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.

What goes wrong with a used BMW M3 (F80)?

• 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

Should you buy a used BMW M3 (F80)?

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.