M8 Competition

I recently got some wheel time in an M8C at a BMW marketing event. It could be confused with a new Mustang by some (minus the badges). Brutally fast...noticeably faster on launch than the M5C. The interior is cramped. Fake boy racer exhaust. Their is so much technology in the cockpit the driving experience is completely destroyed. Pure video game digital driving. Steering numb. Controls are not intuitive. I hated it. I will say that the CCB's have extra terrestrial stopping power. If I ever buy another BMW M car (which i'm sure I will at some point) it will be normally aspirated and not have iDrive.

Thanks for the review. Many valid and great points. I drove an M8C recently too and I dont like the ZF unit they're going to. It makes more sense, smaller, way more cost efficient and can hold 750-800? LB feet of torque.

Personally, I dont know what BMW was thinking, the car feels 'modern' lets just say, but nowhere near the levels of 150k+ cars in the segment. I almost feel like they said, we have all that hardware lets just make something out of it all. To the mustang comments, I agree! Lol...

///M3Fresh wrote

Thanks for the review. Many valid and great points. I drove an M8C recently too and I dont like the ZF unit they're going to. It makes more sense, smaller, way more cost efficient and can hold 750-800? LB feet of torque.

Personally, I dont know what BMW was thinking, the car feels 'modern' lets just say, but nowhere near the levels of 150k+ cars in the segment. I almost feel like they said, we have all that hardware lets just make something out of it all. To the mustang comments, I agree! Lol...

Totally agree about the price. But if you can lease an M8C for $120k cap cost with the good money factor and residual perhaps $1,500 pre tax payment it's worth it. Just think about all the people who are going to lease the new M3/4 for over a grand a month.

Longboarder wrote

Upcoming M3 is a non-starter. Could be the ugliest car on the planet next to the Tesla Model 3 pig snout. I guess manufacturers are competing for ugliest car now. Not good for things to come.

............

Finally a spec showed up at a local dealer that interests me. Donnington/Black non-comp low MSRP but with the comp wheels. Seeing if I can get a crazy deal at M3/4 pricing. If so might pull the trigger despite the flaws. Need to consolidate some cars anyway.

Well....

Longboarder wrote

Well....

She's a stunner!! Wow what a color with smoked tail lights.. 🥳 congrats!!

SAMM3Y wrote

Longboarder wrote

Well....

She's a stunner!! Wow what a color with smoked tail lights.. 🥳 congrats!!

Thx. Donnington is a little lighter than Space Grey plus Donnington seems to have some kind of brown tones in it.

I used to go the races at Donington park in England as a kid.. it's a smaller venue but loved by the locals. I wonder if that's the inspiration for the color.. BMW does like to name colors after tracks, fitting England gets the Grey's with the weather and all 😂 .. it looks fantastic under the garage lights!!

is it possible the "slowing down" nearing a shift is the turbo falling flat?

roastbeef wrote

is it possible the "slowing down" nearing a shift is the turbo falling flat?

Entirely possible since there is almost no turbo lag at all. So my guess is that the turbochargers are really small and maybe running out of steam in the upper rpms.

Longboarder wrote

Entirely possible since there is almost no turbo lag at all. So my guess is that the turbochargers are really small and maybe running out of steam in the upper rpms.

my wife's 335d was like that. the last 1,000 rpms were worthless.

roastbeef wrote

Longboarder wrote

Entirely possible since there is almost no turbo lag at all. So my guess is that the turbochargers are really small and maybe running out of steam in the upper rpms.

my wife's 335d was like that. the last 1,000 rpms were worthless.

Once the 1200 mile break in is complete, I will tune it and find out for sure.

Longboarder wrote

Once the 1200 mile break in is complete, I will tune it and find out for sure.

Don't tune it, it is quite well known these powertrains are restricted by software until the break-in is complete. There is also a discussion that after 2020 BMW "locked" DMEs so that no more mods like BM3 is possible at this stage.

I am curious to know how the stock transmission responds when driven like you do with E92 M3 DCT. Still wouldn't get over the AWD weight (grunt), but it gives you an idea of how bad(or good) the G8x will be. My hopes aren't high mind you.

Longboarder wrote

Totally agree about the price. But if you can lease an M8C for $120k cap cost with the good money factor and residual perhaps $1,500 pre tax payment it's worth it. Just think about all the people who are going to lease the new M3/4 for over a grand a month.

Yeah from that viewpoint I wouldnt blame anyone going for an M8/C. I cant get over the front end of the G8X. So I feel that throwing that kind of money to not get something that I feel is good to look at is no bueno.

Nice pickup! And Great color!

kyrix1st wrote

Longboarder wrote

Once the 1200 mile break in is complete, I will tune it and find out for sure.

Don't tune it, it is quite well known these powertrains are restricted by software until the break-in is complete. There is also a discussion that after 2020 BMW "locked" DMEs so that no more mods like BM3 is possible at this stage.

I am curious to know how the stock transmission responds when driven like you do with E92 M3 DCT. Still wouldn't get over the AWD weight (grunt), but it gives you an idea of how bad(or good) the G8x will be. My hopes aren't high mind you.

Yes good info. I will wait until after break-in for sure.

Even tho mine popped up at the dealer just last week, it was built 10/2019 and was sitting on a train for months due to covid. So I will be able to tune.

After a couple days with the M8, i like the e92 M3 a lot better in EVERY respect except one thing - off the line grip.

So I'll be keeping the e92. Will use it almost exclusively as a weekend surf car with the M8 as a daily beater/commuter.

Longboarder wrote

Definitely domestic-inspired. Many have said Mustang.

Shame.

Thank you for the write up...I do agree on the Mustang similarities on the side shot.

By the way I wanted to mention the exhaust sound on the non-competition model is a lot better IMHO.

On the competition, I had to close the exhaust valves because otherwise the car made the worst crackle farting and popping ricer sounds on decel. The non-comp cars do not do this at all.

I keep the exhuast valves open and it has a very deep bass sound to it like a good v8 should. In cruising range it's a bit like the e92M3 stock. Obviously muted at WOT due to the turbos. Maybe it shows my age a bit, but I prefer an exhaust note that is smooth and perfectly linear not raspy like a v8 mustang. This car already looks mustang-ish I dont want to to also sound like a mustang.

Longboarder wrote

By the way I wanted to mention the exhaust sound on the non-competition model is a lot better IMHO.

On the competition, I had to close the exhaust valves because otherwise the car made the worst crackle farting and popping ricer sounds on decel. The non-comp cars do not do this at all.

I keep the exhuast valves open and it has a very deep bass sound to it like a good v8 should. In cruising range it's a bit like the e92M3 stock. Obviously muted at WOT due to the turbos. Maybe it shows my age a bit, but I prefer an exhaust note that is smooth and perfectly linear not raspy like a v8 mustang. This car already looks mustang-ish I dont want to to also sound like a mustang.

BMW lost of a lot of original designers (most recently the one who designed CSL hommage), likely because the company is going China route and is cheapening out everywhere. Sad to see a company that once led the industry fall into Toyota category in terms of excitement.

You must be very good at negotiating because BMW SD used to be always higher priced than any of the other dealers and less willing to budge. Granted haven't stepped in there for a few years at least, but either way that's a solid daily you got there. Enjoy it!

rjd598 wrote

You must be very good at negotiating because BMW SD used to be always higher priced than any of the other dealers and less willing to budge. Granted haven't stepped in there for a few years at least, but either way that's a solid daily you got there. Enjoy it!

Their first offer was more than twice the discount offered from the two other dealers that I was working with.

They were very professional and nice to deal with. Would buy again from them.