BMW M4 (2014 – 2021) Review

The BMW M4 is the hardcore version of the 4 Series. It’s the sister car to the BMW M3, and is available as a Coupe and Convertible. Launched in 2014, the BMW M4 rivals the likes of the Audi RS5 and Porsche Cayman, offering thunderous performance from its 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged engine. For the ultimate M4 experience, opt for the Competition pack, which became the core model later in the car’s production run. It’s brilliant to drive, although some of the options make it look very expensive. Still, it’s better looking than the new M4…

The BMW M4 Coupe and Convertible are the sister cars to the BMW M3 saloon. Launched in 2014, the M4 outsold its M3 sibling, primarily because buyers prefer the styling and image of the two-door coupe. Early models are becoming increasingly affordable.

Power is sourced from a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged petrol engine, with BMW ditching the V8 found in the earlier M3. In many ways, this makes the M4 a more authentic BMW M model, and it’s not as though it’s short on power. In standard guise, the 3.0-litre ‘six’ produces 431PS, but Competition models boast an impressive 450PS. Rare models like the GTS and DTM Champion Edition provide even more muscle.

It’s a terrific engine, delivering smooth acceleration, low-end torque and redline fun. It’s also reasonably economical, although this won’t be a big priority for many M4 buyers.

Okay, so 25mpg to 30mpg isn’t exactly brilliant, but it means that you can complete the commute to work without visiting a petrol station on a daily basis.

This is a great-looking car. It helps that the regular 4 Series is sleek and low-slung, but the M4 treatment makes it look even more desirable. The Competition pack is a particular highlight, with the 20-inch alloy wheels filling the muscular arches. It’s a modern classic in the making, especially when you consider the challenging styling of the latest M4.

Inside, the M4 is more luxurious than ever. Soft-touch materials, fine leather, a superb leather-trimmed steering wheel and wonderful sports seats are the highlights. It’s comfortable for those dull stretches of road between your favourite B-roads.

Some will argue that it’s not as engaging as M cars of old, but others will love its refinement and fluidity. Besides, it can feel a bit edgy when you’re really ‘on it’, so such antics are best reserved for the track.

An early M4 Coupe could cost as little as £25,000. When you consider that this was a £60,000 car when new, that seems like a small price to pay. We’d recommend budgeting for £35,000, as this is enough to secure the superior Competition package. It came as no surprise when BMW decided to ditch the entry-level M4, making the Competition the core model.

There isn’t a huge amount of choice when it comes to performance coupes. The Audi RS5 is the M4’s chief rival, but beyond that, you’re looking at performance saloons and two-seater sports cars. The M4 Coupe is arguably the best of both worlds.

It’s reasonably practical, thanks to a large boot and a surprising amount of rear-seat space. It’s also well-equipped and rich in quality. The fact that it looks better than the new M4 is an added bonus.

The M4 is a surprisingly practical car, thanks to a boot offering 445 litres of luggage space and rear seats that fold and split 60/40.

Access is good, thanks to a wide opening, and there’s enough room in there for a set of golf clubs. It’s even reasonably spacious in the back seats, although it’s awkward to climb into the back.

Once there, rear-seat passengers will have few complaints – it’s more than a simple 2+2 coupe. Overall, there’s less headroom in an M4 than you’ll find in a regular 3 Series, but that’s the small price you pay for owning a coupe. The main thing is that the seats are comfortable and supportive.

The M4 demonstrates the level of quality you’d expect from the flagship BMW 4 Series. On the outside, the paint is thick and glossy, while opening the large doors reveals a cabin that’s rich in quality and high in details.

It all feels so robust, with BMW using soft-touch materials to great effect in order to create a terrific sense of occasion. The M multi-function leather steering wheel is a particular highlight while the heated leather seats are both supportive and comfortable. Look up and you’ll find Anthracite headlining. Look down and the carpets are deep and sumptuous.

The M4 comes with BMW’s top-line Professional multimedia and sat-nav system, which uses an 8.8-inch screen with a crisp display. Standard features include DAB digital radio, Bluetooth and USB connectivity. The sat-nav is excellent and features real-time traffic information. Apple CarPlay is a £325 option, but you do get a host of features via BMW Online Services.

An upgrade in 2014 added wireless charging, a wi-fi hotspot, a new interface and enhanced Bluetooth. A TV function and Harman/Kardon audio upgrade are optional. There’s even an optional Concierge service, which gives you access to BMW’s call centre.

At the time of writing, this generation of the M4 was in the process of being removed from showrooms, as BMW launched the all-new M4 Coupe. To provide some context, while recognising that it’s still possible to buy this car new, these are the list prices.

The M4 Coupe Competition cost £65,225, while the M4 Convertible Competition was priced at £68,645. The M4 M Heritage Edition cost £70,225, with the Ultimate Package adding £4,300 to this price. A range of expensive options means that few M4s leave a BMW showroom for the list price.

Early examples have dropped to less than £25,000. This is enough to secure a 2014 car with up to 100,000 miles on the clock. Convertible prices are roughly in line with the Coupe, but there are fewer available. Around a third of all used M4s are Coupe models.

Some of the rare examples command a healthy premium on the used car market. The DTM Champion Edition costs between £85,000 and £90,000, depending on the mileage. A 30 Jahre Edition will cost around £50,000. Meanwhile, GTS prices vary, but anything up to £90,000 is possible.

It’s worth noting that the Competition pack became standard later in the production run. At its launch in 2016, the Competition was a £3,000 upgrade on the M4 Coupe, and a £2,200 upgrade on the M4 Convertible. The vast majority of BMW M4s sold came with the Competition package, so it made sense to make it standard equipment.

This does mean that you’ll have to pay slightly more for a Competition model. Prices state from around £35,000 for a 2016 example.

There's a benefit from switching from V8 power to a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre straight-six - economy.

On paper, the M4 Coupe could return 28.2mpg, regardless of whether it’s a regular or a Competition model. The M4 Convertible is slightly less economical, offering a potential 27.7mpg. These are based on the new WLTP standards. You might see M4s advertised with higher figures, but these are based on the less reliable NEDC testing cycle.

Honest John Real MPG data suggests you should get close to the claimed figures, with the M4 achieving an average 26.2mpg across 62 cars.

Predictably, insurance will be expensive. The M4 GTS gets a group 50 rating, putting it on par with the world’s most powerful supercars. The standard M4 Coupe gets a group 42 rating, but the Competition models nudges the group to 43.

The benefit of turbocharging is that CO2 emissions are kept low, so the cost of Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) isn’t as scary as it might have been in the days of V8 power. That said, the list price means that you’ll pay a surcharge for five years from the second year. The cost is £450 a year.

Our review template should probably be tweaked for cars like the BMW M4. Practicality and running costs before ride and handling? This doesn’t seem right. Still, we’re here now, and the big news is that the BMW M4 is one of the most accessible M models in years.

The electric power steering is convincing, the balance is superb, and the adaptive dampers provide plenty of adjustment.

The Competition package delivers the most focused driving experience. The M4 feels tauter, more playful and sharper. The 20-inch alloy wheels create a firmer ride, but that’s a small price to pay for a more hardcore M4.

Power is sourced from a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged straight-six engine. Smaller in capacity than the old V8, then, but hardly lacking in power. In Competition guise, the M4 offers 450PS, while the original launch car produced 431PS. Even an M4 with the lower output can hit 62mph in just 4.1 seconds.

It feels incredibly strong and powerful, with the turbochargers helping to deliver thunderous acceleration from the get-go. There’s more torque than a normally-aspirated engine, while there’s fun to be had if you make it to the 7,600rpm rev limiter.

The DCT dual-clutch transmission is delightful, progressing through the gears with real purpose, and downshifting in a satisfying manner. We’re not surprised that the majority of owners chose this option, but the manual gearbox is equally as good.

The BMW 3 Series was awarded a five-star safety rating when it was crash-tested by Euro NCAP in 2012. Although the M4 wasn’t tested, we’d expect it to achieve a similar rating.

All versions of the M4 feature front and side airbags, rear Isofix child seat mounting points and a seatbelt reminder. Front-seat passengers also get seatbelt pretensioners and belt load limiters. An optional Driving Assistant pack comprises city collision mitigation, forward collision warning, lane departure warning and preventive pedestrian detection. Carbon ceramic brakes were an expensive option. Look for the gold calipers.

The BMW M4 is the kind of car you tow to a track. It’s not a car for towing.

While the BMW M4 doesn’t hit the high notes of some of the M models of old, it’s arguably the perfect performance coupe for modern times. Relatively efficient and safe, but with the performance and pedigree to allow it to rub shoulders with the likes of Porsche and Lotus. We also think it’s set for some renewed interest, in the wake of the styling of the all-new M4.