The 2014 BMW 4 Series is available in the US only in 428i and 435i guises. You can also add xDrive to those for $2,000 but that’s about it. It’s nowhere close to the wide variety that you can pick from in Europe but that’s mostly differentiated by the diesel alternatives you can get that aren’t all that popular in the US anyway.
For the ‘entry level’ model, the 428i, you get a 2-liter turbocharged petrol engine with 4 cylinders, making 245 HP and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) of torque starting at $40,500. You might think that this combo might not be enough but, as we found out in our Convertible test drive, you might be surprised of how potent that engine is.
Turbo lag is almost non-existent, even though the turbo pressure was taken a bit high, to get those numbers out of a 2-liter. The one thing that could use some improvement, though, is the exhaust note.
That’s where most recent BMWs are starting to fall behind, apparently going for a more lifestyle feeling rather than the hardcore experience we were used to back in the day. For those of you still looking for what they used to offer, there are plenty of aftermarket choices out there.
One of the latest comes from exhaust specialists Remus, that developed a new system for the 428i. Their version has 4 tailpipes at the back, so you’ll immediately know that the car you’re listening to is no ordinary machine.
The complete system includes new downpipes, catbacks and rear silencers and takes the power output upwards by a modest 2.3 HP, the torque goes up by 5.1 Nm (3.76 lb-ft) and the weight goes down by 1.1 kg (2.42 lbs).
However, the biggest difference is in the sound it makes. As you can see in the video below, it’s now louder and meaner, with a more ‘determined’ burble at the red line. For us, it’s just right for a car such as the 428i.
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