Shifterati2021 BMW M3
Sold as M3 Competition
This page is a draft. It has not been approved yet, so read it with care.
Learn
What changed
- New M3 sedan, as the M3 with a six-speed manual and the M3 Competition with an eight-speed automatic.1
What it came with
Compare with another year
Buy
Watch out for
Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.
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High-pressure fuel pump on early cars 2021 One source so far
What to check: Feel for a rough idle, hesitation or lost power at high revs, and ask whether the pump was replaced under a service bulletin.
Euro Premium Parts dates the wear on early 2021 builds to about 10,000 to 30,000 miles.
Sources 4
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Coolant leaks All years One source so far
What to check: Look for weeping at the water pump housing and hoses, and for brittle hoses.
Euro Premium Parts dates these to about 20,000 to 50,000 miles, above all on 2021 and 2022 cars.
Sources 4
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Oil use All years One source so far
What to check: Ask how often oil was added, and check the level rather than trusting the service display.
Euro Premium Parts says it can appear early, above all with hard driving.
Sources 4
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Wastegate rattle at a cold start All years One source so far
What to check: Listen at a cold start.
Euro Premium Parts blames play in the actuator, at about 15,000 to 40,000 miles, and calls it minor.
Sources 4
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Carbon on the intake valves All years One source so far
What to check: Feel for a rough idle or a slight loss of power, and ask whether the valves were cleaned.
Euro Premium Parts dates it to about 40,000 to 60,000 miles.
Sources 4
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Stress at the rear subframe All years One source so far
What to check: Look at the rear subframe mounting points, above all on a high-mileage or tracked car, and look for poorly repaired mounts or a damaged differential.
Euro Premium Parts calls this critical if present, mainly on hard-launched Competition xDrive cars past 40,000 miles.
Sources 4
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iDrive glitches and sensor faults All years One source so far
What to check: Try the screen and M Drive settings, the parking sensors and the cameras.
Euro Premium Parts reports screen freezes and settings resetting on 2021 to early 2022 cars, mostly fixed by updates, and sensor and camera calibration faults.
Sources 4
Recalls
- 21V062000 2021
A rotor and shaft in the integrated brake system may be poorly welded and come apart under hard braking. Dealers replace the unit.5
- 21V298000 2021
A bolt holding the front seat belt to the frame may not have been tightened to specification.5
- 21V554000 2021
The passenger's seat belt retractor can switch off before the belt has fully retracted.5
What buyers say
Reputation: what owners and the press report
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Sought after: The Competition xDrive, or the manual for purists All years One source so far
Euro Premium Parts calls the Competition xDrive the best all-weather and fastest choice, and the manual base car the purist's choice.4
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Avoid: An early 2021 car without its bulletin work done 2021 Less sought after
Euro Premium Parts advises preferring a 2022 or later car where one is available, and confirming the service bulletin work on any car. In an owner forum thread listing BMW's service bulletins, owners of a 2021, a 2023 and a 2025 M3 report no problems of their own.4,6
Before you pay
Every warning and recall for this generation, with a box to tick.