[23109VC]

I am in the market for a new car. Currently have a 2018 M550i and want something that is at least as fast, preferably faster, and something that handles really well. My big gripe wiht the M550 is it’s more luxury and not enough sport. It’s a great car and I have loved it, but I think I want something that is more focused on “fun” and sportiness and less on pure luxury.

I live in so cal and the idea of a convertible for my next car is really appealing. I had a Boxster many years ago and LOVED top down driving. In southern CA you can drive top down a LOT so you really get a lot of use and fun out of a drop top.

I test drove a Boxster and the Z4 M40. I really liked each, but neither was as fast as my M550 and I’d feel like I was downgrading at least in terms of straight line speed. A 911 cab is another possible car - but I’d *really* need to want it more than the M4 as the price difference is significant, and the back seats are unusable compared to the M4.

I have two other cars in the household that can do family hauling duty - so I can sacrifice functionality for my next car, but I would like the ability to have a few passengers if I needed to - I can do that in the M4.

I had the chance to test drive a new M4 vert about 3 months ago at my local dealer and I was impressed with how fast and how fun it was. Of course, I wasn’t “living with it”, i just had it on a 10 minute test drive, with the top down, on a gorgeous day. So it was a total blast.

For those of you how own own - how is it to live with? Day in and day out? Do you put passengers in the back? Never?

I’m curious for those of you who have the vert - how are you liking it now that you’ve had it a while? What did you cross shop it against? How often do you still find yourself dropping the top on it? Any regrets after buying it?

[yocubed]

M4 vert owner here. Just over 1 year of ownership in the books. I absolutely love it. It may not be quite as fast as the M3 and regular M4 due to the weight added for the top but if we're being honest I'm not really going to miss the slight drop in performance.
I almost never have anyone in the back seats and unless you're carrying children it's unlikely to be comfortable for long rides but my son loves riding in the back when we drive around.

I put the top down as much as possible which is quite often here in Alabama nearly year round.

I cross shopped with the 911 as well but even less of a back seat and far more expensive when equally equipped. Eventually I'll get a 911 in the stable but later down the road and likely in the targa configuration.

As far as other cross shopping there isn't really much out there is the same or similar class in a cabriolet.
C63: not as appealing to me style wise.
C8 vette: impossible to find at least when I was looking, no rear seating, interior is driver oriented but kind of isolates the passenger
F type: gorgeous car but even harder to find, pricier, no rear seats, legendary jaguar reliability

All in all I would have made the same choice had I had to do it again

[M4ord]

I will echo yocubed's observations.

Coming up on one year and 15000 miles and have loved every single one of those miles. I work from home, so most of that 15K is because I want to go drive it. Top-down as much as I can. This is the highest-performing car I have ever owned, and to me, it has three personalities.

It's a comfy top-down cruiser when you want to look around at the scenery. Opening and closing the top is 20 seconds with the push of a button. With the top down, I still can fit a surprising amount of stuff in the trunk.

It's a capable daily coupe that can run most errands when you need it to. The ride is not overly harsh; additional structural bracing is very well done. Many years ago I owned a C4 Corvette with an LT4 motor with almost 400 lbs of torque. When you took the T-Top out and floored it, you would feel the car twist on its center axis like you were twisting a towel. Not a hint of structural rigidity loss in this car when getting on it.

Finally, this car, at least to me, is so fast and capable that you can't drive it at the limit on public roads. In fact, I had to find its limits and decided to spend about 4 hours at BMW Performance Center with a few of the G8X and F87 to find the limits.

This third personality also has depth; I mean, in 4WD and wet roads, I am not afraid of the 480 lbs of torque. If I put it in MDM mode, I am not afraid of the car snapping the rear end to an unrecoverable angle. And if I want to be totally nuts, I can put it in 2WD (DSC off) and burn the tires off in 15 minutes doing endless donuts. I say all this to emphasize the fun factor which I think is your primary interest.

Also, as yocubed mentioned, there really is no competitor in this class if you want a fast convertible; it's the best bang for the buck.

Safe Travels!

[Mark Kez]

Mine is a sorted story of change, waiting, loss and love. I’ve been driving convertibles for 24 years with a short ill advised dalliance with a M440 coupe. Saabs, Audi S5, BMW M240 were convertibles I owned and loved. I waited 8 months for delivery of my M440 and after driving it for three months I realized I needed another convertible and so I ordered my first M4 convertible only to have it totaled by a careless driver. At this point I had spent the last sixteen months ordering/waiting for cars!! Thankfully my dealer found a G83 already in production so I only had to wait 2 1/2 months for my current G83. I’ve never driven an M3 or an M4, but this much I know: the convertible is damn fast and plenty nimble. Plus, it looks good!! The M240 will always hold a special place in my mind, it was my first Bimmer. Nimble as a cat, fast as a gunshot, it was the perfect car for me. Fast forward to the G83 and add more power, more bells and whistles and arguably a more unique, better looking car and you have the recipe for a love affair to last a lifetime. I make up excuses to drive the car every chance I get. I take the long way home, willingly drive to the grocery store furthest away from my house and stop at the gas station even when I don’t need gas just because that’s the spot that always guarantees conversations about the car. It’s worth every dime it costs and you’ll love it. Plus, they’re much easier to get/order than an M3.

[Rotherd31]

I also share an M550 history before my M4 vert. Actually two M550's, a 2018 and a 2020. Wanted a cheap vert experience first to see if we liked it. Bought a new Miata in 2021, had it for 4 months and 7300 miles. Loved the top down experience then I knew it was Z4 M40i time. Traded it in for the Z4 and got exactly what I paid for it. Had the Z4 for a year and 10,000 miles. It was nice but it had two issues that I hated. First, very noticeable back draft even with the screen and bad side wind turbulence in my left ear off the drivers outside mirror.

Ordered the M4 vert and 70 days later it was sitting in my garage. Gone are both aspects that I didn't like about the Z4. No side mirror turbulence and next to nothing for back draft. Obviously having four feet from the front end of the trunk deck to the back of my seat helped that situation. I've never even used the screen. Having a back seat works great for cooler, snacks, etc that the Z4 didn't have.

Got it Aug of 2222, stored four months during the winter and currently have 9200 miles on it. Top down 90% of the time. Next to nothing for freeway driving. Mostly two lane cruising. Great DD, easy entry/exit and all the power I want or need. Didn't like the look of the rear seat headrests so I took them off. Not a problem as I don't have back seat passengers. Grand kids have gone for rides, but obviously in the front seat.

Overall, perfect for us!

[PawnStar]

I’m pondering if performance equipped M440i cv for 25k less will have the same smile per mile coefficient as M4 cv …75k vs 100k 🤷🏻

[Mark Kez]

No it wont, trust me!! It’s a grand tourer, no sport, not much fun.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Bought my first convertible a used 1957 FORD Skyliner in 1960. Have had at least one, either two seat or four seat, ever since. The M4C is now two years old & has had more top down driving than top up.

The M4C is the pick of the litter. Did not cross shop anything as I did not see anything that really matched up against it. Am admittedly biased but think the car's all round packaging is one of the best ever designed for the general public.



FWIW - I lease most BMW's but buy the keepers, leases are replaced in 3 years & most keepers have been kept in the 9/10 year range. The M4C is a keeper, have had one 435 & two 440's that were leases.

The raw power & handling options quite easily set it apart from the 440 line. The 440's are excellent cars but outside of the body shell they are very different cars from the M4C. Running similar options to what I would buy the M440 savings are about $17,000. Not a small amount but over a 10 year life span about $1700 a year.

That $1700 buys a lot of smiles per mile.

[Alpine300zhp]

Originally Posted by PawnStar

I’m pondering if performance equipped M440i cv for 25k less will have the same smile per mile coefficient as M4 cv …75k vs 100k 🤷🏻

It likely won’t assuming, for the sake of argument, that you are a true M person. If you aren’t a true M person, save the 25k and get the M440. Not everyone needs or even likes the M over the M performance models. If you aren’t sure that you are a true M person, test drive a M440 (coupe is fine for this purpose) and then test drive a M4. Try to drive both on the same day or within a couple of days of each other…..you should have your answer after the test drives.

[Stepanyan]

g83 owner

I strongly believe that the g83 is the way to go if you can live with 2 doors.

The difference in exhaust sound when driving top down vs driving top up is substantial. g80 and g82 owners have no idea what they are missing out on. Windows down cannot compare to top down when it comes to the exhaust sound. Top down driving increases driving pleasure by a lot. If you use the windscreen and close the windows there is less wind with top down than with closed roof and open windows.

Rear headroom is actually better than g82. g82 roof slopes down in almost a fastback style. G83 roof does not slope down that way. I had more than a few hour long 4 adult trips. However, you might need to compromise a little bit if you like driving positions with your seat almost all the way back. Note, you can't use the wind screen with passengers in the back.

I am speculating here, but I would think g83 with top down has a lower center of gravity than the g82.

I am in SoCal too and I almost always drive top down. Neck warmers help, but they might be an issue if the driver or the front passenger are short because your head might bump into the plastic grille of the neck warmer instead of the headrest.

Convertibles are great if people that you are going to share your trips with also enjoy driving top down. My wife is ok with driving top down so I use the vert all the time, but I would imagine I would use it a lot less if she did not enjoy the experience too. Make sure whoever you are taking trips with is ok with it.

In sum, no regrets and will pick the convertible over all other options every time unless I am getting a track car.

[aktif8]

>Note, you can't use the wind screen with passengers in the back.

You can if you pick up a UR windschott wind screen



I don't have anything really substantive to add to the conversation here, except to say that this is the first car I've ever owned for more than 12 months with 0 impetus to trade it in on something else.

AWD, 4 seater, >500hp, convertible M sports car. I mean, it's basically perfection. I'd call the 8 vert a GT, so not really competition (er, as it were.)

Ive had some shouty cars in shouty colors, but this car, lowered on 20s all around, gets more attention than anything I've ever owned, especially with the top down. It's a stunner, exceptionally fast, comfortable(ish, at least, with the KWs,) and willing to be mild mannered if you're not feeling it (let's face it, we're all always feeling it, but sometimes the SO isn't...)

Here's a link to a story that Mike @ MWS did on my car (when it was a bit closer to stock form, anyway.)

https://machineswithsouls.com/2022/1...rtible-review/

[PawnStar]

Originally Posted by Alpine300zhp

It likely won’t assuming, for the sake of argument, that you are a true M person. If you aren’t a true M person, save the 25k and get the M440. Not everyone needs or even likes the M over the M performance models. If you aren’t sure that you are a true M person, test drive a M440 (coupe is fine for this purpose) and then test drive a M4. Try to drive both on the same day or within a couple of days of each other…..you should have your answer after the test drives.

Appreciate the feedback but can you define ‘a true M person’?

I’ve driven both on a street/highway (2022 M4 cv and 23 M440i cv with base suspension) and M4 felt a bit more powerful under hard throttle getting on/off ramps but poking around town at 2500 rpm or cruising at highway speeds at 2500/4500 rpm both cars seemed similar. If any one has info to the contrary, let us know, but the same adaptive dampers that are fitted to 24 M4 cv can now be fitted on 24 m440 cv as part of ZDH. For $25k less it makes an interesting proposition. 🤷🏻

[Alpine300zhp]

Originally Posted by PawnStar

Appreciate the feedback but can you define ‘a true M person’?

I’ve driven both on a street/highway (2022 M4 cv and 23 M440i cv with base suspension) and M4 felt a bit more powerful under hard throttle getting on/off ramps but poking around town at 2500 rpm or cruising at highway speeds at 2500/4500 rpm both cars seemed similar. If any one has info to the contrary, let us know, but the same adaptive dampers that are fitted to 24 M4 cv can now be fitted on 24 m440 cv as part of ZDH. For $25k less it makes an interesting proposition. 🤷🏻

My definition of “true M person” is someone who is unhappy unless he/she is driving a M car. FWIW, no matter how great any BMW is, I won’t be happy unless it’s a M competition variant. I will constantly nitpick the appearance, steering, throttle response, cornering, braking, and tightness or lack thereof.

You make very accurate observations about the M440 vs the M4. In fact, your observations are quite telling and show that BMW hit the nail on the head with the engineering goals of the M440. The reason I say all of this is because it sounds to me like you would be very happy with a M440 optioned properly. In my opinion, if you drove both cars and wrote how you noticed the M440 lacked this and that, but the M4 hit all of the buttons for you then I would say you are a true M person. However, your comments lead me to believe that you would be extremely happy with the M440 and that the M4 is a unnecessary expense. At the end of the day, it is your money and I’m just giving you my personal experience.

[pureenergy68]

Although I only had my M4 (G83) for a brief period, I have been driving convertibles for years. The G83 won’t disappoint you and driving with the top down is the ultimate experience!

The rear seats are not bad and I had adult passengers say the ride was comfortable. With the top down my only complaint is that the HK stereo is even worse.

[Jtejero]

I have been fortunate to have had, in the past, an f80 6mt, f83, 2 f82 M2c’s both 6mt, G82 M4, G83 M4cv, F90 M5 and now back to a G83 - BSM with Fiona int - pic attached. My wife also had an F series M240ix cv. I tinkered with most of them especially the M2’s. I came back from the M5 - amazing car just was missing something with a normal roof. To me the G83 is the best all arounder for my daily use. I rarely have back seat passengers, and if we are going on a long trip, we take the wifes X5m for the long hauls. Even if we do have adults in back, short trips are fine as long as you put the top down/up to make it alot easier to get in/out of the back. My favorite part, having BMS open intakes, is the sounds the car makes with the top down. Hearing the turbos and actually hearing the exhaust, best sounding M car I have had. I also agree this is a stunner, especially with the top down. Also, I think its great value over the M8, where you don’t really get much more from a practicality standpoint - trunk and back seat are just as small 😀 even though that TT V8 is fun. Regardless, just my $0.02, great all arounder!

[23109VC]

WOW - you have had quite a series of M cars! Interesting you went from M4cv to F90 M5 and then back to the M4cv. Do you miss the power of the M5? The M5 is a beast, but i can imagine it’s a totally different experience compared to a drop top M4! I have an M550i now, and while it has a lot of power in a straight line and is very comfy - it’s not very sporty. That is what I’m missing and why im’ changing.

Thanks for the feedback!

[M4ord]

Originally Posted by Jtejero

I have been fortunate to have had, in the past, an f80 6mt, f83, 2 f82 M2c’s both 6mt, G82 M4, G83 M4cv, F90 M5 and now back to a G83 - BSM with Fiona int - pic attached. My wife also had an F series M240ix cv. I tinkered with most of them especially the M2’s. I came back from the M5 - amazing car just was missing something with a normal roof. To me the G83 is the best all arounder for my daily use. I rarely have back seat passengers, and if we are going on a long trip, we take the wifes X5m for the long hauls. Even if we do have adults in back, short trips are fine as long as you put the top down/up to make it alot easier to get in/out of the back. My favorite part, having BMS open intakes, is the sounds the car makes with the top down. Hearing the turbos and actually hearing the exhaust, best sounding M car I have had. I also agree this is a stunner, especially with the top down. Also, I think its great value over the M8, where you don’t really get much more from a practicality standpoint - trunk and back seat are just as small 😀 even though that TT V8 is fun. Regardless, just my $0.02, great all arounder!

I love this forum and this thread. It has the added benefit of not only helping the original poster but has now also inspired me to get the BMS open intakes. I agree about the exhaust sound with the top down. I would have thought that BMW would have attempted to highlight the turbo intake sound on a twin-turbo car, but I can't hear it. Some passengers are surprised when I tell them it's a twin-turbo due to the lack of intake sound.

[23109VC]

Originally Posted by aktif8

>Note, you can't use the wind screen with passengers in the back.

You can if you pick up a UR windschott wind screen

[img]https://i.ibb.co/HVtY9rq/Screenshot-20230530-174611-Photos.jpg[/img]

I don't have anything really substantive to add to the conversation here, except to say that this is the first car I've ever owned for more than 12 months with 0 impetus to trade it in on something else.

AWD, 4 seater, >500hp, convertible M sports car. I mean, it's basically perfection. I'd call the 8 vert a GT, so not really competition (er, as it were.)

Ive had some shouty cars in shouty colors, but this car, lowered on 20s all around, gets more attention than anything I've ever owned, especially with the top down. It's a stunner, exceptionally fast, comfortable(ish, at least, with the KWs,) and willing to be mild mannered if you're not feeling it (let's face it, we're all always feeling it, but sometimes the SO isn't...)

Here's a link to a story that Mike @ MWS did on my car (when it was a bit closer to stock form, anyway.)

https://machineswithsouls.com/2022/1...rtible-review/

I actually saw that story online and have already read it - very cool that it is YOUR car..which looks awesome BTW!

Thanks for the great and compelling info… the M4 is a very unique car in that it is one of the few ir ONLY sports cars that can fit 4 adults (has REAL rear seats_ and can go top down with 500+ hp. A 911 (the other car I am considering) has rear seats that only a small child or human pretzel could fit into.

[Jtejero]

Thank you, as my wife says, she is glad I am loyal to one woman!!! I miss the power of the m5 a little, it was by far faster and slightly more confortable. My M5c was also BSM so it was a stunner also. I grew up on wrenching on american muscle cars and as the saying goes, there is no replacement for displacement! That being said, I am almost 50 and the speed of either car is way more than enough for me. The M5 is great at almost everything, except feeling the wind in your hair. What I missed was It almost felt too clinical, especially at speed. The M4 has more soul in at respect, you know you are going faster or turning harder, and while the M5 did those great, just was missing a visceral effect that the F8x and G8x platforms have. If I miss the v8 that much, I take the wifes X5m out for “clear the dust out of it runs” 😀. As for the BMS intakes, the sound increase is worth it alone, especially with as inexpensive as the BMS setup is. Also, I installed the CG exhaust flap controller (used on almost all my BMW’s) and it really makes a nice difference always having the exhaust flaps open. With the top down, full acceleration is full of great sounds, heck any accelerating sounds great now!! Hope that helps in both of your decisions!

[08-335xi]

I have a “23 G83 and have 4K miles on it. I have owned some type of drop top since I started buying cars including 4 Mustangs (one a Shelby Cobra), 4 Corvettes (latest was a C7). The last 15 years I have cross shopped BMW Convetibles with the Corvettes. The BMWs always handled great, but could never match the fun factor of the Corvette V8s, so I stayed the Corvettes.

This go around I cross shopped the the M4 with a M440, Z4 M40i, C8 and did a quick glance at a Mustang GT, Boxter, Audi and Mercedes AMG. I quickly narrowed the list to a C8 or M4 for the best mix of price and performance. I really liked the C8, but the two I drove had some oddities with the dual clutch transmission and practicality was def reduced compared to ny C7 and even more so than the M4. The Z4 and M440 were too slow for my taste. I was surprised how improved the M4’s steering and handling felt compared to the M440. The M440 was moderately fast, but felt a little sloppy and just did not feel like a car that I would be happy with at the track.

Now that I have had the M4 for a while I am very happy with it. It is fast, fun and practical at the same time. Holding 4 passengers was important in the decision process as I was limited in how often I could drive it with only 2 seats. I have been able to drive the M4 at least twice as often as I could drive the C7. This alone was worth it to me as driving is a big source of daily fun for me. I have not taken it to the track yet, but plan to this summer.

The positives compared to my C7 are:
-It’s faster
-Interior is nicer and more comfortable while holding during spirited turns even with the sport seats
-Surprisingly the HK is better than the crappy Bose
-It feels like it will handle on the track as well to slightly better
-It’s much more practical
-Traction with AWD is a game changer

Negatives/what I miss about the C7:
-Exhaust sound, you can’t beat a V8
-The Magnetic Ride Control is a better technology than the M4 adjustable shocks
-I miss rowing through the gears with a manual transmission
-The C7 felt a little more raw than the M4 and you had a more connected feel with the road

Overall I am very happy with the M4 and can’t wait to get it on the track. The things that surprised me about the M4 are:
-you can drive it with the top down comfortably in just about any weather outside of rain, even below freezing
-the amount of brake dust these brakes create
-how quiet and mellow it is inside with the top up. It’s hard to tell it is a convertible from the inside with the top up
-how adjustable the programming is enabling from track ready settings to a luxurious highway cruiser with the touch of the M1/2 buttons.
-How much attention this car gets. It is drawing more attention everywhere I go than the C7. That is not important to me, but def something to be aware of.
-Everyone on the road wants to race. I don’t street race, but can’t believe how everyone want to temp you

[osteome]

I don't have too much to add overall but have put about 4500 miles on my G83 in 14 months of ownership. It is stored winters and I picked up a 140 mile daily round trip commute shortly after picking it up, so I have not driven it as much as I would like. It is a great autobahn cruiser, but I did not pile on that kind of mileage so quickly.

I can offer that coming from a E93 M3 (with a few year break in BMW ownership) I definitely prefer the G83. The retractable hardtop was nice, but added more significant weight. I do miss the 6 speed manual and the V8 sounds, but find the G83 an overall better package and looks far "cleaner" from every angle.

My commute changes significantly as I am moving for work in the near future (Germany to Texas), so I do look forward to a longer convertible season and the opportunity to put more miles on it as a part of "regular" use.

We don't really use the rear seat, but it has been useful in a pinch. I do wish the stereo was a bit better although the engine sounds at speed with the top down are great compensation. My wife has the B&W option in her X5 and I would have spec'ed something similar if it was available.

With no intention to track the car, I have no regrets. My second choice would have likely been the sedan with a stick.

[BigBMWguy85]

Getting the vert was the best thing I ever did (car choice wise). I am fortunate enough that buying this car was a reward for achieving a passive income goal through some of the mulit family assets I buy and this is a "weekend car".

I wanted to make sure that any sports car I purchased was fun and gave me that "special" feeling when I was in it.

Nothing is like having that open air feeling, the sounds of the engine, and music blasting when you want. I was a big motorcycle guy before kids and this is car is beyond filling that void (while being semi practical).

Goodluck with your choice! I would recommend this vert to anyone!