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BMW F80 M3 buyer's guide
2015–2018 · M3 (incl. Competition, CS) (S55)
Last updated
Engines by year Model-year changes Known problems Other issues Warranty extensions Recalls Inspection checklist Red flags Specs Paint codes Coding Ownership costs Production Sources
Models and engines by year
| Model | US model years | Engine |
|---|---|---|
| M3 (incl. Competition, CS) | 2015–2018 | S55 |
US-market models. Chassis codes: F80. Not sure which one you have? The VIN check decodes year, model and engine.
Model-year changes
| Model year | What changed |
|---|---|
| 2015 | F80 M3 launches (unveiled January 2014 alongside the M4). First turbocharged M3: S55 twin-turbo six, carbon-fiber roof, aluminum hood and front fenders.4 |
| 2016 | LED taillights (summer 2015 update). Competition Package becomes available: 444 hp, revised differential and DSC tuning, suspension upgrades, new front seats.4 |
| 2018 (LCI) | Restyled LED headlights (March 2017 update). M3 CS special edition (453 hp).4 |
| 2018 | Production ended in October 2018 because of WLTP emissions changes.4 |
US model years unless noted. "LCI" (Life Cycle Impulse) is BMW's name for a mid-cycle facelift.
Known problems and when they show up
Mileages are what the cited shops, specialists and owner forums report. They are typical ranges, not predictions for any one car.
S55 engine
M3 (incl. Competition, CS) (2015–2018) · S55 bulletins
| Problem | When it shows up | What to know | Repair prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crank hub | no mileage pattern | Rare (most sources say a small percentage, higher on tuned cars) but it can wreck the engine. Ask whether a one-piece/keyed hub upgrade was fitted.1,2,3 | No price yet |
| Charge pipe | age and boost related | The stock plastic pipe cracks, especially on tuned cars.2,3 | No price yet |
| Oil filter housing, valve cover and oil pan leaks | oil filter housing gasket about 60,000–80,000 miles | Shared with N55-era designs. A leaking OFHG can drip oil onto the belt.1,3 | No price yet |
| Turbo oil seals | reports from about 40,000 miles | Reported more often as cars age.3 | No price yet |
Known F80 issues beyond the engine
S55 crank hub. The crank hub is not positively locked to the crankshaft and can slip, according to RD Motorsport, on tuned and standard cars. Ask whether it has been upgraded.5
Warranty extensions and service campaigns 4
Warranty extensions (4)
- SIB 31 01 24 Strut warranty extension Strut warranty extension on BMW G01/G02/G80/G81 and other models (2015–2024); BMW extended the warranty on this part for eligible cars. Service bulletin · Jan 2024
- NHTSA 10212779 Component and Issue Specific Limited Emission Warranty Extension Component and Issue Specific Limited Emission Warranty Extension on BMW G20/E90/E92/E93 and other models (2012–2021); BMW extended the warranty on this part for eligible cars. Service bulletin · Apr 2022
- SIB 64 06 13 Air conditioning warranty extension Air conditioning warranty extension on BMW G20/E90/E92/E93 and other models (2012–2021); BMW extended the warranty on this part for eligible cars. Service bulletin · Nov 2021
- SIB 01 11 16 Fuel tank leak check warranty extension Fuel tank leak check warranty extension on S55 engines (2015); BMW extended the warranty on this part for eligible cars. Service bulletin · Aug 2016
Filed by BMW with NHTSA. Extensions usually follow the car to later owners and can reimburse earlier repairs; a BMW dealer can confirm by VIN.
NHTSA safety recalls 4
- Recall 24V288: head air bag 228I, 320I, 328D, 328I, 335I, 428I, 435I, M235I, M3, M4, 2014–2015. The head air bag inflator may fail at the weld joint, which can cause gas to leak from the inflator or result in an inflator rupture.
- Recall 18V713: driveshaft M3, M4, 2016–2017. The connection between the driveshaft and the flange may fail resulting in a loss of propulsion.
- Recall 16V653: frame and members M2, M3, M4, 2015–2017. BMW North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2016 BMW M2 Coupe vehicles, 2015-2017 M3 Sedan vehicles and 2015-2016 M4 Coupe and M4 Convertible vehicles.
- Recall 15V782: driveshaft M3, M4, 2015–2016. The affected vehicles have a driveshaft with a slip-joint that may not have been filled with grease.
Matched from NHTSA's public recall file by model and model year. A recall may cover only some cars from a year, and it may already have been done on yours. Check by VIN →
Test drive and inspection checklist
- Run the VIN for open recalls. Open safety recalls are free at any BMW dealer. Check on NHTSA's site or our recall page before you buy.6
- Scan for stored fault codes with a BMW-capable tool. A generic OBD reader misses most BMW modules. Specialist guides recommend a BMW-level scan (ISTA or similar) to catch faults that have been cleared from the dash but still stored.7,8
- Start it from cold. Ask the seller not to warm the car up first. Chain rattle, VANOS rattle, lifter tick and rough idle show most clearly in the first seconds after a cold start.7,9,10
- Ask a BMW dealer about warranty extensions and campaigns. Several BMW warranty extensions follow the car, not the owner, and some reimburse earlier repairs. A dealer can check the VIN. The list for this chassis is below.
- Get a pre-purchase inspection from a BMW specialist. A few hundred dollars for an independent BMW specialist is the usual advice, especially for M cars and high-mileage turbo engines.11,7
- Ask whether the crank hub has been done. Ask for the invoice showing what was fitted and who fitted it.5
- Cold start. Blue smoke on start-up or after idling points to valve stem seals. A tap from the front of the engine that fades as it warms points to camshaft alignment.5
- Warning lights and cleared codes. Ask whether any fault codes were cleared recently.5
- Gearbox feel. DCT changes should be quick and smooth; a manual should not crunch.5
- Track use and tuning. Heavily worn brakes, tire shoulder wear and worn seat or wheel trim suggest hard track use. Ask who did any remap and what supporting work was done.5
Engine items to listen and look for are in the known problems section.
Service-history red flags
- Oil changes only at the long computer interval. Several guides advise changing oil more often than the onboard service indicator (CBS) suggests, especially with lots of city driving.10,12
- Gaps in the records around known failure mileages. If the engine section below lists a job that usually comes due at the car's mileage, ask for the invoice. A missing record isn't proof it wasn't done, but it is a negotiating point.
- Tuned or "deleted" cars. Tunes, emissions deletes and removed parts complicate warranty claims and inspections and raise wear on turbo cars. Ask, and look for aftermarket intakes, downpipes and charge pipes.
- S55: ask for records of Crank hub; Charge pipe; Oil filter housing, valve cover and oil pan leaks; Turbo oil seals.
F80 specs
BMW's US figures we have on file run from 425 hp (M3) to 425 hp (M3), with 0-60 mph as quick as 3.9 s.
A manual gearbox was offered in model years 2015–2018 (EPA listings). Full F80 specs: every US engine, transmission and drive by year →
Factory paint and option codes
Paint colors BMW of North America listed for the F80 in the ordering and pricing guides we read:
| Code | Color | Model years |
|---|---|---|
| 300 | Alpine White | 2016–2017 |
| 475 | Black Sapphire Metallic | 2016–2017 |
| A29 | Silverstone Metallic | 2016–2017 |
| A96 | Mineral White Metallic | 2016–2017 |
| B39 | Mineral Grey Metallic | 2016–2017 |
| B50 | Sakhir Orange Metallic | 2016 |
| B67 | Austin Yellow Metallic | 2016–2017 |
| B68 | Yas Marina Blue Metallic | 2016–2017 |
| S34 | Azurite Black Metallic | 2016–2017 |
| X08 | Champagne Quartz Metallic | 2016–2017 |
| X10 | Tanzanite Blue Metallic | 2016–2017 |
| X12 | Smoked topaz metallic | 2016–2017 |
| C1H | Sakhir Orange II Metallic | 2017 |
86 option codes are listed for the F80 in the same guides. Search them.
Only model years covered by the guides we could obtain are shown.
Coding
The coding apps' own lists show 185 settings that owners can change on the F80 with a phone and an OBD adapter, in areas such as Welcome Lights, Seat heating/cooling, Convenient opening/closing, Display options iDrive system, Tailgate, Audio. 168 come from BimmerCode's list and 17 more appear only in Carly's list.
Ownership costs
Routine maintenance: oil service prices by engine size, published BMW Value Service prices (brakes, spark plugs) from 16 US dealers, and the F80 maintenance schedule.
By model year
| Year | Models and engines | NHTSA recalls | Warranty extensions | Repairs we price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | M3 (incl. Competition, CS) S55 | 3 | 4 | — |
| 2016 | M3 (incl. Competition, CS) S55 | 3 | 3 | — |
| 2017 | M3 (incl. Competition, CS) S55 | 2 | 3 | — |
| 2018 | M3 (incl. Competition, CS) S55 | 0 | 3 | — |
Recalls and warranty extensions are counted when their published model-year range includes that year. Each one may cover only some cars, so check by VIN. Repairs counted are the ones whose engine was offered that year.
Production
| What | Units | Source |
|---|---|---|
| M3 sedan, total built 8,771 European LHD, 8,745 RHD and 17,161 North American cars | 34,677 | BMW M Registry |
| M3, North American spec | 17,161 | BMW M Registry |
| M3 CS 391 European LHD, 211 RHD and 661 North American cars | 1,263 | BMW M Registry |
Figures are copied as each source publishes them (retrieved October 18, 2026). "Sold" figures are BMW's reported sales, not production counts. Where we add numbers up, they come from one source. We leave out anything that hasn't been published.
Sources
- BMWTuning: S55 engine guide
- R44 Performance: S55 review
- Fast Car: F80 M3 / F82 M4 buyer's guide
- Wikipedia: BMW M3 (F80 section)
- RD Motorsport: buying an S55 M3, M4 or M2, what to check
- NHTSA recall lookup by VIN
- The Stable: E92 M3 buyer's guide
- Euro Premium Parts: E60 M5 reliability guide
- carsales: buying a used F30 3 Series (2015–20)
- carsales: buying a used E90 3 Series
- Road & Track: E46 M3 buyer's guide
- Drive-My: E60 5 Series buying guide (six-cylinder petrol)
Retrieved 2026-10-18. Bulletins and recalls come from NHTSA filings; owner prices come from the public posts linked on each job page.