Verdict
At RM846,800, the BMW M3 is RM52,000 cheaper than the RM898,800 BMW M3 Touring, yet its 503 hp 2,993 cc twin-turbo petrol straight-six reaches 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds, a tenth ahead of the 523 hp Touring. The Touring repays its premium with five doors, a 500-litre boot and 20 hp more, but it is also 70 kg heavier at 1,925 kg. Both are CBU, all-wheel-drive compact executives with 650 Nm, eight-speed automatics and identical RM2,113 annual road tax. Choose on load space and equipment, not outright pace.
M3
Pick the BMW M3 if you want the quicker 3.5-second 0-100 km/h time, a sunroof and RM52,000 left in hand.
M3 Touring
Pick the BMW M3 Touring if five doors, a 500-litre boot, 523 hp and adaptive cruise control matter more than the extra outlay.
Key differences
- Price: BMW M3 RM846,800; BMW M3 Touring RM898,800.
- Power and acceleration: BMW M3 503 hp and 0-100 km/h in 3.5 seconds; BMW M3 Touring 523 hp and 3.6 seconds.
- Body and luggage space: BMW M3 four-door sedan with 480 litres; BMW M3 Touring five-door wagon with 500 litres.
- Kerb weight: BMW M3 1,855 kg; BMW M3 Touring 1,925 kg.
- Driver assistance: BMW M3 has passive cruise control and lane-keeping warning; BMW M3 Touring has adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping steering correction.
- Lighting: BMW M3 gets laser projectors with auto high beam; BMW M3 Touring gets adaptive LED projectors with high beam assist.
M3
- RM52,000 lower price and a 3.5-second 0-100 km/h time.
- Laser projectors, a tilt-and-slide sunroof and 2WD mode.
- Adaptive M Suspension, Active M Differential and 4WD Sport mode.
- 503 hp versus the Touring's 523 hp.
- 480-litre boot and four doors versus 500 litres and five doors.
- Passive cruise control and lane-keeping warning rather than adaptive cruise and steering correction.
M3 Touring
- 523 hp from the same 2,993 cc twin-turbo petrol engine.
- Five doors and a 500-litre boot.
- Adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping steering correction and a 360-degree camera.
- RM52,000 more expensive than the M3.
- 1,925 kg kerb weight and a 3.6-second 0-100 km/h time, versus 1,855 kg and 3.5 seconds.
- No sunroof is listed, while the M3 has a front tilt-and-slide unit.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM846,800✓ | RM898,800 |
| Body type | Sedan | Wagon |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM2,113 | RM2,113 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 24-valve DOHC with Twin Turbochargers, Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift | 24-valve DOHC with Twin Turbochargers, Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift |
| Capacity | 2,993 cc | 2,993 cc |
| Horsepower | 503 hp | 523 hp✓ |
| Torque | 650 Nm | 650 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | 84 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 9.3 | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 8-speed M Steptronic Transmission with Drivelogic | 8-Speed Steptronic Sport Transmission |
| Gears | 8 | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | ZF |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 3.5 seconds✓ | 3.6 seconds |
| Rated Economy | 10.1 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h | 250 km/h |
| Co2 | 230 g/km | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,794 mm | 4,801 mm |
| Width | 1,903 mm | 1,903 mm |
| Height | 1,433 mm | 1,446 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,857 mm | 2,857 mm |
| Weight | 1,855 kg | 1,925 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 59 litres | 59 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 480 litres | 500 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 275/35R19 | 275/35R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 285/30R20 | 295/30R20 |
| Spare Tyre | — | Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Michelin Pilot Super Sport Run-flat | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Germany (CBU) | Germany (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Double Wishbones |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 19" Double-spoke Style 826 M Two-tone Forged Alloy | 19" Double Spoke Style 825 M Bicolour |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Double-spoke Style 826 M Two-tone Forged Alloy | 20" Double Spoke Style 825 M Bicolour |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive M Suspension, Active M Differential, 4WD, 4WD Sport and 2WD Modes | Adaptive M Suspension, M Sport Differential |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for 2 Outer Rear Seats | Available on Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, with Pedestrian Detection (5 km/h to 80 km/h) | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Warning Only | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | For All Seats |
| Safety Notes | Attentiveness Assistant, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Rear Collision Prevention, Active Protection | — |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Laser Projectors with Auto High Beam | Adaptive LED Projectors with High Beam Assist |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Side Memory Function |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | 40:20:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Front, Tilt and Slide | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Boot, 2 Front USB-C, 2 Rear USB-C | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights (11 Colours) | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | BMW Live Cockpit Professional with 10.25" Touchscreen, iDrive Controller, Voice Control, Wireless Apple CarPlay, Wireless Android Auto and 12-speaker 360W Harman Kardon Sound System | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 16-Speaker Harman Kardon Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation with Smartphone Key and Proximity Auto Lock/Unlock | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation with Contactless Opening | Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, with 360-degree Camera |
| Auto Parking | Yes, for Parallel and Perpendicular Parking, with Reversing Assist | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | Qi Wireless Charger, BMW ConnectedDrive, Concierge Service | — |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 2 years |
| Warranty Extended | 3 years | 3 years |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used M3 & M3 Touring for sale
M3 vs M3 Touring FAQ
Is the BMW M3 or BMW M3 Touring better?
The BMW M3 is the better performance buy, reaching 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds while costing RM52,000 less. The BMW M3 Touring is better for carrying people and cargo, with five doors, 500 litres of boot space and adaptive cruise control.
What is the price difference?
The BMW M3 Touring costs RM52,000 more than the BMW M3.
Which is quicker, the BMW M3 or BMW M3 Touring?
The BMW M3 is quicker to 100 km/h: 3.5 seconds versus 3.6 seconds for the BMW M3 Touring, despite producing 20 hp less.