By: Krish Persaud
Photos By: Josh Coish
May 2, 2025
Few badges mean as much to car enthusiasts as the BMW M3. It started with the E30 back in the late ‘80s—a compact, high-revving coupe built so BMW could go racing in DTM (Germany’s top touring car series). From there, the legend only grew. The E36 was smoother and more usable, the E46 perfected steering feel, the E90 brought a V8 that didn’t make sense on paper but made all the sense in the world at redline, and the F80 introduced turbocharging with brutal speed and sharper edges. Every generation added something new without losing the plot. Now we’re into the G80 generation—still rear-wheel drive, still available with a manual, and in this case, finished in Dakar Yellow with just the right amount of drama.
This thing isn’t subtle. Even standing still, the widened stance, aggressive front end, and flared arches give it presence. On the road, it’s a full event. Phones come out, heads turn, and every green light suddenly feels a bit more meaningful. Dakar Yellow isn’t for everyone, but it fits this car. It makes it look exactly like what it is—a celebration of what the M3 has always been about.
Power comes from a 3.0L twin-turbocharged inline-six, known as the S58. Shared with other modern M cars—including the M2 we recently tested—it’s tuned here to produce 473 horsepower and 406 lb-ft. of torque. The power goes to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. Throttle response is immediate, torque comes on early, and it pulls hard all the way through the rev range. Even in sixth gear, you don’t need to drop down to pass—just roll into the gas and it moves.
Around town, the M3 is surprisingly manageable. It rides firm but not punishing, and visibility is decent for something this wide. Switch into one of the sportier drive modes and it sharpens up quickly, but never feels overly twitchy. The clutch has a good amount of weight, and the shifter has that solid, bolt-action feel you expect from a proper manual. Steering is quick and well-weighted, and the chassis feels composed whether you’re threading through traffic or leaning on it through backroads. Our test car was on winter tires, but grip was never a concern. It just hooks up and goes, even when conditions weren’t ideal.
Inside, the M3 is familiar BMW territory, just turned up a notch. The Black Merino leather seats are firm but supportive, with extendable thigh cushions and solid bolstering that keeps you locked in without feeling too tight. The flat-bottom M steering wheel, red 12 o’clock stripe, and M seatbelts add just enough visual drama. Materials feel high quality throughout, and everything you touch feels properly put together.
BMW’s curved display is front and centre, combining a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster with a 14.9-inch touchscreen running iDrive 8.5. It’s quick, sharp, and mostly intuitive, though climate controls are still buried in the screen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included, and the Harman/Kardon sound system delivers clean sound with solid clarity across most genres.
Pricing for the 2025 BMW M3 starts at $92,250 in Canada. With the Premium Package, Dakar Yellow paint, and a few other additions, our test car came in at $102,750 before fees and taxes.
Natural Resources Canada rates the 2025 BMW M3 at 14.4L/100km in the city, 9.9L/100km on the highway, and 12.4L/100km combined. We averaged 13.2L/100km during a week of mixed winter driving. Keep in mind that this car requires premium—but you knew that.
The 2025 BMW M3 doesn’t need a massive overhaul to stay relevant. It still delivers the kind of feedback, balance, and outright capability that made this nameplate legendary in the first place. With a manual transmission, rear-wheel drive, and a spec that actually feels special, this M3 hits all the right notes. It’s not the most comfortable or the most tech-advanced car out there—but that’s not really the point. What matters is how it drives, how it responds, and how it makes you feel every time you start it up. In that sense, not much has changed—and that’s exactly how it should be.
