RE:BMW M3 and M4: preview

[Mastodon2]

Christ it sounds so dull. The M3 has always had a charismatic and exciting unit at it's heart until now, this latest model just sounds so bland and uninspiring. Also, the idea of £7000 carbon ceramic brakes on something that is just so, so far removed from a track car is just ridiculous, I know they are supposed to last for ages but the price for something like this just seems outrageous. Still, I suppose this is what it takes to give what is effectively now a luxury car some sort of track ability these days.

[Housey]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Well with a spec you are looking circa 60K, maybe 65K so I think it's a bit more than inflation.

[-Z-]

Housey said:

Well with a spec you are looking circa 60K, maybe 65K so I think it's a bit more than inflation.

Incorrect.

£42k in 2001 is £60.5k today.

£39k in 2001 (base M3 price) is £56.3k today. So pretty much spot on in terms of no real price increase.

Appreciate you might have bought yours later than 2001 but for fairness you have to compare launch years.

[Clivey]

Lowtimer said:

When was a new BMW M3 ever intended to be even vaguely relevant to Joe Average's pocket? That's what old BMW M3s are for.

What I mean is...say you earned c£40k in 2001; 1 years' salary would buy you an E46 M3. Now, even if you were earning £5k more doing the same job, the new model's become less affordable.

[s m]

PH article said:

Given the way things are going and the added complexity of twin turbos and associated cooling and lubrication systems you'd assume a weight penalty. In fact it's significantly lighter; a manual M4 is 83kg trimmer than a manual E92 M3. OK, 1,572kg (by the EU measure, with driver) isn't exactly lightweight but given the complexity and toy count it's not bad and BMW is to be commended for shaving weight wherever possible. The carbon propshaft is 40 per cent lighter, meaning no need for a central bearing, the output shafts from the diff are hollow, carbon fibre is used extensively for body panels, including the roof on both the saloon and coupe (worth 5kg and 6kg respectively) and boot spoiler on the coupe.

Manual M4 = 1497kg. ( according to above 1572kg - 75kg driver/luggage EU rating )
Manual M235i = 1560kg ( actual weight with full tank on MIRA bridge - no driver/luggage )
E46 CSL with aircon = 1425kg

That will be impressive if the weight of M4 turns out to be really only 75kg more than CSL

[BeirutTaxi]

s m said:

mlhj83 said:

Nicely done on the accuracy of reporting weight and defining it.

A manual M4 is only 75kg more than an E46 CSL with aircon? That's amazing..... If true. Considering all the lightweight bits the E46 CSL has

Air con units weigh about 15kg and are pretty efficient these days. Most CSL buyers had it in the car I believe, and Tbh I can't see why not.

[Housey]

-Z- said:

Housey said:

Well with a spec you are looking circa 60K, maybe 65K so I think it's a bit more than inflation.

Incorrect.

£42k in 2001 is £60.5k today.

£39k in 2001 (base M3 price) is £56.3k today. So pretty much spot on in terms of no real price increase.

Appreciate you might have bought yours later than 2001 but for fairness you have to compare launch years.

Meh, you can prove anything with facts, I'm moaning here!!

[s m]

BeirutTaxi said:

s m said:

mlhj83 said:

Nicely done on the accuracy of reporting weight and defining it.

A manual M4 is only 75kg more than an E46 CSL with aircon? That's amazing..... If true. Considering all the lightweight bits the E46 CSL has

Air con units weigh about 15kg and are pretty efficient these days. Most CSL buyers had it in the car I believe, and Tbh I can't see why not.

I'll be interested to see how much an M4 manual actually weighs when Autocar stick one on the weighbridge for sure.if it comes in at 50-70kg less than the M135i/M235i which people generally see as being in the size segment below the 3/4series it will show they've made some serious weight savings over the normal E46/E9x M3 models.

[Mermaid]

s m said:

Manual M4 = 1497kg. ( according to above 1572kg - 75kg driver/luggage EU rating )
Manual M235i = 1560kg ( actual weight with full tank on MIRA bridge - no driver/luggage )
E46 CSL with aircon = 1425kg

That will be impressive if the weight of M4 turns out to be really only 75kg more than CSL

I expect 1M prices will become realistic. And expect 1M owners to migrate to the M3/M4

[s m]

Mermaid said:

s m said:

Manual M4 = 1497kg. ( according to above 1572kg - 75kg driver/luggage EU rating )
Manual M235i = 1560kg ( actual weight with full tank on MIRA bridge - no driver/luggage )
E46 CSL with aircon = 1425kg

That will be impressive if the weight of M4 turns out to be really only 75kg more than CSL

I expect 1M prices will become realistic. And expect 1M owners to migrate to the M3/M4

..... and get a lighter weight car if the Figures quoted are correct and BMW haven't used the VW weighbridge.

Somehow I think the 1M isn't going to take enough of a dip to make them cheap like the E36M/E46M - too few made

[Mermaid]

s m said:

..... and get a lighter weight car if the Figures quoted are correct and BMW haven't used the VW weighbridge.

Somehow I think the 1M isn't going to take enough of a dip to make them cheap like the E36M/E46M - too few made

I agree, never at the E36/E46 level(bar the CSL). But mid 30's?