BMW M4 2014-2020 Reliability & Common Problems

Is the BMW M4 reliable?

The BMW M4 is a well made and robust sports coupe, but it does have a number of common faults, some of which serious, which you need to be aware of. The biggest concern will be the crank hub (read more below) which can cause major damage if it fails.

Reliablity goes hand in hand with maintenance and servicing so if you're after an M4 its worth spending a little extra on one with a decent service history. Maintaining an M4 shouldn't be an issue considering the plethora of BMW dealers and M car specialists.

Steer clear of modfified examples.

Engine: Crank hub failure can dramatically affect the timing of the engine, leading to a rough idle, a loss of power and – worst case – engine failure due to incorrect valve timing. Check if it’s been replaced and take the car on a long test drive to ensure it is running properly. Fitting a crank bolt capture plate is a sensible preventative measure.

The rocker cover, oil filter housing and sump gaskets can perish, so check for oil drips, and if there’s a distinctive tapping sound when you start the engine from cold, it could mean that the exhaust camshaft has become misaligned - an £800-£1000 repair job.

Turbos: Opinions on the lifespan of the turbos vary but they tend to show signs of wear after 50k miles.

Brakes: New discs and pads cost more than £1000 for a full set. Make sure there aren’t any vibrations under braking on your test drive because this could mean that the discs are warped.

An owner’s view

Oliver Cooper: “So far, my 2018 M4 Competition has been reliable and, at 50,000 miles, I’ve faced no mechanical issues. It isn’t cheap to maintain, though, and you’ll want to allow £1000-£1500 per year for servicing and tyres. I bought BMW’s extended warranty too: it costs £1500 annually but it’s an official offering and it puts my mind at ease. For the price, nothing comes close in terms of driving dynamics.”

Also worth knowing

BMW also made the M4 DTM Championship edition to celebrate its win in the 2016 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters. It’s basically an M4 GTS with a funky white paint job – and it’s as rare as the car it is based on, with only a handful of DTM Edition cars sold in the UK.

The M4 was given a minor facelift for 2017, when it gained new LED headlights and brake lights, a wilder front apron for a more aggressive look, new materials, upholstery and trim options inside and an upgraded navigation system.

Sam Phillips

Title: Staff Writer

Sam joined the Autocar team in summer 2024 and has been a contributor since 2021. He is tasked with writing used reviews and first drives as well as updating top 10s and evergreen content on the Autocar website.

He previously led sister-title Move Electric, which covers the entire spectrum of electric vehicles, from cars to boats – and even trucks. He is an expert in new car news, used cars, electric cars, microbility, classic cars and motorsport.

Sam graduated from Nottingham Trent University in 2021 with a BA in Journalism. In his final year he produced an in-depth feature on the automotive industry’s transition to electric cars and interviewed a number of leading experts to assess our readiness for the impending ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars.

Matt Saunders

Title: Road test editor

As Autocar’s chief car tester and reviewer, it’s Matt’s job to ensure the quality, objectivity, relevance and rigour of the entirety of Autocar’s reviews output, as well contributing a great many detailed road tests, group tests and drive reviews himself.

Matt has been an Autocar staffer since the autumn of 2003, and has been lucky enough to work alongside some of the magazine’s best-known writers and contributors over that time. He served as staff writer, features editor, assistant editor and digital editor, before joining the road test desk in 2011.

Since then he’s driven, measured, lap-timed, figured, and reported on cars as varied as the Bugatti Veyron, Rolls-Royce Phantom, Tesla Roadster, Ariel Hipercar, Tata Nano, McLaren Senna, Renault Twizy and Toyota Mirai. Among his wider personal highlights of the job have been covering Sebastien Loeb’s record-breaking run at Pikes Peak in 2013; doing 190mph on derestricted German autobahn in a Brabus Rocket; and driving McLaren’s legendary ‘XP5’ F1 prototype. His own car is a trusty Mazda CX-5.