BMW M4 (2014-2020) review - Reliability and safety

The BMW M4 Competition is a hotbed of tried and tested hi-tech parts, and it's also packed with cutting edge safety kit

Overall Auto Express Rating

4.5 out of 5

Reliability and Safety Rating

4.0 out of 5

Price
£82,710 to £105,715
Find your BMW 4 Series
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Advertisement

The BMW M4 shares a lot of its electrical systems and basic chassis components with the BMW 3 Series and 4 Series while adding a host of bespoke parts and electronics, too. But while many of the M4’s underpinnings are unique, the car is also partly hand-built by BMW's M Division, which should mean a better quality of finish than a standard production line 4 Series.

BMW’s standard 3 Series has finished well in past Driver Power owner surveys, although the company as a whole consistently finishes in the lower half of the manufacturer ranking, although the same can be said for Audi and Mercedes.

Standard safety kit isn’t in short supply, with all models featuring six airbags, lots of electronic safety nets and uprated brakes. You can also add a head-up display (around £850) and lane keep assist (£400).

Warranty

As with all BMW models, the M4 is covered by the brand's standard three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty. The paintwork is guaranteed for the same period, while there's also protection against rust for 12 years. At the end of the standard warranty period, you can pay extra to extend the cover.

Also included in the three-year warranty is BMW's Emergency Services cover. Effectively, this is breakdown recovery assistance, although there's also a provision for hire cars if your car can't be repaired at the roadside and you need to continue your journey.

Servicing

BMW models don't have a standard mileage- and time-based servicing schedule and rely instead on the car's on-board computers to advise when maintenance is needed. As a result, drivers doing higher mileages mainly on motorways will probably go further between routine garage visits.

As with its lesser models, BMW offers the M4 with its great-value Service Inclusive packages. However, due to the high-performance nature of these M Sport-developed machines, these pre-paid plans are more expensive, with the standard scheme (five years and 50,000 miles) setting you back around £1,000. The comprehensive Service Inclusive Plus is around £3,500, but includes cover for brake pads and discs, clutch assembly and wiper blades if they wear out during the period of cover.

Which Is Best

Cheapest

  • Name
    M4 Competition 2dr Step Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • Price
    £80,050

Most Economical

  • Name
    M4 Competition 2dr Step Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • Price
    £80,050

Fastest

  • Name
    M4 xDrive Competition M 2dr Step Auto [M Carbon]
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • Price
    £89,340

Most Popular

‘Forget leasing a car, a cut-price van should be your next everyday vehicle’
Opinion - Fiat Scudo
Opinion

‘Forget leasing a car, a cut-price van should be your next everyday vehicle’

With some huge savings to be had, Mike Rutherford thinks a van could be the perfect vehicle
3 Dec 2023
New Renault 5: price, specs, launch and on sale dates
Renault 5 EV concept at 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed
News

New Renault 5: price, specs, launch and on sale dates

Renault’s reborn Renault 5 will start from €25,000 in Europe, suggesting a circa-£30k price in the UK. It's due on sale in the summer of 2024. Here's …
1 Dec 2023
Deal of the Day: Spacious Skoda Superb is a peerless estate for £223 a month
Skoda Superb Estate - front tracking
News

Deal of the Day: Spacious Skoda Superb is a peerless estate for £223 a month

The Superb is one of our favourite estates and our Deal of the Day for Monday 4 December
4 Dec 2023