Detailed M4 Track Review - Back from Spa and Nurburgring

[Suave]

Originally Posted by karussell

Finally uncompressed a little after a very busy 2 week trip across the pond. I wanted to write my impressions on the car while everything is still fresh in my mind.

Background. I'm not biased towards any brand of auto. I evaluate all types of cars and the badge on them is the least of my concerns. its not even on the radar. I have however owned and driven and/or raced M3's from every generation up to the F82.

The F8X M3/M4 is the best BMW sports car I have ever driven. In fact I will say its my second favorite car I have ever driven. I am utterly shocked at how good this car is. The M3 has always been a jack of all trades but master of none. This new generation of M3/M4 however raises the bar so high it eliminates any reason for keeping a dedicated track car.......

Great Write up!! You should add that epic picture of you drifting the car at Spa for the headline!

@Jason Worthy of front page feature

[Mikli]

Originally Posted by karussell

Note on DSC On/Off MDM

After coaching several students I want to say MDM has been tuned so well. I am quite impressed at it. MDM allows for a decent amount of slip and intervenes when its really necessary. It certainly helps a right seat passenger feel more secure when guiding excited students through 4th gear turns. DSC On has to be relegated to just street driving now. It intervenes all the time on a track so I recommend to those learning to start with MDM but also be mindful its not magic. It can't save you from spinning off the course. so be smooth out there. DSC Off rocks. This car will happily drift a day and half non-stop. omg i miss my car! i hope mine gets on the faster boat across the pond!

The the track; Do you recommend MDM - on and DSC - off ?
What are the different setting combo you tested on the track? Or all electric nanny off?

[Rekrul]

Great review!

[CSanto]

Originally Posted by Tornrider

I get that the new F8X is good but its essentially from folks who have bought the car and will be paying for it over the next couple of years.

I get the feeling that these reviews are a way to justify your purchases.

When you have had a lot of cars you dont think like this.

My dad owns an F10 M5. He'll be the first to tell you its gotten big and heavy, and the DCT gets boring, but its fast as hell straight line, and its comfortable and its a great daily driver.

[karussell]

Originally Posted by stressdoc

Wow James, this is indeed high praise!

I am looking forward to playing in the rallye environment -- any thoughts on the extent to which the F8x will perform in the dirt?

haha i imagine it would be right at home as long as its on the ground.... most of the time

[swamp2]

Originally Posted by Tornrider

I get that the new F8X is good but its essentially from folks who have bought the car and will be paying for it over the next couple of years.

I get the feeling that these reviews are a way to justify your purchases.

I've been skeptical of many prior quickie/not pushing the car hard reviews from various sources here on the forum with unknown backgrounds. Those reviews many time were short, superficial and to my very skeptical nature, not entirely credible.

However, I do not at all feel this review warrants the same skepticism. I don't know the OP but he clearly has some skill, experience that dwarf mine.

OP, thank you for the details and attempt at scores as well. Sometimes I think scoring can be a bit arbitrary (say in some of the big magazine comparisons). Here, however, I simply view the scores are nice objective and subjective rankings on the relative performance and capability of the car.

There is certainly more evidence here that the CSiC brakes are going to offer marginal if any improvement (how much better than this could they be). I'm certainly a bit surprised by the lack of love for the M-DCT but that doesn't detract from the otherwise excellent review.

[karussell]

Originally Posted by ss134

Wow, comprehensive and detailed review. Many thanks for taking the time to write and post

Only problem is I'm picking my car up in 3 days time and am now even more excited

Edit: just out of interest you said this was the 2nd best car you've ever driven- what was no1?!

Number one is 997.2 GT3 RS. although on a public road in US its pretty pointless. maybe i'm getting old.

[Lups]

Thanks for writing this. You are a pleasure to read.

[rick berry]

Great read from someone who has actually owned and raced M cars. Not just theoretical knowledge, actual previous experience. Thumbs way up! The wait for my M4 is gonna be hard.

[karussell]

my pleasure. just my opinion. can't wait to get it stateside and back on the tracks on east coast.

i'll post some photos later or one of the guys from the trip can do that for me. we got plenty. lots of videos too.

[ersin]

Now, after having some 2 weeks or so with the car, you have to wait for it to come over on the boat. I'll bet it's gonna be a long hard wait. That's about the only bad thing about doing ED.

Thanks for review.


Cheers.

[MisterEm]

Thank you.

This is by far the most complete review I have seen on this new chassis.

Very much appreciated!

[solstice]

Is the new car a good track car? Check.
Looks like you had a blast in Europe, congrats to the new car and thanks for the review!

[PrimeBMW]

Quote : Brakes - stock lap after lap no fade. confidence inspiring. the ceramics are not needed. track work will need a slightly more aggressive pad than stock only because the stock pads will wear quickly with aggressive driving. modulation is superb. brake bias is slightly higher in rear than I prefer. rear end will wiggle when threshold braking. but i am just shocked to be talking about such minute things on oem Brake system for any BMW. the fact they work on multiple tracks back-to-back over several days is truly amazing. Porsche is no longer the sole king in the brake department.

F8X- 9.5/10
E9X M - 7/10

Wait wait wait! You are telling me that neither you nor Sabine could over work the oem brakes? I am shocked after the E92 M3 brakes.
BTW Sabine driving your car is quite nice!

[rubber_ducky]

Originally Posted by karussell

Number one is 997.2 GT3 RS. although on a public road in US its pretty pointless. maybe i'm getting old.

It seems that the scoring is based on other M cars (e9x in particular). I'd be curious to see your rankings using the 7.2RS as your frame of reference.

[karussell]

Originally Posted by PrimeBMW

Quote : Brakes - stock lap after lap no fade. confidence inspiring. the ceramics are not needed. track work will need a slightly more aggressive pad than stock only because the stock pads will wear quickly with aggressive driving. modulation is superb. brake bias is slightly higher in rear than I prefer. rear end will wiggle when threshold braking. but i am just shocked to be talking about such minute things on oem Brake system for any BMW. the fact they work on multiple tracks back-to-back over several days is truly amazing. Porsche is no longer the sole king in the brake department.

F8X- 9.5/10
E9X M - 7/10

Wait wait wait! You are telling me that neither you nor Sabine could over work the oem brakes? I am shocked after the E92 M3 brakes.
BTW Sabine driving your car is quite nice!

that is what i'm saying. Both of us did our best to push the car to its absolute limits and beyond. Sabine was also equally shocked. she thought i put different pads on it.

[karussell]

Originally Posted by rubber_ducky

It seems that the scoring is based on other M cars (e9x in particular). I'd be curious to see your rankings using the 7.2RS as your frame of reference.

hmm, lets see on a track it would be easy the 7.2RS would be pretty much all 10's. that car is simply perfection for a purist sports car.

on the street however the M4 would be my choice 9 times out of 10. the RS is a dedicated track toy. thats what it was designed to do. Its not light enough to compete with a Cup car. its too lean and aggressive to drive on public roads. being so focused on one task has its costs.

[stressdoc]

So is the F8x too much for USA roads?
Clearly it is a track beast.

[W///]

Originally Posted by karussell

that is what i'm saying. Both of us did our best to push the car to its absolute limits and beyond. Sabine was also equally shocked. she thought i put different pads on it.

That is pretty shocking. I loved the brake feel on the M4 I drove, but I had no idea if it could hold up to the abuse. Very nice surprise.

If you had to change the car (whether from factory or aftermarket), what would you do? Apart from wider tires. What do you think could be improved?

[dawgdog]

Great review with substance. I share your love for the RS and pretty much was buying this car for the street, but now I am getting excited about tracking it as well. I ordered the passive suspension and believe I can still change. Have you compared? I was not fond of the adaptive suspension on the e92 and test drove a car with passive suspension and it was planted. But not a lot of money so if it is really better I would not hesitate to change my order. Thanks again for the excellent write up.

[karussell]

Originally Posted by Mikli

The the track; Do you recommend MDM - on and DSC - off ?
What are the different setting combo you tested on the track? Or all electric nanny off?

I say it depends on your experience and comfort level. The cars limits matched with the Michelin pilot super sport tires is quite high.

I think anyone driving with instruction would be safe to start off in MDM. DSC intervenes way too easily and causes more problems then it solves.

Just remember to start off slowly and build up speed.

For me personally I prefer DSC Off - Adaptive Suspension on Sport Plus, Adaptive Steering Sport Plus - Throttle on Sport Plus. this is for a smooth track like Spa or Nurburgring GP. On a rough track like the Nurburgring Nordschleife I settled on Sport mode for the suspension. On autobahn high speed i picked Comfort.

Ultimately MDM will slow down the car and uses the rear brakes so the fastest setting for the car would be with DSC completely disabled. As nature intended it. as Sabine says, my butt is my dsc.

[karussell]

Originally Posted by stressdoc

So is the F8x too much for USA roads?
Clearly it is a track beast.

on the contrary if you can manage to steady your right foot its quite comfortable. on our way into Spa I was down to 50km's left until empty and still had 50km's to go. i went into super cruise mode and the car made 34.1mpg on average and i had another 50km's to go when i arrived at our destination.

the motor is very suitable for everyday driving with its useable torque. makes awesome noises too. on the RS you will be doing very illegal speeds before you even notice you are going quick.