The low-temperature behavior of single-crystalline Bi 2 Mn 4 O 10 is studied using dielectric impedance spectroscopy and inelastic neutron scattering. Several relaxation processes with pronounced anisotropic character can be identified in the frequency range between 1 Hz and 1 MHz for temperatures between 150 and 300 K. The dielectric as well as the mechanical properties are demonstrated close to the anti-ferromagnetic transition. The static dielectric permittivity yields a small but well-defined peak at the N eel temperature of (38.3 AE 0.1) K, which is related to the type-II multiferroic nature of this transition. Spectra of acoustic phonons, on the other hand, do not exhibit any significant temperature-dependent variation and, hence, there are no indications for a predominant magneto-elastic coupling associated with this phase transition.