Most common 2010 BMW M3 problems
Share of the 15 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
BMW M3 complaints by model year
Best M3 years: 2007, 2006, 2017. Years to avoid: 2008, 2009, 2011, 2010, 2003. Compare all years →
2010 BMW M3 recalls (4)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013 328i, 328i xDrive, 335i, 335is, 335i xDrive and M3 Coupes, 2006-2011 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 325i, 325xi,…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 11, 2020.
Electrical system › Wiring › Fuses and circuit breakers
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2009 328i and 328xi, 2009-2011 335d, 2008-2012 M3 Coupe and M3 Convertible, and 2008-2011 M3 Sedan vehicles. The connection of the positive battery cable at the fuse box terminal may degrade, resulting in an intermittent loss of electrical power.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace and secure the positive battery cable connector, free of charge. The recall began August 14, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Electrical system › Wiring
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2006-2011 323i, 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi and M3, 2007-2011 328i xDrive, 335i xDrive and 335is and 2009-2011 335d vehicles.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiring and electrical connectors, free of charge. Interim letters were mailed on November 27, 2017.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 128i and 135i coupes and convertibles and 1 Series M coupes, 2006-2011 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i xDrive Sedans, 2009-2011 335d sedans, 2006-2012 325xiT, 328i and 328xi sports wagons, 2007-2013 328i, 328xi, 328i…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module or inflator depending on the vehicle model, free of charge. The recall began March 9, 2018.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2010 BMW M3:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
What 2010 BMW M3 owners say
Air bags
Takata recall BMW notified us in March 2016 that it was doing a recall. Since then they have not contacted us. I sent them and email today and got an automated response saying, in essence, they would get to it some time in the future. Given the danger and risk involved a six month (and probably much longer) wait for a repair is unreasonable and inconsisent with the law., please urge them to move forward.
Takata recall. I don't want to die by exploding airbag please let me know when parts are available my BMW dealer will not give me any information regarding a fix date. I would like information or get on a list for my dealer to get a repair part.
Engine & cooling
Hey my name is [redacted] , I just recently purchase a used BMW M3 from a BMW dealership on 06/11/17. After a few months of using the car my motor gave a rod knock which is a common known problem according to the database. I really need help with this situation. This happened to be on the way from florida which was 500 miles from my house.
Rod bearings failed due to a manufacturer defect. Many BMW M3's suffer this issue because if the tightness of the engine which leads to oil starvation and metal shavings begin to destroy the engine. The vehicle was in motion, after sitting for a few hours, I start the car to discover a ticking noise in the engine. Upon checking the oil, I have found metal shavings in the oil.
2010 BMW M3 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0L 8-cyl | 6-speed manual | RWD | 14 / 20 / 16 |
| 4.0L 8-cyl | 7-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 20 / 16 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2010 BMW M3 a good car?
Based on 15 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2010 M3 rates use caution: 1.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the M3 at the same age. It is one of the M3 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2010 BMW M3?
The air bags — 8 complaints, 53% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (4) and transmission & drivetrain (2).
How many recalls does the 2010 BMW M3 have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2010 BMW M3, the most recent from January 15, 2020 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the BMW M3?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2007, 2006 and 2017. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2008, 2009, 2011, 2010 and 2003. See the full BMW M3 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2010 BMW M3 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 58,000 miles; 33% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.