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

[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.

[Maz335i]

Great review!!!

[YianniM3]

Bonovox

great read! I have the same color combo coming for my f80 SB/SO should be here mid august i can't wait!

Where in Boston are you?

[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.

[JoeFromPA]

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.

It's the new e39 m5

[Jockey]

Originally Posted by JoeFromPA

It's the new e39 m5

The car that truly started my love of all things BMW and M.

[Black Gold]

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.

this really doesn't make sense to me at all



1) the e60 m5 was an overgrown sports car? it had a high revving engine but was also 4000 lbs, had horrible brakes and handles like a boat. its far less of a sports car than any m3.

2) the e9x had more of a weight and size difference compared to a 911 or corvette of its generation than the f8x does to the 911 or corvette of the current generation.

The f8x is lighter while the 911 is heavier than it used to be. Again, other than a high revving engine I don't see really how the e9x is more of a sports car than the f8x.

The m3 has been a sports coupe / sedan, but never a sports car. Its had the same differences between itself and true sports cars since the e36 m3. I cant see how this is different now?

[solstice]

Originally Posted by JoeFromPA

It's the new e39 m5

Yes, the modern E39.

[ixse]

i remeber when i had e60 m5.. those 11mpg numbers.. i had to fill up after a simple trip to la and back...

[GBPackerfan1963]

Originally Posted by JoeFromPA

It's the new e39 m5

MFing

[VCP]

Great review and posts!

[kriegs]

Love that summation and I should feel even more practical because I will have 4 doors

[MaynardZed]

Originally Posted by KennyPowers

this really doesn't make sense to me at all



1) the e60 m5 was an overgrown sports car? it had a high revving engine but was also 4000 lbs, had horrible brakes and handles like a boat. its far less of a sports car than any m3.

I tracked an E60 M5 for about a year, and it actually had awesome breaks, you just needed to switch pads out. You could stand it on its head with no problems. Yes it was too heavy for tight tracks, but it handled extremely well for its size. A boat it was not.

[dhoggm3]

Great write-up!. I'm soing the same thing in less than 2 weeks. Can't wait!

[polly]

Great write up man
i have lots of friends arguing about how much better the e92 was and what a mistake i made ordering the f80
i will now show them your post cause they explain exactly my thoughts of the new car
and i love new technology

[Caelric]

Originally Posted by Bonovox

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.

As a pretty big cyclist myself, gotta ask, what kind of bike (road, mountain, tri, etc...) and did you have to remove the front wheel or did it just slide in no issues?

[Audio Fan]

Ditto the bike question.

[/// M sa]

Originally Posted by polly

Great write up man
i have lots of friends arguing about how much better the e92 was and what a mistake i made ordering the f80
i will now show them your post cause they explain exactly my thoughts of the new car
and i love new technology

Don't even try, they all are lost cause.

[WCH]

Congrats! Hope to see you around.

[ss134]

Took my friend to the airport today and in the way home I was sat behind an E60 M5 -I was dying to have a play but we were on a tight country road and it was raining very hard, so hard the wipers couldn't clear the windscreen fast enough - real shame as I wonder how my car would have compared.

OP- when you say the M3 is faster I assume you just mean in gear acceleration at lower speeds? Is there a noticeable difference or is it slight? I fully expect that if I saw one on the autobahn and we went from a 80 mph roll that I would be seeing his exhaust pipes disappearing in front of me.

[AreOut]

E60 has better aero and it will pull ahead at 100+ mph rolls

also it's not everything about speed, there is something about sound, feeling etc.

[991brothers]

This is why my M4 will be replacing my cayenne and 330ci combined lol