Used 2016 BMW M3 for SaleNationwide

Is the 2016 BMW M3 a good car?

The 2016 BMW M3 is a strong choice if you want serious performance without giving up everyday usefulness. It is a four-door sedan with seating for five and a roomy 16.9-cubic-foot trunk, and it was designed to appeal to buyers who want high-performance driving with practical day-to-day usability. BMW also offered a wide range of upgrades for comfort, convenience, safety, and performance, so you could tailor the car to different priorities.

The driving character is a major part of the appeal. The M3 uses a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine, and the standard six-speed manual version sends 473 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels. The source describes the car as delivering stunning acceleration, heroic cornering, and daily practicality, which is exactly the mix many shoppers want in a performance sedan.

There are drawbacks to keep in mind, including criticism of BMW’s electric-assist steering and the controversial grille design that drew attention when this generation arrived. Even so, the 28.8% good-or-great deal share suggests there is meaningful value in the market if you shop carefully.

Is the 2016 BMW M3 reliable?

The 2016 BMW M3 is presented as a compelling performance sedan that also offers everyday practicality, but it is still a high-performance BMW with the kind of ownership demands that come with that role. Its blend of strong acceleration, sharp cornering, and usable sedan packaging makes it attractive, and BMW gave buyers a broad range of equipment choices for comfort, convenience, safety, and performance.

That said, the car’s performance focus means you should expect careful maintenance to matter a lot. For used buyers, long-term ownership risk is best managed by prioritizing service history, condition, and evidence of responsible use.

What should I look for when buying a used 2016 BMW M3?

At 48.5% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should run a vehicle history report before you commit, then put the car on a lift or have a trusted technician inspect it. Focus on signs of prior damage, uneven wear, and any evidence that the car has been driven hard or maintained inconsistently.

Because this is a performance sedan, condition matters as much as mileage. A cleaner, better-documented example is usually the smarter buy than a cheaper car with unclear history.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2016 BMW M3?

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop with some leverage if you are patient and willing to compare examples carefully.

• Deal availability: 28.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 132 listings available.
• Clean inventory: 48.5% of listings are accident-free.

That mix suggests you have enough inventory to be selective, but not so much that you can ignore condition or history. If you find a well-kept example with strong documentation, it can be a good time to buy.

Should I buy a 2016 BMW M3 or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2016 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

• 28.8% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 48.5% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

The 2016 BMW M3 is the right path if you want the core formula of this generation: serious performance, sedan practicality, and a market with some deal opportunities. If you are especially price-sensitive, it can also make sense to compare nearby years and focus on the best-documented car rather than the newest badge.

How does the 2016 BMW M3 compare to the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 21, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.