In many ways, the 4 Series name seems to have been with us for much longer than it has, while the car itself still feels fresh and new, so a mid-life facelift comes as a bit of a surprise.

Yet time flies as the 4 Series, name and vehicle, has been around since the summer of 2013.

It’s available as a two-door Coupe, two-door Convertible and a four-door coupe called the Gran Coupe, itself taking up to 50% of all 4-Series sales globally.

New for the 2017 model is a larger air intake, LED headlights and redesigned daytime running lights at the front.

The rear gets a new apron and redesigned taillights with new light graphics.

Under the skin, the 4 Series gets stiffer suspension, a wider track (front 14mm, rear 22 mm), improved traction control, better damping and upgraded steering. Overall, it has a lower centre of gravity (Coupe 40 mm, Gran Coupe 30 mm, Convertible 20 mm), to reduce roll and enhance stability.

Inside the car, changes include chrome surrounds to the air conditioning and audio controls, high-gloss black trim, double stitching across the instrument panel, while the sports steering wheel is wrapped in new high-quality leather.

The switch for the folding hardtop roof in the Convertible and the belt guides now have an electroplated finish as do the door mounted controls in all 4 Series models.

Read the full road test here: https://goo.gl/NmAJM7

All 4 Series are available with a choice of three petrol and three diesel engines. The petrol options start with the 2.0-litre 420i that develops 181bhp, while that same engine is tuned to produce 249bhp in the 430i. Fancy a 3.0-litre? Then go for the 440i with 322bhp.

Parking in front of the diesel nosel is a 2.0-litre 420d with 187bhp and two variants of a 3.0-litre in the form of the 430d and 435d, producing 254bhp and 309bhp, respectively.

Each model either comes with a six-speed manual gearbox or an eight-speed ZF automatic. The auto is also available as a cost option if it’s not fitted as standard.

Not happy with rear-wheel drive, then go for xDrive, BMW’s all-wheel-drive system.

The Coupe and Convertible are available in Sport and M Sport trims while derivatives include; 430i, 430d, 430d xDrive, 435d xDrive and 440i. 

Gran Coupe versions get SE trim with either the 420d, 420d xDrive, Sport trim on the 420i, 420i xDrive, and M Sport trim with 430i, 430d, 430d xDrive, 435d xDrive and 440i models.

There’s a new interface for the professional navigation, which is standard on M Sport models, while an optional digital cockpit for the instrument binnacle has been introduced as has wireless phone charging.

Prices for the updated 4 Series start at £33,555. We’re testing the 440i Gran Coupe in M Sport which costs £45,490.

Read the full road test here: https://goo.gl/NmAJM7