Is the 2002 BMW M3 fuel efficient?

Not particularly. The 2002 BMW M3 returns 17 combined MPG, which trails the average car in the Subcompact Cars class for the same model year by about 19%.

What MPG does the 2002 BMW M3 get?

The EPA rates the 2002 BMW M3 at 17 combined MPG, 15 MPG in city driving, and 21 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2002 BMW M3 per year?

The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $4,050 for the 2002 BMW M3. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade.

Does the 2002 BMW M3 require premium gas?

Yes. The EPA lists the 2002 BMW M3 as requiring premium gasoline. Running it on regular can reduce performance and may affect engine warranties, so it is not a recommended way to save at the pump.

Has the BMW M3 become more fuel efficient over time?

Combined MPG has stayed close to flat across the run. Both the earliest ( 1989 BMW M3 , 18 MPG) and most recent ( 2021 BMW M3 , 19 MPG) versions sit in the same range.

How much CO₂ does the 2002 BMW M3 emit?

Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 523 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 7,841 kilograms of CO₂.

What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2002 BMW M3?

City driving returns 15 MPG and highway driving returns 21 MPG, a gap of 6 MPG. A spread that wide is typical of cars with conventional automatic or manual transmissions, where stop-start city traffic eats more fuel than a steady highway cruise.

What engine is in the 2002 BMW M3?

The 2002 BMW M3 has a 3.2-liter 6-cylinder engine (EPA description: GUZZLER).

What transmission and drivetrain does the 2002 BMW M3 have?

The 2002 BMW M3 comes with a automatic (s6) transmission and rear-wheel drive.

How does the 2002 BMW M3 compare to the best car in its class?

The most efficient car in the Subcompact Cars class for the 2002 model year is the Honda Civic HX at 32 combined MPG. The BMW M3 returns 17 MPG, a gap of 15 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.

2002 BMW M3 MPG and Fuel Economy

This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2002 BMW M3. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.

Key takeaways

The most efficient car in the Subcompact Cars class for the 2002 model year is the Honda Civic HX at 32 MPG.
EPA estimates this car costs around $9,500 more in fuel over five years than an average new vehicle of the same model year.
Subject to the federal Gas Guzzler Tax, which applies to passenger cars rated below 22.5 combined MPG.
Requires premium gasoline, which typically adds about 40 to 60 cents per gallon to the EPA's annual fuel cost estimate.

Fuel economy at a glance

These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2002 BMW M3. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.

Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).

Combined MPG	17 MPG
City MPG	15 MPG
Highway MPG	21 MPG
Annual fuel cost	$4,050
Tailpipe CO₂	523 g/mi
Fuel type	Premium

How the 2002 BMW M3 compares

The 2002 BMW M3 returns 17 combined MPG. Cars in the Subcompact Cars class for the same model year average 21 MPG, which puts this car behind the class average by about 19%.

The most efficient car in the Subcompact Cars class for the 2002 model year is the Honda Civic HX at 32 MPG. The bar chart below puts the BMW M3 alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.

For broader context, the average new car of the 2002 model year (across all classes) returns 18.6 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2002 model year is on its own page.

2002 BMW M3

17 MPG

Class average, 2002

21 MPG

Class best, 2002

32 MPG

Average new car, 2002

18.6 MPG

Annual fuel cost across driving patterns

The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for premium gasoline, which is $4.61/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.

The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 882.4 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).

Driving pattern	Estimated annual fuel cost
Light driver, 7,500 miles per year	$2,025
Average driver, 15,000 miles per year	$4,050
Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year	$6,750

Year-over-year MPG for the BMW M3

The EPA has rated the BMW M3 across 22 model years, from 1989 BMW M3 through 2021 BMW M3. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.

Combined MPG has stayed in roughly the same range across the run. The peak rating came with the 1996 BMW M3 at 21 MPG.

Year	Combined MPG	Open year page
2021	19 MPG	2021 BMW M3
2018	20 MPG	2018 BMW M3
2017	20 MPG	2017 BMW M3
2016	20 MPG	2016 BMW M3
2015	20 MPG	2015 BMW M3
2010	16 MPG	2010 BMW M3
2009	16 MPG	2009 BMW M3
2008	16 MPG	2008 BMW M3
2006	17 MPG	2006 BMW M3
2005	17 MPG	2005 BMW M3
2004	17 MPG	2004 BMW M3
2003	17 MPG	2003 BMW M3
2002	17 MPG	this page
2001	17 MPG	2001 BMW M3
1999	20 MPG	1999 BMW M3
1998	21 MPG	1998 BMW M3
1997	21 MPG	1997 BMW M3
1996	21 MPG	1996 BMW M3
1995	20 MPG	1995 BMW M3
1991	18 MPG	1991 BMW M3
1990	18 MPG	1990 BMW M3
1989	18 MPG	1989 BMW M3

Compare against other Subcompact Cars for 2002

If you are cross-shopping the 2002 BMW M3, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Subcompact Cars class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.

The Volkswagen New Beetle leads this group at 38 MPG, 21 MPG ahead of the 2002 BMW M3.

2002 Volkswagen New Beetle

38 MPG 2002 Honda Civic HX

34 MPG 2002 Mitsubishi Mirage

30 MPG 2002 Saturn SC

29 MPG 2002 Toyota Celica

28 MPG 2002 Suzuki Esteem

27 MPG

2002 BMW M3

17 MPG

Specifications

The 2002 BMW M3 runs a 3.2-liter 6-cylinder engine paired with a automatic (s6), sending power through rear-wheel drive.

Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.

Vehicle class: Subcompact Cars
Engine: 3.2L 6-cylinder
Transmission: Automatic (S6)
Drivetrain: Rear-Wheel Drive
Fuel type: Premium
Annual petroleum use: 17.5 barrels per year
Gas guzzler tax: Applies (federal)

Common questions about the 2002 BMW M3

Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2002 BMW M3.

Is the 2002 BMW M3 fuel efficient?

Not particularly. The 2002 BMW M3 returns 17 combined MPG, which trails the average car in the Subcompact Cars class for the same model year by about 19%.
What MPG does the 2002 BMW M3 get?

The EPA rates the 2002 BMW M3 at 17 combined MPG, 15 MPG in city driving, and 21 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2002 BMW M3 per year?

The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $4,050 for the 2002 BMW M3. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade.
Does the 2002 BMW M3 require premium gas?

Yes. The EPA lists the 2002 BMW M3 as requiring premium gasoline. Running it on regular can reduce performance and may affect engine warranties, so it is not a recommended way to save at the pump.
Has the BMW M3 become more fuel efficient over time?

Combined MPG has stayed close to flat across the run. Both the earliest (1989 BMW M3, 18 MPG) and most recent (2021 BMW M3, 19 MPG) versions sit in the same range.
How much CO₂ does the 2002 BMW M3 emit?

Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 523 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 7,841 kilograms of CO₂.
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2002 BMW M3?

City driving returns 15 MPG and highway driving returns 21 MPG, a gap of 6 MPG. A spread that wide is typical of cars with conventional automatic or manual transmissions, where stop-start city traffic eats more fuel than a steady highway cruise.
What engine is in the 2002 BMW M3?

The 2002 BMW M3 has a 3.2-liter 6-cylinder engine (EPA description: GUZZLER).
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2002 BMW M3 have?

The 2002 BMW M3 comes with a automatic (s6) transmission and rear-wheel drive.
How does the 2002 BMW M3 compare to the best car in its class?

The most efficient car in the Subcompact Cars class for the 2002 model year is the Honda Civic HX at 32 combined MPG. The BMW M3 returns 17 MPG, a gap of 15 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.

Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.