In one of the last summer days of 2021 we had the opportunity to touch the last convertible that BMW presented, namely the 4 Series Convertible. At our disposal was a green copy in the most powerful configuration before the M4, namely the M440i xDrive.
Exterior
When the new 4 Series was introduced to the market, it scandalized with its huge “kidneys” in the front, which even a year later, are still the main topic of conversation in this model. The convertible has also borrowed this design, and although most people find it strange and not even that adequate, we’ve come across a lot of comments about how live grilles don’t look the way they do in photos.
Unlike the previous two generations of the model, including the 3 Series, the new convertible uses a so-called soft roof or fabric ceiling. BMW engineers have calculated that this reduces the weight by 40% compared to the hardtop, despite the presence of real glass in the soft top. The transition from a convertible to a coupe with a closed ceiling takes place in 18 seconds at speeds up to 50 km / h.
We can’t help but notice something that impressed us and is becoming more and more rare nowadays, namely mufflers. Although the trapezoidal tips do not match the size of the generation, we are still happy to see that both of them are really connected to it, and not just a cheap imitation.
Interior
In the specific car we tested, the interior was a combination of light and dark leather, as well as wooden applications on the center console and part of the dashboard. The quality of the materials, of course, is at a level that can be expected from BMW, and our only concern is for the interior, which in this color combination gets dirty quite quickly.
The seats are large and comfortable with electric adjustment for all settings, including how well the side supports hold you, which really allows you to make the seat exactly to your requirements. The steering wheel, although mechanically adjustable, also allows for different height and depth options.
As for the rest of the interior, it is identical to that of most models of the brand. The infotainment system’s display allows joystick control to the gear lever, by touching the screen, by voice commands or even by gestures.
A problem that even we encountered while driving and most likely happened to a number of other people is the button for folding and unfolding the ceiling. It is located right next to the electric parking brake button and share the same size and mode of operation. Of course, the two buttons are quite different in their symbols, but if you decide to lower the roof while driving and do not look at which of the two buttons you press, there is a great chance to activate the parking brake. In this case, the car makes an emergency stop and starts a countdown to call an emergency team.
Apart from luggage, we dare say that the rear seats can even be used for people, although this provides a slight discomfort for the driver and front passenger, as well as for those in the rear. Rear passengers have difficulty with legroom and the extension of the center console.
The trunk is surprisingly large for a car in this class, and for fans of statistics, it has a volume of 385 liters with a raised ceiling and 300 liters when the folded ceiling is in the trunk.
Engine and running characteristics
As mentioned, we tested the most powerful version before the M4, namely the M440i xDrive. This means that we had a similar 3.0-liter petrol in-line six, as in the M4, but with a more modest 374 horsepower. The maximum torque is 500 Newton meters and is transmitted to all four wheels by means of a sports differential in the rear and an eight-speed automatic transmission. To meet the requirements of the authorities in the European Union, BMW has installed a 48V starter-generator, which practically turns the car into a “soft” hybrid and adds 11 horsepower when needed.
The driving position is typically low for this class of car, and behind the wheel you can find gearshift paddles if for some reason you don’t like it. work on the ZF gearbox. We personally did not find this necessary, but for the return of one or two gears in combination with the lowered ceiling is definitely worth using the minus “pen”.
The driving modes – Sport, Sport +, Comfort, Eco and to some extent Adaptive, definitely showed the car in several different lights. With Adaptive, as the name suggests, the car adapts to your driving style and gives the best depending on whether you drive aggressively or not.
Although we are convinced that this will be the least used mode in such a car, we still tried to drive in Eco mode. Then the car becomes extremely quiet and the gas reactions are slowed down. The steering wheel also softens, along with the adaptive suspension, which despite the combination with 19-inch wheels begins to feel a little more comfortable.
We admit that we did not linger long on this mode and the more frequent change was between Comfort and Sport. With Comfort, the car now feels much sportier, although the exhaust flaps are still closed and the suspension is in its softest settings. This mode is suitable for everyday driving, as the car’s reactions are one idea more “muted” than the sport mode, but you still feel that you have nearly 400 horsepower available.
Sport and Sport + modes are the ones that are most interesting and unleash the full potential of the car. In combination with a partially switched off stability system and activated Launch Control, you can achieve acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h in less than 5 seconds and quickly reach speeds that are not allowed in Bulgaria.
The car is extremely fast in a straight line, and the combination of four-wheel drive and clever torque redistribution, as well as safety systems allow you to take turns more aggressively, even in wet weather. With these settings, the suspension becomes much firmer, but you feel stuck to the road.
However, the design of the convertible speaks for itself, here and the car feels an idea heavier than the coupe. The increased weight of 1865 kilograms is noticeable, especially when cornering.
However, the fact that you drive without a roof on a road with turns and hear the sound of a six is a feeling that you can not get in the version with a fixed ceiling and that is why we can define the convertible as a slightly more fun car.
Although the soft roof has its shortcomings in terms of sound insulation, BMW has made an effort and in the cabin do not hear unnecessary or parasitic noise observed in other models of different brands.
Lastly, we leave the cost simply because it is hardly the most interesting thing about this model. According to BMW, it is about 8 liters per 100 kilometers, and in our test we made sure that it can even be below these values if you drive at speeds up to 90-100km / h or use all available systems such as active cruise control and assisted driving, which monitors the restrictions and keeps the car in the lane. If you decide that you want to drive in a way that the car predisposes to its most sporty settings, the cost will increase at least twice.
Price
The price… Standard 4 Series Cabriolet with 2.0-liter gasoline engine starts from 103 thousand levs, while for performance like ours with 3.0-liter gasoline engine and 374 horsepower you will need at least 145 thousand levs, and with the addition of most from the extras and performance like the one we tested, you can easily reach 170 thousand levs.
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