2011 BMW M3 consumer reviews

So far, so good! Awesome power. Excellent handling. Still too new to say anything about maintenance and reliability. But it is covered with the the 50,000 mile warranty.

So, this is my 18th vehicle. I've owned FWD cars, AWD cars. Honda CIVICs were a good start. I've owned a WRX, 3 Evolutions and an Audi RS 4. (Best of the AWD). I traded my RS4 on my E92 M3 and I am constantly in awe in the quality and engineering that went into this vehicle. As soon as you grab the key fob and unlock the door. It's as if the car is inviting you to get in. The layout is accommodating, everything in a well thought out spot. At night the interior is very comfortably lit. I love that about the car. Next is the start. As soon as you push the ignition button it's so quick to crank. No hesitation and the cold start is intoxicating. The neighbors know when you're about to leave for work. Little do they know, my drive will be way more enjoyable than theirs. The gear change from park to reverse is fast (7speed DSG). Out of reverse to 1st gear is just as fast and you can adjust the shift speed easily. Most of the time I drive in auto mode.(Hawaii traffic) When the road is empty or getting onto the highway it's a simple slap to manual and your automatically transformed into an F1 driver. With the gear changes just as fast as you can imagine. The engine is better than any other that I've personally experienced. SCREAMING, all the way to the 8400 RPM limiter. No dead spot in the band. It's pulls as if you're in a commercial jet liner on takeoff with no one else onboard. The sounds are muted just enough to keep the drive civilized but you know it's all business as soon as you press the big peddle on the right. As for the comfort, the seats are very supportive laterally. I like the seat extension at bottom of the seat. It seems only German manufacturers understand that concept. Just as with the entrance to the car everything is laid out very well. Distance to a/c controls and the I-Drive is perfect. The only real con as far as the I-Drive is concerned is the interface with finding specific places in the navigation. Maybe I haven't quite figured that stuff out yet to really speak about it. The stereo is well executed. No frills and simple but impressive enough to not upgrade it. Head room is not an issue getting in and out.( I'm 6'1") Leg room is not a factor either. I've owned the car for approx. a month. The color (Storm Gray) is subdued enough to not get noticed. But it's very clean and it turns heads. Other options for my car are, Premium Package, ZCP 19in mesh wheels, EDC, and Tech Package. I am very impressed with the car coming out of my '07 RS4. I did not think there would be another car to match what the Audi offered as far as the whole package is concerned. I do miss the piece of mind of the Quattro. But here in Hawaii, It really isn't needed.

Love the NA engine in this vehicle and one of the last of it kind. Enjoyed every day of ownership. Can't own a better car unless you want to spend more than $100K. Would recommend taking one for a test drive.

Drove the M3 at BMW M school in Spartensburg SC and went out and bought one! What a great car, tons of power when you want it but it can also be quite tame and used as an everyday driver. MPG is about 20 which is not bad for a 400+ HP V8. Love my car!

This is my first BMW and it is a hallmark version of the 3 series. I had considered waiting for the all new 2012 BMW 3 series but the regular 3 series is so common and while they still have great handling and power, the V8 of the M3 is a whole other level above. It is by far the most stable sedan I've ever driven. Grip seems endless but yet the ride is still very comfortable especially if you set the adjustable suspension to comfort. The interior is looking a bit dated compared to the rest of its competition and the space is a bit tight still. I think the smallish interior size is my biggest complaint however, it makes the car nimble and easy to park. Trunk size is also smallish but my other family car is a minivan so I'm fine with that. It's still adequate for a few small to mid size suitcases and handles regular shopping just fine. Also fits my two kids, both still in toddler car seats though if you are long of leg, it might get a bit cramped even for the kids. I do feel that this car is not the ideal car for a grocery run as the engine barely warms up. It's meant for higher speeds and open roads which in a city environment is a bit hard to come by. I yearn for a chance to take the car to a track day. Finally, the front bumper and ride height does take some care to not scrape. I've touched slightly a few times. Those used to low cars should have no problems but if your last car was not a performance car, be careful of ramps and parking stall curbs. Free maintenance is nice for the first few years. Just be prepared to pay the around $300 for an oil change post warranty. Good thing is the oil change is only necessary once every 12,000 miles. Bad thing is the M3 uses a specialized oil that very few people carry and if you intend to change the oil yourself or do it through some personal mechanic you'll have to source the oil from a few online retailers or BMW dealerships directly. Each oil change uses about 8.5 quarts at a cost of about $12-15 a quart. You can see why the changes cost so much, even if DIY. Those in snowy or cold regions like myself will likely want a proper set of winter tires to aid grip of the 414 hp. Again being a performance car makes things more costly as the smallest size wheel that will fit the M3 is 18". My last set of 17" performance winter tires cost me $95. The ones on my M3 now are $200 each. Wheel selection is also somewhat limited in the 18" size. I've seen a few people use 19" wheels for winter which costs even more for tires. Overall though the car is an amazing performer. The steering is so spot on and if you get a chance to open her up on an open country road, the drive is electric. V8 is truly amazing at the top end both in power, feel and sound but is just as easily driven in a mild manner when not pushed. In the city, in full auto mode, it is as docile as any other 3er. So if you have a spouse that is more Maria than Mario Andretti, don't worry.

Owned this car for 3 months. No issues. Fast as can be. Top drops, heads turn, tires burn. Awesome acceleration. I've averaged 17.5mpg with very spirited city driving and a trip or two from Memphis to Nashville to see the Titans play. Super plush seats that hold you firmly in place. Even the side bolsters are adjustable. The attention to detail is overwhelming. The redline for the tach even adjusts as the engine warms up. This is the sickest car I have ever owned. I plan to keep it for a long time.

I owned a 2008 M3 convertible which I loved so when it was time to turn in my lease I decided to just get a 2011 version. I test drove a 2012 650i convertible and it drove well and was a nice ride, but I love the tight ride of the M3. If you like a sports car ride you can't get much better than the M3.