BMW M4 reliability and MPG

[Kevin Glover]

Hi guys, I’m hoping we have a few M4 owners on here. I’ve just had an agreed settlement figure for my stolen SL350 and am thinking of an M4 as my next car, however I do about 300 miles a week so am interested in anyone who has a 3 or 4 year old one and has owned it for a while with any feedback on issues you may have had and MPG in the real world. Most of my journey is A roads and motorway so I’m hoping I can max my fuel return if I keep off the loud pedal as much as my self control allows!
Many thanks in advance

[adrianw]

I had a 2018 CP, it returned 27-31 mpg, if I drove it like a complete dick 15mpg.
Not my favourite car, had some serious mapping issues, stick it in sport plus and it will kangaroo all the way down the road unless you floor it.

[Kevin Glover]

I had a 2018 CP, it returned 27-31 mpg, if I drove it like a complete dick 15mpg.
Not my favourite car, had some serious mapping issues, stick it in sport plus and it will kangaroo all the way down the road unless you floor it.

Thanks Adrian, that’s interesting but not good about the kangaroo business, never had that with m cars or amg Mercedes before

[bobdog]

Had a M4 now a M3, never had that problem. If I was you I would ask the same question over on the M3 Cutters Forum as you will get a bigger audience of owners.

[mjrennie]

I had an M3 F80 for 3 years. Honestly? By far the best car I've had. Not a single issue, not one. MPG is entirely down to how you poke the beast. 33 is achievable on a long run. I'd expect late 20s most of the time.

- - - Updated - - -

Had a M4 now a M3, never had that problem. If I was you I would ask the same question over on the M3 Cutters Forum as you will get a bigger audience of owners.

I used Cutters. Very good forum.

[TaketheCannoli]

Why would you buy an M4 if you’re worried about the cost of fuel? Genuine question.

[mk1974]

I had a 2018 CP, it returned 27-31 mpg, if I drove it like a complete dick 15mpg.
Not my favourite car, had some serious mapping issues, stick it in sport plus and it will kangaroo all the way down the road unless you floor it.

I’ve experience this in my m3,I find it’s better to get it rolling first before putting foot down


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[thieuster]

When MPG is an issue, why not a Diesel? BMW's diesels are very frugal.

M

[Enda]

I’ve experience this in my m3,I find it’s better to get it rolling first before putting foot down


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Same for me, once you are moving it’s fine but I’ve been caught out a few times at junctions/lights.

[adrianw]

Same for me, once you are moving it’s fine but I’ve been caught out a few times at junctions/lights.

It is appallingly poor mapping, BMW say it is a race setting, of course that is rubbish, it is a road car, if you research Bimmerfest or M3 cutters, people put the gearbox map out of the GTS in and it fixes it, you can get it for about £80. trouble was mine was new and BMW said it would invalidate the warranty, so I could fix it but they couldn't, answer was buy an Mercedes.

[Shropshire Lad]

I got about 27mpg out of my M4. No mapping or fueling issues though.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[Kevin Glover]

Thanks guys, I will have a look on the M3 cutters site too. Really appreciate your input.

[Sibo]

I've heard about issues with turbos and oil consumption on the FB group.

Sent from my SM-G965F using TZ-UK mobile app

[jameswrx]

Must admit I always find the mpg questions funny on sports cars, especially a 3.0 straight 6, twin turbo with 425bhp. I guess it’s trying to justify the purchase when it’s not the best option maybe.

I’ve always had performance cars though and people will often say to me “yeah I’d like one but the running costs & fuel” The thing with the right purchase is you could spend £12k on a performance car and sell it 3 years later for similar money (in fact my car is worth a lot more than I paid 6 years ago) your mate that thinks you’re throwing money away running it has spent £12k on a diesel Mondeo and loses £7k when he px’s it in after spending £1k on a set of injectors.

My mate is a good one for the running cost thing. He’s loaded & loves cars yet when I used to try & get him into something sporty he’d always say about the running costs. He daily’s a van and only uses a car for pleasure stuff too. I was trying to get him in a GTR but he was concerned about the brakes etc yet the last car he owned cost him £15k and he sold it for £6k.

[thieuster]

Sit down and do the maths. Let's say your car is doing 40 mpg. You can figure out the annual costs for that. Then do the maths again for a car that does -let's say- 30 mpg. The difference between that is what you're talking about. Compare the '40 minus 30 mpg' amount with the sum you're paying for an M4 and you'll become aware that the difference in fuel costs are pocket money compared with the purchase price of an M4.

In short: mpg would not be something I'd worry about when I'm looking for an M4. Eighter you're willing to fork out money or not.

On the other hand: doing a 120 miles trip in a small car as you suggested... Bigger cars provide more safety and are more comfortable. Especially the latter would be my first concern: 'How comfortable is the car of my choice!?' Anything with 'M' on the badge is not on top of my mind, comfort-wise. Ano comfortable 5-series 6-pot long-distance-cruiser or an Audi would be my car of preference.

Menno

[Matt8500]

I’d do an extended test drive in one first, it’s quite full on for long commutes. Not owned one, but not sure if the exhaust sound would grate over time too.

[Shropshire Lad]

I’d do an extended test drive in one first, it’s quite full on for long commutes. Not owned one, but not sure if the exhaust sound would grate over time too.

It doesn't. If you leave the throttle response in default the cars pretty quiet. The road presence though can be waring as people you come up behind get fidgety and you can see with many people (men of course lol) that they feel the need to speed up or change their behaviour in some way.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[Matt8500]

It doesn't. If you leave the throttle response in default the cars pretty quiet. The road presence though can be waring as people you come up behind get fidgety and you can see with many people (men of course lol) that they feel the need to speed up or change their behaviour in some way.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Interesting you say that, I was chatting to the owner of the M specialist garage I use and he said the same thing. The m4 attracts the wrong sort of attention!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[adrianw]

Interesting you say that, I was chatting to the owner of the M specialist garage I use and he said the same thing. The m4 attracts the wrong sort of attention!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That’s quite interesting, while I had the M4 I was propositioned twice by mid twenties girls, both saying they would do anything for a ride in the M4, one works in Euro car parts and says it is here all time favourite car, haven’t got a clue about the other. And I’m old

[Matt8500]

That’s quite interesting, while I had the M4 I was propositioned twice by mid twenties girls, both saying they would do anything for a ride in the M4, one works in Euro car parts and says it is here all time favourite car, haven’t got a clue about the other. And I’m old

That’s hilarious. I’ve never been propositioned in a car. I just seem to attract blokes who want you to rev, or race them, if you’re in something half decent. Think I’d prefer your situation!

[wileeeeeey]

That’s quite interesting, while I had the M4 I was propositioned twice by mid twenties girls, both saying they would do anything for a ride in the M4, one works in Euro car parts and says it is here all time favourite car, haven’t got a clue about the other. And I’m old

I'm early 30s. Which euro car parts and does anyone have an M4 I can borrow? Full tank and valet on return

[Shropshire Lad]

That’s quite interesting, while I had the M4 I was propositioned twice by mid twenties girls, both saying they would do anything for a ride in the M4, one works in Euro car parts and says it is here all time favourite car, haven’t got a clue about the other. And I’m old

I must have chosen the wrong colour!

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[Maysie]

It doesn't. If you leave the throttle response in default the cars pretty quiet. The road presence though can be waring as people you come up behind get fidgety and you can see with many people (men of course lol) that they feel the need to speed up or change their behaviour in some way.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

I can picture this immediately.

The general offender is probably driving a Corsa of Clio, with massive wheels, massive exhaust and the suspension lowered.
Looking coooool.

[Vanguard]

I can picture this immediately.

The general offender is probably driving a Corsa of Clio, with massive wheels, massive exhaust and the suspension lowered.
Looking coooool.

2.0 TDi VW Passat drivers I find are the most insecure with something to prove to you if you have a quick car

[Maysie]

2.0 TDi VW Passat drivers I find are the most insecure with something to prove to you if you have a quick car

Wanted the A4 or 320d perhaps, but didn't make that grade of company car from the lease list?

[endo]

I can picture this immediately.

The general offender is probably driving a Corsa of Clio, with massive wheels, massive exhaust and the suspension lowered.
Looking coooool.

Flip side to this M3/4, 911, AMG & Audi RS drivers get twitchy and obnoxious when they see a Skyline in their rear view, despite it being a 30 y/o bag of bolts.


Back on topic
OH has a Yas Marina M4, nice enough, dont like its inability to creeep at low speed (for parking) and the dimensions are ludicrous for a coupe, it makes the Range Rover look like a toy.

MPG seems decent enough for the power, especially on a cruise from Scotland to Silverstone.

[NikGixer750]

I think that why the M240 is popular, similar speed (straight line) to a M2/M4 but with is much nicer as a daily driver and much cheaper to buy and run. The one downside is the handling which puts the M2/M4 miles ahead

[mk1974]

Spend 20k on a 240 ,it’s still a 240 not an m2/4.
I know what I’d rather have .


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Vanguard]

M240i is a good car, had a M235i myself for a while but it's still no proper 'M' car, drive one and you see where the extra money for the M went.