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.
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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.
