F82 M4 and Car History
Discussion
Hi folks - never done a Readers Cars thread before, hopefully of interest to a few 
My car history started some years ago, when after driving around in a basic but super-reliable Toyota Corolla, I went full on dark side with this:
Obviously it’s a MY00 Subaru Impreza Turbo, I was 25 at the time and it was a massive step up from the Corolla. It was back in the day when just over 200bhp was epic, and you could brim a tank for £35. I bought it from a nice chap somewhere north of Bradford, it was a Dutch Import (remember those!?) and at 18 months old was my newest car and my most cherished possession. For the next few years I spent much money on fuel and Zymol, and worked massive amounts of overtime to put it through its six-monthly service intervals. Many early petrol lessons were learnt here..!
Next came the 350Z. I first saw one of these on a billboard as the M6 snakes it’s way through Birmingham, maybe a year later I traded the Scooby for one. On paper it had more power than the Scooby, but in reality they felt very similar - apart from the soundtrack of the Zed was fantastic, my first V6 and once again, much money was spent on Meguiars keeping it clean.
|https://thumbsnap.com/yL3fp42R[/url]
The pic above is in Koblenz, about 40 mins from the Ring. I took the Zed there in 2007 I think, teh car performed brilliantly with massive cruise capability and a competent showing on track. Although in reality, it was a spirited drive rather than all out attack…
When my son came along I trade the Zed for a Saab 93, in a pretty decent deal just before the company went over the edge of a cliff. I’ll try and dig out a picture, but it was a brilliant car - so many lovely design touches it was a great experience if a little different from my two previous cars. I kept the 93 ‘Vector Sport’ for a few years, loving the economy but not really liking the anonymity of the car.
As soon as parental cash-flow situation returned to normal (or somewhere broadly similar!) I traded the Saab for this:
It’s an E92 330d - and is pretty much the best car I’ve ever owned. I bought it on around 8k and traded it nine years later on 145k. It was quicker than my two previous ‘sporty’ things and retuned very high forties in terms of MPG. As an all rounder, it was magnificent - quick, capable, great sounding (relative of course) and a wonderful cruiser/commuter. Again, much cash was spent on Dodo Juice and like, much less was spent on fuel, with a typical range of 550 miles!
|https://thumbsnap.com/TLbBG9ET[/url]
It was a nicely spec’d car, with the Oyster Leather, piano black trim, pro nav etc. it’s only flaw was the base audio - cured a little with the simple addition of OEM tweeters, but never something to write home about. Build quality was fantastic, and it still felt and sounded solid at 10 years old.
With lots of personal changes (got divorced, moved house twice, bought a place with someone very special, the pandemic, working from home!) I’m back in a petrol car in a big way. With the E92 being such a phenomenal car, I was pretty much set on replacing it with another BMW. The M340i made much sense, as did the M340d for a time, but, never having owned an M Car, I felt like now was a perfect (let’s hope!) time to go for it.
So this is my M4 Competition in Sakhir Orange II. I’ve had it for a couple of weeks and initial impressions are good. Very good.
Getting in and firing it up will never get old. Going to the shop is an absolute event and pure theatre - the colour is amazing and really makes it the perfect package. I have always looked at M Cars as a statement, so I’ve tended to prefer the Phoenix Gold/Laguna Seca kind of colours, and although I like the subtleties of greys and blacks, for the M it just seems sensible to go a bit bolder!
It’s a decent spec, to be honest the basic M4 is good, with the Competition Pack it gets a little more power (really?) bigger wheels and black trim everywhere. It has the Head Up Display which far from being gimmicky, is now a must have for me. The tech level is great and it has the Harmon Kardon system, which is so much better than my old E92.
In terms of the driving experience, it sounds wonderful through the range, and for now feels hilariously overpowered - rattling through the DCT in full chat M mode is addictive, and costly. The ‘comfort’ settings are interestingly, a better ride setup than the E92 on 19” run flats, although the full M Mode is incredibly harsh; no doubt brilliant on the glass like roads of Holland and Germany, not so here on the Fylde Coast.
Anyway, the M4. Thanks for easing folks
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My car history started some years ago, when after driving around in a basic but super-reliable Toyota Corolla, I went full on dark side with this:
Obviously it’s a MY00 Subaru Impreza Turbo, I was 25 at the time and it was a massive step up from the Corolla. It was back in the day when just over 200bhp was epic, and you could brim a tank for £35. I bought it from a nice chap somewhere north of Bradford, it was a Dutch Import (remember those!?) and at 18 months old was my newest car and my most cherished possession. For the next few years I spent much money on fuel and Zymol, and worked massive amounts of overtime to put it through its six-monthly service intervals. Many early petrol lessons were learnt here..!
Next came the 350Z. I first saw one of these on a billboard as the M6 snakes it’s way through Birmingham, maybe a year later I traded the Scooby for one. On paper it had more power than the Scooby, but in reality they felt very similar - apart from the soundtrack of the Zed was fantastic, my first V6 and once again, much money was spent on Meguiars keeping it clean.
|https://thumbsnap.com/yL3fp42R[/url]The pic above is in Koblenz, about 40 mins from the Ring. I took the Zed there in 2007 I think, teh car performed brilliantly with massive cruise capability and a competent showing on track. Although in reality, it was a spirited drive rather than all out attack…
When my son came along I trade the Zed for a Saab 93, in a pretty decent deal just before the company went over the edge of a cliff. I’ll try and dig out a picture, but it was a brilliant car - so many lovely design touches it was a great experience if a little different from my two previous cars. I kept the 93 ‘Vector Sport’ for a few years, loving the economy but not really liking the anonymity of the car.
As soon as parental cash-flow situation returned to normal (or somewhere broadly similar!) I traded the Saab for this:
It’s an E92 330d - and is pretty much the best car I’ve ever owned. I bought it on around 8k and traded it nine years later on 145k. It was quicker than my two previous ‘sporty’ things and retuned very high forties in terms of MPG. As an all rounder, it was magnificent - quick, capable, great sounding (relative of course) and a wonderful cruiser/commuter. Again, much cash was spent on Dodo Juice and like, much less was spent on fuel, with a typical range of 550 miles!
|https://thumbsnap.com/TLbBG9ET[/url]It was a nicely spec’d car, with the Oyster Leather, piano black trim, pro nav etc. it’s only flaw was the base audio - cured a little with the simple addition of OEM tweeters, but never something to write home about. Build quality was fantastic, and it still felt and sounded solid at 10 years old.
With lots of personal changes (got divorced, moved house twice, bought a place with someone very special, the pandemic, working from home!) I’m back in a petrol car in a big way. With the E92 being such a phenomenal car, I was pretty much set on replacing it with another BMW. The M340i made much sense, as did the M340d for a time, but, never having owned an M Car, I felt like now was a perfect (let’s hope!) time to go for it.
So this is my M4 Competition in Sakhir Orange II. I’ve had it for a couple of weeks and initial impressions are good. Very good.
Getting in and firing it up will never get old. Going to the shop is an absolute event and pure theatre - the colour is amazing and really makes it the perfect package. I have always looked at M Cars as a statement, so I’ve tended to prefer the Phoenix Gold/Laguna Seca kind of colours, and although I like the subtleties of greys and blacks, for the M it just seems sensible to go a bit bolder!
It’s a decent spec, to be honest the basic M4 is good, with the Competition Pack it gets a little more power (really?) bigger wheels and black trim everywhere. It has the Head Up Display which far from being gimmicky, is now a must have for me. The tech level is great and it has the Harmon Kardon system, which is so much better than my old E92.
In terms of the driving experience, it sounds wonderful through the range, and for now feels hilariously overpowered - rattling through the DCT in full chat M mode is addictive, and costly. The ‘comfort’ settings are interestingly, a better ride setup than the E92 on 19” run flats, although the full M Mode is incredibly harsh; no doubt brilliant on the glass like roads of Holland and Germany, not so here on the Fylde Coast.
Anyway, the M4. Thanks for easing folks
[url][url]
cerb4.5lee said:
I enjoyed reading that thanks. 
We have very similar taste in cars...because I've had a E90 330d, and I've currently got a 370Z(Roadster) and a F82 M4!
Enjoy the new motor(it looks stunning).
Similar tastes indeed - thanks We have very similar taste in cars...because I've had a E90 330d, and I've currently got a 370Z(Roadster) and a F82 M4!
Enjoy the new motor(it looks stunning).
(and thanks for your contribution to my ‘what car next’ thread Good write up OP. The 330d really is a good car, I had an F30 330d for just under three years and it was great. I had it mapped and it was running 331bhp with 500lbft, stunning performance and 60 mpg on the motorway.
I replaced it with a C63, similar to you really I decided I wanted something more exciting.
The M4 looks amazing.
I replaced it with a C63, similar to you really I decided I wanted something more exciting.
The M4 looks amazing.
Your M4 looks fab in orange.
I like the M cars in the slightly louder colours too.
I had an E90 330 and loved it, it was honestly one of the best cars that I’ve owned and I was very very sad to see it go. It was a nicer size too.
Since then I’ve had an M140i which the love faded for the less I used it (covid related) so that’s gone and been replaced with an old 130 but ultimately I’m desperate to scratch the M car itch later on next year. I think I’ll probably end up with an E92 especially given how strong prices are of the F8x cars.
I like the M cars in the slightly louder colours too.
I had an E90 330 and loved it, it was honestly one of the best cars that I’ve owned and I was very very sad to see it go. It was a nicer size too.
Since then I’ve had an M140i which the love faded for the less I used it (covid related) so that’s gone and been replaced with an old 130 but ultimately I’m desperate to scratch the M car itch later on next year. I think I’ll probably end up with an E92 especially given how strong prices are of the F8x cars.
Jasey_ said:
3 Subarus
3 BMWs (including a 435d which is the best allrounder I've ever had).
No 350/370 - But when I considered those I went for a z4 35iS.
And on Saturday I picked up this.
Even newer for me - but so far agree with everything you've said.
Enjoys yours - I'm certainly enjoying mine.
Great stuff 3 BMWs (including a 435d which is the best allrounder I've ever had).
No 350/370 - But when I considered those I went for a z4 35iS.
And on Saturday I picked up this.
Even newer for me - but so far agree with everything you've said.
Enjoys yours - I'm certainly enjoying mine.
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