My M4 Competition XDrive

[LaArtist]

Let's be real here...
















And just in case anyone's ever not sure about where LaArtist stands on the site owner, and the active moderation team, Mark, Martin, Giannis, and myself..



... but yeah ... something something dalab, something something Klier.

`\_(ツ)_/¯

I am the meanest girl.
Now tell me how do you find enough free time to dig up all of this ?
I can’t even take a shit in peace , but I got a 20 month old boy going ape shit.

 

[AndreB]

Coming from the Taycan GTS, how do you like the M4 so far?

I want to trade my AMG GT for a Taycan 4S or Turbo, I don't drive it often because its too nosy on road trips. After seeing few M4's in my area I find them cool looking and might work for me on longer trips.

 

[as7920]

Congrats, nice ride. Then I'm biased! With you on the ID7/split screens/proper HVAC front. So much more usable.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Coming from the Taycan GTS, how do you like the M4 so far?

I want to trade my AMG GT for a Taycan 4S or Turbo, I don't drive it often because its too nosy on road trips. After seeing few M4's in my area I find them cool looking and might work for me on longer trips.

I haven't really had much of a chance to enjoy the car TBH. Very busy weekend and now it's gone for it's PPF so I haven't had it all week and will likely only get it back next week.

If road noise is an issue for you, I would definitely say the Taycan is notably quieter than the M4 in this respect, even with the 21's my GTS had.

I have the feeling the Taycan is more of a sports saloon and the M4 is more of a sports car. While neither are 911's obviously, The M4 feels closer to a 911 than the Taycan does IMO.

Quick note about the steering. Reviews tend to rave on about the Taycan's steering, and yes while it's sharp and feelsome, it is also pretty darn heavy, which adds to the impression of the car being heavy (which it is). It's also a bit tiresome when you're tired and coming home late from the office. I think I prefer the M4 steering. I find it feelsome enough, but not overly heavy.

The price gulf between the M4 and Taycan GTS here in Australia is pretty huge, about $90-$100K, so I think I'm going to really appreciate the M4.

 

[Centurion]

Quick note about the steering. Reviews tend to rave on about the Taycan's steering, and yes while it's sharp and feelsome, it is also pretty darn heavy, which adds to the impression of the car being heavy (which it is). It's also a bit tiresome when you're tired and coming home late from the office. I think I prefer the M4 steering. I find it feelsome enough, but not overly heavy.

I hate when steering in sport mode is excessively heavy. When I had a steering wheel for playing racing games I learned a life changing trick, which is have the steering wheel in a reasonably light setting. It makes driving more relaxed and enabled you to better fine tune steering wheel inputs.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

So after insistence by my sons, I froze the car.

I'm neither here nor their in terms of my preference. I think the M4 is a fantastic looking car and rights all of the wrongs of the standard 4 Series (with it's disgusting grill) and this wasn't a bad opportunity to try a satin wrap. I think satin really works best with cars like the M4, where the lines are crisp and quite sharp.

The car attracted a bit of attention before it was wrapped, but post wrap it's unbelievable how much positive attention this car gets. Even more so than the Neptune Blue Taycan.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

BTW. I love this car. Not much about it gives me the shits. It's just a damn good BMW.

Will probably keep it until I can get a 911 or AMG GT.

 

[dalab]

That's a round M4, it must be crazy on the street, that wrap is for that car

 

[Rolf]

It looks mean as shit in that wrap, suits it to the tee. Great car @Mr. Mercedes congrats once again.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Coming from the Taycan GTS, how do you like the M4 so far?

I want to trade my AMG GT for a Taycan 4S or Turbo, I don't drive it often because its too nosy on road trips. After seeing few M4's in my area I find them cool looking and might work for me on longer trips.

Hey mate. Now that I've driven the M4 for a decent amount of kilometres I can say:
1. I don't miss the Taycan.
2. The ride is definitely firmer on the M4, but it's at no point harsh.
3. The M4 drives like a sports car. As much magic as Porsche has put into the chassis of the Taycan, it is not a sports car.
4. I prefer the weighting of the M4 steering. It makes the car feel more agile. (disclaimer - I probably have no idea what I'm talking about in terms of steering).
5. I would not trade the sound of an ICE for the synthesized noise of an EV. It's glorious.
6. I dearly miss the instantaneous response of an EV, but once the M4 get's over the initial lag it's a bullet.
7. The M4 despite being AUD$100K cheaper than a Taycan is a match for the Porsche in all aspects of build and finish, bar the plastics on the lower door card. The Porsche though did have the extended leather package, which covered the doors in leather, so it's not really a fair comparison. My M4 has the extended Merino leather package.
8. I don't need 4 doors, but the Taycan would be far easier to live with for those who regularly have passengers. As commodious as the M4's rear is once you are in, it's a pain getting in for adults. My son's love it back there though and they slide in with ease.
9. Sound system and interface of the BMW HK and iDrive are easily better than the Porsches Bose and PCM.
10. I DETEST filling fuel. I was driving the Porsche around pretty much for free with our home charging instllation and solar array. The M4 is going to cost me about $6K a year in fuel.

Like our X3M40i, this M4 just seems to exude BMW goodness all round, whereas the M850i GC irked me with multiple shortfalls not befitting a car of it's price.

Finally I do not buy cars for attention. I buy them for how they make me feel and the pleasure I derive from how they look and drive. BUT, if you want attention the M4 get's it in spades, particularly from younger guys and girls.

 

[manuelf]

whereas the M850i GC irked me with multiple shortfalls not befitting a car of it's price.

I'm interested in this.
How big is the difference in nimbleness? Ok ... you had the GC ... which is very long. But I think even the non GC is less nimble than the M4?
Does M4 really feel a class (or more) below the 8? In interieur and generally?

 

[Centurion]

Finally I do not buy cars for attention. I buy them for how they make me feel and the pleasure I derive from how they look and drive. BUT, if you want attention the M4 get's it in spades, particularly from younger guys and girls.

It's fascinating how different cars by the same brand is perceived by others.

F30 Luxury trim with multi spoke alloys: Zero attention
F33 GranCoupe M-Sport: Lots of guys staring into my eyes as I drove.
F12 Long Wheel Base: Zero attention
White i8: supercar level attention
F25 xLine in Deep Blue Sea: Low attention but occasional compliments about the colour that looked fantastic when clean.
G20 X3 in white: Zero attention
F20 M140i white with cognac interior: Lots of attention from younger people and occasional curious/confused eye balls by adults.
Supra: Those who know stop and turn their necks 180 or 360 degrees.

 

[dalab]

Hey mate. Now that I've driven the M4 for a decent amount of kilometres I can say:
1. I don't miss the Taycan.
2. The ride is definitely firmer on the M4, but it's at no point harsh.
3. The M4 drives like a sports car. As much magic as Porsche has put into the chassis of the Taycan, it is not a sports car.
4. I prefer the weighting of the M4 steering. It makes the car feel more agile. (disclaimer - I probably have no idea what I'm talking about in terms of steering).
5. I would not trade the sound of an ICE for the synthesized noise of an EV. It's glorious.
6. I dearly miss the instantaneous response of an EV, but once the M4 get's over the initial lag it's a bullet.
7. The M4 despite being AUD$100K cheaper than a Taycan is a match for the Porsche in all aspects of build and finish, bar the plastics on the lower door card. The Porsche though did have the extended leather package, which covered the doors in leather, so it's not really a fair comparison. My M4 has the extended Merino leather package.
8. I don't need 4 doors, but the Taycan would be far easier to live with for those who regularly have passengers. As commodious as the M4's rear is once you are in, it's a pain getting in for adults. My son's love it back there though and they slide in with ease.
9. Sound system and interface of the BMW HK and iDrive are easily better than the Porsches Bose and PCM.
10. I DETEST filling fuel. I was driving the Porsche around pretty much for free with our home charging instllation and solar array. The M4 is going to cost me about $6K a year in fuel.

Like our X3M40i, this M4 just seems to exude BMW goodness all round, whereas the M850i GC irked me with multiple shortfalls not befitting a car of it's price.

Finally I do not buy cars for attention. I buy them for how they make me feel and the pleasure I derive from how they look and drive. BUT, if you want attention the M4 get's it in spades, particularly from younger guys and girls.

I am very pleased that the M4 is so complete in all the aspects that you mention and that are the ones that matter the most, it complies with making you feel what it promises historically and visually

Finally I do not buy cars for attention.

Did you see the last pictures of your own car?, LOL

 

[martinbo]

So after insistence by my sons, I froze the car.

 

[J.E]

First off, congratulations, I hope you enjoy it.

Second, what made you trade in the Taycan for an M4?

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

I'm interested in this.
How big is the difference in nimbleness? Ok ... you had the GC ... which is very long. But I think even the non GC is less nimble than the M4?
Does M4 really feel a class (or more) below the 8? In interieur and generally?

Substantially different to drive. The M4 is much more enjoyable IMO with not much of a trade off in terms of NVH. The ride is firmer, but never harsh.

As for the interiors, I would not say the 8GC is notably superior in any respect. They are pretty much on par in terms of materials and finish. There are aspects of the M4 that feel more solid than the 8, such as the door handles. I think the sense of occasion is helped by the dual tone leather scheme in the M4 and I don't think the general theme of the 8 interior is befitting it's price point.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

View attachment 637453

It's not that bad! lol.

It can always be removed if I get sick of it, but I'll probably change cars before then.

 

[KiwiRob]

I much prefer the UI and aesthetic of the 'Old' dashboard. I find iDrive 8 a mess to use and the integration of the horizontal screen looks completely out of step with the rest of the interior IMO. I'm actually glad the 4 series is the last of this platform to get the update, as it is now on both 2 series coupes and 3 series variants.

The i4 is a 4 series and it has iDrive 8.

 

[dalab]

It's not that bad! lol.

It can always be removed if I get sick of it, but I'll probably change cars before then.

Questions to think about a little and that intrigue me..
-Change car?

Are you one of those who keep none even though, as in this case, you love them?
"I'll keep this M4 for the rest of my life".....

Can this car earn that right?
"I will buy others but I will keep this one, will it be my "E30 M3", "E46 M3"?

I think it depends a lot on the type of person you are...

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Questions to think about a little and that intrigue me..
-Change car?

Are you one of those who keep none even though, as in this case, you love them?
"I'll keep this M4 for the rest of my life".....

Can this car earn that right?
"I will buy others but I will keep this one, will it be my "E30 M3", "E46 M3"?

I think it depends a lot on the type of person you are...

I've never stated I would keep any car for the rest of my life, despite really enjoying a lot of them.

My previous 340i 40th Anniversary Edition was the best car I have ever personally owned, yet I sold it due to a growing family. The W222 S-class is the best car my family has owned that I have driven extensively (The W223 will likely take this place in time should it prove as reliable). I can't comment on the previous Mercedes that they owned when I was a kid. I am told though that I used to insist on being driven to school in the W126 when I was young, so it must have been good! LOL

This M4 will be no different. I have been fortunate enough to have been able to drive and own a few different vehicles and, should that remain the case, I would like to own a 911 or AMG GT in the next couple of years. Circumstances can change, but that's in God's hands. I am leaning towards the AMG GT simply because of the V8 and on a day to day basis it will likely provide more enjoyment/drama than a 911. The 911 requires very dedicated roads to really appreciate the finer handling finesse IMO and it's interior is actually very disappointing.