A Familiar Trend: Higher Prices, Same Car
If you’re hoping to get your hands on a new BMW M3, prepare to dig a little deeper into your wallet. A leaked internal memo has confirmed what many car enthusiasts feared: the 2026 M3 is getting a $1,700 price increase across the board. That means the base model now starts at $79,575. The M3 Competition jumps to $83,775, and if you’re going for the all-wheel-drive Competition Drive, you’re looking at $88,875.
The Powertrain Stays Put
While the pricing shifts upward, nothing’s changing mechanically for the new model year. The standard M3 still comes with a six-speed manual transmission and pushes 473 horsepower to the rear wheels. It’s the only one in the lineup that still caters to purists who want three pedals and full control.
The M3 Competition versions remain automatic-only and offer a boost in performance, putting out 503 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. The xDrive variant adds all-wheel-drive into the mix for added grip, especially useful if you’re planning to drive this thing year-round.
When to Expect the 2026 Model
Production for the 2026 M3 is slated to begin this July, and the new prices are already live for anyone placing an order now. BMW hasn’t officially commented on the leak, but these figures line up with what we’ve seen in previous pricing trends.
With each passing year, hitting six figures with an M3 build gets easier—even before dipping into BMW’s long options list. If you’re considering one, now’s the time to spec it out before it creeps even higher.
