Used BMW 4 Series Buying Guide
The BMW 4 Series is the 3 Series’ more glamorous sibling: same underpinnings, sleeker body, slightly lower driving position. The first generation (F32 Coupe, F33 Convertible and F36 Gran Coupe, 2013-2020) is now plentiful and affordable on the used market, while the second generation (G22/G23/G26, 2020 on) brought the divisive big grille and a noticeable step up in refinement. For most UK buyers the Gran Coupe is the quiet hero - four-door practicality with a hatchback boot and coupe looks.
Engines and trims
The 420d 2.0-litre diesel dominates UK stock because it was the default company-car choice, and it remains a fine all-rounder: brisk enough, and capable of impressive economy on a run. Petrol options include the 420i and 430i four-cylinders and the six-cylinder 440i (F-generation) or M440i (G-generation), the latter pair being the enthusiast picks thanks to the superb B58 straight-six. The 430d and 435d/M440d diesels combine six-cylinder muscle with long-legged economy and are worth seeking out. Nearly all cars use the excellent ZF eight-speed automatic.
Trims run SE, Sport and M Sport, with M Sport overwhelmingly the most common and the easiest to sell on. Look for adaptive suspension, the Professional media package, heated seats and a reversing camera. Convertibles in the F33 generation have a folding metal hardtop; the G23 switched to a lighter fabric roof. xDrive all-wheel drive appears on some diesels and on the M440i, and is worth having if you live somewhere hilly or rural, though it adds a little weight and thirst. The second-generation cars also gained mild-hybrid assistance on most engines, smoothing the stop-start system and trimming consumption.
What to check before buying
The earliest 420d models (2013 to around 2015) may carry the N47 diesel, whose timing chain can stretch and fail - listen carefully for rattling at idle from the back of the engine. Later B47 units are more robust, but confirm EGR cooler recall work has been done, as BMW recalled many diesels of this era for a potential fire risk. On petrols, check for coolant leaks (water pumps and expansion tanks are known consumables) and smooth cold-start running.
On Convertibles, operate the roof through several full cycles and check the drains are clear. Gran Coupes have frameless doors, so listen for wind noise at speed. Inspect the condition of large M Sport alloys and run-flat tyres, and make sure all driver-assistance systems and iDrive functions behave. As ever with premium German metal, a complete service history and evidence of regular oil changes outweigh a low asking price. Many 4 Series lived as company cars, which isn’t a problem in itself - motorway miles are easy miles - but it makes the paper trail even more important.
Running costs
The 420d is the economy champion and typically the cheapest to insure of the range; six-cylinder cars sit in noticeably higher insurance groups and drink more fuel, though the diesel sixes remain surprisingly efficient cruisers. Independent BMW specialists can service these cars for sensibly less than main dealers, and a transmission fluid change on higher-mileage automatics is money well spent. Budget for brakes, tyres and suspension bushes on cars used hard.
Verdict
A used 4 Series delivers genuine premium-coupe appeal without drama, and the Gran Coupe adds real practicality. Avoid neglected early diesels, favour a documented B47 or a B58 petrol, and it’s an easy car to live with and to love.
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