Skip advert
Advertisement

BMW 4 Series review - Do chassis tweaks make the 2017 4 Series a real drivers' car? - Engine and gearbox

The entire 4 Series range is made up of stylish, comfortable and competent models

Evo rating
RRP
from £32,335
  • Quality cabin, elegant exterior styling, excellent drivetrains
  • Not the most exciting BMW to drive…

Engine and gearbox

There’s a huge array of petrol and diesel engines for the 4 Series models, with turbocharging prevalent across the line-up – strange, for a company that spent so long championing normal aspiration, but a sign of the times. These are known as TwinPower Turbo technology engines, but the name refers to variable turbine geometry, or twin-scroll turbos, as only the more powerful iterations of the petrol and diesel motors actually have two turbochargers.

Most 4 Series models are powered by four-cylinder units, with only the 430d, 440i and 435d sporting the ‘traditional’ BMW straight-six. Even the 430i is a turbocharged four, although it does develop a decent 249bhp.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Power ranges from 148bhp in the 418d to 309bhp in the 435d, while torque runs from 199lb ft in the 2.0-litre petrol to the aforementioned 465lb ft churned out by the 435d. 

Gearbox choice consists of either a six-speed manual or alternatively an eight-speed automatic. The same transmission is also available in Sport form, which will add paddle shifters to the steering wheel. 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

The Nissan GT-R is finally dead after 18 years
Nissan GT-R finishes production
News

The Nissan GT-R is finally dead after 18 years

The Nissan GT-R has finally ended production, at over 48,000 units after 18 years on sale. It’ll be missed.
28 Aug 2025
Caterham Horse prototype 2025 review – new turbo engine keeps the Seven alive
HORSE powered Caterham
Reviews

Caterham Horse prototype 2025 review – new turbo engine keeps the Seven alive

Caterham needs a replacement for Ford’s out-of-production Sigma engine. Its solution is a 1.3 turbo from Horse. We drive it
28 Aug 2025
Four used BMW M cars for less than a basic new 1-series
Cheap M cars
News

Four used BMW M cars for less than a basic new 1-series

£32k will buy you a bog standard 2025 120 or a 552bhp M6, and many greats besides…
29 Aug 2025