The BMW 4 Series is a reliable used car. This BMW is one of the sportiest cars in the luxury small car class, with compelling driving dynamics and quick acceleration. It offers an upscale interior and several features as standard, including an easy-to-use infotainment system. The 4 Series is available in three separate body styles: Gran Coupe hatchback, coupe, and convertible, all of which have plenty of baggage space. However, its anticipated ownership costs are considerable, and the rear seats in both the coupe and convertible models are cramped. Before buying a used BMW 4 Series, make sure to get a thorough inspection and test drive.
Major Changes Over The Years
The following are the most significant changes to the BMW 4 Series in recent years:
2017: two new engines were introduced: the 428i trim was renamed the 430i, while the 435i was renamed the 440i.
2018: included a new design, an improved suspension system, an upgraded infotainment system, and pedestrian detection.
2019: GPS and front and rear parking sensors were added to the list of standard amenities.
2020: The Active Driving Assistant suite of safety features becomes standard.
2021: completely remodeled with a new body style, increased horsepower and torque, and more standard amenities.
Engine
The 430i’s 255-horsepower turbo-four engine may not appear spectacular on paper, but it’s impressive on the road, and this base model never feels lethargic or underpowered. The M440i’s turbo-six engine produces 382 horsepower, making this BMW feel more like a sports car than a tiny luxury vehicle.
The 473-horsepower turbo-six in the high-performance M4 packs more punch than some sports car engines, and it’ll let you knock the doors off your next-door neighbor’s Civic.
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BMW 4 Series Powertrain/Performance Options:
- Base engine: turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque (294 pound-feet in convertible models); starts at $45,600 (430i)
- Available engines:
- turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder with 382 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque; starts at $58,500 (M440i)
- turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder with 473 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque; starts at $71,800 (M4)
- turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder with 503 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque; starts at $74,700 (M4 Competition)
- Drivetrain: standard rear-wheel drive; available all-wheel drive
- Transmission: standard eight-speed automatic (430i and M440i); standard six-speed manual and available eight-speed automatic (M4 models)
Performance
BMW continues to produce some of the industry’s greatest front seats. They are comfy and have numerous adjustments, such as side bolster angle and thigh extension, to help you discover your optimal sitting position.
During very spirited driving, the steering becomes a touch shaky. It’s a small disappointment in a BMW, but rivals aren’t significantly better in this aspect. The handling is a 4 Series strength, with stable composure around tight turns and what appears to be a high limit for traction control intervention. The eight-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly and always appears to be in the correct gear, making this a pleasant car to drive.
Powerful engines are good, but how a car handles is what truly makes it enjoyable to drive. That is where the 4 Series excels. Its quick steering and agile handling make it more enjoyable to drive than many of its competitors. And, unlike some cars, which sacrifice ride quality for agility, this BMW gives a comfortable ride even on rough pavement.
The 4 Series is available with all-wheel drive, but it comes standard with rear-wheel drive. AWD is not available on all versions, including the high-performance M4.
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Interior
Unless you are in the back seat, shoppers may not notice any difference between the cabins of the 4-series and the 3-series. The dashboard layout, internal materials, and major controls appear to be comparable to those of the four-door 3-series, while the 4-series’ lower roofline gives it a less spacious air. Trunk capacity is less spacious than in the 3-series, particularly in the convertible form; in critics’ testing, they were able to place five pieces of carry-on luggage in the coupe model’s trunk, one less than in the 3-series sedan.
It’s attractive and sophisticated, with high-quality materials used throughout. Because of the abundance of window coverage, visibility to the sides and rear is great. The view out of the front windshield is adequate, but the flat hood makes positioning the car difficult, and the side view mirrors might moderately obscure your view through left turns.
Infotainment
The iDrive infotainment system functions well, and getting acclimated to the interface is simple. The touch screen, touchpad controller, and rotary knob, all of which are user-friendly and responsive, can be used to alter settings. Avoid the optional gesture control feature; it’s problematic and, according to most reviewers, it’s more trouble than it’s worth.
- Standard infotainment features: an 8.8-inch touch screen, navigation, a 10-speaker stereo, satellite radio, HD Radio, Bluetooth, USB ports, and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
- Available infotainment features: a 10.25-inch touch screen, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, wireless device charging, and a Wi-Fi hot spot
- Additional standard features: a moonroof and dual-zone automatic climate control
- Other available features: tri-zone automatic climate control and remote start
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Fuel Economy
When fitted with its base turbo-four engine and rear-wheel drive, the 4 Series achieves 26 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the interstate. That is above average for the luxury small car segment. If you choose all-wheel drive, the figures are slightly worse.
With more powerful engines, gas mileage plummets. The M440i gets 22 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway, but the M4 gets only 16/23 mpg city/highway.
Verdict
From behind the wheel, the 4 Series is a lot of fun. Even with the 430i, most drivers will be satisfied with the amount of power available. Though the steering doesn’t match up to BMW’s illustrious history, the 4 Series’ controlled and nimble handling makes it a joy to drive on serpentine roads.
Although the styling is subjective, we’ve yet to meet someone who didn’t cringe at the sight of the 4 Series’ front end. The bloated grille, while unattractive, gives the 4 Series front end a distinct personality, whereas the back end is a touch derivative. Unfortunately, the polarising sheet metal conceals a capable and well-rounded sports sedan that’s enjoyable to drive.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does BMW still make the 4 Series Gran Coupe?
For 2022, the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe is back in the lineup. The 4-door coupe’s turbocharged engine options also provide lots of performance enjoyment while driving, offering sedan comfort with hatchback usefulness.
How reliable is the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe?
In our most recent dependability study, the 4 Series Gran Coupé performed admirably, placing fourth out of eight vehicles in our coupe, convertible, and sports car classes. However, BMW as a brand did not perform admirably, placing 13th out of 30 automakers.
Is the BMW 428i Gran Coupe a good car?
A fantastic car is the 428i Grand Coupe M-Sport Package. The very best of both worlds is yours to enjoy. This is a fun daily commuter with excellent handling and performance. The Ultimate Driving Machine is the epitome of fuel economy (CITY/23 HWY/34 COMB/27 MPG), RWD, 4-CYLINDER TWIN TURBO 2.0T, AUTOMATIC 8-SPEED SPORT.
What is the difference between the BMW 4 Series Coupe and Gran Coupe?
Similar to a standard BMW 4 Series Coupe, except that, as the name suggests, you can fit your grandmother in the back. It has a different set of doors from the two-door car and a hatchback. The only grandmother who would fit in the back of a 4 Series two-door would be the one you would pick up from a senior yoga class.
Is the 430i Gran Coupe fast?
BMW has a 0 to 60 mph acceleration time of 5.8 seconds, a 0 to 100 mile per hour acceleration time of 6.2 seconds, a 0 to 160 mile per hour acceleration time of 15.5 seconds, a 0 to 200 mile per hour acceleration time of 28 seconds, and a quarter mile drag time of 14.3 seconds.
