Potentially New GTS owner

[scaramanga]

Hi everyone. I’ve succumbed to peer pressure and may be buying an M4 GTS in the near future.

Just wanted to check if anyone has tips on what to look for when i view the car ? I’ve read that the car needs to have the specific toolkit, but I will be buying from a main dealer in the UK so am assuming they will supply everything that should come with it.

Is there a checklist of things that I should look for ? I will be taking my trusty paint depth gauge when go to view it, so that I can find out if it’s had point. Will assume not, seeing as it’s only done about 1200 miles but just want to be safe!

Any tips/advice would be appreciated!

[Lienrocs]

Don't count on the suspension adjustment wrenches/tools coming with the car because it's a dealer.

See if you can pull the stone filter out and see what condition it's in. They calcify really quickly and that could be an indicator of the WI is working.

Check to make sure the knuckles aren't cracked and make sure none of the dampers are leaking.

Do your best to check the rotors. The only way to really see the wear is weighing them but that's most likely not going to happen.

Other than that your basic car stuff. Service recorded, previous usage. Tracked cars are as reliable as non tracked cars if maintained properly.

[schnell325]

Try to negotiate an extended warranty of some sort. Just to be safe.

[scaramanga]

Originally Posted by Lienrocs

Don't count on the suspension adjustment wrenches/tools coming with the car because it's a dealer.

See if you can pull the stone filter out and see what condition it's in. They calcify really quickly and that could be an indicator of the WI is working.

Check to make sure the knuckles aren't cracked and make sure none of the dampers are leaking.

Do your best to check the rotors. The only way to really see the wear is weighing them but that's most likely not going to happen.

Other than that your basic car stuff. Service recorded, previous usage. Tracked cars are as reliable as non tracked cars if maintained properly.

Thanks, much appreciated. The car has had two services which I believe is in line with BMW schedule (and the fact it’s only done 1.2k miles).

Will be sure to check over all of the above!

[scaramanga]

Originally Posted by schnell325

Try to negotiate an extended warranty of some sort. Just to be safe.

I think the problem is that BMW in the UK won't offer more than 1yr warranty on Approved Used cars. Annoying as I used to negotiate 2-3 years in the past.

[PolishM3]

Originally Posted by Lienrocs

Don't count on the suspension adjustment wrenches/tools coming with the car because it's a dealer.

See if you can pull the stone filter out and see what condition it's in. They calcify really quickly and that could be an indicator of the WI is working.

Check to make sure the knuckles aren't cracked and make sure none of the dampers are leaking.

Do your best to check the rotors. The only way to really see the wear is weighing them but that's most likely not going to happen.

Other than that your basic car stuff. Service recorded, previous usage. Tracked cars are as reliable as non tracked cars if maintained properly.

I second the key things to look for. I just purchased mine three months ago and many of the cars I was looking at the owners had no idea about the cracked knuckles until I asked them to look at them (2 of the 3 had at least one cracked). I eventually bought one with a cracked drivers knuckle and negotiated to have BMW replace both under a customer good will while I paid for the labor. Yours has 1/3 the miles mine did so you may have less to do!

Additional things to do after purchase:
- brake fluid flush
- oil change
- Replaced the water injection filter
- I replaced my air filters with BMC filters (easy to do, don't waste money on BMW labor)
- Cabin filter replacement
- check the suspension, I ended up having to replace the plastic spring perches because they mushroomed over time. BMW won't sell them without the full assembly so you can get them from KW for under $40usd plus shipping. Labor from BMW gets you though ($350 usd) (so easiest way to check is to try to adjust the ride height with the tools and if it's difficult to move you probably have the same issue)


Additionally if you're lucky enough the original owner may have installed PPF and then it's much easier to maintain. Mine is frozen grey and had stealth xpel installed on the entire car by the original owner.

[Lienrocs]

Originally Posted by PolishM3

I second the key things to look for. I just purchased mine three months ago and many of the cars I was looking at the owners had no idea about the cracked knuckles until I asked them to look at them (2 of the 3 had at least one cracked). I eventually bought one with a cracked drivers knuckle and negotiated to have BMW replace both under a customer good will while I paid for the labor. Yours has 1/3 the miles mine did so you may have less to do!

Additional things to do after purchase:
- brake fluid flush
- oil change
- Replaced the water injection filter
- I replaced my air filters with BMC filters (easy to do, don't waste money on BMW labor)
- Cabin filter replacement
- check the suspension, I ended up having to replace the plastic spring perches because they mushroomed over time. BMW won't sell them without the full assembly so you can get them from KW for under $40usd plus shipping. Labor from BMW gets you though ($350 usd) (so easiest way to check is to try to adjust the ride height with the tools and if it's difficult to move you probably have the same issue)


Additionally if you're lucky enough the original owner may have installed PPF and then it's much easier to maintain. Mine is frozen grey and had stealth xpel installed on the entire car by the original owner.

I'm curious if you have my old car. Did you buy it off some guy in FL?

[PolishM3]

Originally Posted by Lienrocs

I'm curious if you have my old car. Did you buy it off some guy in FL?

I actually bought it from Jersey and the car was shipped to the last owner from California so I don't think it's that exact car. Do you know the last 7 of the VIN?

[Flint Rockbone]

I thought the consensus on the cracked knuckles was that it only affected earlier build cars.

[Lienrocs]

Originally Posted by Flint Rockbone

I thought the consensus on the cracked knuckles was that it only affected earlier build cars.

Mine (knock on wood) are still good to go after 16k miles and a dozen track days.

[scaramanga]

Thanks all. Had mine checked today by the dealer.

Pics attached. Seems to be fine!

[scaramanga]

Meant to add… they must think I am really hard work! Insisted the car be put up on the ramp to check.

[scaramanga]

In terms of the recall, was it the drive shaft that was replaced ?

[Lienrocs]

Originally Posted by scaramanga

In terms of the recall, was it the drive shaft that was replaced ?

Yes. There was a driveshaft recall on some cars.

[PolishM3]

Originally Posted by scaramanga

Thanks all. Had mine checked today by the dealer.

Pics attached. Seems to be fine!

Looks good. This what they look like when they're not fine

[Lienrocs]

Originally Posted by PolishM3

Looks good. This what they look like when they're not fine

I really hope they let you keep that for some garage art.

[PolishM3]

Originally Posted by Lienrocs

I really hope they let you keep that for some garage art.

I tried but BMW's engineers wanted them back to evaluate the failure

[scaramanga]

Collection tomorrow!

[PolishM3]

Originally Posted by scaramanga

Collection tomorrow!

Congrats! Enjoy the first drive!

[biscuits]

Originally Posted by scaramanga

Collection tomorrow!

Look forward to seeing and hearing all about it

[scaramanga]

So folks, picked up the car today. Only a short (8 mile) drive home, some of which was in traffic.

Initial thoughts….

Ride quality:
- very firm ride but not crashy
- maybe I need to check the current suspension settings

Noise:
- sounds absolutely amazing
- didn't drive it too hard, but the open valves in sport/sport+ are Incredible
- doesn't sound bad in regular ('efficient') mode either to be fair

Looks
- has real presence and I think the last of the decent looking BMW coupes (am not a fan of the G-generation M4)
- very aggressive and I love the frozen grey paintwork (sadly this means I will be having to get PPF)

Handling
- very solid feeling on the road
- handles beautifully, I really liked the steering feel and turn-in.

Cabin
- interior is superb, especially the LED wheel
- shame about the manual AC controls but genuinely not an issue
- similarly, it only has speakers in the back, certainly no HK stereo.
- would be interested to know if anyone has mildly improved the standard audio system


Overall
- genuinely an occasion to drive
- from my brief drive today, it seemed more 'fun' than my 991.1 GT3 that I had
- to be clear, the 991 may be the better car but I'm not a good enough driver to exploit either
- put another way, the M4 GTS made me laugh out loud, something I've only experienced in a few other cars (and not the 991!)

Gratuitous pic, at home with great grandpa on the right!

[Gomeler]

Great pickup. I highly recommend some matte PPF. It doesn't look as great as the paint in my opinion, but it is nice knowing nothing short of a serious impact is going to damage the paint. My windshield has starbursts all over from rock impacts but the body is still 10/10 with the PPF absorbing everything.

It's also very interesting seeing where on the body the car kicks rocks into itself. I do not regret a full PPF. Has the added bonus of incredible ease of washing.