The Most Affordable Used BMW M Models You Can Buy In 2025

While just about every BMW on sale today comes with some sort of M badging, true M Cars are still pricey range-toppers that deliver the kind of power and performance we’ve come to expect from the marque. Used models can be a great way to experience M car performance, and there are plenty to choose from.

2013 BMW M3 Coupe

Base Trim Drivetrain

Rear-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

414 hp

Base Trim Engine

4.0L V8 Gas

Base Trim Torque

295 lb-ft @ 3900 rpm

Expand

The original M cars were all high-revving sedans and coupes, but nowadays, you have access to a vast range of proper M vehicles, from a compact little BMW M2 right up to a BMW X5 M SUV. Thanks to depreciation, many are now within reach even if your wallet is looking a bit thin. We picked 10 of the most affordable used M cars out there to make your search that much easier.

10

BMW Z4 M Roadster

$25,247

Fitting the legendary S54 motor from the E46 M3 into the Z4 convertible resulted in the awesome M Roadster. The 330-hp engine defined the driving experience, and while it wasn’t the last word in handling finesse, it was – and remains – a very quick M car that thrills on every drive.

Values have trailed its hard-top stablemate, but the added structural rigidity the M Coupe provides would only realistically be a benefit in the confines of a racetrack. If you enjoy top-down motoring and will spend most of your time on public roads, the M Roadster is a great choice.

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9

BMW E36 M3

Average Price $25,599

Original is best, the saying goes, and in many ways, the second-generation M3 (the first one the US got) is still as pure and unadulterated a driving experience as you could want. European cars were fitted with a more powerful M-spec engine, while the US got a hotted-up 3.0-liter version of the motor found in the standard 325i. It may have been down on power, but performance was not far off, and it has proven to be a less fussy engine in the long run. From 1996 on, the engine was upped to 3.2 liters, resulting in increased torque but no more power. An automatic was also offered but it really isn’t the best way to experience the raw nature of the E36 M3.

8

BMW E60 M5

$28,239

Following up the E39 M5 was never going to be an easy task, so the M engineers went all out to deliver one of the most technologically advanced road cars ever created. The 5.0-liter V10 is an absolute masterpiece, but it can be fragile and the single-clutch automated manual transmission is only happy at maximum attack.

It may be luxurious and have four doors, but the V10 M5 feels out of place on the school run, preferring to blast down a sweeping back road where it can make the most of its ludicrous 8,250 rpm redline. Prices are slowly rising for the good ones, but always make sure you have some cash in reserve for any unforeseen repair work.

7

BMW E63 M6

$28,584

The V10 M6 coupe was sold alongside the four-door M5 and was a fraction quicker thanks to a lower curb weight. Its Chris Bangle styling still polarizes opinions, but it certainly doesn’t disappoint when it comes to performance. As with the M5, make sure to find the best example you can and check that certain items, like the rod bearings and throttle actuators have been sorted. A convertible M6 was also offered if you prefer your modern classic V10 as a drop top.

6

BMW E46 M3

$31,362

Many BMW enthusiasts rate the E46 generation M3 the best of the lot. It certainly ticks a lot of boxes that defined the best M cars for decades. These being a high-revving naturally aspirated engine, rear-wheel-drive, an M-spec limited-slip differential, and a manual transmission. It was also offered with a single-clutch automated manual, and as a convertible, but the one to get is a coupe with a self-shifter.

These cars haven’t always led easy lives, so a solid service history and evidence of preventative maintenance like rod-bearing replacement can all push prices way higher than the average amount shown above. Some can be found for suspiciously low prices, too, and are best avoided. But find a good one, and it’s still an incredible drive.

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5

BMW Z4 M Coupe

$32,751

The average price of a Z4 M Coupe is a good $7,000 higher than the very similar M Roadster, which equates to a 22% increase. So what do you get for the extra cash? Well, to some, the coupe profile is more desirable, and it does contribute to extra rigidity and a slightly stiffer chassis, but both power and outright acceleration are the same.

The hardtop is seen by many as the purer iteration of this design, and values are likely to continue on the same trajectory going forward. Pick the one you prefer, and enjoy one of the last great naturally aspirated M cars.

4

BMW E92 M3 Coupe

$37,712

The first and last M3 to be fitted with a V8, the E90 generation was a big step on from the E46. It still had a high-revving naturally aspirated motor, but it was bigger, more luxurious, and heavier. The extra 81 hp it produced over the E46 gave it even more impressive performance, especially if you had access to a de-restricted Autobahn (and a de-restricted M3).

It sounded amazing, too, especially with an aftermarket exhaust. There was also a four-door sedan, and a convertible, and a decent optional dual-clutch DCT transmission. Values are rising quickly for these models, but make sure to get the best condition one you can find, as these engines are based on the S85 V10 found in the E60 M5, and require similar preventative maintenance.

3

BMW F10 M5

$40,212

The F10-generation M5 marked the arrival of the turbocharged era for BMW’s largest four-door M sedan, and it certainly proved how effective forced induction was in delivering big power and torque figures. While it may not have had the searing soundtrack of the V10 before it, the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 delivered a far bigger punch and took performance to the next level.

It was also more reliable, a fact that will appeal to potential buyers looking to enjoy one of these beasts on a daily basis. A slick 7-speed dual-clutch transmission is the most common on these cars. The US also got a handful of manuals, but good luck finding one.

2

BMW X5 M F85

$36,907

The first proper M-specification SUV received a cold reception from traditional BMW M Fans, but by the time the second-gen X5 M was released, most enthusiasts had warmed to the fact that a family-friendly SUV with sports car-beating performance had its benefits.

Being a high-riding and heavy SUV won’t have the X5 M challenging an M2 around a track, but it’s just as quick in a straight line, and it handles better than anything this size has any right to. When new, this was one of the priciest BMW models, but depreciation has brought it within reach of a far broader audience. It won’t be cheap to maintain, but this much power, space, and pace is hard to match at the price.

1

BMW F87 M2

$53,267

Looking solely at the average sales figures for the M2 obscures the fact that there is a large gulf between the last M2 CS and original M2 models. The latter can be found for closer to $25,000, while the former can command over $100,000. Part of the reason for this is that the first F87 M2 was fitted with a slightly modified N55 motor out of the 235i. It still had M-specification suspension components and drove like a proper M car, but values still trail the M2 Competition (pictured above) and M2 CS, which both got the bespoke S55 M motor.

They were a bit sharper and quicker, especially the very special M2 CS, but the OG M2 is still superb and is a much more affordable way into M car ownership. Manuals carry a bit of a premium, but the dual-clutch DCT transmission is no hardship, giving quicker acceleration and being far more pleasant in traffic.

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Sources: AutoTempest, BMW, Classic.com