Verdict
The BMW 3 Series M is the harder-driving choice: 387 hp and 500 Nm cut the 0-100 km/h run to 4.4 seconds, against the Audi A4’s 245 hp, 380 Nm and 5.8 seconds. It also brings adaptive cruise control, autonomous braking, blind-spot monitoring and a 360-degree camera. But the RM46,749 premium is substantial, while annual road tax rises from RM372 to RM2,125. The Audi is the more rational Malaysian buy with a quoted 7.1 L/100 km figure, five-year manufacturer warranty and a useful space-saver spare.
Pick the Audi A4 if RM346,051, RM372 annual road tax and a five-year manufacturer warranty matter more than outright pace and driver-assistance hardware.
Pick the BMW 3 Series M if its 387 hp, 4.4-second 0-100 km/h time, adaptive safety aids and 360-degree parking camera justify RM392,800 and RM2,125 yearly road tax.
Key differences
- Price: Audi A4 RM346,051; BMW 3 Series M RM392,800.
- Performance: Audi A4 245 hp, 380 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 5.8 seconds; BMW 3 Series M 387 hp, 500 Nm and 4.4 seconds.
- Road tax: Audi A4 RM372 per year; BMW 3 Series M RM2,125 per year.
- Boot space: Audi A4 460 litres; BMW 3 Series M 480 litres.
- Wheels: Audi A4 18-inch alloys with 245/40R18 tyres front and rear; BMW 3 Series M 19-inch alloys with 225/40R19 front and 255/35R19 rear tyres.
- Warranty: Audi A4 has a five-year unlimited-mileage manufacturer warranty; BMW 3 Series M has a two-year unlimited-mileage manufacturer warranty.
A4
- RM46,749 cheaper to buy.
- RM1,753 less annual road tax.
- Quoted 7.1 L/100 km economy and a space-saver spare tyre.
- 245 hp and 380 Nm trail the BMW’s 387 hp and 500 Nm.
- No autonomous braking, blind-spot monitoring, collision warning or lane-keeping steering correction.
- No reverse camera, auto parking, head-up display or adaptive cruise control.
3 Series M
- 387 hp, 500 Nm and a 4.4-second 0-100 km/h time.
- Adaptive M Suspension, Variable Sport Steering and M Sport Differential.
- Autonomous braking, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control and 360-degree camera.
- Costs RM46,749 more and incurs RM2,125 annual road tax versus RM372.
- Standard manufacturer warranty is two years versus the Audi’s five years.
- No quoted fuel-consumption figure and no spare tyre listed.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM346,051✓ | RM392,800 |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM372✓ | RM2,125 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, turbocharged with variable valve timing | 32-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift |
| Capacity | 1,984 cc | 2,998 cc |
| Horsepower | 245 hp | 387 hp✓ |
| Torque | 380 Nm | 500 Nm✓ |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | 82.5 mm | 82 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.5 | 10.2 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 7-speed S-tronic | Steptronic Sport |
| Gears | 7 | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | BorgWarner | ZF |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 5.8 seconds | 4.4 seconds✓ |
| Rated Economy | 7.1 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h | 250 km/h |
| Co2 | 141 g/km | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,762 mm | 4,714 mm |
| Width | 1,847 mm | 1,827 mm |
| Height | 1,428 mm | 1,440 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,820 mm | 2,851 mm |
| Weight | 1,545 kg | 1,800 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 58 litres | 59 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 460 litres | 480 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 245/40R18 | 225/40R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 245/40R18 | 255/35R19 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | — |
| Factory Tyres | Hankook Ventus S1 evo | Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 Run-flat |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Germany (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | Multi-Link | Double Wishbones |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 18" 10-spoke Dynamic Style Alloys | 19" M Double-spoke style 792 M Bicolour Jet Black |
| Rear Wheels | 18" 10-spoke Dynamic Style Alloys | 19" M Double-spoke style 792 M Bicolour Jet Black |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Audi drive select (adaptive comfort suspension) | Adaptive M Suspension, Variable Sport Steering, M Sport Differential |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | 5 stars | — |
| ANCAP | 5 stars | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | — | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | — |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for rear doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | — | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on Two Outer Rear Seats | Available for 2 Outer Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | — | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | No | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | — | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | For All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Adaptive LED headlights with Auto High Beam | LED Projectors with High beam Assistant |
| Taillamps | Full LED with Sequential Indicators | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Memory Function for Driver | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function and Bolster Adjustment |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | 40:20:40 Split-Folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control System | Rear AC Vents |
| Sunroof | — | Yes |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Rear, 1 Boot | 1 Front, 1 Centre Armrest, 1 Rear, 1 Boot |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Manual rear door window shades | Sunroof Shade |
| Audio | 10.1" MMI Navigation Plus with MMI Touch, Audi Sound System with 10 Speakers, 180 watts | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 16-Speaker Harman Kardon Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | All four windows, auto up and down with anti-pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation with Proximity Lock/Unlock |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | — |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Remote Control Activation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | — | Yes, 360-degree Monitor |
| Auto Parking | — | Yes, for Parallel and Perpendicular Parking, with Reversing Assist |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | — | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | Audi virtual cockpit | Tyre Pressure Monitoring System |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | — | Unlimited✓ |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years✓ | 2 years |
| Warranty Extended | — | 5 years✓ |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used A4 & 3 Series M for sale
A4 vs 3 Series M FAQ
Is the Audi A4 or BMW 3 Series M better?
The BMW 3 Series M is better for performance and equipment, with 387 hp, 4.4-second acceleration and a far fuller driver-assistance suite. The Audi A4 is better for lower purchase cost, much lower road tax, quoted economy and its five-year manufacturer warranty.
What is the price difference?
The BMW 3 Series M costs RM392,800, which is RM46,749 more than the Audi A4 at RM346,051. Its annual road tax is also RM1,753 higher: RM2,125 versus RM372.
Which has better parking and safety assistance?
The BMW 3 Series M does. It has autonomous braking, collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, steering-correction lane keeping, six front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree monitor and automatic parking. The Audi A4 has four front and four rear sensors but no reverse camera or auto parking.