Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2018 M3.
The 2018 BMW M3 is a passenger car fitted with an Automatic (AM-S7) transmission and EPA fuel economy estimates of 17 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 20 mpg combined. Against the backdrop of the model’s 1990–2025 complaint history—a timeline spanning from a single complaint in 1996 to 216 in 2006—this model year registers only eight total owner complaints and zero recalls. That low volume places it among the more reliable entries in the lineage, though the Fuel/Propulsion System stands as the top complaint area.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.
From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI N/A · 60 O.E. AmpHrs. Li-ion Battery only. CCA battery, OE oil filter 11428683168. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.
| Engine oil filter | 11428683168 alt 11428637821 |
| Engine air filter | 13727843283 alt 13727843284 |
| Spark plug | 12120039634 |
| Battery | 61218047221 |
| Front wiper blades | 61615A43585 |
| Thermostat | 11538632664 alt 11537586885 |
| Cabin air filter | 64119237555 alt 64116821995 |
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Automatic (AM-S7) |
| Overall length | 183.9 in |
| Overall width | 74 in |
| Overall height | 56.3 in |
| Wheelbase | 110.6 in |
| Curb weight | 3516 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 62.2 / 63 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 52/48 |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 17 / 24 / 20 mpg |
| Drivetrain | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Passenger volume | 96 cu ft |
| Cargo volume | 12 cu ft |
| Recommended fuel | Premium Gasoline |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the M3 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Competition Package Sedan 3.0L Twin-Turbo I-6 | 4.00 sec | 12.20 sec | 444 hp | RWD |
| 2016 | Competition Package Sedan 3.0L Twin-Turbo I-6 | 4.00 sec | 12.20 sec | 444 hp | RWD |
| 2016 | Competition Package Sedan 3.0L Twin-Turbo I-6 | 4.30 sec | 12.50 sec | 444 hp | RWD |
| 2015 | Sedan 3.0L Twin-Turbo I-6 | 3.80 sec | 12.00 sec | 425 hp | RWD |
| 2015 | Sedan 3.0L Twin-Turbo I-6 | 3.80 sec | 12.20 sec | 425 hp | RWD |
| 2015 | Sedan 3.0L Twin-Turbo I-6 | 3.80 sec | 12.10 sec | 425 hp | RWD |
| 2015 | Sedan 3.0L Twin-Turbo I-6 | 3.90 sec | 12.20 sec | 425 hp | RWD |
| 2015 | Sedan 3.0L Twin-Turbo I-6 | 3.90 sec | 12.30 sec | 425 hp | RWD |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 103 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 20.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-5-3-6-2-4. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.
| Brake Fluid | DOT 4 |
| Clutch Fluid | DOT 4 |
| Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s) | 9.0 ft-lbs |
| Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s) | 7.4 ft-lbs |
| Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s) | 35.0 ft-lbs |
| Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s) | 16.0 ft-lbs |
| Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts | 11 ft-lbs |
| Nitrogen Oxide (NOX) Sensor Bolt(s) | 33.0 ft-lbs |
| Oil Pan to Block Bolts | 9.0 ft-lbs |
| Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug | 20.0 ft-lbs |
| Lug Nuts | 103 ft-lbs |
| Cylinder Firing Order | 1-5-3-6-2-4 |
| Refrigerant | R134a |
| Refrigerant Capacity | 1.19-1.23 lbs |
| Oil Group | PAG |
| Oil Type | 46 |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 60 O.E. AmpHrs. Li-ion Battery only. cca |
| RPM | 725.0 |
| 1 | 15.0 ft. lbs. | 15 ft. lbs |
| 2 | 70 degrees | 70 degrees |
| 3 | 70 | |
| 1 | 15.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90 | 15 ft. lbs |
Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Use new bolts coated with clean engine oil. Tighten all bolts to finger tight then continue on with the following procedure.
| 1 | Bolts 1-14 | 22 ft. lbs |
| 2 | Bolts 1-14 | 90 degrees |
| 3 | Bolts 1-14 | 180 degrees |
| 4 | M9 Bolts | 16.2 ft. lbs |
| 5 | M9 Bolts | 16.2 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 44.0 ft. lbs. | 44 ft. lbs |
| 2 | 45 | |
| 1 | Bolt 1 | 3.7 ft. lbs |
| 2 | Bolt 1 | 8.8 ft. lbs |
| 3 | Bolts 2-10 | 8.8 ft. lbs |
| 4 | Bolt 1 | 90 degrees |
| 5 | 13.2 | |
| 1 | 15.0 ft. lbs. | 15 ft. lbs |
| 2 | 70 | |
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 1,200 mi.
| At 1,200 mi | Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Intercooler (drain & refill) |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 2018 BMW M3 sits at the tail end of its generation's federal record, and the data tells a maturation story. TSBs — a proxy for manufacturer-identified service needs — peaked sharply in 2015 at 205 and declined steadily to 162 by 2017, then dropped to 55 for the 2018 model year, suggesting BMW had worked through the bulk of known service issues by this point. Recalls followed a similar downward arc, falling from 3 in both 2015 and 2016 to 2 in 2017 and reaching zero in 2018 — the only year in this generation with no recalls at all. Complaints, however, ticked up modestly to 8 from just 3 in 2017, with the dominant area being Fuel/Propulsion System (5 of 8 complaints); the data does not specify a root cause for these. Notably, there were no crash or fire complaints recorded for 2018, and no open investigations. After 2018, the record jumps to 2021 with 3 recalls returning, though complaints remained minimal (1–3 per year), indicating no latent defect wave emerged. **Bottom line: the 2018 M3 is a strong year to buy within this generation — zero recalls, no investigations, a dramatically reduced TSB count, and low complaint volume — but prospective buyers should have the fuel and propulsion system specifically inspected, as that is where the limited complaint activity clusters.**
All 8 complaints on record, top 4 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.
Showing 5 of 55 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| B064725 | 2025-09-09 | Service Brakes | Protection Plate Return |
| B340921 | 2025-01-14 | Service Brakes | A turbine-like noise can be heard from the rear axle while deceleration during the first… |
| B611305 | 2024-01-11 | Electrical System | The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process… |
| B310124 | 2024-01-09 | Suspension | With the vehicle is on a lift and the front struts are in the extended position, there… |
| B360121 | 2024-01-08 | Steering | At low outside temperatures (below 40 degrees F) and slow driving speeds (i.e. when… |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 17 city / 24 highway / 20 combined mpg.