Used BMW 4 Series Coupe 2013-2020 reliability

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.

Crankshaft sensor

A problem with the crankshaft sensor of some examples built from 15 May to 7 June 2018 could lead to the engine going into an emergency reduced power mode, limiting performance. A BMW dealer will be able to confirm if your 4 Series is affected by this and arrange to have the sensor replaced.

EGR cooler

There have been a few recalls for leaking EGR coolers and apply to various BMW models, but for the 4 Series it affects those built between 10 November 2014 and 18 July 2017. With such a broad timescale, contact your dealer for further information, because you'll need to have the vehicle inspected if it's suspected to be one of those affected.

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.

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.