2018 BMW M3 Problems & Complaints

Averageabout as many complaints as a typical year of the M3 at the same age

Owners have filed 9 complaints about the 2018 BMW M3 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is about average for the M3 at the same age. The most reported problem area is the fuel & propulsion system (6 complaints).

9complaints
0recalls
0crashes
1fires
0injuries
0deaths

Most common 2018 BMW M3 problems

  • Fuel & propulsion system
    667%
  • Other / not specified~14,000 miles
    222%
  • Engine & cooling~8,000 miles
    222%
  • Transmission & drivetrain~8,000 miles
    111%
  • Electrical system
    111%

Share of the 9 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

BMW M3 complaints by model year

’95’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’15’16’17’18’21121914111440543112148245153161345393
Owner complaints per model year, BMW M3. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best M3 years: 2007, 2006, 2017. Years to avoid: 2008, 2009, 2011, 2010, 2003. Compare all years →

What 2018 BMW M3 owners say

Fuel & propulsion system

- Fuel tank started slowly leaking fuel after filling tank up to full, only discovered after driving back home and noticing a strong smell of fuel. Repair records are with BMW of Sherman Oaks, CA. - Leaking fuel caused my garage to fill with strong odor of fuel which is unsafe as well as posing an extremely dangerous fire hazard with the exposed fuel leaking to the ground.\ - BMW Dealership inspected, verified no foul play and repaired the faulty part. - A CEL was displayed after which I shortly made a service appointment at BMW. It wasn't until filling the tank to full that I noticed the issue. As myself and others suspect, the leak could be due to the material that was used to construct the fuel tank, which is a plastic welding. …

Aug 2024

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Fuel tank rubber gasket failed How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Leaks large amount of fuel and can cause a fire or explosion Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes BMW technician looked over the repair. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No warning lights

Jul 2023

2018 BMW M3 engines & fuel economy

EngineTransmissionDriveMPG city / hwy / combined
3.0L 6-cyl turbo6-speed manualRWD17 / 25 / 20
3.0L 6-cyl turbo7-speed dual-clutchRWD17 / 24 / 20

EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 BMW M3 a good car?

Based on 9 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2018 M3 rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the M3 at the same age. 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 2018 BMW M3?

The fuel & propulsion system — 6 complaints, 67% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (2) and transmission & drivetrain (1).

How many recalls does the 2018 BMW M3 have?

NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2018 BMW M3. You can still confirm with your VIN using our 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 2018 BMW M3 problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 14,000 miles; 100% 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.