Pros
- Immense levels of performance
- Subtle yet aggressive styling
- Genuine practicality
- Showing excellent reliability
Cons
- Early models are depreciating in value
- Some technical gremlins
- Modified or tuned versions can have issues
- Early versions can be a challenge when pushed
Verdict
We wouldn't...
We'd be cautious
We would...
If you can justify the depreciation, your right foot has incredible levels of self discipline and you can sweet talk the occasional highway patrol officer, yes, you should definitely buy one.
In all seriousness, there are the typical European performance car issues of reliability and cost of parts and labour,...
Publish: April 23, 2021
If ever a car was the epitome of understated aggression, class and cool, it’s the BMW M3.
The M3 (F80 sedan) and M4 (F82 coupe and F83 convertible) have been available in a host of different special editions with various performance and equipment configurations and received aesthetic and equipment updates in 2015 and 2017 (details listed below). They were all based around a powerful 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six petrol engine driving the rear wheels in a heavily revised tech-laden BMW 3-Series platform.
Although heavily praised when new, how are they faring after a few years and thousands of kilometres, and, should you buy one? Read on.
If ever a car was the epitome of understated aggression, class and cool, it’s the BMW M3.
The M3 (F80 sedan) and M4 (F82 coupe and F83 convertible) have been available in a host of different special editions with various performance and equipment configurations and received aesthetic and equipment updates in 2015 and 2017 (details listed below). They were all based around a powerful 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six petrol engine driving the rear wheels in a heavily revised tech-laden BMW 3-Series platform.
Although heavily praised when new, how are they faring after a few years and thousands of kilometres, and, should you buy one? Read on.
If ever a car was the epitome of understated aggression, class and cool, it’s the BMW M3.
The M3 (F80 sedan) and M4 (F82 coupe and F83 convertible) have been available in a host of different special editions with various performance and equipment configurations and received aesthetic and equipment updates in 2015 and 2017 (details listed below). They were all based around a powerful 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six petrol engine driving the rear wheels in a heavily revised tech-laden BMW 3-Series platform.
Although heavily praised when new, how are they faring after a few years and thousands of kilometres, and, should you buy one? Read on.
- Crank hub issues (not “common” as such and generally isolated to tuned engines, abused cars or a very unlucky few)
- Valve cover gasket oil leaks
- Oil pan gasket leaks
- Oil filter housing gasket leaks
- Carbon build up and clogging of the inlet tract may become an issue
- Door seals can become squeaky. Easily fixed
- iDrive systems can have technical issues
- Air conditioning systems on early versions can have issues
- Crank hub issues (not “common” as such and generally isolated to tuned engines, abused cars or a very unlucky few)
- Valve cover gasket oil leaks
- Oil pan gasket leaks
- Oil filter housing gasket leaks
- Carbon build up and clogging of the inlet tract may become an issue
- Door seals can become squeaky. Easily fixed
- iDrive systems can have technical issues
- Air conditioning systems on early versions can have issues
- Crank hub issues (not “common” as such and generally isolated to tuned engines, abused cars or a very unlucky few)
- Valve cover gasket oil leaks
- Oil pan gasket leaks
- Oil filter housing gasket leaks
- Carbon build up and clogging of the inlet tract may become an issue
- Door seals can become squeaky. Easily fixed
- iDrive systems can have technical issues
- Air conditioning systems on early versions can have issues
Body style:
- 4-door sedan (M3 – all variants)
- 2-door coupe (M4 – all variants)
- 2-door convertible (M4 – all variants)
Engine & outputs:
- 3.0-litre, 6-cyl twin-turbo petrol (M3, M4 – all variants)
Power:
- 317kW (M3, M4)
- 331kW (M4 Competition)
- 368kW (M4 GTS, M4 “DTM CHAMPION” Edition)
Torque:
- 550Nm (M3, M4, M4 Competition)
- 600Nm (M4 GTS, M4 “DTM CHAMPION” Edition)
Transmissions:
- 6-spd manual, rear-wheel drive (M3, M4, M4 Competition)
- 7-spd sports automatic, rear-wheel drive (M3, M4, M4 Competition, M4 GTS, M4 “DTM CHAMPION” Edition)
Fuel use:
- 8.3L – 8.8L/100km – (M3, M4, M4 Competition)
- 8.5L/100km – (M4 GTS, M4 “DTM CHAMPION” Edition)
Dimensions:
Height:
- 1424mm – 4-door sedan (M3 – all variants)
- 1383mm – 2-door coupe (M4 – all variants)
Length:
- 4671mm
Width:
- 1877mm – 4-door sedan (M3 – all variants)
- 1870mm – 2-door coupe (M4 – all variants)
Kerb Weight:
- 1560kg – 4-door sedan (M3 – all variants)
- 1499kg – 2-door coupe (M4, M4 Competition)
- 1472kg – 2-door coupe (M4 GTS, M4 “DTM CHAMPION” Edition)
Body style:
- 4-door sedan (M3 – all variants)
- 2-door coupe (M4 – all variants)
- 2-door convertible (M4 – all variants)
Engine & outputs:
- 3.0-litre, 6-cyl twin-turbo petrol (M3, M4 – all variants)
Power:
- 317kW (M3, M4)
- 331kW (M4 Competition)
- 368kW (M4 GTS, M4 “DTM CHAMPION” Edition)
Torque:
- 550Nm (M3, M4, M4 Competition)
- 600Nm (M4 GTS, M4 “DTM CHAMPION” Edition)
Transmissions:
- 6-spd manual, rear-wheel drive (M3, M4, M4 Competition)
- 7-spd sports automatic, rear-wheel drive (M3, M4, M4 Competition, M4 GTS, M4 “DTM CHAMPION” Edition)
Fuel use:
- 8.3L – 8.8L/100km – (M3, M4, M4 Competition)
- 8.5L/100km – (M4 GTS, M4 “DTM CHAMPION” Edition)
Dimensions:
Height:
- 1424mm – 4-door sedan (M3 – all variants)
- 1383mm – 2-door coupe (M4 – all variants)
Length:
- 4671mm
Width:
- 1877mm – 4-door sedan (M3 – all variants)
- 1870mm – 2-door coupe (M4 – all variants)
Kerb Weight:
- 1560kg – 4-door sedan (M3 – all variants)
- 1499kg – 2-door coupe (M4, M4 Competition)
- 1472kg – 2-door coupe (M4 GTS, M4 “DTM CHAMPION” Edition)
Body style:
- 4-door sedan (M3 – all variants)
- 2-door coupe (M4 – all variants)
- 2-door convertible (M4 – all variants)
Engine & outputs:
- 3.0-litre, 6-cyl twin-turbo petrol (M3, M4 – all variants)
Power:
- 317kW (M3, M4)
- 331kW (M4 Competition)
- 368kW (M4 GTS, M4 “DTM CHAMPION” Edition)
Torque:
- 550Nm (M3, M4, M4 Competition)
- 600Nm (M4 GTS, M4 “DTM CHAMPION” Edition)
Transmissions:
- 6-spd manual, rear-wheel drive (M3, M4, M4 Competition)
- 7-spd sports automatic, rear-wheel drive (M3, M4, M4 Competition, M4 GTS, M4 “DTM CHAMPION” Edition)
Fuel use:
- 8.3L – 8.8L/100km – (M3, M4, M4 Competition)
- 8.5L/100km – (M4 GTS, M4 “DTM CHAMPION” Edition)
Dimensions:
Height:
- 1424mm – 4-door sedan (M3 – all variants)
- 1383mm – 2-door coupe (M4 – all variants)
Length:
- 4671mm
Width:
- 1877mm – 4-door sedan (M3 – all variants)
- 1870mm – 2-door coupe (M4 – all variants)
Kerb Weight:
- 1560kg – 4-door sedan (M3 – all variants)
- 1499kg – 2-door coupe (M4, M4 Competition)
- 1472kg – 2-door coupe (M4 GTS, M4 “DTM CHAMPION” Edition)
Warranty:
3 years/unlimited km
Servicing:
16,000km or every 12 months
Model range, pricing and features
If you can justify the depreciation, your right foot has incredible levels of self discipline and you can sweet talk the occasional highway patrol officer, yes, you should definitely buy one.
In all seriousness, there are the typical European performance car issues of reliability and cost of parts and labour, but we feel that mild stress is totally worth it.
This generation M3/M4 is a truly special car and one that is just as capable of everyday duties as it is lapping your local race circuit on track days.
Buy one, but please know we’ll be incredibly jealous.
If you can justify the depreciation, your right foot has incredible levels of self discipline and you can sweet talk the occasional highway patrol officer, yes, you should definitely buy one.
In all seriousness, there are the typical European performance car issues of reliability and cost of parts and labour, but we feel that mild stress is totally worth it.
This generation M3/M4 is a truly special car and one that is just as capable of everyday duties as it is lapping your local race circuit on track days.
Buy one, but please know we’ll be incredibly jealous.
If you can justify the depreciation, your right foot has incredible levels of self discipline and you can sweet talk the occasional highway patrol officer, yes, you should definitely buy one.
In all seriousness, there are the typical European performance car issues of reliability and cost of parts and labour, but we feel that mild stress is totally worth it.
This generation M3/M4 is a truly special car and one that is just as capable of everyday duties as it is lapping your local race circuit on track days.
Buy one, but please know we’ll be incredibly jealous.
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Disclaimer
Please note that pricing information is subject to fluctuations in the automotive market.
Information correct as of April 23, 2021.
The advice provided on this website is general advice only. It has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this advice, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs.
Read our full terms and conditions here.
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We'd be cautious
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