It was only last week that we saw BMW unveil the M4 CSL to celebrate 50 years of BMW’sM division. However, the CSL was only available for the German and selected European markets.
This time, BMW has made sure that different regions will be able to celebrate the 50th anniversary of BMW’s M division by releasing limited amounts of the 50 Jahre Edition of the BMW M3 and M4. To be specific, only 500 M3s and 1,000 M4s will be produced. The North American market will be getting the M3, while Europe gets 500 units of the M4 and the remainder goes to China.
Both models of the 50 Jahre BMW M edition don’t have any mechanical upgrades and still puts out 480 hp and 550 Nm while the competition variant produces 510 hp and 650 Nm. BMW also says that the models can be optioned to come with a 6-speed manual to drive the rear wheels or an 8-speed automatic with M xDrive all-wheel drive technology depending on the model variant.
The key feature that makes this edition of the M3 and M4 stand out are its cosmetic enhancements. BMW is resurrecting a selection of colours from the last 50 years of M paired with double-spoked 19-inch M forged wheels at the front and a 20-inch pair at the rear, making this selection of M models even more desirable.
For the European market, the BMW M 50 Jahre edition M4s will be offered in Carbon Black, Macao Blue, Brands Hatch Grey, Imola Red and San Marino Blue colours paired with Orbit Grey Matt and Gold Bronze Matt rim colours that are offered for the first time.
Moving east into the Chinese market, the M4 will be offered in two colours; Fire Orange and Status Grey. This selection of colours were introduced in conjunction with the 50th anniversary coinciding with the year of the Tiger in the Chinese calendar. Hence, the M4s in Fire Orange will be matched with Orbit Grey Matt rims while the Status Grey cars will be paired with Gold Bronze rims.
For the interior of the M4, “Edition 50 Jahre BMW M” lettering can be seen on the door sill panels, and an “M4 Edition 50 Jahre BMW M” plaque is placed on the centre console. The anniversary logo is stitched onto the headrest of the M sport seats which can be optionally upgraded to the M carbon bucket seats.
For the US and Canadian markets, they’ll only receive the special edition M3 only. They come in five different colours that pay tribute to past M3 models including Vermilion Red, Techno Violet, Interlagos Blue, Fire Orange and Limerock Grey.
Unlike the M4 however, all models of the M3 will be only offered with M forged wheels in Orbit Grey Matt but with extra M performance goodies consisting of a front carbon splitter, rear carbon spoiler, and titanium exhaust pipes finished with carbon tips.
Inside, the M3 isn’t very different from the M4 with optional M carbon bucket seats. The biggest difference that splits the two is that the M3 includes a metal plaque on the cupholder cover on the centre console that reads “M3 Edition 50 Jahre BMW M” along with the reference “1/500”.
GALLERY
