BMW M3 Review & Prices

The BMW M3 is a high-performance saloon alternative to the Audi RS4, Mercedes-AMG C 63 and Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. It’s the original and still considered the best by many, loved for packing so much pace and excitement into a sensible, family friendly body.

It’s like a pair of super high-tech running shoes – bold, brash, and meant for top performance, but still just about usable everyday. That being said, you wouldn’t wear your running shoes to a fancy dinner, and you might turn a few heads if you show up in the M3 to a solemn event too – especially in one of its brighter colour options.

If you’re buying a BMW M3 though, you’re likely most interested in its performance — and this latest version has bags of it. Its 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged straight-six engine is good for 530hp and 650Nm of torque in Competition form (which is all you can get in the UK), sent to the wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

BMW M3: facts and figures

Price: £91,315
Motors/Engines: 3.0-litre straight-six petrol
Horsepower: 530hp, 550hp (M3 CS)
Drivetrain: Eight-speed automatic, four-wheel drive
0-60mph: 3.4s (M3 CS), 3.5s
Top speed: 155mph, 180mph (M Driver's Pack), 188mph (M3 CS)
Efficiency: 28mpg

It fires the M3 from 0-60mph in 3.9 seconds and on to a 155mph limited top speed. You can get that raised to 180mph either as a standalone option or as part of a package that also includes carbon-ceramic brakes, but it’ll cost you £8,000. Gulp.

For the first time in an M3, the current version features the same switchable four-wheel drive system as you’ll find on the M5, allowing you to have the security of all-weather traction mixed with the ability to switch back into rear-wheel drive for some hooliganism. This was an option on earlier cars, but now the M3 is xDrive-only.

When you’re driving it hard, the M3 doesn’t feel quite as spiky and unpredictable as the old car — largely in part because of impressive levels of grip all-round. It feels sharper than the likes of the Audi RS4, yet not as intimidating as the outgoing version. It’s even less spiky in the four-wheel drive version, which rivals the Audi for storming all weather, all season pace.

Watch: Audi RS4 v BMW M3 v Mercedes-AMG C 63 S

This is more than just a brutal performance car though and does the normal stuff pretty well. Switch everything into Comfort mode and you can cruise along pretty pleasantly enjoying lighter steering, though the suspension still has a pretty firm edge to it at low speed.

There’s more to the outlandish styling of the BMW M3 than just the ‘kidney’ (maybe lungs would be more appropriate) grille. Huge intakes sit either side of the bottom of the front bumper, while down the side swollen wheel arches make it stand out from a regular 3 Series. In fact, the only bit of bodywork shared with the standard car is the boot lid — though here it has a spoiler tacked on top. You’ll see a quad-exit exhaust sat below a chunky diffuser, and happily, those huge tailpipes are real.

You have the option between two alloy wheel designs as well, with the front pair 19 inches and the rear 20 inches in size. You can also choose to have lots of the exterior details clad in carbon fibre, although this is a pricey option.

You’re not going to mistake the BMW M3 for a run-of-the-mill 3 Series inside, either. It’s covered with M-coloured stitching, M-badges everywhere and if that wasn’t enough, it’s like somebody spilt a large mug of carbon fibre all over the place. A thick model-specific steering wheel features, as well as standard electrically-adjustable sports seats that come with illuminated M logos, though you can opt for figure-hugging carbon fibre bucket seats if you want a feel more akin to a racing car.

This version of the BMW M3 is a bit longer than the old car as well, so there’s more room in the back. Legroom is pretty good, and there’s more headroom here than the equivalent M4 as a result of the saloon body style. You could easily use this as a family car.

You get a fantastic new infotainment system on a 14.9-inch screen, it’s intuitive and dead easy to use, plus there’s support for Android Auto in addition to Apple CarPlay. Both can be connected wirelessly, as well.

In front of you, there’s a 12.3-inch digital drivers display for key driving info, and this has some customisation to it too, including racy-looking M-specific displays. It’s not the most configurable or exciting-looking instrument display in the business, however.

There’s a reasonable amount of boot space in the BMW M3, with 480 litres. That’s identical to the outgoing car, though those after a bit more room will be happy to know there's also an M3 Touring available in an estate body style.

Verdict

The BMW M3 is an ideal choice for people who want the attitude of a thoroughbred sports car but in a package that’s more practical than a Porsche 911 or even the swoopier M4 Coupe. Many people do run M3s as proper do-anything family cars (though the M3 Touring is a better bet for that) - but whether you’ve got people in the back or you’re flying solo, you’ll love the way this car drives.

Want one? Check out our BMW M3 deals page to get the best price, or browse the latest used M3s available from a network of trusted dealers. You can also browse other used BMWs, and Carwow can even help you sell your car online.

It’s not only the power, size and weight of the new BMW M3 that has increased; its price has also seen a hike. It costs more than the Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio and Audi RS4 in ‘base’ rear-wheel drive trim and can breach the £100,000 mark once you add all-wheel-drive, carbon ceramic brakes and a host of other aesthetic and luxury features.

That said, it’s already very well specced as standard and is arguably the most talented sports saloon in its class, and, optioning up any of its alternatives results in similarly inflated pricing.

The M3 is offered solely in top xDrive Competition guise in the UK, that means that its twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine develops 530bhp and rockets the four-wheel-drive model to 62mph in 3.5 seconds. That’s quicker than an Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, though it’s just barely beaten by the plug-in hybrid Mercedes-AMG C 63 S.

While the 155mph limited top speed is unlikely to be troubled on British roads, you can increase your bragging points by adding the M Driver’s Pack which increases the top speed to 180mph, and it also includes an M Intensive Training BMW Driving Experience course.

The BMW M3 is a bit uncomfortable at low speeds, but it’s utterly fantastic to drive on a twisty road

In town

Being based on a family-friendly saloon car pays dividends when it comes to daily usability, and while its dimensions have grown, the new M3 is still perfectly suited to pottering around town. The suspension can be unyielding over bumps at low speeds, but you have an unobstructed view out from the multi-adjustable driver’s seat and the gearbox, brakes and steering all feel light and accurate.

The BMW M3 comes with the Parking Assistant package as standard, providing help when parallel or reverse parking, through a multitude of sensors and an impressively detailed rear-view camera.

On the motorway

The M3’s bumpy slow-speed ride quality smooths out as the speeds rise and it cruises along just as serenely as a regular 3 Series, unless of course you mash your foot to the floor when its sporty engine and exhaust note permeate the cabin. The large tyres can transmit some road noise into the cabin, but it's still impressively refined and very comfortable.

On a twisty road

Weighing 150kg more than the outgoing M3 may have you thinking that the new model would lose its composure when it came to twisty roads, but you’d be wrong. Thanks to a very well sorted chassis the M3 exhibits very precise and sharp handling characteristics that can be further fine-tuned using the configurable M mode.

Get onto the right road and you’ll find that the M3 is an exceptionally capable, fast and grippy super-saloon with one of the best chassis in this class.

The switchable xDrive all-wheel-drive model adds additional grip in slippery conditions giving you the sort of all-weather performance that was once the sole preserve of Audi’s top RS models. The optional Carbon Ceramic brakes offer fade-free braking performance, and you can even have your drifting skills assessed by the onboard computer – at the safety of a race track of course.

If there are any criticisms, it’s that the chassis and steering are so good that the engine and gearbox now seem unremarkable in comparison - which probably seems like a ridiculous thing to say about a race-tuned 530hp straight-six. It’s incredibly powerful, but it just doesn’t rev out or sing with the same character as the 2.9-litre V6 in an Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio. The eight-speed gearbox, while good, isn’t particularly remarkable either - and though some markets across the world got an M3 with a manual gearbox, that was never offered in the UK. Tiny criticisms, though.

The latest wide screen infotainment system and plenty of sporty ‘M’ design touches typify the M3’s cabin. Just beware as it’s not hard to push the price up by dabbling in the options list

The M3’s interior is typically well built with great quality materials and some sporty touches that help separate it from the rest of the 3 Series range. These include the optional M Carbon bucket seats, M-specific steering wheel with its two red ‘M’ buttons and a model specific gear. You can further customise the interior with a selection of two-tone leather upholstery and carbon fibre trim.

The updated 12.3-inch driver display is fully customisable and offers M-specific visuals but can be a bit confusing to read at first glance. The new 14.9-inch infotainment touchscreen is a revelation though; it doesn’t look quite as impressive as Mercedes’ large portrait display but is more intuitive to use and offers all the connectivity and features you could possibly want or need. The navigation system is much improved, but you can still use Google Maps or other third-party apps thanks to standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

You can use the iDrive control, voice commands, touchscreen or even hand gestures to access the various functions. We found ourselves using the touchscreen while stationary and the controller when on the move. An optional Drive Recorder can take a video of the exterior environment to be played inside the car or exported to an external device.

USB and USB-C sockets are provided up front, with wireless connectivity and charging for mobile phones and the obligatory 12-Volt socket between the cupholders.

Just beware that, while the M3 has retained the iDrove rotary controller, the latest model has ditched the discrete climate control panel and much of the other physical switchgear from the centre console. It’s just not as easy to use as it used to be, as you have to reach out to the touchscreen for more functions. There are still proper clicky buttons on the steering wheel though, which is good.

The M3 saloon may be a thrilling sports car, but it easily seats four and has plenty of space for luggage, too. Five adults would be a squeeze though

Storage space for the two occupants up front is generous, with a pair of cupholders in front of the gear lever and a space for your mobile phone that also provides wireless charging. Two wide and deep door pockets will take additional cups and water bottles. The centre armrest opens up to reveal a deep storage area, making up for the rather puny glovebox, which is a bit too shallow.

The standard electric driver’s seat is supportive with plenty of adjustment to suit most shapes, and for even more support you can opt for the M carbon bucket seats which hold you in place like a vice grip once you hoist yourself over the substantial side bolsters. We’d save the money and stick with the standard sports seats if you aren’t planning to regularly attend track days.

Space in the back seats

Thanks to decent leg and headroom, three adults can fit in the rear. Although, the two outer seats offer sculpted backrests making them more suitable for long trips, and an empty centre rear seat means that its backrest can be folded down to be used as an armrest and a receptacle for a pair of coffee cups.

Easily accessible ISOFIX anchor points are situated in the two outside seats, and the door pockets are big enough for even large water bottles.

Boot space

With 480 litres of boot space, the M3 will take just as much luggage as a regular 3 Series and matches the Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio as well. The Audi RS4 Avant takes 15 litres more but is available solely as an estate and is more comparable to the M3 Touring. The new Mercedes C-Class offers 455 litres, but the AMG C 63 has a bit less because the hybrid system's batteries are stored beneath the boot.

An electric bootlid is available as part of the Comfort Pack package and the Extended Storage package which incorporates bag hooks, side nets and a 12V power socket is fitted as standard.

The BMW M3 has not undergone a Euro NCAP test but the 3 Series on which it is based scored a full five-star rating. The 97% score for adult occupant safety is particularly impressive. The M3 should fare even better when it comes to safety as it comes standard with LED headlights as well as advanced parking and driver aids that are only optional on most lower-spec 3 Series models.

The BMW M3 is offered with a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty with an option to extend it up to a maximum of 100,000-miles. Service plans and roadside assistance programmes are also offered by BMW.

The current M3 is relatively new to the market so its long-term reliability is yet to be established. There have been two recalls so far, one for an incorrectly tightened seatbelt assembly and the other for a driveshaft component that may not be sufficiently durable.