F82 M4 Test Drive/Review - Wow (Current C63 Owner)

[pkimM3r]

was the induction noise due to active sound?

funny thing is, i drove a 428i with active sound and it actually sounded good (i didn't know it was fake until someone told me).....

[ybbiz34]

Originally Posted by SlowSaloonM3

was the induction noise due to active sound?

funny thing is, i drove a 428i with active sound and it actually sounded good (i didn't know it was fake until someone told me).....

No, I could hear it because the windows were down.

Haha I know what you mean. I have trouble differentiating real sound from Active Sound.

[pkimM3r]

Originally Posted by ybbiz34

No, I could hear it because the windows were down.

Haha I know what you mean. I have trouble differentiating real sound from Active Sound.

i would think the engine would have more of a whistle though...maybe someone can mod to make it sound like a 787 getting ready for takeoff

[Boss330]

Originally Posted by SlowSaloonM3

was the induction noise due to active sound?

funny thing is, i drove a 428i with active sound and it actually sounded good (i didn't know it was fake until someone told me).....

Agree on the 428i. It sounds really good in the cabin, and doesn't sound artificial either

[pkimM3r]

Originally Posted by Boss330

Agree on the 428i. It sounds really good in the cabin, and doesn't sound artificial either

yeah i was trippin' out when my buddy let me drive it...it actually sounded nice and shifted nicely too (sport auto). i was surprised...how could this sound different than a 328i with the exact same engine. then my brothers laughs his ass off and says its active sound. damn, BMW fooled me. LOL

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by SlowSaloonM3

i would think the engine would have more of a whistle though...maybe someone can mod to make it sound like a 787 getting ready for takeoff

I think we may just have found a solution for the S65 lovers.

[mattkim85]

Originally Posted by JL M3

Great summary of the sound. Glad someone feels the same way I do (and many others who have heard it in person do).

I mentioned this in another thread that got deleted - I had the chance to spend a week in Europe with 21 other M3/M4s. During the trip, I had the chance to hear the car (22 of them) in almost every imaginable situation - indoors, outdoors, city cruising, autobahn passes at 140mph, countless tunnels, at Spa, at Nurburgring, on deserted German country roads, etc.

I was blown away by the sound. Absolutely loved it. And I wasn't alone on the trip. We had numerous discussions about how good the car sounded.

For those that haven't heard it in person on the road, please don't make any judgments from videos or standstill revs. Sounds horrible IMO in both cases. Some still won't like it - understandable given that sound preference is exactly that, a personal preference - but please don't judge until you've spent some time with the car.

I agree. The sound is awesome. Just wish it had an extra 1.5-2k RPM at the end to top it off.

[Sean@PSI]

Originally Posted by ybbiz34

Your analogies are way better than mine! But I agree. The exhaust has its own unique sound, which fits the character of the M3/M4 very well.

+1

[F80NJM3]

Awesome write up. I couldn't agree more regarding sound since there were many question marks. Heard it in person and sounds so perfect.

[Shankska]

"The overrun "pop" this car produces WILL scare small women and children"

hahahahhaa

[YungDro]

Lovely review!

[myzmak]

Was away for a week so missed the original posting of this, but great review @ybbiz34. I know from some of our other discussions you have a great objective appreciation of good cars (as you and others have noted, taking the W204 C63 507 version over the E9x) and it is great to see that your drive of this ride exceeded your expectations.

Other than the timing or the lack of MT (which is always a sore spot with a Benz), what would make you spring for the F82 instead of waiting for the W205 AMG?

[snaimpally]

Thanks for the very well written review! The professional reviewers (R&T, MT, C&D,.Automobile, etc) have said that BMW has nailed the spirit of the classic M3s of yesteryear in the new M3/M4 offerings. From your description, the E90 M3 sounds a bit like a Honda VTEC; all the torque comes above 4000 rpm and constant manipulation of the gears is needed to stay in the torque range. One of the advatnages of a turbo is the availability of torque much earlier.

I'm sure I am in the minority in wanting a quiet car to listen to audio while having great performance, so the idea of active sound makes me cringe, but those mechanisms are usually easily bypassed. I would have been more interested in an option for active noise cancellation, similar to what Acura and others are using. Ah well - each to his own! I am going to have to test drive one soon.

[kgroschi]

Originally Posted by ybbiz34

Transmission: The upshifts are so smooth that they're almost imperceptible.

This is what I hate about the DCT... I don't want to buy a sports car to have imperceptible gear changes. That's why the SMG was much more fun imo and fun is what I want to have in an M car 24/7.

[Fifth Echelon]

Originally Posted by kgroschi

This is what I hate about the DCT... I don't want to buy a sports car to have imperceptible gear changes. That's why the SMG was much more fun imo and fun is what I want to have in an M car 24/7.

Well, you could just run the DCT in D3/S3 for those neck-snapping shifts.

[Audio Fan]

Originally Posted by kgroschi

This is what I hate about the DCT... I don't want to buy a sports car to have imperceptible gear changes. That's why the SMG was much more fun imo and fun is what I want to have in an M car 24/7.

The SMG sucked so bad, I can't believe anyone liked it. The DCT changes are smooth and fast, but the power delivery upon a change will definitely provide the thump of a gear change. Don't mistake the loss off momentum before power is reapplied in manual or SMG shifts with a strength. When you change from from one gear to the next, without letting of the gas, in less than 100ms with this much power, you will feel it.

Also, the DCT in the E92 M3 was much better and aggressive than the regular 3-series or Z4s. I didn't like them at all - they did feel sluggish and soft.

[DieGrüneHölle]

Originally Posted by kgroschi

This is what I hate about the DCT... I don't want to buy a sports car to have imperceptible gear changes. That's why the SMG was much more fun imo and fun is what I want to have in an M car 24/7.

Originally Posted by Audio Fan

The SMG sucked so bad, I can't believe anyone liked it. The DCT changes are smooth and fast, but the power delivery upon a change will definitely provide the thump of a gear change. Don't mistake the loss off momentum before power is reapplied in manual or SMG shifts with a strength. When you change from from one gear to the next, without letting of the gas, in less than 100ms with this much power, you will feel it.

Also, the DCT in the E92 M3 was much better and aggressive than the regular 3-series or Z4s. I didn't like them at all - they did feel sluggish and soft.

I liked the SMG as well, for the same reason. The more jerky and aggressive it felt the more I liked it. It felt like a manual gearbox. If things get too smooth, they will begin to feel like a traditional automatic. That is why I laugh at the guys reviewing the Aventador and its single clutch transmission. Lambo put that in there on purpose, for emotion and visceral feel. The weenies driving it always complain it is too rough.

[vinny84]

Just read this. Great review!

Very interesting to hear a C63 owner's perspective. Never drove a C63, but I'm sure it's one insane car, in a good way

[ybbiz34]

Originally Posted by gs24F10

Awesome write up. I couldn't agree more regarding sound since there were many question marks. Heard it in person and sounds so perfect.

Thank you very much, gs24F10!

Originally Posted by Shankska

"The overrun "pop" this car produces WILL scare small women and children"

hahahahhaa

Haha it's true! I couldn't even imagine their reactions if they heard this car snarl in a parking garage.

Lups can handle it though.

Originally Posted by YungDro

Lovely review!

Thanks buddy! How is the car quest coming along?

Originally Posted by myzmak

Was away for a week so missed the original posting of this, but great review @ybbiz34. I know from some of our other discussions you have a great objective appreciation of good cars (as you and others have noted, taking the W204 C63 507 version over the E9x) and it is great to see that your drive of this ride exceeded your expectations.

Other than the timing or the lack of MT (which is always a sore spot with a Benz), what would make you spring for the F82 instead of waiting for the W205 AMG?

Great hearing from you myzmak! Thanks for reading/commenting!

The W205 reveal should be coming in September so I'll have some time to decide whether I want to stick with my F80 order. However, now I know that regardless of how good the W205 is, I will be thrilled with the F80. I was very tempted to buy the F82 right on the spot despite it not having the interior color I was after.

My decision will become more difficult if: 1) The W205 can be fitted from the factory with the wonderful Recaro one-piece seats found in both the CLA45 and AMG GT (photo below) and 2) the "S" model is available with 510 horsepower.

Originally Posted by snaimpally

Thanks for the very well written review! The professional reviewers (R&T, MT, C&D,.Automobile, etc) have said that BMW has nailed the spirit of the classic M3s of yesteryear in the new M3/M4 offerings. From your description, the E90 M3 sounds a bit like a Honda VTEC; all the torque comes above 4000 rpm and constant manipulation of the gears is needed to stay in the torque range. One of the advatnages of a turbo is the availability of torque much earlier.

I'm sure I am in the minority in wanting a quiet car to listen to audio while having great performance, so the idea of active sound makes me cringe, but those mechanisms are usually easily bypassed. I would have been more interested in an option for active noise cancellation, similar to what Acura and others are using. Ah well - each to his own! I am going to have to test drive one soon.

Thanks for the kind words! You are absolutely right; the power delivery of the S55 in the F80/F82 S55 is vastly different from the power delivery of the S65 in the E90/E92. BMW M always manages to make the motor's power delivery fit the overall character of the car.

In case you did not know, I believe you can disable the Active Sound via coding. It's not as straightforward as a disable button, but coding is still relatively easy and safe.

Originally Posted by kgroschi

This is what I hate about the DCT... I don't want to buy a sports car to have imperceptible gear changes. That's why the SMG was much more fun imo and fun is what I want to have in an M car 24/7.

I will say that at lower speeds, you can definitely feel the effects of engine braking when downshifting.

[ybbiz34]

Originally Posted by vinny84

Just read this. Great review!

Very interesting to hear a C63 owner's perspective. Never drove a C63, but I'm sure it's one insane car, in a good way

Thanks Vinny! I appreciate you taking the time to read.

The C63 is indeed a very insane car. Insane sound, insane power, insane braking and . . . insane fuel consumption. The steering on the LCI cars is a joy, too.

[Lups]

Maybe I can, and but I'm sure I will be even more popular at my current home street and my other dog freaks out when she hears the sound.

I can always hide the sound behind music, if too lazy to do it by coding.

[yosman8]

Originally Posted by

In case you did not know, I believe you can disable the Active Sound via coding. [/B

It's not as straightforward as a disable button, but coding is still relatively easy and safe.

Any info on the specificities of this yet? Any coders solving this problem?