2003 BMW M3

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2003 BMW M3

Kelley Blue Book Retail $15,700–$16,250  

Average Rating

4.6 out of 5
Review This Car
Comfort:4.4 out of 5
Performance:4.9 out of 5
Exterior Styling:4.9 out of 5
Interior Design:4.7 out of 5
Value for the Money:4.4 out of 5
Reliability:4.6 out of 5

14 out of 14 people would recommended this car to a friend

Consumer Reviews

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Best car I've owned

by Bimmer
from gaithersburg, md | February 20, 2012

Rating from

(5)
Comfort: 5 out of 5
Performance: 5 out of 5
Exterior Styling: 5 out of 5
Interior Design: 5 out of 5
Value for the Money: 5 out of 5
Reliability: 4 out of 5

"No better convertible to own.. I've owned a 911 convertible which would be the only car that was as much fun to drive.."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Having fun


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0 out of 0 found this review helpful

Fresh Air

by Cabrio lvr
from New Windsor, NY | November 8, 2011

Rating from

(5)
Comfort: 4 out of 5
Performance: 5 out of 5
Exterior Styling: 5 out of 5
Interior Design: 4 out of 5
Value for the Money: 3 out of 5
Reliability: 4 out of 5

"Other than a few window rattles when their up I love this car. But then what's not to Love it is a M3 after all. Runs strong and still not to bad on mileage, sure super tight handling makes the ride a little rough but one has to expect that when you buzz around a turn like it wasn't even there. Top down lot's of fun and lot's of looks makes the cost worthwhile."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Having fun


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1 out of 1 found this review helpful

A dream come true

by Crew Chief
from Wichita, KS | September 24, 2011

Rating from

(5)
Comfort: 5 out of 5
Performance: 5 out of 5
Exterior Styling: 5 out of 5
Interior Design: 5 out of 5
Value for the Money: 5 out of 5
Reliability: 5 out of 5

"I'd been looking at these, reading reviews and watching videos for a long time, just hoping to drive one. I finally got a chance to buy one and it's been everything i dreamed it to be. This car is just amazing, the way it handles is unlike anything i thought possible on street tires. Even at 8 years old, it's still faster than most of the new sports cars on the streets, and would absolutely kill them with any corners. People complain about the cost of maintenance, but i've owned my car for a year now and have only had to change the oil, done at the dealership for a little over a hundred dollars and it's good for 15,000 miles. I've had absolutely no issues with the car at all, it just impresses me every time i drive it. My wife thinks the ride's a little rough, but it is a sports car, and it's still a better ride than most sports cars with lesser handling. The seats are incredibly comfortable, too, and that helps. I just couldn't ask for a better car."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Having fun


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1 out of 1 found this review helpful

M3

by Sniper602
from | September 14, 2011

Rating from

(4)
Comfort: 4 out of 5
Performance: 5 out of 5
Exterior Styling: 4 out of 5
Interior Design: 4 out of 5
Value for the Money: 4 out of 5
Reliability: 4 out of 5

"Wonderful car,should be loaded with the CSL parts to look aggressive.more hp would be great too.manual transmission is better"

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: N/A


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0 out of 0 found this review helpful

The Ultimate Driving Machine

by Mac T
from LA, CA | December 20, 2010

Rating from

(4)
Comfort: 4 out of 5
Performance: 5 out of 5
Exterior Styling: 5 out of 5
Interior Design: 5 out of 5
Value for the Money: 4 out of 5
Reliability: 4 out of 5

"This review is for a 2003 BMW M3. Ever since I got this car, all I had was nothing but good compliments. From the styling and performance, it is really a top notch car to have. It may not be a practical car for everyone to own because it does get very expensive to maintain & own but I guess you have to expect that from a luxury vehicle. If you can afford it, make sure you have enough money for the maintenance especially if you buy a later model. The parts tend to be hard to find, hence it becomes expensive to maintain. I suggest getting an extended warranty in case something breaks down so you won't have to pay a lot for out of pocket costs. Something to consider when you are planning on buying a car like this. I've read some reviews stating that they hate the ride of this car, but this car is designed as a sports car. Therefore, you can expect to feel the road when you are driving this. But this is not a complain for me. I like how the car handles and accelerates. The SMG transmission is superb. I like how you can use the paddle shift for down shifting. You have the option to drive it in automatic or drive it like a manual with the SMG. But manual makes it more fun to drive. The car is designed for a run flat so there is no spare tire in the back. This is sometimes becomes a worry. When I bought my car, the previous owner had change the tires to 20's which I discover is hard to find run flats for. Therefore, you have to consider if you want to drive a car that has run flats. The cost of the tires gets up there depending on the tires that you want. All in all I don't have much complain. I love this car. I would certainly recommend this car to a friend. Just be prepared to shell out some cash, that'll be my advice."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Having fun


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1 out of 2 found this review helpful

Great car

by Syndrome
from Phoenix | June 7, 2010

Rating from

(4)
Comfort: 4 out of 5
Performance: 5 out of 5
Handling: 5 out of 5
Exterior Styling: 5 out of 5
Interior Design: 5 out of 5
Features: 5 out of 5
Value for the Money: 5 out of 5
Reliability: 4 out of 5

"Great car for the money very good performance decent gas mileage. Suspension pretty tight but its what you expect from a sporty car like this. Only complaint I would have would be maintenance costs are pretty high, expect 2grand or more a year if you want to keep it in good shape."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Just getting around


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3 out of 4 found this review helpful

Still a blast

by M powered
from Huntsville, AL | April 22, 2010

Rating from

(5)
Comfort: 4 out of 5
Performance: 5 out of 5
Handling: 5 out of 5
Exterior Styling: 5 out of 5
Interior Design: 5 out of 5
Features: 4 out of 5
Value for the Money: 5 out of 5
Reliability: 5 out of 5

"This car is an absolute blast to drive. I have owned it 4 years, bought it CPO. In addition to being a performance monster, it gets respectable mileage (about 20 overall, 26 highway) and has been remarkably reliable. Not cushy/compliant on long distance drives would be my only minor complaint. Best bang for the buck out there today - wouldn't contemplate selling unless I could find a "younger" one at a bargain!"

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Having fun


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4 out of 5 found this review helpful

M3 Convertible : Slightly disappointed

by nhgraphics
from Beirut, Lebanon | September 5, 2009

Rating from

(3)
Comfort: 3 out of 5
Performance: 4 out of 5
Handling: 3 out of 5
Exterior Styling: 4 out of 5
Interior Design: 3 out of 5
Features: 3 out of 5
Value for the Money: 2 out of 5
Reliability: 4 out of 5

"Quick background: I've been dreaming about owning an M3 since I was 14 years old. 16 years later, I finally get it. My last car being an E39 540i, I have to say...I expected a lot more out of an M3. Yeah it looks cool. Especially with the top down. 19inch rims transform the looks of the car completely over the standard 18s, although the ride suffers badly with them and runflats on. Body and cowl rattle is quite irritating when on rough roads. I actually expected the thing to move faster than it does. Mine has a K&N intake and yet, i almost feel as if my 540i would outrun the M3. Yet, its not all negative. It sounds BRILLIANT when driven hard, and at higher RPM's. I read a lot of reviews about how the M3 loves high RPMS and comes alive in that band, and let me say...its all true :) Interior feels a bit old now in todays time. I could also be feeling this thing quite slow as my second car is a 2008 BMW 135i Coupe - M-Sports Package. Now THAT thing is friggin' FASTTTT!!!!! Would out perform my 540i, M3, etc etc any day. Just a pure pleasure to drive. Can't wipe the smile off my face once those twin-turbos kick in. Absolutely brilliant!! Other than that, i'd recommend the M3 for anyone who is used to slower BMW's, or is new to BMW all together. Although if you dont really care about looks all that much, get the coupe version, with 18inch rims on. That is definitely the best way to get the most out of an M3."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Having fun


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3 out of 12 found this review helpful

Used to drive E36 M3

by I LUV MY M3
from san diego | April 27, 2009

Rating from

(5)
Comfort: 5 out of 5
Performance: 4 out of 5
Handling: 5 out of 5
Exterior Styling: 5 out of 5
Interior Design: 5 out of 5
Features: 5 out of 5
Value for the Money: 5 out of 5
Reliability: 5 out of 5

"I Higly recommend this vehicle the best handling car ever great at sharp corners and if on sports mode will pull you on youre sit it took me awhile to practice driving on sports mode cause I used to own later model E36 m3 but got rear ended total lost got hit about 50 miles an hour while stop was in the hospital in 2 days with no bruise just minor muscle strain I trust BMW safety feature front and side air bags and that sports mode will blow you with every inch on that gas pedal"

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Work


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1 out of 5 found this review helpful

Incredible all around car

by Sports Car Enthusiast
from Texas | April 14, 2009

Rating from

(5)
Comfort: 5 out of 5
Performance: 5 out of 5
Handling: 5 out of 5
Exterior Styling: 5 out of 5
Interior Design: 5 out of 5
Features: 5 out of 5
Value for the Money: 5 out of 5
Reliability: 5 out of 5

"Let's just go down the list. Comfort-sure the suspension may be a tad stiff, but that's a given with a sports car. It's soft enough though that it's a comfortable ride and can be driven long distances without a problem. The seats really hold you in place in the corners. Performance-For a car made about 10 years ago, it performs incredibly. Cars today are still trying to match the M3's performance. The amazing straight 6 engine won engine of the year a number of years in a row. Hit the gas and this car will throw you back in your seat, no problem, and pull away from just about anything on the road. Handling-The M3 really hugs the corners and drives like it's on rails. The car is 50/50 balanced, and that really helps the car feel perfect in the corners. It's a blast to drive through the twisty roads. Exterior Styling-I've had people ask me what kind of body kid my M3 had without realizing that it was stock. It looks beautiful with its subtle power dome on the hood and the gorgeous fender flares. The lines along the car really look incredible. I'm going to have to say this is one of the best looking cars on the block. Interior design-The interior is very classy, definitely a big step above all the cheaply made cars here in the US. Nothing in this car looks cheap, and the steering wheel is amazing. Features-This car is a high tech piece of machinery, especially if you go with the SMG transmission, derived straight from F1 cars. The more you drive the SMG, the more you realize how incredible the gearbox is. Other notable features are the heated seats, auto headlamps, backup sensors, and all that fun stuff. Value for the money-these days, the value is great. When this car came out, it was a bit upwards of $60,000, and now it can be picked up for a price in the mid 20's. It's still better looking, performing, and handling than 90% of the cars out there too. Reliability-Everyone always gives BMWs a bad rep about how unreliable these cars are. Well I'd like to say, I have over 50,000 miles on my M3 and I've had no trouble at all. Sure, maintenance may be a little expensive, but you get what you pay for. Overall-IT'S INCREDIBLE! this car is one you need to drive at least once in your life, if not own. It's a blast."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Just getting around


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10 out of 11 found this review helpful

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*Invoice prices are made available by Cars.com and are not dealer advertising. All prices are subject to regional variations. Prices last updated 9/23/10. Click here for more information.

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