The BMW i4 is a five-door electric saloon derived from the 4 Series Gran Coupe. It is among the most widely available used premium EVs, and most examples currently advertised are 2022–2023 eDrive40s priced at £25,000–£29,000 although the same car originally cost over £51,000 when new. This guide explains all four versions, early battery recalls, warranty, owner experiences and likely prices. There’s a print-out checklist at the end.
- Best value: a 2022–2023 eDrive40, typically £21,500–£33,000: rear-wheel drive, the greatest range of any i4, and a quiet, well-built interior.
- For speed: a used M50 costs only around £5,000 above an eDrive40 from the same year, although it weighs more and travels less far on a charge.
- Range: eDrive40 drivers describe around 280–300 miles in mild conditions and roughly 200 during winter.
- Think twice if: you carry tall adults in the rear, where small doors and cramped seats limit space.
- Check before you buy: recall work on 2021–2023 cars, the tyres, and which option packs it has.
Which i4 are you looking at?
One generation has been offered since 2021, refreshed in July 2024 with revised front styling, headlights and software. Listings generally begin with “35”, “40”, “M50” or “M60” to identify the version.
| Version | UK years | Drive | Power | 0–62 mph | Battery | WLTP range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| eDrive35 | 2023–2026 | Rear-wheel | 210 kW | 6 s | 70.2 kWh | 299 miles (311 from 2024) |
| eDrive40 | 2021–2026 | Rear-wheel | 250 kW | 5.7 s | 83.9 kWh | 365 miles (373 from 2024) |
| M50 | 2021–2025 | All-wheel | 400 kW | 3.9 s | 83.9 kWh | 316 miles |
| M60 xDrive | 2025– | All-wheel | 442 kW | 3.7 s | 83.9 kWh | 338 miles |
The less expensive eDrive35 joined in 2023, featuring a smaller battery and slower rapid charging. M50 was replaced by the M60 xDrive in 2025, bringing more power. By autumn 2026 it is the only i4 still sold by BMW UK, with the eDrive versions replaced by the new i3 saloon. More than nine in ten advertised eDrive40s are M Sports. Much of the equipment came in option packs, and some examples built during the 2021–2022 chip shortage arrived without features their buyers had ordered. Check the equipment actually fitted to an individual car. Find full specifications on the BMW i4 page.
eDrive40 or M50?
Most owners favour the eDrive40. It drives the rear wheels, weighs roughly 165 kg less than the M50 and delivers the greatest range. The M50 has a motor on each axle and reaches 62 mph in 3.9 rather than 5.7 seconds, but consumes more energy. It usually has larger wheels and wider tyres, which wear faster. Used prices are close: a 2023 M50 has a median asking price of £33,999 against £28,994 for a 2023 eDrive40.
Recalls to check
The i4’s recall campaigns are small, though several involve the high-voltage battery:
- Battery cells (2022): on 211 i4s built in 2021–2022, a cell manufacturing defect could leave debris inside a battery cell. BMW told owners not to charge or drive the car and to park it outdoors until the cell modules were replaced. Any car still on the road should have been fixed, but ask for proof.
- Battery crash pads (2022): 133 examples built in 2021 could lack crash pads on the high-voltage battery. They are inspected and pads fitted where necessary.
- Smaller campaigns involving batteries and charging (2023–2025): a battery-monitoring circuit affecting 28 cars, charging units affecting 27 cars, and cell modules affecting 3 cars, all built 2022–2023.
- Chassis beam (2024): 57 examples built in 2024 could have a rear chassis beam cracked during manufacture. It is inspected and replaced where necessary.
Check the specific car on GOV.UK’s recall checker and ask for the paperwork.
Safety
Euro NCAP gave the i4 four stars in 2022, scoring adult occupant 87%, child occupant 87%, vulnerable road users 71% and safety assist 64%.
Warranty: check what’s left
BMW covers the car for 3 years with unlimited mileage, with the high-voltage battery covered against defects or excessive capacity loss for 8 years or 100,000 miles, both from first registration:
- Registered 2022: car covered to 2025; battery to 2030, or 100,000 miles if sooner.
- Registered 2023: car covered to 2026; battery to 2031, or 100,000 miles if sooner.
- Registered 2024: car covered to 2027; battery to 2032, or 100,000 miles if sooner.
Most 2022 and 2023 examples have therefore passed their main warranty period. BMW Approved Used cars include at least 12 months’ cover; if buying from another seller, consider an extended warranty. Advertised 2022 examples have median mileage around 44,000 miles, so also establish how much of the 100,000-mile battery allowance remains.
Realistic range
Our estimate for a typical car of each age, from the same battery-ageing model as the rest of EVcarsguide:
| Car | Summer | Year-round | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 eDrive40 | 285 miles | 250 miles | 211 miles |
| 2025 eDrive40 (facelift) | 309 miles | 272 miles | 229 miles |
| 2023 eDrive35 | 237 miles | 208 miles | 175 miles |
| 2022 M50 | 246 miles | 217 miles | 182 miles |
eDrive40 drivers commonly describe 280–300 miles in mild conditions and around 180–220 at motorway speeds in cold, wet weather, aligning with this table. Larger wheels reduce range, while the M50 travels noticeably less far.
Battery Health Estimator
Estimated condition if buying used
NMC chemistry - good longevity with proper charging habits
Estimates based on battery chemistry and age. Chemistry-based estimate. Actual health varies with charging habits, climate, and usage.
Charging and towing
The eDrive40 and M50 accept rapid charging up to 200 kW, with BMW specifying 10–80% in 31 minutes. Peak eDrive35 charging is 180 kW, taking a similar time for its smaller battery. Facelift examples and M60 reach 205 kW. Every i4 accepts up to 11 kW at home, so a 7 kW wallbox fills it overnight.
A few owners on smart tariffs found that charging stopped early or ran slowly with some wallboxes. The fixes they report are to let only one app (the charger’s or the energy supplier’s) control charging, or to try a different cable.
An i4 fitted with the optional towbar can tow 1,600 kg braked (750 kg unbraked), exceeding many electric SUVs’ capacity.
What owners report
- Winter range is the leading complaint: approximately 200 miles from an eDrive40 in cold conditions.
- Rear space. Several owners say the rear seats offer limited space for tall adults, with small door openings and a raised cabin floor.
- Weight and tyres. Weighing 2.1–2.3 tonnes, it is heavy for its dimensions. Some owners describe tyre life below 20,000 miles, particularly with M50s and 20-inch wheels.
- Controls. Regeneration settings use the touchscreen instead of paddles, and no front boot is provided.
Positively, owners highly rate the ride, quiet interior and build quality. They favour the iDrive controller and physical buttons over touchscreen-only competitors, and consider motorway trips straightforward with a single charging stop.
What to pay
Two thirds of advertised used i4s are eDrive40s, nearly all available through dealers.
| Cars | Share of adverts | Median asking | Typical range | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| eDrive40, 2022 | 23% | £25,799 | £21,283–£29,884 | 44,497 |
| eDrive40, 2023 | 21% | £28,994 | £24,433–£32,917 | 30,145 |
| eDrive40, 2024 | 5% | £30,894 | £26,925–£34,646 | 24,349 |
| eDrive40, 2025 | 6% | £41,150 | £34,805–£42,500 | 9,834 |
| eDrive40, 2026 | 9% | £40,950 | £37,898–£55,000 | 5,333 |
| eDrive35, 2023 | 2% | £27,999 | £25,555–£30,409 | 16,072 |
| eDrive35, 2024 | 3% | £27,899 | £25,722–£29,518 | 19,496 |
| eDrive35, 2025 | 3% | £32,149 | £29,524–£35,730 | 6,239 |
| eDrive35, 2026 | 1% | £35,148 | £33,542–£38,070 | 3,498 |
| M50, 2022 | 6% | £31,499 | £27,799–£34,614 | 44,133 |
| M50, 2023 | 8% | £33,999 | £28,906–£38,237 | 34,746 |
| M50, 2024 | 1% | £36,750 | £34,698–£39,859 | 25,422 |
| M50, 2025 | 1% | £41,490 | £39,719–£44,740 | 7,669 |
| M60, 2025 | 3% | £50,000 | £42,915–£51,529 | 4,700 |
| M60, 2026 | 7% | £54,124 | £47,995–£64,200 | 2,971 |
Treat these as asking prices rather than valuations. Most 2025–2026 examples are ex-demonstrators or nearly-new stock showing under 10,000 miles, which explains why they cost considerably more than 2024 cars. The new M60 is listed from £71,525, meaning a nearly-new M60 around £50,000–£54,000 already represents a substantial saving. The i4 is ineligible for the Electric Car Grant.
Questions to ask the seller
- Which version is it (eDrive35, eDrive40, M50 or M60), and which trim?
- Has any recall work been done, especially on the high-voltage battery?
- Which option packs does it have?
- Is the BMW service history complete, and was it a company or salary-sacrifice car?
- How much car and battery warranty is left?
- When were the tyres last replaced, and which ones are fitted?
The print-out checklist
Take this checklist along. It covers checks specific to the i4; our general used EV buyer’s guide covers the checks relevant to every used electric car.
Alternatives worth a look
- Tesla Model 3: the natural rival, offering more rear space and Superchargers. Read our used Model 3 guide.
- Polestar 2: a similarly sized premium fastback, frequently cheaper used. Read our used Polestar 2 guide.
- Kia EV6: quicker rapid charging and greater rear space. Read our used EV6 guide.
- BMW iX1: BMW’s electric SUV, offering less range but a more accommodating back seat. Read our used iX1 guide.
Unsure whether it meets your driving needs? The EV Matchmaker matches the car against your own week, while the Used EV Finder shows the alternatives available within your budget.
Sources & further reading
- BMW UK – The first-ever BMW i4 (2021)
- BMW UK – The new BMW i4 (2024 facelift)
- BMW UK – i4 M60 xDrive
- BMW UK – warranties
- Euro NCAP – BMW i4 (2022)
- GOV.UK – Check if a vehicle has been recalled
Founder of EVcarsguide. Web technologist and data specialist tracking the UK EV market.
