Considering M4, is it "safe" for me?

[Darth One]

there really are no deathtrap cars anymore like there used to be. for the type of driving you're talking about, you can drive a Hellcat and not kill yourself.

the whole point of the M3 is to be 100% capable in traffic or on the track. my wife has been regularly driving my M cars for 19 years, with the DCT's she just throws it in Drive like an automatic, all of the sport/power/M-dynamic bullshit deliberately off, and rarely goes above 4000 rpm. she and the car are perfectly happy.

[Hachima]

I'd say the most dangerous thing about the car (and can be said for any car) is using the Pilot Super Sport (PSS) tires in the snow (or any other summer tire). I also own a 340xi w/ MPPSK and was caught in some light snow accumulation w/ the PSS tires still on. xDrive means little in snow with the wrong tires. Once I switch to some good Blizzaks and the car is a beast in the snow.

F80x is going to take that to another level and PSS even in 50 degree weather is going to result in poor traction with the PSS tires, primarily when launching and the tires aren't warmed up yet. It's still completely safe while not being an expert. At at extreme I've also driven my M3 in 30 degree weather and some light cold rain turning to snow w/ the PSS on and was borderline feeling 'safe' but I had all the nannies on and drove much more conservatively.

BMW even has a dedicated Snow and Ice training program and they use the M4 and part of the training involves doing a slalom course. That training is only in Europe and has a waitlist But the point is the car can be safe in very extreme conditions with the proper equipment.

Just don't read the thread about people asking if you can drive the car if there is some rain and get scared off

[seis-speed]

Originally Posted by austinm4x

Hello everyone, new to the forums. Been spending a lot of time here browsing and decided it was time to get down to business. I thank you all for your time.

I'm a 33 year old male, not impulsive, never been in an accident. I'm not a professional/semi-professional driver whatsoever, and I don't plan to become one. I don't care about the track either.

I've been saving a while for "dream car", and I would probably just get a 440 xdrive, but I love the way the M4 looks. And I certainly won't be spending 60,000$ for a car that doesn't meet every requirement I am looking for (fast and good looking).

Basically what I am wondering is, if I keep DSC fully on, all the safety features on, etc. do I have to worry about spinning out from a red light "race" and crashing into the car next to me or a tree, etc? I put race in quotes because it's typically just the take off to 40-60mph then I slow down. It's far from any type of real aggressive street race, I do these little take offs in my old G35 everyday and never had an issue.

So yeah, that's my question, is the M4 okay as a daily driver or will I always have to fear that if I give it some gas, I might spin out of control.

Also, I am looking at a 2017 M4 ZCP (DCT) if that matters. (I read here that there was a change in low end torque from earlier years).

Thank you all for your time.

In efficient mode it is basically a 440 with a stiffer suspension. I let my wife drive mine and it is a 6MT, and she is a so so driver. You will love it.

[NickyC]

Sport + on at all times, nannies off at all times, still alive and not on the side of the road melted in a fireball. This car is probably the safest and well mannered machine I've ever owned.

Good times are had for all who buy an M4.

[SakhirM4]

I am 71 and my wife is 68. Our daily driver is our 6MT M4. She loves driving it and so do I. If it is safe for us, I am sure you will do fine.

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by seis-speed

In efficient mode it is basically a 440 with a stiffer suspension. I let my wife drive mine and it is a 6MT, and she is a so so driver. You will love it.

Huh? Full power is still available in efficient mode, it just makes the throttle less sensitive (among other things). Still 100% M4 and 0% 440i.

[stormlv]

Originally Posted by austinm4x

Thank you everyone for your replies.

Storm, I don't like the way the 440i looks. Too "soft" so to say and don't like the single exhausts either. If they made the body change to the M4 available, I'd most likely go with it. But that's not the case. And I prefer the ZCP rims as well. Want performance, but want looks as well, very important to me. And the M4 just looks much better than the 440 imo, the wider body, how the spoiler is, etc.

I see

Maybe this will ease your mind then:

[marrk]

Cars are safe, drivers can be unsafe. Drive safely and it's all good. Car is very easy to hand in almost all situations. I daily mine with 2 kids in the back in cars seat,
Lol.

[dreventador]

I had similar concerns prior to getting mine, but it really is a super easy car to drive and control. The only time I feel slightly unsafe is under a strong downpour, hitting large puddles on the highway is super scary with this car.

[Darth One]

To be fair, that's an issue with any car, doe

[CigarPundit]

Originally Posted by stormlv

I see

Maybe this will ease your mind then:

Very fair and accurate video.

[nicknaz]

Hi, I think you'll be fine in the car from a safety standpoint but you're also describing driving in a way that will keep the car in its "commuter" form and you probably won't notice where all your money went by driving it so gently. That's the double edge sword of the "dual purpose" nature of m3/m4, in my opinion.

I think you should get a Boxster or some other 2 seater vert so you at least have the low seating position and open air driving to make the drive feel special even when you are not driving hard.

My previous car, an e89 z435 would probably be perfect for you and the type of usage you are describing

[NickyC]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

I think you should get a Boxster or some other 2 seater vert so you at least have the low seating position and open air driving to make the drive feel special even when you are not driving hard.

My previous car, an e89 z435 would probably be perfect for you and the type of usage you are describing

I couldn't agree more. Coming from two Z4M Roadsters, those cars had a much more "special" feeling as you describe just tooling around. The M4 is vastly superior to the Z4M in about every category I can think of, but it's about 1/10th as fun to drive at the same pace. To get enjoyment out of the M4, to me you really have to push it and then it's more fun than all get out. The Z4Ms I could put the top down, drive 5mph under the speed limit, and really feel like I was part of the car and one with the road. Not to mention driving with the top down at night, the most fun of all and the one thing I really, really miss with my M4 (see my sig lol).

Good advice above though!

[Lee808]

Originally Posted by uniqueMR

You will do just fine. Don't over think...

This.

[Lee808]

Actually the scariest part is parking the car and going in and out of parking garages.

[KevinM]

Originally Posted by stormlv

I see

Maybe this will ease your mind then:

Interesting perspective, one that will have me carefully experiment with DSC off...

Certainly the perspective of the (at least early) F8X being tail happy comes from internet videos, like the guy who went sideways (in the dry) across a medium with DSC off. Then came a lot of (again, early) reviews from rainy areas in Europe, which seemed to re-enforce the perception. Reviews of later F8X seem to indicate that M addressed the problem as best they could given the characteristics of the S55 and physics.

I think the main thing to remember from this video is that the driver understands what his inputs mean, is able to control a drift, etc. These are not skills the average driver possesses. I don't claim to either, although the BMW driving school I took years ago in South Carolina certainly helped.

I don't think there is much debate that for "mash the throttle" in a straight line, some sort of AWD is the safest with the current generation of turbo engines that have 400+ lb/ft of torque available at 1800 RPM...

[jmg]

You will be fine. Take the one or two day M School and you will be beyond fine. You'll be competent.

[SinatraM]

traction control is very good you won't spin, I drive with mdm most of the time never fully off unless purposely trying to drift if you have family get the M3 you'll wish you had 4 doors haha

[STooK]

Make sure your tires are good and shouldn’t have any issues as others already said. Go for it!!

[pz619]

Just make sure your tires aren’t 1.5 psi off and you are using a digital gauge.

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by pz619

Just make sure your tires aren’t 1.5 psi off and you are using a digital gauge.

That joke got worn out about 4 years ago and OP probably doesn't even get the connection.

[pz619]

Originally Posted by SakhirM4

That joke got worn out about 4 years ago and OP probably doesn't even get the connection.

Cool, now he does.

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