[Patrnflyr]

I wish the car was offered with AWD. I owned a heavily tuned Porsche turbo a few cars ago and an R8 before my F car. They were AWD because they had to be in order to keep the tires from lighting up. We "over modded" the P turbo (637hp) and it would light them up even when AWD!

The M4 seems to have the same situation. I haven't been able to punch it to the floor without the traction control coming on and taming the tail. That may be fun for you drifter types but I'd rather have it hook up and accelerate faster than make smoke. It's my wife's car but I bet we go through rear tires every 4-6 thousand miles.

[gthal]

The issue is that AWD would not be preferred for many who track the car. Look at the RS5... great street car due to AWD but rarely do you see one at the track. I do get the attraction if the car is really just a DD but, unfortunately, many people would have an issue with that given the weight sacrifice, etc. So, between the purists and track addicts, a relative meaningful portion of the M3/4 world would be up in arms about AWD.

[Tony007]

Please both camps, make it optional.

I suspect they would sell many in AWD configuration.

[doberzus]

Wish it was AWD as well! I wanted the M3 and had a deposit down for May ED.

After taking a drive in my CA's very own F80 I just couldn't see it as a fun car for the STREET/DD. The TC would come on with the slightest blip of the throttle I the lower gears.

I have a 400whp Evo X and that thing is fun because of how hard it launches and how you can floor it in any gear and it GOES.

BMW should make an AWD option on the M3/M4, just like on the 235.
Since test driving the M235i XDrive I decided to get that instead, because I think it will be more fun and faster in passing and launching on the street in the lower gears(which I'm using most of the time anyway)

I really wanted an M3, but until they make it AWD I will pass. For the track junkies a RWD should be available. I think overpowered RWD cars are useless in DD situations. Like he Hellcat for example, you can't have any fun in that car without getting arrested for either speeding or doing an "accidental" burnout.

[bdoooh]

I only wish this right now because there's snow on the ground and I have narrow winter tires and have no grip in the dry or in the snow haha.

[Patrnflyr]

So, here is the question... How many people actually drive these cars on a track vs DD's? I'd bet it's 1 to 50 overall. It used to be they couldn't make an AWD that could handle the extra HP without breaking, but the R8 disproves that. BMW, take note!

[gblansten]

Aside from BMW history being rwd for its M cars (besides X5/X6) I wonder if there is a business case to further dice up the M3/4 niche with an AWD offering.

[AreOut]

it would totally ruin the character of the car but oh well I don't mind if they make it (even FWD for masochists if they want) as long as they leave RWD as an option

[CanAutM3]

[JonnyM3]

Not like the car gives much feedback through the wheel at this point anymore. AWD would be nice and surely take some audi s/rs sales away. I'm going to put some fat rears on my car when j finally get it.

[M3guy3]

Originally Posted by gthal

The issue is that AWD would not be preferred for many who track the car. Look at the RS5... great street car due to AWD but rarely do you see one at the track. I do get the attraction if the car is really just a DD but, unfortunately, many people would have an issue with that given the weight sacrifice, etc. So, between the purists and track addicts, a relative meaningful portion of the M3/4 world would be up in arms about AWD.

i feel like you dont see many RS5 at the track because AWD or not the car is just not as track friendly as a M car. Nothing really to do with AWD. The RS5 also weighs 4000 pounds.

lets not mention there are only like 4 thousand in the US. So they are also a rare car to see.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by M3guy3

The RS5 is also weighs 4000 pounds.

AWD is a significant contributor to that porky weight

[FTS]

Originally Posted by Patrnflyr

I wish the car was offered with AWD. I owned a heavily tuned Porsche turbo a few cars ago and an R8 before my F car. They were AWD because they had to be in order to keep the tires from lighting up. We "over modded" the P turbo (637hp) and it would light them up even when AWD!

I am sure you also remember that the GT2 RS had more power than the TT, 2WD and was faster than the TT and even the GT3 RS around the track

There are many other cars with significantly more power than the even 991 TT using RWD and are faster than the TT, e.g. F12, 458, etc.

[gthal]

Originally Posted by M3guy3

i feel like you dont see many RS5 at the track because AWD or not the car is just not as track friendly as a M car. Nothing really to do with AWD. The RS5 also weighs 4000 pounds.

lets not mention there are only like 4 thousand in the US. So they are also a rare car to see.

Agreed BUT part of the reason it isn't as track friendly is because of how AWD influences the overall design of the car... weight, understeer vs oversteer, etc. So not as track friendly in large part because of AWD.

[tuned2ride]

Pure heresy.

[JustChris]

Indeed. Next gen M5/6 will have optional X drive. M2/3/4 will remain as drive but I too wish for x drive as an option

[Patrnflyr]

I knew it would be controversial but the guys in the R8 forum don't sit around griping about it being AWD...

[M3guy3]

Originally Posted by gthal

Agreed BUT part of the reason it isn't as track friendly is because of how AWD influences the overall design of the car... weight, understeer vs oversteer, etc. So not as track friendly in large part because of AWD.

That may be so. I guess my point is that AWD can be good on the track. I watched really good reviews of the 911 4S. but than again thats a 911.

[Carl L]

Originally Posted by Patrnflyr

I knew it would be controversial but the guys in the R8 forum don't sit around griping about it being AWD...

Good grief with the R8 talk, all performance Audis have always been AWD so they're not going to gripe about it. R8 is no GT3, that's all I'll say.

I'm not bothered if it becomes an option but as an experienced track go'er I'd stick with RWD, but I did enjoy my 996TT when I took it out.

[NorCal f80]

If I wanted another AWD [within same price range] I would have gotten another GTR.

[Gearhead999s]

Just like buying a 911 in AWD. Every one that I have driven, I could feel the extra bulk & driveline drag/inertia. AWD does not really help you that much in real snow conditions because you are still limited by ground clearance.

[M6-Coupe]

Originally Posted by Patrnflyr

I wish the car was offered with AWD. I owned a heavily tuned Porsche turbo a few cars ago and an R8 before my F car. They were AWD because they had to be in order to keep the tires from lighting up. We "over modded" the P turbo (637hp) and it would light them up even when AWD!

The M4 seems to have the same situation. I haven't been able to punch it to the floor without the traction control coming on and taming the tail. That may be fun for you drifter types but I'd rather have it hook up and accelerate faster than make smoke. It's my wife's car but I bet we go through rear tires every 4-6 thousand miles.

This is interesting topic for all M car drivers. We have similar discussion in M5post! Most of the guys complain about weight and power and wish lighter and more powerful cars! Then when you have that car (light and powerful) now complain about the TC! Yes this is the law of physic and you cannot do anything! That much power and torque for a front engine light weight car causes the same thing! I have much more traction issue since M6 has much more power and torque and has lower rear/front weight ratio (regarding to aluminum suspension instead of steel one) with higher power/weight ratio compare to M3/M4 and it's my DD car! I never tracked my car and have no plan to do it, but it's fun to drive it! It was hard (even scary)to drive in first couple weeks even with all experience I had with this chassis (I used to own two 650i F13 prior to M6), but after almost a month I got enough confidence to drive it aggressively. Most of the time I drive in MDM and have enough control on this big heavy monster. I think you need to spend some times to be familiar with your M4. Driving a car is not just sitting behind the wheel and flooring the gas (IMO). I bet if BMW introduces the AWD in future (and I'm sure it's gonna happen), then you will see a lot complain especially for M3/M4. I see you guys will feel the difference between RWD and AWD in rolling! Try your M3/M4 and roll with RS5 to see how easy you walk away
To me the current M cars (M3/M4/M5/M6) are fantastic torque monsters!
Drive safe and enjoy your beast