Compare the2024 BMW M3VS 2024 Audi RS 3

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The M3 offers an optional Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The RS 3 doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The M3 offers an optional Surround View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The RS 3 only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The M3 has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the RS 3’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the M3 has standard Cross Traffic Warning, helping the driver avoid collisions. Audi charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Assist on the RS 3.

The M3’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The RS 3 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the M3 and the RS 3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems and rearview cameras.

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the M3 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the RS 3.

There are over 15 percent more BMW dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the M3’s warranty.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the M3 has a standard 720-amp battery. The RS 3’s 320-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 29 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW third in overall reliability. Audi is ranked 6th.

The M3’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder produces 72 more horsepower (473 vs. 401) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (406 vs. 369) than the RS 3’s 2.5 turbo 5-cylinder. The M3 Competition’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder produces 102 more horsepower (503 vs. 401) and 110 lbs.-ft. more torque (479 vs. 369) than the RS 3’s 2.5 turbo 5-cylinder. The M3 CS’ standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder produces 142 more horsepower (543 vs. 401) and 110 lbs.-ft. more torque (479 vs. 369) than the RS 3’s 2.5 turbo 5-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the M3 Competition is faster than the Audi RS 3 (automatics tested):

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the M3’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The RS 3 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The M3 has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the RS 3 (15.6 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW M3 higher (5 out of 10) than the Audi RS 3 (3). This means the M3 produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the RS 3 every 15,000 miles.

An eight-speed automatic is available on the BMW M3, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the RS 3.

For better stopping power the M3’s brake rotors are larger than those on the RS 3:

The M3 offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The RS 3 doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The M3 stops much shorter than the RS 3:

For better traction, the M3 has larger tires than the RS 3 (F:275/40R18 & R:285/35R19 vs. F:265/30R19 & R:245/35R19).

The M3’s optional 285/30R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RS 3’s 35 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the M3 offers optional 20-inch rear wheels. The RS 3’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The M3 has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The RS 3’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the M3’s wheelbase is 8.9 inches longer than on the RS 3 (112.5 inches vs. 103.6 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the M3 is 1.1 inches wider in the front and 3.2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the RS 3.

The M3 Competition handles at 1.03 G’s, while the RS 3 pulls only .94 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the M3 a Compact car, while the RS 3 is rated a Subcompact.

The M3 has 8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the RS 3 (95 vs. 87).

The M3 has 4.1 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.7 inches more rear headroom, .5 inches more rear legroom and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the RS 3.

The M3 has a much larger trunk than the RS 3 (13 vs. 8.3 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the M3’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The RS 3 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the M3 offers cargo security. The RS 3’s non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

The engine in the M3 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the RS 3. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 1% lower rating, Audi is ranked 8th.

The M3 offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The RS 3 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Laser headlights, optional on the M3, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the RS 3’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

The RS 3’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The M3’s optional adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

The M3’s sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The RS 3’s visors are fixed into the windshield header.

Both the M3 and the RS 3 have standard heated front seats. The M3 also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the RS 3.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the M3 keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The RS 3 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the M3’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The RS 3 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The M3’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The RS 3’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

The M3 is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The RS 3 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The M3 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the M3 will retain 54.52% to 54.54% of its original price after five years, while the RS 3 only retains 51.36%.

The BMW 3 Series outsold the Audi A3/S3/RS 3 by over three to one during 2022.