No seriously, this really is the facelifted, (slightly) more powerful BMW M4 Competition

Internet, say hello to the facelifted BMW M4 Competition in both coupe and convertible forms. No seriously, this is actually the new one. We’re not trolling here.

Clearly BMW didn’t think much was wrong with the looks of the G82 M4 (you may have differing opinions), so it has essentially fitted some new lights, painted on some new stripes, and then called it a day to get on the weissbiers nice and early.

The lack of exterior changes do mean we’re going to have to get quite nerdy about lights here though, so bear with us a second. BMW says “the inside of the LED headlights is even more distinctively structured” and that the low and high beam are now produced by the same LED module. It also says the vertical LED units in the light are designed in an “arrowhead shape” and that adaptive LEDs are optional and can be combined with ‘M Shadow Line’ lights which have darker accents inside. Mmm, lights. 

There’s more: those adaptive lights are part of the optional Technology Pack, and if you spec that you’ll also now get the fancy LED taillights from the M4 CSL too. Phew. 

Moving on from lighting, the new and (thankfully) optional M design graphics are pretty shocking, but we’re big fans of the new alloy wheels that are available in a full silver finish for the first time on this generation M4. Silver wheels are just better, people. 

Here’s something that might be contentious though, BMW’s UK release only refers to the M4 Competition Coupe with xDrive and the M4 Competition Convertible with xDrive, so does this mean that the rear-wheel drive versions will no longer be sold on our shores? We’ll confirm as soon as we hear. Of course, BMW’s xDrive system does still let you switch to rear-wheel drive mode, so all is not lost if you’re in search of skids.

Plus, this facelifted M4 is actually a smidge more powerful too. A quick ECU remap means that power from the 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six is up from 503bhp to 513bhp, while the torque figure stays the same at 479lb ft. The 0-62mph sprint is still the same though, with the coupe taking just 3.5 seconds and the convertible 3.7 seconds. 

There are proper updates on the inside too, with BMW’s new ‘Operating System 8.5’ now dominating the dash with a curved display that incorporates a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and a massive 14.9-inch infotainment screen. Does mean that you lose the separate climate control buttons though. Still, the new steering wheel design is rather nice with its sporty flat bottom, and an optional Alcantara wheel is now available. Plus, there’s a lighter aluminium-coloured finish that covers most of the dash and brightens things up, while more carbon fibre than ever is optionally available.

Oh, and of course you’ll still be able to have the supremely comfortable but slightly strange-feeling M Carbon bucket seats that save 9.6kg. 

BMW says the USA has been the largest market for this generation of M4 so far, followed by China, Germany and the UK. We’ll only get auto iterations too, but BMW did recently promise TG that the manual would remain elsewhere in the world. 

Sold on the (very light) facelift? The coupe will start from £84,250 while the convertible kicks off at £88,255.