Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
Enter a registration number to see MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and more for any BMW 4 Series.
Free & instant — no signup required
Get a free email reminder 28 days and 7 days before your MOT expires.
✓ Free ✓ No spam ✓ Unsubscribe any time
Driving without a valid MOT can mean a fine of up to £1,000.
Free Plate Check may earn a small commission from partner links, at no cost to you.
With 113,913 currently licensed in the UK, the BMW 4 Series is one of Britain's most popular cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the 4 Series 5 stars in 2019, with 96% adult occupant and 80% child protection scores.
It has a 80.8% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, brakes, oil leaks.
Annual running costs are estimated at £4,519 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £377/month or 61p/mile.
Theft risk is rated moderate at 9.2 per 1,000 registered vehicles.
NCAP Safety
2019
MOT Pass Rate
80.8%
75,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£377
est. annual total
New From
£53,835
Euro NCAP tested the 4 Series in 2019 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
96%
Child Occupant
80%
Pedestrian
93%
Safety Assist
72%
There are 50 known DVSA recalls affecting the BMW 4 Series. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2026/054
The Safety Recall relates to the engine starter motor. The fault relates to the RSW22 starter RWT (reinforced water tightness). It was found that with RWT starters an increased abrasion of the magnetic contact can cause the growth of deposits at the lowest point of the relay interior. This in turn may increase the relay contact resistance resulting in false starts or even causing short circuits and possibly a thermal reaction. In case of a short circuit the possibility of a thermal event cannot be excluded. This may happen while attempting to start the vehicle or while driving due to vibrations causing a short circuit due to moving deposits.
Build dates: 2020-08-18 to 2022-11-14
R/2026/054
The Safety Recall relates to the engine starter motor. The fault relates to the RSW22 starter RWT (reinforced water tightness). It was found that with RWT starters an increased abrasion of the magnetic contact can cause the growth of deposits at the lowest point of the relay interior. This in turn may increase the relay contact resistance resulting in false starts or even causing short circuits and possibly a thermal reaction. In case of a short circuit the possibility of a thermal event cannot be excluded. This may happen while attempting to start the vehicle or while driving due to vibrations causing a short circuit due to moving deposits.
Build dates: 2020-09-23 to 2022-08-31
R/2026/054
The Safety Recall relates to the engine starter motor. The fault relates to the RSW22 starter RWT (reinforced water tightness). It was found that with RWT starters an increased abrasion of the magnetic contact can cause the growth of deposits at the lowest point of the relay interior. This in turn may increase the relay contact resistance resulting in false starts or even causing short circuits and possibly a thermal reaction. In case of a short circuit the possibility of a thermal event cannot be excluded. This may happen while attempting to start the vehicle or while driving due to vibrations causing a short circuit due to moving deposits.
Build dates: 2021-04-16 to 2022-09-29
R/2025/349
Affected vehicles are already included in Safety Recalls within the markets they have previously resided in. The vehicles may be fitted with a driver and/or passenger airbag/s which if deployed may do so with excessive force causing sharp metal fragments to be released this may cause serious injury which could prove fatal to people in the vicinity.
Build dates: 2014-03-29 to 2017-10-25
R/2025/349
Affected vehicles are already included in Safety Recalls within the markets they have previously resided in. The vehicles may be fitted with a driver and/or passenger airbag/s which if deployed may do so with excessive force causing sharp metal fragments to be released this may cause serious injury which could prove fatal to people in the vicinity.
Build dates: 2013-06-27 to 2017-10-23
+ 45 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Based on 75,000 MOT tests, the 4 Series has a first-time pass rate of 80.8% — above the UK national average of 72%.
This is a positive sign for reliability. The 4 Series is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old BMW 4 Series are estimated at around £4,519 per year, or £377 per month.
Fuel
£1,419
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£2,175
/year
MOT
£55
/year
Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.
The 4 Series achieves a combined fuel economy of around 40.3 mpg (29.4 mpg urban, 41.5 mpg extra-urban).
| Variant | Fuel | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 SERIES CONVERTIBLE | PETROL | 40.3 mpg | 2.0L |
| 4 SERIES CONVERTIBLE | PETROL/ELECTRIC | 32.8 mpg | 3.0L |
| 4 SERIES CONVERTIBLE F33, FROM MARCH 2014 | DIESEL | 64.2 mpg | 2.0L |
| 4 SERIES CONVERTIBLE F33, FROM MARCH 2014 | PETROL | 44.1 mpg | 2.0L |
| 4 SERIES CONVERTIBLE F33, FROM MARCH 2014 | PETROL | 36.7 mpg | 3.0L |
| 4 SERIES CONVERTIBLE F33, FROM MARCH 2014 | DIESEL | 51.4 mpg | 3.0L |
| 4 SERIES CONVERTIBLE F33, FROM MARCH 2016 | PETROL | 48.7 mpg | 2.0L |
| 4 SERIES CONVERTIBLE F33, FROM MARCH 2016 | PETROL | 39.2 mpg | 3.0L |
Starting from £53,835 new, a BMW 4 Series typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 75% | £40,400 | −£13,435 |
| 2 years | 64% | £34,300 | −£19,535 |
| 3 years | 56% | £30,200 | −£23,635 |
| 4 years | 50% | £27,200 | −£26,635 |
| 5 years | 46% | £25,000 | −£28,835 |
| 6 years | 43% | £23,250 | −£30,585 |
| 7 years | 41% | £21,850 | −£31,985 |
| 8 years | 39% | £20,750 | −£33,085 |
| 9 years | 37% | £19,750 | −£34,085 |
| 10 years | 35% | £18,750 | −£35,085 |
The 4 Series has a theft rate of 9.2 per 1,000 registered vehicles, rated moderate compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000.
There are currently 113,913 licensed and 2,790 SORN 4 Seriess in the UK (116,703 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.
The 4 Series has a 80.8% first-time MOT pass rate based on 75,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.
Euro NCAP awarded the 4 Series 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2019. It scored 96% for adult occupant protection, 80% for child occupant protection, 93% for vulnerable road users, and 72% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old 4 Series are estimated at around £4,519 per year (£377/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 50 known safety recalls affecting the 4 Series. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.
The 4 Series has a theft rate of 9.2 per 1,000 registered vehicles, which is rated moderate compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Standard security precautions should be sufficient.
A new 4 Series starts from around £53,835. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% of its original value.
Enter the registration to check its full MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and estimated value — all free.
Free & instant — no signup required
Get a free email reminder 28 days and 7 days before your MOT expires.
✓ Free ✓ No spam ✓ Unsubscribe any time
Driving without a valid MOT can mean a fine of up to £1,000.
Free Plate Check may earn a small commission from partner links, at no cost to you.
BMW 1 Series
Reliability, safety & running costs
BMW 2 Series
Reliability, safety & running costs
BMW 3 Series
Reliability, safety & running costs
BMW 5 Series
Reliability, safety & running costs
BMW i4
Reliability, safety & running costs
BMW iX
Reliability, safety & running costs
BMW X1
Reliability, safety & running costs
BMW X3
Reliability, safety & running costs
BMW X5
Reliability, safety & running costs
Free MOT History Check
See every test result, advisory and failure since 2005.
Free Car Valuation
Estimate what a vehicle is worth based on age, mileage and condition.
Safety Recall Check
Check if a vehicle has any outstanding safety recalls.
ULEZ Compliance Check
Check if a vehicle meets London ULEZ emission standards.
Your MOT could be due soon — Set a free reminder(up to £1,000 fine for driving without)