Used BMW 4 Series Coupé 2013-2020 reliability review

Sharp handling and smooth looks make the BMW 4 Series a truly desirable used coupé

What should I look for in a used BMW 4 Series?

M Sport versions of the BMW 4 Series, with their larger wheels, are prime candidates for kerbing so make sure you check the wheels carefully – if there are large scrape marks or even chunks missing or cracks in the wheel, it could also mean the suspension’s taken a hammering, so you’ll want to pay extra attention to see whether the car pulls in one direction or the other, or whether there are any untoward suspension noises.

The car will tell you when it needs to be serviced, so judging whether the service history shows that the car has been serviced on time can be tricky; in general, though, you should look for a stamp in the book roughly every year or every 10-12,000 miles – or if the car has done high mileage, every two years or 20,000 miles.

Is a used BMW 4 Series reliable?

The BMW 4 Series Coupé was known to be a fairly reliable car.

Although it was absent from our latest What Car? Reliability Survey, the mechanically similar BMW 3 Series (in petrol/plug-in hybrid form) placed third out of 24 cars in the executive car class. Its reliability score of 96.4% is confidence-inspiring and puts the 3 Series above the rival Audi A4.

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BMW 3 Series owners told us 13% went wrong, with the most common fault areas being electrics, the engine and infotainment. BMW paid for 96% of repairs and fixed two-thirds of cars in less than a week.

As a car brand, BMW ranked 12th out of 31 manufacturers featured. Its overall reliability score of 93.0% makes it more reliable than Audi and Mercedes but less reliable than Lexus and Volvo.

Used BMW 4 Series Coupé: owners' reliability data

Owners appreciate the car's robust mechanical performance but some have raised concerns about electrical issues, particularly with the car’s sensors and dashboard displays. These problems often require dealer intervention.

The majority of our respondents said their dealership's service was prompt and professional, with repairs generally handled efficiently under warranty. However, a few mentioned experiencing longer-than-expected wait times for parts.

If you'd like to see the full reliability list, head to the What Car? Reliability Survey pages for more information.

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Used BMW 4 Series Coupe (13 - present)

Used cars available now

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BMW 4 SERIES 2.0 420d MHT M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

BMW 4 SERIES

2.0 420d MHT M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

RRP £42,020

£18,495

BMW 4 Series 2.0 420d MHT M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

BMW 4 Series

2.0 420d MHT M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

£18,499

BMW 4 SERIES 2.0 420i M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

BMW 4 SERIES

2.0 420i M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

£18,890

BMW 4 SERIES 2.0 420i M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

BMW 4 SERIES

2.0 420i M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

RRP £39,340

£19,330

BMW 4 Series 2.0 420i M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

BMW 4 Series

2.0 420i M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

£19,795

BMW 4 SERIES 2.0 420d MHT M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

BMW 4 SERIES

2.0 420d MHT M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

£19,890

BMW 4 Series 2.0 420d MHT M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

BMW 4 Series

2.0 420d MHT M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

£19,900

BMW 4 SERIES 2.0 420d MHT M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

BMW 4 SERIES

2.0 420d MHT M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

£19,995

BMW 4 SERIES 2.0 420i M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

BMW 4 SERIES

2.0 420i M Sport Auto Euro 6 (s/s) 2dr

RRP £38,750

£19,999

About the writer

Mark Pearson

Name: Mark Pearson

Title: Used cars editor

Follow Mark Pearson on

Mark Pearson has been a motoring journalist for more than 15 years and is currently the used cars editor for What Car?.

Mark spent his formative years at the BBC, where, at various times, he scheduled, broadcast and archived television and radio programmes and researched, wrote and produced promotional material.

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