Used BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé 2014-2022 reliability
Category: Executive car
Stylish and yet decently practical, the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé is a desirable niche-buster, and great value used.
What should I look for in a used BMW 4 Series coupe?
When viewing a used car, always follow our used car buying checklist.
The diamond-cut alloy wheels on M Sport cars can corrode. This usually originates from kerb damage that allows road salt to react with the exposed metal. If this is left untreated, damage could spread. And since repairs to this type of alloy wheel are slightly more complex than standard alloy wheels, it can be quite expensive to fix. Make sure you’re not the one footing the bill for damage caused by the previous driver.
The most important area to check is arguably the service history, because you'll want to make sure the car has been serviced regularly and at the scheduled intervals. This is because most engines in the 4 Series, particularly the four-cylinder and six-cylinder diesels, suffer from timing chain issues if the car is not properly maintained. If the timing chain is breaks or comes lose, the engine will be very badly damaged, resulting in big repair bills. To help minimise this risk, make sure to listen out for any rattle or knocking noises from the engine, especially on start-up when the engine is cold.
What are the most common problems with a used BMW 4 Series coupe?
At the time of writing, the 4 Series Gran Coupé has four recalls listed. To check whether they have affected your car, you can contact your local BMW dealer. You will not need to pay for anything involving the recall.
Reason for recall
The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler may leak over time and cause a thermal incident.
How the manufacturer will repair: On the affected vehicles the EGR cooler module will be replaced.
Number of affected vehicles: 319,399
Date of recall: 01/08/2022
Reason for recall
Undetected EGR system leaks may cause thermal activity in the intake manifold.
How the manufacturer will repair: The engine management control unit (DDE) will be programmed with improved software incorporating the latest OBD functionality.
Number of affected vehicles: 322,745
Date of recall: 22/08/2022
Reason for recall
A possible degradation of airbag propellant tablets could lead to an over-aggressive combustion in the event the airbag is activated, which may cause the inflator body to rupture.
How the manufacturer will repair: On affected vehicles the drivers airbag module will be replaced.
Number of affected vehicles: 19,116
Date of recall: 24/01/2023
Reason for recall
Affected vehicles may have had a retrofit or conversion of the airbag using a previously recalled airbag variant, which if deployed, may do so with excessive force causing sharp metal fragments to be released. This may cause serious injury possibly fatal to people in the vicinity. The original factory fitment airbag for the vehicle is not affected.
How the manufacturer will repair: Vehicles will have the airbag checked and if necessary replaced.
Number of affected vehicles: 5356
Date of recall: 21/10/2024
Click here for more information. Contact your local BMW dealer if you believe your vehicle is involved in a recall.
Is a used BMW 4 Series coupe reliable?
The 4 Series Gran Coupé didn't appear in our most recent What Car? Reliability Survey, but the closely related 4 Series Coupé and Convertible did, and they didn't do too well, finishing last in the coupe, convertible and sports car class, in 13th place out of 13 cars. They also appear to be less reliable than the closely-related BMW 3 Series diesel, which did very well in the executive car class with a score of 96.5%.
Costly repair bills and long stints in the workshop were the main headaches for 4 Series Coupé and Convertible owners, with 25% of the cars in our survey going wrong. Only 33% of faults were fixed for free, leaving most owners with bills of up to £750 and 25% having to find more than £1000 to put things right. Although most faulty cars could still be driven, half of them took more than a week to fix.
Used BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé: owners' reliability data
While the 4 Series Gran Coupé didn't feature in our latest What Car? Reliability Survey, owners in previous surveys appreciated the car's robust mechanical performance. Some, however, did raise concerns about electrical issues, particularly with the car’s sensors and dashboard displays. These problems often required 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 longer-than-expected wait times for parts.
