BMW M4 Competition In-Depth Review 2021 - Best Performance Car?

[Music] in this g82 series form the bmw m4 competition is probably the last combustion engine bmw m model of its kind so it'd better be good this second generation m4 now offered in both coupe and convertible forms is quicker cleverer and meaner looking than its predecessor plus it ushers in a fresh era of drive assist and safety tech most importantly perhaps you get the option of all-wheel drive for the first time it's actually mandatory on the fabric drop top variant plus in all its forms this car keeps to an enhanced version of the classic straight six engine configuration one thing's guaranteed a proper driving experience [Music] supercar style performance comes in many shapes and forms and some of them might not even require a lottery win for ownership take this car the second generation g82 series version of bmw's m4 competition coupe it has a serious need for speed and it's delivered from a rich heritage of competition tyre smoke and unremitting motorsport development over four decades back in 1986 bmw's motorsport division lent its expertise to the development of a lightweight super sports three-door model designed around the group a homologation regulations at the time the result was a car the brand badge the m3 which established quite a reputation across three following generations the models subsequently available in both coupe and saloon forms in 2014 with the launch of the fifth generation design the munich maker separated off the coupe version from its saloon stablemate by giving it m4 badging and that f82 series model sold until 2020 when this g82 design took over as before body style apart this car remains largely identical to its m3 competition stablemate and as with that car quite a lot has changed with the creation of what will almost certainly be the last combustion-engined bmw model of this kind compared to its predecessor this m4 is now 122 millimeters longer 60 horsepower more powerful and perhaps most significantly most versions of it will be sold with four wheel drive that last evolutionary element is perhaps most significant but it had to come the output of this car has spiraled to over 500 horsepower 510 to be exact which is what you get from this competition spec variant the only version of this g82 series m4 which is going to be imported into the uk that's an awful lot to be putting through the rear wheels on a typical damp british b road which is why 80 percent of m4 sales going forward will be of models with the x drive system that's the format you have to have if you choose the alternative convertible version of this model in short this isn't the car the purists were expecting but it's the kind of m4 that bmw is convinced the market wants are they right the industry's most comprehensive road test film car and driving's review will give you the answers [Music] it's quite hard to know what to expect on first acquaintance with this car there's a great straight six engine under the bonnet here but it was originally launched in a bmw suv there's a smartly menacing look but it clothes strength and structure which has added a huge 170 kilos to the kerb weight there's a multi-configurable m steptronic sport auto transmission but instead of the rifle crack swiftness of the old mdct dual clutch box gears are now changed using a more conventional torque converter zf8 speeder and this time around for our market anyway there's no longer a manual gearbox option so are we really in for a memorable m experience here and you continue to wonder that after taking a seat behind the wheel where it's all a very long way from classic cars in this model line in terms of the complexity of the dash displays and the menu options that you're faced with but the satisfying twin tailpipe burber you get after jabbing this red starter button on the transmission tunnel will be familiar if you've long dreamed of a bmw m car and so will the urgent forward thrust which accompanies a flex of your right foot there's an instance here response that very few turbocharged engines can deliver and that speaks of the very careful changes which have evolved this 510 horsepower s58 unit from its 450 hp b58 predecessor an engine which did occasionally exhibit a bit of lag to eradicate that there's a new forged crankshaft a 3d printed cylinder head and 350 bar direct injection all of which combines to lift torque by a substantial 100 newton meters over the previous unit there's now 650 newton meters of it which as a result means that in almost any gear you just plant your foot down and it goes all the way to the 7200 rpm redline very very fast especially from rest where with the assistance of launch control 62 is crested in only 3.9 seconds with 124 miles an hour flashing by in 12.5 seconds on the way to a top speed of 155 or 180 if the optional m pro package is specified all that's with the rear driven version of this model that we're trying here and it's a couple of tenths quicker to 62 than its direct f82 predecessor but it sounds just as good especially if you've engaged the active sports exhaust uh which has a deep guttural raw and it's authentically embellished through the stereo speakers you'll have to make the changes yourself when you're using launch control but that's no issue because the freshly installed torque converter m steptronic sport drive logic gearbox with its tactile carbon fiber trim paddle shifters proves to be uh virtually as quick at powering through the ratios as its dual clutch dct predecessor and as with that old box there is also the option to vary the ferocity of the shift speed using this drive logic button at the base of the gear stick here by which you'll be able to access three distinct setups there's comfort orientated there's sports focused or track optimized transmission change is one of the things that you can customize by the center console setup button or the center stack displays selectable m menu either way you get a center stack screen that allows you to tailor your preferred drive settings and to store your two most favorite combinations behind these uh little red m1 and m2 tabs on the steering wheel one perhaps for commuting the other may be for your favorite back road as well as fiddling with the gear shift timings you can also alter the parameters for engine and for steering plus there are also three chassis options for the suppleness of the adaptive m suspension with its electronically controlled damping and there are two pedal feel settings for the freshly developed m compound brakes with m carbon ceramic stoppers as before remaining optional for those with absolutely bottomless bank accounts uh braver folk can use the m menu to deactivate the dsc traction system and dial in a lesser level of stability intervention via a provided 10 stage slider tool in addition to all that you want to play with the center console m mode button which offers road sport and track settings each of which changes the instrument display here and the level of drive assistance system intervention so this m4 is quick and there are lots of selectable modes that allow you to set it up much as a professional driver which set up his race car you probably expected that what's different here though is the way that you can use all that speed and motorsport tamed tech even on dry tarmac the previous version of this model needed care when you were pushing on hard over a favorite bumpy secondary road not only if you were going to avoid a trip to the magistrates court but also if you were going to avoid a trip through the nearest hedge this mark ii version it still feels pretty firm especially at lower speeds and it still requires a keen sense of responsibility if you to exercise it fully but it's a big step forward in terms of its composure over undulations or mid-corner tarmac tears perhaps that has something to do with the extra curve weight we mentioned earlier on not that you necessarily really feel that though aided by a stiffer body shell and the m sport differential this series car almost but not quite delivers an m2 level of agility that you'd struggle to believe until you experience it nevertheless the 1.8 ton m4 really does seem a long way from the stripped out lightweight ethos which once was supposed to characterize this model line uh the kind of thing that the purists still reminisce about bmw though doesn't build cars of this kind for the purists anymore which is just as well because if they did this car wouldn't have the twin turbo engine which makes possible that prodigious output or the proper modern electric steering rack which makes possible all the electronic safety features which allow you to use all that power in reasonable safety instead with each new model in the line the brand has always chosen uh to prioritize what it thinks is increasingly well-heeled customers are looking for at that particular moment in time which in this case explains why our market isn't getting the manual gearbox and the non-competition spec 473 hp versions of this car you can buy in mainland europe it also explains why there'll be a convertible m4 this time around and m competition variants of the company's x3 and x4 suvs which were the first to get this car's ballistic 510 horsepower straight six powertrain those crossovers of course paired it with x-drive four-wheel drive yes now four-wheel drive uh that's another thing that the purists will disapprove of as part of the evolution which has brought us this g82 design uh you don't have to have it as we said earlier we've stuck here with the rear driven model but going forward eight out of ten m4s will be sold in next drive form and we can understand why opting for this extra cost tractional package makes this g82 series car an m4 that you could drive hard year round on uk roads yet you can still also configure this bmw for those occasions when you want a more rear driven feel the x drive system distributes power between the front and rear wheels by a transfer case with an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch before a clever active m differential splits it again between the two rear wheels uh the extra traction it uh significantly enhances acceleration from standstill and it reduces the 62 miles an hour sprint time to uh 3.5 seconds and the driver can configure the distribution of power as required via a provided setup menu this has a default four wheel drive setting for unshakable traction and precisely controllable handling or a four-wheel drive sport mode which directs a greater proportion of the engine's torque to the rear wheels to optimize track performance switching off the dsc stability system brings a further two-wheel drive mode into the equation with no intervention from the control system all of which means that with an x-drive equipped m4 just as with this more traditional rear driven model tail out tire smoking slides on track days remain a tantalizing possibility for expert drivers these are people who love the m drive professional package built into this g82 series model a key element of this is the bmw m drift analyzer which at speed around a circuit records the amount of oversteer and opposite lock the driver has been able to engage and if all you want to do is burn away this car's expensive michelin pilot sport 4s rubber with tyre smoking drifts it'll record your next and best drifts in terms of seconds yards and angle you can even manage these without necessarily turning off the dsc stability intervention if you tap the center console button and engage m dynamic mode which allows for a greater degree of wheel slip the m drive professional package also includes an m lap timer data from that can be analyzed in detail via the mlaptimer app which apple phone users can download for this second generation m4 bmw has also redesigned the cooling and the oil supply systems especially for track use whether all of this is enough to create in this g82 series model the ideal car for track heroes is of course another question probably not the bulkier kerb weight might tell against this bmw in extremist but what's not in doubt is it's a far better road ready tour than its predecessor and any previous m3 come to that uh the things that were pretty good about this car it's low center of gravity uh the perfect 50 50 weight distribution they're now enhanced by a longer wheelbase a wider track a stiffer body shell a more engaging engine and a whole stack of extra technology all of which has made this more capable m4 more involving yet at the same time also somehow less intimidating it's quite an achievement and it is quite a car [Music] whatever you think about its divisive new look there's no doubt that this g82 series m4 has a degree of overtaking presence that its f82 series predecessor somehow lacked especially if you order it in a brighter shade like this vibrant sao paulo yellow and when you're spending this kind of money on a sports coupe of this caliber that kind of statement really matters as with that previous model this car shares just about everything with its m3 competition showroom stablemate it's even the same length there's that saloon with the same 2857 mil wheelbase although it's 16 millimeters narrower it sits 40 mils lower and in this coupe form it's a nominal five kilos lighter there is a convertible m4 variant as an alternative to this fixed top version but with that you'd have to do without one of this car's signature styling features it's classy carbon fiber reinforced plastic roof with its two lengthwise rails that optimize airflow other distinctive design touches are plentiful these traditional m gills in the side panels for example and these m-specific door mirrors with their aerodynamically optimized contouring now these are offered either in high gloss black or as in this case in carbon fiber one of the most striking profile features though is this extended lower side sill which together with the attachment parts for the front and the rear aprons form as a high gloss black band around the whole of the car uh you'll also note the uh prominently fled wheel arches now these have uh incorporated air curtain inner lining slits at the front and these tiny aerodynamic spats at the rear these arches house 19 inch rims at the front and 20 inches at the rear we have the optional 826 series m double bi-color black alloy rims with track ties here which can be had with blue or black and brake calipers if you don't like the standard red ones at the front the contoured bonnet has indentations flanking its central crease and that flows down into that controversial vertical upright kidney grille either side of which light additional cooling intakes which is here can also be trimmed in carbon fiber further up smeared into the corners of the car shadowline led headlights with darkened inlays adorning their upper edges here the blue beam highlights signal that they've been embellished with piercing bmw laser light technology from the side if you're still not quite familiar with the current generation 4 series coupe on which this m4 is based then we'll note the changes made as part of that car's evolution no horizontal shaven line and no a classic hofmeister kink in the rear c pillar which is strange since bmw's design team claims to have borrowed styling cues from the brand's classic e9 era three liter csi coupe penned by wilhelm hofmeister all of which creates a shape that's 122 millimeters longer than the previous f82 series m4 a silhouette with short overhangs slender pillars and flanks shaped by precisely carved surfaces with a slim window graphic and a stretched roof line flowing smoothly into the tail at the rear darkened full led light clusters with l-shaped tail lamps emphasize the 17 millimeter width increase over the previous model and sit below a neat rear spoiler with a distinctive central notch again if you want something more distinctive than the high gloss black standard finishing there's the option of carbon fiber trim for this and also for that potent looking lower diffuser which features eye-catching fins which frame the exhaust systems pairs of tailpipes each measuring 100 millimeters in diameter what's more significant of course is what you can't see primarily an awful lot of extra bracing on top of the part steel part aluminium clar platform some of it around the engine and much more in the center and the rear of the floor there's also a new aluminium front subframe while the rear subframe is now more rigidly mounted to the chassis right let's take a seat inside now what you don't want here is the feeling that you've just bought an m sport trimmed 4 series model with ideas above its station and that's not what you get although a bit disappointingly this m4 does without the motorized belt butler which on an ordinary four series coupe that hands you your belt buckle when you get in perhaps though that doesn't go with the whole bespoke motorsport theme going on here that's characterized particularly by these optional race style m carbon bucket seats which certainly supply the dtm ambiance that some customers might want others will find them a touch pretentious a bit like some of the wilder color schemes and spec options that your dealer will want to brief you on now the more somber tones that feature here fit better with this g82 series models classier cabin architecture it's sensible high quality ergonomic and based around the twin screens of bmw's familiar live cockpit professional setup there's a thick m leather steering wheel of course complete with red accented m buttons for your favorite drive settings and an embossed m-stitched drive selector along with interior trim strips in high-gloss carbon fiber and an anthracite colored headliner the required sense of technology and luxury that's provided by configurable led interior lighting a 16 speaker harman kardon hi-fi and a head-up display all of which delivers a required sense of occasion and it's all just as good as anything you'll find in an m5 or an m8 we mentioned screens earlier the first of them is this 12.3 inch instrument display which inevitably rather disappointingly replaces the previous models motorsport derived dials there's a choice of three display formats road sport and track and the easiest way to flip between them is to press this m mode button on the center console rode is the usual bmw setup with its opposite swinging needles in this format there's sat nav mapping in the center of the display but you can't expand the 3d navigation layout to completely fill the screen as you can with say the virtual cockpit layout of a rival audi rs5 switch to the second sport screen format and you get instead a central more focused display that sees your chosen gear ratio and speed flanked by vertical rev counter readouts plus you can customize what appears to the left of the graphic there are tire engine data g-meter and speed stat options the final layout option track keeps much the same format but shows you the car's current m dynamic drive settings to the right of the display and turns off the center stack infotainment screen to avoid distraction anything else you need is likely to be located on this 10.25 inch center control display which can do just about anything from changing engine settings to booking airline tickets and hotel rooms the main area you're going to want to focus on is the selectable m menu which is where you're going to be configuring the drive settings for these little red m1 and m2 paddles on the steering wheel spokes there are engine transmission chassis steering brake and dsc stability sections plus a slider to vary the amount of m traction control intrusion along with engine start stop and sound control options the m menu also allows you to configure the head-up display and the instrument cluster plus it's your access point for the m drift analyzer which you can use on track days to show your next drift and best drift achievements in terms of seconds yards and angle track heroes are going to love all of it otherwise it's all pretty much as you'd expect in any other modern bmw model these days this advanced infotainment package includes what the brand calls an intelligent personal assistant this is a supposed fountain of all knowledge which responds to voiced questions that are prefaced by hey bmw much as with the alexa system or siri on an apple phone or the google assistant feature on an android handset bmw insists that this setup is rather clever than those you can give it a name if you think it'll help you to bond with it and the press kit tells us we can even ask it the meaning of life it's more likely of course that you'll be using it to make day-to-day driving just a bit easier if you tell it you're cold it'll turn up the temperature if you don't understand a particular feature then it'll trot out explanatory text from the online handbook or you might want to check your oil level look for fuel stations along your route or read out your messages this lower idrive controller still sets the class standard for infotainment functionality for example it just takes a couple of nudges to set up just how much steering intervention you want out of the safety systems or whether you want that at all and the system will then remember your preferences if you're graduating on from the previous f-82 generation m4 then you'll be pleased to find both the top of this capstan controller here and the screen surface are now touch sensitive as standard plus in an age where many rivals are dispensing with audio volume control knobs we were very pleased to find one that's been retained here you'll quickly get to grips with the calm measured graphics of this operating system 7.0 monitor 2 the layout's clear and logical it gives you a sidebar menu which offer media communication navigation cart and apps options and they're also duplicated by buttons next to the idrive controller these shortcut options connect you into features like the dab audio system 4g lte connectivity and connected sat nav all of its standard fare there's no respite inside here though from the divisive look of the front grille if you don't have to like that a striking image of that appendage appears on the central screen when you alter the various individual drivetrain settings there's an awful lot of connected drives digital stuff on this central screen too a wide range of bmw vehicle apps for example that give you access to things like news reports and weather forecasts and a concierge service which connects you through to an operator to help with journeying information plus the system can remotely update its own software and there's also what bmw calls an open mobility cloud which via a clever mybmw app can allow you to interact with the car when you're not in it for example it allows you to remotely view it in 3d there are caveats here though apple carplay and android auto smartphone mirroring is now standard without limit and not before time but many of this munich makers digital services remain life limited before becoming chargeable some for three years and others like bmw music which brings your favorite soundtracks into your car and microsoft office 365 which syncs in your emails and your calendar for just three months to some extent you can't help feeling it's a case of the brand giving with one hand and taking away with the other buried away in this central screen are lots of extra little touches you'll like for example the caring car feature uses music lighting and the climate control in a three minute long session that will either vitalize or relax you we also like the way that you can adjust the climate system's flow and temperature for different seats for the driver the front passenger and for the second row and with the seat heating you can adjust the amount of heat distributed to the seat back and the seat base and there's a climate control rules section which allows you to set up the system so the heating for the seats and the steering wheel automatically comes on when the outside temperature drops below a certain level what else do we need to tell you away from screens uh well build quality predictably thoughtless uh interesting this m4 isn't screwed together alongside its m3 showroom stablemate at bmw's factory munich instead it rolls down the production lines of the brand's plat and dingo thing as with an m3 you'll need to acquaint yourself with quite a lot of button functionality unlike most of its rivals bmw still believes in buttons we like that but we can't say the same for these optional carbon shell race seats for a start you might find the exaggerated bolsters a bit tight for comfort if you happen to be regularly familiar with the offerings of colonel sanders that is and whatever your size getting in and out with these seats fitted is irritatingly awkward plus this ridge between your legs just feels odd for the occasional day at spa frank or shaw these chairs will be brilliant for the rest of your ownership life though you'll wonder why on earth you shelled out more for them otherwise everything's exactly as it would be on a well-specified four-series coupe maybe perhaps the m440i variant in which you could have gone almost as fast for an awful lot less as usual the coupe over the shoulder view is slightly restricted thanks to the chunky rear pillars and the boot lid with a leading edge which is difficult to see although that issue is somewhat mitigated by a whole bank of technology which will help you to slot into spaces all round parking sensors a rear view camera and the parking assistant to steer you into tight bays are all standard as is a reversing assistant which automatically reverses you along whatever path uh you'd previously taken forward you can even add the optional drive recorder package that we have here and that uses the various driver assistance cameras around the car to record and store video footage from different points around the vehicle so if you ever should have an impact you'll be able to instantly watch that back and inwardly cringe there's a reasonable level of cabin practicality the door bins incorporate bottle holders and they're averagely sized the glove box is mostly taken up by the owner's manual seems a bit pointless actually given that the entire manual is accessible via the infotainment screen this lidded area at the base of the center stack reveals a couple of cup holders along with a 12 volt port and a usb a point plus there's a wireless phone charging mat a usb c point can be found in this lidded box between the seats an overhead sunglasses compartment well that's missing but you do get a flock line cubby down by the driver's right knee and ticker clips on the sun visors with the optional carbon bucket chairs uh we never really worked out what this little carbon fiber tray in the central seat ridge is for it's ideal perhaps for your barbecue dip from the drive-through getting into the back isn't the easiest task in the world but it is aided by these electrically operable front seats which slide obediently forward when you pull on this m sport coloured seat shoulder tab allowing just enough space to access the rear in reasonable comfort once you're inside you'll find a slightly strange combination of surprisingly decent legroom for a slightly compromised headroom it's a bit weird sitting behind these carbon shell race seats where they're exaggerated cutouts and lancia folk will notice that to achieve this mark two models slinky looks bmw's lowered the roof line by quite a bit if you're over six foot you'll certainly find yourself grazing your scalp on the headlining still assuming they're not stacked behind a couple of basketball players most adults will be fined back here on all but the longest trips aided by the 41 millimeter increase in wheelbase enjoyed by this g82 era design obviously if you were to need these rear seats for adults on a regular basis you wouldn't choose this coupe a m4 variant but you would opt instead for the more practical g80 design four-door m3 version of this competition model in this coupe there isn't much storage space here in the back there are no central cup holders and you don't get door pockets either just a bottle holder and a narrow little ledge on either side of the cabin occupants are favored with climate controls and individual vents though with twin usb-c ports just below plus there are coat hooks on the b pillars and these side windows let in a decent amount of light to prevent this area feeling too claustrophobic finally let's take a look in the boot this powered trunk lid comes as part of the extra cost comfort package and once open it reveals a large but shallow space rated at 440 liters that's 40 liters less than you'll get in the m3 saloon uh you get a lot less room in the alternative m4 convertible of course 385 litres with the roof up and just 300 when it's down in this coupe model the boot area is usefully square and large although it can't offer you any further space beneath the floor there are stowage compartments on the left and on the right and they have netting that can be slid down if you want to use the additional space in those recessed areas to allow something quite long to be accommodated widthwise across the floor area a bag of golf clubs for example you have to lump your items over quite a high lip though to access the space provided here if you need more room a flexible 40 20 40 split folding rear backrest is provided as standard accessed via these rather hidden catches in the roof of the trunk area although the backrests don't fold completely flat this does allow longer items like skis to be slid forward into the cabin without disturbing two rear seated folk [Music] from launch bmw attached a price tag of just over 76 000 pounds to this g82 series m4 competition model in rear driven form that's 1300 pounds more than this model's m3 competition saloon counterpart the x-drive four-wheel drive m4 competition model which over 80 percent of customers are expected to choose costs around 2 300 pounds more so just under 78 500 at the time this test if you opt for the m4 competition convertible you have to have the x drive system as part of a package priced at launch from around 82 000 pounds what you can't have is the non-competition spec version of this m4 which is available in other markets it has 473 horsepower and it can be ordered with the manual gearbox which bmw declines to offer in the uk so it's high spec and auto transmission only for this g82 series model which means given the prices we've quoted once you add in a few options you could easily find yourself paying 85 to 90 000 pounds even for a fixed top version of this car which might make you reminisce for the days when an m3 coupe cost under 40 000 but perhaps a reality check is an order here that was a very long time ago indeed even if you go two generations back to the e46 v8 m3 of 2007 you'll find that bmw was asking over 50 000 pounds for that at launch which is well over seventy thousand in today's money so costs have more or less been kept in line with disposable income and a significantly more powerful and impressive product has been delivered into the bargain well that's bmw's perspective anyway you could argue the point but what's not up for debate is that the muni maker is only asking what a model of this kind now tends to cost now the car that throughout this g82 series model's lifetime will be its most direct competitor the coupe version of the mercedes amg c63 in its third generation form hadn't been launched at the time this test in summer 2021 but it will certainly be similarly priced and very different using a four cylinder hybrid engine mating 449 bhp combustion power with a 204 hp electric motor and four wheel drive which gives you some idea of how contenders in this segment are going to look over the next few years like bmw rival audi still hasn't gone on board with that kind of change their competing rs5 coupe model is still very much old-school in its engineering format with a throaty 444 hp b6 quattro four wheel drive and a price tag which was just over 72 000 pounds at the time of this test the other very traditionally formatted model that potential m4 competition customers will probably have on their radars is porsche's classic 911 carrera that car which at the time of this test cost around 85 000 pounds in coupe form has only 380 horsepower but it's not a lot slower than this bmw it makes 62 from rest in 4.2 seconds on the way to 182 miles an hour and arguably more direct rod from porsche to this m4 is found in the zuffin house and brands 718 cayman gt4 model which offers 420 ps gets to 62 in 4.4 seconds and at the time this test cost around 76 500 pounds but you couldn't really commute in a cayman gt4 in the way that you could in this bmw a standard 78 cayman gts 4 liter model costing around 10 000 pounds less would be better for that but with any porsche model you'd miss the rear seat space and the boot capacity that this bmw does give you mind you if you needed that you'd be more likely to choose the m3 competition saloon version of this model uh the closest competitor to which apart from the saloon version of the mercedes amg c63 of course is alfa romeo's julia quadrifoglio saloon which uses a 2.9 liter bi-turbo v6 developing the same 510 hp output of this m4 and which came with a seven thousand pound price tag at the time its test you might also look at the maserati ghibli v6 moderna s saloon that has only 430 horsepower it can only be had in rear driven form and it cost around 83 500 pounds at the time of this test before getting on to spec and equipment with this m4 competition model uh we need to give you a bmw perspective on its asking price figures and remind you that the next model up in bmw's full m hierarchy the m5 competition now costs a fraction over 100 000 pounds yes really you can expect the next generation m2 competition coupe which at the time is test we're still pounding bmw test tracks prior to launch to cost significantly over 50 000 pounds so in short m performance doesn't come cheap even if it lacks a combustion engine of the brand's i4 m50 gt style eb saloon which is even quicker off the line than an m4 costs around 64 000 pounds if having considered all the various options you conclude it is an m4 competition model that you really want then you're going to need to know just how generous the brand's been with the standard spec to try to sugar the pill of that premium price tag well there's lots of drive technology of course including an m sport differential and a potent sounding dual branch sport exhaust system using a selectable m menu can alter parameters for engine the m steptronic sport auto transmission and the steering plus there are three chassis options for the suppleness of the adaptive m suspension with its electronically controlled damping and two pedal feel settings for the freshly developed m compound brakes all settings can be stored behind little red m1 and m2 tabs on the steering wheel rover folk can use the m menu to deactivate the dsc traction system and dial in a lesser level of stability intervention via provided 10-stage slider tool plus as well as all that there's additionally a center console m mode button which offers road sport and track settings each of which change the instrument display and the level of drive assistance system intervention and bmw also includes its m drive professional package developed for track driving which includes an m drift analyzer and an m lap timer so that's covered drive stuff what about pavement presence well as you'd want the exterior gets a very distinct and bespoke look uh you'll immediately notice the carbon style roof it's actually made of cfrp carbon fiber reinforced plastic and the m double spoke bi-color black alloy wheels also make a statement uh they're 19 inches at the front and 20 inches at the back you also get extended high gloss shadow line exterior trim aluminium door seals with m4 branding a black high gloss m rear lip spoiler and black chrome exhaust tailpipe finishes you also get led headlights with a high beam assistant led rear tail lamps and sun protection glass for the cabin there are m sport seats upholstered in black marina leather with illuminated m4 branding in the m4 convertible they also get warm air collars which blow hot air on your neck for roof down driving on colder days as you expect there's a thick m sport leather steering wheel plus a gear shift lever with an embossed m badge a carbon fiber interior trim and an anthracite headliner and a bespoke version of bmw's head-up display which is m specific just like the brand's sophisticated bmw live cockpit professional arrangement that gives you a large 10.25 inch center dash screen and a further even bigger 12.3 inch control display to replace the conventional dials in the instrument cluster plus of course as you'd expect for the money being asked here you get a full suite of luxury segment features acoustic side glass ambient lighting through loading folding rear seat backs and three zone climate control there's loads of help for slotting this car into tight bays too not only all round sensors and a reversing camera but also a parking assistant which automatically steers you into spaces and a reversing assistant which when you return after parking up can automatically reverse you along whatever path you've previously taken forward in addition pretty much all the stuff you'd expect from a premium executive model is present and correct too so you can tick off auto headlamps and wipers power folding heated mirrors an alarm and led illumination for the tail lamps and the front fog lights along with cruise control an anti-dazzle rear view mirror and the usual bmw driving experience driving mode setup embellished with the track focused sport plus setting bmw has additionally standardized its lovely welcome light carpet which illuminates the ground around the front doors when you get into the car or step out of it at night annoyingly though a space saver spare wheel isn't available and run flat tires can't be had either we mentioned the bmw live cockpit professional arrangement earlier on well that's your portal here for access to a portfolio of connectivity features on a completely different level to anything an m4 driver would have seen in the past for start you get what bmw calls an intelligent personal assistant which works a bit like the siri or google assistant features that you might use on your smartphone and is there to answer questions that you can voice to the car as you drive it plus of course there's 3d navigation bluetooth and a high quality dab audio setup that's part of a 16 speaker harman kardon hi-fi system in addition there's also 4g lte connectivity a wi-fi hotspot wireless charging and gesture control plus you can now at last with this car get the brand's apple carplay and android auto smartphone integration as standard without time limit so you can easily use your favorite apps in the car it's also worth knowing that the whole operating system 7.0 media setup can update itself over the air with remote upgrades meaning you'll get into your m4 one day and find it's able to do something it couldn't do the day before which is pretty cool as brand loyalists would expect this second generation m4 includes plenty of the brand's really clever digital connectivity features too and that includes the full suite of bmw connected package professional services things like real time traffic information now that warns you about congestion along your chosen route and connected parking now this offers multi-storey and on-street parking information in selected cities in the uk and europe there's also bmw's concierge service which at the press of a button will give you direct access to an operator and that person will be able to answer almost any question about your journey as you drive it and the connected package professional pack now also includes connected music that offers unlimited streaming of millions of songs into the vehicle from spotify in-car experiences now these are one-shot cabin modes which are able to instantly adapt the interior ambiance to suit your mood plus there's the company's suite of bmw vehicle apps too and they give you access to things like news reports weather forecasts for up to four days ahead and also information on highway tolls in addition the system can remotely update itself with fresh features and mapping upgrades too and of course it will read out your text messages to you we'll also mention tele services which can decide when a garage visit is required and automatically book it for you and as a customer of this munich maker you'll get a three-month trial of a connected teaser package now that gives you bmw music and that allows you to export your favorite soundtracks into the car if you've owned a bmw before then you might be familiar with the standard remote services package now this allows you to control uh many aspects of the vehicle's operation by your smartphone and uh you will also maybe recognize the downloadable my bmw app now this can learn your mobility routines it can read your calendar and even prompt you when to leave for scheduled journeys uh it'll get familiar with all your most frequently traveled routes and it'll also memorize those as future destinations plus the app will help you to find the car if you've forgotten where you parked it and it can remotely lock or unlock the doors that's enough on standard equipment what about options most m4 customers spend plenty on extras and the spec of this test car certainly reflects that it features the m carbon pack which from launch costs the core 6750 pounds and includes two main elements both of which can also be ordered individually uh firstly there's an m carbon exterior styling pack which adds carbon fiber to the front air outlets either side of the grill as well as to the door mirrors the rear spoiler and the rear diffuser secondly and perhaps most controversially the m carbon pack gets you bmw's race style m carbon bucket seats where they're exaggerated side bolsters and extra support they're great for silverstone they're not all that good for suburbia though if you like the idea of these dtm style chairs we'd strongly suggest you try those before you buy them if you are going to be using this m4 on track then you're also likely to want to blow another 8 000 pounds on the m pro pack this gives you m carbon ceramic brakes with gold calipers and the m drivers pack which removes a standard 155 miles an hour speed limiter and increases the top speed to 180 the m driver's pack can be ordered separately for just over 2000 pounds more which does seem a lot just to change a line of engine software although the pack does include z-rated tyres too and a voucher for a bmw m intensive driver training session the remaining three options packs are the same as you get on any 4 series model the visibility pack for 1500 pounds more gets you bmw's piercing blue themed laser lights which give a beam range of 600 meters if you're tempted by that then you probably also want to look at the optional technology plus pack which for 1750 pounds more gets you the full contents of bmw's driving assistant professional camera safety package we'll cover that for you when we get on to talking about safety of course otherwise the technology plus package is all about parking it includes bmw's park assistant plus remote 3d view surround view camera system the cameras for this are also employed in another clever feature this is the brand's drive recorder this is like a dash cam except it's a lot more sophisticated the drive recorder system uses inbuilt cameras to record video footage from different points around the vehicle before storing the event and crash recordings so they can be either watched later on the control display or exported via the usb port our recordings can be up to 40 seconds in length for accident playback you get 20 seconds before the impact and then 20 seconds after it park system plus with the drive recorder system can also be ordered separately if luxury is more your focus than technology then there's a comfort pack which for 990 pounds more gives you comfort access keyless entry uh including a powered boot lid that you can activate with a wave of your foot beneath the bumper additionally this pack includes steering wheel heating now that can also be ordered separately those then are the major pack options but if you want everything and you can't be bothered with all the box ticking then your dealer will direct you towards the ultimate pack which for a call 11 250 pounds gives you the carbon pack the technology plus pack the visibility pack and the comfort pack along with bmw's upholstery upgrade now the brand calls this it's full merino leather upholstery pack we'll also mention that if you've chosen the m4 convertible you can add in a wind deflector and an anthracite silver fleck finish for the hood okay on to aesthetic upgrades metallic paint standard here we've got sao paulo yellow but inevitably bmw also offers a range of more exclusive extra cost body shades you can also spend more money on different wheel designs and you can get the rims shot with cup track tyres that's what's been done with this test car it features these optional 826 series m double spoke bi-color black alloy rims with track tires if you stuck with a standard m compound braking system as no cost option you can have the calipers finished in blue or black if you don't like this standard red finish as the interior well there are optional carbon fiber trim inlays and there are various upholstery choices standard is extended merino leather but you can also switch to full merino leather we have that in this particular car for 1700 pounds more if you want to switch array from standard black you can have the seating finished in ivory white for the same cost or for a bit more in brighter fiona red and black if you don't like any of those options then with either extended merino leather or with full merino leather there are bicolor upholstery options there's a relatively subdued silverstone and black by color package or for the extroverts there's either kyle army orange and black by color or already quite garish yas marina blue and black with yellow accents package as for practical options well we'd want the luggage compartment mat and possibly the all-weather floor mats for the muddier months you might also like to add in a tow bar and that would enable you to add a rear bike carrier bmw additionally offers an advanced car eye dash cam as usual it would also be wise to include bmw's optional track star stolen vehicle tracking system okay enough with standard kits and options let's go on to consider safety provision now bmw wants to assure us that this g82 series design is intrinsically very safe thanks to a comprehensive passive safety concept which features a super stiff passenger cell and highly resilient supporting structures it also includes integrated safety electronics which deploy the restraint systems in the right sequence at the right moment and with the required effect for the type and severity of the collision of course there are the usual twin front and side airbags plus the driver's knee bag as well as you expect there are front and rear isofix child seat fastenings and also the usual electronic assistance for traction and stability control primarily dsc plus stability control and dtc traction control there's a trailer stabilization function which will stop trailer sway if you have a trailer fitted and a hill start assistant to stop you from drifting backwards on uphill junctions there's plenty of braking peace of mind too with the abs system supplemented by fading compensation cbc cornering brake control and the neat brake drying system that keeps the brake discs free of moisture in wet weather panic stops are raided by a brake assist system and they're advertised to following motorists by dynamic brake lights that flash a bright warning you also get an active bonnet to minimize injuries in the nightmare scenario of a pedestrian collision and a multi-collision braking function too which in the event of an impact with a solid object or another vehicle will keep brake pressure applied until you come to a complete stop tire pressure monitoring is standard too another neat safety feature fitted as standard across the range is the attentiveness assistant which monitors you for signs of drowsiness uh we'll also highlight the standard bmw emergency call with teleservices system which in an accident can automatically alert the emergency services this system not only gives them your exact gps location but it also provides recovery personnel with information on your speed at point of impact how hard the seat belts were pulled how many airbags burst and so on so if you were to have a crash it would all mean not only that the emergency teams would know exactly where you were but also that they would arrive on the scene more prepared and more ready to get you to safety than they could ever otherwise be potentially life-saving difference really the setup's now been further enhanced to also automatically activate after low-speed collisions which are below the threshold for airbag deployment immediately after the impact it flashes up an idrive screen message offering to contact bmw's accident assistance service directly we should also mention that to meet current customer expectations a full range of camera driven safety features is included that was long overdue for this model the previous f-82 generation version of this car was launched without any kind of autonomous braking system at all and not much else actually in terms of camera safety kit this time around bmw groups is main camera driven safety features in the active guard plus intelligent safety package which is familiar from other models the key element of this as you might expect is autonomous braking or as the munich maker calls it front collision warning with city braking this system works as these kinds of setups usually do at over 30 miles an hour the vehicle scans the road ahead for potential accident hazards and if one's detected you'll be warned and the brakes will be preconditioned for maximum effectiveness if you happen to be traveling at under 30 miles an hour and you're not responding to a detected hazard then the brakes will automatically be applied and that reduces the severity of any resulting accident and hopefully alleviates it altogether there are two other standard active guard plus features lane departure warning with steering impulse that alerts you if you cross lane delineating lines and speed limit information pictures road signs as you pass and displays them on the dash if you want more in terms of camera driven safety tech you're gonna have to stump up for the extra cost driving assistant professional pack uh we have that in this car and it has to be had as part of the technology plus package that we mentioned earlier on that means that this enhanced safety pack isn't cheap still it does include all the choices parts of bmw safety camera and autonomous driving technology as you're just about to hear the autonomous driving part of the driving assistant professional pack lies primarily with two elements there's active cruise control with approach control and that's there to regulate your distance to the vehicle in front and it's able if necessary to slow you right down to a stop and then start you off again it incorporates a radar based approach control function which senses other traffic around you and can adapt the throttle and brakes accordingly but the real highlight of this optional driving assistant professional pack is bmw's now improved steering and lane control assistant which takes its bearings from road markings and vehicles driving ahead using data from a trifocal camera and a front range radar and that enables it to work with the driver to help keep the car centered in the detected lane with corrective steering input the setup can make corrective steering interventions at speeds of up to 130 miles an hour although you do have to keep your hands on the wheel at all times we've found that this works particularly well in heavy traffic especially now that it's been updated to include the brand's latest active navigation tech now this system uh uses navigation data to spot in advance when a lane change will be required and in preparation the system will automatically adjust the car's speed and that's to make it easier to steer into a suitable gap in the adjacent lane we mentioned that this driving assistant professional pack also includes a whole suite of bmw's latest camera safety tech so let's brief you on that there's active lane guidance which adds subtle steering lock to easy back to where you want to be if the lane departs your warning system that we mentioned earlier on detects that you've inadvertently veered over the carriageway delineating lines in addition as part of this extra cost pack you'll also get bmw's lane keeping assistant with active side collision protection package now that incorporates side collision warning and lane change warning too all of which stops you from pulling out when there's a vehicle in your blind spot and adds in light steering correction which will ease you back to where you ought to be on the road uh if you drift offline we also like the pack's crossing traffic warning front feature which alerts you to oncoming vehicles if you're trying to edge out of a junction and you can't completely see the traffic coming at you from either side there's also automatic speed limit assist and that works with the traffic sign recognition system to recognize speed limits and prevent you from exceeding them we haven't finished yet either the driving assistant professional pack also includes an evasion aid which gives you extra steering assistance in critical situations where it's still possible to avoid an accident say for example someone suddenly pulls out in front of you or you suddenly have to make a really dramatic lane change to avoid slow moving traffic plus says crossroads warning 2 that incorporates give way warning and it alerts you to traffic which is coming at you from the sides at a crossroads and finally as the name suggests wrong way warning will make an enormous fuss if you forget yourself and end up driving the wrong way up a one-way street it's all very reassuring [Music] you won't be expecting a horsepower motorsport tuned super sports coupe to be inexpensive to run and of course this one isn't the best the bmw could do was to make it class competitive or at least class competitive against non-electrified rivals and they have at least done that this rear driven model manages 27.7 mpg on the combined cycle and 234 grams per kilometer of co2 uh wltp rated figures almost identical to those you'll get from a rival porsche 911 carrera coupe which surely can't be a coincidence uh the m4 competition x drive variant fares fractionally better that's up to 28.2 mpg and 227 grams per kilometer and for the m4 competition convertible x drive the readings are 27.7 mpg and up to 231 grams per kilometer these kinds of readings are kept in check by bmw efficient dynamics technology which features things like electromechanical power steering auto stop start brake energy regeneration and on-demand control of the engine ancillaries but they still might give some cause the concern particularly if these people happen to compare them to the figures delivered by the car that will offer this g82 series model its stiffest sales competition throughout its production life that's a similarly performing mercedes amg c63 coupe which uses a four cylinder hybrid engine mating combustion power with an electric motor even to get anywhere near the figures that we just quoted you'll have to drive with considerable restraint and with the engine in its efficient m menu setting and the center console and mode button set into its most sensible road format you can monitor just how much high octane fuel you're using via a graphical readout provided in the center screen's journey data section and that's part of a driving information section which also has an energy flow graphic but of course as an m4 owner that's the last thing you'll want to do drive this car in anger as it was meant to be driven and the figures that we've just given you will disappear of course in a high octane haze and if you use your right boot and anger a good percentage of the time then you'll certainly chew through consumables like tyres and brake pads plus the michelin pilot sport 4s tyres will be fiercely expensive to replace so do bear that in mind before you go experimenting for too long on track days with the m drift analyzer what else well in the uh vehicle status section of the center dash screen there's a general check control which allows you to monitor the status of various vehicle functions plus there are separate screens which allow you to specifically oversee things like tire pressures and also the current level of engine oil you can check on service requirements too and you can use a clever teleservices feature which comes as part of the bmw connected drive services you can access those through the idrive infotainment system via this before each service appointment's due your m4 can automatically put in a teleservices call to your nominated bmw service center complete with detailed information on the vehicle's condition you'll then get a call to arrange a service appointment and that's something that you will have budgeted for already if at the point of original purchase you opted for one of the two fixed cost uh service inclusive or service inclusive plus packages and they cover you for five years or 50 000 miles with these after a one-off payment uh you'll have all the peace of mind of knowing that all the normal work on the car has been paid for during that period and that includes items like oil spark plugs and filters what else might you need to know uh well based on the band k co2 figure your vehicle exercise duty will cost 1345 pounds the first year and then 490 pounds a year for the second third fourth and fifth years of ownership so budget for that when you're working out how much you can afford to blow on extras residual values they should be reasonably strong although they won't quite match those of a rival audi rs5 coupe on to the warranty package bmw's warranty only lasts for three years but it does include an emergency breakdown service and at least it isn't mileage limited that's unlike the comparable package that you get as standard with arrival audi and you can of course extend that warranty with either monthly or annual payments there's a three-year paint work warranty of course and the usual 12-year anti-corrosion guarantee as for insurance while you're looking at group 42e for both this rear-driven model and for the x-drive variant the m4 competition convertible that's rated at group 46e [Music] there's not actually a lot of commonality between early m3 coupe models and this modern day m4 interpretation of the same street racing formula the focus has changed from a raw track tamed screamer to something a lot more measured don't get us wrong the m4 is still hugely thrilling even if you invoke just 50 percent of its capability its agenda though has changed if you were one of those who had a poster of the e30 m3 on your bedroom wall back in the 80s then the mature adult in you will probably find that car too wearing now instead you'd want something like this that's where the m4 is so clever it's taking its customers with it understanding that people are spending this kind of money on a sports coupe don't necessarily want something that'll bite back give them the shakes and necessitate a trip to the chiropractors are there drawbacks well there's the ongoing debate about the controversial front grille we quite like it you may not beyond that a few moans about the m carbon seats which you don't have to have anyway there's really not much default providing you can afford both the premium asking price and the running costs which will be considerably higher than those of this car's closest mercedes amg c63 rival some have tried to suggest that the switch of auto transmission from dct dual clutch to torque converter zf has made cog shopping a touch less sharp and that the orchestral accompaniment from the s58 series version of this car's three liter straight six isn't quite as memorable as before uh we don't have any issues with either of those two things and we don't think that you will either but we can't help wondering just how good this g82 series m4 might be without the extra 170 kilos of weight it's gained this time around perhaps a future track style variant of this car might show us or of course there's always the bmw m2 many will feel as we do that any issues here such as they are will be a small price to pay for the much bigger benefits offered elsewhere with this second generation m4 design this still remains the most exciting and involving car of its kind but crucially that capability is so much more accessible now particularly if as most customers will you choose this car in x drive form the extra track features uh the things like the m drift analyzer and the 10 stage m traction control system they probably look like fun inclusions during development of this model but in the real world owners will hardly ever have the opportunity to use them and many quite frankly wouldn't have the driving skill to fully engage with them even if they did which makes it all the more important that you no longer need the nordschleifer to probably enjoy what this car can do on the right day in the right mood on the right part of your favorite back road there'll be times in this m4 when you'll wonder whether any sensible sports car at any price could be more exciting than this one as we said when we were testing the g80 series m3 what's been delivered here is perhaps the ultimate combination of m5 maturity and m2 agility which leaves us with well quite simply this the most complete m4 ever made [Music] you

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Id: ojClfCBJYeY

Length: 68min 20sec (4100 seconds)

Published: Sat Nov 13 2021