Thoughts on an M4 Convertible
Discussion
Yesterday I stumbled across a Tanzanite blue M4 convertible and was somewhat taken aback by how much I liked the look and ergonomics of it.
Admittedly, I didn't have time to test drive it, but i'm keen to hear people's experiences or opinions. Not so much on the looks, but how they drive.
I currently have a Megane 275 with Ohlins, Akra etc but a serious knee injury is pushing me towards an auto with better ergonomics etc. I fancy another convertible too.
The question is - does an M4 'vert have that 'M' magic that I thought the E93 M3 lacked due to the extra weight it carried?
I have owned 2 x E92s in the past, and would like to own something akin to the Comp Pack one I had firstly. From what i've read, the M4 drop-top does feel very close to the coupe in terms of dynamics?
Thoughts welcomed.
Admittedly, I didn't have time to test drive it, but i'm keen to hear people's experiences or opinions. Not so much on the looks, but how they drive.
I currently have a Megane 275 with Ohlins, Akra etc but a serious knee injury is pushing me towards an auto with better ergonomics etc. I fancy another convertible too.
The question is - does an M4 'vert have that 'M' magic that I thought the E93 M3 lacked due to the extra weight it carried?
I have owned 2 x E92s in the past, and would like to own something akin to the Comp Pack one I had firstly. From what i've read, the M4 drop-top does feel very close to the coupe in terms of dynamics?
Thoughts welcomed.
Edited by KPB1973 on Thursday 8th August 15:19
The wife had a 2017 M4CP Conv. I drove it a few times, felt pretty nimble but handling was way over 'controlled' by the onboard tech. Drove 100x better with everything turned off. Preferred it to previous M cars I've had. Never drove a coupe so can't compare but it's no slouch, 444bhp on the CP. Coming out of corners can be fun if the aids are on. Feels like you're losing the back end when actually it's just pulling power on you. Interior is very low rent which would have bugged me on a car £50k+. She chopped it in for an i8 in the end which she loves
I test drove a DCT M4 Convertible(not Comp) and I personally really liked it, roof down I actually thought that it sounded decent enough(the M4 gets a load of stick for the way it sounds).
I'd certainly consider one for sure, but I also enjoyed driving the E93 M3 as well. I love Convertibles because you hear the exhaust/engine so much more compared to the Coupe.
I'd certainly consider one for sure, but I also enjoyed driving the E93 M3 as well. I love Convertibles because you hear the exhaust/engine so much more compared to the Coupe.
Yes its a great car - not fantastic, but recommend me a better modern convertible that can happily seat 4 whilst moving along at warp speed?
I wanted a 911 or V6 Exige, but with 2 small little ones I decided a 4 seater drop top would be more fun for all the family. We could load up and go to the beach for the day, whilst still possessing enough sass to excite on a Sunday morning.
There is a severe lack of proper information and good reviews of the cab online - so I'll try and give you a good honest report.
Looks - from the front it looks typical M4. From the rear its not perfect with the roof up, but it still looks pretty menacing with big arches, tyres and 4 pipes. With the roof down however the rear looks pretty decent and works well.
I have the OEM carbon splitter upfront and rear diffuser, this makes the car look much more aggressive and sets it apart from all the 440i's. If you can get a car with this on it, then do - its expensive to retrofit.
Sound - lets get this out of the way as its a common complaint about the M4. HOWEVER, when people refer to the M4 they are never speaking about the convertible. I will happily admit that M3/M4 sounds pretty meh in coupe form from the inside, its a big let down. The convertible however is an entirely different proposition, with the roof down its pretty rude and you can hear all sorts of noises.
In efficient mode the car sounds relatively beefy, but is sedate and doesnt pop and burble away. With the roof down it sounds nice and smooth and grown up. Stick the car into Sport Plus and it all changes, you have a louder drone during all acceleration, huge exhaust barks as you come off throttle when boost has built (the sort that scares kids and grannies) and pretty ridiculous burbles off throttle at lower speeds.
Personally I think the burbles at low speeds sound absolutely stupid and I try my hardest to keep my foot on the throttle slightly so it doesnt engage.
Roof down, Sport Plus, full acceleration through the gears and it sounds pretty decent, its nothing spectacular but everybody who has been in the car has commented that it sounds good.
Grunt - as you are aware the cab has >200kg more to shift than the coupe. However on the road I dont think you really notice this through acceleration, the car feels extremely fast at all speeds. Infact with the roof down Id go as far as saying the Convertible feels faster than a coupe as you have a more visceral experience. The engine is happy to be revved out or you can just rely on the torque and make rapid progress whilst short shifting. The only place where the weight can be felt is through continual hard braking, but this is to be expected - it's physics right? The brakes whilst not spectacular are plenty good for road use.
My car is DCT and the box fits the car perfectly, the manual feels slow and outdated by comparison (and I like a manual.)
Handling - IMO this is 100% down to the driver. The car has a reputation of being a handful and from reading many forums it sounds like the majority of owners are absolutely terrified of their car.
The car handles very well, but requires a confident driver who understands traction!! If you drive the car properly its brilliant, sharp turn in and plenty of traction from the rears. However to extract the best from the car you have to remove some of the aids - the systems cut the power too early too often.
If you set the car to the middle mode of (MDM) the car is great, you can drive well whilst retaining a small safety net.
If you switch it all off, you find another level of performance and realise how even the "sporty" MDM mode calls play on the power when you dont even realise. The car feels quicker in a straight line and no power is held back on corner exit - but its down to you to drive properly and control that throttle properly!
But be aware, if you switch it all off and go drive like a t
t you WILL end up in a hedge.
I personally love a car with an edge like this, it makes the driving experience exciting and makes you respect the car. Sure, a stage 1 Golf R driven by a 17yr old will likely get you from A-B quicker - but thats boring and easy.
Interior - Meh, typical BMW 4 Series affair. Cars with full black interiors are very plain and boring, look for a car with coloured leather and/or extended leather packages that make the dash more exciting/plush. My car is Azurite Black and has the Sakhir orange (red) leather and it works nicely.
Practicality - Its bloody good for what it is. 4 adults fit nicely with the roof down, although rear is cramped on longer journeys. We use the car with 2 child seats and its OK. I wouldnt want to use it daily as its a pain to strap them in, but its perfectly usable. We can also squeeze a pram in the boot with the roof down...
If there are just two of you using the car you can fit the wind deflector. This works a treat and really helps reduce wind in the cabin - I have done 3hr motorway journeys with the roof down whilst making calls with the deflector in place.
Running - I do a lot of short journeys and drive the car hard, I average 17/18mpg. Although it can do 25-30 if you want it to.
Compared to the E92 the M4 is on another level performance wise. The E92 is brilliant when pushing towards red line in 2nd and 3rd, but in my opinion thats its only benefit - the F80/2 moves the game on in all other areas. Whilst the V8 in the E92 is lovely, it does have its issues and I still think it feels overworked in the M3 - this engine would be magic in a 1100-1200kg car.
The F83 M4 convertible has the same and possibly even further progression over its predecessor. Back to back, the E93 will feel considerably slower than the M4 and the torque makes the car more enjoyable to cruise about in.
My car is a 2017 Comp pack and I bought outright, used with just 5k on the clock at >25k less than list price - I would NOT buy new this late in the cars life unless its a silly deal. My car is Azurite Black with Sakhir Orange interior, Carbon bits, HK Stereo, HUD, Air collar etc. Id recommend the HK, HUD and Air collar - these are good and desirable options for resale too.
Few pics...
Dealer pics when purchased. (no front lip)
With the family bus at home. (no front lip)
With a local mineral Grey M4 Comp (now with front lip)
Having no roof makes it good for DIY/tip runs!
I wanted a 911 or V6 Exige, but with 2 small little ones I decided a 4 seater drop top would be more fun for all the family. We could load up and go to the beach for the day, whilst still possessing enough sass to excite on a Sunday morning.
There is a severe lack of proper information and good reviews of the cab online - so I'll try and give you a good honest report.
Looks - from the front it looks typical M4. From the rear its not perfect with the roof up, but it still looks pretty menacing with big arches, tyres and 4 pipes. With the roof down however the rear looks pretty decent and works well.
I have the OEM carbon splitter upfront and rear diffuser, this makes the car look much more aggressive and sets it apart from all the 440i's. If you can get a car with this on it, then do - its expensive to retrofit.
Sound - lets get this out of the way as its a common complaint about the M4. HOWEVER, when people refer to the M4 they are never speaking about the convertible. I will happily admit that M3/M4 sounds pretty meh in coupe form from the inside, its a big let down. The convertible however is an entirely different proposition, with the roof down its pretty rude and you can hear all sorts of noises.
In efficient mode the car sounds relatively beefy, but is sedate and doesnt pop and burble away. With the roof down it sounds nice and smooth and grown up. Stick the car into Sport Plus and it all changes, you have a louder drone during all acceleration, huge exhaust barks as you come off throttle when boost has built (the sort that scares kids and grannies) and pretty ridiculous burbles off throttle at lower speeds.
Personally I think the burbles at low speeds sound absolutely stupid and I try my hardest to keep my foot on the throttle slightly so it doesnt engage.
Roof down, Sport Plus, full acceleration through the gears and it sounds pretty decent, its nothing spectacular but everybody who has been in the car has commented that it sounds good.
Grunt - as you are aware the cab has >200kg more to shift than the coupe. However on the road I dont think you really notice this through acceleration, the car feels extremely fast at all speeds. Infact with the roof down Id go as far as saying the Convertible feels faster than a coupe as you have a more visceral experience. The engine is happy to be revved out or you can just rely on the torque and make rapid progress whilst short shifting. The only place where the weight can be felt is through continual hard braking, but this is to be expected - it's physics right? The brakes whilst not spectacular are plenty good for road use.
My car is DCT and the box fits the car perfectly, the manual feels slow and outdated by comparison (and I like a manual.)
Handling - IMO this is 100% down to the driver. The car has a reputation of being a handful and from reading many forums it sounds like the majority of owners are absolutely terrified of their car.
The car handles very well, but requires a confident driver who understands traction!! If you drive the car properly its brilliant, sharp turn in and plenty of traction from the rears. However to extract the best from the car you have to remove some of the aids - the systems cut the power too early too often.
If you set the car to the middle mode of (MDM) the car is great, you can drive well whilst retaining a small safety net.
If you switch it all off, you find another level of performance and realise how even the "sporty" MDM mode calls play on the power when you dont even realise. The car feels quicker in a straight line and no power is held back on corner exit - but its down to you to drive properly and control that throttle properly!
But be aware, if you switch it all off and go drive like a t
t you WILL end up in a hedge. I personally love a car with an edge like this, it makes the driving experience exciting and makes you respect the car. Sure, a stage 1 Golf R driven by a 17yr old will likely get you from A-B quicker - but thats boring and easy.
Interior - Meh, typical BMW 4 Series affair. Cars with full black interiors are very plain and boring, look for a car with coloured leather and/or extended leather packages that make the dash more exciting/plush. My car is Azurite Black and has the Sakhir orange (red) leather and it works nicely.
Practicality - Its bloody good for what it is. 4 adults fit nicely with the roof down, although rear is cramped on longer journeys. We use the car with 2 child seats and its OK. I wouldnt want to use it daily as its a pain to strap them in, but its perfectly usable. We can also squeeze a pram in the boot with the roof down...
If there are just two of you using the car you can fit the wind deflector. This works a treat and really helps reduce wind in the cabin - I have done 3hr motorway journeys with the roof down whilst making calls with the deflector in place.
Running - I do a lot of short journeys and drive the car hard, I average 17/18mpg. Although it can do 25-30 if you want it to.
Compared to the E92 the M4 is on another level performance wise. The E92 is brilliant when pushing towards red line in 2nd and 3rd, but in my opinion thats its only benefit - the F80/2 moves the game on in all other areas. Whilst the V8 in the E92 is lovely, it does have its issues and I still think it feels overworked in the M3 - this engine would be magic in a 1100-1200kg car.
The F83 M4 convertible has the same and possibly even further progression over its predecessor. Back to back, the E93 will feel considerably slower than the M4 and the torque makes the car more enjoyable to cruise about in.
My car is a 2017 Comp pack and I bought outright, used with just 5k on the clock at >25k less than list price - I would NOT buy new this late in the cars life unless its a silly deal. My car is Azurite Black with Sakhir Orange interior, Carbon bits, HK Stereo, HUD, Air collar etc. Id recommend the HK, HUD and Air collar - these are good and desirable options for resale too.
Few pics...
Dealer pics when purchased. (no front lip)
With the family bus at home. (no front lip)
With a local mineral Grey M4 Comp (now with front lip)
Having no roof makes it good for DIY/tip runs!
Edited by russy01 on Friday 9th August 06:57
cerb4.5lee said:
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your thoughts and experience of it thanks. 
I'm a really big fan of the M4 convertible for sure, and you have a lovely BMW car combo as well.
Seconded. Thanks so much for taking the time to write such a comprehensive and considered response. Really appreciated - likewise the other contributors.I'm a really big fan of the M4 convertible for sure, and you have a lovely BMW car combo as well.
It appears that the car I had my eye on is sold, but I will keep my eye out for another nearby to test drive.
Cheers.
KPB1973 said:
Seconded. Thanks so much for taking the time to write such a comprehensive and considered response. Really appreciated - likewise the other contributors.
It appears that the car I had my eye on is sold, but I will keep my eye out for another nearby to test drive.
Cheers.
No worries... if you are near Somerset I’ll happily take you for a spin. It appears that the car I had my eye on is sold, but I will keep my eye out for another nearby to test drive.
Cheers.
When I was buying (6months ago), there were lots of cars coming on each week. So hang in there the right one will come up...
One option the wife really missed was comfort access. On a previous 3 series conv she had she could retract the roof from the fob as she walked to the car. Couldn't do it on the M4 so the car was always hot when she got in. You could drop the windows from the fob but that was all. Not even sure if standard comfort access allows it, think so. Carbon and extended/full leather helps improve the interior a bit
russy01 said:
Handling - IMO this is 100% down to the driver. The car has a reputation of being a handful and from reading many forums it sounds like the majority of owners are absolutely terrified of their car.
The car handles very well, but requires a confident driver who understands traction!! If you drive the car properly its brilliant, sharp turn in and plenty of traction from the rears. However to extract the best from the car you have to remove some of the aids - the systems cut the power too early too often.
If you set the car to the middle mode of (MDM) the car is great, you can drive well whilst retaining a small safety net.
If you switch it all off, you find another level of performance and realise how even the "sporty" MDM mode calls play on the power when you dont even realise. The car feels quicker in a straight line and no power is held back on corner exit - but its down to you to drive properly and control that throttle properly!
But be aware, if you switch it all off and go drive like a tt you WILL end up in a hedge.
I personally love a car with an edge like this, it makes the driving experience exciting and makes you respect the car. Sure, a stage 1 Golf R driven by a 17yr old will likely get you from A-B quicker - but thats boring and easy.
Couldn't agree more, if you are smooth with the throttle and "help" the rear wheels to hook up before feeding in all the power these things cover the ground at a blistering pace. This is a part of driving that I really enjoy, I want to be an important part of the process in making a high powered rear wheel drive car go fast and if I'm clumsy I have no issue with the car letting me know, I actually find it amusing...The car handles very well, but requires a confident driver who understands traction!! If you drive the car properly its brilliant, sharp turn in and plenty of traction from the rears. However to extract the best from the car you have to remove some of the aids - the systems cut the power too early too often.
If you set the car to the middle mode of (MDM) the car is great, you can drive well whilst retaining a small safety net.
If you switch it all off, you find another level of performance and realise how even the "sporty" MDM mode calls play on the power when you dont even realise. The car feels quicker in a straight line and no power is held back on corner exit - but its down to you to drive properly and control that throttle properly!
But be aware, if you switch it all off and go drive like a t
t you WILL end up in a hedge. I personally love a car with an edge like this, it makes the driving experience exciting and makes you respect the car. Sure, a stage 1 Golf R driven by a 17yr old will likely get you from A-B quicker - but thats boring and easy.
I think many people have become used to cars where you can simply mash the throttle in to the carpet and let the electronics sort it out, which is absolutely fine but I find the associated criticism of the M4 for being edgy if treated like that rather unfair. I'm led to believe the CP is a definite step forward from the original set up but mine has never behaved in an erratic or unexpected way. If it steps out it's either deliberate or due to poor driving in my view. My old 930 Turbo in the wet, now that was erratic!
I went for the coupe based on weight and aesthetics but the point you make about the sound shouldn't be undervalued, you get so much more from a convertible in this respect. I have to use the bikes to get my open air fix now
Mach said:
Couldn't agree more, if you are smooth with the throttle and "help" the rear wheels to hook up before feeding in all the power these things cover the ground at a blistering pace. This is a part of driving that I really enjoy, I want to be an important part of the process in making a high powered rear wheel drive car go fast and if I'm clumsy I have no issue with the car letting me know, I actually find it amusing...
I think many people have become used to cars where you can simply mash the throttle in to the carpet and let the electronics sort it out, which is absolutely fine but I find the associated criticism of the M4 for being edgy if treated like that rather unfair. I'm led to believe the CP is a definite step forward from the original set up but mine has never behaved in an erratic or unexpected way. If it steps out it's either deliberate or due to poor driving in my view. My old 930 Turbo in the wet, now that was erratic!
I went for the coupe based on weight and aesthetics but the point you make about the sound shouldn't be undervalued, you get so much more from a convertible in this respect. I have to use the bikes to get my open air fix now
I’ve never driven the non CP in anger, but have heard that the CP moved forward in the handling dept. But either way it still demands proper driving...I think many people have become used to cars where you can simply mash the throttle in to the carpet and let the electronics sort it out, which is absolutely fine but I find the associated criticism of the M4 for being edgy if treated like that rather unfair. I'm led to believe the CP is a definite step forward from the original set up but mine has never behaved in an erratic or unexpected way. If it steps out it's either deliberate or due to poor driving in my view. My old 930 Turbo in the wet, now that was erratic!
I went for the coupe based on weight and aesthetics but the point you make about the sound shouldn't be undervalued, you get so much more from a convertible in this respect. I have to use the bikes to get my open air fix now
As you said the slight edginess makes it exciting and IMO a proper drivers car despite the turbos, soft roof and non manual box! One of my previous cars was an S2000 and it was very similar in the handling stakes.
russy01 said:
Yes its a great car - not fantastic, but recommend me a better modern convertible that can happily seat 4 whilst moving along at warp speed?
I wanted a 911 or V6 Exige, but with 2 small little ones I decided a 4 seater drop top would be more fun for all the family. We could load up and go to the beach for the day, whilst still possessing enough sass to excite on a Sunday morning.
There is a severe lack of proper information and good reviews of the cab online - so I'll try and give you a good honest report.
Looks - from the front it looks typical M4. From the rear its not perfect with the roof up, but it still looks pretty menacing with big arches, tyres and 4 pipes. With the roof down however the rear looks pretty decent and works well.
I have the OEM carbon splitter upfront and rear diffuser, this makes the car look much more aggressive and sets it apart from all the 440i's. If you can get a car with this on it, then do - its expensive to retrofit.
Sound - lets get this out of the way as its a common complaint about the M4. HOWEVER, when people refer to the M4 they are never speaking about the convertible. I will happily admit that M3/M4 sounds pretty meh in coupe form from the inside, its a big let down. The convertible however is an entirely different proposition, with the roof down its pretty rude and you can hear all sorts of noises.
In efficient mode the car sounds relatively beefy, but is sedate and doesnt pop and burble away. With the roof down it sounds nice and smooth and grown up. Stick the car into Sport Plus and it all changes, you have a louder drone during all acceleration, huge exhaust barks as you come off throttle when boost has built (the sort that scares kids and grannies) and pretty ridiculous burbles off throttle at lower speeds.
Personally I think the burbles at low speeds sound absolutely stupid and I try my hardest to keep my foot on the throttle slightly so it doesnt engage.
Roof down, Sport Plus, full acceleration through the gears and it sounds pretty decent, its nothing spectacular but everybody who has been in the car has commented that it sounds good.
Grunt - as you are aware the cab has >200kg more to shift than the coupe. However on the road I dont think you really notice this through acceleration, the car feels extremely fast at all speeds. Infact with the roof down Id go as far as saying the Convertible feels faster than a coupe as you have a more visceral experience. The engine is happy to be revved out or you can just rely on the torque and make rapid progress whilst short shifting. The only place where the weight can be felt is through continual hard braking, but this is to be expected - it's physics right? The brakes whilst not spectacular are plenty good for road use.
My car is DCT and the box fits the car perfectly, the manual feels slow and outdated by comparison (and I like a manual.)
Handling - IMO this is 100% down to the driver. The car has a reputation of being a handful and from reading many forums it sounds like the majority of owners are absolutely terrified of their car.
The car handles very well, but requires a confident driver who understands traction!! If you drive the car properly its brilliant, sharp turn in and plenty of traction from the rears. However to extract the best from the car you have to remove some of the aids - the systems cut the power too early too often.
If you set the car to the middle mode of (MDM) the car is great, you can drive well whilst retaining a small safety net.
If you switch it all off, you find another level of performance and realise how even the "sporty" MDM mode calls play on the power when you dont even realise. The car feels quicker in a straight line and no power is held back on corner exit - but its down to you to drive properly and control that throttle properly!
But be aware, if you switch it all off and go drive like a tt you WILL end up in a hedge.
I personally love a car with an edge like this, it makes the driving experience exciting and makes you respect the car. Sure, a stage 1 Golf R driven by a 17yr old will likely get you from A-B quicker - but thats boring and easy.
Interior - Meh, typical BMW 4 Series affair. Cars with full black interiors are very plain and boring, look for a car with coloured leather and/or extended leather packages that make the dash more exciting/plush. My car is Azurite Black and has the Sakhir orange (red) leather and it works nicely.
Practicality - Its bloody good for what it is. 4 adults fit nicely with the roof down, although rear is cramped on longer journeys. We use the car with 2 child seats and its OK. I wouldnt want to use it daily as its a pain to strap them in, but its perfectly usable. We can also squeeze a pram in the boot with the roof down...
If there are just two of you using the car you can fit the wind deflector. This works a treat and really helps reduce wind in the cabin - I have done 3hr motorway journeys with the roof down whilst making calls with the deflector in place.
Running - I do a lot of short journeys and drive the car hard, I average 17/18mpg. Although it can do 25-30 if you want it to.
Compared to the E92 the M4 is on another level performance wise. The E92 is brilliant when pushing towards red line in 2nd and 3rd, but in my opinion thats its only benefit - the F80/2 moves the game on in all other areas. Whilst the V8 in the E92 is lovely, it does have its issues and I still think it feels overworked in the M3 - this engine would be magic in a 1100-1200kg car.
The F83 M4 convertible has the same and possibly even further progression over its predecessor. Back to back, the E93 will feel considerably slower than the M4 and the torque makes the car more enjoyable to cruise about in.
My car is a 2017 Comp pack and I bought outright, used with just 5k on the clock at >25k less than list price - I would NOT buy new this late in the cars life unless its a silly deal. My car is Azurite Black with Sakhir Orange interior, Carbon bits, HK Stereo, HUD, Air collar etc. Id recommend the HK, HUD and Air collar - these are good and desirable options for resale too.
Few pics...
Dealer pics when purchased. (no front lip)
With the family bus at home. (no front lip)
With a local mineral Grey M4 Comp (now with front lip)
Having no roof makes it good for DIY/tip runs!
I’ve a CP Convertible and the above is spot on from my perspective as well. Need 4 seats? Want a convertible? Want a hoot to drive? Want it to also be docile when you need it? Looks great, goes great. Very happy with it, no plans to switch any time soon.I wanted a 911 or V6 Exige, but with 2 small little ones I decided a 4 seater drop top would be more fun for all the family. We could load up and go to the beach for the day, whilst still possessing enough sass to excite on a Sunday morning.
There is a severe lack of proper information and good reviews of the cab online - so I'll try and give you a good honest report.
Looks - from the front it looks typical M4. From the rear its not perfect with the roof up, but it still looks pretty menacing with big arches, tyres and 4 pipes. With the roof down however the rear looks pretty decent and works well.
I have the OEM carbon splitter upfront and rear diffuser, this makes the car look much more aggressive and sets it apart from all the 440i's. If you can get a car with this on it, then do - its expensive to retrofit.
Sound - lets get this out of the way as its a common complaint about the M4. HOWEVER, when people refer to the M4 they are never speaking about the convertible. I will happily admit that M3/M4 sounds pretty meh in coupe form from the inside, its a big let down. The convertible however is an entirely different proposition, with the roof down its pretty rude and you can hear all sorts of noises.
In efficient mode the car sounds relatively beefy, but is sedate and doesnt pop and burble away. With the roof down it sounds nice and smooth and grown up. Stick the car into Sport Plus and it all changes, you have a louder drone during all acceleration, huge exhaust barks as you come off throttle when boost has built (the sort that scares kids and grannies) and pretty ridiculous burbles off throttle at lower speeds.
Personally I think the burbles at low speeds sound absolutely stupid and I try my hardest to keep my foot on the throttle slightly so it doesnt engage.
Roof down, Sport Plus, full acceleration through the gears and it sounds pretty decent, its nothing spectacular but everybody who has been in the car has commented that it sounds good.
Grunt - as you are aware the cab has >200kg more to shift than the coupe. However on the road I dont think you really notice this through acceleration, the car feels extremely fast at all speeds. Infact with the roof down Id go as far as saying the Convertible feels faster than a coupe as you have a more visceral experience. The engine is happy to be revved out or you can just rely on the torque and make rapid progress whilst short shifting. The only place where the weight can be felt is through continual hard braking, but this is to be expected - it's physics right? The brakes whilst not spectacular are plenty good for road use.
My car is DCT and the box fits the car perfectly, the manual feels slow and outdated by comparison (and I like a manual.)
Handling - IMO this is 100% down to the driver. The car has a reputation of being a handful and from reading many forums it sounds like the majority of owners are absolutely terrified of their car.
The car handles very well, but requires a confident driver who understands traction!! If you drive the car properly its brilliant, sharp turn in and plenty of traction from the rears. However to extract the best from the car you have to remove some of the aids - the systems cut the power too early too often.
If you set the car to the middle mode of (MDM) the car is great, you can drive well whilst retaining a small safety net.
If you switch it all off, you find another level of performance and realise how even the "sporty" MDM mode calls play on the power when you dont even realise. The car feels quicker in a straight line and no power is held back on corner exit - but its down to you to drive properly and control that throttle properly!
But be aware, if you switch it all off and go drive like a t
t you WILL end up in a hedge. I personally love a car with an edge like this, it makes the driving experience exciting and makes you respect the car. Sure, a stage 1 Golf R driven by a 17yr old will likely get you from A-B quicker - but thats boring and easy.
Interior - Meh, typical BMW 4 Series affair. Cars with full black interiors are very plain and boring, look for a car with coloured leather and/or extended leather packages that make the dash more exciting/plush. My car is Azurite Black and has the Sakhir orange (red) leather and it works nicely.
Practicality - Its bloody good for what it is. 4 adults fit nicely with the roof down, although rear is cramped on longer journeys. We use the car with 2 child seats and its OK. I wouldnt want to use it daily as its a pain to strap them in, but its perfectly usable. We can also squeeze a pram in the boot with the roof down...
If there are just two of you using the car you can fit the wind deflector. This works a treat and really helps reduce wind in the cabin - I have done 3hr motorway journeys with the roof down whilst making calls with the deflector in place.
Running - I do a lot of short journeys and drive the car hard, I average 17/18mpg. Although it can do 25-30 if you want it to.
Compared to the E92 the M4 is on another level performance wise. The E92 is brilliant when pushing towards red line in 2nd and 3rd, but in my opinion thats its only benefit - the F80/2 moves the game on in all other areas. Whilst the V8 in the E92 is lovely, it does have its issues and I still think it feels overworked in the M3 - this engine would be magic in a 1100-1200kg car.
The F83 M4 convertible has the same and possibly even further progression over its predecessor. Back to back, the E93 will feel considerably slower than the M4 and the torque makes the car more enjoyable to cruise about in.
My car is a 2017 Comp pack and I bought outright, used with just 5k on the clock at >25k less than list price - I would NOT buy new this late in the cars life unless its a silly deal. My car is Azurite Black with Sakhir Orange interior, Carbon bits, HK Stereo, HUD, Air collar etc. Id recommend the HK, HUD and Air collar - these are good and desirable options for resale too.
Few pics...
Dealer pics when purchased. (no front lip)
With the family bus at home. (no front lip)
With a local mineral Grey M4 Comp (now with front lip)
Having no roof makes it good for DIY/tip runs!
Edited by russy01 on Friday 9th August 06:57
Only difference I would say is that I’ve got the white/black interior, with a few flashes of carbon in the interior. I think it looks and feels great.
Yes I considered the opal white (and really wanted it for myself). But with a 4yr old climbing over the car and feet constantly on the back of the seats I seen decided against it....
I’d like to replace mine for something more exotic, but there is nothing unless you spend 3x the amount. The only thing that I would consider is a Maserati Gran Cabrio - but you need to spend £70-80k to get something as modern, and even then I reckon the BMW will drive better.
Go get a drive Op.
I’d like to replace mine for something more exotic, but there is nothing unless you spend 3x the amount. The only thing that I would consider is a Maserati Gran Cabrio - but you need to spend £70-80k to get something as modern, and even then I reckon the BMW will drive better.
Go get a drive Op.
russy01 said:
Yes I considered the opal white (and really wanted it for myself). But with a 4yr old climbing over the car and feet constantly on the back of the seats I seen decided against it....
I’d like to replace mine for something more exotic, but there is nothing unless you spend 3x the amount. The only thing that I would consider is a Maserati Gran Cabrio - but you need to spend £70-80k to get something as modern, and even then I reckon the BMW will drive better.
Go get a drive Op.
That's the plan!I’d like to replace mine for something more exotic, but there is nothing unless you spend 3x the amount. The only thing that I would consider is a Maserati Gran Cabrio - but you need to spend £70-80k to get something as modern, and even then I reckon the BMW will drive better.
Go get a drive Op.
I tried an E93 yesterday but the game has really, really moved on. It felt lifeless after the Megane.
What I have also noticed is that F-type V8 S and R's are pretty good value, if I can sacrifice the rear seats for occasional use. Choices, choices!
I owned a 2015 M4 convertible for a year. It was wonderful.
Was very very spikey in terms of power delivery until I got the firmware updated to the 2018 settings and also the GTS DCT firmware. In my opinion this is a must. After that it was lovely to drive; very confidence inspiring and I could make seriously fast progress in MDM mode on a twisty B road (I’m not a confident enough driver to switch everything off).
The two things I think really effect this car are:
1. The tyres - mine had Michelin PSS which are terrible in the cold but excellent if temps above 9C even in wet. Some say the PS4S are the best all season tyres. 2. The weight - it’s over 1,800kg and I don’t think the brakes can cope; I did contemplate upgrading the fluid, lines and pads but sold it before it really became an issue.
As the previous excellent review went into lots of detail I’ll only echo the sentiments especially those about usability and comfort. I did however see perhaps better economy on a regular 70 mile M1, M25, M11 motorway commute. Sticking to the speed limit would see regular 35mpg which I though was very good.
Only real gripe I had was the roof on mine had a rattle that came and went when roof up and seemed temperature dependent. I didn’t pick it up on test drove probably as I was a bit blinkered by the fun drive.
I had to sell due to being a PCP peasant and needing to reduce my outgoings as I doubled my mortgage. I now have a 435d coupe which whilst probably a better all weather car and also one that gives 50mpg on the same motorway commute is completely soulless. I miss the M4 every time I drive particularly on a sunny day but not on a cold wet one.
I will buy another M4 convertible; probably a comp pack and definitely with PS4S tyres.
Hope that is of use.
Point to add, I’ve owned an e92 comp pack coupe too and the M4 convertible isn’t much faster and doesn’t handle much better but is a far more accomplished car which to be fair you’d expect given the age difference the E92 brakes were also ste.
Was very very spikey in terms of power delivery until I got the firmware updated to the 2018 settings and also the GTS DCT firmware. In my opinion this is a must. After that it was lovely to drive; very confidence inspiring and I could make seriously fast progress in MDM mode on a twisty B road (I’m not a confident enough driver to switch everything off).
The two things I think really effect this car are:
1. The tyres - mine had Michelin PSS which are terrible in the cold but excellent if temps above 9C even in wet. Some say the PS4S are the best all season tyres. 2. The weight - it’s over 1,800kg and I don’t think the brakes can cope; I did contemplate upgrading the fluid, lines and pads but sold it before it really became an issue.
As the previous excellent review went into lots of detail I’ll only echo the sentiments especially those about usability and comfort. I did however see perhaps better economy on a regular 70 mile M1, M25, M11 motorway commute. Sticking to the speed limit would see regular 35mpg which I though was very good.
Only real gripe I had was the roof on mine had a rattle that came and went when roof up and seemed temperature dependent. I didn’t pick it up on test drove probably as I was a bit blinkered by the fun drive.
I had to sell due to being a PCP peasant and needing to reduce my outgoings as I doubled my mortgage. I now have a 435d coupe which whilst probably a better all weather car and also one that gives 50mpg on the same motorway commute is completely soulless. I miss the M4 every time I drive particularly on a sunny day but not on a cold wet one.
I will buy another M4 convertible; probably a comp pack and definitely with PS4S tyres.
Hope that is of use.
Point to add, I’ve owned an e92 comp pack coupe too and the M4 convertible isn’t much faster and doesn’t handle much better but is a far more accomplished car which to be fair you’d expect given the age difference the E92 brakes were also s
te. Edited by 9k rpm on Friday 16th August 23:28
Edited by 9k rpm on Friday 16th August 23:35
russy01 said:
Yes its a great car - not fantastic, but recommend me a better modern convertible that can happily seat 4 whilst moving along at warp speed?
I wanted a 911 or V6 Exige, but with 2 small little ones I decided a 4 seater drop top would be more fun for all the family. We could load up and go to the beach for the day, whilst still possessing enough sass to excite on a Sunday morning.
There is a severe lack of proper information and good reviews of the cab online - so I'll try and give you a good honest report.
Looks - from the front it looks typical M4. From the rear its not perfect with the roof up, but it still looks pretty menacing with big arches, tyres and 4 pipes. With the roof down however the rear looks pretty decent and works well.
I have the OEM carbon splitter upfront and rear diffuser, this makes the car look much more aggressive and sets it apart from all the 440i's. If you can get a car with this on it, then do - its expensive to retrofit.
Sound - lets get this out of the way as its a common complaint about the M4. HOWEVER, when people refer to the M4 they are never speaking about the convertible. I will happily admit that M3/M4 sounds pretty meh in coupe form from the inside, its a big let down. The convertible however is an entirely different proposition, with the roof down its pretty rude and you can hear all sorts of noises.
In efficient mode the car sounds relatively beefy, but is sedate and doesnt pop and burble away. With the roof down it sounds nice and smooth and grown up. Stick the car into Sport Plus and it all changes, you have a louder drone during all acceleration, huge exhaust barks as you come off throttle when boost has built (the sort that scares kids and grannies) and pretty ridiculous burbles off throttle at lower speeds.
Personally I think the burbles at low speeds sound absolutely stupid and I try my hardest to keep my foot on the throttle slightly so it doesnt engage.
Roof down, Sport Plus, full acceleration through the gears and it sounds pretty decent, its nothing spectacular but everybody who has been in the car has commented that it sounds good.
Grunt - as you are aware the cab has >200kg more to shift than the coupe. However on the road I dont think you really notice this through acceleration, the car feels extremely fast at all speeds. Infact with the roof down Id go as far as saying the Convertible feels faster than a coupe as you have a more visceral experience. The engine is happy to be revved out or you can just rely on the torque and make rapid progress whilst short shifting. The only place where the weight can be felt is through continual hard braking, but this is to be expected - it's physics right? The brakes whilst not spectacular are plenty good for road use.
My car is DCT and the box fits the car perfectly, the manual feels slow and outdated by comparison (and I like a manual.)
Handling - IMO this is 100% down to the driver. The car has a reputation of being a handful and from reading many forums it sounds like the majority of owners are absolutely terrified of their car.
The car handles very well, but requires a confident driver who understands traction!! If you drive the car properly its brilliant, sharp turn in and plenty of traction from the rears. However to extract the best from the car you have to remove some of the aids - the systems cut the power too early too often.
If you set the car to the middle mode of (MDM) the car is great, you can drive well whilst retaining a small safety net.
If you switch it all off, you find another level of performance and realise how even the "sporty" MDM mode calls play on the power when you dont even realise. The car feels quicker in a straight line and no power is held back on corner exit - but its down to you to drive properly and control that throttle properly!
But be aware, if you switch it all off and go drive like a tt you WILL end up in a hedge.
I personally love a car with an edge like this, it makes the driving experience exciting and makes you respect the car. Sure, a stage 1 Golf R driven by a 17yr old will likely get you from A-B quicker - but thats boring and easy.
Interior - Meh, typical BMW 4 Series affair. Cars with full black interiors are very plain and boring, look for a car with coloured leather and/or extended leather packages that make the dash more exciting/plush. My car is Azurite Black and has the Sakhir orange (red) leather and it works nicely.
Practicality - Its bloody good for what it is. 4 adults fit nicely with the roof down, although rear is cramped on longer journeys. We use the car with 2 child seats and its OK. I wouldnt want to use it daily as its a pain to strap them in, but its perfectly usable. We can also squeeze a pram in the boot with the roof down...
If there are just two of you using the car you can fit the wind deflector. This works a treat and really helps reduce wind in the cabin - I have done 3hr motorway journeys with the roof down whilst making calls with the deflector in place.
Running - I do a lot of short journeys and drive the car hard, I average 17/18mpg. Although it can do 25-30 if you want it to.
Compared to the E92 the M4 is on another level performance wise. The E92 is brilliant when pushing towards red line in 2nd and 3rd, but in my opinion thats its only benefit - the F80/2 moves the game on in all other areas. Whilst the V8 in the E92 is lovely, it does have its issues and I still think it feels overworked in the M3 - this engine would be magic in a 1100-1200kg car.
The F83 M4 convertible has the same and possibly even further progression over its predecessor. Back to back, the E93 will feel considerably slower than the M4 and the torque makes the car more enjoyable to cruise about in.
My car is a 2017 Comp pack and I bought outright, used with just 5k on the clock at >25k less than list price - I would NOT buy new this late in the cars life unless its a silly deal. My car is Azurite Black with Sakhir Orange interior, Carbon bits, HK Stereo, HUD, Air collar etc. Id recommend the HK, HUD and Air collar - these are good and desirable options for resale too.
Few pics...
Dealer pics when purchased. (no front lip)
With the family bus at home. (no front lip)
With a local mineral Grey M4 Comp (now with front lip)
Having no roof makes it good for DIY/tip runs!
Great write up sir, enjoyed reading that! I wanted a 911 or V6 Exige, but with 2 small little ones I decided a 4 seater drop top would be more fun for all the family. We could load up and go to the beach for the day, whilst still possessing enough sass to excite on a Sunday morning.
There is a severe lack of proper information and good reviews of the cab online - so I'll try and give you a good honest report.
Looks - from the front it looks typical M4. From the rear its not perfect with the roof up, but it still looks pretty menacing with big arches, tyres and 4 pipes. With the roof down however the rear looks pretty decent and works well.
I have the OEM carbon splitter upfront and rear diffuser, this makes the car look much more aggressive and sets it apart from all the 440i's. If you can get a car with this on it, then do - its expensive to retrofit.
Sound - lets get this out of the way as its a common complaint about the M4. HOWEVER, when people refer to the M4 they are never speaking about the convertible. I will happily admit that M3/M4 sounds pretty meh in coupe form from the inside, its a big let down. The convertible however is an entirely different proposition, with the roof down its pretty rude and you can hear all sorts of noises.
In efficient mode the car sounds relatively beefy, but is sedate and doesnt pop and burble away. With the roof down it sounds nice and smooth and grown up. Stick the car into Sport Plus and it all changes, you have a louder drone during all acceleration, huge exhaust barks as you come off throttle when boost has built (the sort that scares kids and grannies) and pretty ridiculous burbles off throttle at lower speeds.
Personally I think the burbles at low speeds sound absolutely stupid and I try my hardest to keep my foot on the throttle slightly so it doesnt engage.
Roof down, Sport Plus, full acceleration through the gears and it sounds pretty decent, its nothing spectacular but everybody who has been in the car has commented that it sounds good.
Grunt - as you are aware the cab has >200kg more to shift than the coupe. However on the road I dont think you really notice this through acceleration, the car feels extremely fast at all speeds. Infact with the roof down Id go as far as saying the Convertible feels faster than a coupe as you have a more visceral experience. The engine is happy to be revved out or you can just rely on the torque and make rapid progress whilst short shifting. The only place where the weight can be felt is through continual hard braking, but this is to be expected - it's physics right? The brakes whilst not spectacular are plenty good for road use.
My car is DCT and the box fits the car perfectly, the manual feels slow and outdated by comparison (and I like a manual.)
Handling - IMO this is 100% down to the driver. The car has a reputation of being a handful and from reading many forums it sounds like the majority of owners are absolutely terrified of their car.
The car handles very well, but requires a confident driver who understands traction!! If you drive the car properly its brilliant, sharp turn in and plenty of traction from the rears. However to extract the best from the car you have to remove some of the aids - the systems cut the power too early too often.
If you set the car to the middle mode of (MDM) the car is great, you can drive well whilst retaining a small safety net.
If you switch it all off, you find another level of performance and realise how even the "sporty" MDM mode calls play on the power when you dont even realise. The car feels quicker in a straight line and no power is held back on corner exit - but its down to you to drive properly and control that throttle properly!
But be aware, if you switch it all off and go drive like a t
t you WILL end up in a hedge. I personally love a car with an edge like this, it makes the driving experience exciting and makes you respect the car. Sure, a stage 1 Golf R driven by a 17yr old will likely get you from A-B quicker - but thats boring and easy.
Interior - Meh, typical BMW 4 Series affair. Cars with full black interiors are very plain and boring, look for a car with coloured leather and/or extended leather packages that make the dash more exciting/plush. My car is Azurite Black and has the Sakhir orange (red) leather and it works nicely.
Practicality - Its bloody good for what it is. 4 adults fit nicely with the roof down, although rear is cramped on longer journeys. We use the car with 2 child seats and its OK. I wouldnt want to use it daily as its a pain to strap them in, but its perfectly usable. We can also squeeze a pram in the boot with the roof down...
If there are just two of you using the car you can fit the wind deflector. This works a treat and really helps reduce wind in the cabin - I have done 3hr motorway journeys with the roof down whilst making calls with the deflector in place.
Running - I do a lot of short journeys and drive the car hard, I average 17/18mpg. Although it can do 25-30 if you want it to.
Compared to the E92 the M4 is on another level performance wise. The E92 is brilliant when pushing towards red line in 2nd and 3rd, but in my opinion thats its only benefit - the F80/2 moves the game on in all other areas. Whilst the V8 in the E92 is lovely, it does have its issues and I still think it feels overworked in the M3 - this engine would be magic in a 1100-1200kg car.
The F83 M4 convertible has the same and possibly even further progression over its predecessor. Back to back, the E93 will feel considerably slower than the M4 and the torque makes the car more enjoyable to cruise about in.
My car is a 2017 Comp pack and I bought outright, used with just 5k on the clock at >25k less than list price - I would NOT buy new this late in the cars life unless its a silly deal. My car is Azurite Black with Sakhir Orange interior, Carbon bits, HK Stereo, HUD, Air collar etc. Id recommend the HK, HUD and Air collar - these are good and desirable options for resale too.
Few pics...
Dealer pics when purchased. (no front lip)
With the family bus at home. (no front lip)
With a local mineral Grey M4 Comp (now with front lip)
Having no roof makes it good for DIY/tip runs!
Edited by russy01 on Friday 9th August 06:57
BuzyG said:
Have you thought about a new Z4 M40i. With a simple tune, it will be just as rapid and save you a few Bob. Of course it won't be an ///M car, but are any of them really true ///M cars these days..
I have, actually. I really like the look and it's nice to see a BMW without a facsimile interior.Edited by BuzyG on Tuesday 20th August 00:39
My main concern would be the level of depreciation on them. They're creeping under £40k now but I suspect a year's use would lose a good £8k-10k on one.
I've not had chance to drive an M4 yet due to holiday. I did recce a well-priced Comp Pack coupe @ £34k at my local Sytners, but the front end (Tanzanite) is in terrible shape due to stone chips.
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