BMW X4 M: which version to buy
For a buyer, the BMW X4 M is a three-way choice, not a model-page tour. All three catalogue versions are a 5-door SUV with a 2993 cm³ Gasoline turbo inline-6, 8-speed Automatic, and AWD.
For a buyer, the BMW X4 M is a three-way choice, not a model-page tour. All three catalogue versions are a 5-door SUV with a 2993 cm³ Gasoline turbo inline-6, 8-speed Automatic, and AWD. The split is 480 hp versus 510 hp on the first-generation 3.0 AT, then the restyled 3.0 M xDrive at the same 510 hp but with 50 Nm more torque, 0.3 s quicker 0–100, 40 kg more kerb weight, 95 fuel instead of 98, and mixed consumption 10.7 l/100 km instead of 10.5. Production of the first-generation pair ran from 2019-01-01 to 2021-05-31; the restyling has been on sale from 2021-06-01 with no stop date in the data. Ground clearance is not measured on any version. This article ranks those three by the numbers.
Generations: what actually changed for a buyer
The first generation (2019-01-01–2021-05-31) is a 5-door SUV with two versions, both named 3.0 AT. The lower one is 480 hp (353 kW) at 6250 rpm and 600 Nm from 2600–5600 rpm; the higher one is 510 hp (375 kW) at 6250 rpm and 600 Nm from 2600–5950 rpm. Both use 98 fuel, a 65 l tank, Euro 6, CO₂ 239 g/km, kerb 1970 kg, gross 2500 kg, mixed 10.5 l/100 km, highway 9 l/100 km, and a 250 km/h cap. The 480 hp 3.0 AT is the only version on 20-inch tyres (255/45 R20 and 265/45 R20). The 510 hp 3.0 AT is the only first-generation car on 21-inch tyres (255/40 R21 and 265/40 R21). City consumption is 13.7 l/100 km on 480 hp and 13.5 on 510 hp — a 0.2 l/100 km gap. 0–100 is 4.2 s versus 4.1 s.
The restyling of that same generation (from 2021-06-01, stop not measured) is still a 5-door SUV, but it drops the dual 3.0 AT pair and lists one version: 3.0 M xDrive. Power stays 510 hp / 375 kW at 6250 rpm. Torque rises from 600 Nm to 650 Nm, now quoted at 2750 rpm rather than as a band. 0–100 falls from 4.1 s to 3.8 s. Kerb weight rises from 1970 kg to 2010 kg. Mixed consumption rises from 10.5 to 10.7 l/100 km. CO₂ rises from 239 to 243 g/km. Fuel grade drops from 98 to 95. City and highway consumption for 3.0 M xDrive are not measured. Wheels stay 255/40 R21 and 265/40 R21 — the same sizes as the 510 hp 3.0 AT, not the 20-inch set of the 480 hp car. Front and rear suspension remain Independent, spring; brakes remain Ventilated disc / Disc ventilated; layout remains Front, longitudinal; injection remains Direct injection (direct); compression remains 9.3; bore × stroke remains 84 × 90 (written 84 × 90 on both 3.0 AT rows and 84 x 90 on 3.0 M xDrive).
A buyer switching generations is not buying a new body type or a new cylinder count. The restyling buys +50 Nm, −0.3 s to 100 km/h, −40 kg of power-to-weight versus the 480 hp car but +40 kg versus the 510 hp 3.0 AT, +0.2 l/100 km mixed, +4 g/km CO₂, and 95 instead of 98. That is the whole generation delta in the data.
BMW X4 M specs: engine, gearbox, drive (all versions)
| Version | Years | hp (kW) @ rpm | Nm @ rpm | cm³ | Fuel | Cylinders / layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 AT 480 hp | 2019-01-01–2021-05-31 | 480 (353) @ 6250 | 600 @ 2600–5600 | 2993 | 98 | 6 Inline | Turbo | Automatic 8 | AWD |
| 3.0 AT 510 hp | 2019-01-01–2021-05-31 | 510 (375) @ 6250 | 600 @ 2600–5950 | 2993 | 98 | 6 Inline | Turbo | Automatic 8 | AWD |
| 3.0 M xDrive | 2021-06-01– (stop not measured) | 510 (375) @ 6250 | 650 @ 2750 | 2993 | 95 | 6 Inline | Turbo | Automatic 8 | AWD |
Displacement is identical: 2993 cm³ on every row. Specific output is 480 ÷ 2.993 ≈ 160.4 hp per litre on the 480 hp 3.0 AT, and 510 ÷ 2.993 ≈ 170.4 hp per litre on both 510 hp cars. The restyling does not add litres or cylinders; it adds 50 Nm (650 − 600) at a single 2750 rpm point. Peak power rpm is 6250 on all three. Compression 9.3 and 4 valves per cylinder are shared.
Searches for “BMW X4 M engine” and “Competition engine” collapse onto these three rows. The data do not list an engine code. The data do not list a separate Competition nameplate; the 510 hp first-generation car is still named 3.0 AT, and the restyled 510 hp car is named 3.0 M xDrive.
BMW X4 M horsepower, 0–100, and mpg (consumption)
3.0 AT 480 hp: 0–100 in 4.2 s, 250 km/h, city 13.7, highway 9, mixed 10.5 l/100 km, CO₂ 239 g/km, Euro 6.
3.0 AT 510 hp: 0–100 in 4.1 s, 250 km/h, city 13.5, highway 9, mixed 10.5 l/100 km, CO₂ 239 g/km, Euro 6.
3.0 M xDrive: 0–100 in 3.8 s, 250 km/h, city not measured, highway not measured, mixed 10.7 l/100 km, CO₂ 243 g/km, Euro 6.
Arithmetic a buyer can use:
- Extra 30 hp on the first-generation 510 hp 3.0 AT versus the 480 hp 3.0 AT cuts 0.1 s off 0–100 (4.2 − 4.1) and 0.2 l/100 km off city (13.7 − 13.5). Mixed and highway do not move. Top speed does not move.
- Extra 50 Nm plus the restyling calibration on 3.0 M xDrive versus the 510 hp 3.0 AT cuts 0.3 s off 0–100 (4.1 − 3.8). Versus the 480 hp car the gap is 0.4 s (4.2 − 3.8).
- Mixed consumption is worst on the fastest car: 10.7 versus 10.5, a +0.2 l/100 km penalty. That is the opposite of the 0–100 ranking.
- Tank is 65 l on all three. Range on mixed figures is not a catalogue field; 65 ÷ 10.5 × 100 ≈ 619 km on either 3.0 AT, and 65 ÷ 10.7 × 100 ≈ 607 km on 3.0 M xDrive — about 12 km less per tank on the restyle if mixed is the only number used.
- Fuel: both 3.0 AT rows specify 98; 3.0 M xDrive specifies 95. The restyle is the only version that does not require 98 in this dataset.
Top speed is 250 km/h on every version. A buyer paying for more horsepower is not buying a higher limiter in these figures.
BMW X4 M weight, dimensions, wheels
Kerb / gross / clearance / tank / wheels:
- 3.0 AT 480 hp: 1970 kg / 2500 kg / clearance not measured / 65 l / 255/45 R20 and 265/45 R20
- 3.0 AT 510 hp: 1970 kg / 2500 kg / clearance not measured / 65 l / 255/40 R21 and 265/40 R21
- 3.0 M xDrive: 2010 kg / 2500 kg / clearance not measured / 65 l / 255/40 R21 and 265/40 R21
Gross mass is 2500 kg on all three; payload by subtraction is 2500 − 1970 = 530 kg on both 3.0 AT rows and 2500 − 2010 = 490 kg on 3.0 M xDrive — 40 kg less payload on the restyle.
Mass per horsepower (kerb ÷ hp):
- 1970 ÷ 480 ≈ 4.10 kg/hp on 3.0 AT 480 hp
- 1970 ÷ 510 ≈ 3.86 kg/hp on 3.0 AT 510 hp (lightest per hp)
- 2010 ÷ 510 ≈ 3.94 kg/hp on 3.0 M xDrive
The 510 hp 3.0 AT is the best kg/hp figure. The restyle gives back 40 kg (2010 − 1970) and lands between the two first-generation cars on this ratio, while still being the quickest 0–100 (3.8 s). Length, width, height, and wheelbase are not measured in the data. Ground clearance is not measured. “BMW X4 M dimensions” in search therefore has no extra millimetres here beyond kerb, gross, tank, and tyre sizes.
Wheel choice is the only first-generation hardware split besides power: 20-inch 45-profile on 480 hp, 21-inch 40-profile on 510 hp and on 3.0 M xDrive. Front 255 / rear 265 is common to all three.
Which BMW X4 M version to choose
Choose the 480 hp 3.0 AT (2019-01-01–2021-05-31) if the job is the same 2993 cm³ Gasoline turbo 6 Inline, Automatic 8, AWD package at the lowest output and on the only 20-inch tyre set. Versus the 510 hp 3.0 AT you give up 30 hp (6.25%), 0.1 s to 100 km/h, and 0.2 l/100 km of city economy, and you keep identical mixed 10.5, highway 9, CO₂ 239, kerb 1970 kg, tank 65 l, 98 fuel, and 250 km/h. It is the heaviest car per horsepower (≈ 4.10 kg/hp) and the slowest 0–100 (4.2 s). It is the only row that does not share the 21-inch 255/40 R21 and 265/40 R21 pair.
Choose the 510 hp 3.0 AT (2019-01-01–2021-05-31) if you want first-generation mass with the higher output. Same 1970 kg kerb as the 480 hp car, same 600 Nm peak, same mixed 10.5, same 98 fuel — plus 30 hp, a torque band that extends to 5950 rpm instead of 5600, 21-inch wheels, 13.5 city instead of 13.7, and 4.1 s instead of 4.2. This is the best kg/hp in the catalogue (≈ 3.86). What you do not get versus the restyle: the extra 50 Nm, the 3.8 s 0–100, or 95 fuel. What you keep versus the restyle: 40 kg less kerb, 40 kg more payload (530 vs 490), 0.2 l/100 km better mixed, 4 g/km lower CO₂, and measured city/highway figures (13.5 / 9), which 3.0 M xDrive does not publish.
Choose 3.0 M xDrive (from 2021-06-01) if the ranking that matters is 0–100 and torque, not kerb or mixed mpg. 650 Nm versus 600 is +8.3%; 3.8 s versus 4.1 s is 0.3 s; versus the 480 hp car it is 0.4 s. Power matches the 510 hp 3.0 AT (510 hp / 375 kW @ 6250). You pay 40 kg of kerb (2010 vs 1970), 40 kg of payload, +0.2 mixed, +4 g/km CO₂, and you lose city and highway consumption (not measured). You gain 95 fuel instead of 98. Wheels match the 510 hp 3.0 AT, not the 480 hp car. Stop date is not measured, so this is the only version still in production in the dataset.
Head-to-head in one line each
- 480 vs 510 3.0 AT: +30 hp, −0.1 s, −0.2 city, same mixed, same weight, 20-inch vs 21-inch. The 510 hp car is the rational first-generation pick unless the 20-inch set is the point.
- 510 hp 3.0 AT vs 3.0 M xDrive: same hp, +50 Nm and −0.3 s on the restyle, +40 kg and +0.2 mixed and +4 g/km CO₂ on the restyle, 98 vs 95, city/highway measured vs not measured. Buy the restyle for the 3.8 s and 650 Nm; buy the 510 hp 3.0 AT for the lighter kerb and the complete consumption set.
- 480 hp 3.0 AT vs 3.0 M xDrive: +30 hp, +50 Nm, −0.4 s, +40 kg, mixed 10.5 vs 10.7, 98 vs 95, 20-inch vs 21-inch. The restyle is quicker and more torquey; the 480 hp car is lighter and uses less mixed fuel on the published figures.
Price, “for sale”, and reliability are not in the data, so they are not ranked. The three versions share body type (SUV 5-doors), Euro 6, 250 km/h, 65 l, 2500 kg gross, Independent spring suspension, and ventilated discs. The buying decision is 480 vs 510 vs 650 Nm / 3.8 s / 2010 kg — three names: 3.0 AT (480 hp), 3.0 AT (510 hp), 3.0 M xDrive.