Skip advert
Advertisement

Used BMW 4 Series (Mk1, 2014-2020) review - What do owners think? 

BMWs are usually well made and very safe, but long-term reliability is on shakier ground

Find your BMW 4 Series
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

BMW 4 Series owners tend to fall into one of two camps: private or company. The latter is likely to choose a diesel engine for pounding Britain’s motorways, while private buyers might opt for one of the excellent petrol engines. Owners rate the car for its connectivity and low running costs, but are less satisfied with the reliability and exterior finish. Be wary when buying a low-mileage 4 Series diesel, as future DPF issues could be on the cards. Indeed, you should opt for a petrol version if you intend to spend most of your time on short trips.

Reliability

The 4 Series finished in 54th place (out of the 75 cars ranked) in our 2018 Driver Power satisfaction survey, which is a considerable fall from its position in 2015, where it came 19th. That said, the 4 Series is growing older, so you would expect it to lose places to newer, more modern cars.

BMW as a whole finished 21st out of the 26 manufacturers which ranked. Putting it above Vauxhall, Fiat and Citroen, but below Audi, Volvo and Jaguar.

Advertisement - Article continues below

In our latest 2021 survey, the BMW 4 Series finished 56th out of 75 cars, while BMW finished a disappointing 21st out of 29 cars on the list of manufacturers. A warm welcome and excellent service are two things you can’t guarantee at a BMW dealer.

Tell us about your car in the Driver Power survey...

Skip advert
Advertisement

Which Is Best

Cheapest

  • Name
    420i M Sport 2dr Step Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • RRP
    £45,890
Select car

Most Economical

  • Name
    420i M Sport 2dr Step Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • RRP
    £45,890
Select car

Fastest

  • Name
    M440i xDrive MHT 392 2dr Step Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • RRP
    £63,235
Select car
Senior test editor

Dean has been part of the Auto Express team for more than 20 years, and has worked across nearly all departments, starting on magazine production, then moving to road tests and reviews. He's our resident van expert, but covers everything from scooters and motorbikes to supercars and consumer products.

New & used car deals

BMW 4 Series

BMW 4 Series

RRP £45,575Avg. savings £7,610 off RRP*Used from £21,932
BMW 2 Series

BMW 2 Series

RRP £38,005Used from £23,100
BMW 3 Series

BMW 3 Series

RRP £31,935Avg. savings £8,463 off RRP*Used from £12,195
Audi A5

Audi A5

RRP £42,760Avg. savings £5,003 off RRP*Used from £14,995
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Jaguar Land Rover recalls 170,000 SUVs with UK cars experiencing similar problems
Land Rover Defender 110 Trophy Edition - front action

Jaguar Land Rover recalls 170,000 SUVs with UK cars experiencing similar problems

JLR has recalled models from across the Jaguar, Land Rover and Range Rover ranges over a faulty DC-DC converter module
News
30 Apr 2026
Car Deal of the Day: Omoda 7 offers space and super-low running costs for just £229 a month
Omoda 7 - front tracking

Car Deal of the Day: Omoda 7 offers space and super-low running costs for just £229 a month

The Omoda 7 is the latest Chinese SUV to arrive in Britain. It’s our Deal of the Day for 30 April.
News
30 Apr 2026
New BYD Ti7 will be China's latest potshot at the Land Rover Defender
BYD Ti7 teaser

New BYD Ti7 will be China's latest potshot at the Land Rover Defender

A new BYD teaser image shows a boxy SUV with clear off-road intentions 
News
1 May 2026