BMW M4 Competition Convertible xDrive, sun’s up, roof’s down
Since the beginning of the BMW M3 -and later on the M4- in the eighties, the upper 3 Series was available as coupe and convertible. The softer and less driver-focused convertible was always considered the “poser-car”, but can the new BMW M4 Competition convertible change that view?
Softtop
The first thing you notice on the new BMW M4 is the fact it has dropped the heavy hardtop roof in favor of the soft-top making the system less heavy (in theory, but later more on that). The second thing you notice is -without a doubt- that awful nose, that you will gradually become accustomed to. Just like with the BMW M4 Coupe, the nose is a pretty aggressive thing!
Looking at the side views of the BMW M4 Convertible F83 against the G83, I would give the overall win to the new G83. Begin at the front, the F83 begins strong until just past the side vent, there the G83 gets better lines which are more in balance with the “being convertible”-thing. Moving further to the back the big hips, fine rear lights and massive diffuser with equally big 4 exhaust tips instantly wins over your heart. That rear angle is undoubtedly the best way to look at the car!
M1 for hot, M2 for hotter
It’s a great feeling! Getting the keys to the car for the first time, dropping your ass on those seats and inhaling the BMW M4 Convertible. The fleshy (and if you want heated) steering wheel with carbon details, cute shifting peddles and the red M1/M2 buttons -for your favorite setup of the car- welcome you for a joyful ride. Additionally, the M4 infotainment system works and feels like every other modern BMW and that makes it so easy to use!
The electric heated and cooled seats will keep you in your place when you’re putting the M4 to its pace, while they’re more than comfy enough to drive to the South of France. With the roof up, luggage space -385 liters- isn’t a problem for that short trip to France and even the children could come! The BMW M4 Convertible makes it possible to put at least 2 “in proportion not too big/normal size” people on the backseats.
Easy to go fast
The BMW M4 Competition Convertible xDrive has at least two things to make it go really fast in a really small amount of time. The “decent sounding” 3.0-liter Biturbo six-in-line is now pushing 510 hp and 650 Nm of torque -the first thing- and puts all that power on the ground through the xDrive four-wheel drive -the second thing. This makes it possible to launch the power convertible to 100 km/h in an unbelievable 3.7 seconds. According to German custom, the fun stops at an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h.
Switching gears yourself through a manual transmission isn’t possible in our M4, but you couldn’t even get close to that 0-100 time -of the 8-speed automatic- if you would do it yourself. Do you want to feel “more in control”, you can defiantly use the shifting peddles that react in an instant after you pull them. So this “poser-car” can easily be used on the more challenging roads despite the higher weight (even heavier than the last one thanks to the xDrive) and the somewhat lost torsional stiffness. Although in normal circumstances, you will not notice this.
We have been speaking a lot about that xDrive-system on this car. It’s also a thing the rear-wheel-drive Bimmerboys will despise. Yes, the car feels less playful -as long as you don’t deactivate the 4WD, something you can do- than the previous models, but it feels more secure about itself. So you will see fewer M4s crashing into the ditch. It’s easier to use that power and to take advantage of the acceleration. Here you are sacrificing a little bit of fun for a whole lot of “try to keep up”.
Conclusion
If you would go to the dealer and would tell him: “Bro, I want a basic BMW M4 Competition xDrive Convertible”. He would charge you 104.150 euros (BE). But, you want a nice color. If you have that color you also want a matching interior. Maybe some cool rims, a windscreen, those cooled seats, … The total will put you at 117.960 euros. If you have read my articles, now the time has finally come that I’m complaining about the price. But let’s be honest. The car is bonkers fast, has space to put away my family, sounds decent, more than comfy enough and if you are in the car you can’t see that ugly nose. I almost forgot the most important thing of all: it’s a convertible! Where do I sign?
