Bmw M3 Competition Years
By the Editorial Staff
March 16, 2026
The BMW M3 is a high-performance version of the BMW 3 Series, developed by BMW 's in-house motorsport division, BMW M GmbH. M3 models have been produced for every generation of 3 Series since the E30 M3 was introduced in 1986. The BMW M3 Generations at a glance.
Born into motorsport, in 1986 the BMW M3 E30 began a success story which still shows no signs of stopping or even slowing down. For more than six generations now the sportscar has been setting standards in its class. 8 October 2024 BMW M3 Competition Sedan with M xDrive [1]: Fuel consumption combined in l.
See all generations of the BMW M3: discover information about every model year and check out what was changed. Unlocking the best and worst BMW M3 years reveals surprising reliability issues and performance trade. Whether you're a first time buyer or an M3 collector, here's what to look for with each gen and model year from 1986 to 2021.
BMW M3 Evolution The year was 1986, and Mercedes-Benz had just unveiled a sportier version of their legendary 190E, dubbed the 190E 2.3-16. This move set the stage in the automotive world, particularly among German manufacturers who saw motorsport not just as a competition, but as a proving ground for their engineering excellence. BMW M3 Competition (RWD, 8-speed auto) boosts output to 503 horsepower and 417 lb-ft, reaching 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds.
BMW M3 Competition xDrive (AWD, 8-speed auto) is the most potent, producing 523 horsepower with 479 lb-ft of torque, and achieves 0. The Competition models also come with a professional driving assistance package. BMW released the M3 Edition 50 Jahre BMW M in 2023.
The limited-edition car celebrated 50 years of BMW Motorsports, was limited to 500 units in North America, and gained new tech options, including a standalone dash cam system. An update to the iDrive system was presented on the 2010 model year BMW M3. For greater sport handling, the 2011 BMW M3 offered a Competition Package that wore 19.
Production numbers for the M3 Competition vary by year and market. For instance, approximately 10,000 units of the G80 M3 Competition were produced between 2020 and 2023. Specific production details can often be obtained from BMW's official channels or enthusiast groups.