Wednesday 19th August 2015

BMW M4: PH Fleet

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

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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.

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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!

[Steven_RW]

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

[anonymous-user]

It sounds awful in the cabin no matter how the exhaust noise arrives. Apart from that it's a very, very capable and fast car.

[hufggfg]

Article said:

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

Sorry if I'm missing something here, but are you chastising Abellio for being helpful (and moral) and helping you track down the correct, at fault, bus company? Who has an employee who drives large dangerous vehicles, but doesn't think he needs to comply with the law (such as stopping and leaving details when you have an accident).

You should be applauding Abellio in the article. I'm frankly a bit disgusted with the insinuation that Abellio should be helping their own to avoid the law.

[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..

[Ares]

Write up on a month in an M4 and all you can do is posture on whether there is or isn't artificial sound 'enhancement'?

I'm lucky enough to have driven 3 different M4s (and 2 F30 M3s), both on road and on track in anger. I don't know if the sound was organic or tweaked. Nor did I give a st. I was enjoying the drive too much.

If in-cabin exhaust note is all there is to car enjoyment, buy a diesel and spend the rest on a stereo to play an audio file of a 1967 Shelby GT500 VERY loud

[Artey]

Weren't you supposed to be running a community designed M3? What's up with that?

[Tony B2]

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

Could not have put it better myself - this was exactly my experience (with E92) and I would think that it is even more of a problem with the F-generation M3/M4 cars, due to the hyperspace acceleration that is so readlily available at diesel engine speeds. And no compensation with the fabulous sound of the V8, regardless of speed/revs/throttle opening.

[Tony B2]

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

Could not have put it better myself - this was exactly my experience (with E92) and I would think that it is even more of a problem with the F-generation M3/M4 cars, due to the hyperspace acceleration that is so readlily available at diesel engine speeds. And no compensation with the fabulous sound of the V8, regardless of speed/revs/throttle opening.

Edited by Tony B2 on Monday 24th August 23:06

[Dan Trent]

I'll defer to Steven_RW's experience and comments ref. DCT versus manual but for my own tuppence worth I'd say my heart agrees with every word said there but it's hard to escape the sense the whole package of diff, DSC, suspension and all the various modes and settings feel much more integrated with the DCT and that's the way you experience the whole potential of the car as intended. I drove a manual on the launch (there was only one and I made sure I bagged it) and I wanted to prefer it but had to conclude it just didn't feel 'complete' like the DCT did. I think the gearing is better suited with the seven-speed too but that's my subjective sense. I buy every one of Steven's arguments for manual and would tend to agree but, again, on the V8 I actually preferred the DCT for similar reasons.

And why devote a whole month to blathering on about the noise? Beauty of long-term tests that you have the chance to really drill down on the details of the car and, speaking personally, if I were weighing up M4/M3 against C63 given this experience of the M4 it'd be close to being a deal breaker I hate it that much. Clearly, Ares, doesn't matter as much to you and that's fine. Just seems such a shame given the engine actually sounds great! Each to their own though.

I'd have been able to say more about the driving of it if it hadn't spent so much time in the damned bodyshop too. But I've been making up for that so more on the actual driving impressions next time.

And given the amount of time I've spent chasing bus companies and the runaround given by everyone I've had to deal with my charity has been long exhausted. Funny how much more helpful Abellio suddenly got when they realised they could pin it on someone else!

Cheers,

Dan

[Dan Trent]

Oh yes, and the community M4. Sorry! That was an arrangement between BMW and our commercial guys and the extent of that was Goodwood last year and a couple of further appearances. We didn't actually 'have' it to run as such, it was kept by BMW and brought out to pre-agreed events to carry out activities as set up in the deal.

This one, however, is 'just' a regular press car and long-term loan in the usual sense.

Hope that makes sense!

Dan

[Ares]

Dan Trent said:

And why devote a whole month to blathering on about the noise? Beauty of long-term tests that you have the chance to really drill down on the details of the car and, speaking personally, if I were weighing up M4/M3 against C63 given this experience of the M4 it'd be close to being a deal breaker I hate it that much. Clearly, Ares, doesn't matter as much to you and that's fine. Just seems such a shame given the engine actually sounds great! Each to their own though.

Fair comment. I drive a diesel so that shows how noise ranks to me Vs power/driving experience. And I get what you mean about both noise Vs AMG, and the fact that the engine note sounds great from the outside.

My take on piping noise in is that, assuming it's done right, it is a good way to appease the nanny brigade that want refinement out of their £60k 3-series' whilst still giving the 'purist' the experience. The average punter demands refinement within the car which is bound to muffle the exhaust note. For me, piped noise, done right, is an acceptable compromise. The alternative is a plethora of aftermarket exhausts which adds £X,000 and risks the return of the cherry bomb 'zorst.

[Zammy]

Dan Trent said:

Oh yes, and the community M4. Sorry! That was an arrangement between BMW and our commercial guys and the extent of that was Goodwood last year and a couple of further appearances. We didn't actually 'have' it to run as such, it was kept by BMW and brought out to pre-agreed events to carry out activities as set up in the deal.

This one, however, is 'just' a regular press car and long-term loan in the usual sense.

Hope that makes sense!

Dan

Thanks....I was wondering what happened to that M4 too.

[Guvernator]

I've driven a good friends M4 quite extensively and can confirm what's written in the article. Activating sport or sport plus mode fills the interior of the car with noise that just doesn't sound quite right. It's difficult to put your finger on it but it definitely sounds a bit artificial.

Also wholeheartedly agree about the amazing sound of the RB26 in the previous GT-R's. It chuffs, sucks and blows away in a brilliant symphony of sound and the noise at 8000rpm will literally raise the hairs on the back of your neck. They really need to stop trying to disguise the fact that cars are turbocharged and just let them sing. They used to be able to do it 20 years ago, strange that with all the developments in "acoustic tuning" they seem to have lost the art of making a decent sounding turbo engine, Mercedes seem to be the only exception at the moment.

As for DCT vs Manual I have been driving a DCT equipped car for nearly 2 years now and while it is absolutely fantastic at the day to day stuff, when you want to have fun it is less accomplished. It's too easy, just click, click, click and the changes are so smooth, the only way you can tell you've changed gear is the change in engine note\revs. The interaction is so muted that you soon just give up and let the auto mode takeover as there is very little satisfaction to be gained. I jumped in a friends Astra recently which despite having less than half the power of my car, actually gave me greater enjoyment from the physical act of driving as it had a manual gearbox.

My next car will be a manual, yes you loose some of ease-of-use especially in stop start traffic but modern manual gearboxes aren't exactly a chore to use in these scenarios either and I know when I do want to let my hair down, I may be slightly slower but I'll be having much more fun. The only problem I can see is that it is getting harder and harder to find a modern performance coupe\saloon with a manual option.

[Dan Trent]

Credit where it is due - I think Ford actually manage to do the 'fake' engine noise thing pretty well with the Ecoboost engines in Fiesta and Focus ST. IIRC they use a 'physical' resonator type thing in the induction system that's piped through to the cabin via a duct (like BMW used to do with the Z4 indeed) and although it's clearly not a natural sound it's not intrusive and does give an honest feedback on engine revs, load and suchlike. In other words exactly the sort of thing that helps inform you as to what's going on with the car.

And I'm torn on the manual/DCT thing as you can tell. Interesting to hear the debate!

Thanks,

Dan

[marcgti6]

I know this should probably go in Website Feedback but why are the images on all articles always really low resolution?

[Ares]

Dan Trent said:

And I'm torn on the manual/DCT thing as you can tell. Interesting to hear the debate!

Thanks,

Dan

I've driven both. I wanted to dislike the DCT, very few systems are good - my old '98 M3 SMG was the worst semi-auto I've ever experienced. But I was surprised.

On track, no contest, DCT was epic. On the road, the DCT was still seamless and instantaneous at non-10/10ths, but was less intuitive and natural....but as with the M6 we had, I found myself just using the full auto mode for the times when the DCT was a bit overkill.

[Guvernator]

Ares said:

I've driven both. I wanted to dislike the DCT, very few systems are good - my old '98 M3 SMG was the worst semi-auto I've ever experienced. But I was surprised.

On track, no contest, DCT was epic. On the road, the DCT was still seamless and instantaneous at non-10/10ths, but was less intuitive and natural....but as with the M6 we had, I found myself just using the full auto mode for the times when the DCT was a bit overkill.

This is the thing though, with a DCT on track it's quite a buzz nailing the up-shift on the limiter and then blipping down for the corners. It IS fun but I'd still argue not as fun as a decent manual. Trying to move down the box as smoothly as possible, matching revs, getting the gear change right, feet dancing as you try to engage\disengage the clutch as quickly as possible, you've got so much more to think about in a manual. I'm not a racing driver so not chasing millisecond lap times, I'm there to have fun.

On the road using DCT is even more pointless, the only time it get's semi-interesting is in maximum attack mode but doing that on public roads isn't really clever so you just tend to leave it in auto mode all the time which defeats the purpose IMO.

I'm not a Luddite, I love technology but I've tried DCT extensively and come to the conclusion that for me, it's a step too far in removing my involvement.

[Ares]

Guvernator said:

Ares said:

I've driven both. I wanted to dislike the DCT, very few systems are good - my old '98 M3 SMG was the worst semi-auto I've ever experienced. But I was surprised.

On track, no contest, DCT was epic. On the road, the DCT was still seamless and instantaneous at non-10/10ths, but was less intuitive and natural....but as with the M6 we had, I found myself just using the full auto mode for the times when the DCT was a bit overkill.

This is the thing though, with a DCT on track it's quite a buzz nailing the up-shift on the limiter and then blipping down for the corners. It IS fun but I'd still argue not as fun as a decent manual. Trying to move down the box as smoothly as possible, matching revs, getting the gear change right, feet dancing as you try to engage\disengage the clutch as quickly as possible, you've got so much more to think about in a manual. I'm not a racing driver so not chasing millisecond lap times, I'm there to have fun.

On the road using DCT is even more pointless, the only time it get's semi-interesting is in maximum attack mode but doing that on public roads isn't really clever so you just tend to leave it in auto mode all the time which defeats the purpose IMO.

I'm not a Luddite, I love technology but I've tried DCT extensively and come to the conclusion that for me, it's a step too far in removing my involvement.

Have you driven the M4 DCT and manual? On track? What you are saying doesn't make sense if you have. I can't see a single reason to chose the manual over DCT on track - the notion of 'matching revs' and 'engaging clutch' might make a st car on a shot road a little more enjoyable, but it will make a track experience far worse. IMO.

In the M4 I would argue it increases the involvement and increases the experience, on track at least.

Having used the DCT, then climbed into a manual, I couldn't wait to get back in the DCT. The DCT is infinitely more fun. Clutch peddles are becoming redundant for everything other than wistful memories of yore. It's a bit like preferring manual window winders so that you feel connected to the car.

[Monkey_boy]

With the noise issue, I wonder if it's to do with the efficiency regulations that manufacturers need to meet. I should think that the electronic wastegates minimises exhaust resonances and don't forget that the S55 engine has a chargecooler rather than an Intercooler which probably robs the engine of induction noise - but to the benefit of much better throttle response by reducing the pipework from turbos to inlet manifold.

The F10 M5's hot v turbos use twinscroll turbos I believe which again probably reduces exhaust noise. So getting the old school I6 turbo noise with their very unrestricted piping and non-EU6 regulated electronic control probably is rather hard to achieve.