2024 BMW M4 Convertible

　　

2024 BMW M4 Convertible Review

byMichael CantuCorrespondent

　　Michael Cantu has worked in the automotive industry since 2014. He has written over 800 car-related articles and tested and reviewed over 100 vehicles over the course of his career. Michael is a contributor at zzdcar and has also contributed to MotorTrend, Digital Trends and InsideEVs. Michael was featured on a few InsideEVs YouTube channel videos on the topic of electric vehicles. Michael was a MotorTrend Car of the Year judge for 2019 and was a driver in MotorTrend's World's Greatest Drag Races 7 & 8.

　　, rating written byMichael CantuSenior Vehicle Test Editor

　　Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.

　　The M4 is the coupe or convertible version of BMW's long-running M3 sedan. It's engineered to provide both an exhilarating driving experience and plenty of luxury and technology. Few premium brands offer a coupe and convertible with the power and performance of the M4. Changes for 2024 are limited to tech upgrades. BMW modernized the M4's interior with dual display screens that sit side by side (they were previously separate) behind one large curved screen. The infotainment system has also been upgraded to the brand's latest iDrive 8 interface.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2024 BMW M4 Competition xDrive 2dr Convertible AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$247/mo  for M4 Competition xDrive

　　M4 Competition xDrive

　　Competition xDrive 2dr Convertible AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $93,300 MSRP

　　vs

　　$165/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　

zzdcar spotlight: Configurations and track options

Unlike many high-performance luxury cars, the M4 gives drivers multiple configurations to choose from. The base model features a six-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive, but if rowing gears isn't your thing, opt for the more powerful Competition model with an eight-speed automatic. And if all-wheel drive is needed, the Competition xDrive model has you covered. The standard M4 includes a multitude of performance upgrades, but if you plan on enjoying track days, the fade-resistant M carbon-ceramic brakes are a worthy upgrade. The M Drive Professional package is also a must for track days. It adds a Track mode, lap timer and the Drift Analyzer, a feature that tells drivers how well they are drifting.

　　

Competitors to consider

If you're set on having two doors, consider the highly capable Chevrolet Corvette. It's quicker to 60 mph, and it has better steering feel, a more comfortable ride and a lower starting price than the M4. The better-handling Porsche Cayman and more sophisticated Audi RS 5 coupe are two other alternatives. To help you decide if the M4 is right for you, check out our test team's thorough review in the zzdcar Expert Rating below. 

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.1

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.5/10

　　How does the M4 Convertible drive? If you want one of the quickest four-seat convertibles on the market, look no further. With launch control activated, our all-wheel-drive M4 Competition convertible ripped from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds at the zzdcar test track. After that, it dispatched the quarter mile in 11.4 seconds at nearly 119 mph. That's fast. The star of the show is the M4's potent turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine. It delivers smooth, easy power on the street and then monstrous acceleration on the track. Shifts from the eight-speed automatic are unobtrusive when you want them to be or dramatic when you want the full M car experience.

　　The M4's all-wheel-drive system also delivers loads of grip and impressive handling. We saw a 1.05 g average on our skidpad, putting this drop-top solidly into sports car territory. But we still remain underwhelmed by BMW's steering. While the weighting and accuracy are good, there's just not enough feel or sense for how much grip you have left until you're right on the limit. Thankfully, the M4 has loads of traction, meaning you'll likely only be near the car's considerable limits on the track.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the M4 Convertible? As with any performance car, convertible or not, comfort is a relative term. The M4 Competition's ride is firm, but it's better tuned and more compliant than some of BMW's other M Competition models. The standard adaptive suspension manages most situations well, absorbing impacts without rattling your teeth. Its stiffest setting is a little too much for public roads, but it's easy to dial it back and tailor the M4 to your personal preferences. Noise and vibration are acceptable for a high-performance convertible, and we thought the dual-mode exhaust system was well tuned and never too obnoxious.

　　Our test vehicle had the optional carbon-fiber bucket front seats. These snug, lightweight seats are thin on padding and have a small bump in the seat bottom that fits between the driver's legs. BMW's designers presumably added it to boost lateral support when cornering, or maybe because they just thought it would look cool. But our shorter drivers (under 6 feet tall) found it bothersome. We strongly recommend trying these seats out before buying them.

　　The climate control system works fairly well, even with the top down, though we found it runs a bit on the warm side. The controls are mostly easy to use, though the lack of a dedicated sync button to equalize both sizes of the dual-zone system seems like an oversight.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below