About to become a "M"ember

[jrhav]

I initially posted this on the 'other' board, but I have been spending an equal amount of time on both sites for the past few weeks and appreciate all of the insight and feedback that everybody has to share, so I am posting here also.

Ever since first reading about the then 'upcoming' M550i, I had pretty much assumed that it would be my next BMW. However, multiple 'little' disappointments dampened my enthusiasm for the G30 just a bit --- no digital dash, no 668M wheels until July build (my lease is up in May), no rear climate control, shiny plastic all over the radio, etc.). I was still planning to get the M550, UNTIL....

I travel to Germany 3x a year for business and always rent from SIXT. I am not affiliated with SIXT at all, but for any of you headed to Germany in need of a rental, I can't recommend them enough. Their fleet consists of tons of BMW's, MB, Audis, etc. and their rates are right in line with Hertz/Avis... on my last trip of 2016, I 'upgraded' to a 640d GC which was a blast.

During my most recent trip in late-March, I see that SIXT has an M3 available for rent, so I did what any of you might have done... I jumped on it It gets better - when I arrive in Munich, they tell me at the counter that the car is literally BRAND NEW -- they just finished putting the plates on it earlier that same day. Sure enough, when I got behind the wheel the car had a grand total of 15km on it. Needless to say, the next 2 days and ~500km were a blast. The car was a '17 with DCT (sans ZCP). Driving on the autobahn was a pure adrenaline rush - I set my own personal speed record of 246kmh --- didn't have the ballz to keep it there for too long, but the car certainly had no problems with it. The handling, power, and speed were amazing.

Anyhow, once I get back to the US, I'm still leaning towards the M550i, but I keep recalling my M3 experience in my brain... one thing leads to another and the next thing I know I'm browsing the inventory of local dealers looking for any M3/4s on the lot. My 'most-local' dealer is 1.5 miles form my home and happened to have a '17 M4 black/black with DCT (no ZCP) on the lot that I checked out a few times. Then, about a week ago, this same dealer has a new '18 SO M4 with ZCP and those beautiful 20" 666m rims. So... last Thursday is a slow day at work so I head over there to test dive both cars...

First I took out the '17 M4 - it sounded great, handled great, and was a blast. I liked it a lot -- it had 150 mi. on it, so I obviously was not the first person to take it for a spin. Then I ask if I can take out the '18 SO M4 so that I can see the difference in the ZCP. I was curious to see how a ZCP equipped car would compare with a non-ZCP version....

The '18 M4 blew me away. The sound was incredible, the drive also --- within ~5 minutes of the test drive, I knew that I had found my next car --- I had a bad case of M-Fever. Plus, I loved the headlights of the '18 and 'liked' that it had the latest iDrive 6 software installed. If the car had been black/blue, I would have tried to make a deal right then and there to drive it off the lot. SO is a really beautiful color and I like the way it changes from orange to red depending on the lighting and time of day, but I am more of a black/dark-blue kind of guy.

So, on Friday I contacted my 'preferred' dealer to let him know that I was going to get an M3/4 as my next car. I sent him a preliminary build for a Tanz. Blue car with DCT along with a completed credit app so that I could lock into the MSD program before it expired on 4/30. The next day, he calls to tell me that he's happy to lock me into the MSD program, but he can only hold it for 60 days and, given my request for Tanz. Blue, delivery of the car will likely extend well beyond that timeframe.... However, he says it is a shame that I want a DCT because he has a MT Az. Black M4 that perfectly matches the rest of my build specifications which is already built and awaiting a boat ride back to the US.

This was like fate intervening... the ONLY reason that I was going to get the DCT in the first place was so that my wife could drive the car on the 'rare' occasion when I need to borrow her X5 (obvious, she can't drive a stick). My current '14 550 is the first AT car that I have owned since '96 and while it is a great car, I do miss the 3rd pedal. As for color, I was initially torn between Az. Black and Tanz. Blue anyhow, so that was an easy compromise. I tell my wife about my 'predicament' with the MT, she could basically care less, and within 30 minutes I call my dealer back to let him know how excited I am for my new M4 to arrive in NJ. Now I'm calling the 800 number every day like a crack addict as I anxiously await a change in status so that I can track my WW ship across the Atlantic.

As for M3 v. M4, I was on the fence regarding which one I would have preferred - I really like both of them a lot. However, given that the M3's aren't even being made right now, and that with an IND color I probably wouldn't be able to take delivery until ~Sept/Oct, it made a difficult decision relatively easy.

Anyhow, that is my 'long' story as to how I arrived at my first M4 purchase --- that it ends up being a MT is just icing on the cake. I can honestly say that I have never been this excited for a new car... psyched to join the club.


Updated: 6/18 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Picked up car this afternoon - here are some initial pics. LOVE the Az Black - looks way better in person than in pictures - it's hard to describe, but it appears almost liquid/lava-like to my eye. I'd never seen this color in-person before, but couldn't be happier with it.

Some of you may notice that the wrong side fins are on my car --- they should be black as I have ZCP, but are chrome. My dealer already ordered the 'correct' fins and will swap them out next week.

The ride home was great - fun to be back in a MT after a 3-year hiatus. Here are some initial pics:

[LukeM15]

Good read, glad you got what you wanted. Enjoy the M happy miles (don't wonder around the garage/picture Thread) lol

[dkhm3]

enjoy your new car!

[shahano]

enjoy your new car.

[stooker]

Great story, and happy to hear things worked out with getting the 6MT that you want. Any ETA on the delivery? A few weeks, max?

[m3rxn]

Welcome to the club. Congrats! Mandatory pics when car arrives please

[Super Spartan]

Great story! what's meant for you, will be yours!

Congrats!

[RxVol]

Congrats!!

[alyssarush]

Congratulations!!

[bb1857]

Cool story and welcome to the club!

[jmg]

Great story! Welcome to the club! I think whatever you decide, you're gonna have a blast.

[SD ///M4]

I have to ask, if you travel to Germany 3x a year, why wouldn't you do a Euro Delivery? You would have saved an additional 5% and would have been able to order your car to your exact specifications. Plus, someone else is paying for your airfare!

[lordvovin94i]

Dude...that was a lot of typing. Is your job boring? What do you do that causes you to travel to Germany 3x a year if you don't mind me asking?

[jrhav]

Originally Posted by SD ///M4

I have to ask, if you travel to Germany 3x a year, why wouldn't you do a Euro Delivery?

I seriously considered ED, didn't do it primarily because of timing along with the fact that this 'built' car is basically a perfect match to my desired config. My next trip to GER is in June -- too soon for an IND color to be built/available if I order now. I won't be back in GER until late Oct, an ED wouldn't have the car in the US until Nov. -- I just don't feel like waiting that long. Lastly, I don't believe that I can apply my Fleet discount to ED and was also told that BMWFS raises the MF by 0.0003 on an ED lease to cover the first payment that they make.

My deal is dealer wholesale +$500 (less my fleet incentive and any other incentive that 'might' show up between now and delivery) -- plus, I'll likely have the car later this month.

[jrhav]

Originally Posted by lordvovin94i

Dude...that was a lot of typing. Is your job boring? What do you do that causes you to travel to Germany 3x a year if you don't mind me asking?

Yeah - haven't typed that much in years - usually just read these boards. I was just excited about the car and thought others on this board would appreciate the story.

My job is pretty cool - I work in business development within the pharma industry and cover a couple of clients on a global basis - one of which is based in Germany.

[jrhav]

Originally Posted by stooker

Any ETA on the delivery? A few weeks, max?

No word yet -- it is currently sitting in Bremerhaven awaiting a vessel since 4/26 according the the 800# and the "Genius" I spoke with today. They could not tell me when it will be loaded onto a boat -- I think there are a couple of boats scheduled to load Wed/Thurs this week, so hopefully it will get on one of those.

[lordvovin94i]

Originally Posted by jrhav

Yeah - haven't typed that much in years - usually just read these boards. I was just excited about the car and thought others on this board would appreciate the story.

My job is pretty cool - I work in business development within the pharma industry and cover a couple of clients on a global basis - one of which is based in Germany.

Sound so sick bro.

I feel yah. When the typing list comes its hard to deny haha.

[Bigsurprise]

Great story! Excited to see your car. I like the colour you chose over the Sakhir Orange.

[stooker]

Originally Posted by jrhav

No word yet -- it is currently sitting in Bremerhaven awaiting a vessel since 4/26 according the the 800# and the "Genius" I spoke with today. They could not tell me when it will be loaded onto a boat -- I think there are a couple of boats scheduled to load Wed/Thurs this week, so hopefully it will get on one of those.

Here's hoping with ya! Def post pics when you take delivery! I have a long wait myself, so I'll need to live vicariously through others getting their cars.

[skioutwest]

Pharma? Any chance your in Philly?

[M4FOREVER]

Congrats. HAPPY M driving.

[jrhav]

Originally Posted by skioutwest

Pharma? Any chance your in Philly?

Indeed I am - small world.