Used 2021 BMW 4 Series

The 2021 BMW 4 Series range of premium compact coupes and convertibles enters its second generation for this model year. This is welcome news. The 4 Series recognizes that some people are prepared to forgo raised driving positions and some practicality in return for automotive joy, along with an individual style.

This new model brings several changes, which we will go into during this review, but there are two big ones. Versions with 6-cylinder engines also have a 48-volt mild hybrid system. One of its main tasks is to restart the engine after the fuel-saving automatic stop feature has kicked in. Earlier systems (from all manufacturers, not just BMW) have often been obtrusive on restarts, but this new method is much smoother.

The first 4 Series Convertible had a folding hardtop. Nice idea in principle, providing optimum security and year-round suitability. Not so great in practice because of the weight of the motors required to operate the thing and the space it took up when stowed. The new 4 Series Convertible has a soft top, in common with rivals like the Audi A5 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

The 4 Series is based on the 3 Series sedan, which was all-new last year. In the past, BMW has waited before releasing the M models. But the latest M4 comes in this first wave, which is more good news. There are a couple of gaps — no rear-drive M440i Coupe and no option for all-wheel drive in the M models — but these will apparently be filled next year.

In the meantime, the 2021 BMW 4 Series has a number of variants, each with its own appeal.

BMW claims the rear-drive 430i Convertible can sprint from standstill to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. That’s pleasantly brisk, yet it only gets faster from there, with the M4 Competition Coupe stopping the clock at just 3.8 seconds.

As well as paddle shifters beneath the steering wheel, the 8-speed automatic transmission has launch control for optimum leaps off the line. But the transmission in the M440i models also has a Sprint setting. Pulling up on the left paddle shifter for at least a second allows the driver to engage Sport mode, which sharpens throttle responses and makes the transmission stay in a lower gear for longer.

The non-M transmissions are linked to the standard GPS navigation system and can change gear by themselves. For example, when there’s a tight turn up ahead or a steep climb.

The 2021 M4 is the latest in a long line of high-performance compact coupes tuned and toned by BMW’s M division. Through all that time, they have been dream cars for enthusiasts. The fact that the new M4 comes with rear-wheel drive and a manual transmission is really keeping that dream alive. It also comes standard with a lightweight roof made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP). The result is a lower center of gravity than a metal-topped coupe for optimum stability through corners.

It’s interesting how premium German car companies have their distinct approaches to interior design. Mercedes-Benz goes for plushness, Audi leans toward a sophisticated minimalism, and BMW favors an uncluttered coolness, where technology and luxury never get in each other’s way even though there’s plenty of both. The 2021 4 Series definitely sticks to that script.

Every version, hard top or soft, seats four. Space is, of course, more accommodating up front than in the rear seats. The standard upholstery is simulated leather that looks far more convincing than the leather-effect vinyl of the bad old days. And the color scheme is black/beige.

The M4 offers lightweight sport seats made with a carbon fiber back, which are ideal for anyone planning a lot of track days. Buyers who don’t want to work that hard might enjoy the optional neck-heating vents in the Convertible, so they can still drive with the top down on those bright, cold days.

The 4 Series is the 2-door derivative of the BMW 3 Series (well, except for the 4-door Gran Coupe, a new version of which will join the 4 Series range next year). It comes in coupe and convertible form. We wish BMW would make a video where the company’s famous double grille morphs over the decades to where it is now.

This is pretty dramatic and noticeably different on the 4 Series, compared with other current BMW models like the 7 Series or X5. Then again, radical shifts in design are part of BMW’s philosophy, and no doubt some people would complain if the 4 Series looked like something else.

Although the 3 Series forms the foundation, the new 4 Series takes the idea and runs with it, sitting lower on its suspension and fitting a wider rear track (the distance between the rear wheels) for an extra dash of sportiness.

The high-performance M4 naturally goes even further with extra aerodynamic additions, a bulge in the aluminum hood, 18-inch wheels at the front, and 20-inch rear wheels. Wherever the M Sport brakes are fitted, they come with blue calipers as standard, but they’re also available in red or black.

Standard exterior paint colors are black or white. After that, it’s a question of paying extra. The Convertible doesn’t offer any other roof color apart from black.

However, this powered top is fitted with multiple layers of insulation and needs only 18 seconds to open or close — which it can do at speeds up to 31 mph. The advantage of a soft-top over the previous generation’s folding hardtop is that the new 4 Series Convertible is now lighter and has more cargo space.

DRIVER APPEAL
Starting out with rear-wheel drive, the BMW 4 Series comes from a company that virtually everyone else uses as the benchmark for driver engagement. Sure, the Audi A5 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class rivals are pleasant. The Lexus RC doesn’t have the same kind of flow.

MILD HYBRID SYSTEM
This 48-volt setup is proliferating among German luxury cars and beyond. As well as gathering energy that might otherwise have been wasted, it can also power ancillary items like water pumps (eliminating the need for belts taking drive from the engine) and even energize adaptive air suspensions.

Although the 2021 430i Coupe is the entry-level model, it still comes with a generous assortment of standard features. This includes LED headlights that adapt to the steering angle, 18-inch alloy wheels, self-dimming mirrors, 10-way power-adjustable front seats, tri-zone automatic climate control, moonroof, and sound-insulating acoustic windshield glass.

Safety equipment includes forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning with steering correction, front/rear parking sensors, and automatic high beams.

The standard infotainment system has an 8.8-inch touchscreen, navigation, 12-month/all-access SiriusXM 360L satellite radio subscription, two USB ports, 10-speaker/205-watt audio setup, and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration that brings many apps (like Spotify, Waze, and WhatsApp) into the car.

The Convertible adds a power-operated black fabric roof, wind deflector, and extra rollover protection.

Buyers can upgrade to the 2021 430i xDrive to acquire all-wheel drive, add a Dynamic Handling package with sport-oriented components, or head straight for the M440i xDrive with extra power, variable-ratio sport steering, and more aerodynamic additions.

The M4 Coupe is the high-performance variant with 473 horsepower, all the accompanying hardware, and a CFRP roof; the moonroof is optional here. But the main option here is whether to choose the 503-horsepower M4 Competition model that rolls on 19-inch alloy wheels up front, 20-inch alloy wheels at the back, and shifts gears with an 8-speed automatic transmission. These M4 models also offer a new M Drive Professional feature to help owners become better drivers on the track.

The Driving Assistant Professional package is available in most new 4 Series variants, although not the non-Competition M4 because that comes with a manual transmission. For greater detail, check this review’s Safety Technology section. It’s worth choosing this bundle and the Parking Assistance package to prevent all sorts of scrapes and calamities.

Other options include larger alloy wheels, heated/ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, head-up display, leather seating surfaces, front-seat neck warming (Convertible only), ambient cabin lighting, gesture control for the infotainment system, wireless charging, Wi-Fi, 12.3-inch driver information display, 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a Harman Kardon surround-sound system (these last three items are standard in the M4).

The new BMW 430i models have a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine making 255 horsepower. An 8-speed automatic transmission sends drive to the rear wheels (RWD) in the regular 430i or all four (AWD) in the 430i xDrive.

The 2021 M440i xDrive Coupe has all-wheel drive as standard. The M440i Convertible offers a rear-drive version as well as an xDrive model. They all have the 8-speed automatic transmission. Propulsion comes from a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 engine developing 382 horsepower. This is joined by a 48-volt mild hybrid system that stores energy harvested from braking and deceleration, and powers the engine’s fuel-saving stop/restart function, making the process a lot smoother than previous stop/start systems.

The M4 Coupe goes without the mild hybrid system, but keeps the turbocharged inline-6 engine. BMW’s M division has tuned it to produce 473 horsepower, which goes solely to the rear wheels through a 6-speed manual transmission. Alternatively, the M4 Competition Coupe generates 503 horsepower and deploys an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 (430i)
255 horsepower @ 5,000-6,500 rpm
295 lb-ft of torque @ 1,550-4,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 26/34 mpg (Coupe, RWD), 24/33 mpg (Coupe, AWD)

Turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 (M440i)
382 horsepower @ 5,800-6,500 rpm
364 lb-ft of torque @ 1,800-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/31 mpg (Coupe, AWD)

Turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 (M4)
473 horsepower @ 6,250 rpm
406 lb-ft of torque @ 2,650-6,130 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/23 mpg (manual)

Turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 (M4 Competition)
503 horsepower @ 6,250 rpm
479 lb-ft of torque @ 2,750-5,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/23 mpg (automatic)