BMW M4

BMW M4 at a glance

From M3 coupé to M4: why the name changed

For the 2014 model year BMW split the 3 Series: the saloon and estate kept the name, and the coupé and convertible became the 4 Series. The fast versions followed the same logic. The F80 M3 continued as a four-door car only, while its two-door twin was called the M4. Under the skin both shared the S55 engine, the gearboxes and most of the chassis, and the same pairing returned in 2020 with the G80 M3 and G82 M4. The four-door story from the E30 to the G80 is covered on the BMW M3 page, and the company behind both cars in our BMW history.

F82 and F83 M4 (2014–2020): the S55 twin-turbo six

BMW released the specifications of the first M4 on 25 September 2013. The S55 replaced the V8 of the previous M3 coupé with a 3.0-litre straight-six and two mono-scroll turbochargers. It produced 317 kW (431 PS) from 5,500 to 7,300 rpm and 550 Nm from only 1,850 rpm, with peak boost of 1.2 bar. Buyers chose between a six-speed ZF manual and a seven-speed M-DCT dual-clutch gearbox.

The convertible used a three-piece metal roof that folded in 20 seconds; with the manual it weighed 1,750 kg, 178 kg more than the equivalent coupé. The Competition package, announced in February 2017, added 14 kW. From production in July 2018 the carbon-fibre driveshaft gave way to a steel part so that a petrol particulate filter could be fitted for the WLTP rules.

F82 specials: GTS, CS and DTM Champion Editions

The M4 GTS of 2016 was the most extreme road version: 700 cars with water injection fed from a tank in the boot, 368 kW and 600 Nm, and a top speed of 305 km/h. It lapped the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 7:28, which BMW put at 24 seconds quicker than the standard M4. The M4 CS of 2017 sat between the Competition and the GTS with 338 kW; BMW built 3,000, of which 1,000 went to the United States.

Several editions marked racing success and anniversaries. A DTM Champion Edition of 23 cars in 2014 matched Marco Wittmann's race number, and a second one of 200 white cars followed in 2016 with GTS performance. The 30 Jahre edition of 2018 was limited to 300 cars, and the final M Heritage edition to 750, of which 75 went to the UK.

G82 and G83 M4 (since 2020): manual, automatic or xDrive

The first G82 coupés were built in November 2020 and delivered from early 2021. The G83 convertible followed in May 2021, now with a fabric roof that opens in 18 seconds at up to 50 km/h. The S58 engine gives the base car 353 kW (480 PS) and 550 Nm, 36 kW more than the first M4, with a six-speed manual and rear-wheel drive. With 375 kW (510 PS), 650 Nm and an eight-speed automatic, the Competition is the stronger version, and from August 2021 it could be ordered with xDrive.

All-wheel drive changes the launch more than anything else: Wikipedia gives the Competition xDrive a 0–60 mph time of 2.8 seconds, against 3.6 seconds with rear-wheel drive. The convertible needs 3.6 seconds to 100 km/h. Our review of the G82 M4 Competition describes the launch car in detail.

M4 CSL, 3.0 CSL and the G82 CS

The M4 CSL was announced on 4 May 2022 and shown at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este. BMW built 1,000, each about 91 kg lighter than a Competition, with 405 kW (551 PS) and a top speed of 307 km/h. For the 50th anniversary of BMW M a 3.0 CSL followed in November 2022: 50 cars with 412 kW (560 PS), 550 Nm and a six-speed manual gearbox.

The CS returned in 2024 with all-wheel drive, 405 kW, 1,755 kg and 0–100 km/h in 3.4 seconds. Its top speed is 302 km/h, and BMW claimed 7:21.99 on the Nordschleife. In the United States its base price was US$123,500 at the 2024 announcement (about €114,000). The Edition 50 Jahre BMW M was limited to 700 M4s.

M4 in racing: DTM, GT4 and GT3

A naturally aspirated M4 DTM raced from 2014 to 2018, and Marco Wittmann won the drivers' title with it in 2014 and 2016. The M4 GT4 based on the F82 made its debut at the 2017 Nürburgring 24 Hours. Its G82 successor of 2023 has up to 405 kW and an automatic set up for manual shifting, and it was priced at €187,000 in 2023. The G82-based M4 GT3 replaced the M6 GT3 for the 2022 season; an Evo version announced at the 2024 Nürburgring 24 Hours won the 2025 Dubai 24 Hour outright.