M4 Competition Pack Convertible, 1 month of Ownership.
Discussion
I picked up my M4 one month and 500 miles ago today and thought I would share some of my general thoughts on the car and the positives/ negatives of ownership so far! Comments and questions welcome!
I purchased the car from Halliwell Jones in Manchester, it was registered April 2017 and had done 6400 miles. It is (just) pre face lift so misses out on the new LED front lights and red rear lights. The facelift models were commanding an extra £3/5K and being mechanically identical I couldn't justify the extra cost. Maybe that will bite me in residual value!
Car Spec
Competition Pack
Sapphire Black with Alpine White Leather
DCT
Harmon Kardon / Sat Nav pack
General Comments
I've only described/ given my opinion on M specific features and therefore haven't covered build quality/ interior/ comms etc which I think are all generally great.
- Exhaust and Engine Sounds 8/10
The sound of the M4 seems to be quite divisive. I've read a lot of criticism about the synthetic use of the speakers to channel noise into the cabin and further the exhaust noise is either loved or hated. My conclusion is that I love the exhaust noises, but am indifferent to the engine/ artificial noise.
When in sport or sport plus modes the exhaust does make lot of noise, which I class into two categories, being: (i) the general roar/ growl under acceleration; and (ii) the pops and crackles. The former I think is great, it's a really deep growl, very different to the raspy, metallic note of the old E46 but has a new character. As to the pops and crackles they are ridiculous, in a good way. They occur most under deceleration in either 1/2/3 gear at around 2-4k rpm. Honestly it sounds like a thunder storm is following you. They sound best in second gear at 15-20mph i.e. city cruising speed, which the cynic in me feels was purposely engineered! In a multi story car park at around 7mph they are almost antisocial.
I am glad that you can silence the exhausts by switching to comfort mode, however this does mean you are stuck with the relaxed throttle response and associated set up. I would have appreciated a separate button/ function controlling just the exhaust valve to allow for a quiet exhaust but aggressive engine and throttle setting. I do however concede that the car already has 4 adjustable parameters (engine/steering/suspension/DTC) and another one could be overkill.
On starting the car, it always seems to start with the valves open, the sound is great however probably a bit antisocial in the early morning. In terms of engine noise, I personally don't really notice the synthetic noises that the speakers are playing to the cabin. In all honesty I doubt I would have suspected anything wasn't genuine if I did not already know. However the engine note isn't amazing in my opinion. It doesn't really encourage you to really rev out each gear as there's not really a crescendo of noise, again I appreciate this is down to the new turbo charged engine (more on that later). I would almost go so far as saying that my previous BMW (E89 Z4 3.0ltr) was more enjoyable to rev to the red line as the straight six sound did really crescendo.
I also don't particularly like the Audi style "fart" that the exhausts make if you suddenly come off the power or change up after hard acceleration. I understand that this is probably due turbo pressure etc, but not really my cup of tea!
Engine and Power 9/10
The engine is all about torque. The car is all about torque really! 406 lb ft at 1850-5k rpm, that's more than a Ferrari 458 (398 lb ft). The torque factor really affects how the car drives and feels in both a positive and negative way.
The positives - It doesn't really matter what gear you're in, to get strong acceleration. At around 30mph even in fourth gear the car pulls strongly. Third gear from 40mph on a dry road is spectacular, particularly with the roof down with the exhaust sound!
The negatives - As mentioned before in relation to the sound, there's no real incentive in revving the engine out. It's actually more enjoyable to squeeze on the power in a higher gear than you'd expect, rather than drop down and really hammer the red line.
Overall I would say the car has more than enough power. I actually think any more power (or torque) would detract from the experience, particularly given the traction issues in the wet detailed below. I will reconsider this conclusion in the summer, However, even in the heavy convertible spec, the car's acceleration is brilliant.
In terms of fuel economy, this is a negative, but a not unexpected one. Driving around London at 9mph I'm lucky to get 17mpg. Sensible motorway driving gets you 30mpg. No one buys a convertible m4 for its fuel economy so I won't criticize here.
Steering, Handling and Grip 7/10
On anything other than a bone dry day with warm tires, forget about full throttle acceleration in first or second gear. In the wet, full throttle means the torque just lights up the rears and you find yourself battling the traction control and making about as much progress as you would in a 420d. Even on a damp day, a full throttle upshift between third and fourth will flick on the traction control, or in MDM, cause the car to snap a little out of line.
This is actually my only major criticism of the M4, lack of traction. Having seen the way that TTRS and RS3s get off the line even in the wet, there is no way the M4 could keep up. I would happily welcome an xdrive next generation of the M4, provided it was still partially rear focused.
The car has three traction control settings, safe (TC on), semi safe (MDM) and you're on your own (off). Personally I would never turn the TC off completely, I don't trust my own driving skill! MDM is great though, it does allow a degree of slide or slip and stops the TC cutting the power too much if you've a heavy right foot.
For real world fast road driving (in the dry) the car's grip around corners and general handling feel for the driver, I think is fantastic. It really hugs the road in the dry and does instill quite a bit of confidence. When in MDM, even if the rear does start to step out, it's quite gradual and easily corrected. I wouldn't dare tone down the traction control in the wet. As for the convertible being more "wobbly" or softer - for a normal driver I think it still feels relatively taut, although I have not driven the coupe.
The ultra low profile rubber does of course come with its downside - I find myself avoiding pot holes and really slowing for bumps. However with the suspension on "comfort" mode, the ride is more than acceptable. In respect of the steering feel, I think the best setting is sport. The comfort mode leaves you feeling a bit detached and sport plus feels artificially heavy, but not with any real feel.
DCT 8/10
The DCT gearbox is generally great. There are three modes for shift speed, but personally I think the middle setting is the best. In the fastest setting, upshifts are harsh and really throw passenger's heads back. Also on a full throttle upshift, the car is almost certainly going to break traction ! The automatic mode is decent too, smooth at normal speed and fast enough when making swift progress. In auto mode the car does shift up quite early, even when you are in sport plus mode. It seems to want to use the torque rather than wring out each gear.
Looks
The competition wheels, again, have been divisive. Personally I love them however I do live in fear of curbing one of them. I drive and live in central London and I think it's only a matter of time before I ruin one. Watch this space for the repair story!
The white interior looks great - although the luminous M4 lights on the headrests are a little tacky. I have the usual praise for the bonnet power bulge and flared wheel arches, although I think the M3 Saloon has a more powerful overall look.
The car does turn heads (especially coupled with the exhaust noises), even though I think the black (second only to a dark grey) is the most understated colour. I have seen M4's with spacers on the rear tires, giving a slightly wider track and more aggressive stance. I think I could be tempted to look into this - has anyone done it?
There are also a lot of options available in terms of ECU/ remapping. Personally (given in the wet traction issues and it being a wet winter) I wouldn't bother. I may revisit this conclusion once summer starts and the roads are dry.
General "M" stuff/ Quirks and Annoyances
DCT - Why is there no P (Parking) gear shift slot? When you leave the car it's in N an you have to put the handbrake on and it still dings at you! Only then will it automatically go to P mode. There's no creep built in to the gearbox which can make moving off the line swiftly and smoothly quite tricky.
m1 and m2 modes - The car is very adjustable, I won't go into detail but essentially you can pre-program the car to quickly switch to two pre decided set ups (steering/suspenion/engine/TC/auto/man). This is great. However if you are in one of your modes and try to fiddle with a parameter (for example switching to manual) The car swtiches out of your M1 or M2 mode back to a non mode and you lose all the other settings. It's annoying!
Overall Thoughts
One month in, 250 miles of London traffic and 250 miles of motorway/ country driving and I would say I am 8/10 happy with the car. I can't wait for some sunny, dry days!
I purchased the car from Halliwell Jones in Manchester, it was registered April 2017 and had done 6400 miles. It is (just) pre face lift so misses out on the new LED front lights and red rear lights. The facelift models were commanding an extra £3/5K and being mechanically identical I couldn't justify the extra cost. Maybe that will bite me in residual value!
Car Spec
Competition Pack
Sapphire Black with Alpine White Leather
DCT
Harmon Kardon / Sat Nav pack
General Comments
I've only described/ given my opinion on M specific features and therefore haven't covered build quality/ interior/ comms etc which I think are all generally great.
- Exhaust and Engine Sounds 8/10
The sound of the M4 seems to be quite divisive. I've read a lot of criticism about the synthetic use of the speakers to channel noise into the cabin and further the exhaust noise is either loved or hated. My conclusion is that I love the exhaust noises, but am indifferent to the engine/ artificial noise.
When in sport or sport plus modes the exhaust does make lot of noise, which I class into two categories, being: (i) the general roar/ growl under acceleration; and (ii) the pops and crackles. The former I think is great, it's a really deep growl, very different to the raspy, metallic note of the old E46 but has a new character. As to the pops and crackles they are ridiculous, in a good way. They occur most under deceleration in either 1/2/3 gear at around 2-4k rpm. Honestly it sounds like a thunder storm is following you. They sound best in second gear at 15-20mph i.e. city cruising speed, which the cynic in me feels was purposely engineered! In a multi story car park at around 7mph they are almost antisocial.
I am glad that you can silence the exhausts by switching to comfort mode, however this does mean you are stuck with the relaxed throttle response and associated set up. I would have appreciated a separate button/ function controlling just the exhaust valve to allow for a quiet exhaust but aggressive engine and throttle setting. I do however concede that the car already has 4 adjustable parameters (engine/steering/suspension/DTC) and another one could be overkill.
On starting the car, it always seems to start with the valves open, the sound is great however probably a bit antisocial in the early morning. In terms of engine noise, I personally don't really notice the synthetic noises that the speakers are playing to the cabin. In all honesty I doubt I would have suspected anything wasn't genuine if I did not already know. However the engine note isn't amazing in my opinion. It doesn't really encourage you to really rev out each gear as there's not really a crescendo of noise, again I appreciate this is down to the new turbo charged engine (more on that later). I would almost go so far as saying that my previous BMW (E89 Z4 3.0ltr) was more enjoyable to rev to the red line as the straight six sound did really crescendo.
I also don't particularly like the Audi style "fart" that the exhausts make if you suddenly come off the power or change up after hard acceleration. I understand that this is probably due turbo pressure etc, but not really my cup of tea!
Engine and Power 9/10
The engine is all about torque. The car is all about torque really! 406 lb ft at 1850-5k rpm, that's more than a Ferrari 458 (398 lb ft). The torque factor really affects how the car drives and feels in both a positive and negative way.
The positives - It doesn't really matter what gear you're in, to get strong acceleration. At around 30mph even in fourth gear the car pulls strongly. Third gear from 40mph on a dry road is spectacular, particularly with the roof down with the exhaust sound!
The negatives - As mentioned before in relation to the sound, there's no real incentive in revving the engine out. It's actually more enjoyable to squeeze on the power in a higher gear than you'd expect, rather than drop down and really hammer the red line.
Overall I would say the car has more than enough power. I actually think any more power (or torque) would detract from the experience, particularly given the traction issues in the wet detailed below. I will reconsider this conclusion in the summer, However, even in the heavy convertible spec, the car's acceleration is brilliant.
In terms of fuel economy, this is a negative, but a not unexpected one. Driving around London at 9mph I'm lucky to get 17mpg. Sensible motorway driving gets you 30mpg. No one buys a convertible m4 for its fuel economy so I won't criticize here.
Steering, Handling and Grip 7/10
On anything other than a bone dry day with warm tires, forget about full throttle acceleration in first or second gear. In the wet, full throttle means the torque just lights up the rears and you find yourself battling the traction control and making about as much progress as you would in a 420d. Even on a damp day, a full throttle upshift between third and fourth will flick on the traction control, or in MDM, cause the car to snap a little out of line.
This is actually my only major criticism of the M4, lack of traction. Having seen the way that TTRS and RS3s get off the line even in the wet, there is no way the M4 could keep up. I would happily welcome an xdrive next generation of the M4, provided it was still partially rear focused.
The car has three traction control settings, safe (TC on), semi safe (MDM) and you're on your own (off). Personally I would never turn the TC off completely, I don't trust my own driving skill! MDM is great though, it does allow a degree of slide or slip and stops the TC cutting the power too much if you've a heavy right foot.
For real world fast road driving (in the dry) the car's grip around corners and general handling feel for the driver, I think is fantastic. It really hugs the road in the dry and does instill quite a bit of confidence. When in MDM, even if the rear does start to step out, it's quite gradual and easily corrected. I wouldn't dare tone down the traction control in the wet. As for the convertible being more "wobbly" or softer - for a normal driver I think it still feels relatively taut, although I have not driven the coupe.
The ultra low profile rubber does of course come with its downside - I find myself avoiding pot holes and really slowing for bumps. However with the suspension on "comfort" mode, the ride is more than acceptable. In respect of the steering feel, I think the best setting is sport. The comfort mode leaves you feeling a bit detached and sport plus feels artificially heavy, but not with any real feel.
DCT 8/10
The DCT gearbox is generally great. There are three modes for shift speed, but personally I think the middle setting is the best. In the fastest setting, upshifts are harsh and really throw passenger's heads back. Also on a full throttle upshift, the car is almost certainly going to break traction ! The automatic mode is decent too, smooth at normal speed and fast enough when making swift progress. In auto mode the car does shift up quite early, even when you are in sport plus mode. It seems to want to use the torque rather than wring out each gear.
Looks
The competition wheels, again, have been divisive. Personally I love them however I do live in fear of curbing one of them. I drive and live in central London and I think it's only a matter of time before I ruin one. Watch this space for the repair story!
The white interior looks great - although the luminous M4 lights on the headrests are a little tacky. I have the usual praise for the bonnet power bulge and flared wheel arches, although I think the M3 Saloon has a more powerful overall look.
The car does turn heads (especially coupled with the exhaust noises), even though I think the black (second only to a dark grey) is the most understated colour. I have seen M4's with spacers on the rear tires, giving a slightly wider track and more aggressive stance. I think I could be tempted to look into this - has anyone done it?
There are also a lot of options available in terms of ECU/ remapping. Personally (given in the wet traction issues and it being a wet winter) I wouldn't bother. I may revisit this conclusion once summer starts and the roads are dry.
General "M" stuff/ Quirks and Annoyances
DCT - Why is there no P (Parking) gear shift slot? When you leave the car it's in N an you have to put the handbrake on and it still dings at you! Only then will it automatically go to P mode. There's no creep built in to the gearbox which can make moving off the line swiftly and smoothly quite tricky.
m1 and m2 modes - The car is very adjustable, I won't go into detail but essentially you can pre-program the car to quickly switch to two pre decided set ups (steering/suspenion/engine/TC/auto/man). This is great. However if you are in one of your modes and try to fiddle with a parameter (for example switching to manual) The car swtiches out of your M1 or M2 mode back to a non mode and you lose all the other settings. It's annoying!
Overall Thoughts
One month in, 250 miles of London traffic and 250 miles of motorway/ country driving and I would say I am 8/10 happy with the car. I can't wait for some sunny, dry days!
Edited by Shanaliqureshi on Monday 5th March 17:41
Edited by Shanaliqureshi on Monday 5th March 17:43
Shanaliqureshi said:
DCT - Why is there no P (Parking) gear shift slot? When you leave the car it's in N an you have to put the handbrake on and it still dings at you! Only then will it automatically go to P mode.
In my M2, if I keep the car in gear when I hit the start/stop button, the parking brake engages immediately, no need to use the handbrake. I'm assuming the M4 would be similar?Brainpox said:
Shanaliqureshi said:
DCT - Why is there no P (Parking) gear shift slot? When you leave the car it's in N an you have to put the handbrake on and it still dings at you! Only then will it automatically go to P mode.
In my M2, if I keep the car in gear when I hit the start/stop button, the parking brake engages immediately, no need to use the handbrake. I'm assuming the M4 would be similar?Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff