BMW 4 Series Coupe

BMW 4 Series – Overview

The G22 BMW 430i M Sport coupe is priced at RM418,800. At launch earlier this year, BMW Malaysia has included the RM36,000 Innovation package for the first shipment of vehicles, bumping the transaction price to RM454,800. The 4-seater two-door coupe competes with other popular coupe derivatives such as the incredibly popular Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe, Audi S5 and Lexus RC.

Compared to the previous generation, it looks like the BMW 4 Series will only be petrol powered for now, with the upcoming 4 Series Gran Coupe slated for electric power and called the BMW i4.  

BMW 4 Series – Exterior

The BMW 4 Series has been the topic of conversation due to its design that features a full-length kidney grille (or nostrils). When we look at the BMW 4 Series coupe in 2-dimension photographs and videos, it (the grille) looks too wide, too tall and large, forming a general consensus that it doesn’t belong to a car.

Looking at the new G22 BMW 4 Series coupe in the metal, a new and certainly more positive opinion will be formed- the car is beautiful and the large kidney grille not looking awkward. The mesh pattern within the grille pays homage to iconic models in the company's history, such as the 1930s' BMW 328, a very charming decoration.

The new interpretation of BMWs “Hofmeister” kink at the rear pillar is highlighted in high-gloss shadowline black and the G22 BMW 4 Series has a very similar rear-quarter angle silhouette as the larger 8 Series and that is a great thing.

The dual 5-spoke 797 M Bicolour wheels measure 19 inches with blue coloured M-type brake calipers hidden behind. These are an inch larger and lower profile than the BMW 330i M Sport sedan.

LED lighting are standard items, but the Innovation package includes the BMW Laserlights and high-beam assistant that features a blue bezel for identification.

The Welcome light carpet illuminates as the owner approaches the BMW 430i M Sport coupe.

BMW 4 Series – Interior

With the 4 Series being a derivative of the popular BMW 3 Series sedan, the dashboard and lower console is lifted out of the said sedan. The layout with the 10.25-inch central display and controls angled towards the driver is useful and has more artistic character than the larger BMW 8 Series.

  Similar to the BMW 330i M Sport sedan, a large BMW Live Cockpit Professional driver’s display measuring 12.3 inches greets the driver, together with specific M items such as the steering wheel with large paddle shifters, foot pedals and front door sill finishers. The aluminium tetragon trim is also the same as the sedan, but customization allows buyers a choice of other materials.

The rear seats meanwhile have a 40-20-40 split, allowing long items to be carried along. The rear passengers also get to control their own air-conditioning via the 3-zone controller.

BMW 4 Series – Features

The sport seats are covered in a fabric-sensatec combination, with fully electrical adjustments and memory system. Being a coupe, it also adds seat backrest width adjustment.

Other interior features from the G20 BMW 3 Series such as ambient lighting and plenty of storage compartments.

The BMW Digital Key allows the owner to use his or her iPhone to unlock the doors and start the vehicle without a physical keyfob.

The RM36,000 Innovation Package replaces the fabric-sensatec combination seat upholstery with Vernasca leather and also lines the dashboard with sensatec material with contrast stitching. The sound system is also upgraded to a 16-speaker Harman/Kardon system with the telematics enhanced to Connected Package Professional.

Safety

There are six airbags in the BMW 430i M Sport coupe. Included in the Driving Assistance with lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and autonomous emergency braking.

A rear-view camera is also included, as well as BMW’s Reversing Assist that remembers the steering inputs of the last 50 metres forward, so you can reverse in confidence such as out of a dead end.

Infotainment

The BMW 430i M Sport coupe comes with the BMW Live Cockpit Professional navigation and 10.25-inch touch-sensitive display. With BMW Operating System 7.0, users can customise the contents of the main display screen, displaying personalized information in up to four quarters (or widgets) such as including the sport display with audio, weather and cruising information.

Sending commands via voice can also be done through the Intelligent Personal Assistant. The standard-fitted audio system is the HiFi Loudspeaker configuration with 10 speakers.  

BMW 4 Series – Powertrain

Engine

The G22 BMW 430i M Sport coupe shares the engine as the G20 sedan sibling. The turbocharged four-cylinder 2.0-litre engine under the ‘30’ output is tuned to produce 258 PS at 5,000 – 6,500 rpm and 400 Nm of torque 1,550 – 4,400 rpm.

Transmission

Similar to all longitudinal-layout BMW models, the transmission is an eight-speed Steptronic Sport automatic transmission with shift paddles. Gear ratios are well spaced, allowing for quick acceleration and kicking down to the best selection of a lower gear instantaneously.

Chassis

BMW has changed key structures in the 3 Series sedan to suit the characteristics of the 4 Series coupe. The chassis is significantly stiffer with more reinforcement at the suspension attachment points, together with a 23mm wider rear track width. The front wheels meanwhile lean inwards more with a higher negative camber alignment.

Overall, a lower roofline further reduces the 4 Series’ centre of gravity by 21 mm. Standard fitment in the 4 Series is also adaptive M suspension which now spans an extremely wide range between comfort and sportiness.  Pairing the adaptive suspension is the variable sport steering that feels neutral at all speeds.

Drivetrain

The G22 BMW 430i M Sport only drives the rear wheels. There is no option for an all-wheel drive model.

BMW 4 Series – Driving Performance

The BMW 430i M Sport coupe accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.8 seconds, the same as the sedan sibling. The top speed is limited to 250 km/h.

However, different suspension tuning, as well as the lower centre of gravity makes driving in the BMW 430i M Sport a lot more entertaining. The chassis feels incredibly solid and stiff, allowing for even more aggressive suspension tuning.

This means less body roll and a steering speed that feels even more sensitive to inputs than the sedan, even though the coupe is 75 kg heavier than the sedan.

Turn on the Sport mode and the stiffness doesn’t feel harsh. It is stiff but still very well damped, something that only the adaptive suspension is well-calibrated to deliver.

BMW 4 Series – Ride Comfort

One of the biggest improvements seen in the new G20 3 Series is the much quieter and calmer cabin. Good news that the BMW 4 Series also adopts this trait. Driving the 4 Series means it’s a sporty emotional car, and yet no compromise to the comfort levels.

Thanks to the adaptive M suspension, one can just leave it in Comfort mode for the daily commute, where the system smoothens the ride to something incredibly smooth and pliant. This well-tuned adaptive M suspension is the single best feature in the 4 Series, compared to the locally-assembled 330i M Sport which has much stiff fixed M Sport suspension.  

BMW 4 Series – Fuel Economy

The fuel consumption of the BMW 430i M Sport Coupe is rated at 6.6 litres per 100 km (15.1 km/L).

BMW 4 Series – Conclusion

The G22 BMW 4 Series is known as the big-nostril BMW, only to those that have not actually seen the car in the metal. The large grille blends really well with the overall design of the new 4 Series and frankly speaking, a conventionally sized grille just makes it look like a regular 3 Series.

Performance-wise, it goes as well as the 330i sedan on a straight line but as the road enters bends and curves, the BMW 430i M Sport coupe sends more driving pleasure to the driver. The car feels more agile and even better body control through a series of bends.

In town, thanks to the adaptive M suspension, the 430i is surprisingly the better car with a more resolved, less harsh ride over even regular roads.