How much does the 2021 BMW M3 cost?

Prices have held steady compared to this time last year, signaling a stable and predictable market for this model year.

There are 109 listings available, which gives you a modest amount of inventory to compare before you buy.

If you find a listing below $67,290.66, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2021 BMW M3 a good car?

The 2021 BMW M3 is a strong pick if you want a performance sedan that still works as a practical daily driver. It earns a 3.67/5 user rating and a 6.67/10 expert rating.

The standout strength is Performance at 10/10.

The M3’s twin-turbo inline-six, rear-seat usability, and four-door layout make it appealing if you want sports-car pace without giving up sedan practicality. The trade-offs are clear, though: the ride can be firm, and the fuel economy is not a highlight.

With 34.9% of listings marked as good or great deals, you have some room to shop selectively if you want the right mix of price and equipment.

Is the 2021 BMW M3 reliable?

The 2021 BMW M3 is built around a high-performance formula, so your ownership experience depends heavily on how it was driven and maintained. The expert assessment points to a car that is engineered for serious performance, with cooling and braking systems designed to support hard use.

The performance write-up also emphasizes that the car is capable of much more than most public roads can safely use, which is a useful reminder that abuse matters here. BMW’s maintenance perk language is not included in the source material, so your best protection is a careful pre-purchase inspection and a complete service history.

For used buyers, the long-term risk is that a hard-driven example can bring higher repair and wear costs than a more ordinary sedan.

What should I look for when buying a used 2021 BMW M3?

Accident-free inventory is solid at 79.8% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still check the report carefully, because a performance sedan like this can attract harder use than average. Prioritize a pre-purchase inspection that focuses on signs of abuse, uneven wear, and any evidence of neglected maintenance. Pay close attention to the condition of the brakes, tires, suspension, and interior controls, since those are the areas most likely to reflect how the car was treated.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base car gives you the core M3 experience, but the Competition version adds more power and an automatic transmission. The base setup also keeps the manual gearbox, while the Competition is the easier choice if you want a more relaxed daily-driving experience.
• Powertrain: The standard setup uses a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six with 473 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, while the Competition version raises output to 503 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. The base car uses a six-speed manual, and the Competition uses an eight-speed automatic.
• Safety package: Standard driver aids include forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, drowsy driver monitoring, post-crash braking, and BMW Assist eCall. The Driving Assistance Professional Package adds adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, extended traffic jam assistance, lane-centering assistance, evasive steering assistance, and emergency stop assistance, but it is only available on the Competition model.
• Infotainment: The M3 uses iDrive 7.0 with a touchscreen and voice recognition, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system is quick to respond, and the head-up display is notably large.
• Fuel efficiency: The base M3 returns 19 mpg in combined driving, and the expert review notes that fuel economy drops by 7 mpg versus the M340i.

Which 2021 BMW M3 trim should I buy?

The 2021 BMW M3 is offered in 2 trim levels: M3 and M3 Competition.

Here's the short version:

• Base trim: The standard M3 gives you the manual transmission, the twin-turbo inline-six, and the core performance experience, but it skips the automatic and the extra power of the Competition model.
• Sweet-spot trim: The M3 Competition is the better all-around pick if you want the strongest performance and the automatic transmission, especially since it adds power and makes the car easier to live with day to day.

The Competition model is also the one that can be paired with the available driver-assistance package, which is the safety-package note worth keeping in mind.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2021 BMW M3?

The market looks selective rather than overheated, so you can shop with patience and still find worthwhile examples.

• Deal availability: 34.9% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 109 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have held steady compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 79.8% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $67,290.66, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2021 BMW M3's resale value?

The current average of $69,930 sits slightly below last year's $70,626.

That small decline suggests the market has softened a bit, but not dramatically. If you buy well and keep the car in strong condition, you should be able to avoid the steepest depreciation hit that often comes with high-performance cars.

For a future seller, the key will be presentation and documentation. A clean history, strong maintenance records, and evidence of careful ownership should matter a lot more than mileage alone in a car like this.

Is the 2021 BMW M3 safe?

It earns a 7/10 safety score from our experts.

BMW equips the M3 with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, drowsy driver monitoring, post-crash braking, and BMW Assist eCall with an SOS button and automatic collision notification.

The available Driving Assistance Professional Package adds adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, extended traffic jam assistance, lane-centering assistance, evasive steering assistance, and emergency stop assistance. That package is only available on the Competition model.

BMW and the major crash-test agencies have not tested this sedan, so you should lean more heavily on the standard safety equipment and the condition of the specific vehicle you’re considering.

Should I buy a 2021 BMW M3 or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2021 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2021 if:

• 34.9% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 79.8% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have held steady compared with last year.
• The expert summary says this redesigned M3 performs like a star on a back road or track, especially in Competition specification.

The bottom line: If you want the most dramatic version of the M3’s redesign and you value performance first, the 2021 model is the one to target. If you’re more price-sensitive, you can still shop carefully within this year and focus on the cleanest, best-documented example rather than chasing the newest or most heavily optioned car.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from August 7, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.