Wednesday 19th August 2015

BMW M4: PH Fleet

Back from the bodyshop and back to (mostly) brilliant for the M4

---

I said something along these lines at the start of this loan but, weirdly, I wasn't that excited about the idea of running an M4. Sounds mad now I write that down. And as soon as the thing turned up I realised I was being an idiot. I'm more an AMG man at heart. But this is one hell of a car.

Definitely not an M Sport 430d from here!

Crucially it feels special and has both the visual impact and driving experience to put clear ground between this and regular BMWs, like the 435i I ran as a previous long-termer. Many might wear the same badge, seemingly confirming the 'M for marketing' fears. But park the M4 alongside a regular 4 Series or, better still, drive it and it's heartening to realise it does still stand for something more.

But driving it is something denied to me for much of the car's initial period on fleet. Demands from colleagues for participation in photoshoots have seen it loaned out. But the biggest imposition was the extended period in Berry Heathrow's bodyshop as wrangles continued over the repair to the rear bumper after it got driven into by a bus. As previously reported Abellio said 'not us, guv' and then dobbed in London United as the culprits, complete with registration and route details of 'our' single decker. No honour among bus companies it would seem; we're following this up and await a response that hopefully involves coughing up for the repair.

Too much road noise makes it here

Anyway, enough about that. I've actually been able to rack up some miles in the M4 and jolly good fun it has been too. Mainly. I'll have a couple of moans first, mainly to do with noise. There's a lot of tyre roar on rough surfaces, which is about the only real compromise for long-distance use because it's otherwise a very nice place to spend time. And then there's the engine noise. I need to get to the bottom of whether or not there actually is any speaker-based enhancement to the sound like the M5. Because reading another of those excellent technical articles on BMW M-Power.com there's a lot of detail about the various ways the exhaust is routed in different driver modes, suggesting the additional noise in Sport and Sport Plus is 'natural'.

Frankly I have my suspicions though. There's something very synthetic - and unpleasantly intrusive - about the noise that erupts around the cabin when in Sport and Sport Plus that doesn't seem entirely in sync with engine revs or load. The connection between throttle pedal and noise produced just seems a bit false, which makes BMW's claims that the M4's acoustic feedback is (rightly) intended to reinforce the connection between car and driver seem a little suspect. I need to get a definitive answer but it's disappointing because from the outside it sounds brilliant. Very different from the traditional normally aspirated straight-sixes of old but savage, high-tech and very potent. On cold start-up in particular it's a properly purposeful sound.

So just how much of this noise is being heard?

It seems to be a bit of an insecurity BMW has at the moment. It's like the development teams are desperately trying to make new-school turbo engines sound like old-school normally aspirated ones, which seems to me a hiding to nothing. There's the well documented M5 speaker-enhanced noise and the weirdness when the petrol engine fires up in the i8. Both actually sound really good from the outside but BMW seems determined to contrive a false impression in the cabin. Same with the M3/M4 engine.

I think someone at BMW M needs to spend some time in a RB26DETT-engined R32, R33 or R34 Skyline and realise that twin-turbo straight-sixes can sound fabulous in their own right and there's no need to hide the forced induction. As it's such a dominant characteristic of this car why not celebrate it?

Maybe the GTS, revealed in concept form, spied hacking round the 'ring in very real looking pre-production spec, will unleash a bit more of this character. I know not everyone is won over by the Halfords look but as an M4 convert I'm liking the sound of it.

Meanwhile I'll continue to enjoy 'my' car and nurse the tyres through to that threatened send-off on track. The roads are dry at the moment but even so it's turning into a proper handful. Fun in a way but new rubber definitely needs fitting sooner rather than later.

---

FACT SHEET
Car: BMW M4
Run by: Dan 
On fleet since: June 2015
Mileage: 6,313
List price new: £73,870 (Basic list of £57,055 plus £1,330 for Black Merino leather, £545 for advanced parking package, £2,645 for 7-speed M DCT transmission, £6,250 for carbon ceramic brakes, £175 for 19" M Double-spoke style 437M alloy wheels/Black with mixed tyres, £265 for sun protection glass, £155 for extended storage, £140 for sliding front armrest, £440 for lane change warning system, £395 for Carbon Fibre interior trim, £1,600 for Adaptive LED headlights, £370 for driving assistant, £500 surround view, £825 Head-up display, £675 Harman/Kardon Loudspeaker system, £95 internet and £190 for online entertainment)
Last month at a glance: Finally back driving the M4, and there's a lot to like

Previous reports
Dan wanted an M3, gets an M4 instead - what to do?!
It started so well... and now the M4 is in the bodyshop

[Sources: BMW M-Power]

[fourscore]

Dan, great that you're enjoying the car again..what are your thoughts on the DCT? does it go hand in glove with the car or would you prefer the manual? Purely subjective and personal decision I know but I would be interested to get the PH team's zeitgeist!

[fourscore]

Steven_RW said:

DCT can get better and better and more reactive and faster and more intelligent and more capable and lots of other key great terms but for me, having owned both, manual is just more fun.

The risk with M cars with DCT is that the only real fun is complete hyperspace, foot nailed to the board, pulling the paddle at the rev limiter followed by mashing the brake pedal and then back to full throttle and paddle pulling. All manual M cars have given me much more opportunity for involvement and fun at less than complete flat to the board rev limiter every gear everywhere full on hyperspace. I sold my Previous DCT M3 as I found myself going everywhere at the speed limiter, or bored (read, not as involved as previous manual M cars) entirely.

RW

Thanks Steven, valid points all. Both boxes certainly have their champions, but I suspect the fun factor as you say is big component. It's just an expensive regret to make after you have a car delivered that is a concern. Possibly longer than a test drive in both variants would settle too..

[fourscore]

I'm also completely torn between the DCT and manual on an upcoming car..I wish it was a completely clear cut decision, at least for me( as it is for some) but the line from Dan about the car being better integrated with the DCT and from other reviews online makes me wonder if the manual, as fun as it undoubtably is, is holding back the potential of the car. not the fractions of seconds in acceleration necessarily, but as a whole..

Now what they should make is a three pedal manual that also has paddles!