BMW 4 series

Which BMW 4 Series Convertible Version Should You Buy?

The BMW 4 Series Convertible in this catalogue spans four entries within two generations: the first generation from October 2013 to October 2020, including its January 2017 restyling, and the second generation from June 2020 onward, including the February 2024 restyling. Every listed car is a Cabrio with a front, longitudinal Turbo engine.

The BMW 4 Series Convertible in this catalogue spans four entries within two generations: the first generation from October 2013 to October 2020, including its January 2017 restyling, and the second generation from June 2020 onward, including the February 2024 restyling. Every listed car is a Cabrio with a front, longitudinal Turbo engine. The practical choice is between economical four-cylinder Diesel versions, four-cylinder Gasoline models such as the 420i and 430i, and the more powerful six-cylinder 430d, 435d, M440d, 440i, and M440i variants. Rear-wheel drive and AWD are both represented, while the first generation also offers Manual gearboxes; every second-generation version shown uses an 8-speed Automatic.

BMW 4 Series Convertible generations: what changed?

The first-generation Cabrio ran from October 2013 to February 2017 and included 105 modifications in the catalogue. Its listed versions range from the 184 hp 420d 2.0 AT and 420d 2.0 MT to the 313 hp 435d 3.0 AT. Buyers could choose a 6-speed Manual or 8-speed Automatic, but every displayed first-generation example is RWD. The 420d evolved from 184 hp and 380 Nm to 190 hp and 400 Nm, while the 425d moved from 218 hp to 224 hp without changing its 450 Nm rating.

The first-generation restyling covered January 2017 through October 2020 and contained 53 modifications. Its displayed range extends from the 184 hp 420i 2.0 MT and 420i 2.0 AT to the 326 hp 440i 3.0 AT. AWD appears on listed 430i 2.0 AT xDrive versions, while RWD, 6-speed Manual, and 8-speed Automatic choices remain available.

The second-generation Cabrio ran from June 2020 through January 2024 and comprised 21 modifications. The shown lineup uses 8-speed Automatic transmissions throughout, with RWD or AWD. It includes 184 hp 420i, 190 hp 420d, 245 hp or 258 hp 430i 2.0 AT variants, and 374 hp M440i versions. Tank capacity rises from the earlier cars’ 57 litres to 59 litres.

The second-generation restyling began in February 2024 and contains 19 modifications. It retains the 8-speed Automatic and introduces explicitly named Mild Hybrid Diesel and Gasoline variants in the supplied lineup. Outputs run from 184 hp in 420i Steptronic to 374 hp in M440i Mild Hybrid xDrive Steptronic. Ground clearance is listed at 124–127 mm, compared with 130 mm for the displayed pre-restyling second-generation cars.

BMW 4 Series engine specs compared

Repeated names identify different database versions, so power is included below where necessary.

Among the restyled second-generation cars, the 420i Steptronic produces about 92 hp per litre, the 430i sDrive Steptronic about 123 hp per litre, and the M440i Mild Hybrid xDrive Steptronic about 125 hp per litre. The M440d Mild Hybrid xDrive Steptronic produces about 114 hp per litre but leads the supplied lineup in torque at 700 Nm.

BMW 4 Series performance and fuel economy

The original 184 hp 420d 2.0 AT and 420d 2.0 MT both reach 100 km/h in 8.2 seconds. The Automatic reaches 228 km/h and consumes 4.8 l/100 km combined; the Manual reaches 235 km/h and consumes 5.1 l/100 km. The later 190 hp 420d 2.0 AT improves to 8.0 seconds and 4.4 l/100 km, whereas the 190 hp 420d 2.0 MT records 8.1 seconds and 4.8 l/100 km.

The first-generation 425d 2.0 AT with 224 hp reaches 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds and uses 4.8 l/100 km combined. That makes it 1.3 seconds quicker than the 190 hp 420d 2.0 AT at the same generation’s 4.8 l/100 km figure. The 430d 3.0 AT lowers acceleration to 5.9 seconds with 5.3 l/100 km, while the 435d 3.0 AT records 5.2 seconds and 5.7 l/100 km. Their top speed is 250 km/h.

For restyled first-generation Gasoline cars, the 420i 2.0 AT takes 8.4 seconds, reaches 230 km/h, and consumes 5.8 l/100 km combined. The 249 hp 430i 2.0 AT takes 5.8 seconds and uses 5.5 l/100 km, making it 2.6 seconds quicker while consuming 0.3 l/100 km less in the supplied figures. The 440i 3.0 AT reaches 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds, tops out at 250 km/h, and uses 6.8 l/100 km.

Within the pre-restyling second generation, the 420d records 7.6 seconds, 236 km/h, and 5.5 l/100 km combined; its city and highway figures are not measured. The 245 hp 430i 2.0 AT records 6.2 or 6.4 seconds depending on the listed version, with combined consumption of 6.8 or 6.4 l/100 km. For the 258 hp AWD 430i 2.0 AT, acceleration and fuel consumption are not measured.

The quickest supplied pre-restyling second-generation entry is M440i Xdrive at 4.5 seconds, 250 km/h, and 7.1 l/100 km combined. It is 3.0 seconds quicker than the 184 hp 420i version that takes 7.5 seconds and uses 5.8 l/100 km.

After the second-generation restyling, M440d Mild Hybrid xDrive Steptronic reaches 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds while consuming 6.1 l/100 km combined. M440i Mild Hybrid xDrive Steptronic takes 4.9 seconds and uses 7.7 l/100 km. The displayed 430d Mild Hybrid xDrive Steptronic figures range from 5.1 to 5.8 seconds and from 5.5 to 5.8 l/100 km. The RWD 420d Mild Hybrid Steptronic entries record 7.1 or 7.6 seconds and 4.8 or 5.8 l/100 km.

BMW 4 Series Convertible weight, clearance, tank, and wheel specs

First-generation kerb weights in the displayed data range from 1430 kg for the 184 hp 420i 2.0 MT to 1925 kg for the 435d 3.0 AT. Gross weights range from 1950 to 2290 kg. Most versions have 130 mm of ground clearance; the 435d 3.0 AT and one 252 hp 430i 2.0 AT xDrive entry have 145 mm. Tank capacity is 57 litres. Where specified, wheel sizes are 225/50 R17 and 225/45 R18; for versions without wheel data, wheel size is not measured.

The displayed pre-restyling second-generation cars weigh from 1653 kg for one 420i to 1965 kg for an AWD M440i. Some gross-weight figures are not measured; measured values run from 2185 to 2390 kg. Ground clearance is 130 mm, tank capacity is 59 litres, and wheel sizes are not measured.

The restyled second-generation entries have kerb weights from 1525 kg for 420i Steptronic to 1890 kg for M440i Mild Hybrid xDrive Steptronic. Measured gross weights run from 2015 to 2375 kg. Ground clearance ranges from 124 to 127 mm, and the tank holds 59 litres. M440i Mild Hybrid xDrive Steptronic lists 225/45 R18 and 225/40 R18 wheels; wheel sizes for the other displayed variants are not measured.

Weight per horsepower helps clarify the performance hierarchy. The 1525 kg 420i Steptronic carries about 8.3 kg per hp, the 1605 kg 430i sDrive Steptronic about 6.6 kg per hp, the 1820 kg M440d Mild Hybrid xDrive Steptronic about 5.4 kg per hp, and the 1890 kg M440i Mild Hybrid xDrive Steptronic about 5.1 kg per hp.

Which BMW 4 Series Convertible version should you choose?

Choose the 420d 2.0 AT with 190 hp if first-generation economy matters most. Its 4.4 l/100 km combined figure is 0.4 l/100 km below the comparable 190 hp 420d 2.0 MT, and it reaches 100 km/h 0.1 second sooner. Buyers specifically wanting a Manual can accept that small penalty for the 6-speed transmission.

Choose the 224 hp 425d 2.0 AT for the strongest first-generation balance of Diesel pace and consumption. It matches the 190 hp 420d 2.0 MT at 4.8 l/100 km yet reaches 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds, 1.4 seconds sooner. Moving to the 430d 3.0 AT cuts another 0.8 second but adds 0.5 l/100 km.

For a restyled first-generation Gasoline car, the 249 hp 430i 2.0 AT is the numerical sweet spot. Against the 184 hp 420i 2.0 AT, it adds 65 hp and 80 Nm, cuts the acceleration time from 8.4 to 5.8 seconds, and lowers the listed combined consumption from 5.8 to 5.5 l/100 km. The 440i 3.0 AT adds another 77 hp over that 430i but improves acceleration by only 0.4 second and raises combined consumption by 1.3 l/100 km.

For the second generation before restyling, choose 420d for the lowest measured combined consumption at 5.5 l/100 km, 430i 2.0 AT for the middle ground, or M440i Xdrive for maximum acceleration. The 374 hp M440i Xdrive takes 4.5 seconds, compared with 5.8 seconds for the 258 hp RWD 430i 2.0 AT and 7.5 seconds for the 184 hp 420i.

Among restyled second-generation versions, 420d Mild Hybrid Steptronic is the economy choice, with one listed version returning 4.8 l/100 km. The 430d Mild Hybrid xDrive Steptronic is the broadest performance-and-economy compromise: its stronger entry combines 286 hp, 650 Nm, 5.1-second acceleration, AWD, and 5.5 l/100 km. The M440d Mild Hybrid xDrive Steptronic adds 54 hp and 50 Nm, cuts acceleration by 0.5 second, and raises consumption by 0.6 l/100 km.

Choose M440i Mild Hybrid xDrive Steptronic when Gasoline power is the priority. It has 374 hp, 500 Nm, AWD, a 4.9-second acceleration time, and 7.7 l/100 km combined consumption. Choose M440d Mild Hybrid xDrive Steptronic when torque and quicker measured acceleration matter more: it supplies 700 Nm, reaches 100 km/h 0.3 second sooner, and consumes 1.6 l/100 km less in the supplied data. No price or sale data is provided, so the value judgment can only be based on these specifications rather than purchase cost.