To be, or not to be... Loaded vs. Stripper

[EricSMG]

Originally Posted by JoeFromPA

In regards to sound: The f8x stock sounds only slightly better than a stock e46 m3. They both sound ....not great stock.

Interesting point about the 46M. Here's the thing with that car - sounds killer from inside the vehicle (very visceral and mechanical - a true screamer) but tinny and raspy from the outside. Very, very different depending on where you're sitting/standing.

The other thing about that car is that pretty much any aftermarket exhaust (with rare exception) makes it sound much worse than stock.

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by EricSMG

I'm not saying it sounds as good as the E9XM, for instance, just that taken on its own, from inside the car, the F8XM sounds pretty good, especially the ZCP cars.

I'm a huge 'sound' guy and I have zero complaints with how my ZCP car sounds from the driver's seat.

I would agree, however, that from outside the car they don't sound that good. But I could care less about how it sounds to other people when I drive by. What matters is from the driver's seat.

Thats a fair point. I would agree that from the driver's seat with the windows up it doesnt sound that bad. But I have cringed on several occasions when I have my windows down and hear that snarling lawn mower screaming.

[EricSMG]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

Thats a fair point. I would agree that from the driver's seat with the windows up it doesnt sound that bad. But I have cringed on several occasions when I have my windows down and hear that snarling lawn mower screaming.

Haha, yeah. For me the only part I don't like is the BOV under aggressive throttle lift (6mt). It's a strange sound that no other car makes and I'm still getting used to it.

Essentially sounds like flatulence

So, I guess I do have an issue with how the car sounds, it's just a very specific scenario for me. When I first test drove a 6MT I hated it - was extremely turned off by the BOV sound during upshifts. But now that I'm getting to know the car I'm tolerating it and even, dare I say, starting to appreciate that particular funky noise as it means "business".

[Donger Kim]

Originally Posted by EricSMG

Interesting point about the 46M. Here's the thing with that car - sounds killer from inside the vehicle (very visceral and mechanical - a true screamer) but tinny and raspy from the outside. Very, very different depending on where you're sitting/standing.

The other thing about that car is that pretty much any aftermarket exhaust (with rare exception) makes it sound much worse than stock.

BMW just sucks at making nice sounding exhausts lol. Mercedes knows how it’s done.

I also own a e46m +f80 and both sound awful lol

[gunsmoker]

I love how the car sounds. It's raw and primitive, like a true sports car. Oh, and on the track you can hear many cars sounding like that. The fart upon lift off after wot is great and many porsches do that too. Love doing that under bridges with the windows down.
It's a freeflowing exhaust. Anybody here who puts sound over substance/performance must have bought the wrong car.

[Alpine300zhp]

Originally Posted by NickyC

STRIPPER (medium kind?). Screw all the camera, HUDs, lane assist etc garbage! ;P


[IMG]http://i63.tinypic.com/1z1e0e1.jpg[/IMG]

This was essentially my 2015 m4 minus the carbon fiber bits (mine was a DCT). My 2018 m3 is fully loaded with every option except CCB's. After having both, my take is that the options are not worth it unless you really want them. My m3 gives me the same enjoyment as the m4 despite costing 16k more. Just food for thought.....

[IB M]

Originally Posted by Alpine300zhp

This was essentially my 2015 m4 minus the carbon fiber bits (mine was a DCT). My 2018 m3 is fully loaded with every option except CCB's. After having both, my take is that the options are not worth it unless you really want them. My m3 gives me the same enjoyment as the m4 despite costing 16k more. Just food for thought.....

I agree here - curious if u use park distance or HUD? After using HUD for two years I've been driving around with it turned off and I don't miss it terribly but it is convenient to not have to look down at gauges. Only asking cause my next car I might not go for HUD or PDC.

[IB M]

Originally Posted by 818M3

To all my fellow M enthusiasts, I am in a bind and would like some input perhaps. So, my plan is to do a build sometime soon. My question is whether to go with loaded car with everything minus CCB's or with nothing other than ZEC and that would be for the headlights only. What would you guys recommend?

Hey OP - What did u decide?

Are the headlights that big a deal?
If not how about ZCP and CCB only?

[Alpine300zhp]

Originally Posted by IB M

I agree here - curious if u use park distance or HUD? After using HUD for two years I've been driving around with it turned off and I don't miss it terribly but it is convenient to not have to look down at gauges. Only asking cause my next car I might not go for HUD or PDC.

Ugh. I hate hud. It's been off since pickup.

[818M3]

Originally Posted by IB M

Hey OP - What did u decide?

Are the headlights that big a deal?
If not how about ZCP and CCB only?

Decided to go with a bare bones car. I feel like the driving pleasure can be enjoyed regardless of options.

[NickyC]

Originally Posted by Alpine300zhp

This was essentially my 2015 m4 minus the carbon fiber bits (mine was a DCT). My 2018 m3 is fully loaded with every option except CCB's. After having both, my take is that the options are not worth it unless you really want them. My m3 gives me the same enjoyment as the m4 despite costing 16k more. Just food for thought.....

Damn, appreciate the honesty!! I hope you get years of enjoyment out of her however!

[IB M]

Originally Posted by 818M3

Decided to go with a bare bones car. I feel like the driving pleasure can be enjoyed regardless of options.

Spill the beans on the exact spec bro

I get a special feeling in my groin when we're talking strippers.

[IB M]

Originally Posted by Alpine300zhp

Ugh. I hate hud. It's been off since pickup.

Sorry to keep prying but why do u hate HUD? Is it distracting?

[Alpine300zhp]

Originally Posted by IB M

Sorry to keep prying but why do u hate HUD? Is it distracting?

You are not prying. Glad to answer questions. Yes, I find the HUD distracting. Even at M track days, they had HUD off in the cars I drove despite being equipped with executive pack. HUD seems to be a love it/hate it thing.....

[Alpine300zhp]

Originally Posted by IB M

I agree here - curious if u use park distance or HUD? After using HUD for two years I've been driving around with it turned off and I don't miss it terribly but it is convenient to not have to look down at gauges. Only asking cause my next car I might not go for HUD or PDC.

I don't use PDC...I mean it is there, but I don't rely on it. I know how to park without nannies. It is not distracting like HUD though.

[Alpine300zhp]

Originally Posted by 818M3

Decided to go with a bare bones car. I feel like the driving pleasure can be enjoyed regardless of options.

I agree. Enjoy the new car.

[IB M]

Originally Posted by 818M3

Decided to go with a bare bones car. I feel like the driving pleasure can be enjoyed regardless of options.

I was reminded of ur post when I took this old girl for a spin tonight. 3 pedals and stereo kept me happy.

[SD ///M4]

I bought Japanese sporty cars in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. They were all "strippers", because there really weren't any options. All the interiors were black and they were all manual transmission.

In 1999 I bought a 2000 S2000. That car was also a "stripper" because it didn't have any factory options, only dealer-installed appearance items. It didn't even have a clock!

I buy the car with the packages/options that I want at the time I buy the car and the period that I'm going to own the car. I don't understand people that buy a car for the next person that's going to buy it used from them, or for the trade-in value, just because they might lose a few dollars on the resale because they didn't order their car with the "popular" colors and options.

Since I've owned "stripper" cars most of my life, I've ordered my BMWs with all the packages/options that make sense to me and meet my needs and wants. And now I can afford that. Since I'm a techie guy, I like all the bells and whistles, and none of that makes an M car any less of an M car, or drive any differently than a stripper.

I also don't see how asking a bunch of random people on a forum what "you" should buy makes any sense at all. Not one of those people are going to live with your car every day. Or make any of the payments.

[SD ///M4]

Originally Posted by Donger Kim

BMW just sucks at making nice sounding exhausts lol. Mercedes knows how it’s done.

I also own a e46m +f80 and both sound awful lol

BMW did it right with the 335is Coupe. The best sounding stock BMW exhaust that I can recall. Until the F8x M3/M4 ZCP. That exhaust is also awesome!

[EricSMG]

Originally Posted by SD ///M4

Since I'm a techie guy, I like all the bells and whistles, and none of that makes an M car any less of an M car, or drive any differently than a stripper.

I don't like all the techie stuff BUT I completely agree with you here. Way too many people seem to think/suggest otherwise.

I like relatively low options not because they change the way the car drives (they don't) but simply because I don't see any value in those items and I'd rather save the money.

[moomeacow]

i usually get my car with less options as there would be less things to break in the future. I only wanted the adaptive suspension and hk audio. led lights are meh, executive package no thanks don't need a shit ton of cameras that will break. Honestly I don't even use the nav in the car I just use my phone. Even the base car has all the tech stuff I want. I might of gotten zcp but it wasn't out when I bought the car.

[JamesMA]

Reading the recent posts is funny to me. The only options I really wanted was ZCP and HUD (got it in my F30 and I love it). I could care less about the rest and I am annoyed that BMW keeps bundling things that don't need to be bundled. Kinda makes a custom car not so custom and I guess that is the point because it simplifies the ordering / manufacturing process big time. With my F30, leather, navi and HUD, were the only non-performance options I got, seems like the new one is coming with a bunch of extra crap just to get the same things I had on my F30.