BMW M4 Nordschleife Lap Time Predictions

[Spec M]

So as far as I can tell, an official lap time around the Ring has not been recorded yet. But i'm predicting that the production M4 will break into the 7:30s, at least. This is a pretty big deal considering that the M4 will be the fastest production M car ever (on a road course). My hypothesis is based on the pattern that M division has made with their previous M3 coupe platforms.

-The E46 M3 has a record of 8:22, but with its 17hp increase and weight savings of over 300lbs the E46 M3 CSL recorded a 7:50.

-The E92 M3 has a record of 8:05, and with the GTS being 300lbs less and having over 30 more hp it has a record of 7:48, that time being the fastest production M car record on the Ring.

-The BMW M4 is over 100lbs lighter than the GTS and also will have over 100ftlbs more torque.

The new 3.0-liter inline-six makes 425 turbocharged horsepower from 5,500 rpm all the way up to 7,300 rpm – just 300 rpm before the redline is reached. That's five more horsepower than the V8, but more importantly, the 1800-rpm powerband is very broad. Torque from the turbo six is even more impressive: peak torque of 406 pound-feet starts at 1850 rpm and doesn't start falling off until 5,500 rpm, right when the engine starts to make peak horsepower. That compares very favorably to the V8's oft-bemoaned max torque of just 295 lb-ft"

If the new M4 breaks into the 7:30s range it will be among cars like the Zonda F, Koenigsegg CCX & CCR, 911 GT2 etc. But then again the E46 CSL and Lamborghini Marcielago share the same lap time so its not surprise that M division cars are in the same neighborhood as supercars when it comes to the road course.

The question is not if but, how much faster the M4 will be in oppose to the E92 GTS? What will the new F82 M3 CSL, GTS or whatever the new enhanced model maybe called run?

 

[Azure Flare]

Who cares, Nurburgring lap times are for marketing purposes (re: willy-waving competitions, looking at you GM) and people who don't know anything more than 0-60, these laps, and those who like to endlessly throw numbers in your face.

 

[Stotty]

It won't be as fast as the GTS.

GTS wears Cup tyres standard (as did the CSL). The M4 has normal road tyres.

I predict c.7'50.

 

[Vegard]

High 40's is my prediction.

 

[JMoney]

7:46

 

[motortrend]

I say it can definitely get into the 40s with the lighter weight and a right driver but like @Stotty mentioned most cars at this time range are Already running Very sticky rubber. Still, I bet it could do a 7:45 if the old one could do an 8:05

 

[Spec M]

Who cares, Nurburgring lap times are for marketing purposes (re: willy-waving competitions, looking at you GM) and people who don't know anything more than 0-60, these laps, and those who like to endlessly throw numbers in your face.

Who cares about lap times? First time I have ever heard that question

0-60 times are far more irrelevant than lap times IMO, and I think I know a little more than 0-60 times. Many people care actually, the Ring test the every possible aspect of a vehicles capabilities , including endurance and reliability. Maybe you've had to many numbers thrown in your face and it has tainted your appreciation, but myself being an automotive enthusiast, I consider lap times (especially Nordschleife) a proving ground for automotive manufacturers and drivers a like.

 

[Wolfe]

I'm with Stotty, I think the tires will limit the standard M4 here. It'll be impressive if it can even hit the 7:40s.

Who cares, Nurburgring lap times are for marketing purposes (re: willy-waving competitions, looking at you GM) and people who don't know anything more than 0-60, these laps, and those who like to endlessly throw numbers in your face.

While that's true enough when a laptimes (or 0-60mph) are hailed as the sole measure of worth for a car, a means by which to rag on other cars, or marketing...I think this is a bit overly dismissive for a thread that merely asks how well a new car might do.

Statistics are overrated if you overrate them, but otherwise they're just statistics.

 

[Spec M]

It won't be as fast as the GTS.

GTS wears Cup tyres standard (as did the CSL). The M4 has normal road tyres.

I predict c.7'50.

Ahhhh, I see! But what if an equivalent set of tires are used? Maybe I should include that detail in my initial post?

+ 1 Wolfe, if the M4 uses road tires and still manages to break into the 7:40s I still think that would be quite impressive.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

an official lap time around the Ring

Oxymoron, really, since there's absolutely no governing body for these things, and both Nissan and Porsche have shown they're willing to bend the definitions of "stock" and "full lap", respectively.

The BMW M4 is over 100lbs lighter than the GTS and also will have over 100ftlbs more torque.

It's roughly the same weight as the GTS, last I heard the target anyways.

Ahhhh, I see! But what if an equivalent set of tires are used? Maybe I should include that detail in my initial post?

Unless BMW offers them, it wouldn't be stock, then.

I'd be surprised if it dips into the 7:40's. Not that it's a knock, though; I'm happy BMW hasn't made 'Ring-times as much of a deal as some other manufacturers...

 

[Doodle]

I guess a 7:55

 

[motortrend]

Oxymoron, really, since there's absolutely no governing body for these things, and both Nissan and Porsche have shown they're willing to bend the definitions of "stock" and "full lap", respectively.


It's roughly the same weight as the GTS, last I heard the target anyways.



Unless BMW offers them, it wouldn't be stock, then.

I'd be surprised if it dips into the 7:40's. Not that it's a knock, though; I'm happy BMW hasn't made 'Ring-times as much of a deal as some other manufacturers...

Yes! i definitely like that even though they show their ring times they're not involved in the pissing contest with other manufacturers, yet whenever you see videos of te ring there are loads of bimmers, many of them the fastest cars on track due to skill, track mods and being able to drive them at full blast.

 

[DrPuppetwarrior]

I think the m4 has serious potential. I seen a e92 somewhere do a 7:24 BTG with some minor mods

 

[Spec M]

^Haven't seen an E92 in the 7:20s range yet, but it's not impossible. This one is in the 7:30s with cup tires and coilovers. I'm assuming with the right rubber, the M4 can easily break into low 7:30-high 7:20s.

 

[Turtle]

Oxymoron, really, since there's absolutely no governing body for these things, and both Nissan and Porsche have shown they're willing to bend the definitions of "stock" and "full lap", respectively.

Wait, I think I'm missing something here. I get what you mean with Porsche and "full lap", but what about Nissan? I heard rumors that the earliest version of the R35 used slicks on its lap, but I thought that was disproven. Or is this another case entirely that I never heard of?

Unless you mean the new Nismo model shouldn't be considered "stock".

 

[Spec M]

Oxymoron, really, since there's absolutely no governing body for these things, and both Nissan and Porsche have shown they're willing to bend the definitions of "stock" and "full lap", respectively.

I don't know why everyone is associating Manufacturer testing/record lap times as if they're the only ones allowed on Nurburgring. By 'official', I mean recorded and/or confirmed in oppose to claims on the internet/media, that's all. If I can remember correctly the CSL, E92 M3, and GTS record laps were not even conducted by BMW the were automotive publications like EVO.

Unless you mean the new Nismo model shouldn't be considered "stock".

The GTR Nismo that set the record Nissan boasted about definitely wasn't in its production form.

"If you look closely at one of the four GT-R Nismos Nissan used for its attack on the Nurburgring lap record, you'll notice some differences versus the production cars. First, there's the considerably larger rear wing. But there are some other, much more subtle aero tweaks"

"The car also used "racing-style" suspension (meaning not the three-mode setup on the production cars) tuned specifically for the Nurburgring."

Edmunds


And lets not forget the different brake pads, and bucket seats used that saved over 50kg.

This is just supposed to be an M4 lap time prediction thread. Lets not complicate things with manufacturer scandals and Nodrschleife politics. BMW hasn't even put out lap time records on the Ring, enthusiast and magazines have so lets not associate them with Nissan and others.

 

[Turtle]

The GTR Nismo that set the record Nissan boasted about definitely wasn't in its production form.

I remember reading about that now, thanks for reminding me. 👍

 

[BerettaGTZ]

It will be faster than a cow.