Item: Used BMW 4 Series Convertible 2014-2020
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

You won’t find another four-seat convertible of the <a href="www.whatcar.com/bmw/">BMW</a>’s size that handles quite as well as a 4 Series, but both the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a5/sports/review/n17253">Audi A5 Cabriolet</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/c-class/sports/review/n166">Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet</a> fight back by having slightly more space for people sitting in the rear. That they use a folding canvas roof rather than the metal system of the 4 Series also means you get more boot space.

Alternatively, it might also be worth considering a late, low-mileage <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/3-series/sports/used-review/n252">3 Series Convertible</a> as opposed to an early and high-mileage 4 Series – but only if the price is right.

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<h3>Shop for a used BMW 4 Series Convertible <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">here</a></h3>

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What is it like?

Ownership cost

Advice for buyers

Our recommendations

Alternatives

If you’re looking at a diesel 4 Series Convertible with a very low mileage, bear in mind that the diesel particulate filter (a piece of equipment designed to reduce emissions) might not always have been given a chance to fully regenerate as required. To do this, it needs to be taken on longer journeys every week or two or you run the risk of it clogging up over time, resulting in an expensive repair bill.

Other than that, there’s nothing in particular to be concerned about, although we would advise checking a car’s electronic service record (a BMW dealer should be able to access this) to ensure it has been maintained every 10,000 miles or so, and test any electronic features work as intended.

The 4 Series scored well in our most recent reliability survey, finishing in a respectable mid-table position in the sports, coupe and convertible class. BMW as a brand finished in ninth place out of 31 manufacturers.&nbsp;

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Sports

Munich-based BMW is most famous for its sports saloons, in particular the 3 Series and 5 Series. However, it actually builds almost every type of car imaginable: everything from two-seat convertibles to seven-seat MPVs.

The cheapest model in the BMW range is the 1 Series hatchback, which is a rival to the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volkswagen Golf. Meanwhile, at the other extreme is the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car, which costs more than £100,000.

BMW was also quick to capitalise on the rise of the SUV and now has six in its range: the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and X6.

All of this makes it one of the big three German prestige brands, along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

4 SERIES

Thanks to its folding metal roof, the BMW 4 Series Convertible offers&nbsp;open-air thrills with the refinement of a coupé

Used BMW 4 Series Convertible 2014-present

For the lowest running costs, you’ll need a 420d, which returns as much as 60mpg in the official NEDC economy tests. In real-world driving, owners manage about 45mpg, whether the car is fitted with a manual or automatic gearbox, and benefit from paying as little as £115 per year in road tax.

A 430d is also reasonably affordable to tax, at £135-£150 per year, while a 435i is £240-£280 per year. In terms of fuel economy, these cars will manage about 40mpg and 30mpg respectively.

Later models were rated under the newer and more realistic WLTP tests, and average 35.3mpg in the 420i, 33.2mpg in the 440i, 46.3mpg in the 420d, 40.9mpg in the 430d and just 28mpg in the high-performance M4 version.&nbsp;

Cars registered after the tax changes of April 2017 came into force will set you back a flat-rate fee, currently £150 a year, and those that cost over £40,000 new will also incur a luxury car tax, currently £325 a year.&nbsp;

When it comes to servicing, it’s worth looking for an example that was ordered with BMW’s five-year inclusive servicing package, which is transferable between owners. There are no fixed service intervals as such (the onboard computer will tell you when it’s required) but, as a guide, you’ll need to factor in a visit to the workshop once a year to keep things running smoothly.

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Used BMW 4 Series Convertible 2014-2020

Thanks to its folding metal roof, the BMW 4 Series Convertible offers open-air thrills with the refinement of a coupé

The market for <a href="www.whatcar.com/bmw/">BMW</a> 4 Series Convertibles starts at about £12,000 to £13,000, which will buy you a car from 2014 or 2015 with close to 100,000 miles on the clock. Spend between £14,000 and £16,000 on good 2015 and 2016 models, or between £17,000 and £20,000 on clean post-facelift 2017 cars. You'll need around £20,000 to £25,000 for a 2018 car, and around £25,000 for a decent 2019 model.&nbsp;

Whatever engine you decide on, it’ll probably come in M Sport specification, which accounted for the vast majority of 4 Series Convertible sales. The other trim levels are SE, Modern, Sport and Luxury, although all but Sport were dropped over time.

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As mentioned earlier, the fact that the <a href="www.whatcar.com/bmw/">BMW</a> 4 Series Convertible is so much heavier than the coupé means it is very tempting to stretch to a six-cylinder model if budget allows. However, for most it’ll be hard to ignore the lower purchase price and running costs of the 420d, even if it does mean settling for a car that is ultimately slower and noisier.

As far as trim levels go, you might save a bit of money by opting for an SE or Sport over an M Sport, but as they are relatively scarce and won’t hold onto their value as well, it’s probably a false economy.

In terms of equipment, all models come with everything you'd really need, including dual-zone climate control, BMW’s iDrive infotainment system, Bluetooth, parking sensors and leather seats. To this, M Sport adds sportier body styling, larger alloys and a firmer suspension set-up.

Our favourite BMW 4 Series Convertible 420d M Sport

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What we're looking for:<ul><li>Wind-in-the-hair excitement</li> <li>Roof that’s quick and easy to raise and lower</li> <li>Comfortable seating for four adults</li> <li>Sufficient practicality for everyday use</li> <li>Little wind buffeting</li> <li>Quietness, whether the roof is up or down</li> <li>Minimal shaking and shimmying over bumps</li></ul>

Despite the British weather, UK car buyers are among the biggest enthusiasts for wind-in-your-hair motoring, so convertibles have always been surprisingly popular here. It’s best to be able to react to the fickle climate, though, so we’re after a roof that opens (and closes) slickly and quickly and good top-down cruising refinement.

There are precious few bespoke drop-tops these days, so your choice of models is generally limited to soft-top&nbsp;versions of existing models. Mini will sell you a drop-top version of its style-focused hatchback, if you’re after a bit of flair. The Audi A5&nbsp;Cabriolet, meanwhile, brings all of the benefits of the regular A5&nbsp;– refined engines and a beautifully finished interior. Alternatively, the much more expensive Mercedes-Benz S-Class Cabriolet is one of the most luxurious convertibles on sale.

Convertible

First and foremost, check the roof of any <a href="www.whatcar.com/bmw/">BMW</a> 4 Series Convertible opens and closes smoothly in 20 seconds or so, and that there’s no wind noise when it’s in place. Also be sure to inspect boot space when the roof is open and closed, because there’s a big difference between the two.

With most 4 Series Convertibles having covered relatively low mileages, you should expect the interior to be in excellent condition. However, the large alloy wheels of M Sport models are vulnerable to kerb damage, so inspect them carefully and ask the seller to reduce the price – by about £70 per wheel – if they need refurbishing. Large wheels also mean large and expensive tyres, so make sure there’s plenty of tread left on these too.

The 4 Series Convertible has been recalled on a few occasions for issues such as the possibility of the engine stalling and to ensure the bolts on the rear axle are not reused in the event that they have to be removed. It’s worth checking with a BMW dealer that this work has been carried out to any car you are considering buying.

Yes, it's been around for some time, but if you want a suave four-seat convertible from one of Germany's sportiest brands this could be just the used car for you.

The BMW 4 Series Convertible was the predictable 2013 follow-up to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/4-series/coupe/used-review/n847">coupé version </a>of the same name. Both were launched to replace <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/3-series/coupe/used-review/n255">the 3 Series Coupé and Convertible</a>, the idea behind the name change being to make BMW’s ever-expanding line-up less confusing for customers to understand.

<a href="www.whatcar.com/bmw/">BMW</a> also took the opportunity to give the 4 Series a sleeker look, and this is especially the case in the convertible, with its folding metal hard-top. That roof looks suitably theatrical as it opens and closes, as well as providing more security than the soft-tops of BMW’s rivals, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a5/sports/review/n17253">Audi A5 Cabriolet</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/c-class/sports/review/n166">Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet</a>.

The drawbacks of such a roof are that it weighs a lot more than its canvas equivalent, takes up more space in the boot and can’t be opened or closed on the move above 8mph. So if any of those is a deal-breaker, a used 4 Series&nbsp;is probably not for you.

The heavy roof also takes the edge off the excellent handling you get with a 4 Series Coupé, with the convertible noticeably less agile when it comes to changing direction. It’s still a cut above rivals, however, and remains the keen driver’s choice as far as cars of this type are concerned.

The extra weight also means the engines receive a harder time, so if your idea of a BMW convertible means having something powerful it’s worth opting for one of the six-cylinder units such as the 435i or 430d if budget allows, rather than the four-cylinder 420i, 428i, 420d or 425d. You can also have a high-performance M4 version, with 444bhp. We’d also recommend going for the smooth-shifting automatic gearbox rather than the six-speed manual, which can be notchy to use.

On the road, BMW’s six-cylinder petrol engines have a reputation for being smooth-running and, sure enough, life is suitably hushed once you’ve got the 430i and 440i up to speed, even when the roof is down. The 420d is quite noisy, especially when revved hard, although this is rarely necessary because it pulls strongly from low revs. And since you're unlikely to be bothered by any of the engines when the roof is up, we'd be tempted to go for the 420d for its lower running costs.

Wind noise is kept to a minimum, and while there's some buffeting with the roof down, it's only in the back that it makes life uncomfortable. Road noise is more of an issue.

The 4 Series Convertible’s steering is accurate, but the car’s weight means it’s not entirely happy with sudden, rapid changes of direction. It is comfortable, though; even in stiffer M Sport trim, the suspension does a decent job of dealing with road imperfections.

Ride comfort is pretty good and front-seat occupants are well protected from the wind, even at motorway speeds. There is, however, rather a lot of road noise whether the roof is up or down and anybody who sits in the small rear seats will be both cramped and battered by the wind. Worse still, if you want to use the wind deflector, it means giving up the rear seats altogether due to the way it clips into place. It makes the C-Class Cabriolet look thoroughly practical by comparison.

A facelift in 2016 resulted in the 428i being replaced by the 430i, and the 435i being replaced by the 440i, as well as improved equipment including LED headlights and revised suspension settings on all models. At the same time, a TFT digital dial display was made available as an option.

<h3>To find a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/bmw/4-series?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp">used BMW 4 Series Convertible</a> in our used car classifieds, click <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">here</a>.&nbsp;</h3>

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Used BMW 4 Series Convertible 2014-2020 review

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Alternatives

What alternatives should I consider to a used BMW 4 Series sports?