Powertrain families
S55B30T0
M3 (F80) — Sedan
2014–2018
Editorially reviewedReviewed 2026-08-10; market and model-year scope is stated in the record sources.
- Internal code
- F80
- Production
- 2014–2018
- Body style
- 4-door sedan
- Platform
- BMW M · longitudinal layout · rear-wheel drive
Body variants
M3 → F80 → Sedan
M3 F80: history, design and engineering
How this generation came about, what made it different and how the selected sedan fits into the family.
F80 made M3 a sedan-only line when BMW renamed the related coupé and convertible M4. It also replaced the V8 with the twin-turbo S55 inline-six, combining a carbon roof and extensive aluminium/CFRP structure with either a six-speed manual or seven-speed M DCT.
The standard car was joined by the Competition Package and limited M3 CS. Their output, suspension calibration, wheels, seats and weight differ, and the package's content changed over time; an edition colour or trim theme should not automatically create a new mechanical modification.
F80 production years vary in consumer references because reveal, market launch and final assembly are different events. The catalog should record build dates and distinguish European metric horsepower from SAE ratings while linking shared S55 engineering to F82 without merging the two body records.
2014–2018generation lifecycle
1body branches
1engine/drive families
3range designations
F80factory code
BMW M · longitudinal layout · rear-wheel drivearchitecture
Sedan: dimensions and packaging
Dimensions can change with body, market and model year, so this page keeps them tied to the exact factory branch.
Length4,671 mm
Width1,877 mm
Height1,424 mm
Wheelbase2,812 mm
Luggage480 L
Fuel tank60 L
Seats5
Doors4-door sedan
| Body | Code | Production | Doors / seats | Length | Luggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan | F80 | 2014–2018 | 4-door sedan / 5 | 4,671 mm | 480 L |
Engines and powertrains
The generation could span very different engines and drivetrains. The table keeps output, gearbox, market and production period together.
Factory modification matrix
Documented sedan applications; output and availability remain market- and model-year-specific.
| Model | Years | Engine | Output | Transmission | Drive | Market | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M3 | 2014–2018 | S55B30T0 twin-turbo inline-six | 431 PS / 425 hp US | 6MT / 7DCT | RWD | Global range | BMW M3 F80 and BMW M4 F82 |
| M3 Competition | 2016–2018 | S55B30T0 twin-turbo inline-six | 450 PS / 444 hp US | 6MT / 7DCT | RWD | Global range | BMW M3 F80 and BMW M4 F82 |
| M3 CS | 2018 | S55B30T0 twin-turbo inline-six | 460 PS / 453 hp US | 7DCT | RWD | Global range | BMW M3 F80 and BMW M4 F82 |
Factory designations
M3 · M3 Competition · M3 CS
High-performance powertrain
Engine, cooling, exhaust, software and transmission form a distinct M or ALPINA specification rather than an option package on the base model.
Diesel derivatives
Where diesels were offered, output, injection generation and emissions hardware are recorded market by market.
Electrification
Mild- and plug-in hybrids are separate derivatives; combustion-engine output must not be substituted for total system output.
How power reaches the road
Gearboxes, driven wheels and final-drive hardware changed with engine, market and production date.
Transmissions
Gearbox type and unit code follow engine, market and production date. Gear count alone does not identify the transmission.
Driven wheels
Catalog architecture: BMW M · longitudinal layout · rear-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive availability and hardware remain derivative-specific.
Final drive
Ratio, differential type and electronic control belong to the exact derivative and can differ on performance models.
What changed underneath
Suspension, brakes, safety systems and electronics evolved across the range, even when cars shared the same basic architecture.
Body-branch dimensions
- F80: 4,671 mm × 1,877 mm × 1,424 mm
Body & suspension
- Mounting points and geometry follow the body branch
- Springs and dampers follow axle load and chassis package
- Wheels and permitted loads follow the factory label
Brakes & steering
- Brake size follows engine and equipment
- Assistance type and steering ratio can change
- ABS/DSC generation follows model year
Passive safety
- Airbag count varies by market and year
- SRS parts are VIN-specific
- Structural repairs require factory procedures
Electronics
- Vehicle-bus generations changed during production
- Control-unit software levels must remain compatible
- Retrofits are recorded separately from factory equipment
How the generation evolved
The important launches, additions and updates did not always happen at the same time for every body or market.
F80 revealed
BMW introduced the first turbocharged M3 and the new M3/M4 naming structure.
Market launch
Sedan production reached customers with manual and M DCT choices.
Competition Package
Higher output and revised chassis, differential, seats and exhaust broadened the range.
M3 CS and production end
The limited CS closed the F80 programme as regulatory timing ended regular production.
The versions that stood apart
Performance models, option packages and regional editions may look related, but their engineering and production identity can be very different.
Sedan
F80M3 F80 is a distinct F80 body branch. The conventional four-door passenger-car body, balancing rear-seat access, luggage space and the generation’s core chassis layout. Engines/drive: S55B30T0.
Inside the car
Cabin technology and standard equipment changed by country and year; a build sheet remains the best guide to one individual car.
Cabin & comfort
- Trim and seats follow option codes
- Climate systems vary by market
- Audio and navigation changed by model year
Lighting & assistance
- Lamp technology and modules follow production date
- Driver assistance cannot be inferred from buttons alone
- Regional rules affect lighting and warnings
What to check today
A practical starting point for inspecting and maintaining a car from this generation — not a diagnosis of an individual example.
Identify first
- Match VIN on body and documents
- Obtain the factory option list
- Confirm market and production date
Inspect the structure
- Check repairs and corrosion
- Assess suspension, brakes and tyres
- Compare fitted parts with factory specification
Mechanical history
- Read faults with compatible diagnostics
- Verify engine and transmission maintenance
- Separate invoices from unsupported verbal history
| Item | Interval / trigger | Catalog note |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | CBS/factory schedule; time and mileage for historic cars | Oil approval follows the exact engine and market. |
| Brake fluid | Time-based factory schedule | ABS/DSC-compatible bleeding procedure is required after hydraulic work. |
| Coolant | Factory schedule and condition | Fluid specification and bleeding method are generation-specific. |
| Transmission & final drives | Unit type and operating conditions | Use the exact approved fluid; no one interval fits every derivative. |
How to identify the exact car
The badge and registration year tell only part of the story; production date, body code, engine and factory options complete it.
- Factory body codes
- F80 — Sedan
- Range designations
- M3, M3 Competition, M3 CS
- Powertrain families
- S55B30T0
- VIN
- Identifies model, plant and production branch and keys the parts catalog and factory equipment record.
- Production date
- More useful than first-registration year when choosing parts and locating technical revisions.
- Type code
- Refines engine, body, market and transmission combination.
- Option codes
- Confirm factory equipment; later retrofits are recorded separately.
- Unit number
- Supports engine or gearbox originality checks and component applicability.
Where the information comes from
The story is mapped through English Wikipedia and its bibliography, then important dates and technical claims are checked against BMW material.
- 01BMW M3Wikipedia contributors
Secondary F80 model, powertrain, Competition and CS overview.
- 02The BMW M3 generations at a glanceBMW M
BMW M retrospective covering the engineering character, body programme and key derivatives of all six M3 generations.
- 03BMW M3 F80 and BMW M4 F82BMW M
BMW M retrospective for the turbo transition and key special models.
Notes and limitations
- Research revision dated 2026-08-10: English Wikipedia was used as a subject and bibliography map; key claims were checked against the listed primary BMW Group material.
- F80 is the sedan; F82/F83 are catalogued under M4 even where mechanical parts are shared.
- Competition Package and CS require separate power, chassis and production records.
- Tree years describe the worldwide generation lifecycle; individual market dates may be narrower.
- Exact dimensions, power, weight and emissions belong at body, engine, market and model-year level.
- Known-issue guidance is editorial context and never replaces inspection of the individual vehicle.
3 primary references · market differences documentedPhotography: EurovisionNim, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Rights checked 2026-08-06; wikimedia commons 1,800 px derivative downloaded; local 640 px and 1,280 px avif versions created without cropping.Updated 6 August 2026