BMW is marking 40 years of the M3, the compact performance car that became the template for every BMW M model that followed. In a press kit released on October 9, 2026, BMW Group traced the car through six generations, from a homologation special with a four cylinder engine to today’s all wheel drive sedan and wagon.

Where it started

The first M3 was shown at the IAA motor show in Frankfurt in 1985. It used a 2.3-litre four cylinder engine with four valves per cylinder, rated at 147 kW/200 hp, in a two door body weighing 1,200 kilograms. BMW quotes 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.7 seconds and a top speed of 235 km/h (146 mph). A convertible arrived later.

That first car built its reputation on the track. BMW points to wins in the German DTM touring car series, the World Touring Car Championship and the 24 hour race at the Nürburgring.

Six generations at a glance

Each new M3 changed the formula in a noticeable way:

  • Second generation (1992): a more mature coupé, the first M3 with a six cylinder engine, plus a four door sedan. The Sequential M Gearbox (SMG) became an option from 1996.
  • Third generation (2000): a 3.2-litre inline six with 252 kW/343 hp. The special edition M3 CSL had 265 kW/360 hp and ran 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds.
  • Fourth generation (2007): a high revving 4-litre V8 with 309 kW/420 hp, good for 4.8 seconds in the coupé. In 2012 the M3 DTM marked BMW’s return to the DTM series and took the drivers’, teams’ and manufacturers’ titles.
  • Fifth generation (2014): sedan only, with a new turbocharged straight six. BMW says it made more power and torque than the V8 while cutting fuel consumption and emissions by 25 per cent. The Competition Package version had 331 kW/450 hp and reached 100 km/h in 4.0 seconds.
  • Sixth generation (2020): still a straight six, with M xDrive all wheel drive added in 2021 and the long awaited M3 Touring wagon in 2022.

The fastest one yet

BMW calls the limited run M3 CS the quickest production M3 so far. The sedan needs 3.4 seconds to reach 100 km/h and has an electronically limited top speed of 302 km/h (188 mph).

What it means for you

This announcement is a look back, not a new model launch, so there is no new car, price or order date attached to it. BMW did not mention any anniversary edition or Canadian plans in the press kit. For enthusiasts, it is a handy timeline that shows how the M3 moved from four cylinders to a V8 and then to turbocharged sixes with all wheel drive, while acceleration times fell from 6.7 seconds to 3.4 seconds. If you are shopping for a used M3, the generation guide above is a quick way to understand what each era offers before you look at listings.