Should I keep my 2026 M3 order or cancel? Last year before redesign

[tdott]

If you have to ask, you are probably the type to care what other people think and that means having the latest and greatest, so cancel your order and wait.

or be a baller, get the '26 now and then trade it in asap to get the new one.

If you bring too much logic into it, you probably wouldn't buy either, so no point even thinking about resale or any of that.

[louielouie]

F80 owner here.

Buy a used G80 then you can decide whether to pull into the new one or not in a couple years.

All the M3s have had their own unique nuances so one will be better than the others in different categories - depends what you're looking for. A new one releasing doesn't mean it makes the older obsolete. Like a few other F8X owners, I have no intention of picking up the G8X.

[NickyC]

No way, wait for the next model.

[Mavus]

Originally Posted by Naond0715

Need some advice from M3 owners who've been through generation changes.

Background:
- Have a 2026 M3 Competition on order (delivery Dec 2025)
- Just realized this will be the last year before the major redesign
- 2027+ will have electric options and completely new styling

My concern:
I'm worried about what happens to resale value when the new generation launches. The current G80 has been my dream car for years, but I'm second-guessing the timing.

Questions for the community:
1. How did F80 values hold up when G80 launched?
2. Does being "last of the generation" help or hurt long-term?
3. Should I stick with my order or wait and see what 2027 brings?

I love the current design and don't necessarily want the electric version, but I also don't want to make a decision I'll regret.

What would you do in my situation? Any insights from people who bought late in a generation cycle?

Thanks!

have you driven it?

why do you want it if you do?

have you driven previous models?

each m3 gen is different. nobody can answer it for you. you will buy one when you understand what you want

[cronut]

Here are three more things to think about - tariffs, inflation, and the economy. There is a general rise in the price of consumer goods, luxury goods included due to tariffs, supply shortages, climate change, changing demographics, etc. Tariffs make consumers spend now, rather than spend later (and pay higher prices and yes, price hikes are still coming). Now, with AI, I think some workers won't be needed anymore. Business people and politicians talk about changing skills. Well, this re-skilling doesn't happen overnight. I think right now, the economy is feeding off of the last vestiges of pandemic era stimuli, but now transitioning into a re-shoring/tariffed economy. Let's see how sustainable the consumer wallet is.

In a regular globalized economy without pandemics, once you drive a vehicle off the lot, it depreciates....and sometimes a lot. What's happening now is not normal. Used car chains are buying all the marginal inventory they can find. The consumer is definitely getting stretched. The upward trajectory of consumer prices is not sustainable unless the median worker gets an appropriate COLA/market-driven raise. Let's see where markets are in March 2026.

So, OP do you really need a M3? If it's your dream car, just get it. No newish vehicle that is at least weekend driven will keep their value....Otherwise, if you don't really need another vehicle, just wait for the next gen. We can't make the decision for you.

[G30M]

if I were OP i'd get the M340i for daily driving. I had the 1st gen and it was a blast. the only thing missing was the M traction control for controlled sliding.

[6speedguy]

If you've driven it and you like it, its silly to start overthinking. Just enjoy life is short

[NYR]

Deciding to buy a car or not buy a car in 2025 because of a speculative model that no one knows what it will look like or drive like and is coming out in late 2028 (2028!!) is not wise. I get where you are coming from, FOMO is a thing, but it is not like the car has even been announced yet.

Sounds like you should just lease it and return it in a few years.

[M3Sleeper]

The last thing I looked out when purchasing my 2025 M3 was the resale value but mostly due to my plan which is to keep this 6MT M3 and if they produce another manual transmission M3 i will pick up one of those as well.

The new model will be $110K+ Im guessing for the 2027 model.

If your getting a new car...do yourself a favor and find an allocation and order how you want it. This is half the fun in buying an M3 being able to customize it to your personal taste.

Carbon buckets, 6MT, Full Interior, Carbon Exterior, CCB's, ect.

On the flipside whatever new M3 comes out is going to be a really nice ride!

Can't go wrong either way my man