Born a legend, the BMW M3 continues to dominate its segment with a design that commands respect. Bold proportions and a sporty edge hint at the power lurking beneath the hood. There, a heroic 3.0-litre twin-turbo six-cylinder engine awaits. With a starting price of $161,300, the BMW M3 for sale isn't just a car, it's an exclusive entry into the world of luxury and performance.

Pros:

• Powerful engine with exhilarating performance
• Precise and responsive handling
• Iconic design with distinctive styling
• Cutting-edge technology and modern amenities

Cons:

• High cost of ownership, including maintenance and repairs
• Firm suspension may result in a stiff ride
• Costly maintenance and repair bills

What’s new:

• Restyled headlights
• Increased power to 520 hp

The 2024 BMW M3 is a beacon of automotive excellence, embodying the perfect harmony of power, precision, and luxury. Born from a performance legacy, this iconic sedan continues to captivate enthusiasts with its striking design and exhilarating driving dynamics. Underneath its muscular exterior lies a heroic 3.0-litre twin-turbo six-cylinder engine, ready to unleash a symphony of power and performance. With a starting price of $161,300, the M3 offers a premium driving experience that is second to none. The 2024 BMW M3 is a legend redefined. But does it truly deliver the ultimate driving experience? Let's find out!

Exteriors

The BMW M3 G series showcases striking aesthetics and impressive capabilities, although certain design aspects might divide the opinions of passionate fans.

Styling elements

The BMW M3 has sparked much debate, particularly regarding its styling. However, let's focus on a lesser-discussed aspect: the wing mirror. Despite its seemingly minor role, it embodies the difference between this new model and its predecessors. The new mirror boasts a perfect blend of lines and shapes, showcasing cohesion and simplicity.

When it comes to the overall exterior, our feelings are mixed. While we are starting to warm up to the bold grille, the rest of the car presents some challenges. The front door feels unusually long, there's a strange drop in height, and the front wing design seems to swallow up the front tyre, lacking the sense of camber that gives a dynamic look.

Colour options

The BMW M3 comes in stunning colours to suit every taste. With 16 options, including Metallic finishes like the sleek Black Sapphire, modern Brooklyn Grey, vibrant Toronto Red, and the sophisticated Portimao Blue, there's a shade to match any personality. For those looking for something unique, BMW offers Individual options such as the striking Frozen Orange II, the elegant Frozen Brilliant White, and the bold Frozen Black, among others. Whether you prefer a classic Metallic or a daring Individual paint, the BMW M3 offers a palette that ensures you'll stand out on the road.

Wheel design

The BMW M3 offers a range of stunning wheel options to complement its sporty design. Choose from 19-inch or 20-inch M forged wheels, including the Double-spoke style 825 M in Bicolour Black or Orbit Grey matte and the Double-spoke style 826 M in Bicolour Black or Black. These wheels enhance the M3's aesthetic appeal and contribute to its dynamic performance, ensuring a smooth and exhilarating driving experience.

Interiors

The BMW M3's interior seamlessly blends luxury and performance. Its layout is driver-focused, and premium materials and advanced features cater to both comfort and driving excitement.

Interior layout and space

The BMW M3's interior blends luxury and performance. It shares its design and passenger space with the 3 Series but features unique "M" badging and trim details. Carbon fibre and microsuede accents add a sporty touch. At the same time, the large curved digital gauge cluster transforms into M View in sportier drive modes, offering essential information like a shift indicator and an easier-to-read tachometer. The layout is driver-focused, with a chunky steering wheel featuring prominent red buttons for quick mode changes.

Comfort and ergonomics

The M3 offers heavily bolstered front seats, which are lightweight and provide exceptional support, especially in the Competition model. They balance comfort and performance well, although long road trips might test their limits. Despite its sporty nature, the M3's interior doesn't compromise on comfort, offering a space that exceeds expectations for a high-performance vehicle. Materials are top-notch, meeting or exceeding those in the top-of-the-line 3 Series, ensuring a luxurious feel throughout the cabin. Overall, the BMW M3's interior is designed for enthusiasts who crave luxury and performance, making it a standout choice.

Boot

The BMW M3 offers a generous 480 litres of boot space, providing ample room for luggage, groceries, or sports equipment. This capacity ensures practicality for everyday use, allowing you to comfortably carry all your essentials without compromising interior comfort. The spacious boot makes the M3 a versatile choice, whether heading out for a weekend getaway or simply tackling your daily errands.

Technology and infotainment

The BMW M3 features advanced technology and infotainment systems that enhance the driving experience, offering convenience, connectivity, and entertainment at your fingertips.

Infotainment System:

The BMW M3 features a sophisticated infotainment system centred around a long, curved touchscreen display that spans most of the dashboard. This system, part of the iDrive 8 interfaces, offers a user-friendly experience with options for touchscreen, rotary knob, and button controls on the centre console. Multiple charging ports are available, and the M3 offers a range of standard and optional features to enhance your driving experience.

Digital instrument cluster

All car controls, including the 14.9-inch touchscreen, are conveniently placed within arm's reach, ensuring easy driving use. However, some may find the reliance on the touchscreen for functions like air conditioning less intuitive than physical controls. Overall, the BMW M3's technology features enhance the driving experience, offering convenience and connectivity.

Sound system

The BMW M3's sound systems elevate your driving experience to new heights. Whether you opt for the standard Harman Kardon surround sound system or the optional Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System, you're guaranteed an immersive audio experience.

The Harman Kardon system delivers rich, detailed sound that fills the cabin, creating a concert-like atmosphere. Meanwhile, the Bowers & Wilkins system takes audio quality to the next level with its precision-engineered speakers and advanced sound processing technology.

Connectivity options

BMW has embraced connectivity with the M3, offering standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Harman/Kardon sound system, and a one-year subscription to SiriusXM satellite radio. The system can also be equipped with gesture controls, a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot, and a wireless charging pad, catering to your connectivity needs on the go.

Performance and engine

The BMW M3 lineup offers a range of powerful engine options based on a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged inline-six configuration. The standard BMW M3 sedan, available with rear-wheel drive and a manual transmission, produces 473 horsepower and 550 Nm of torque. Stepping up to the M3 Competition sedan, you get 502 horsepower and 650 Nm of torque in rear and all-wheel drive configurations. The M3 Competition wagon offers the same power output for those looking for more space as the sedan. Finally, the top-tier M3 CS sedan delivers the same power and torque figures as the Competition models, providing a performance-oriented option for enthusiasts. The first-ever BMW M3 Touring wagon hit the market in early 2023 with a starting price of $177,500 before on-road costs. This sporty newcomer was primed to compete with the Audi RS4. If you're looking for a high-performance SUV that offers more practicality than the M3, the BMW X5 might be a better choice. Those seeking a similar high-performance sedan experience in a slightly different body style might consider the BMW M4, which also offers a slight variation of BMW M4 price point.

Engine Specifications

Transmission and Drive System

The transmission division at BMW M. has developed the M Steptronic Sport transmission used in the BMW M3 Competition models This transmission offers precise and responsive gear shifts, enhancing the driving experience of these high-performance vehicles. In addition to the Steptronic Sport transmission, the M3 is also available with a six-speed manual transmission for those who prefer a more engaging driving experience. The manual transmission option allows enthusiasts to immerse themselves in the driving dynamics of the M3 fully. In contrast, the Steptronic Sport transmission provides the convenience of automatic shifting without compromising performance.

Fuel Economy and Efficiency

The BMW M3 CS offers respectable fuel efficiency for its performance capabilities. The M3 sedan is rated at up to 16 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. Adding all-wheel drive lowers the highway estimate to 22 mpg. In real-world testing, the M3 CS achieved a highway fuel economy of 32 mpg, surpassing its EPA estimate and proving an efficient option for long-distance driving.

Braking System

The BMW M3's braking system, including the M Carbon ceramic brake and M Compound brake, offers exceptional performance and control. Developed by Jürgen and his team, the M Carbon ceramic brake provides outstanding stopping power and heat resistance, which is ideal for high-performance driving. The M Compound brake balances performance and comfort, making it suitable for daily driving.

Handling and Driving Dynamics

The BMW M3 CS may not be the most comfortable daily driver despite its performance credentials. Even in comfortable drive modes, the suspension can be firm, throwing occupants around on uneven roads. However, the cabin offers a luxurious and comfortable environment, with high-quality materials and excellent build quality. The steering wheel is covered in suede with a 12-o’clock marker, the dash features a beautiful leather finish, and the Merino leather-upholstered seats with contrast stitching provide exceptional comfort for long journeys.

Safety features

The BMW M3 impresses with its bold design and powerful 3.0-litre engine, offering a thrilling driving experience. You can choose between a sporty 6-speed manual or a smooth automatic transmission and opt for a rear-wheel drive for excitement or all-wheel drive for all-weather grip. While safety ratings are pending, the M3 is based on a safe car platform, and early reviews praise its power and upscale interior. However, the high BMW M3 price and stiff ride may not be for everyone. If you're seeking excitement behind the wheel, the BMW M3 could be your perfect match.

The safety features include the following:

• Airbags
• Collision warning
• Electronic stability control
• Blind spot alert
• Parking cameras (multiple)
• Rear parking camera
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane departure warning
• Speed limiter
• Parking sensors
• Auto parking
• Rain sensing wipers
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Tyre pressure monitoring

As assessments are pending, the BMW M3 has not yet received an ANCAP safety rating.

Ownership experience

The BMW M3, a beloved icon among enthusiasts, is praised for its exhilarating performance, sharp handling, and iconic design. Its powerful engine and advanced technology make it a joy to drive, offering a thrilling experience on both the road and track. However, some critics point out its high cost of ownership, particularly in terms of maintenance and repairs. The stiff ride quality and potential for expensive repairs are also drawbacks. Overall, the M3 is admired for its performance pedigree and driving experience, but it may not be the most practical choice for everyone due to its cost and maintenance requirements.

Major strengths:

• The BMW M3 delivers a thrilling driving experience with its powerful engine and dynamic performance, offering exhilarating acceleration and handling.
• Renowned for its precise and responsive handling, the M3 offers exceptional agility and control, enhancing the driving experience.
• The M3 boasts a timeless and iconic design, characterised by its muscular stance, sleek lines, and distinctive M-styling cues.
• The M3's potent engine delivers impressive horsepower and torque, ensuring robust performance on the road or track.
• Featuring cutting-edge technology and innovative features, the M3 offers a sophisticated driving environment with a range of modern amenities.
• The BMW M3 provides an unmatched driving experience, combining performance, handling, and style for a truly exhilarating ride.

Major drawbacks:

• The BMW M3 is associated with a high cost of ownership, including expenses for maintenance, repairs, and insurance.
• Some drivers may find the M3's suspension setup firm, resulting in a stiffer ride quality that may not suit everyone's preferences.
• Due to its high-performance nature and advanced technology, the M3 can incur costly maintenance and repair bills.

Maintenance costs and Warranty information

The BMW M3 comes with maintenance costs, typically ranging from $300 to $400 for regular annual servicing and $800 to $1000 for major services. While these costs are estimates, they provide a good indication of what owners can expect. Additionally, BMW offers a comprehensive warranty package for the M3, including a two-year warranty on all genuine parts. New M3 vehicles are covered by a five-year warranty, providing peace of mind for owners. Furthermore, the battery in High-Voltage Battery BMW Electric cars is protected by an eight-year/160,000km warranty, ensuring long-term reliability. This warranty coverage underscores BMW's commitment to supporting owners throughout their ownership experience.

Verdict

The 2024 BMW M3 continues its legacy as a dominant force in the performance sedan segment, offering power, agility, and style. With a design that commands attention and a potent 3.0-liter twin-turbo six-cylinder engine, the M3 delivers a thrilling driving experience. While its starting BMW M3 price of $161,300 positions it as a luxury choice, the M3 justifies this with its impressive performance and premium features. The range of engine options, transmission choices, and drive systems cater to a variety of preferences, ensuring there's an M3 model for every enthusiast. However, the M3's firm suspension and high cost of ownership may not appeal to everyone.