Brake squeal
Aggressive M compound pads and rocks lodging between rotor and dust shield cause loud screech when stopping.
How to check
Normal for M cars; confirm it is pad noise and not a worn or warped rotor.
Variesno single repair costLow severity
BMW M3 G80
2021 to 2027SedanM car
85Guide Score 85Excellent$2,818 a year to ownAbout 10th of 69
- Best year
- 2022
Photo: Alexandre Prevot from Nancy, France, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The short answer
The G80 is the sixth-gen M3, sold in the US from the 2021 model year with the S58 twin-turbo inline-six.
The score, part by part
85Guide Score for 2026Excellentabout $2,818 a year to own
- Place among the 69 generations
- About 10th of 69, likely 4th to 19th
- Likely score range
- 81 to 92
- Confidence
- Medium
- Acclaim
- 73 of 100
- Chance of a bill over $10,000 in five years
- under 0.1%
- Best purposes
- Tuning, 9th of 69; Family performance, 4th of 22
The seven parts and acclaim, 2026 model year
- Heritage counts 16 of 100
- 3424% of it not measured
- Engine counts 16 of 100
- 62
- Drive feel counts 21 of 100
- 76
- Analog connection counts 10 of 100
- 54
- Weight counts 10 of 100
- 72
- Long-term value not scored
- not measured
- Ownership counts 12 of 100
- 69
- Acclaim counts 16 of 100
- 73
Each part is scored from 0 to 100 on a fixed outside scale. Acclaim comes from published expert lists, launch reviews and awards; the more acclaimed a car, the less its ownership cost counts in this all-time score (its dollars below are unchanged). A part marked not measured carries no weight for this car, and the others share its weight.
Long-term value, shown and not scored
20 prices from sources that allow this use (classiccars.com, driveway.com), read October 27, 2026: the middle one is $82,497, about 112% of the price new (102% once the price new is put in today's dollars). Asking prices sit above what cars sell for.
Long-term value starts to count in the score once 75% of the 69 generations have permitted prices. Today 43 do.
The cost to own
About $2,818 a year to own ($1,870 to $4,652), about $12,439 over five years, bought at five years old or its own age if older, kept five years.
Expect about $1,900 to $4,700 a year; routine maintenance decides it; no known fault adds much. Ownership risk: moderate.
Guide Score method v5-final.14, an editorial score built only from permitted, sourced data. How it works.
S58473 hpRWD, AWD6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic16 city, 23 hwy mpg
Colors it came in, most wanted first. Pick one to see the page in it.
- Routine service a year, estimate
- $450 to $1,000
Best year to buy
2022The best year to buy, reading 89 of 100, about $2,818 a year to own.
Why the 2022
Years to think twice about
- 2023 to 2027: 85, 4 points below the 2022. Curved Display and iDrive 8 on every M3 from model year 2023. (source, read October 27, 2026) The same cost to own, about $2,818 a year; chance of a bill over $10,000 in five years under 0.1%.
- If you can only find a 2023 to 2027: it reads 85, 4 points below the 2022, at the same cost to own, about $2,818 a year. The parts that differ: analog connection 54 against 74. Logged between them: Curved Display and iDrive 8 on every M3 from model year 2023.
- 202189$2,818 a year
- 202289best year
- 202385think twice
- 202485think twice
- 202585think twice
- 202685think twice
- 202785think twice
From our log of the changes between model years, each with its source. Only changes the score reads count as reasons; recalls BMW fixes for free, options and tuning notes do not. The cost a year is for a car bought at five years old, or its own age if older, kept five years. How the score works.
The longer answer
It is the most powerful M3 yet, and so far it has a good reliability record. Specialists describe the S58's crank hub as one piece, unlike the S55's two-piece hub that can slip, and no S58 hub slip has been documented, stock or tuned.
BMW twice stopped delivery of new cars over bearing shells, 2022 cars built July 13 to September 23, 2021 (SIB 11 07 21) and 2026 cars built October 16, 2025 to January 20, 2026 (SIB 11 01 26), without publishing a cause; no pattern of bearing wear has been reported since, so check by VIN that the work was done.
It comes as a rear-drive manual (473 hp) or as the Competition with an 8-speed automatic (503 hp), with optional M xDrive from the 2022 model year (523 hp from 2025). Polarizing front grille, but a serious performance and daily-driving package.
What to look for
- Check by VIN that recalls and BMW campaigns are done: brake unit 21V-062 and seat belts 21V-554 on 2021 cars, the 25E-A03 engine software recall on cars built to January 2025, and the bearing shell campaign on 2026 cars built October 16, 2025 to January 20, 2026 (SIB 11 01 26); ask for the repair order
- Confirm the latest iDrive software, full service history, clarity on any tuning, evidence of clean accident history, and desirable specs and colors
- Decide between the purist RWD manual and the faster, more capable Competition xDrive
Holds value
- RWD six-speed manual for purists
- M xDrive for all-weather capability
- The 2024 M3 CS and the 2027 M3 CS Handschalter (manual)
- M Carbon Bucket Seats
- Carbon ceramic brakes
- Signature colors like Isle of Man Green and Sao Paulo Yellow
- Paints from BMW Individual
- Low documented mileage
- Completed recalls
- Full records
Hurts resale
- High mileage
- Accident or salvage history
- Undocumented heavy tuning
- Common colors
- Missing service records
- Open recalls
Known issues to check
What goes wrong on this generation, roughly what a fix costs at an independent shop, and how to spot it before you buy. Every M3 generation compared.
Cooling on the 2026 car
- Coolant tank and charge-air cooler leaksMedium$1,200
Review service records, look for coolant residue around the expansion tank, and ask about low-coolant warnings and track use.
4known issues
4NHTSA recalls filed as the M3, 2021 to 2026
6owner complaints to NHTSA filed as the M3
NHTSA files some of this car’s recalls under the 3 Series and some of its owner complaints under the M3 Sedan, so they are missing here. Check recalls by VIN, and read complaints by year, make and model, at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Infotainment software glitches
Screen blackouts, audio cutting out and phone connection drops are reported; software updates fix most. 2021 and 2022 cars run iDrive 7; 2023 and later cars have iDrive 8 on the Curved Display.
How to check
Confirm the latest iDrive software is installed. A software annoyance, not a hardware failure.
$150est. repairLow severity
Carbon buildup (direct injection)
Like any direct-injection engine, the S58 can build carbon on the intake valves at high mileage; no pattern has been reported yet.
How to check
On high-mileage cars, ask whether the intake valves have been cleaned (walnut blasting).
$600est. repairLow severity
Coolant tank and charge-air cooler leaks
Parts sellers report seam leaks from the S58's coolant expansion tank and, less often, leaks from the water-cooled charge-air cooler. Watch for low-coolant warnings, and watch temperatures on tracked cars.
How to check
Review service records, look for coolant residue around the expansion tank, and ask about low-coolant warnings and track use.
$1,200est. repairMedium severity
Ownership and safety
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2023 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, M3, 330e, 330e xDrive, 430i Convertible, 430i xDrive, M440i, 2022-2023 430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive, i4 eDrive40, and i4 M50 vehicles. During a service visit, a replacement electronic control unit (ECU) may have been installed with incorrect programming, which can cause the automatic door locking (ADL) function to not lock the doors as intended.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 2 Series (230i, 230i xDrive, M240i, M240i xDrive), 330e, 330e Xdrive, 4 Series Coupe (430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive) M4 Coupe, M4 Competition Coupe, BMW 4 Series Convertible (430i, M440i), BMW X1 sDrive28i, xDrive28i, 2 Series Gran Coupe (228i, 228i xDrive, M235i xDrive), M2 Competition Coupe, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, M3, M3 Competition, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper, CooperS, JCW), X2 sDrive28i, X2 xDrive28i, X2 M35i, Z4 sDrive30i, Z4 M40i, MINI Hardtop 2 Door (Cooper SE), MINI Convertible (Cooper, Cooper S, JCW), MINI Clubman (Cooper S, Cooper S All4, JCW), MINI Countryman (Cooper, Cooper All4, Cooper S, Cooper S All4, JCW All4), Rolls Royce Ghost, MINI Countryman (Cooper S E All4), Rolls Royce Phantom, Rolls Royce Cullinan, and Toyota Supra vehicles. The passenger seat belt Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) may deactivate early, before the webbing fully retracts. As such, these assemblies fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M3, and 330e xDrive vehicles. The bolt securing the seat belt assembly to the frame was not tightened to specification.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 8 Series Coupe, Grand Coupe and convertible 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, M8 and 740 Li, 740 Li xDrive, 750 Li xDrive, M760 Li xDrive, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, X6 xdrive50i, X6 M50i, X6M, and 2019-2021 X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M50i, X5M, X7 xDrive40i, X7 xDrive50i, X7 M50i, and 2021 M3, M3 Competition, M4 Coupe, M4 Competition Coupe, X5 xDrive45e, 745 Le xDrive. The rotor and shaft within the integrated brake system may not have been welded properly and could separate during a hard braking event, possibly resulting in a loss of the Antilock Brake System (ABS) and braking assistance.
NHTSA files some of this car’s recalls under the 3 Series, so they are missing here. Check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Live from NHTSA, across the 2021 to 2026 model years.
What it costs to run
Our estimates at an independent shop, parts and labor; fuel from the EPA.
Fuel a yearEPA
~$1,680
At about 6,000 miles a year, our estimate for an M coupe, sedan or convertible, the two-year budget's miles; 19 mpg combined, premium gasoline
Factory tiresEstimate
$1,500 to $2,100
18in front, 19in rear (19in front, 20in rear on the Competition), summer
Brakes, front and rearEstimate
$1,600 to $3,400
Pads and rotors, independent shop
Annual serviceEstimate
$450 to $1,000
Oil and inspections
Pricing tires for this car? Compare the factory sizes at Discount Tire, and ask a local shop to match it.
Maintenance schedule
- Oil serviceyearly or 10k mi~$180
- Brake fluidevery 2 yrs~$120
- Cabin microfilterevery 2 yrs~$90
- Spark plugsevery 30k mi~$350
- Tire set, wear itemevery 15k to 25k mi~$1,550
- Brake job, wear itemevery 30k to 50k mi~$1,650
Sources and methodwhat each figure covers
Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov: its yearly cost is for 15,000 miles with 55% city driving, moved here to the miles a year the two-year budget uses. The rest are our estimates at independent-shop and retail prices from September 2026. Service is a year of routine maintenance at 10,000 miles: one or two oil changes, brake fluid, filters, and spark plugs spread over their interval. Repairs are separate. Tires are a mounted set of summer tires; brakes are pads and rotors on both axles. Prices vary by region and shop.
Prices near you
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Set your ZIP and this page shows the asking prices of M3 G80 cars listed for sale within 100 miles of you today, with the cars themselves.
What they sell for
$58,000lowest example
$78,000highest example
3listings tracked
2023 BMW M3
Isle of Man Green · 12,000 mi · 6MT · RWD
$78,000listing score 75
2022 BMW M3
Portimao Blue · 24,000 mi · 8AT · AWD
$72,000listing score 71
2021 BMW M3
Alpine White · 41,000 mi · 8AT · RWD
$58,000listing score 59
Representative listings, last reviewed September 2026. Examples chosen by us, not a live feed.
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Keep looking
The cars this one gets weighed against, by lineage and by price.
BMW E92 M3
84Guide Score for 2013Excellentabout $3,493 a year to own
BMW F80 M384Guide Score for 2018Excellentabout $2,506 a year to own
BMW E46 M396Guide Score for 2006Exceptionalabout $2,715 a year to own
Replaced
F80 M3S55 turbo six, manual or DCT, RWD only. The last small-grille M3.
This car
G80 M3Sixth-gen M3 sedan, S58 twin-turbo six at 473 hp with the six-speed manual, or 503 as the eight-speed Competition with optional M xDrive (523 hp from 2025). New large grille.
Then came
Neue Klasse M3BMW says its first fully electric M cars, on the Neue Klasse, arrive from 2027 with four motors, one per wheel, and previewed them with the M Concept Neue Klasse in June 2026; the press reports it as the electric M3. The head of BMW M has since said on record that a gas M3 follows, and that it will not be a plug-in hybrid.
Platform history, the BMW M3 sedan
The M3 traces back to the E30 in 1986. From the E36 onward a sedan body was offered alongside the coupe, and from the F80 the M3 is sedan only, the coupe split off as the M4.
- 1986E30 M3The homologation original, built to go racing. Two-door only.
- 1992E36 M3First straight six M3, first M3 sedan. A grand tourer turn.
- 2000E46 M3The high revving S54 six, an enthusiast icon. Coupe and convertible only in the US.
- 2007E90 M3The S65 V8 sedan, the last NA M3 sedan, sibling to the E92 coupe.
- 2014F80 M3First turbo M3, S55 twin-turbo six, sedan only.
- 2021G80 M3This carS58 six, optional xDrive, new vertical grille.
Head to head: M3 vs M4, F80 M3 vs G80 M3, i4 M50 vs M3.
Follow the M3
The M Index, once a month: any change to the M3's guide or score, with the reason, new recalls on M cars, and one thing to check before you buy.