BMW M4 Competition manual (F82) | Spotted
There won't be any more M4 manuals - but there are a few old ones...
We all know why the manual gearbox was dropped for the BMW M3 and M4 - not enough people bought them. No car manufacturer is going to make what isn't going to sell, however much some people say they want it. Even for the smaller BMW M2, where the six-speed was generally accepted as a better fit for the car than the seven-speed auto, the DCT massively outsold the three-pedal version. And the new G8x era of BMW M3 and M4 are fantastic with an eight-speed torque converter. Obviously, a manual wasn't coming here for those cars - the demand just wasn't there.
But it is on offer in the US, and a few reviews we've seen have praised the appealing combination of six gears, three pedals, nearly 500hp and rear-wheel drive. And call it missing what you had when it's gone or whatever, but it helps to make those previous generation (and very rare) M4s with the DIY transmission look even more interesting just a few years later.
This one looks especially nice, and is probably one of the last manuals sold here, registered in 2018 and 22,000 miles old. It's a Competition car (meaning more power and tweaked suspension) yet goes without any badging, and comes with the wheels more commonly seen on the CS model. Maybe white won't be to all tastes, though neither will an M4 like this spark outrage quite like a new one. And that's before talking about the interior...
At just four years old, it's too early to talk about the future for a car like this one, but it's surely going to have enduring appeal to a committed few with the manual gearbox. More relevant for right now is the fact the M4 - especially in Competition format - came really good in the end, a match for all that Mercedes-AMG, Audi and Alfa Romeo could throw at it. This will remain a brilliant car to drive for a long while yet and - cliché alert - maybe all the M car you'd need. Because, great though it is, an £80k M4 can feel a bit much sometimes.
This manual is for sale at Sytner Coventry BMW for £40,000; perhaps it's an unreasonable comparison, but a new M135i currently retails at £38,440 - £40k doesn't seem an awful lot for an M car of this calibre. It has CarPlay, Harmon Kardon sound, electric seats and, really, every bit of equipment you're going to need. With a 450hp 3.0-litre straight-six, rear-wheel drive and a manual gearbox. They really don't make them like they used to (over here); often that's for the best, but we surely aren't alone in seeing the appeal of this old-schooler.
SPECIFICATION | BMW M4 COMPETITION (F82)
Engine: 2,979cc, twin-turbo straight six
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 450@7,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 406@1,850rpm
MPG: 34 (DCT, NEDC test)
CO2: 194g/km (DCT, NEDC test)
First registered: 2018
Recorded mileage: 22,000
Price new: £60,355 (M3, 2017)
Yours for: £40,000
Compared to say the Honda S2000 I had (and civic type R) which was epic manual gearbox.
6th gear a bit too short for morning motorway slog, but it is indeed a lot of fun on country roads and track. Very good throttle response to blip downshifts yourself in Sport+ as well.
It always seems amusing to me that the US is still getting manual versions of cars where we only get the DCT/auto. We always look at them as only wanting auto cars, and they probably look at us as wanting manual. Seems like the US is becoming one of the last bastions of fun/interesting cars while Europe falls over itself to go EV and autonomous.
Compared to say the Honda S2000 I had (and civic type R) which was epic manual gearbox.
I can't believe that I'm actually saying this...but I do think that the DCT suits the F82 M4. However I'd love to try this manual version to compare though. This one has the full leather which is a nice option to have I reckon.
The new car comfortably outperforms this one. I wouldn't ever drive a manual car again and clearly I'm not in the minority as the take-up of manual cars in this segment is very poor which is exactly why cars like this aren't sold with manual transmissions any more!
Ended up buying a Giulia QV which in my experience is a better car in every regard, albeit without a manual option in the UK.
Ended up buying a Giulia QV which in my experience is a better car in every regard, albeit without a manual option in the UK.
The ride in my none CP with the 19" wheels is my biggest gripe with the car though.
The usual arguments apply to this, why buy new when you can buy this, why have a manual / DCT etc and I guess it comes down to personal preference, how much you have available to spend and what PCP deals are available.
If it were me I’d have this over a break version, but then I’d have 4 over 2 doors and DCT over manual…
This shows how strong prices are for the M2C
However I prefer this one..............
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202102...
This shows how strong prices are for the M2C
This shows how strong prices are for the M2C
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