A used BMW M4 is chosen in two stages. First the version: generation, body style, gearbox, drivetrain. Then the individual car: its history, its wear, what has been changed on it. This guide follows that order. It does not replace an inspection in a workshop. It helps you ask the right questions before you sign.
Two generations, two twin-turbo straight-sixes
Until the early 2010s, the M3 came as a saloon, a coupé and a convertible. With the F generation, BMW split the names. The M3 stayed the saloon, and the M4 took over the coupé and the convertible.
Two generations share the used market:
- F82 (coupé) and F83 (convertible), with the S55 straight-six, a 3-litre twin-turbo.
- G82 (coupé) and G83 (convertible), with the S58, also a 3-litre twin-turbo straight-six, and more powerful.
The thread of this article is simple: choose the generation, body style, gearbox and drivetrain, then check the individual car. For the general method, which applies to any car, see what to check before buying a used car. Here we stick to what is specific to the M4.
F82 and F83: S55, DKG or manual
The first M4 was built from roughly 2014 to 2020. The S55 is rated at 431 PS (metric hp) in base form. The Competition package, introduced partway through production, raises output to 450 PS and revises the suspension. Dates and figures vary slightly between sources and model years. Note the first registration date on the registration document, and have the version confirmed by the factory options list decoded from the chassis number.
Two special editions exist: the CS, at around 460 PS, and the GTS, at around 500 PS, heavily track-focused and built in small numbers. They form a separate market, with separate values. This guide is mainly about the regular versions.
For the gearbox, there are two options:
- the DKG (M DCT), a 7-speed dual-clutch, the most common;
- the 6-speed manual, rarer.
Both the F82 and the F83 are rear-wheel drive, without exception. The F83 convertible uses a multi-section retractable hardtop that folds into the boot.
G82 and G83: S58, automatic and xDrive
The G82 arrived on the market in 2021. It is recognisable first by its large vertical grille. The S58 is rated at 480 PS in base form and 510 PS as a Competition. A facelift came in 2024: the Competition xDrive gains around twenty PS, to roughly 530 PS, and the rear-wheel-drive Competition was dropped from the range in some markets. Check the exact model year of the car you are interested in.
The big difference from the F82: the DKG is gone. The G82 switches to an 8-speed torque-converter automatic (M Steptronic). A 6-speed manual is available on the base version, paired with rear-wheel drive, depending on the market. Its availability in Switzerland and how long it stayed in the range should be confirmed with the BMW network. Do not take it for granted in a listing: have it confirmed by the factory options list decoded from the chassis number.
xDrive all-wheel drive arrived partway through production, on the Competition. Depending on the settings offered, it can switch back to pure rear-wheel drive.
The G83 convertible drops the hardtop for a fabric roof. Depending on the market and the year, it may only have been offered as a Competition xDrive. Ask the seller for the exact version, and have it confirmed by the chassis number.
Coupé or convertible: what the roof changes
The convertible is heavier than the coupé, whatever the generation: roof mechanism, body reinforcements. It is less rigid and the boot is smaller, especially with the roof down on the F83, where the hardtop takes up the boot. For year-round driving, the coupé remains the simplest choice. You choose the convertible for the pleasure of using it, not for lap times.
On a convertible, add these checks:
- a full cycle of opening and closing, with no jerking and no stopping halfway;
- listen to the mechanism and, on the road, for creaks or wind noise with the roof closed;
- the condition of the seals, supple and not cracked;
- signs of water ingress: damp carpet, smell, boot floor, pillars;
- on the G83, the condition of the fabric and the rear window: stains, wear at the folds, fading.
These are routine checks, not known faults. A roof that works well on the test drive and a documented service history are often enough to reassure you.
Which M4 for which use
Rear-wheel drive or xDrive. A rear-wheel-drive M4 can be driven in winter, provided it has proper winter tyres in the right sizes. With winters in Vaud, snowy climbs and mountain pass roads, xDrive makes traction noticeably easier day to day. If the car is meant to be used all year, ask about the second set of wheels: is it included, and in what condition?
DKG, automatic or manual. The F82's DKG shifts very quickly and gives a lively drive, with some harshness at low speed. The G82's automatic is smoother in town and in traffic jams. The manual asks for more involvement and is a matter of taste.
Base or Competition. Depending on the generation, the Competition brings firmer suspension, specific wheels and sometimes different seats. On a poor road surface, that firmness can be felt. If you are unsure, try both.
No M4 is better in absolute terms. The right one is the one that matches how you will use it.
Equipment to look for in the listing
An M4's value also lies in its options. Listings include many of them, with varying accuracy. Points to look for:
- carbon-ceramic brakes;
- carbon bucket seats;
- the top speed package (M Driver's Package), which raises the electronic limiter;
- the carbon roof on the coupé;
- the exhaust, original or not;
- driver assistance systems and the head-up display.
What is standard or optional varies by generation, version and model year. The safest approach: have the factory options list decoded from the chassis number by a workshop or a dealer. You then compare the listing with reality, not the other way round.
On the test drive: what to listen for and look at
Ask to see the car with a cold engine. The start-up, the idle settling down and the absence of any unusual noise tell you a lot.
On the road, once the engine is warm:
- the rev build-up should be clean and steady, with no flat spot or hesitation;
- no warning light should stay on;
- the brakes should bite straight, with no vibration through the pedal.
Depending on the gearbox:
- DKG: manoeuvre at low speed, forwards and in reverse, then do a few standing starts. Look for jerks and hesitation.
- Automatic: shifts should stay smooth, both in gentle driving and under acceleration.
- Manual: find the clutch biting point. If it is high and vague, it may indicate wear.
Finish with a few tight turns at low speed in a car park. The differential should make no abnormal noise. None of these points is a systematic M4 fault. They are checks you carry out on any sports car.
Tyres, brakes, differential: the wear items to price
The M4 runs a staggered setup: wider tyres at the rear than at the front. So the wheels cannot be swapped between axles. With this much power, the rear tyres wear quickly, especially when driven hard. Check the remaining tread depth and the year of manufacture, then get a price for a full set before negotiating.
Discs and pads are the second item. The cost difference between steel and carbon-ceramic brakes is significant. Get a quote for the system fitted to this car, not for a different one.
Then there are the gearbox and differential oil changes. Their intervals depend on the manufacturer's schedule and on how the car is used. Do not settle for "it's been done": ask for the invoices.
Remapping and non-original parts
Exhaust, wheels, modified power output: on a sports car, the buyer needs to know what has been changed. Check that any modifications that require it are entered on the vehicle registration document, and ask for the corresponding certificates. Ask about the history too: who did the modification, when, and whether it was declared to the insurer.
An unregistered modification can cause problems at the inspection as well as with the insurance. For the details, read what a modified or remapped car changes.
Paperwork: service book, digital history, inspection, warranty
BMW keeps a digital service history linked to the chassis number. Ask for it and compare it with the invoices. A gap in the history is not necessarily serious, but it needs an explanation.
Look at the date of the last cantonal inspection. A recent inspection spares you an upcoming deadline and the work it might require.
On a recent G82, the manufacturer's warranty may still be running. Check its end date and whether it transfers to the new owner. If part of the servicing was done outside the dealer network, see what a service book kept outside the dealer network means.
If the car is offered on behalf of a private owner, the seller on the contract is not necessarily the garage. Before signing, read what you need to know to buy a car offered on consignment.
Financing, insurance, protection
A used sports car can be financed through leasing or a loan, like any other car. The terms depend on the vehicle's age, mileage and value. To compare monthly payments, see how to finance a used sports car.
For insurance, plan for fully comprehensive cover (casco complète), which leasing companies require in their contracts and which is sensible on a car of this value. Ask for a quote before committing: the premium varies a great deal depending on the driver's profile.
The front of an M4 takes stone chips. To keep the original paint free of chips, consider protecting the front end with PPF, ideally soon after purchase.
See the vehicles available
You now know which M4 you are looking for and what to check. Next step: see the vehicles available and compare each listing with this checklist. Before making the trip, prepare your questions: history, factory options, tyre condition, modifications. Take the time to ask your questions before you travel, and request the documents in advance.
