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BMW M3 E90

V8 era (E90/E92/E93)2008–2013

Six generations, six different engine architectures, one of the most consistently re-evaluated nameplates in performance cars.

28 reviewers · 144 videos · 78 press articles

Generations
E301986–1991E361992–1999E462000–2006E902008–2013F802014–2018G802021–present
// 00 the verdict

Reviewers strongly agree on its performance and handling, but split on daily drivability and value.

across 28 reviewers

// where reviewers split
Daily drivability
15 say · liveable

"I feel like the M3 is just that much more of a usable car"

EverydayDriver · ▶ 0:25
5 say · critical

"I can't afford to have the downtime that this car requires to operate normally"

Tedward · ▶ 11:56
Value
16 say · liveable

"for the price of a base honda civic you can get a well-maintained whaling v8 monster"

Throttle House · ▶ 5:01
2 say · critical

"look at how much money I would have to spend to do it and the running costs in the long run."

Savagegeese · ▶ 13:52
// the categories
// 01

Performance

4.5/528 of 28 reviewersstrong consensus

“it is quicker than the gt3 in a straight line”

positive · JayEmm on Cars · ▶ 18:48

“this engine is just glorious best M3 engine of all the generations”

positive · Zygrene · ▶ 5:30

“this naturally aspirated engine is just an absolute monster and truly wonderful”

positive · Carfection · ▶ 26:50
// 02

Handling

4.5/528 of 28 reviewersstrong consensus

“one thing I've always loved about the e92 and this one's even better than stock is the steering feel”

positive · Zygrene · ▶ 4:04

“When I ran around that corner back there had almost zero body roll and I was almost all the way in the power the entire time.”

positive · ThatDudeinBlue · ▶ 13:46

“This car just rotates around your hips. It is beautifully balanced.”

positive · TheTopher · ▶ 14:40
// 03

Fun to drive

5.0/528 of 28 reviewersstrong consensus

“it's just a recipe for fun and it's a recipe we don't really get in any modern cars”

positive · Zygrene · ▶ 0:18

“it's the most extreme of all the extreme m3s I love it”

positive · Carfection · ▶ 29:44

“BMW this car has so much more rawness and I don't know character than the new cars.”

positive · ThatDudeinBlue · ▶ 10:24
// 04

Daily drivability

4.0/528 of 28 reviewerssplit

“I feel like the M3 is just that much more of a usable car”

positive · EverydayDriver · ▶ 0:25

“I can't afford to have the downtime that this car requires to operate normally”

critical · Tedward · ▶ 11:56

“It rides beautifully it's very very easy to control... it's just so incredibly usable.”

positive · KiwiCarLife · ▶ 8:11
// 05

Value

4.0/527 of 28 reviewerssplit

“for the price of a base honda civic you can get a well-maintained whaling v8 monster”

positive · Throttle House · ▶ 5:01

“even for around 40 Grand I think this car offers so much value”

positive · Zygrene · ▶ 13:44

“for the amount of money these cars like you're talking about $25 to $30,000 US for like a good example. I just I don't think they can be beat.”

positive · Speed Academy · ▶ 36:00
How it stacks up

Hear it in the reviewer’s words

Jubbal & Cars
Posted Jul 24, 2026Open on YouTube
Moments worth your time
Doug DeMuro
Posted Jun 11, 2026Open on YouTube
Moments worth your time
Zygrene
Posted May 29, 2026Open on YouTube
Moments worth your time
More BMW M3 reviews
▶ play all (38)
2008 BMW E92 M3 Review - Should You Build a High Mileage E92?Zygrene
After 3,000 Miles in an E92 BMW M3 - Do I Still Want One?JayEmm on Cars
E92 BMW M3 Lime Rock Edition (6-Speed Manual) - POV Driving ImpressionsTheTopher
BUY IT WHILE YOU CAN! Why The BMW E92 M3 is The BEST Petrolhead Car for UNDER £20,000JayEmm on Cars
2011 BMW E92 M3 Competition Review - Why I'm Starting To Prefer E9x Over E46Zygrene
2008 BMW E92 M3 Review - Best Mods For The E9X Platform?Zygrene
2008 BMW E90 M3 Track Review - S65 V8 At Full Tilt!Zygrene
Is the E90 M3 the Best M Car Ever Made?KiwiCarLife
BMW E90 M3 (DCT) Review | The BEST Sounding BMWDrive Wrench Repeat
BMW M3 Electrical Issues and Vibrations - Why My 106k Mile E92 Has Been Gone (POV Binaural Audio)Tedward
2011 BMW E92 M3 Competition Review - THIS is how you mod an M3!Zygrene
BMW E92 M3 | Future Collectible?Savagegeese
BMW E92 M3 Review - Best All Around Sports Car Under $30k?Zygrene
2010 BMW E92 M3- Bargain or Money Pit? Rainy POV Drive (Binaural Audio)Tedward
Why The BMW E92 M3 Is A Flawed Car, But You Need To Buy One Anyway (Review)JayEmm on Cars
Here's Why the BMW M3 E92 Was the Craziest BMW M3Doug DeMuro
2009 BMW M3 ReviewShootingCars
BMW M3 E92 - The Best Modern BMW? | POV Binaural ReviewJubbal & Cars
The Most Meticulous BMW M3 Build of ALL TIME (INSANE SOUND)ThatDudeinBlue
Before you buy an E92 M3Tedward
2011 BMW E92 M3 Track Review - Best Handling M Car I've Ever Driven!Zygrene
2008 BMW M3 Review - I Need A V8 In My Life!ShootingCars
I BOUGHT AN E90 M3 SALOON!Calvin's Car Diary
BMW M3 V8 E90 - Is this the best BMW M3 ever? E90 E92 E93 M3 History and Review.Cornish Car Collectors
Should You Drive RWD In The Snow? - BMW E92 M3 POV (Binaural Audio)Tedward
How to Save The Manuals and Why I bought a DCT E92 M3 - POV (Binaural Audio)Tedward
Life After Rod Bearings - E92 M3 Night POVTedward
This is the Ludicrous Spec of My SUPERCHARGED Track Prepped BMW E92 M3JayEmm on Cars
Is The Appreciating BMW E92 M3 Still a GOOD BUY?Zygrene
LOUD BMW E92 M3 - Valvetronic Designs V2 Exhaust (POV Drive)Tedward
2015 Mercedes Benz C63 AMG edition 507 POV -(Binaural Audio)Tedward
Supercharged 625BHP E92 M3 Driven HARD - At Last! (At Snetterton 300)JayEmm on Cars
BMW E92 M3 vs SNOW - RWD Winter Drifting (POV Binaural Audio)Tedward
Should you Track your Daily Driver - BMW E92 M3 POV (Binaural Audio)Tedward
What’s CLUNKING in My M3 - Diagnosing My BMW + Differential Service (POV)Tedward
BMW M3 VS BLIZZARD - Snow Storm Night Drive (POV)Tedward
Winter Ready E92 M3 Daily Driver - POV Drive (Binaural Audio)Tedward
BMW M3 E92 *VMAX DELETE* MANUAL // 320KMH on AUTOBAHNAutoTopNL
Head to head
▶ play all (19)
From the press · 78 articles