Sounds like we frequent the same tracks. I'm not expecting my 6MT BW to be quicker than my previous SS 1LE, but hopefully close enough. Like you mentioned, it's more about the enjoyment of the 6MT and daily drivability with this car vs. all-out lap times.
Happy to hear you find the 4BW more engaging than your previous M cars. I was tempted with the M2/M3.
Thing is with the G80 M3 is that it feels like it was ment to be ZF8/AWD from the ground up and this is even more obvious when you've driven/owned both versions. M2 might actually be the better 6MT version (My friend owns and tracks one and really likes it.
Let me brief up why the G8X platform is a better product from a business perspective and a worst one for the driving enthusiast like some of us. This also explains why it will have a much better resale value than the 4BW.
- BMW M engineers created and incredibly impressive platform with the G8X generation.
- BMW marketing department stepped in and convinced management it needed an aggressive/controversial front end to please the instafame/trendy/simpy crowd (the ones blowing there $$ left and right to look cool on the internet)
- The decision was made this car needed to appeal to a larger audience (to make more $$) so AWD and a smooth auto was mandatory, 6MT still there but just so they can brag about offering a 6MT.
- Bean counters stepped in to make sure margins are at the top (they want advancement in BMW group and like reaching there bonuses) the car was cheapened and detuned ex: the engine cover was already designed for the solid aluminum CSL/CS engine brace in 2021, single sliding piston rear calipers that burn trough OEM pads in a track days or less were used, skinnier rear axles (when a stronger one exists in the catalog) and plenty of small things we are many not aware of.
At the end of the day your left with a much lower % of the passion the engineering team invested into the car. You drive and your like wow it pulls hard, wow it corners like it's on rails, wow it's relatively confortable on long rides (without cf buckets of course), wow I can only have one car because AWD/Auto etc.
You might be happy for a while and maybe even your whole ownership but to someone like me I was always annoyed by stuff like: having to run super aggressive pads so the rears don't burn, the 6MT that didn't want to shift quickly even with the clutch valve delete, the steering that has you basically guessing what the tires are doing (the only info you have is from the seat), burning the tire sidewall even at -3.0 of camber because of the lousy suspension etc.
You hop into the 4 Blackwing and at first your like Humm this feels weird and like driving an older car and then you realise some stuff, everything is easy to use in the car, the cluster even through digital has an actual tachometer, the seats altrough a bit hard and cheaper ça easily accomodate any body size and have great simple adjustability (no need to sacrifice your self to a non-lombare bucket), the suspension when in comfort mode is incredibly forgiving and truly mitigates road imperfections, the chassis feels like it's a solid piece of steel, the brakes are supercar level performers, the steering feel is the perfect blend of luxury and sports car blend, you actually have control over the exhaust sound !!
I could go on with all the small details that were put into the Blackwings that make them a driving enthousiaste pleasure, your never frustrated that a feature isn't there, you never sad that performance was left on the counter for "special/$$ grab" models. Everything is there, all efforts were left in the plate, you don't feel like too much bean counters or marketing gurus had there hands into it..
The BMW M3/4 of today is tailored to the market, the Blackwings are made by ppl like me.
