modes (Comfort, Sport and Sport+)
•Reconfigured Active M Differential and DSC Dynamic Stability Control
•Forged, machine-polished, weight-and rigidity-optimized, multi-spoke 20-inch M alloy wheels (front 9J ×20; rear10 J ×20) Mixed tires sizes (front: 265/30 R20, rear: 285/30 R20)
•Special lightweight M sports seats
•Seatbelts with woven-in BMW M stripes cap
•M sports exhaust system with black chrome tailpipes
•BMW Individual high-gloss Shadow Line exterior trim
•High-gloss Black finish on the BMW kidney grille, the side gills and the model badge on the tail

About 3k?
also available on M4 Convertible?

Wills2

22,669 posts

174 months

SFO

5,162 posts

182 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
New Competition Package heightens performance of BMW M3 and BMW M4.
The BMW M3 Saloon, M4 Coupé and M4 Convertible will now be available with a special Competition Package from BMW M GmbH that further enhances the driving dynamics. Upgraded chassis tuning is combined with a 19hp power hike that takes output to 450hp with extra exclusive equipment added too.
M3 Saloon with Competition Pack
£59,595
450
550
4.0
155*
32.1 (34.0)
204 (194)

M4 Coupé with Competition Pack
£60,055
450
550
4.0
155*
32.1 (34.0)
204 (194)

M4 Convertible with Competition Pack
£63,350
450
550
4.3
155*
31.0 (32.5)
213 (203)
  • Electronically limited
The suite of upgrades means an improvement to overall performance. The BMW M3 Saloon and BMW M4 Coupé with optional 7-speed M Double Clutch transmission go from sprint from rest to 62mph in just 4.0 seconds, while the BMW M4 Convertible reaches the same speed in 4.3 seconds. The sprint time for models with the standard 6-speed manual transmission is likewise 0.1 seconds faster in all cases compared to the standard car.

The Competition Package includes Adaptive M Suspension, which has been extensively tuned to the enhanced performance and handling, features new springs, dampers and anti-roll bars, along with reconfigured driving modes (Comfort, Sport and Sport+). The standard Active M Differential on the rear axle and DSC Dynamic Stability Control have likewise been configured to match the upgraded dynamics. Exclusive forged, machine-polished, weight and rigidity optimised 20-inch M alloy wheels with exclusive multi-spoke M styling and mixed tyres (front: 265/30 R20, rear: 285/30 R20) complete the list of chassis upgrades.

For the BMW M3 and BMW M4 Coupé, the Competition Package includes special lightweight M sports seats that combine perfect support under extremely hard driving with exceptional comfort on long journeys. Seatbelts with woven-in BMW M stripes cap off an extremely sporty interior ambience.

Eye-catching exterior highlights of the Competition Package include the M sports exhaust system with black chrome tailpipes. Even more than its good looks, the most distinctive feature of the M sports exhaust system is its potent sound, which brings added emotional resonance to the driving experience. The starting rumble and the distinctive burble on overrun never fail to get under the skin of dedicated drivers time and again.

The Competition Package for the BMW M3 and BMW M4 is topped off by extended BMW Individual high-gloss Shadow Line exterior trim. The high-gloss Black finish has been applied not only to the side window trim, window recess finishers and exterior mirror frames and bases, but also to the BMW kidney grille, the side gills and the model badge on the tail.

joscal

2,073 posts

199 months

Monday 8th February 2016
quotequote all
Sounds brilliant although I would be very annoyed if I had just purchased a 'normal' one.

They don't half talk a lot of boll**ks also!

keithrann

2 posts

216 months

Sunday 30th December 2018
quotequote all
andrewfield23 said:
Grayuk, I've just posted a topic about the 65 plate M4 vs f80 m3 65 plate vs 15 plate m3 and m4 convertible which you might find interesting. I've owned/driven all of these cars over the last 4 months and the facelift versions have considerable changes. having driven them all back to back the diffemces are clear. I didn't find much difference in the suspension, but the exhaust note and power delivery seems different and the seating position is significantly changed. Happy to answer any specific questions to help you decide...
Interested to hear your thoughts, I'm in the market for a 2015 M3 and it seems a tough decision to differentiate between Lci and the earlier models... much more research it seems is needed!

What were your findings on the seating position of all the cars you tested above - very interested?

Mav281

45 posts

78 months

Sunday 30th December 2018
quotequote all
Grayuk said:
Hi all,

I'm reaching out to everyone's collective knowledge on the M4. In looking in to purchasing one on these cars ( probably second hand from a BMW dealer with under 10k miles). I have heard/read rumours that there was a suspension/ damping change on cars built after July 2015. Is this true? my 2 local dealers say that there have only been very minor changes to the interior of the car and nothing dynamically has changed. However when speaking with dealers I tend to know more than them, and not sure i trust the response i get from them. So wanted to get peoples feedback.

Is there a difference in a September 2014 car than a 2016 car in terms of handling, excluding the competition pack they have just released. I don't want to buy an earlier car if the newer ones are significantly better.

Thanks in advance for your help.
The changes that were brought about by BMW are all software related, not mechanical. The suspension/damper parts are the same on the standard M3/M4, CP and CS. Older plate cars had older software and as such the ride quality was worse. However, not all bad news even on older cars as any good coder should be able to install the GTS Gearbox package and update your suspension/damper settings to CS level, it’s one of the more popular combinations in the M3/M4 tuning community.