Used 2017 BMW M3 Base for sale 

The 2017 BMW M3 is offered only in one trim level. In fact, the M3 is the performance trim level of the regular 3 Series luxury sedan. It starts at a base price of $64,000 and goes up from there with the additional packages. As standard, it gets the powerful engine 3.0-liter engine that produces a staggering 425 hp along with 6-speed manual transmission. The M3 is also equipped with multiple safety features as a standard to protect the passengers by avoiding accidents in the first place. Here is a list of the key features that are available with the BMW M3.

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The BMW M3 is a name that lives on the minds and tongues of enthusiasts. It is available in a single trim option and is a powerful variant of the 3 Series itself. It starts at a base price of $64,000 and goes up from there. We would recommend not to add any extra packages as the base M3 is well equipped in the first place.

Under the hood, the 2017 BMW M3 gets a 3-liter inline 6-cylinder, twin-turbo engine. This mighty engine churns out a whopping 425 hp and delivers 406 lb-ft of max torque. The max power figures come at 5,500 rpm while the max torque figures come at 1,850 rpm, ensuring a torquey low end and a punchy mid-range.

The engine is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission, which is something enthusiasts will certainly cherish. You can also opt for a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that helps in quick gear shifting and lets you enjoy the ride. All the power is sent to the rear wheels via BMW's advanced rear differential that uses dynamic stability control technology.

The 2017 BMW M3 is neither the most powerful car in its competition nor is it the least powerful. The American rival of this, the Cadillac ATS-V sedan uses a bigger engine and thus makes 39 horses more than the M3. Then there is the 2017 Mercedes AMG C 43, which uses a 3-liter V6 engine but it makes 63 horses less than what the M3 makes.

How quick is the 0-60 mph acceleration of the 2017 BMW M3?

The 2017 BMW M3 delivers some impressive acceleration timings. The M3 can accelerate from 0-60 MPH in just 3.9 seconds. Take the M3 to a drag strip, and the brawny Bavarian will shoot itself to the quarter-mile mark in just 12.2 seconds.

The finely tuned engine and intelligently designed aerodynamics help the car deliver these exceptional acceleration timings.

Comparing the acceleration timings of the M3 with its rivals, the M3 loses to the Cadillac ATS-V in terms of 0-60 MPH acceleration only by a small margin of 0.1 seconds. On the other hand, the M3 beats the Mercedes-Benz AMG C 43 4MATIC in 0-60 mph as well as the quarter-mile acceleration.

How is the Ride and Handling performance of the 2017 BMW M3?

The 2017 BMW M3 is a luxury sports sedan that gets the dominant genes of a sports car and the recessive genes of a luxury car. As a result, the Beemer offers some excellent driving dynamics to the driver. The car handles really well, and the steering is also very sharp. The car is quite large, but the advanced technology of BMW that calculates wheel position and yaw rate makes maneuvering the car an easy task.

The adaptive dampers of this performance sedan give you great confidence during high speed. The characteristics of the car are such that it is always ready to dive into sharp corners. But the stiffer tuning of the suspension sacrifices the ride quality, and you will certainly get a bump or pothole through your spine while you drive around.

How is the Braking performance of the 2017 BMW M3?

Good braking abilities of the car only give you the confidence to exploit the prowess of a powerful engine to the core. BMW understands this and wants you to enjoy the engine to the fullest, so they have equipped the M3 with a strong set of brakes.

Upfront, the BMW M3 gets 15.0 inches diameter discs, and at the rear, it gets 14.6 inches diameter discs. If you slam the brakes at 60 MPH, the car will come to a halt at a distance of 101 feet. 

The BMW gets the biggest set of brakes in the segment and is followed by the ATS-V sedan and the AMG C43. In terms of stopping distances, both the BMW and Cadillac have equal stats and come to a halt at a distance of 101 feet from 60 MPH. The Mercedes-Benz, on the other hand, has a stopping distance of 105 feet. The low curb weight of the BMW helps it to achieve decent braking stats.

Fuel economy isn't something you should be looking for when you are planning to buy an 'M' badged BMW. Nevertheless, as per EPA ratings, if you take the BMW through the city, it will return you a fuel economy of 17 MPG. Take it on the highway, and the BMW will go for 26 miles for every gallon of fuel. The M3 gets a combined fuel economy rating of 20 MPG, which is decent enough in this class.

The 2017 Cadillac ATS-V, being the more powerful car, gets a lower combined mileage of 19 MPG. The Mercedes-Benz AMG C 43 though being low on power delivers the better combined fuel economy rating of 23 MPG. Mercedes manages to beat the other two rivals on all terrains by offering 20 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on highways.

The 2017 BMW M3 is a 4-door luxury sports sedan and can accommodate 5 passengers. It offers sporty bolstered bucket seats to enhance your race track driving experience. The interior of the 2017 BMW M3 is spacious both at the front and rear. All in all, the M3 offers enough space for all the 5 passengers in the car and sitting in the car for long distances won't be a problem at all.

The interior design of the BMW M3 is exactly what we have seen in the previous models as well. A simple dashboard design, three-spoke steering wheel, and what seems like gazillion buttons to control all the interior and exterior functions of the vehicles. The interior is adorned with high-quality materials and thus feels premium. 

The 2017 BMW M3 offers the best space on the inside when compared to its rival. The closest rival of the M3, the Cadillac ATS-V, offers less space than it. The Mercedes AMG C 43 interior has a better headroom and shoulder room for the rear passengers as compared to the Cadillac. But all the vehicles in comparison can easily accommodate 5 passengers inside the cabin. The M3 is loaded with tech, and some of its tech features are listed below.

• Rear power windows
• Audio theft deterrent
• Steering wheel controls
• Leather-wrapped dashboard and steering wheel
• Power adjusted front seats

How intuitive is the Infotainment System in the 2017 BMW M3?

The 2017 model year of the BMW M3 gets an updated version of BMW's iDrive infotainment system. The infotainment system gets an 8.8 inches touchscreen display that has some crisp visuals on offers and displays all the information about the car. You also get speed-compensated volume control, which increases and decreases the volume of the audio system depending upon your driving system.

Along with that, we get wireless Bluetooth connectivity on offer. The BMW M3 gets a 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system as standard which provides an exceptional entertainment experience inside the cabin. Here is a list of all the infotainment features that are available with the 2017 BMW M3:

• 16 speaker Harman/Kardon surround sound system
• MP3 player
• DVD audio
• AUX audio input jack
• SiriusXM Satellite radio system

How much Cargo Volume is available in the 2017 BMW M3?

Being a sedan, you do expect the M3 to have a decent amount of luggage space. And guess what, the 2017 BMW M3 does live up to your expectations and offers a decent cargo volume of 12 cu-ft. The trunk size is not bad but isn't really great at the same time. The trunk can swallow in a golf kit or two medium-sized bags.

The Mercedes-Benz AMG C 43 beats the BMW M3 in terms of luggage space. The Merc offers a cargo volume of 15.4 cubic feet. The Cadillac ATS-V on the other hand only offers 10.4 cubic feet of cargo volume, which is the least in the comparison. 

The 2017 BMW M3's exterior design looks very striking and sharp, credit to its design and proportionate dimensions. The distinctive kidney grilles at the front along with the sleek adaptive headlamp and a considerably steep sloping roof complete the look of the M3. The optional 19-inch alloy wheels go well with the overall design of the vehicle. 

The 2017 BMW M3 is 184.5 inches long, a fine line between mid and compact size. The M3 is offered with a low ground clearance of 4.7-inches, which enhances the aerodynamics, but you will certainly scratch the floor when you hit a tall speed bump or a deep pothole the car hits. The M3 weighs around 3,540 lbs, which is pretty decent for a 4-door luxury sport-sedan.

The Mercedes-Benz AMG C 43 is the tallest car in the segment at 69 inches and is followed by the M3 and the ATS-V. The BMW M3 is the lightest car of the lot and is followed by the Mercedes-Benz and the Cadillac that weigh 3,727 lbs. and 3,812 lbs, respectively. The 2017 Cadillac ATS-V turns out to be the heaviest of the lot with 3,812 lbs. Here is a list of the exterior features of the 2017 BMW M3:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Adaptive xenon headlights
• Adaptive suspension dampers
• M3-specific exterior body panels
• Power-folding and auto-dimming heated mirrors
• Automatic wipers
• Keyless entry

The NHTSA or the IIHS has not tested the BMW M3 in specific, but the IIHS has rated the BMW 3 Series with an overall ‘Good’ rating. The IIHS has also awarded the BMW 3 Series as the Top Safety Pick for the year 2017 in the midsize luxury car segment. Along with that, the BMW M3 is also equipped with multiple safety and driver-assistive features, which are listed below:

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• Antilock braking system
• Driveline Traction Control
• Side Impact Beams
• Dual Stage Driver And Passenger Seat-Mounted Side Airbags
• BMW Assist eCall Emergency Sos
• Airbag Occupancy Sensor

BMW M3 Sedan vs Cadillac ATS-V

The 2017 Cadillac ATS-V uses a larger 3.6-liter engine and thus makes 39 horses more than the M3. Moreover, the Cadillac ATS-V is around $3,300 cheaper than the M3. In spite of being underpowered, the BMW has performance figures equal to that of the ATS-V. The M3 has also got more head, shoulder, legroom, and cargo volume on offer. Moreover, the BMW badge has more snob value than the Cadillac.

Now, if you are that patriotic person who only wants to buy an American car, then the Cadillac ATS-V is the car you should go for. If you really don't care about the origins of your car and are ready to stretch your budget, then the M3 is the more sensible car of the two.

BMW M3 Sedan vs Mercedes-AMG C 43

The 2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG C 43 is another luxury sports sedan from the German automaker. Just like the Beemer, the C 43 is also based on the C-Class compact luxury. The AMG C-class gets a returned engine, much more powerful compared to the base car. The C 43 is 43 horses deficient to the M3 but also costs $12,000 less than the BMW M3. The Mercedes also happens to be the slower car of the two as a result of its smaller engine. On the flip side, the Merc offers better fuel economy figures and offers a larger trunk.

Both cars make justice to their pricing. At $52,000, the Mercedes is a great buy. But if shelling out $12,000 more isn't a problem for you, then you can get a much better package in the form of the BMW M3. We can't really declare a winner here, both the cars are equally good for their pricing, and ultimately it comes to you on which one you can afford.

Pre-eminent performance is what BMW offers with the M3. The 2017 BMW M3 is an icon in the true sense and is a no-nonsense car. It looks great, drives great, and at $64,000 it also comes at a great price. The M3 is one of the very few cars in the market that offer you luxury, performance, and practicality at the same time. Whether it is the city streets or the highways or the race tracks, the M3 is here to offer you, as BMW says it, sheer driving pleasure.