Few automotive badges carry the gravitas of the BMW M colored stripes, and fewer still evoke the driver-centric devotion of the M3. Four decades after the original homologation special broke cover to conquer the German Touring Car Championship, the Munich-based automaker is marking its 40th birthday at the 2026 Chengdu International Auto Show in the PRC.
The celebration arrives in the form of the M3 40th Anniversary Limited Edition, of which merely 40 units are in the offing. Split evenly into 20 sedans and 20 longroofs, these anniversary models combine heritage nods, bespoke styling, and go-faster capabilities into collector-grade packages.
Customers in the market for the sedan are presented with Laguna Seca Blue paintwork, a shade that conjures plenty of images depicting the high-revving E46 from the 2000s. Available from 1,038,000 yuan, which is a massive $154,240 at current exchange rates, the newcomer is fitted with black Style 826M double-spoke light alloys measuring 19 inches up front and 20 inches at the rear. These rollers frame blue M Compound brakes.
Meanwhile, the longroof carries a price tag of 1,068,000 yuan and embraces a different personality. The $158,700 family-hauling bruiser is finished in Wildberry, a red hue that contrasts like a charm with the red M Compound brakes and red-bronze Style 826M alloys. An understated yet unmistakably athletic presence, this fellow balances wagon utility with raw pedigree.
Both models introduce an exclusive black kidney grille design, complemented by darkened headlights that give the front end a menacing demeanor. Anniversary graphics are layered across the roof panel, door sills, front headrests, and center console, ensuring drivers are reminded of the car’s rarity every time they come close to the vehicle and start the S58 twin-turbo I6 engine up.
Photo: BMW
Underneath the anniversary garb lies the performance-oriented sibling of the B58 sixer, which develops 523 horsepower and 479 pound-feet (650 Newton-meters) of torque in M xDrive flavor. By comparison, the B58 of the M340i offers 382 horsepower and 398 pound-feet (540 Newton-meters) of twist.
Drive reaches all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission, whereas M xDrive is a fully variable system that works together with a clever active diff. Millisecond-level torque vectoring ensures quick distribution across both axles, while the M Drive Professional software package gives customers customizable steering, powertrain, and chassis parameters.
BMW China has further unhooked the limiters for this 40-strong anniversary batch. The sedan is listed with 290 kilometers per hour (180 miles per hour) to its name, while the more practical alternative tops out at 280 kilometers per hour (174 miles per hour).
Looking at the bigger picture, this edition serves as a victory lap for a nameplate that defined modern performance. When the E30 launched in the 1980s, it was forged out of necessity to satisfy DTM regulations, establishing the core motorsport-derived philosophy of the M3. Two generations later, the M3 CSL introduced lightweight carbon fiber for the roof panel.
After a short V8 spell, the M3 returned to inline-six muscle, with the fifth generation ushering in the forced-induction era. No fewer than 40 years on, the compact rear-biased model remains the benchmark against which every rival sedan and wagon is measured.