Used BMW 4 Series Coupe 2013-2020 review

The 4 Series is the coupé sibling to BMW's 3 Series saloon, to put it simply. You lose rear doors and some space for rear passengers, but gain a sleeker, sportier design. In other words, a bit of brain is traded for a bit of braun. The model has since been replaced by a new generation, but with a production run spanning eight years, this is car that's common on the used market – with tempting prices, too.

As with most BMWs, there's a pretty comprehensive range of engines. The petrol options comprise the 181bhp 420i and the 241bhp 428i, replaced in 2016 by the 248bhp 430i, and a 302bhp 435i six cylinder car that was replaced in 2016 by the later 440i version with its 321bhp turbocharged 3.0-litre six. Diesel choices kick off with the 148bhp 418d, 181bhp 420d, and 215bhp 425d that all use 2.0-litre engine, with the remaining 255bhp 430d and 309bhp 435d diesel models both sharing the same turbocharged six-cylinder engine.

Six-speed manual gearboxes are standard on the 420i and 420d; an eight-speed automatic was optional on those, and standard across the rest of the range. Four-wheel drive 'xDrive' is standard on the 435d, and was an option on other models.

At launch, the BMW 4 Series model line-up started with the SE version, then continued up through Modern, Sport and Luxury models to the priciest M Sport. As time went on, Modern and Luxury versions were dropped (from late 2016), as eventually was the SE a year later, leaving only Sport and M Sport.

The entry-level Sport trim equips the 4 Series with 18in alloy wheels, LED head, parking sensors, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, leather upholstery, and BMW's brilliant iDrive infotainment system complete with sat-nav, a DAB radio, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, BMW's online services and a 6.5in screen.

Upgrading to M Sport adds an aggressive bodykit, sports suspension and M Sport-specific interior touches, alongside BMW's Professional Media pack.

But it’s in its driving experience that the 4 Series Coupé really stands out over rivals such as the Audi A5 and Mercedes C-Class. Responsive, accurate steering means the nose is easy to point in whichever direction you might desire; what’s more, rear-wheel drive means the 4 Series has a sense of balance that few coupés can replicate, while the low centre of gravity ensures that the 4 Series always feels planted and secure even in high-speed bends.

What’s even more impressive is how well the 4 Series manages to factor comfort into the equation as well – although we’d recommend sticking to the smaller wheel sizes because the larger wheels start to make things feel a little lumpy. Choose carefully when you’re picking which engine you want, too; while there’s a huge choice, the smaller engines can be rather noisy when accelerating hard.

The 4 Series is a class act on the inside, though. You’ll find a suave interior that’s laden with high-quality materials and an easy-to-use infotainment system. And it’s roomy in there, thanks in part to that saloon car lineage; you’ll find rear seats with space enough for two adults to spend a journey in reasonable comfort, while up front there’s oodles of space and lots of neat little cubbies in which to store bits and bobs.

If you're interested in finding a used 4 Series, or any of the other coupés mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

The cheapest BMW 4 Series start at less than £9000, but they'll be examples with high miles, so you'll need to push your budget up to around £12,000, which is where cars of average mileage and with good service histories start.

If you want to go for one of the larger-engined models, you’ll need to increase your budget closer to £16,000 to £28,000, which gets you a choice of 430d or 435i with decent miles and histories. Alternatively, if you want a facelifted 4 Series from 2017 onward you’ll need to fork out around £17,000.

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MPG

The 418d and 420d both have combined economy figures of 62.8mpg, while the 425d manages 55.4mpg. The six-cylinder 430d and 435d models aren't far behind at 52.3 and 50.4mpg, respectively.

If it’s a petrol 4 Series you’re after, the combined figure puts the 420i at 46.3mpg. The 428i and 430i are a little bit more thirsty at 44.8 and 43.5mpg, respectively. Surprisingly, the most potent six-cylinder 440i manages 41.5mpg, which is a better result than the 435i model it replaced that manages 39.2mpg.

CO2 emissions

Diesel models have the lowest CO2 emissions with the 418d and 420d being the best in the range at 118 and 119g/km, respectively. The 425d and 430d share the same tax band due to similar figures of 131 and 137g/km. The 435d emits the most at 146g/km, but that's still impressively low considering the performance available.

Petrol models are more costly: the 420i and 428i are in the same band with outputs of 144 and 147g/km, respectively. The 430i and later 440i also manage to share a tax band with exhaust emissions of 151 and 159g/km. You'll pay the most car tax if you go for the 435i due to a figure of 172g/km.

Road tax (VED)

Annual road tax (VED) is based on CO2 emissions for all cars registered before April 2017. After that date, all cars are charged a flat rate fee – currently £155, which is the same for all petrol and diesel cars. Beware, as well, that if your 4 Series cost more than £40,000 when new you will face a £335 supplementary luxury car tax until the vehicle is six years old. To find out more about the current road tax costs, click here for further information.

Servicing

Maintenance and repair costs will be about average as far as the 4 Series’ premium rivals are concerned, although you will find any BMW to be pricier to maintain than a model from a manufacturer with less cachet.

Specification

We reckon the old SE is probably the model to have, because it comes with the softest suspension and with smaller wheels, the best balance of ride and cornering ability along with plenty of equipment.

That said, the Sport version offers a tolerable ride too, so if you’d rather have stiffer suspension and slightly sharper handling, or want a later 4 Series Coupé, it’s the one to choose.

Engine

The 420i and 418d both lack punch and can be gruff when pressed hard. The 420d is a little on the noisy side, too, but it’s still our pick of the range thanks to its excellent blend of efficiency and performance.

If you want something even faster, though, we’d recommend upgrading to one of the six-cylinder petrol or diesel engines. The 435i only comes with four-wheel drive, which hampers its fuel economy, but the two-wheel-drive 440i is more efficient and extremely quick – even if it is only available in firm-riding M Sport form. Meanwhile both 430d and 435d models provide impressive low-down torque and six-cylinder smoothness, even if neither can match the efficiency of the smaller diesels.

Our favourite BMW 4 Series: 420d Sport

The two most obvious rivals for the BMW 4 Series are the Audi A5 and Mercedes C-Class Coupé, which are upmarket coupés of a similar size. Both are cheaper to buy than the 4 Series; however, while both offer high-quality interiors and just about as much space inside, neither can boast the BMW’s incisive handling.

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If you're interested in finding a used 4 Series, or any of the other coupés mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.