Skip advert
Advertisement

BMW 4 Series 2017 facelift review

Four-seater BMW 440i coupe finally gets the same updates as the 3 Series, but have they made a difference?

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
Avg. savings
£4,338 off RRP*
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

Little has changed to alter our opinion of the 4 Series as an overall package. Minor styling tweaks and tech updates will find favour with existing owners, but do little to win over new customers. Still, it remains one of the best four-seat premium coupes around, and in 440i form it’s also genuinely fast. The 435d is a better all-round choice for those looking for pace, grace and low running costs, however.

Advertisement - Article continues below

It’s been nearly two years since BMW revealed a facelifted version of the ever-popular 3 Series. Yet, bizarrely, the maker has waited until now to apply the same changes to its two-door 4 Series. We’re driving the range-topping 440i petrol to see if it remains one of the class benchmarks, even in the face of rivals like the new Audi A5 Coupe.

You can see why BMW wasn’t in too much of a hurry to bring the 4 Series up to date with its four-door sibling; it’s still a great looking design. BMW claims 2,500 components were changed for 2017, although you’d be hard pushed to notice at a glance. Keen eyes may spot the new full-LED headlamps (with optional adaptive beam tech), revised front and rear bumpers, and fresh alloy wheels.

Most will spot the vibrant new colours, however – particularly in the case of the Snapper Rocks Blue of our test car. It’s a similar (if not identical) hue to the launch colour of the BMW M2, and gives the larger 4 Series a welcome dose of character.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

4 Series

2023 BMW

4 Series

14,489 milesAutomaticDiesel2.0L

Cash £32,518
View 4 Series
4 Series

2023 BMW

4 Series

52,860 milesAutomaticDiesel2.0L

Cash £27,399
View 4 Series
4 Series

2014 BMW

4 Series

114,000 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £7,100
View 4 Series
4 Series

2020 BMW

4 Series

22,000 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £20,995
View 4 Series

Step inside and again, you’ll need to stare long and hard not to miss the tweaks. The air vent surrounds and some of the centre console switches have a new chrome finish, while there’s extra black gloss trim on the dash and new leather choices. The optional Professional sat-nav system also features a fresher interface, with tile icons for the main menu that were first seen on the new 5 Series. Audi-style digital instruments are optional, too.

It’s just as easy to use as before, and the rest of the interior is as logically laid-out and driver-focused as it’s always been. Granted, some of the finishes lack the polished look and feel of the Mercedes C-Class Coupe, but the driving position is spot-on and there’s space for two adults in the back.

BMW hasn’t revised the 4 Series’ engine range for 2017, as it’s already been gifted the updated units from the 3 Series. Instead, changes have been made to the suspension, with a stiffer tuning for both the standard and adaptive set-up, all aimed at improving handling and steering. Our car had the adaptive system, and the differences were so subtle we reckon you’d have to drive the new car back-to-back to feel any change.

Nevertheless, the 440i remains one of the most entertaining drives in its class, finding the sweet spot between ride comfort and sharpness. Combining that with the sweet-sounding 322bhp turbo straight-six engine creates an excellent GT car that is one of the strongest fast petrol coupe packages around. Fuel economy of 41.5mpg makes it cheaper to run than its closest rivals, too.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

BMW 4 Series

BMW 4 Series

RRP £45,195Avg. savings £4,338 off RRP*Used from £16,941
BMW 3 Series

BMW 3 Series

RRP £33,315Avg. savings £4,070 off RRP*Used from £11,990
Audi A6

Audi A6

RRP £39,640Avg. savings £7,364 off RRP*Used from £16,483
Audi A4

Audi A4

RRP £34,385Used from £14,824
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025