Verdict
These are closer than their shapes suggest: both use a 2,993 cc twin-turbo inline-six, eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive, reach 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds, and carry identical RM2,113 annual road tax. The M4 Coupe brings 530 hp and a 1,800 kg weight against the M3’s 503 hp and 1,855 kg, but its two-door, four-seat layout sacrifices 40 litres of boot space. For Malaysian buyers carrying people or luggage, the M3’s 480-litre boot, four doors and stronger safety and convenience list make more sense. Pick the M4 for extra output and a lower-slung coupe format.
Pick the BMW M3 if you need four doors, five seats, a 480-litre boot and blind-spot monitoring.
Pick the BMW M4 Coupe if you want 530 hp, 55 kg less weight and a two-door body.
Key differences
- Power: BMW M3 503 hp at 6,250 rpm; BMW M4 Coupe 530 hp at 6,250 rpm.
- Weight: BMW M3 1,855 kg; BMW M4 Coupe 1,800 kg.
- Body access and seating: BMW M3 has four doors and five seats; BMW M4 Coupe has two doors and four seats.
- Boot space: BMW M3 480 litres; BMW M4 Coupe 440 litres.
- Dimensions: BMW M3 is 1,903 mm wide and 1,433 mm tall; BMW M4 Coupe is 1,887 mm wide and 1,393 mm tall.
- Lane support: BMW M3 has lane-keeping warning only; BMW M4 Coupe adds steering correction.
M3
- Four doors, five seats and a 480-litre boot.
- Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and rear collision prevention.
- Adaptive M Suspension with 4WD, 4WD Sport and 2WD modes.
- 503 hp versus the M4 Coupe’s 530 hp.
- 1,855 kg versus the M4 Coupe’s 1,800 kg.
- Lane-keeping gives warning only rather than steering correction.
M4 Coupe
- 530 hp at 6,250 rpm.
- 55 kg lighter than the M3 at 1,800 kg.
- Steering-correction lane assistance and a 360-degree reverse monitor.
- Two doors and four seats, against the M3’s four doors and five seats.
- 440-litre boot is 40 litres smaller than the M3’s.
- No blind-spot information system or automatic parking function.
What the M3 has over the M4 Coupe
Based on the published spec sheets of the selected variants — a blank field on one side can also mean unlisted data.
Boot space favours the M3: 480 litres against 440.
Representative body-type outlines, drawn to scale from each car's length and height.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM846,800✓ | RM878,800 |
| Body type | Sedan | Coupe |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM2,113 | RM2,113 |
| Monthly instalment (est.) | RM8,645/mo✓ | RM8,970/mo |
| Insurance / year (est.) | RM22,363✓ | RM23,195 |
| Fuel / year (est.) | RM4,020 | — |
| Energy cost / 100 km (est.) | RM20.10 | — |
| 5-year running costs (est.) | RM142,479 | — |
| 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 at 6,250 rpm | 530 hp at 6,250 rpm✓ |
| Torque | 650 Nm at 2,750 rpm | 650 Nm at 2,750 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 6 | Inline 6 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | 84 mm × 90 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 9.3 | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 8-speed M Steptronic Transmission with Drivelogic | 8-speed M Steptronic Transmission with Drivelogic |
| Gears | 8 | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | ZF |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 3.5 seconds | 3.5 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 | 4,794 mm |
| Width | 1,903 mm | 1,887 mm |
| Height | 1,433 mm | 1,393 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,857 mm | 2,857 mm |
| Weight | 1,855 kg | 1,800 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 59 litres | 59 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 2 |
| Seats | 5 | 4 |
| Boot Space | 480 litres✓ | 440 litres |
| Front Tyre | 275/35R19 | 275/35R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 285/30R20 | 285/35R20 |
| Spare Tyre | — | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Michelin Pilot Super Sport Run-flat | Pirelli P Zero |
| 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" M Forged Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Double-spoke Style 826 M Two-tone Forged Alloy | 20" M Forged Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack & Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive M Suspension, Active M Differential, 4WD, 4WD Sport and 2WD Modes | M Adaptive Suspension |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 6 (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 Front Passenger Door |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 4 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | — |
| ISOFIX | Available for 2 Outer Rear Seats | Available for 2 Outer Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, with Pedestrian Detection (5 km/h to 80 km/h) | Yes, with Pedestrian Detection (5 km/h to 80 km/h) |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Warning Only | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | Attentiveness Assistant, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Rear Collision Prevention, Active Protection | — |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Laser Projectors with Auto High Beam | LED Projector |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Laserlight |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function | Powered Front Seats |
| 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, 2 USB-C Front |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights (11 Colours) | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front |
| 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, 12-Speaker Harman Kardon Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch | Two 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 | Passive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation with Contactless Opening | Remote Control Activation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor |
| Auto Parking | Yes, for Parallel and Perpendicular Parking, with Reversing Assist | — |
| 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. Running-cost estimates assume 20,000 km/year. Fuel at RM1.99/litre (RON95, subsidised). Insurance: comprehensive motor tariff, no NCD. Instalment: 10% down, 2.5% flat rate, 9 years. Prices checked October 2026.
Used M3 & M4 Coupe for sale
Our reviews & guides
BMW M3
M3 vs M4 Coupe FAQ
Is the BMW M3 or BMW M4 Coupe better?
The BMW M3 is the better all-round choice, with five seats, four doors, a 480-litre boot, blind-spot monitoring and automatic parking. Choose the BMW M4 Coupe if its 530 hp output, 1,800 kg weight and two-door layout matter more.
What is the price difference?
The BMW M4 Coupe costs RM878,800, which is RM32,000 more than the BMW M3 at RM846,800.
Do the BMW M3 and BMW M4 Coupe have the same acceleration?
Yes. Both are rated to reach 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds and have a 250 km/h top speed, despite the M4 Coupe producing 27 hp more.