Help me decide - Upgrade my M4 or get a competitor?

[jailonacs99]

So this may sound petty, but I really, really hate that my M4 does not have ventilated seats. I have wanted ventilated seats in my cars for years, never had one with them. I suffer from chronic sweaty back. Especially on hot days when I'd like to drive with my windows down and keep the AC off but then it's just patently uncomfortable.

After 3 years, I'm at the point where I'm thinking of pouring several grand into performance mods. When I sold my 335is to get the M4, I likewise was thinking of mods but ultimately upgraded to the M4.

The lack of ventilated seats is really gnawing at me. I've ruled out any competitors that don't have them (e.g. I really like the RS5, but apparently only the S5 has them and not the RS5). This car is both my Daily Driver and Grand Tourer and I go on a lot of weekend trips, so daily comfort matters.

If I pour a few grand into mods, it'll be because I'm keeping my M4 for several more years. But I feel at my age I want to have a car I'm totally happy with and that is the one feature that's really lacking and I hate that.

What would you do in my situation?

Suck it up and upgrade the M4? Enjoy everything else about this amazing car for a few more years?

Sell the M4, get a competitor for a few years and revisit the G8X a couple of model years in if they have ventilated seats? If so, what would you recommend (I'm sticking with a coupe)? I was surprised the feature set relative to cost on the AMG C63 S. The Lexus RS F looks amazing from the outside, the dash looks like it came out of the 1990s. Even the Ford Mustang GT has ventilated seats, although I've read the M4 is a better DD.

[mephiska]

Originally Posted by jailonacs99

But I feel at my age I want to have a car I'm totally happy with and that is the one feature that's really lacking and I hate that.

Life's short. If you have the disposable income to do it, then try something else that you think will make you happy.

That said, grass is always greener. No matter what you get there will always be something else better around the corner.

[N1rve]

C63 AMG is a great car. Bi-Turbo V8 vs the Turbo 6 in the M4 and has a nicer interior.

[M3WAL]

AC seats are amazing had it on my mustang gt and my jeep srt def miss it but idk id compromise selling the M Just bc of it

[SYT_Shadow]

I have ventilated seats in one car (leather), cloth seats in two and regular leather in a third.

I find the cloth seats of the M cars to be the perfect compromise. Much better breathability than leather ones and with the added benefit of gripping your body much better.

But life's too short to be unhappy. Get something with ventilated seats if that's what you really want

[Humdizzle]

If your M3 isn't a manual then I don't think you'd have an issue with jumping to a C63. more engine, better interior, and ventilated seats.

[paliknight]

BMW ventilated sears are average compared to other manufacturers. Look thru the F90 forums. Many remarks regarding this issue. They only vent. They don't cool. Other manufacturers use cooled seats.

I was surprised since I was used to vent seats in my X5M then used my Porsche's cooled seats. Night and day difference.

I'd suggest trying out the vented seats in whatever car you're considering before buying.

[jailonacs99]

Originally Posted by paliknight

BMW ventilated sears are average compared to other manufacturers. Look thru the F90 forums. Many remarks regarding this issue. They only vent. They don't cool. Other manufacturers use cooled seats.

I was surprised since I was used to vent seats in my X5M then used my Porsche's cooled seats. Night and day difference.

I'd suggest trying out the vented seats in whatever car you're considering before buying.

That's an excellent point, thanks. I hadn't realized there was a significant difference.

[paliknight]

Originally Posted by jailonacs99

That's an excellent point, thanks. I hadn't realized there was a significant difference.

neither did I until I read the thread in the F90 forums filled with complaints.

[Keca10]

Just test drove M5 and X3 M with ventilated seats on a hot day. It doesn’t help much to be honest. Had them on the X5 M, too. I would turn them on often but they honestly made little difference.

What worked great for me in the M3 is getting 3M crystalline tint. Interior is WAY cooler. My AC is running at like 2 bars lower. And I don’t get the sweaty back feeling anymore on super hot days.

[CachacoF80]

Originally Posted by Keca10

Just test drove M5 and X3 M with ventilated seats on a hot day. It doesn’t help much to be honest. Had them on the X5 M, too. I would turn them on often but they honestly made little difference.

What worked great for me in the M3 is getting 3M crystalline tint. Interior is WAY cooler. My AC is running at like 2 bars lower. And I don’t get the sweaty back feeling anymore on super hot days.

I vote for the Tint as a first measure.

[nicknaz]

I second the feedback to test the cooled seats (and make sure it’s cooled and not just center) and try tint before selling.

For example, last gen e63 had cooled seats but I found them extremely loud when they were turned on, to the point where I didn’t like using them very much

Also, not sure if you have leather or cloth seats, but I had cloth in my f80 and it was fine in SoCal desert conditions. Maybe try one of those and consider a swap to oem cloth seats.

[jailonacs99]

Originally Posted by nirvanayoda

The MMI in the C63 is pretty bad, as is the “Burmester” sound system (in quotes because it uses cheap speakers, not actual Burmester). BMW’s and Audi’s systems crush it (especially BMW’s wireless Car Play). It depends on how much that matters to you. It matters a great deal to me.

As for other issues, the interior is slightly nicer on the C63S, and the digital dash is way nicer. I’ve driven both at competitive driving events (and I own an M4) and I much prefer the M4 for handling and “fun”. I’d bet that the C63S would be a blast tuned if you can keep traction.

The RS F is probably a nice cruiser, but it isn’t going to have the performance of the other options that you mentioned. The Mustang GT isn’t going to have the luxury, the viewing angles, or the relative exclusivity.

You could look into a Vette, but I’m not sure how much sense that would make with the C8 around the corner unless you can wait for that. The new Supra is out now, and you could snag one of the first few of those. It looks like a nice car. Neither of those options will likely get cooled seats though.

No doubt the M4 has more of a driver's car look and feel. I feel like I see an M4 and I see a driving enthusiast. I see an AMG and I see someone who wants a luxury car with an even more impressive nameplate.

The tint suggestions may help a little. I have tinting on the surrounds but was thinking of ceramic for the windshield and haven't gotten around to it. Wouldn't help on the hot, muggy days when I'm driving with the windows down unfortunately. I have leather seats.

I was looking at lot at the new Stingray, especially given where the pricing may be. Looks amazing; proper mid-engine super car styling. But I need some back seat and trunk space for trips.

But the more I build the C63S online, the more I think I should take a test drive to see how it looks and feels in person. Really impressive feature set.

[PetrolHead]

If it's in the budget, you could also consider a new/new-ish CPO 911. In S/GTS form, it would tick most of the boxes you're looking for (DD, GT car, some sort of back seats, decent storage, cooled seats etc.). Would definitely feel like a step up rather than a lateral move to a C63.

[///M4ster Yoda]

Originally Posted by PetrolHead

If it's in the budget, you could also consider a new/new-ish CPO 911. In S/GTS form, it would tick most of the boxes you're looking for (DD, GT car, some sort of back seats, decent storage, cooled seats etc.). Would definitely feel like a step up rather than a lateral move to a C63.

Back seat on a 911? Maybe for an amputee

That and no real trunk for golf clubs is why I can't/won't drive a 911 as a daily.

[icegrill]

Yes

[jailonacs99]

Originally Posted by ///M4ster Yoda

Back seat on a 911? Maybe for an amputee

That and no real trunk for golf clubs is why I can't/won't drive a 911 as a daily.

Ha, ya. My pops in his retirement has graduated to Porsche's. He actually had a 911 SC back in the '70's, and then afterwards got all of us into bimmers as we grew up.

Now he has a 911 again but had to get a Macan precisely because the 911 was impractical for GT.

[RickFLM4]

I am in South Florida. Heat index in high 90s to low 100s all summer. No issues with lack of ventilated seats when a/c is on an set to 70 or 72. So, as a starting point, turn the a/c on and make it cold. Ventilated seats will not solve your issue and neither will (rarely found) “cooled” seats on a hot day with no a/c on. Try tint as other suggested too. If you have a genuine medical condition like hyperhidrosis, ask your doctor about possible treatments.

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by jailonacs99

So this may sound petty, but I really, really hate that my M4 does not have ventilated seats.

Yep, it does.
Big time!

Originally Posted by jailonacs99

If I pour a few grand into mods, it'll be because I'm keeping my M4 for several more years. But I feel at my age I want to have a car I'm totally happy with and that is the one feature that's really lacking and I hate that.

Every time I considered throwing money at an old car to make it "new to me" again, it was just money down the drain that was delaying the inevitable (mods have either zero or negative ROI).

If you are asking, that means you are more than ready to go shopping for something new!

Originally Posted by jailonacs99

I was surprised the feature set relative to cost on the AMG C63 S. The Lexus RS F looks amazing from the outside, the dash looks like it came out of the 1990s. Even the Ford Mustang GT has ventilated seats, although I've read the M4 is a better DD.

All viable upgrades - go test drive them, and make up your own mind.
As a 2-door kinda guy, have you looked into 911 and the upcoming C8 ?
I would test drive Alfa Quad, just for the engine alone!

a

[Petlizard]

OP, Don't get the c63 for the ventilated seats. The fans only blow(barely) regular air, and not cooled/AC. They are terrible. Get it for the engine, the exhaust, the interior, the rarity of the car. Just don't do it for the ventilated seats.

[jmg]

Keep the M4 and get these instead.

[BimmerMan33]

OP, so what did you end up getting?