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2025 BMW M3 Sedan Trims Comparison

Trim level differences

Available only as a compact sedan, the 2025 BMW M3 comes in base, Competition and Competition xDrive trim levels. Each has a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine, but power ratings and drivetrains differ among them:

The base M3's engine generates 473 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque, delivered to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. Choose the M3 Competition (503 hp, 479 lb-ft) for a bump in power and performance, but with that comes a standard eight-speed automatic transmission. More traction is available with the M3 Competition xDrive, which retains the eight-speed automatic and features an all-wheel-drive system with a rear-wheel-drive setting. BMW increased this version's power for 2025 (now at 523 hp, 479 lb-ft).

M3
Highlights from the base M3's standard equipment list include:

  • 18-inch front and 19-inch rear wheels with high-performance tires
  • Adjustable drive modes
  • M Sport rear differential for improved traction
  • Adaptive suspension dampers (adjust to improve ride comfort and handling)
  • Carbon-fiber roof
  • Heated, power-adjustable front sport seats
  • Leather upholstery
  • 14.9-inch infotainment touchscreen
  • Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration with wireless connectivity
  • 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system

The M3 also has these safety features:

  • Forward collision warning with automatic braking (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
  • Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
  • Blind-spot warning (alerts you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change)
  • Front and rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)

M3 Competition
The M3 Competition dresses out like the standard car and also includes:

  • 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels with performance tires
  • Gloss black exterior trim including the spoiler and exhaust tips

The M3 Competition xDrive adds all-wheel drive.

A handful of options are available on the M3. Notable picks include:

  • Executive package
    • Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield)
    • Adaptive headlights (swivel as you turn the steering wheel for better illumination in curves)
    • Heated steering wheel
    • Power trunk lid
    • Remote engine start (Competition models only)
  • Carbon package
    • M Drive Professional (includes Track mode as well as other performance displays and settings)
    • Carbon-ceramic brakes
    • Carbon-fiber interior trim
    • M steering wheel wrapped in synthetic suede
    • Carbon-fiber bucket front seats
  • Power sunroof (removes lightweight carbon-fiber roof)
  • Ventilated front seats
  • Drive recorder (records an image of the road ahead, which can be reviewed at a later time)
  • Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the M3 and its surroundings in tight parking situations)

The M3 Competition and Competition xDrive are also available with one extra package:

  • Driving Assistance Professional package
    • Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the BMW and the car in front)
    • Lane keeping assistance (steers the M3 back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
    • Lane centering system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
    • Evasive steering assistance (enhances the forward collision mitigation system with steering-based collision avoidance)
    • Front and rear cross-traffic warning (alerts you if a vehicle is about to cross your vehicle's path)

Which M3 trim does Edmunds recommend?

As much fun as it is to row the BMW M3's gears, we recommend the automatic-only Competition model. It's quicker, allows a driver to focus more on the task at hand, and is available with all-wheel drive for travel on slick roads. In addition, the automatic transmission paves a path to added safety features.

Compare trims side-by-side

Comparing average pricing near
Erie, PA
Vehicle
M3 Base
M3 Competition
M3 Competition xDrive
Vehicle
Base
3.0L 6cyl Turbo 6M
Starting MSRP
$76,700
Avg Price Paid
$75,693
See all M3 Base for sale
Competition xDrive
3.0L 6cyl Turbo 8A
Starting MSRP
$86,000
Avg Price Paid
$85,334
See all M3 Competition xDrive for sale
Hide similarities
Section Title

Features

Features

Features

Bluetooth
standard
standard
standard
Navigation
standard
standard
standard
Satellite radio
standard
standard
standard
Keyless Ignition
standard
standard
standard
Cruise control
standard
standard
standard
Adaptive cruise control
Not Available
optional
optional
Parking assistance
standard
standard
standard
Upholstery
premium leather
premium leather
premium leather
Heated seats
standard
standard
standard
Cooled/Ventilated seats
optional
optional
optional
Folding rear seats
standard
standard
standard
Sunroof
optional
optional
optional
Section Title

Specifications

Specifications

Specifications

Drivetrain
rear wheel drive
rear wheel drive
all wheel drive
Engine power
473 hp @ 6,250 rpm
503 hp @ 6,250 rpm
523 hp @ 6,250 rpm
Engine torque
406 lb-ft @ 2,650 rpm
479 lb-ft @ 2,750 rpm
479 lb-ft @ 2,750 rpm
Engine displacement
3.0 l
3.0 l
3.0 l
Engine configuration
inline 6
inline 6
inline 6
Transmission
6-speed manual
8-speed automatic
8-speed automatic
Tire size
275/40R18 (FRONT) 285/35R19 (REAR)
275/35R19 (FRONT) 285/30R20 (REAR)
275/35R19 (FRONT) 285/30R20 (REAR)
Wheel size
18 X 9.5-in (Front) 19 X 10.5-in (Rear)
19 X 9.5-in (Front) 20 X 10.5-in (Rear)
19 X 9.5-in (Front) 20 X 10.5-in (Rear)
Wheel type
painted alloy wheels
painted alloy wheels
painted alloy wheels
Run flat tires
Not available
Not available
Not available
Section Title

Fuel economy

Fuel economy

Fuel economy

City/Hwy/Combined MPG
City/Hwy/Combined MPGe
Not applicable
Not applicable
Not applicable
Fuel Capacity
15.6 gal.
15.6 gal.
15.6 gal.
Driving Range (city/hwy)
Fuel Type
premium unleaded (required)
premium unleaded (required)
premium unleaded (required)
Section Title

Dimensions

Dimensions

Dimensions

Turning circle
40.0 ft.
40.0 ft.
40.0 ft.
Curb weight
3,840 lb.
3,891 lb.
3,990 lb.
Ground Clearance
4.7 in.
4.7 in.
4.8 in.
Overall Width with Mirrors
81.4 in.
81.4 in.
81.4 in.
Overall Width without Mirrors
74.3 in.
74.3 in.
74.3 in.
Height
56.6 in.
56.6 in.
56.6 in.
Length
189.1 in.
189.1 in.
189.1 in.
Wheelbase
112.5 in.
112.5 in.
112.5 in.
Seating Capacity
Cargo Space
16.9 cu. ft.
16.9 cu. ft.
16.9 cu. ft.
Front Head Room
40.6 in.
40.6 in.
40.6 in.
Front Leg Room
41.6 in.
41.6 in.
41.6 in.
Front Shoulder Room
56.0 in.
56.0 in.
56.0 in.
Rear Head Room
37.8 in.
37.8 in.
37.8 in.
Rear Leg Room
35.6 in.
35.6 in.
35.6 in.
Rear Shoulder Room
54.6 in.
54.6 in.
54.6 in.
Section Title

5-Year Ownership Costs

5-Year Ownership Costs

5-Year Ownership Costs

True Cost to Own®
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Average Cost Per Mile
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Depreciation
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Financing
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Taxes & Fees
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Fuel
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Insurance
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Maintenance
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Repairs
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Section Title

Colors

Colors

Colors

Interior
Silverstone/Black Extended Merino, premium leather
Yas Marina Blue/Black Extended Merino w/Yellow Accent, premium leather
Black Extended Merino, premium leather
Fiona Red/Black Full Merino, premium leather
Kyalami Orange/Black Extended Merino, premium leather
Tartufo Extended Merino, premium leather
Fjord Blue/Black Extended Merino, premium leather
Fjord Blue/Black Full Merino, premium leather
Kyalami Orange/Black Full Merino, premium leather
Silverstone/Black Full Merino, premium leather
Ivory White Extended Merino, premium leather
Black Full Merino, premium leather
Tartufo Full Merino, premium leather
Ivory White Full Merino, premium leather
Yas Marina Blue/Black Full Merino w/Yellow Accent, premium leather
Fiona Red/Black Extended Merino, premium leather
Silverstone/Black Extended Merino, premium leather
Yas Marina Blue/Black Extended Merino w/Yellow Accent, premium leather
Black Extended Merino, premium leather
Fiona Red/Black Full Merino, premium leather
Kyalami Orange/Black Extended Merino, premium leather
Tartufo Extended Merino, premium leather
Fjord Blue/Black Extended Merino, premium leather
Fjord Blue/Black Full Merino, premium leather
Kyalami Orange/Black Full Merino, premium leather
Silverstone/Black Full Merino, premium leather
Ivory White Extended Merino, premium leather
Black Full Merino, premium leather
Tartufo Full Merino, premium leather
Ivory White Full Merino, premium leather
Yas Marina Blue/Black Full Merino w/Yellow Accent, premium leather
Fiona Red/Black Extended Merino, premium leather
Silverstone/Black Extended Merino, premium leather
Yas Marina Blue/Black Extended Merino w/Yellow Accent, premium leather
Black Extended Merino, premium leather
Fiona Red/Black Full Merino, premium leather
Kyalami Orange/Black Extended Merino, premium leather
Tartufo Extended Merino, premium leather
Fjord Blue/Black Extended Merino, premium leather
Fjord Blue/Black Full Merino, premium leather
Kyalami Orange/Black Full Merino, premium leather
Silverstone/Black Full Merino, premium leather
Ivory White Extended Merino, premium leather
Black Full Merino, premium leather
Tartufo Full Merino, premium leather
Ivory White Full Merino, premium leather
Yas Marina Blue/Black Full Merino w/Yellow Accent, premium leather
Fiona Red/Black Extended Merino, premium leather
Exterior
Black Sapphire Metallic
Frozen Pure Grey II Metallic
Frozen Brilliant White Metallic
Frozen Portimao Blue Metallic
Special Order Color
Toronto Red Metallic
Brooklyn Grey Metallic
Alpine White
Dravit Grey Metallic
Sao Paulo Yellow
Skyscraper Grey Metallic
Aventurin Red Metallic
Portimao Blue Metallic
Isle of Man Green Metallic
Tanzanite Blue II Metallic
Black Sapphire Metallic
Frozen Pure Grey II Metallic
Frozen Brilliant White Metallic
Frozen Portimao Blue Metallic
Special Order Color
Toronto Red Metallic
Brooklyn Grey Metallic
Alpine White
Dravit Grey Metallic
Sao Paulo Yellow
Skyscraper Grey Metallic
Aventurin Red Metallic
Portimao Blue Metallic
Isle of Man Green Metallic
Tanzanite Blue II Metallic
Black Sapphire Metallic
Frozen Pure Grey II Metallic
Frozen Brilliant White Metallic
Frozen Portimao Blue Metallic
Special Order Color
Toronto Red Metallic
Brooklyn Grey Metallic
Alpine White
Dravit Grey Metallic
Sao Paulo Yellow
Skyscraper Grey Metallic
Aventurin Red Metallic
Portimao Blue Metallic
Isle of Man Green Metallic
Tanzanite Blue II Metallic