OEM Photos by M4 Owner
The experience of buying a new car has the tendency to be problematic for many. Being stuck at the salesperson’s desk for hours, withstanding endless negotiation tactics from said salesperson, and trying to seem disinterested in the car you desperately want so the salesperson will finish the transaction, with the reward finally presenting itself when you drive away with that newest model for the price that fits your needs. This is typically the standard outcome, unless you’re lucky enough to be able to order your new car through a European Delivery program, like the owner of this 2015 BMW M4.
Since the birth of the jet age in the 1960s, BMW and other European auto manufacturers have been offering this option, which gives new car buyers the ability to take delivery of their vehicle at the factory, then tool around Europe – Autobahn, anyone? – before shipping it back to their residence in the United States.
The owner of this M4 requested to stay anonymous, yet let us delve into the process of receiving their car. The journey began with the release of the BMW M4 model, a progressive new silhouette in the BMW lineup. The owner already has several of the Bavarian automaker’s “M” cars in their possession, and decided a continuation of the collection was needed with the purchase of the M4.
A trip to BMW of Mount Laurel in New Jersey yielded the order details, including Mineral White paint, Sakhir Orange leather interior, a six-speed manual transmission, and the aforementioned European Delivery program.
The following months were full of suspense as the owner received a trickle of details leading up the delivery date. Just to get the blood pumping, a month before the flight BMW sent a welcome packet filled with all of the specifics of the trip.
Once the owner arrived in Munich at the BMW Welt (“BMW World” in German), they were treated with hospitality similar to a five-star resort, only without the beach. After a bit of waiting, it was time to see the new sports car. A winding walk down numerous stairs led them into a room in the center of the building where the new Mineral White M4 rested, gleaming on a rotating platform for all to see.
A BMW Assistant outlined each of the features of the car, and how to operate all of the car’s controls. They also provided some guidelines to follow, one of which was not to exceed a certain speed, but this was one guideline the owner neglected to follow. A route was laid out to guide the owner through the inside of the building with the car, eventually exiting into an empty lot outside the building.
This completed the pick-up process and officially started the personal journey, which began with a healthy full throttle launch – literally kicking off the trip with a huge smoky burnout in the BMW parking lot. This act of excess was followed by top speed runs all over Germany and Europe. Bouncing off the speed limiter on the Autobahn while the engine is still in its infancy may sound blasphemous and go against all practical rules for breaking in a new car, but how often does that chance arise?
After dropping the car off in Amsterdam, a BMW-approved shipper handled all of the transportation headaches of getting the car delivered to the United States. Approximately six weeks after driving the car around Europe, the owner was able to drive that same new car around their hometown in Pennsylvania.
The German performance car was plenty powerful enough from the factory, but needed some additions to become the custom vehicle the owner desired. The twin-turbo six-cylinder engine unleashes all 425-plus horsepower thanks to a Turner Motorsport Tuning Module, then expels the engine’s spent gases through a snarling Fabspeed Valvetronic Exhaust.
A trip into the BMW M Performance catalog allowed the owner to enhance the aggressive lines of the car with a host of carbon fiber pieces including the diffuser, mirror caps, rear lip spoiler, front splitters, front lip, and side sills.
Other exterior modifications include a full set of black emblems and grills from IND Distribution to darken the exterior and do away with the intense shiny chrome installed at the factory.
The ride quality and height is sharpened by double-adjustable KW Variant 3 coilover suspension, designed to not only provide the perfect look, but also vastly improved handling over the factory bits and pieces.
The wide OEM bodylines of the M4 allowed for the addition of 20 x 10.5-inch wheels in the rear and 20 x 9-inch wheels in the front to set the stance just right. The Livery Lusso wheel design offers a combination of vintage racing style with a modern twist, perfect for the pedigree surrounding the M4.
European Delivery may not be an option for everyone, but it certainly makes the torture of buying a new car well worth it. Along with the tasteful modifications applied after delivery, it’s quite possible this is the perfect M4 machine.
Gallery
