10 of the Coolest BMW M Cars Ever Made
BMW has made plenty of sports cars over the years, but a few stand out.
Benjamin HuntingWriterMotorTrend ArchivesPhotographerMecum AuctionsPhotographerDec 26, 2023
BMW’s M division builds some of the hottest and most technically advanced performance cars on the market. That didn’t happen by accident, as the automaker’s history clawed its way to the front of the pack by way of hard-earned motorsports experience and a willingness to try new and novel technologies in its street machines.
In no particular order, here’s a look at 10 of the best BMW M cars to ever make an impression on enthusiasts.
2001-2006 BMW E46 M3
The E46-generation BMW M3 is by far the most successful M car in terms of sales. Looking back, it’s easy to see why: At the time, the concept of a sleek coupe with enough power to be fun (333 horses from a 3.2-liter straight-six in North America), but not so much as to overwhelm its nimble chassis, was a rare formula.
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1988-1995 BMW E34 M5
The E34 M5 marked the end of an era for BMW’s hand-built M cars, as it was the last model wearing that badge to be assembled outside the standard production line. It was also the swan song for BMW’s round-headlight, square-body styling.
Available as either a sedan or a wagon, the E34 M5 offered two engine displacements (3.5 liters followed by 3.8 liters), with Americans restricted to the smaller, 311-hp version in the four-door from 1991 to 1993.
2000-2006 BMW Z8
You might not see an M logo on the outside of the Z8 roadster, but pop the hood, and the evidence is staring you right in the face. The one-time Bond car features an S62 V-8 engine, produced by BMW M and shared with another vehicle on this list.
Conceived as a tribute to the ’60s-era 507 convertible, the Z8 offered 394 horses from its 4.9-liter motor, came exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission, and had a top speed of 180 mph—more than enough to blow your hair back. It also introduced an aluminum monocoque platform that was spectacularly balanced. Just over 5,700 were produced during its short lifespan.
1986-1991 BMW E30 M3
The very first M3 came to life specifically to fulfill homologation requirements for sports car racing. This explains its lightweight design and modest, 197-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder, which were designed to work as a winning tandem on the track.
Not available in the United States until the ’88 model year, the E30 put BMW on the enthusiast map, with its box flares and minimalist approach to performance. It has become shorthand for the kind of pure driving experience that the M division has been chasing with its entry-level models ever since.
2000-2003 BMW E39 M5
Remember the Z8 sharing its S62 V-8 with another member of the M family? That would be the E39 M5, the model that dramatically changed public perception of what a sport sedan could offer when it arrived at the turn of the millennium.
With just under 400 hp on tap and featuring a shockingly co-conspiratorial chassis that did well to conceal its hefty curb weight, this generation M5 was light-years ahead of any of its European rivals. It also set the template for four-door muscle cars for the next decade.
2011-2012 BMW E87 1M
Who could have predicted that a car cobbled together from the BMW parts bin would turn out to be a modern classic? Although criticized for its pedestrian roots (an engine tuned but not designed by M), it’s hard to argue with the result. This hottest version of the original 1 Series rifled out 340 hp from its 3.0-liter I-6, and its relatively modest curb weight and telepathic handling had it drawing comparisons to entry-level M cars from previous generations.
Although still rare at 6,700 examples built, that’s more than double what BMW originally intended to produce, which shows the popularity of the wide-fendered coupe at its launch.
2005-2010 BMW E60 M5
Set aside its polarizing Bangle-era body shape and peel back the E60 M5’s flame-surfaced skin. There, you’ll discover an outrageous 10-cylinder engine that borrowed engineering knowledge from BMW’s Formula 1 program in order to produce 500 hp—an enormous number for its era.
Fantastically quick despite its plus-size proportions (and available as a wagon in Europe), later American-market cars ditched the clunky, overly complicated SMG-III seven-speed automated manual gearbox for a true six-speed, third-pedal unit that dramatically improved the daily drive.
2001-2002 BMW Z3 M Coupe
When the original M Coupe was introduced in 1998, people were more focused on the unusual proportions associated with putting a roof on the Z3 roadster than they were with its promise of performance. That’s because, at its debut, the M Coupe was saddled with the perfectly “fine” but less-than-ferocious S52 engine.
Everything changed in 2001, however, when BMW swapped in a 321-hp version of the E46 M3’s S54 straight-six. Suddenly, the M Coupe went from refined to raucous, a tire-shredding handful that prioritized fun over outright refinement, carving out a spot in the hearts of the few high-performance fans able to snag one before they left production.
2019-2021 BMW M2 Competition
As latter-day M cars have continued to grow in terms of both size and power, the BMW M2 Competition stands out as the one remaining hold-out for the days when smaller and lighter options ruled the roost.
The Competition edition turns up the wick on the already-mighty M2 by replacing its N55 turbo-six with the S55 3.0-liter unit found in the M3 and the M4. Featuring an 8,000-rpm redline and 405 hp, the car retains a six-speed manual for those not interested in a seven-speed self-shifter and runs circles around the larger M models in the showroom in terms of road feel and sheer fun.
1985-1988 BMW E28 M5
The first “true” M5, the E28 builds on the success of the earlier M535i by installing the M1 supercar’s M88 straight-six engine between the front fenders of an executive sedan. That motor, and its 282 hp, was sadly restricted to markets outside of the United States, wherein the M5 was given the more modern, but slightly less punchy S38 (255 hp).
Still, either configuration of the E28 was delightfully playful when the asphalt turned twisty while retaining enough composure to serve as a commuter car Monday to Friday, making it one of the earliest sports sedan salvos of the Euro four-door wars.