BMW M3 issues
The BMW M3 is a new entrant in the market, not to be confused with the moniker. The newest iteration has combined the agility and performance it was famous for with a twin-turbocharged 6-cylinder mill under the hood to keep people happy. There have been some niggles reported, of which some of the most common ones include:
Mechanical issues:
- Engine stalling: A couple of owners have reported their 2021 M3 to stall while driving on the highway, causing a hazard for the traffic behind. The complainants claim that their cars jerked and started losing power, eventually stalling on a highway.
- Powertrain issues: Some M3 owners have complained that their AWD system deactivates and throws error warnings in the driver’s display. The issue causes a momentary loss of handling but the car restores its balance.
- Transmission issues: The M3’s gearbox is a superb unit but some people have had issues with the gearbox’s performance while driving daily in the city. The gearbox is said to lag a bit and give some jerks while driving at low speeds.
Electrical issues:
- Flickering infotainment system: People have reported the infotainment system flickering randomly while moving. In a handful of instances, the system completely shut down and concealed all important information.
- Headlight projection issues: People have reported wrong projection of the headlight beam. It was reported to obstruct the vision of the oncoming traffic, causing instances of road rage.
Safety issues:
- Cross-traffic alert malfunction: The cross-traffic alert system on some of 2021 M3 has been reported faulty. The system did not warn of any traffic while opening the car’s door. Some people have had instances where the door has opened and hit cyclists.
- Vehicle Speed Control (VSC) issues: The VSC on some 2022 M3 has been reported to reduce speeds while moving. This has also led to various warnings on the driver's display.
BMW M3 Recalls
The BMW M3 has had quite a lot of upgrades over the last iteration which has boosted reliability as well. But as with all German cars, the Bavarian has over-engineered the M3 which had to be recalled three times in its first year itself. The recalls were issued twice for seatbelts and once for the brakes. The 2022 model year remains recall-free but we can’t tell if that’ll be the case going forward.
The first recall was made on February 10, 2021, with NHTSA Campaign Number 21V062000. BMW of North America recalled various cars in its portfolio including the 840i xDrive, the 750Li xDrive, the X5 xDrive50i, the M3 Competition, and the M4 Competition. Improper welding of the rotor and shaft within the integrated brake system may separate under hard braking. This might result in loss of ABS and braking pressure, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers were asked to inspect and replace the integrated braking system if needed, free of charge.
The second recall was made on April 28, 2021, with NHTSA Campaign Number 21V298000. BMW of North America recalled the 330i, the M340i, the M3, and the 330e xDrive for an issue in the seatbelts. Improperly tightened bolts may not secure the seat belt assembly to the frame. This might cause the assembly to not restrain the occupant as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.
The latest recall was made on July 21, 2021, with NHTSA Campaign Number 21V554000. BMW of North America recalled several cars in its line-up regarding the early deactivation of Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR). If the ALR does not function as intended, it increases the risk of injury during a crash.
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Model Years
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Brakes
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Seatbelts
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2021
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1
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2
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2022
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0
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0
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What model year of the BMW M3 to avoid?
The BMW M3 is a very new offering from the Bavarian manufacturer and it will be too new for someone to judge for reliability. If we were to avoid one, it’d be very difficult for us and hence we couldn’t conclude. Hence, we’d say go with your heart’s desire but doing thorough due diligence is a must.
Should you buy a 2022 BMW M3?
Buying a 2022 BMW M3 is more of a heart’s decision than a mind's decision and we’d say that one won’t regret the purchase, be it in terms of reliability and problems. The super-saloon is fun-to-drive, reliable, and makes use of the latest technology to increase safety. Be it any model year, we’d recommend the M3 any day! If you have a performance bug biting you, there’s the M3 Competition as well.
