F82 M4 vs F32 435

[AlexDD]

Thanks for the review! I am still on a fence, trying to decide which way to go - balls to the wall with m4/m3, or save about $250 monthly on the lease payment and settle with a 435/335. In my case, it is not a affordability question, it's about making the correct decision and spending money wisely.

Your review is exactly what I was looking for. An 435 owner who switched to m4. I'd also be very glad to see a review of an m4 owner switching to 435, which is a rare case. I am still leaning towards m4, and I have about another 6 months to make up my mind.

[nicknaz]

OP i agree! Instead of 435 to m4 (both 6mt) I went 335 to m3 (8at/dct) so very similar idea.

M car is definitely worth it over the 35i cars

[sh55]

Originally Posted by AlexDD

Thanks for the review! I am still on a fence, trying to decide which way to go - balls to the wall with m4/m3, or save about $250 monthly on the lease payment and settle with a 435/335. In my case, it is not a affordability question, it's about making the correct decision and spending money wisely.

Your review is exactly what I was looking for. An 435 owner who switched to m4. I'd also be very glad to see a review of an m4 owner switching to 435, which is a rare case. I am still leaning towards m4, and I have about another 6 months to make up my mind.

It's a tough decision because at the end of the day they are both great cars. The M4 is expensive, no getting around that, but at least you know you have the best 4 out there

Originally Posted by nicknaz

OP i agree! Instead of 435 to m4 (both 6mt) I went 335 to m3 (8at/dct) so very similar idea.

M car is definitely worth it over the 35i cars

Thanks for the comment and I'm glad you agree!

[sh55]

Originally Posted by TAL2GK

This was very helpful. I'm currently a Z4 owner and considering replacing the Z4 AND my company car with one vehicle (435/M4 vert) or keeping the Z4 and getting something more practical (like 535/550) as a DD.

I'll be buying, not leasing, so that extra $20k comes all from me, not BMWNA.

The Z4 is a really great driving car, I personally would love to own one but it's a practicality issue. I would strongly suggest you get the M4 over the 435/535/550 coming from a Z4. The Z4 is so much fun to drive that the non-M cars probably won't do it for you. Don't forget about the M3 if practicality + fun is what your looking for

[AlexDD]

Originally Posted by sh55

Don't forget about the M3 if practicality + fun is what your looking for

Have you driven the M3? If you did, was it much different than m4? I was under impression that M3 handles about the same as M4.

[sh55]

Originally Posted by AlexDD

Have you driven the M3? If you did, was it much different than m4? I was under impression that M3 handles about the same as M4.

I haven't driven the M3 but its effectively the same car as the M4. Exactly the same power, almost exactly the same weight, and the same suspension and stiffening components. Really the only difference in my mind is the 2 door vs 4 door looks & practicality.

[WWM3]

Originally Posted by evanescent03

i had an e90 335i (well two actually an n54 and n55) and also had a loaner f30 335i msport as well. same concept as you but different door count.

i agree that if i wasn't striving for that extra bit of "special," the 335i or 435i would be more than enough. the M is just so much more special, though and totally worth the money to someone who appreciates those performance and styling upgrades.

if one wanted X-Drive, i guess it's a no brainer. if i still lived in pennsylvania and wanted to drive the car year-round, i don't think i would've ended up with the M3.

nice write-up!

I live in PA and I just ordered a 435i xDrive 6MT w/ M power kit. I thought the MPE was too quiet and since it offered no gains I'll be going aftermarket.

Strongly considered the M4, but I got a killer deal on my lease and I think the AWD will be an asset. I'll most likely consider an M in three years.

One point that I strongly disagree with the OP is the 6MT. It's a great stick. Shifts like butter - much improved over my E90s. I drove both transmissions but the stick impressed the hell out of me. I would urge anyone considering an F3X to try the manual or just order it.

[auf Deutsch]

Originally Posted by WWM3

I live in PA and I just ordered a 435i xDrive 6MT w/ M power kit. I thought the MPE was too quiet and since it offered no gains I'll be going aftermarket.

Strongly considered the M4, but I got a killer deal on my lease and I think the AWD will be an asset. I'll most likely consider an M in three years.

One point that I strongly disagree with the OP is the 6MT. It's a great stick. Shifts like butter - much improved over my E90s. I drove both transmissions but the stick impressed the hell out of me. I would urge anyone considering an F3X to try the manual or just order it.

I think you'll be happy with your 435 w/ppk purchase. One downfall you'll notice is the sub-par suspension on xDrive. For me, the engine far outweighs the suspension and handling capabilities. I'm unable to use most of its power through the twisties. You should consider Dinan shockware or lowering springs that they offer for xDrive. Not expensive at all.

[WWM3]

Originally Posted by auf Deutsche

I think you'll be happy with your 435 w/ppk purchase. One downfall you'll notice is the sub-par suspension on xDrive. For me, the engine far outweighs the suspension and handling capabilities. I'm unable to use most of its power through the twisties. You should consider Dinan shockware or lowering springs that they offer for xDrive. Not expensive at all.

Thanks for the input!

I am absolutely ordering Dinan springs. I'll look into the shockware as well. Out of curiosity, what wheel/tire setup do you run in the summer?

[auf Deutsch]

Originally Posted by WWM3

Thanks for the input!

I am absolutely ordering Dinan springs. I'll look into the shockware as well. Out of curiosity, what wheel/tire setup do you run in the summer?

Haha, I'll get lambasted for this being an "enthusiast" but, I have the crappy Pirelli A/S runflats that I kept because being that I leased, never justified buying a second set of tires. Granted, they do hurt the performance but, I believe the base/jacked up suspension (way too much wheel gap too) hurts more. I could install Sport Cup 2's and the car would still have too much weeble-wobble roll.

[Squddie]

If you ask me, those xdrive 4-series need thicker roll bars and something to stabilize the rear subframe which seems to wiggle way too much in its rubber mounts. I never looked whether parts are available, though.

The adaptive suspension in the DHP doesn't help with that, although the steering in the DHP comes out a lot more consistent than then standard steering.

[Damasconian]

Originally Posted by M3guy3

After looking at the cars you have owned, and probably modified. I wont expect you to think the M4 sound bad by any means.

I owned a E92 M3 for years and had a full exhaust. That thing screaming in the upper RPMs on a daily drive is epic. Its something you just wont understand if you have driven smaller engine trubo engines your whole life. I honestly think if i want a better sound, i need to get a Ferrari.

Some people simply dont like the sound, and some people like it or dont mind it. Even watching a ton of reviews on the F80 even some professionals make comments on the sound not being that great.

Point being you have to be more open minded to see how some would complain.

Good Lord

[AM4ZING]

My buddy has a 435i and cannot seem to stop talking about an M4... He already added wheels, a diffuser, front spoiler and he just wants to make it as close to an M as possible....
If you can afford it, make the jump and pick up the M3/M4

[auf Deutsch]

Originally Posted by AM4ZING

My buddy has a 435i and cannot seem to stop talking about an M4... He already added wheels, a diffuser, front spoiler and he just wants to make it as close to an M as possible....
If you can afford it, make the jump and pick up the M3/M4

Agreed. You can easily spend over $80k on a decked out 435 with M Perf parts and such. WTF, over.

[AM4ZING]

Originally Posted by auf Deutsche

Agreed. You can easily spend over $80k on a decked out 435 with M Perf parts and such. WTF, over.

Then you'll still pull up next to an M and have a regret... not worth it

[solstice]

Originally Posted by sh55

The E9X stock exhaust is pretty quiet (yes I have driven one), and requires modification to make it an incredible sounding vehicle. I think the F8X vehicles sound much more aggressive stock vs stock, and I'm hopeful that someone will manufacture a reasonably priced exhaust solution for the F8X cars to help the E9X guys come around

IMO you are missing the important part here. I often hear people saying that the E9X does not sound that great with stock exhaust and I completely disagree. It's not mainly about the exhaust note. It's about the engine sound. I.e the intake noise. This is what make high revving engines so magical to drive and what BMW and others spend large development costs on trying to mimic with active sound. AS is no substitute here but it does help guiding the driver on engine load.

Likewise you can't really replicate intake noise with a good exhaust system.

I like my F80 a lot and I see advantages as well as losses with an FI engine so I don't need to "come around" but I also have no illusions they will ever be able to generate as wonderful intake noise.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by solstice

IMO you are missing the important part here....I like my F80 a lot and I see advantages as well as losses with an FI engine so I don't need to "come around" but I also have no illusions they will ever be able to generate as wonderful intake noise.

[sh55]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

Fuckin Chuck Norris...

What I'm trying to say is that the S55 will never sound like an S65, but the S55 does sound pretty damn good for an FI engine.

The S65 is legendary, I love that engine and I wish I could have afforded a S65 powered M3 when they were current gen.

[TAL2GK]

Originally Posted by sh55

The Z4 is a really great driving car, I personally would love to own one but it's a practicality issue. I would strongly suggest you get the M4 over the 435/535/550 coming from a Z4. The Z4 is so much fun to drive that the non-M cars probably won't do it for you. Don't forget about the M3 if practicality + fun is what your looking for

Thanks. The Z4 is fairly practical, but then again its not my DD. Really now I'm looking because there are times when it would be fun to take the whole family and that requires back seats which aren't optional on the Z4. To be honest, I was heavily leaning toward the 6-vert but after driving my Z4 some more I realized that half the fun of driving it is how nimble and agile it is.

If the M4 vert had the NA 8 from the previous car and ventilated seats, it would be an easier sell for me, since I'd plan on keeping it roughly the same duration I've kept the Z4 and I'm not sure about the durability of the current generation of turbo engines.

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by sh55

The S65 is legendary, I love that engine and I wish I could have afforded a S65 powered M3 when they were current gen.

You and me both. An 08 e90 m3 instead of 08 e90 328 would have been amazing.

At least we both get the f8x now