BMW has a long history of building amazing sports cars. The M division, which was established in 1972, is responsible for making BMWs look sportier and faster than they already were. And because they are good at what they do, we love the BMW M cars. They're powerful, luxurious, and have a reputation for being some of the best handling cars ever made.

But what if you want to get a used M car without spending $40,000 or more? What if you want to get something with the same kind of power and appeal but at a fraction of the price? Well, we've got some good news: there are plenty of great options out there! After doing what we love we have created this list of ten BMW M cars that are worth serious consideration:

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10 BMW Z3M Convertible ($23,000)

BMW Z3M Roadster Back
Via BMW

The BMW Z3M convertible is a great used BMW M car that won't break the bank. It has an extremely powerful engine and an agile chassis, meaning it can take corners and give feedback like no other car in its price range.

Red BMW Z3 M Roadster
BMW

It's got plenty of power and can go from 0 to 60 mph in just under 5 seconds—which is pretty impressive considering it costs around $23,000+.

9 BMW E36 M3 ($24,000)

BMW E36 M3 turning
bmwblog

The BMW E36 M3 is a great example of a lower-priced used BMW M car that's still pretty exceptional. This is one of the most popular cars from BMW's M division, and it comes in at under $24,000.

BMW-E36-M3 Collage
via: GarageDreams

It has a good balance of performance and comfort, and it's got that iconic BMW retro look that we just can't get enough of. And it has one of the best chassis ever built and has earned the reputation of being one of the best-handling cars ever.

8 BMW E60 M5 ($25,000)

BMW E60 M5
Via BMW

The BMW M5 is a car that's just as much about performance as it is about style. It's got a sleek, aggressive design that makes it look like it's ready to pounce on the track, but it also has all the luxury features you'd expect from a high-end German automobile company.

BMW E60 M5 Rear third quarter view
Via: Richmonds Used Cars

And the best part? These cars are still holding their value, so you can get them for a great price at $25k for the SMG and sell it again for a good price when you want to.

7 BMW E34 M5 Touring Sedan Estate ($25,000+)

purple bmw m5 e34
Via BMW-Blog

This is one of our favorite used BMW M cars because it's perfect for everyday driving but still has the power to keep up with other cars on the highway when needed, which makes it the ultimate sleeper car at only $25,000.

A green E34 M5 Touring
Via BMW-Blog

We also love the look and feel of this car—it's comfortable, stylish, and powerful enough to give you all the performance you could want from an M car, but also more restrained than most M cars today.

6 BMW E62 M6 ($27,000)

2005 BMW M6 red
Via: BMW

If you're looking for something even more powerful than the M5 but still want to keep your budget low, then check out our second recommendation: The BMW E62 M6. This beast can go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds and has over 500 hp!

BMW M6 - Rear
Via NetCarShow

This car has a powerful V10 engine and an incredibly responsive suspension system that makes driving it feels like riding on clouds—but that doesn't mean it's difficult to handle. The interior is luxurious, and it costs about $27,000 for the automatic version, which is worth every penny.

Related: Here’s Why The BMW E90 3 Series Is A Great First Drift Car

5 BMW E39 M5 ($32,000)

BMW M5 E39 Front Quarter Silver
BMW

The BMW E39 M5 is a classic, and it's still one of the best-used BMW M cars on the market today at roughly $32k.

BMW M5 E39 Rear Quarter Silver Driving
BMW

It's not as flashy or fast as some of the newer models, but it has a timeless look and feel that will never go out of style.

4 BMW E90 M3 ($33,000)

White 2008 BMW E90 M3
Via: BMW

The E90 M3 is another great choice when it comes to buying a used car BMW M car at roughly $33k. They released it in 2007, so it's got enough years under its belt to be affordable but still has lots of life left in it.

2008 BMW M3
BMW

If you're interested in getting an all-around performance vehicle that can go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds with top speeds up to 155 mph that handles like a dream, then this may be the perfect option!

3 BMW E46 M3 ($31,000)

Rear of E46 M3
Via: BMW

As for the E46 M3? Well, if you're looking for a more modern take on the same formula used in the E36 M3 (and if you have $31k to spare), this could be the one for you.

BMW E46 M3 Front View
via BMW

It's got some nice upgrades over previous models without being too fancy or expensive. And with a 3-Liter inline 6 engine producing 338 horsepower and 365 lb-ft of torque, this car has some serious power under its hood.

2 BMW E30 M3 ($72,000)

Black 1989 E30 M3 parked
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The OG BMW M3 is one of the most beloved cars in history—and with good reason. It's fast, fun, and easy to drive. And if you get it with a manual transmission, it's even more fun!

1987-BMW-E30-M3
NetCarShow

With upgraded suspension and wide wheels, this car is perfect for any occasion—whether it's just getting around town or going on a road trip across the country. You could own this iconic car at roughly $72k for a good condition original model.

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Related: Here’s Why The BMW E46 3 Series Is A Great First Drift Car

1 BMW E46 M3 CSL ($103,000)

BMW E46 M3 CSL Rear Quarter View
Via: BMW

The BMW E46 M3 CSL also makes our list of favorite used BMW M cars because it has everything you need from an M-series car: power, speed, comfort, luxury, and most importantly iconic heritage.

BMW M3 E46 CSL Front Quarter View
BMW

This model has great handling that makes it easy to use for everyday driving and track days. It is also the most expensive M3 available on the market because of its limited production run and popularity, which means now it costs about $104 grand for a clean good condition one.