BMW is celebrating its 100th anniversary in the automotive industry, and part of that event is honoring the 30th birthday of one of its iconic models, the M3, with a special commemorative edition called the 30 Jahre M3.
The 30 Jahre M3 will have a limited production run of only 500 examples and 150 of those units will come to the United States.
The 30 Jahre M3 isn’t just a special edition model with a few cosmetic changes. It also comes with a series of tweaks to its build and powerplant to improve the ride of the vehicle.
BMW has given the 30th-anniversary model a roughly 20-horsepower boost from the standard M3, with its 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged straight-six engine now making 444 horsepower. The German brand offers a choice between a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and a six-speed manual gearbox.
This extra power means the 30 Jahre M3 makes the zero-to-60-mph sprint in just 3.8 seconds with the dual-clutch option and a time of 4.0 seconds flat with the manual.
BMW has also given the 30 Jahre M3 new dampers, springs, and stabilizers, newly tuned software for the three available driving modes (Comfort, Sport, and Sport+), stability control, and Active M Differential.
The 30 Jahre M3 can be spotted thanks to a one-of-a-kind Macao Blue finish inspired by the popular color offered on the now-famous E30 M3 Sport Evo example of the car. Inside is a two-tone leather trim and special badging and embossed parts.
Pricing for the 30 Jahre M3s stateside will start at $83,250 for the manual transmission and $86,150 for the special M3 model with a dual-clutch tranny.