Two icons of the BMW M range, head to head. The M3 is the original compact sports saloon; the M4 is its coupe sibling. Here's the honest verdict on reliability, running costs, and which M car is actually worth buying today.
The F82 M4 wins for most buyers — it's a more modern car with better weight distribution, a wider track, and higher retained values. The E92 M3 is the enthusiast's choice, offering a naturally aspirated V8 soundtrack and a classic driving experience, but its age means more frequent repairs and a lower value threshold for major engine work. The G80/G82 generation is the most capable but also the most expensive.
Full spec comparison, five-year cost of ownership, the case for each generation, and which to choose for your situation below.
| E9x M3 (2007–2013) | F8x M3/M4 (2014–2020) | G8x M3/M4 (2020–present) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chassis | E90/E92/E93 (saloon/coupe/cabriolet) | F80 (saloon) / F82 (coupe) / F83 (cabriolet) | G80 (saloon) / G82 (coupe) / G83 (cabriolet) |
| 2025 UK Enquiries | 28 [EM-VERIFIED] | 147 [EM-VERIFIED] | — |
| Typical UK Value | £15,000–£60,000 [THIRD-PARTY] | £20,000–£80,000 [THIRD-PARTY] | £50,000–£120,000+ [THIRD-PARTY] |
| Recon Supply Cost | £6,000–£9,000 (S65) | £8,000–£14,000 (S55) | £10,000–£18,000+ (S58) |
| R&R Labour | 14–18 hrs | 16–22 hrs | 18–24 hrs |
| Defining Failure | Rod bearings / throttle actuators | Crank hub slip (early) | EGR / cooling system |
| Best For | Enthusiasts, naturally aspirated V8 fans, classic M3 collectors | Daily drivers, track day cars, modern M performance | New car buyers, ultimate performance, warranty seekers |
For most buyers, the F82 M4 is the stronger choice. It generates far more enquiries in our data (147 vs 28) because it's a more usable modern car with better reliability and higher retained values. The E9x M3, while more affordable to purchase, can easily become a money pit — a £6,000–£9,000 engine replacement on a £15,000 car is a scrap threshold proposition. That said, the E9x M3 is not a bad car — it's a brilliant one, but it's now a classic. Buy it for the experience, not for the economics. If you can afford the G80/G82, it's the best M car ever made.
The E9x M3 is the last naturally aspirated M3 — powered by the legendary S65 4.0-litre V8, revving to 8,400 rpm. It's a masterpiece of engineering, but it comes with two well-documented failure modes: rod bearing wear (catastrophic if left unchecked) and throttle actuator failure (common at 60–90k miles). Both are expensive to fix — rod bearings cost £2,000–£4,000, and throttle actuators around £1,000–£1,500. At £15,000–£60,000, the E9x M3 is a classic, but you're buying a 15-year-old car. Full specs, fitment and reliability rating live on the S65 Knowledge Centre.
The F82 M4 brought the M car into the turbocharged era — powered by the S55 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six, delivering 425–444 bhp. It's a more efficient and more powerful car than the E9x, but it has its own weakness: the crank hub can slip on early cars (pre-2018), which can be catastrophic. The fix is around £1,500–£3,000 as a preventative measure. The F82 is a much better daily driver, with better fuel economy, more torque, and a more modern interior. Full specs and fitment on the S55 Knowledge Centre.
The practical cost difference between these two generations over five years is driven by three factors: depreciation, running costs, and the probability of a major engine failure. The F82 M4 will cost more to buy but will retain more of its value — a well-maintained F82 M4 will still be worth £25,000+ after five years, while an E9x M3 will have dropped to around £10,000. Running costs are better on the F82 — the turbocharged S55 delivers 30+ mpg on a motorway run, while the S65 V8 struggles to hit 20 mpg. The probability of a major failure is similar on both, but the E9x's lower value means that a £6,000+ engine replacement will often exceed the car's worth — a threshold the F82 is more likely to survive. The G82 is the most expensive to own but also the most capable.
Go F82 M4 — it's more efficient, more refined, and more modern. The S55 is a reliable engine once the crank hub is addressed, and the car is a better all-rounder for daily use.
E9x M3, decisively — the V8 soundtrack, the hydraulic steering, the classic shape, and the naturally aspirated character make it a more rewarding experience, especially on track.
F82 M4 — it's more economical to run, and a major failure is less likely to write off the car, thanks to higher retained values. The E9x is a money pit by comparison.
If you plan to keep the car for many years and are willing to maintain it, the E9x M3's classic status means it might actually appreciate, while the F82 is a tool. The E9x is the better long-term investment, but only if you can afford the maintenance.
One point worth being explicit about: neither generation is "the reliable one" and the other "the unreliable one" in any simple sense. Both have a known weak point (rod bearings on S65, crank hub on S55), and both can be reliable if maintained correctly. The E9x is more likely to suffer from age-related issues (throttle actuators, suspension bushes), while the F82 is more likely to suffer from emissions-related failures (DPF, EGR). The decision genuinely comes down to what you want from the car — a classic V8 sports saloon or a modern, practical M car.
For most buyers, yes — the F82 M4 is more efficient, more refined, and has better weight distribution than the E9x M3. The G80 M3 is the most capable M3 ever made. The M4 is the coupe version, while the M3 is a saloon (or coupe in E9x form).
The F82 M4 is more reliable overall — the S55 engine is robust once the crank hub is addressed, while the E9x M3's S65 V8 has well-documented rod bearing and throttle actuator failures. Post-2018 F82s have the crank hub issue fixed from the factory.
No — the E9x M3 is significantly more expensive to run. The S65 V8 is thirsty (15–20 mpg), requires more frequent servicing, and has more expensive parts. The F82 M4 is much more economical (25–35 mpg) and has lower running costs overall.
The F82 M4 is the better car — it's more powerful, more efficient, and more refined than the E92 M3. The E92 M3 is a classic, but it's now an old car. Buy the F82 for daily use, the E92 for weekend enjoyment.
Both are relatively straightforward, but the F82's higher value makes replacement more financially viable. The E9x's low value often makes a £6,000+ engine replacement uneconomical, while the F82's £20,000+ value makes it a more sensible proposition.
175 Combined EnquiriesBoth M cars analysed from real 2025 UK data.
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