BMW builds the M4 Competition and the M3 Competition from the same engine, the same power figures, and near enough the same chassis. The only meaningful differences are the number of doors and roughly $10,000. For buyers deciding between them, that makes the decision less about performance and entirely about which body style they actually want to live with.
The Brief
The G82 M4 Competition is the coupe half of BMW’s current M3/M4 twins, sharing its S58 twin-turbo inline-six, chassis architecture, and M xDrive all-wheel drive system with the four-door M3 Competition. It carries the same large vertical kidney grille that divided opinion when the G80/G82 generation launched, a design choice BMW has never walked back despite years of debate across car forums and social media.
What Has Changed
BMW quietly increased Competition xDrive output from 375kW to 390kW for the 2025 model year, a mid-cycle bump confirmed directly on BMW’s own specification tables. Owners of earlier 2021 to 2023 examples should note the older 375kW/503hp figure is now outdated for the car currently on sale.
Engine and Performance
The 3.0 litre twin-turbocharged inline-six S58 makes 390kW at 6,250rpm and 650Nm from 2,750rpm, run through an 8 speed M Steptronic automatic with Drivelogic and M xDrive all-wheel drive that can shift fully rearward in the most aggressive drive mode. The sprint to 100km/h takes 3.5 seconds, identical to the M3 Competition xDrive Sedan, with a limited top speed of 250km/h. Tare weight is around 1,850kg.
Australian Pricing
The M4 Competition M xDrive Coupe is priced from $191,900 before on-road costs, with dealer drive-away figures typically landing between $203,800 and $215,700 depending on state. The M3 Competition M xDrive Sedan, running the identical drivetrain, starts at $186,900 before on-road costs, meaning the coupe body costs roughly $5,000 to $10,000 more for the same mechanical package.
Coupe or Sedan
With identical power, identical acceleration, and identical drivetrain, the choice between M4 and M3 Competition comes down to body style rather than performance. The coupe trades two doors and some rear headroom for a lower, more aggressive roofline. Buyers who need to regularly carry rear passengers will find the sedan the more sensible pick at a lower price for the same mechanical experience.
Running Costs
BMW services the M4 Competition through its Condition Based Service program, meaning intervals depend on how the car is driven rather than a fixed schedule – expect the first service notification somewhere between 12 and 25,000km. Budget approximately $1,200 to $1,800 for a standard service, rising to $2,500 to $3,500 when brake pads, discs or the S58’s turbo-related components are due. Tyres are the real running cost to watch: the M4 Competition wears staggered 275/35 front and 285/30 rear rubber, and a full set of performance-rated tyres runs $2,000 to $3,000, with enthusiastic drivers seeing 15,000 to 20,000km from a set rather than the 40,000km a regular 3 Series owner might expect. Insurance for a car in this power and price bracket typically lands between $2,500 and $4,500 a year for an experienced driver with a clean record, though rates vary meaningfully by state and postcode.
Which One Actually Suits You
The maths favours the sedan for anyone who occasionally carries adult rear passengers – the M3’s extra 30mm or so of rear headroom is the difference between a genuine four-seater and a car you apologise for on longer trips. The coupe’s case rests entirely on the roofline: it sits lower, the glasshouse is more dramatic from three-quarter angles, and depreciation on M4s has historically tracked slightly better than the M3 equivalent, likely because fewer buyers cross-shop the two once they’ve decided which body style they want. Neither car is the wrong choice mechanically – this is a decision worth making in a showroom, not from a spec sheet.
Verdict
The M4 Competition is not a faster or better-engineered car than its M3 sibling. It is simply a different shape wearing the same engine, at a premium some buyers will happily pay and others will see no reason to.
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