BMW M3 review
The BMW M3 is still one of the all-time performance greats
Our opinion on the BMW M3
More rounded and versatile, but still able to deliver the thunderous performance M cars are famous for, the latest BMW M3 continues to hit the mark. You might not be sold on the way it looks, but there’s no arguing with the fact that it has been refined and honed in every way, making it more than worthy of that famous badge.
About the BMW M3
Since its birth in the 1980s, the BMW M3 has been, to many, the definitive performance saloon car. Expectations rise with every succeeding model, which brings added pressure to this eighth-generation M3. Playing it safe would have been easy, but BMW has rolled the dice big time.
Along with a twin-turbo six-cylinder engine, the M3 boasts four-wheel drive for the first time and the kind of divisive styling we’ve grown accustomed to from modern BMWs. There’s only one version available in the UK – the M3 Competition – and it received an update in 2024.
BMW M3 prices and latest deals
With prices starting at just shy of £90,000, the M3 Competition isn’t cheap, and that’s before you’ve selected one of the expensive option packs. However, by building your perfect BMW M3 via the Auto Express Buy a Car service, you could save an average of around £13,700, which is no small change. You can also find a range of new BMW M3 deals as well as some temptingly priced used BMW M3s.
Performance & driving experience
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One of the first things you notice in the latest BMW M3 is the improved seating position; it’s much lower than before, and feels more purposeful, especially if you add the excellent but costly (£15,275) M Race Track package that contains carbon bucket seats, carbon ceramic brake discs and carbon fibre interior trim.
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Then there’s the steering and turn-in. There’s a slight numbness to the steering, but it's fast and sharp, allowing you to point the nose of the car into a corner with more aggression and accuracy than before. It’s not quite as sweet as the steering in an Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, but it’s much sharper than it was.
That is most welcome, considering that the M3 weighs a whopping 1,855kg. The saloon masks its weight incredibly well, though, feeling light on its feet and more nimble than its portly kerbweight would lead you to believe.
The 3.0-litre engine certainly plays a part, delivering a thunderous punch of torque once the revs climb beyond 2,500rpm. It’s ferociously quick on the road, and despite the vast amount of power going through the rear wheels, there’s excellent traction.
| Model | Power | 0-62mph | Top speed |
| M3 Competition | 523bhp | 3.5 seconds | 155 mph |
Performance, 0-60mph acceleration and top speed
In early 2024, BMW increased the M3’s power output from 503bhp to 523bhp, with peak torque unchanged at 650Nm. As a result of this boost, the zero to 62mph sprint was reduced to just 3.5 seconds, with the top speed electronically limited to 155mph, although this can be raised to 180mph with the £2,175 M Driver’s Pack fitted.
Town driving, visibility and parking
The M3 isn’t too far apart from the regular BMW 3 Series when being driven calmly in city streets, although it is firmer and a lot more conspicuous. We’re also willing to bet that you’ll be a lot more wary of high kerbs and narrow streets with its huge 19 or 20-inch wheels.
When you need to park it, rear sensors come as standard. However, you may wish to opt for the £625 parking Assistance Plus package for total peace of mind. This adds a 3D camera system to the mix.
Country road driving and handling
A BMW M3 that didn’t handle well would be nothing short of a travesty. Thankfully, we can report that this car is an absolute dream to chuck around at twisty B-road, regardless of its considerable kerb weight.
Such is its chassis balance, the M3 never feels wayward or uncontrollable like the previous M3 could be, yet BMW has introduced a new piece of tech to help manage the car’s power. M Traction control allows the driver to set the system to one of 10 positions, which dictate how much slip is allowed at the rear axle; it works very well and allows you time to familiarise yourself with the car’s balance and learn how the car behaves the more enthusiastically you drive.
Motorway driving and long-distance comfort
As you’d expect from a performance car that can set you back by more than £100,000, overtaking in a BMW M3 is an incredibly easy task. While it’s not quite as comfy as the regular 3 Series over long distances, this M car still settles down into a respectable mile-muncher when needed.
As is the way with all members of the 3 Series family, though, the Mercedes C-Class (in this case the C 63 S) is just that bit more comfortable.
“With standard four-wheel drive, the BMW is poised and grippy; its uprated suspension offers cast-iron body control, scalpel-sharp precision and plenty of driver feedback.” - Alastair Crooks, senior news reporter.
MPG & running costs
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Running costs are likely to be low on the list of priorities for a BMW M3 owner, so be prepared for regular visits to the petrol station and a shock when the annual tax bill comes in.
Officially, the BMW M3 saloon will deliver around 28mpg on a combined cycle, but you can expect this to drop into the high teens if you make the most of the 523bhp available on tap.
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| Model | MPG | CO2 | Insurance group |
| BMW M3 | 27.7-28 mpg | 227-230 g/km | 42 |
Insurance groups
The BMW M3 sits in insurance group 42, so this should keep premiums in check. Make no mistake, this car isn’t cheap to insure, but your quotes should be slightly less horrifying than with some of its rivals.
Tax
CO2 emissions of 227g/km to 230g/km and a high purchase price place the M3 in one of the highest bands for VED road tax, resulting in over £2,000 of tax in the first year, followed by £600 for five years from the second time the car is taxed.
The high CO2 emissions also mean company car drivers will pay the top Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) rate.
Depreciation
The M3 is expected to hold on to more of its value over three years or 36,000 miles than the AMG C 63 S, with the BMW maintaining 46 to 47 per cent of its original value versus 41 to 45 per cent for the Mercedes.
Interior, design & technology
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BMW updated the M3 in 2024, tweaking the exterior styling and rolling out several interior changes. Visual upgrades included a new set of LED headlights with arrow-shaped daytime running lights, the option of M light-alloy wheels in silver for the first time, and a rear M3 badge that’s accented by a silver-coloured surround. Inside, the M3 gained a new three-spoke M steering wheel with multifunction buttons and a red 12 o’clock marker, plus the availability of a wheel trimmed in Alcantara.
Interior and dashboard design
The dashboard is dominated by a pair of high-resolution screens merged into a single display, and although the system is easy to use, we’re disappointed that the climate control settings have been relegated to the touchscreen.
Materials and build quality
The interior is as well built as the regular 3 Series, and that’s a very good thing. The difference here, though, is that there are enough upgrades to set it apart from the standard car, especially if you choose one of the option packs. At £15,275, the M Race Track Package is an expensive option, but it does include excellent carbon bucket seats, carbon fibre interior trim, and improvements to the infotainment system.
Infotainment, sat-nav and stereo
The M3 comes with a fully customisable 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and a large 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system. BMW’s latest Operating System 8.5 is designed to be operated by voice and touch control, and it’s one of the most intuitive systems on the market. It’s good enough to be used without syncing your smartphone, although Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available as standard.
“The cabin is almost a match for the 5 Series’ for upmarket appeal and tech, while the figure-hugging front sports seats and chunky steering wheel underline the BMW’s thoroughbred status.” - Alastair Crooks, senior news reporter.
Boot space & practicality
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Surprisingly good practicality has always been a hallmark of the BMW M3, and this latest model is no exception. The rear seats offer enough legroom and headroom for three adults, although the M3 works best as a four-seater, with the centre rear armrest folded down for additional comfort and to use the cupholders.
Dimensions and size
The BMW M3 Competition isn’t quite as long as the Mercedes C63 S, but it does still manage to offer more boot space. The Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio does match this luggage capacity, though/
| Dimensions comparison | |||
| Model | BMW M3 Competition | Mercedes C 63 S | Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio |
| Length | 4,801mm | 4,842mm | 4,643mm |
| Width | 1,918mm | 1,900mm | 1,847mm |
| Height | 1,438mm | 1,458mm | 1,436mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,860mm | 2,880mm | 2,820mm |
| Boot space | 480 litres | 280 to 435 litres | 480 litres |
Seats & passenger space
The standard sports seats are excellent, and although the optional M carbon bucket seats are superb, they’re best reserved for people who intend to take to the track in their M3 on a regular basis. There are plenty of storage pockets and compartments throughout the cabin, including wide door bins, a compartment below the centre armrest and a space for wirelessly charging a smartphone.
Boot space
There’s a large 480 litre boot behind the rear seats, which can be split and folded 40:20:40 for improved flexibility. For even more practicality, check out the BMW M3 Touring, which offers 500 litres of luggage capacity with the rear seats in their upright position, but up to 1,500 litres of space with the seats folded down. It’s also suitable for carrying a dog, which isn’t something you can do in the saloon.
“The M3 is around 200mm shorter than its 530e big brother. However, despite a little less legroom for rear-seat occupants, there’s still more than enough space.” - Alastair Crooks, senior news reporter.
Reliability & safety
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Safety experts Euro NCAP haven’t tested the M3 specifically, and it differs too much from the regular 3 Series that it can't share the latter’s five-star rating. The same is true of the Mercedes-AMG C63 and Audi RS 4.
What’s more disappointing is that, besides a standard lane-departure warning system and traffic sign recognition software, many safety assistance features are reserved for pricey option packs.
For example, you’ll need to get the Driving Assistant pack, which is bundled with the Technology Pack, to enable automatic emergency braking and rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking. If you want adaptive cruise control to take some of the strain out of long drives by maintaining a safe distance from the vehicle in front, that comes with the Driving Assistant Professional pack.
The regular BMW 3 Series finished 24th out of 50 models in the most recent Driver Power best cars to own survey, making it one of the best-scoring performance cars for owner satisfaction. The BMW brand finished a respectable eighth out of 31 brands in the best manufacturer results, too. Although Mercedes and Lexus were ranked even higher.
Buying and owning
- Best buy: BMW M3 Competition
If you’re buying the BMW M3 in saloon form, the Competition is the only spec you’ll be able to get in the UK. If you can afford this German performance machine, odds are you’re not too fussed about keeping to a budget, so we’d suggest investing in the M Race Track package to truly get the best driving experience.
BMW M3 alternatives
The most obvious alternative to the BMW M3 saloon is the BMW M3 Touring, which is around £2,000 more expensive but offers improved practicality and a touch more exclusivity. Alternatively, you could consider the less practical but arguably more stylish BMW M4, the larger BMW M5 saloon and BMW M5 Touring, or the smaller BMW M2 Coupe.
Looking beyond BMW, the M3’s arch enemy is the Mercedes-AMG C63 S. And while it doesn’t always get the attention it deserves, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio is another phenomenal driver’s car.
Frequently Asked Questions
The M3 is covered by BMW’s standard three-year and 60,000-mile warranty, whichever comes first.
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- NameM3 xDrive 530 Competition M 4dr Step Auto
- Gearbox typeSemi-auto
- RRP£87,895
