The beauty of the M4 (vs e60 M5) after 1000 miles

[sonny]

Originally Posted by Bonovox

I've had my M4 for 2 weeks and 1,000 miles now. Its taken me awhile to get used to the power delivery compared to the E60 M5, which was more raw and lived above 5000rpm. The M4 -- there just isn't much to be gained up there in everyday driving, but oh my god it is fast...sneaky fast.

With the M5 I'd really wind out first gear, but in the M4 there is no reason to as the torque is so linear. Get it into second and just go...its unbelievable. The M4 is clearly faster, there's just a lot less fuss.

I can't yet really drive/shift by the sound of the engine the way I could with the M5. With the M5 and my erstwhile Maserati Ghibli SQ4 ( a real mistake -- everyone is entitled to one) I'd drive with the windows open as much as possible, but with the M4 you drive with the windows up so you can hear the engine.

Handling is amazing. Chassis is unflappable. By comparison this car is supremely nimble. There is a 140 degree left-right downhill switchback on my way home from work that is not much wider than the car itself, with a big dip in the exit where the E60 frequently bottomed out in front. I can take that turn at 50 mph in the M4 while drinking a cup a of tea!!

Let me give two really BIG reasons why this car was rated over the 911 in that one review and why it is so much better for me than the M5 -- practicality and the ability to drive it pianissimo when you want and need to.

Exhibit one -- every day I fold down the seats, open the trunk and slide my bicycle right in the back. No need to gerryrig some sketchy bike rack which will almost certainly demand you stay under 75 mph. In the winter I'll just throw my skis back there.

Exhibit two -- driving to and from the Cape last weekend with my wife in stop and go traffic. There's nowhere to pass. Put everything on efficient/comfort and enjoy the ride. Got 28 mpg vs 11 for the M5.

Exhibit three -- head out to dinner with another couple and they're like, hey, lets check out your new car. Ladies climb in the back. "Hey do you want me to move my seat up? Nope, plenty of room." You'd have to leave the 911/Corvette/Cayman/F-Type at home. And let me say this -- there's no bucking bronco SMG transmission giving everyone whiplash either.

Exhibit three -- my elderly in laws are visiting. My wife asks me to take them over to her brothers about 35 minutes away. Okay, SUV or M4? My wife gives me one of those looks -- "You better drive nice -- my mother gets car sick on winding roads." Put everything on comfort and no problem. There's no body roll. SMG -- fugettaboutit.

On the way home I hit 120 mph.

That's the beauty of the M4.

Like ure post!!

[bm323]

Originally Posted by solstice

This is what the F8X seems to be. A better M5. A sneaky fast car with effortless power that cuddles you in luxury and smooth ride while handling like a champ. The E60 M5 is a bit of an abomination of an M5, a wonderful abomination in my book since it's really an overgrown sports car, quite raw and hi-strung. The F10 M5 is just wrong, a boat. The F8X seems to be a perfect M5/M6 to me. I had an E60 535i sport that I really liked, I see my coming F80 more as a replacement for that car than my E90 M3 which is more of a classic sports car/sedan.

You just can't get over not being able to have a F10 M5, can you? And is this all you are going to say about the E60 M5, when you were so full of praise for it?? Your posts are full of inconsistencies, claiming repeatedly that BMW lost it after the E series, and now getting one. Heaped praises incessantly on the E60 M5 but never got one. Again heaped praises on the E90 M3, expressing disappointment with the F30 but never place your money where your mouth is, and failed to get the last production year E90 M3

[aus]

Originally Posted by dhoggm3

BMW M Performance School instructors ran a box stock M4 at VIR with NASA a couple weeks ago in the 2:08's. That's ridiculous. On stock tires.

You do realize most of the M Performance School insturctors are REAL, PAID race car drivers???

People on the board who don't track have NO IDEA how much the driver matters when it comes to lap times. It's WAY more important than the car.

.

[RPiM5]

Originally Posted by aus

You do realize most of the M Performance School insturctors are REAL, PAID race car drivers???

People on the board who don't track have NO IDEA how much the driver matter when it comes to lap times. It's WAY more important than the car.

.

It also depends on which configuration VIR was in when they drove the M4.

http://fastestlaps.com/tracks/virgin...l_raceway.html

[dhoggm3]

Originally Posted by aus

You do realize most of the M Performance School insturctors are REAL, PAID race car drivers???

People on the board who don't track have NO IDEA how much the driver matters when it comes to lap times. It's WAY more important than the car.

.

Actually I do realize that. Be careful about insulting folks on the forum you don't know. I've had pro drivers get in my car and run 2-3 seconds per lap faster - it's humbling.

Clearly they were running the full course.

The year I won the BMW CCA Club Racing IS NE regional championship, the winning IS time at the Octoberfest race at VIR was 2:16.XX. In this year's spring sprint race, only three of 44 racers in the entire BMW CCA Club Racing field beat a 2:08.XX lap time.

There are benchmarks. Check them before you try to look smart. Running 2:08.XX straight from the showroom floor - even with Bill Auberlen driving - is phenomenal.

[PawnStar]

Originally Posted by aus

You do realize most of the M Performance School insturctors are REAL, PAID race car drivers???

.

Who?

[shu5892001]

I would still want a E60, just for the V10

[dbworld4k]

Originally Posted by JoeFromPA

It's the new e39 m5

Beat me to it.

[gearboxtrouble]

Great post. Sums the the ownership experience perfectly imo. I went from a e92 M3 to the M4 and agree with every word here.

[krnnerdboy]

Went from e63 m6 to 6gc to m3 and I love this car for what it is. Nothing compares to the wail of the s85 v10 but it sure is nice not having the looming gloom of spun rod bearings and vanos issues. Always had to have at least $7k on the side for that car.