Should I get rid of my C43 for an M4?

[Lifted07Duramax]

I have a C43 with a JB4 tune and BMS intake car is fun and fast but im coming up on having it for almost 18 months and Im bored now.

Im throwing around the idea of a C63S but I really really want the new gauges and steering wheel plus the 9spd in the 2019 over the 7spd in the 2016-2018 problem is I dont buy new cars because of the depreciation. I almost always buy 2 years old which leaves it enough warranty and the majority of depreciation has it already.

Which brings me to the M4 Most of you have one I assume, dont know if youve driven a C43 but its AWD and fun to drive. Id be looking into a 2017 M4 as that would leave warranty and low miles. Maybe a late registered 2016 with low miles.

Would you guys do it? If so why? and also what other cars would you recommend for under $50-55k.

I could step into a 2016 E63S and run high 10s with just a tune but warranty would for sure be gone by then

[Thescout13]

Yes. Because I have driven both cars and there really is zero comparison. Go drive an M4 with ZCP (competition package) and it will be the easiest decision you have ever made. The c43 will feel neutered in comparison. AWD is great, so it won't feel the instant grip as you did in C43 in the M4 and you will get slip in the M4, but it's brutal and awesome.

Nothing else I would get in that price range.

[Humdizzle]

yeah its a different beast. The C43 is more comparable to a 340i.

[///M4ster Yoda]

Yup. I was gonna say. These cars are not in the same class/league. Your posting on a BMW ///M forum so you already know where we all would "lean" in your scenario

[Vanc2408]

I test drove a C43 before getting my 2019 M4 ZCP. The C43 wasn't a bad car at all and it sounded great, but I agree with the others about the M4 feeling like it was in a class above the C43. Once I test drove the M4, I knew there was no other option.

[Lifted07Duramax]

How reliable are the M4s? anything I should look out for when buying used

Knock on wood my C43 has almost 50k on it and other than the amp going out its been problem free.

What about 2017 C63S vs 2017 M4?

Ive read alot of posts about how the M4 exhaust something to cheer about for some reason lol

[Arcades]

I would find this thread a bit of a coincidental because I just recently drove a 2019 C43.

The C43, while not a bad car AMG entry wise, is no M3 or M4. The V6 sounds decent but still a bit quiet. I like my engine sound notes at a certain decibel. Not too loud where it's just obnoxious (Mustangs...) but not quiet where you don't hear it.

F8x have been probably the most reliable M BMW has made. There are no major issues you HAVE To take care of, unlike the E46 M3 or the E9x M3s. Even the noted ones are extremely few and far between that you shouldn't worry about it unless you are super unlucky.

Obviously the biggest elephant in the room is, for most of us we don't consider the C43 a real AMG as the engine is not hand built by one person. As noted by another poster, C43 is more of a BMW M340i and Audi S4 competitor than a M3/M4 competitor. If price is no problem, C63 all the way. This is partially why I like the way Audi brands their line-up and BMW recently too (even though it's probably confusing to new people w/o car knowledge.) I bring that up is, you are essentially jumping from a sort of a AMG car into a real BMW M car. These two cars have a massive difference. C43 is comfortable, the M4 is a lot edgier and will throw you around a bit if your roads suck (or if you aren't great at driving :P).

Lastly, I would point yes Benz interiors are better put together. But infotainment isn't as great (super flashy and good looking though screen wise) as the BMW iDrive and... of course the Benz Tranny aren't noted to be the best. I would personally say, Benz Tranny are by far the biggest weakness in a Benz car. The C43's 9-speed jerks on shifts for me when I drove it and I wasn't even aggressive with it. That is not acceptable for an auto.

tldr; C43 is a good car. Very great daily that probably satisfies most crowds but it is not a true AMG car and it is not a M3 or a M4. The F82 is brutal, throws you around, and fun to drive. People won't mistaken a M4 for a standard 4er (generally...). A C300 is too close to a C43 and a C63.

[fertech]

Go for the M4 Comp.!! Unless you're a taxi driver

[Gibson6594]

Don' t do it. Once you go up to this next level, it's hard to go back. Stay where you are.

[minn19]

Originally Posted by Gibson6594

Don' t do it. Once you go up to this next level, it's hard to go back. Stay where you are.

^Truth. I have a hard time enjoying non M BMWs.

[Flacht3]

Drove a C43.

It reminded me more of my girlfriends A3 than my M4.

Not even close to what you get with an M4. Even Mercedes fans would probably agree.

[LOW4LYF]

C63S

[rblood303]

can't compare fake amg to real m

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by rblood303

can't compare fake amg to real m

I would also definitely get rid of a c450 to get M3/m4

[elias]

Originally Posted by Gibson6594

Don' t do it. Once you go up to this next level, it's hard to go back. Stay where you are.

Yes, it was hard for me to go back so I went forward and traded my M4 for a
Porsche 911.

[zed512]

Originally Posted by elias

Yes, it was hard for me to go back so I went forward and traded my M4 for a
Porsche 911.

Just traded my c450 in for a 2018 M3 Comp. Had an e90 M3 before the merc.
4 wheel drive was great in the c450, the pick up in all weather conditions. But the handling and the suspension felt very unusual to me. It felt like the car was going to fall apart on rough roads. Interior looked great but the build quality was well let's just say my dash was removed a 4 times.
Lastly the car looks great at certain angles, but not all, the back is a bit ordinary.
Really happy I am back to the M and with MPE, its solid and as they say... a drivers car. Is it a super sedan...? not quite but close

[jmg]

I had briefly considered and test drove a C450 AMG aka C43 back when I ended up with a 340i. Those two cars were more in the same league. I quickly got an M3 and it's a noticeable step up. These cars are not in the same class and you would be doing yourself a favor getting an M!

[Lifted07Duramax]

Originally Posted by jmg

I had briefly considered and test drove a C450 AMG aka C43 back when I ended up with a 340i. Those two cars were more in the same league. I quickly got an M3 and it's a noticeable step up. These cars are not in the same class and you would be doing yourself a favor getting an M!

Sounds like I need to find one close and give it a good test drive

Wish they came in AWD

[mfurse]

Originally Posted by minn19

^Truth. I have a hard time enjoying non M BMWs.

This.

I purposely would have to drive a 420i or my spoilt brain would "feel" like I bought the second best car in the range and I would know that it drives like it too.

Inhad an RS3 and could feel when driving it was just a hotted up Golf (with a nicer Engine) rather than a true bespoke model (like the RS4 or 6). M3 feels bespoke, and special.

[Gtracer]

Originally Posted by Lifted07Duramax

I have a C43 with a JB4 tune and BMS intake car is fun and fast but im coming up on having it for almost 18 months and Im bored now.

Im throwing around the idea of a C63S but I really really want the new gauges and steering wheel plus the 9spd in the 2019 over the 7spd in the 2016-2018 problem is I dont buy new cars because of the depreciation. I almost always buy 2 years old which leaves it enough warranty and the majority of depreciation has it already.

Which brings me to the M4 Most of you have one I assume, dont know if youve driven a C43 but its AWD and fun to drive. Id be looking into a 2017 M4 as that would leave warranty and low miles. Maybe a late registered 2016 with low miles.

Would you guys do it? If so why? and also what other cars would you recommend for under $50-55k.

I could step into a 2016 E63S and run high 10s with just a tune but warranty would for sure be gone by then

I just sold my 17' Renntech R2 C63S for my new 18 comp package M3 and im so happy with it, its not even funny. C43 isn't even in the same galaxy as the F80.

[2011zx10R]

Originally Posted by minn19

^Truth. I have a hard time enjoying non M BMWs.

Originally Posted by minn19

^Truth. I have a hard time enjoying non M BMWs.

The only reason to buy a bmw is to get a Real M.

I think the other manufactures do a better luxury car

[///M4ster Yoda]

Originally Posted by 2011zx10R

The only reason to buy a bmw is to get a Real M.

I think the other manufactures do a better luxury car

Sadly this is now the new BMW reality. It wasn't always this way.

BMW "mobility"? Give me a fuckin break. LAME

Once BMW got rid of hydraulic steering, 6MT (for the most part) and slapped M badges on every damn thing they could It's been all downhill.

When my wife's 340 MSport lease is up this summer it will be the 1st time in 15+ years we won't have a 3 series in the garage.

I'm seriously considering another make for her next car. If the F8x wasn't so good I wouldn't be getting another one this summer.

My "affair" with BMW might be coming to end in the next few years.