BMW did something unorthodox with the E90 (sedan), E92 (coupe), and E93 (convertible) M3s back in the 2000s. After years of relying on an inline six-cylinder engine for the M3, the brand switched to a high-revving 4.0-liter V8, known as the S65. It transformed the driving experience and character of the M3, while dramatically elevating its straight-line speed.
Besides its towering performance, this was the last time an M3 badge adorned a convertible or coupe, once the M4 replaced it. It was also the last time the M3 had a naturally-aspirated engine. Special for all these reasons, prices of the E90/E92/E93 have dropped down to the point that you can acquire one for close to $20,000, which is what you’ll pay for a new budget car in 2025.
Related: Review: 2008 BMW M3 Coupe
Cheap to Buy, But Not Cheap to Run
2010 BMW M3 Cars & Bids
Scouring through this year’s M3 sales on Cars & Bids, one 2010 M3 Convertible sold for as little as $12,720, although it did sustain “unspecified damage” in 2018, so that one was far from perfect. Many others sold for under $20k, over the last year or two, but all had flaws of some kind.
Last month, though, a neat 2010 coupe sold for $22,027. That aligns with the Kelley Blue Book fair purchase price for a 2010 M3 Coupe, which is $21,809. On the face of it, that looks like a miraculous bargain for something so powerful and luxurious, but as with many older BMWs, the purchase price doesn’t tell the full story.
Cars & Bids
This 2010 M3 had already covered 126,000 miles and had its rod bearings replaced—a common and often serious issue with this generation of the M3. The related S85 V10 fitted to the BMW M5 and M6 of the period also suffers from premature rod bearing failures.
Various forums indicate that this job could cost you as much as $4,500 on the M3, and it’s recommended to perform this preventative maintenance job every 70,000 miles or so. Many M3s with the S65 and at this lower price point have had their rod bearings done. Regardless of which one you buy, it should be factored into your budget if you buy a used E90 M3.
However, cumulative smaller maintenance items can add up quickly, too. Last year, the seller of a 2011 M3 with 108,300 miles shared a service and maintenance bill of nearly $12k. This service contained many routine items, such as replacing the brake pads, but also many rarer fixes that inflated the overall bill. These are the maintenance costs you can expect with a higher-mileage V8-powered M3, and they can soon exceed the cost of purchasing the car in the first place.
Related: BMW’s Legendary V8 M3 Just Got a Modern Exhaust Upgrade
Performance Aplenty From Last M3 of Its Kind
2010 BMW M3 Cars & Bids
The 4.0-liter V8 in this generation of the M3 produces 414 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. It powered the M3 to 60 mph in around 4.5 seconds, assisted by a sky-high red line of 8,400 rpm. Transmissions included a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, which were available across all three body styles. The DCT was far better than the clunky SMG equipped to the E46 M3.
Back then, M3s were all rear-wheel drive, with no all-wheel drive option. Controlling all that power through one pair of wheels wasn’t always an easy task, but taming the beast that was the E90 was all part of the fun. It helped that this generation of the M3 was smaller than today’s M4, too.
To date, this is the only V8-powered M3 BMW ever made, and quite likely the last. That’s if you discount the E46 M3 GTR, with BMW ultimately deciding not to sell the road-going version to the public.
The E90-series M3s hold a special place in enthusiasts’ hearts, but although they’re now affordable to buy, they’re far from affordable to run, so keep that in mind if you take the plunge.
