By model year
The best and worst years of every BMW M car in our guide
Every model year gets its own Guide Score. Most of the gap between years is age: a newer car scores a little higher because it has had less time to wear. The years worth skipping are held back by something specific, and this page names it.
How to read it
The best year is the highest-scoring one.
Tip
For a car still on sale that is usually the newest, which also costs the most, so read it as the strongest car rather than the best value.
Listed as weaker
When it scores at least 3 points below the best and the score charges it for a reason: a different engine, a known problem that only hit some years, or a manual or rear-drive version that came later.
Listed to check
When it scores closer to the best, but a known problem hit that year and not the best one, so you know to check for it.
Recalls are left out, because a dealer fixes them free (by law for cars first sold within 15 years of the recall). The method page explains how each year is scored.
M2 M car
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| M2 G87 2023 to 2027 | 2026 (97) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
| M2 F87 2016 to 2021 | 2021 (91) | 2016 (89) score close to the best, but check for fuel tank leak. |
M2 problems by generation, with repair estimates.
M4 M car
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| M4 G83 2022 to 2027 | 2026 (74) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
| M4 G82 2021 to 2027 | 2026 (95) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
| M4 F82 2015 to 2020 | 2020 (84) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
| M4 F83 2015 to 2020 | 2020 (72) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
M4 problems by generation, with repair estimates.
M3 M car
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| M3 G80 2021 to 2027 | 2026 (91) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
| M3 F80 2015 to 2018 | 2018 (83) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
| M3 E92 2008 to 2013 | 2013 (83) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
| M3 E46 2001 to 2006 | 2006 (80) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
| M3 E36 1995 to 1999 | 1999 (79) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
| M3 E30 1988 to 1991 | 1991 (79) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
M3 problems by generation, with repair estimates.
1 Series M M car
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Series M E82 2011 | 2011 (83) | One model year only. |
M Roadster and M Coupe M car
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| M Roadster and M Coupe E36/7 1998 to 2002 | 2000 (80) | 2001 and 2002 (77): the S54 engine and rod bearing wear. |
M5 M car
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| M5 G90 / G99 2025 to 2027 | 2026 (71) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
| M5 F90 2018 to 2023 | 2023 (73) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
| M5 F10 2013 to 2016 | 2016 (68) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
| M5 E60 2006 to 2010 | 2010 (62) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
| M5 E39 2000 to 2003 | 2003 (79) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
| M5 E34 1991 to 1993 | 1993 (69) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
| M5 E28 1988 | 1988 (74) | One model year only. |
M5 problems by generation, with repair estimates.
Z4 M M car
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| Z4 M E85 2006 to 2008 | 2008 (76) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
M6 M car
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| M6 F13 2012 to 2019 | 2019 (68) | 2012 and 2013 (64 to 65): no manual yet. |
| M6 E63 2006 to 2010 | 2010 (60) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
| M6 E24 1987 to 1988 | 1988 (70) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
M6 problems by generation, with repair estimates.
M8 M car
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| M8 F92 / F91 / F93 2020 to 2025 | 2025 (70) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
X3 M M car
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| X3 M F97 2020 to 2024 | 2024 (68) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
X4 M M car
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| X4 M F98 2020 to 2025 | 2025 (66) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
X6 M M car
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| X6 M F96 2020 to 2027 | 2026 (60) | 2020 to 2023 (59 to 60) score close to the best, but check for leaking coolant expansion tank. |
| X6 M F86 2015 to 2019 | 2019 (55) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
| X6 M E71 2010 to 2014 | 2014 (49) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
X6 M problems by generation, with repair estimates.
X5 M M car
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| X5 M F95 2020 to 2026 | 2026 (59) | 2020 to 2023 (59) score close to the best, but check for leaking coolant expansion tank. |
| X5 M F85 2015 to 2018 | 2018 (55) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
| X5 M E70 2010 to 2013 | 2013 (47) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
X5 M problems by generation, with repair estimates.
XM M car
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| XM G09 2023 to 2026 | 2026 (57) | 2024 (55) score close to the best, but check for active front anti-roll bar spring. |
M240i M Performance
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| M240i G42 2022 to 2027 | 2027 (68) | 2022 to 2026 (66 to 68) score close to the best, but check for carbon buildup. |
| M240i F22 2017 to 2021 | 2020 (81) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
| M240i F23 2017 to 2021 | 2021 (71) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
M240i problems by generation, with repair estimates.
Z4 M40i M Performance
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| Z4 M40i G29 2020 to 2026 | 2026 (78) | 2020 and 2021 (72): oil pump failure and no manual yet. 2022 to 2024 (73 to 74): no manual yet. |
M235i M Performance
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| M235i F22 2014 to 2016 | 2016 (74) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
M340i M Performance
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| M340i G20 facelift 2023 to 2026 | 2026 (69) | 2023 and 2024 (68 to 69) score close to the best, but check for carbon buildup. |
| M340i G20 2020 to 2022 | 2022 (71) | 2020 and 2021 (70) score close to the best, but check for oil pump failure. |
M340i problems by generation, with repair estimates.
M440i M Performance
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| M440i G22 / G26 facelift 2025 to 2027 | 2026 (64) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
| M440i G23 facelift 2025 to 2027 | 2026 (62) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
| M440i G22 / G26 2021 to 2024 | 2024 (64) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
| M440i G23 2021 to 2024 | 2024 (62) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
M440i problems by generation, with repair estimates.
X3 M40i M Performance
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| X3 M40i G01 2018 to 2024 | 2024 (63) | 2018 and 2019 (63) score close to the best, but check for pCV diaphragm wear. 2020 and 2021 (62) score close to the best, but check for oil pump failure. |
X4 M40i M Performance
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| X4 M40i G02 2019 to 2025 | 2025 (63) | 2019 (63) score close to the best, but check for pCV diaphragm wear. 2020 and 2021 (62) score close to the best, but check for oil pump failure. |
| X4 M40i F26 2016 to 2018 | 2018 (55) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
X4 M40i problems by generation, with repair estimates.
X3 M50 M Performance
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| X3 M50 G45 2025 to 2026 | 2026 (63) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
M550i M Performance
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| M550i G30 facelift 2021 to 2023 | 2023 (59) | 2021 (59) score close to the best, but check for fuel injectors corroded by coolant. |
| M550i G30 2018 to 2020 | 2020 (57) | 2018 (56) score close to the best, but check for passenger seat occupancy mat. |
M550i problems by generation, with repair estimates.
M850i M Performance
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| M850i G15 facelift 2023 to 2026 | 2026 (57) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
| M850i G14 facelift 2023 to 2026 | 2026 (54) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
| M850i G15 2019 to 2022 | 2022 (57) | 2019 to 2021 (56 to 57) score close to the best, but check for fuel injectors corroded by coolant. |
| M850i G14 2019 to 2022 | 2022 (53) | 2019 to 2021 (52 to 53) score close to the best, but check for fuel injectors corroded by coolant. |
M850i problems by generation, with repair estimates.
M760i M Performance
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| M760i G12 2017 to 2022 | 2022 (56) | 2017 to 2019 (54 to 55) score close to the best, but check for active grille air flaps. |
X1 M35i M Performance
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| X1 M35i U11 2024 to 2027 | 2026 (56) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
i4 M50 M Performance
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| i4 M50 G26 2022 to 2026 | 2026 (55) | 2022 to 2024 (54) score close to the best, but check for combined Charging Unit failure. |
X2 M35i M Performance
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| X2 M35i U10 2024 to 2027 | 2026 (55) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
| X2 M35i F39 2019 to 2022 | 2022 (54) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
X2 M35i problems by generation, with repair estimates.
M235i Gran Coupe M Performance
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| M235i Gran Coupe F44 2020 to 2024 | 2024 (54) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
i7 M70 M Performance
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| i7 M70 G70 2024 to 2026 | 2026 (53) | 2024 and 2025 (52) score close to the best, but check for rear drive faults. |
M235 Gran Coupe M Performance
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| M235 Gran Coupe F74 2025 to 2027 | 2026 (53) | None: no year is held back by a specific problem. |
i5 M60 M Performance
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| i5 M60 G60 2024 to 2027 | 2026 (52) | 2025 (52) score close to the best, but check for rear drive unit and coolant hose faults and battery software faults. |
X5 M50i and M60i M Performance
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| X5 M50i and M60i G05 2020 to 2026 | 2026 (51) | 2020 (48): the N63 engine, coolant and turbo oil line leaks in the hot vee and oil consumption. 2021 to 2023 (49 to 50) score close to the best, but check for coolant and turbo oil line leaks in the hot vee and oil consumption. |
X7 M50i and M60i M Performance
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| X7 M50i and M60i G07 2020 to 2027 | 2026 (50) | 2020 to 2022 (48 to 49) score close to the best, but check for coolant and turbo oil line leaks in the hot vee and oil consumption. |
X6 M50i and M60i M Performance
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| X6 M50i and M60i G06 2020 to 2027 | 2026 (50) | 2020 (47): the N63 engine, coolant and turbo oil line leaks in the hot vee and oil consumption. 2021 to 2023 (48 to 49) score close to the best, but check for coolant and turbo oil line leaks in the hot vee and oil consumption. |
iX M60 M Performance
| Generation | Best year | Weaker years, and why |
|---|---|---|
| iX M60 I20 2023 to 2026 | 2026 (50) | 2023 and 2024 (50) score close to the best, but check for combined Charging Unit failure. |
Before you choose a year
A well-kept car from a weaker year can be a better buy than a neglected one from the best year. Each guide lists the known problems with typical repair bills and what to check, and Score a listing rates one specific car for sale.