M4 advice

[SteveChester]

Guys might be swapping out my 330d for a M4.

What's real world MPG and servicing costs like?

[ravibasuta]

Originally Posted by SteveChester

Guys might be swapping out my 330d for a M4.

What's real world MPG and servicing costs like?

I drive 200ish miles a week mixed style, get about 22-25. Put about 50 quid a week in. Only had car since Dec, so i expect less in summer! Waaaay better than the M5 i had. Not sure on servicing yet.

[Mav281]

I tend to consider my M4 driving as reasonably balanced, two kids in the back sometimes other times I'm foot nailed to the floor. My OBC currently reads 27.4MPG, even in this cold weather - take from that what you will.

Servicing wise, M cars are not cheap. If you're lucky enough to have one new enough for the 1200 mile run in check, you are looking at anything between £150 and £350 from what I've heard - that's for an oil change essentially. From thereon servicing gets progressively more expensive with the first major service (INSP1) costing north of £1k.

Tyres will be another consideration. £250 a corner minimum if you want to buy decent premium quality tyres that will provide you with some level of grip.

Fuel - Tesco 99 is all I use and it's £70 to fill the tank on most occasions.

Hopefully none of that scares you because M ownership is something all petrol heads should get to experience at least once in their car careers.

[RalphyBMW]

40+ mpg in the 330dx now 28+ in the M3
First service (running in) ~£200
18k/24m ~£300
36k/48m ~£800+
Tyres ~£300/corner

[SteveChester]

Cool thanks it's not a new one - done 34k and has a service pack until next June so just wondering after that.

[SO17]

Check which service pack it has as they changed it from 5 years to 3 years. Running in service is around £340 but yours will have had that. Oil service around 18K miles is approx £170. After that it's the first main service around 36K miles which involves a spark plug change and is from £600 upwards depending on the dealer and which part of the country you are in. ie southern dealers will charge more

[gatsojon]

I did this exact swap 18 months ago and no regrets at all.

My average mpg is 27 where I was getting 47 with the 330D. I took the 5 year service pack at the time which means I get running in service, 1st oil and 2nd full which made it worth while. At the time, the insurance actually went down a few quid - very odd!

It's obviously more expensive to run overall but it's lots more fun and for me, worth the extra cost.

[Paul SR]

Still fairly early with my car but average 23 mpg

[t5pilot]

Originally Posted by gatsojon

I did this exact swap 18 months ago and no regrets at all.

My average mpg is 27 where I was getting 47 with the 330D. I took the 5 year service pack at the time which means I get running in service, 1st oil and 2nd full which made it worth while. At the time, the insurance actually went down a few quid - very odd!

It's obviously more expensive to run overall but it's lots more fun and for me, worth the extra cost.

+1 for me too. Just do it, you won't regret it...

[Cruickie]

Just done the same a couple of weeks ago but the M3 no regrets , M car totally different animal from 330

[Wills2]

30mpg is my average in the M3, I've done 67k in mine and has cost me around £3500 in tyres and servicing and about £13,000 in fuel so 25p per mile.

[EvilMiyagi]

I did approx 50 miles a day and was averaging about 27mpg with some fun!

Do it, you will not be disappointed.

[CJPJ]

New car with 1,500 miles on and I'm averaging 24 mpg with 75% sensible driving. I guess its a new engine and its winter. Would prefer it to go up but assume it will drop to 20 mpg in the summer with some decent driving.

[Geordie Amanda]

Ello, newbie here Can I ask what the tyre noise is like on motorways at a 'realistic' cruising speed. I have an M135 and it's noisier than a colleagues RS4, at least for tyre roar and I have heard the M3/4 is pretty bad. A couple of years ago I had an M3 loan car for a day, but was so excited at playing in it, I didn't realise if the tyres were noisy or not.

ps Ello Evilmiyagi

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by Geordie Amanda

Ello, newbie here Can I ask what the tyre noise is like on motorways at a 'realistic' cruising speed. I have an M135 and it's noisier than a colleagues RS4, at least for tyre roar and I have heard the M3/4 is pretty bad. A couple of years ago I had an M3 loan car for a day, but was so excited at playing in it, I didn't realise if the tyres were noisy or not.

ps Ello Evilmiyagi

It's a bit noisy on all but the smoothest of tarmac at motorway speeds, you just get used to it and turn the radio up.

[gatsojon]

Originally Posted by Geordie Amanda

Ello, newbie here Can I ask what the tyre noise is like on motorways at a 'realistic' cruising speed. I have an M135 and it's noisier than a colleagues RS4, at least for tyre roar and I have heard the M3/4 is pretty bad. A couple of years ago I had an M3 loan car for a day, but was so excited at playing in it, I didn't realise if the tyres were noisy or not.

ps Ello Evilmiyagi

It's not quiet. But then nor was my 330d on 19" Bridgestones. Mine is quieter now on the 19" winters than the standard 20" MPSS. You best try one again.

[Geordie Amanda]

Originally Posted by gatsojon

It's not quiet. But then nor was my 330d on 19" Bridgestones. Mine is quieter now on the 19" winters than the standard 20" MPSS. You best try one again.

What was nice about my day in the M3 was I had it without a salesman/woman bolted in the seat next to me. I would probably only push for that kind of full days test drive if I was in a position to buy. At the moment I'm looking at my options as I'm in the 4th year of a PCP and have reached the VT point on the finance. Current discounts on the M3/4 put the car almost within reach at the mo and the M3 was always on my 'to own before I die' list mind you the C63 has similar discounts and who doesn't like a V8

But Like the OP I am very keen to get real world tips from current owners

[robga255]

C63 was my car alternative to the M4. That was u TIL I test drove the pair of them back to back. Unless you have the ££££ to stretch for the C63’s with a proper exhaust it’s no comparison to the current M3/M4 CP. in my opinion anyway. The C63 was fun but I just felt it wanted to put my in in a ditch/wall or pretty much anything other than the road when I gave it a prod. The M4 is the same but I find it a little more predictable

[ojawed]

Originally Posted by SteveChester

Guys might be swapping out my 330d for a M4.

What's real world MPG and servicing costs like?

I had a 430d and sold it Nov 2017.
I used to do mainly local roads with regular motorway blasts. I used to get around 350 miles from a full tank.
My 2017 M3 with the same sort of driving I get around 250 miles from a tank.
But, the m3 is much more entertaining. I'm still not used to the brutal acceleration in 3rd gear on the M3.

[Paul SR]

Originally Posted by Geordie Amanda

What was nice about my day in the M3 was I had it without a salesman/woman bolted in the seat next to me. I would probably only push for that kind of full days test drive if I was in a position to buy. At the moment I'm looking at my options as I'm in the 4th year of a PCP and have reached the VT point on the finance. Current discounts on the M3/4 put the car almost within reach at the mo and the M3 was always on my 'to own before I die' list mind you the C63 has similar discounts and who doesn't like a V8

But Like the OP I am very keen to get real world tips from current owners

You need one M car in your life. This is my first one as always promised myself I would get one. Possibly Alfa Quadrafoglio next ...did I just say that..typo

[Dyl360]

I’m still very early days on my M4, but seem to be getting 17-23 mpg. Servicing as above but wasn’t really a concern for me as even the most expensive one is still vastly cheaper than my last car.

[Anthonydevz]

How are you guys getting this mpg? I'm in central london Fulham, my average on the dash says 15.2mpg???? Filling up £70+
Car is a 2014 plate done 27k service is due in 1k miles or June I think so I'm thinking that will be a big service?