First drive experience - any mods possible?

9designs · Post by **9designs** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 7:36 pm

Had my first drive in an M40i, like the tech and the interior, power, engine, sound and gearbox all seem really nice.
But if I'm honest from my short mixed drive I had expected it to feel a bit sharper... It's still feels very much a GT Cruiser a bit limo like. A bit vague or numb and safe on the front end, if it felt like the M2 comp I drove the other week I'd be happy.
I think my 35iS with Eibach springs and fresh dampers felt a bit more focused.... or is that just a fading fond memory.
It was on MPSS types, which seem very noise, just ditched them off my Focus RS for GY Asy 6, which see a way better tyre.

May be in time and playing with the setting (had it in sport on a B road) I'd find a bit more in it.....

Or is there some tweaks people do? Schnitzer springs maybe? Camber bushes and Geo set up perhaps?

It so needs a proper M version...

Nanu · Post by **Nanu** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 7:40 pm

From the sounds of it, its not the car for you.

ori · Post by **ori** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 8:36 pm

Don’t know about modified cars, but standard spec and suspension the m40i out handles the 35is easily.
Once you go modify route, then you can’t make an honest comparison. I like my cars stock. That’s me though.

Chris_D · Post by **Chris_D** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 10:11 pm

That echoes my own experience when I took one for a test drive last year. However, I felt totally 'detached' and remote from the car. It's totally devoid of any sort of meaningful/enjoyable road feel or feedback and definitely drives more like a GT than a sportscar/roadster. Nothing like the E85/6 or E89 and actually worse/heavier-feeling than my old E93 diesel!
It's not bad, but it's not as good as it should/could be either. I found it rapid enough in a straight line and with the top down it's impressive but in the twisties it doesn't deliver and from that point I totally lost interest.

All the tech and gadgets left me a bit non-plussed and unimpressed too but it was fully-loaded demo car so I suppose some dealers specced them out to try and impress potential buyers. The only things I couldn't live without are the heated seats and xenon's. You can keep the rest.
I booked a 2nd longer test and got it for 2 days/500km as I was seriously considering buying one, but the 2nd drive served only to confirm my doubts from the 1st test. I also started to fall out of love with the styling, it's just a mess.

In any case, around this time I was entering into the first phase of a capex-heavy business expansion and probably looking for excuses not to splurge on something I didn't really need anyway.
The E85 I have gets minimal use at the moment but I know I'll still be able to enjoy it this summer and not feel like I've blown a wad on something I wasn't 100% convinced by or would get infrequent/minimal use.
Plus the fact I believe BMW's are engineered to fail nowadays. They're absolutely not built like they used to be, i.e. to last!

I personally think 'tweaking' a G29 would be a pointless venture. Why would you throw money at trying to improve the handling characteristics when it should have been good from the factory?

Argyll Andy · Post by **Argyll Andy** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 10:15 pm

Can’t say I’ve experienced any issues with the handling and mine is driven hard a lot of the time. The switch to Conti’s from Michelins definitely improved things, particularly front end feedback

In the twisties in sports plus it’s an absolute blast

9designs · Post by **9designs** » Mon Apr 10, 2023 11:30 pm

@Chris_D Thanks for the feedback, it’s not just me then...... I did drive to the dealership in a GR Yaris, so may have been a bit unfair

Glad I didn’t take the wife, think she would have loved it and made me buy it...

I could do with a longer test drive, plus another go in an M2 and 981 Boxster.

Friend of mine has the Supra, he claims it (and so would the Z) benefitted from geometry alignment work. Hence the modified option, which I’m okay with.

BigDave · Post by **BigDave** » Tue Apr 11, 2023 12:23 pm

"Friend of mine has the Supra, he claims it (and so would the Z) benefitted from geometry alignment work.".

I have looked into the geo on these cars, as they are basically the same underpinnings, and from what ive read , seen etc, the Mk5 Supra does benefit from geo adjustments, something i aim to get done on my M40i..
I beleive they both suffer from some form of rear bump steer... Making the car feel unstable, something i have experienced, and looking at my tyre wear my car is in need of a re set....

Regarding the test drives you folks have done,,

if the car doesnt feel right for you then get something else, personally i find it great, but then we all want different things...

Obs-Com · Post by **Obs-Com** » Tue Apr 11, 2023 4:36 pm

We all have our own preferences but got to say the drive ability and overall quality of the M40i has not disappointed me at all. I find it responsive when pushed but love the GT comfort and practicality on trips to the continent. I previously had an M2 and the M40i tips the balance for me. It was no surprise the M40i was quicker around the Nurburgring when tested.

9designs · Post by **9designs** » Tue Apr 11, 2023 5:10 pm

Obs-Com wrote: ↑Tue Apr 11, 2023 4:36 pm We all have our own preferences but got to say the drive ability and overall quality of the M40i has not disappointed me at all. I find it responsive when pushed but love the GT comfort and practicality on trips to the continent. I previously had an M2 and the M40i tips the balance for me. It was no surprise the M40i was quicker around the Nurburgring when tested.

Interesting, as I’m also considering an M2 LCI or Comp. Z is obviously much more modern and up to date inside.
How did you find the difference in driving?

inkey$ · Post by **inkey$** » Tue Apr 11, 2023 5:19 pm

GR86, OP? Stablemate for the Yaris.

9designs · Post by **9designs** » Tue Apr 11, 2023 6:16 pm

inkey$ wrote: ↑Tue Apr 11, 2023 5:19 pm GR86, OP? Stablemate for the Yaris.

If it were possible to order one I’d be tempted having sat in one. Not paying some one who is trying to flip for a profit.

inkey$ · Post by **inkey$** » Tue Apr 11, 2023 6:26 pm

9designs wrote: ↑Tue Apr 11, 2023 6:16 pm
inkey$ wrote: ↑Tue Apr 11, 2023 5:19 pm GR86, OP? Stablemate for the Yaris.
If it were possible to order one I’d be tempted having sat in one. Not paying some one who is trying to flip for a profit.

I'd heard they'd sold out quite quickly. Def not worth the flip premium though.

9designs · Post by **9designs** » Tue Apr 11, 2023 6:37 pm

Yep in about 50 minutes

Pondrew · Post by **Pondrew** » Tue Apr 11, 2023 6:40 pm

9designs wrote: ↑Tue Apr 11, 2023 6:16 pm Not paying some one who is trying to flip for a profit.

So you are definitely not buying any car from a dealer then? No?

Obs-Com · Post by **Obs-Com** » Tue Apr 11, 2023 6:59 pm

9designs wrote: ↑Tue Apr 11, 2023 5:10 pm
Obs-Com wrote: ↑Tue Apr 11, 2023 4:36 pm We all have our own preferences but got to say the drive ability and overall quality of the M40i has not disappointed me at all. I find it responsive when pushed but love the GT comfort and practicality on trips to the continent. I previously had an M2 and the M40i tips the balance for me. It was no surprise the M40i was quicker around the Nurburgring when tested.

Interesting, as I’m also considering an M2 LCI or Comp. Z is obviously much more modern and up to date inside.
How did you find the difference in driving?

In short, the M40i is far more comfortable as a tourer but handles really well (IMO) in sports mode for regular drivers. The engine and gearbox combo works really well together. The M40i has the potential to be driven in a comparable way to the M2 but think you’d need to be a skilled driver to do this. The M2 is more “on point” when driven quickly and probably more rewarding to drive for regular drivers but not as good a tourer.

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