Ford Mustang GT S550 or BMW M3 / M4 F80 / F82? They're rivals, so owners often weigh one against the other. Here's how far each one goes, using the makers' and tuners' own figures from our two guides.
At a glance
| Ford Mustang GT S550 | BMW M3 / M4 F80 / F82 | |
|---|---|---|
| Years | 2015–2023 | 2014–2020 |
| Engine | 5.0 Coyote V8 (Gen 2 / Gen 3) | 3.0 twin-turbo inline-six S55 |
| Stock power | 460 hp / 420 lb-ft (US, 2018–21) | 425 hp / 406 lb-ft (Competition 444 hp) (US) |
Power by stage
| Ford Mustang GT S550 | BMW M3 / M4 F80 / F82 | |
|---|---|---|
| Stock | 460 hp | 425 hp |
| Stage 1 | ≈479 hp | 500–540 hp |
| Stage 2 | ≈490–510 hp | 530–575 hp |
| Stage 3 | 623–825 hp | 620–710 hp |
| Stage 4 | 1,000+ hp | 800–900 whp |
Careful: one car's figures are at the wheels (whp) and the other's at the engine (hp), so they aren't directly comparable. Convert with the crank to wheel calculator.
Typical parts cost
| Ford Mustang GT S550 | BMW M3 / M4 F80 / F82 | |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Lund custom tune from $325 (tuner device extra); Ford Performance calibration with intake and throttle body $1,535. | $579–$924 (JB4, bootmod3, Dinan, Active Autowerke); MHD €279 licence plus €109 per map pack; €609–€3,743 (RaceChip, Mosselman, G-Power, AC Schnitzer); Dinan+ with warranty $1,750. Pinned crank hub $429–$975 (Mosselman, VAC). |
| Stage 2 | BBK long-tube headers $850. | downpipes $480–$1,999 (VRSF, Active Autowerke); charge cooler $750–$1,695 (Dinan, CSF); Mosselman remap with downpipes €2,651 before tax. |
| Stage 3 | supercharger kits $6,950–$9,596 (Ford Performance, Whipple, ProCharger, Roush, Edelbrock); Tremec Magnum XL swap $6,200. | turbos $2,995–$5,685 (Pure) or €4,248 before tax (Mosselman); DCT clutches $2,599; Manhart's full kit €37,500. |
List prices from the guides, before shipping, import tax and fitting. "—" means that guide has no cost line for the stage.
Where each one ends up
At Stage 4 the Ford Mustang GT S550 reaches 1,000+ hp and the BMW M3 / M4 F80 / F82 800–900 whp.