Enthusiasts and prospective buyers of the BMW M3 should brace for a significant price increase for the 2026 model year. According to a recently leaked internal memo, all variants of the high-performance sedan will become considerably more expensive than the 2025 model.
This hike means the standard M3 is creeping ever closer to the $80,000 mark, making it increasingly likely that many configured M3s will push into the six-figure range.
Leaked Pricing Details Revealed
An internal document shared with the forum Bimmerpost and first reported by Motor1 has unveiled the new pricing structure.
Across-the-Board Increase
The leaked memo indicates a consistent $1,700 price increase across all BMW M3 models. This means the hike is not limited to just the base variant but applies evenly to the entire lineup.
Here’s the breakdown of the new leaked prices:
- Standard BMW M3: The price will rise to $79,575.
- BMW M3 Competition (rear-wheel drive): This model will now be priced at $83,775.
- BMW M3 Competition xDrive (all-wheel drive): The top-tier variant will see its price climb to $88,875.
Car and Driver has reached out to BMW for official confirmation regarding the authenticity of this leaked document and will update the story upon receiving a response.
Model Offerings Remain Unchanged
Despite the price adjustments, the core model offerings and their performance specifications for the 2026 BMW M3 lineup will remain consistent with the previous year.
Powertrain and Transmission Options
The base M3, though the least powerful in the lineup, retains its unique appeal. It remains the only model available with a three-pedal, manual transmission setup. This variant continues to deliver a robust 473 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels, offering a purist driving experience.
The Competition models come standard with rear-wheel drive, but the popular optional all-wheel-drive (AWD) xDrive setup is still available. These more powerful Competition variants boast 503 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. However, the trade-off for this increased power is that Competition models are exclusively offered with an eight-speed automatic transmission, without a manual option.
Production and Ordering Information
The leaked memo also sheds light on the production timeline for the 2026 M3.
Production Start and Immediate Price Effect
According to the internal document, production for the 2026 BMW M3 models is scheduled to begin in July 2025. Importantly, the increased pricing has already gone into effect for any new M3s ordered now. This means customers placing orders currently will be subject to the higher 2026 model year prices, even before production officially commences.
As previously mentioned, Car and Driver is awaiting official verification from BMW regarding these details.
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