Skip to content
Trimslate
SavedHelp

BMW

M3

Compact Cars · model years 1990 to 2027

Includes M3, M3 Convertible, M3 Coupe and 1 more as listed by the EPA.

See all 81 M3 trimsAll BMW cars

The verdict

Best year: 2025. complaints: 0, below this model's typical 2; recalls: 0, below this model's typical 2.

Worst year: 2011. complaints: 41, about 4.6x this model's typical 9; recalls: 4, about 2x this model's typical 2.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the BMW M3
YearTrimsMPGHPFuel costRecallsComplaintsInvestigationsTSBsTop complaintsVerdict
19901Gas18no data$4,300no datano data0no datano data
19911Gas18no data$4,300no datano data0no datano data
19952Gas20no data$3,850no datano data0no datano data
19961Gas21no data$3,650no datano data0no datano data
19972Gas20.5no data$3,750no datano data0no datano data
19984Gas20.5no data$3,025no datano data0no datano data
19993Gas20no data$3,100no datano data0no datano data
20012Gas17no data$4,550no datano data0no datano data
20022Gas16.5no data$4,675no datano data0no datano data
20034Gas17no data$4,550no datano data0no datano data
20044Gas17no data$4,550no datano data0no datano data
20054Gas17no data$4,550no datano data0no datano data
20064Gas17no data$4,550no datano data0no datano data
20086Gas16no data$4,800no datano data0no datano data
20096Gas16no data$4,800no datano data0no datano data
20106Gas16414$4,8004151 (1 open)97AIR BAGS 40%, ENGINE 20%, POWER TRAIN 10%
20116Gas16414$4,8004411 (1 open)83ENGINE 36%, AIR BAGS 16%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 16%
20124Gas16414$4,800361 (1 open)83AIR BAGS 67%, ENGINE 33%
20134Gas16414$4,8002131 (1 open)78AIR BAGS 41%, ENGINE 24%, POWER TRAIN 18%
20152Gas19.5425$3,950340130FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 50%, ENGINE 25%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 25%
20162Gas19.5425$3,950350114ENGINE 43%, POWER TRAIN 14%, STRUCTURE 14%
20172Gas19.5425$3,95023099ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 33%, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 33%, POWER TRAIN 33%
20182Gas20425$3,85000042no data
20211Gas19no data$4,05033052AIR BAGS 20%, SEAT BELTS 20%, STEERING 20%
20221Gas19no data$4,05000042no data
20231Gas19no data$4,05000020no data
20241Gas19no data$4,05000012no data
20251Gas19no data$4,0000009no data
20261Gas19no data$4,000no datano data0no datano data
20271Gas19no data$4,000no datano data0no datano data

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median1990: 18 to 2027: 19
Owner complaints2010: 15 to 2025: 0
How we score each year

We compare each year of the BMW M3 to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.