Is the BMW X3 M Sport Package Worth It?
The BMW X3 M Sport Package can make your crossover look as athletic as it feels to drive it.
Written by Melanie Krieps Mergen
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
For $4,100, the M Sport Package can be added to the BMW X3. The upgrade gets you specific cosmetic features, like an M-style steering wheel and M-style wheels, sport seats, and color choices exclusive to the package.
The 2023 BMW X3 packs a generous amount of power, even at the base level, which is what many drivers expect when seeking out a crossover from BMW. While performance certainly takes precedence, the driving experience is also about setting the right vibe—so if you’re looking for a more athletic aesthetic for your new X3, the M Sport Package might just be the way to go.
Here’s a look at what the 2023 X3 M Sport Package gets you, what it costs, and how it compares to other options.
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4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversWhat is the BMW X3 M Sport Package?
Just as its name suggests, the M Sport Package options you can consider for your new BMW X3 are designed to give your compact crossover a sportier look.
For the 2023 model year, the package is available as an optional add-on for the X3 sDrive30i and the xDrive30i.
What’s included
For the 2023 model year, here’s what the BMW X3 M Sport Package adds:
- Aerodynamic Kit
- M steering wheel
- 19-inch M wheels, bi-color, Midnight Grey
- High-gloss Shadowline roof rails
- Sport seats
- Shadowline exterior trim
- Exclusive color choices
What it does
In a nutshell, the purpose of the BMW X3 M Sport Package is mostly to make your car look as athletic as it feels to drive it.
To get a visual sense of the difference, you can head to BMW’s website and toggle between the standard and M Sport Package options to see which one you like better.
MORE: Vehicle trim level, options, and packages explained
How much is a 2023 BMW X3 M Sport Package?
The BMW M Sport Package costs $4,100. That’s significantly less than upgrading to the next trim level if you’re only interested in some of the select cosmetic features it offers.
2023 BMW X3 trim pricing
Trim | Starting price |
|---|---|
sDrive30i , rear-wheel drive | $46,200 |
xDrive30i , all-wheel drive | $48,200 |
M40i , all-wheel drive | $61,000 |
M , all-wheel drive | $74,400 |
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Is the M Sport Package worth it?
Whether the M Sport Package is worth it depends on how much you’re willing to spend on cosmetic upgrades for your vehicle.
If you really like the look of an M steering wheel and you’re fine with the performance capabilities of the X3’s base model, and if you have the cash to spare, opting for the M Sport Package is a lot cheaper than shelling out the more than $10,000 it would take you to get to the M40i trim.
But that’s the primary purpose of this trim: aesthetics. If you’re looking for more performance-oriented upgrades for the X3, you’ll need to look at other trim and package options.
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M Sport Package vs. the M40i trim
The M Sport Package is more geared toward cosmetics than performance. In theory, though, that shouldn’t be too much of a problem, because the base-level sDrive 30i already provides a strong power output.
The X3’s base engine is capable of 248 horsepower, but if you’re looking for even more, the M40i trim can boost that to an impressive 382 horsepower. With a starting price of $61,000, the M40i offers many of the features that come with the M Sport Package as standard or as optional add-ons.
It also comes with trim-specific packages of its own to take those performance capabilities even further:
- M40i with Shadowline Package: For $400, this package gives you the Shadowline exterior trim, 19-inch M wheels, and M Shadowline lights. It also comes with an M steering wheel, M Sport brakes with blue calipers, an M sport suspension, and driver-assistance features, like active driving assistant, active blind-spot detection, and live cockpit with navigation.
- M Sport Differential Package: For $1,300, you’ll get 19-inch performance run-flat tires as opposed to the standard all-season tires in addition to the M Sport differential itself.
- M Sport Brakes with Red Calipers Package: At no extra cost, you have the option of giving your M40i’s calipers a red paint coat for an extra pop of color.
- M Driver’s Package on the BMW X3 M: $2,500. Not only does this package raise the top-tier X3 M’s top speed, but it also gets you a high-performance driving class at a BMW Performance Center—which lets you get to know the extremes of your X3’s capabilities in a controlled environment.
MORE: 9 questions to ask when comparing car insurance quotes
The bottom line
Even at the base level, the BMW X3 offers a generous power output, and the M Sport Package gives a sportier look to that sporty driving experience. But if you’re looking to boost your horsepower or other performance specs, this isn’t the package to accomplish that.
If you’re looking for a more powerful, performance-oriented X3, the M40i trim has you covered—with plenty of optional add-ons to boost your performance capabilities even more. But be prepared to pay a hefty price for those additional features.
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