Used BMW i4 review and buying guide

The BMW i4 was Bavaria’s first ‘mainstream’ EV and almost five years since its launch, it holds up strongly against the equivalent Tesla Model 3 as an enjoyable, practical drive that won’t break the bank.

Rewind to 2020 and things were very different to now. Humanity was amidst the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic. Boris Johnson was still the UK Prime Minister. There was no war in Ukraine. Most importantly – for this story, at least – BMW had just two fully-electric models in its line-up, the quirky i3 and the iX3 SUV.

Fast-forward to the end of the next year, and while the world was emerging from its collective pandemic malaise, Johnson remained in office, and Ukraine was still relatively peaceful. The biggest change, then, was the arrival of the BMW i4 in November 2021.

Based on the handsome BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé, the i4 was BMW’s first attempt at a mainstream EV. And knock it out of the park it did. The i4 was BMW’s best-selling electric car in 2024 with 12,953 sold; a 45% year-on-year jump from the previous year. The same year, the BMW i4 M50 was the brand’s top-selling M Car.

It makes sense, too. In mid-tier eDrive40 guise, the i4 can manage up to 367 miles on a single charge. Irrespective of trim level (more of that later…), the i4 looks like a ‘proper’ BMW, drives like a ‘proper’ BMW, and can more than rival the Tesla Model 3 in terms of charging and range in certain cases. It certainly does better than the Model 3 in terms of fit and finish.

With prices starting of pre-2023 facelift i4s starting from around the £22,000 mark, there’s heaps to like about what’s considered to be BMW’s best EV so far.

BMW i4 UK model history

When the BMW i4 arrived in the UK in November 2021, two models were initially sold – the eDrive40 or the M50.

The rear-wheel eDrive40 had 335bhp and was available in £51,905 Sport or £53,405 M Sport trim. Meanwhile, the i4 M50 came with a £63,905 pricetag. It was, however, capable of up 537bhp with the 10-second overboost engaged. Switched off, you’d have to do with ‘just’ 469 all-electric horses.

Both the i4 eDrive40 and i4 M50 were powered by an 80.7kW battery, with the former achieving 367 miles on a single charge, and the latter managing a slightly lesser 316 miles due to the extra power and all-wheel drive.

In summer 2023, an entry-level eDrive35 model was introduced with 278bhp and a 67.1kWh battery providing a 299-mile range. Like the i4 eDrive40, it’s available in either Sport or M Sport guise.

That same year also saw BMW give the i4 a mid-life facelift. Externally, these small updates included redesigned head and tail lights, a choice of optional 19- or 20-inch alloys, plus the addition of Cape York Green and Fire Red to the colour palate. The grille also benefited from a matt chrome surround.

Inside, the updated i4 came with a tweaked interior with a flat-bottomed M-Sport steering wheel, new upholstery, and more trim choices. It is worth nothing that no changes were made to the drivetrain – and subsequently, the range – until 2025.

In terms of software, BMW i4s built from 2021 to 2023 will only run the iDrive 8 operating system, while some of those manufactured after that are capable of running the more sophisticated and feature-packed iDrive 8.5.

BMW i4 equipment

Irrespective of trim level, the 2021-23 BMW i4 gets a curved 12.3-inch driver display, and a 14.9-inch infotainment screen. Both are crystal clear, and compatible with Apple CarPlay. Android Auto is also available, but only if your car is fitted with Connected Package Professional and smartphone integration. Like all BMWs since the early 2000s, the i4’s functions are controlled easily via an iDrive rotary dial. If there’s one criticism to be levelled at the ergonomics, it’s that the climate controls are controlled via the infotainment screen.

This, however, is not a BMW-specific issue in 2025, and Munich has sought to improve the i4’s largely solid ergonomics by adding physical control buttons for the radio, heated windscreen, and heated rear window. The same goes for the Eco Pro (see, ‘Sensible’ in BMW), Comfort (see, ‘Normal’ in BMW) and ‘Sport’ (see, ‘Silly’ in BMW) drive modes. The Start button and side of the gear selector are finished in the BMW i range’s electric blue to remind you that you’re in an electric BMW, and not one powered a yobbish internal combustion engine.

Given the i4’s initial asking price, BMW wasn’t tight with equipment. The ‘base’ Sport trim comes with dual-zone climate control, air-conditioning, front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, plus heated front seats and cruise control. Both the BMW i4 Sport and M Sport benefit from several electric blue exterior elements serving as a gentle, futurisic nods to the i4’s all-electric credentials.

Upgrade to the mid-spec M Sport version, and a slightly aggressive bodykit is thrown in, while the standard 18-inch wheels are sized up from the 17-inchers on the Sport. The M Sport can be specced with 19-inch wheels, while the Sport gets 18-inch wheels as an option. Inside, the i4 M Sport trades gloss piano black trim for aluminium effect inserts, and comes with an M Sport steering wheel.

The flagship i4 M50 – visually, at least – differs very little from the M Sport. There’s some Cerium Grey detailing on the exterior along with more gloss black, plus 19-inch M Sport alloys. The biggest difference isn’t just in the 250bhp-plus power hike over the eDrive40 – underneath, the i4 M50 gets adaptive M suspension, performance brakes, and variable sports steering.

Across the range, BMW has sought to make the i4 as comfortable as possible courtesy of standard air suspension at the rear. While the i4 doesn’t come anywhere close to venturing into roly-poly Citroen territory, the air suspension provides a pleasant antidote to BMW’s traditionally firm ride.

While already generously equipped, BMW offered plenty of options on the i4. Full leather trim available in black, red, or beige was an additional £1,500, while the Comfort Pack ushered in keyless entry and a heated steering wheel. The Visibility Pack offered laser light LED tech front and rear, plus high beam assist. Other add-ons include a 17-speaker Harman Kardon sound system – a seven-speaker boost over the standard fit – and a retractable tow bar.

The quirkiest option, though, is the £99 IconicSounds pack. Available via the online BMW ConnectedDrive store, the IconicSounds add-on provides a space-inspired, synthetic engine note created by composer Hans Zimmer. Yes, THAT Hans Zimmer – he of the Interstellar soundtrack.

If you don’t want your i4 to sound like an X-wing Starfighter, you can either 1) simply not buy the IconicSounds pack, or 2) deactivate it via the infotainment screen if your used BMW i4 already has it downloaded.

Used BMW i4 price range and running costs

Thanks to being a fleet favourite, there are plenty of BMW i4s on the pre-owned market. On the flip side, this also means there are plenty of high-milers out there. Not that mileage should be an issue – don’t forget that ADAC, Germany’s equivalent to the AA, found that their Volkswagen ID.3 lost just eight miles of range after covering 107,000 miles during its four-year lifespan.

The cheapest i4 we found for sale via a used dealer was a £22,399 eDrive40 M Sport from 2022 with 76,603 miles on the clock. Be willing to spend around £3,000 more, and by looking carefully, you’ll be able to find a similarly-aged car with much less mileage.

We came across a 27,000-mile eDrive40 from 2022 for £26,499. Perhaps the biggest steal we discovered was a £28,441 i4 eDrive40 Sport from the same year, which had clocked up just 13,238 miles over three years. Cars facelifted in 2023 start around the £30,000 if buying outright. The most expensive used BMW i4 we came across was a low-mileage 2023 i4 M50 priced at £44,099.

The running costs of the BMW i4 will all depend on the size of its battery and your home charging tariff. With a 7p per kilowatt hour off-peak tariff, the i4 eDrive35 with its 70kWh battery will cost £10.04 to charge from 0% – 100%. Opt for the larger longer-range 80kWh battery in the i4 eDrive40 or M50, and the cost for the same charge period will rise slightly to £11.52.

With the newly introduced standard variable tariff of 25.7p/kWh, the BMW i4 eDrive 35 will cost £29.62 to charge fully at home, while the eDrive40 and i50 will set you back £32.12.

Used BMW i4 insurance

Being a mid-sized executive car, the BMW i4 falls towards the upper half of the UK’s 50 car insurance groups. Both Sport and M Sport eDrive35 cars fall under insurance group 34, while the eDrive40 is in group 38.

Not surprisingly, the more powerful M50 sits in a higher bracket. Strangely, though, the i4 M50 riding on 18-inch alloys is in insurance group 44, while the same car with the larger 19-inch wheels is a group below.

For comparison, the BMW i4’s main rival, the Tesla Model 3, is one of the most expensive cars in the UK to insure, falling between insurance groups 48-50. As always, car insurance prices will depend on age, where you live, and the type of property you live in.

We know we’ve said it in every used buying guide and review so far, but don’t forget that EVs are no longer exempt from road tax. Cars registered from April 1, 2017 will now cost £195 in road tax annually. The i4 as a post-2017 car is no exception.

Used BMW i4 reliability and faults to look for

The BMW i4 has proven to be largely reliable. The 2024 What Car reliability survey found that the i4 ranked third out of 18 EVs for reliability, with a 95.5% reliability score. Moreover, BMW finished eighth among 31 manufacturers.

The i4’s drivetrain has proven to be solid and relatively free of problems. Most issues concerned faults and glitches in the infotainment system and problems with the driver assistance features. Owners also reported repeat warning lights and like the i3, some issues surrounding charging.

BMW dealerships received mixed reviews in relation to the i4. Some were praised for their efficiency and response times when it came to managing software updates and repairs. Others came under criticism for logistics delays and obtaining parts to repair electronic faults. To ensure the best possible service, search for online reviews of your closest BMW retailers and decide accordingly.

Official recalls

From 2021 to 2023, the BMW i4 was recalled a total of four times. The first was in January 2022 due to crash pads possibly not being added to the battery during manufacture.

The second recall – October 2022 – was the most serious, when the cell’s cathode plates may have damaged while being assembled. This potential manufacturing defect could have led to battery fires. BMW replaced the battery packs on the 83 i4s affected.

For a full list of BMW i4 recalls, click here.

The one to have

The i4 is a relatively new proposition, and there are plenty available used to choose from. As always, we would recommend that you check for the usual wear and tear. Moreover, buy the best possible condition car your budget – either outright purchase or monthly payments – will allow. Let’s get down to the nitty gritty, though.

While the 537 electric horses powering the i4 M50 will be impossible to resist for some, the 335bhp i4 eDrive40 and 278bhp eDrive35 will be provide plenty enough oomph. The same can be said for the range.

While the eDrive35’s 299-mile range will more than suffice for most drivers – don’t forget that the average UK motorist covers around 583 miles each month – the 370 miles returned from the eDrive40 will understandable hold a bigger sway, especially if you suffer from range anxiety.

The trim levels are largely aesthetic. The i4 M50 and the M Sport models have a sportier appearance than the Sport trim courtesy of a more aggressive body kit. However, the latter cars lean into their all-electric lineage with that tasteful blue exterior detailing. It’s all very Interstellar. In fact, we think that in white, the BMW i4 Sport looks just as cool as its quirky predecessor, the i3.

The one to have, then? That’ll be an i4 eDrive40 Sport in white.