Item: Used BMW M4 2014-present
Rating: 5
Author: What Car? Team

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/911/coupe/used-review/n18062">Porsche 911</a> is reasonably practical, like the M4, with four seats and a good-size boot. However, its forte is its blistering pace, its grip in corners and the driving pleasure it offers. The 911 is an icon, and the go-to supercar if yuo want massive speed and competent all-round ability and tremendous fun all in one package.

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/c-class/coupe/used-review/n993">Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG S</a> is a real barnstormer of a car, with similar performance to the M4 - think 0 to 62mph in 4.1 seconds and a limited top speed of 155mph. It’s a low-slung, curvy-arched super-sporting coupe with, in later versions, a nine-speed automatic gearbox. Hold on tight. &nbsp;

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? Newsletter <a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a>

What is it like?

Ownership cost

Advice for buyers

Our recommendations

Alternatives

Coupe

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.

The M4 is supercar-fast and every bit as visceral to drive as the four-door M3, but it’s a little less practical.

Used BMW M4 2014-present

Quite a lot. For starters, the official average fuel consumption figure is 34mpg for the better-performing automatic version, corresponding to a highish CO2 emissions output of 194g/km. Its desirability means you’re unlikely to ever pussy-foot around in this top-notch sports car, so don’t expect to match the mileage figure, and annual car tax for cars registered before the tax changes of April 2017 came into force are likely to be high. Those registered after that date will pay tax at the annual flat rate, currently £140 a year, but will also pay a supplementary luxury car tax for cars costing over £40,000, currently £310 a year. 
 
Insurance is in the top group, so expect big bills there, and servicing costs will be high, too. We would recommend carrying out servicing at a franchised dealer, and also looking for same on the service history when buying the car.

The M4 is supercar-fast and every bit as visceral to drive as the four-door M3, but it’s a little less practical. 


You might get a Cat D or very high mileage M4 for around £26,000, but we’d recommend spending between £28,000 and £30,000 for a 2014 car with an average mileage for the year and a full service history. Spend in excess of £30,000 and you should get a good, clean 2015 car that satisfies the same criteria, while £35,000 will get you into a 2016 model.

The Competition Pack certainly adds a sportier stance to the M4 but we wouldn’t go out of our way to find one over a standard car. The real choice is whether you look for a manual car or an automatic one. We’d look for an automatic one, because it’s a fraction faster and more efficient and it’s easier to live with.

Our favourite BMW M4: M4 DCT

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Ride comfort shouldn’t be sacrificed at the altar of handling sharpness</li> <li>Plenty of power from a melodic engine</li> <li>Handling that doesn’t come at the expense of a back-breaking ride​​​​​</li> <li> Practicality is not essential but nice to have </li></ul>

Driving fun is right at the top of any sports car buyer's priority list, and every one of our award candidates has backroad entertainment coded into its DNA.

The Mazda MX-5 embodies sports-car spirit without wearing an exotic price tag, and has deservedly gained a strong following over the years. Much newer to the scene is the mid-engined Alpine A110. It may carry a name from the past, but this potent, mid-engined sports car was designed with the very latest lightweight thinking.&nbsp;

Rounding off our shortlist, though, is a name that'll be familiar to even those to whom sports cars hold little interest. The Porsche 911 was born an icon in 1964, and the latest generation bridges the gap between sports car and supercar. Yet, somehow, it manages to preserve a distinctly civilised character.

Sports

This is a very fast and desirable sports car so check for any obvious signs of misuse or abuse. Check the bodywork carefully for any dents and grazes, and have a look at the underside of the car to make sure there are no obvious signs of an off-road excursion. The alloy wheels will need examining, too, for kerb damage, as repairing these can be pricey. Look at the exhaust, too, on start up, and make sure there are no signs of black smoke. Make sure tyre wear looks even across the tyre, as uneven wear could be a sign of misaligned wheels. 
 
On the whole, owners seem happy with their M4s, with no obvious problems to look out for. In terms of recalls on the standard 4 Series, there was a possible faulty retracting seatbelt mechanism on cars built between 2014 and 2015, and a potential issue with the power steering in all cars built up to 2015. A faulty fuel pump on the 4 Series cars meant a recall, too, although most of these were for lesser engined models. 
 
As far as reliability goes, the M4 seems good on paper, even if the 3 Series and the 4 Series cars have a mixed record and finished mid-way down their respective groups in our most recent reliability survey. BMW as a brand finished in 16th place out of 37 manufacturers. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Don’t be confused by BMW nomenclature. So, basically, the M3 was a two-door coupe and four-door saloon, a high-performance version of the firm’s hugely successful 3 Series compact executive car. It went through many generations and many differing styles and it even reached V8-engined status in the model before this one. However, for the latest models, introduced in 2014, BMW decided to call the two-door 3 Series the 4 Series, so if you wanted a four-door sports car version you bought what was still called the M3, but if you wanted a two-door coupe you bought an M4.

Simple, right? Underneath its swoopier bodyshell the M4 shares engine and chassis components and set-ups with the M3, so they are truly sisters under the skin. Motive force is provided by a purposeful and fire-breathing twin-turbocharged 425bhp inline six-cylinder engine, and from new there was the choice of six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearboxes, the latter of which offers lightning-quick changes and is the quicker car on paper, too: the 0 to 62mph sprint can be dispatched in a mere 4.1 seconds. There is, of course, an array of technical trickery, including adaptive dampers, heavily revised aluminium suspension, and an electronically controlled limited-slip differential.

There is only the one trim level, and it’s handsomely equipped. Standard equipment includes dual-zone climate control, electric heated memory seats, a DAB radio, sat-nav, Bluetooth and USB connectivity. In fact, most of what you need, and a lot of what you want, is included as standard in the M4. Opt for a car that came fitted with the Competition Pack and you'll get 20in alloys, track specific springs, dampers and anti-roll bars, a black chrome quad exhaust system and an improved audio system.

On the road, it’s an absolute peach, like the M3. Despite that glorious engine up front, the M4 has a perfect 50/50 weight distribution and drives the rear wheels. Power is plentiful: response is almost instantaneous, despite the turbocharged nature of the unit, and it’s a ridiculously fast car that has no problem storming up to its limited top speed of 155mph. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

It sounds great, too, at least from the outside - it can sound rather rough-sounding from the inside. You’ll have no qualms when it comes to cornering, too, with immense levels of grip, terrifically enjoyable handling and super-responsive and well-weighted steering. The M4 is an agile and adjustable delight to drive, with a suspension that can be made firmer when you’re driving harder, and very little body lean in corners. The flip-side is the BMW’s ride is firm, but it’s also tolerable for a car of its ability. There’s lots of road noise at motorway speeds, however, so long drives can become a little tiring. 
 
Inside the low-set driving position is spot-on, and there’s plenty of adjustment. The figure-hugging seats hold you in place, and all-round visibility is good. All of this, together with good materials, fine detailing and precise, slick controls, gives the car a suitably premium feel. The M4 is not as flashy as some of its alternatives but many drivers will prefer its more restrained look and feel. It also comes with BMW’s excellent iDrive infotainment system. It’s linked to an 8.8in colour screen and is controlled via a handy rotary dial down by the gearstick. It’s simple to use and easy to look at because the screen is mounted high up on the dash. The standard-fit BMW Professional Media Pack also gives you access to a greater number of online services and an upgraded sat-nav.

Space inside is good up front, and the rear seats in the M4 are far from being a token gesture towards practicality. Even six-feet-tall passengers will be able to clamber in easily enough, thanks to the wide doors and front seats that slide far forward and out of the way.

Once inside, there's a surprising amount of leg room, but the sloping roof means your passengers will have to slouch to stop their heads from brushing the ceiling. There’s only room for two in the back – with the space between them given over to an armrest.

&nbsp;

Save £££s now - hot deals

Used BMW M4 2014-present review

BMW M4 M4 2dr Dct

BMW M4 M4 2dr Dct

Our recommendations

Which used BMW M4 coupe should I buy?

What Car? has a buying service

Quick search

Tools & services

Legal bits

Information