[therealm3]

Originally Posted by -JLT-

I would take the M2 with M3 rear hips please :

Two best bmws out there imo

[Bosozoku]

Originally Posted by M3 Number 86

All the Bmw instructors at thermal club say the m3 performs better than the m4 making it even more function over form.

Interesting. Could it be the M Mirrors?
No. Both M3/M4 have M Mirrors.

Could it be the glowing M Seat Badge?
Nope. Both M3/M4 have the glowing M Seat Badge.

Must be the carbon fiber roof then.
Oh. Wait. Option on both the M3 and M4.

Same weight too.
Must be the boxy M3 aerodynamics. Higher top-side downforce maybe.

[jeremicium]

So I'm going to jump to the defense of the M4, because I drive one. I don't get all the "M3 handles better than M4" comments. I test drove both, and wasn't sure which I was going to get until right before I put the order in. For the kind of driving you can do on the streets there is no perceptible difference. On the track, it would take a pro to tell the difference between the two. I've got three seasons of hpde behind me so it's not like I don't have a basic feel for differences in driving dynamics between cars. Has anyone on here actually felt a difference between the two?

And... After looking at the side views again...I'm liking the M2 more and more.

[OrangeCrush]

Originally Posted by Bosozoku

Interesting. Could it be the M Mirrors?
No. Both M3/M4 have M Mirrors.

Could it be the glowing M Seat Badge?
Nope. Both M3/M4 have the glowing M Seat Badge.

Must be the carbon fiber roof then.
Oh. Wait. Option on both the M3 and M4.

Same weight too.
Must be the boxy M3 aerodynamics. Higher top-side downforce maybe.

Isn't the 4 door more rigid? And the M4 had to add the duck tail shape trunk just to get aero right. I'm not sure on the finished result though just pointing out that the M4 sleeker appearance doesn't mean superior aero...

[auf Deutsch]

Originally Posted by dmboone25

Had a friendly run with an M4 yesterday

In your 981S? I can't wait until the 718S hits the market. That thing is going to be seriously fast.

[edwinm3]

Originally Posted by M3 Number 86

All the Bmw instructors at thermal club say the m3 performs better than the m4 making it even more function over form.

[norMcal]

Originally Posted by Bosozoku

It's the "Mercedes-Benz Effect."
In the old days, every Benz model was slightly bigger than the competing BMW model.
So BMW was forced to increase the sizes of all their models. For "more value."
Now there are so many BMW models that all niches are filled.
But the 3/4 Series are still bigger than ever.



And do those category wins justify the $15K+ higher sticker (with similar equipment)?
Are performance numbers more important than actual driving enjoyment?
Who are you trying to impress with that M4? Yourself or bystanders?

For sure the battle of who has a couple more inches leg room in the back seats has got us where we are today. The current 3/4 series is as big as the first 7 series, it's ridiculous. There for I would not get an M4, it's too big for my liking. My point was merely that it is the better looking car and the fact that it barley weighs more than a M2 is impressive, or is disappointing when looking at the M2. When the rumors of an M2 first surfaced, the hope was for a 3000-3200 lbs car, not another 3400+lbs one. Despite that, I am sure it is a fantastic car and the weight won't matter to many customers. For me this would be a track toy and looking at it from that perspective I am slightly disappointed. Not saying that it's a deal breaker, but the first strike for me was that I don't think it is all that pretty, and the second strike is that it weights as much as its big brother. Wasn't the point to make it smaller AND lighter? At the track weight matters......a lot! It affects acceleration, braking and cornering, it's physics! If I find one more negative on the car, like price, then I will certainly get a used Cayman S instead, which tips the scale at about 3000 lbs and looks way better. Too bad I will have to go to the dark side and get a P car. Never thought I would.

[-JLT-]

Originally Posted by Bosozoku

Interesting. Could it be the M Mirrors?
No. Both M3/M4 have M Mirrors.

Could it be the glowing M Seat Badge?
Nope. Both M3/M4 have the glowing M Seat Badge.

Must be the carbon fiber roof then.
Oh. Wait. Option on both the M3 and M4.

Same weight too.
Must be the boxy M3 aerodynamics. Higher top-side downforce maybe.

it's the extra 2 doors :

[TreDirtyFive]

I think the M4 is swoopier & sexier overall...it's the nature of longer pointy-er cars. But the M2 is wedgier, tougher, and has that hot wheels toy-car bulldog look. I'd take either of them in a heartbeat and probably the M4 if price was no option. But the M2 seems like it could up being very special in the long term.

[AndoOKC]

M2 = nice but nothing special
M3 = nice but nothing special
M4 = nice but nothing special

There you have it. The truth from a guy with two posts but soon to own his very first BMW (M2) and very first German car. I went with the M2 because it seems very unique in the BMW lineup. I didn't even know the thing existed until 3 weeks ago when I went leisurely car browsing. Great forum btw! lively crowd.

I had to update this post because I asked my wife to evaluate with no bias which she thought looked better. she knew which one was the M2 by the color but she thought the M4 was the new mustang. I couldn't fault her for thinking that as they look very similar when comparing the outlines. She didn't think either looked very good. A woman's opinion for what it's worth.

[carve29]

I don't own either one. I have an e46 M3. As much as I like the idea of a more nimble, smaller car, I have some reservations when I look at the M2. The rear seems like it's not finished or something. On looks alone, I like the M4.

[AGAV13]

Originally Posted by b.oom

For everyone's eye pleasure.
Used the same principle as 6series/6GC, so it's a bit longer that M2 Coupe.

I'd pick that up in a heartbeat

[-JLT-]

Originally Posted by b.oom

For everyone's eye pleasure.
Used the same principle as 6series/6GC, so it's a bit longer that M2 Coupe.

now that'll be a fun 4 door saloon

[GMe90]

M4 looks better to me.

[ZilberGrau ZHP]

As an owner of an F36 Gran Coupe I will say this- the 4 is the PERFECT autobahn, interstate highway blaster- (cept the too much wind noise on the F32/F36) but they are just too big /at least for my taste for everyday driving (though they obviously are fine for that too but I prefer smaller cars for city driving and the F32/36 are pretty long. But it is clear the M2 (and even to a lesser extent M235) are the truest to the BMW original driving excellence of a better handling/smaller/more powerful M.

[M3 Number 86]

Originally Posted by dmboone25

Plus it gives you real utility - that's a great comparison IMO - F80 vs. F87. If you are to get an M4, I am not sure it gives you much (in the utility department) over the M2. The M3 is the same performance package, has a much more usable range in terms of carrying normal sized humans, and to my tastes, is better looking than any other M car available at the moment.

The question is whether it is 10K+ better. that's going to vary case by case..

Lot of people jumped on the sedan during the f8x chassis. This is why I have an e90. Proportions look better (same philosophy). Although mine doesn't have rear seats and will get a cage soon so not much in terms of utility but the most important one - lugging around four wheels and tools for the track. A BBQ set sometimes too

[M3 Number 86]

Originally Posted by Bosozoku

Interesting. Could it be the M Mirrors?
No. Both M3/M4 have M Mirrors.

Could it be the glowing M Seat Badge?
Nope. Both M3/M4 have the glowing M Seat Badge.

Must be the carbon fiber roof then.
Oh. Wait. Option on both the M3 and M4.

Same weight too.
Must be the boxy M3 aerodynamics. Higher top-side downforce maybe.

Yeah it's strange but that's what they say and others on here. Are widths the same overall. Maybe it's just the balance of the mass?

[SabineBimmer]

The M3's profile is so much more appealing than the M4's. The elongation of the rear quarter window throws off the dimensions. Makes the front seem stubby. The window for the M2 is better.

[Golfgeek]

They all look great. And if I could just get my 5 series interior on one of them I would get it.

[N & M]

Originally Posted by -JLT-

damnnnnn!!!! look how muscular and aggressive the M2 looks

The M2 for me. It looks meaner and more special. The interior is the disappointing part in both where the cars appear more generic and closer to the mainstream models.

[BLACK OPS]

The rear of the 1M on the M2 would be a big improvement. Lookwise I like them both but can see how the M2 might be a daily driver dream.

[Usser555]

M4. Best size (not too big not too small). Much better looking high end design IMHO. Not sure about driving experience with M2 (if I would like it more or less than M4). Both cars great cars and joy to drive, M2 is less expensive. However, I would prefer 435i M Performance Edition over M2 any day (if the price would be the question).

M4 has it all. Of course M6 and 4 doors M's are different stories.