With over half a century under its belt, the BMW M has become so much more than a powerhouse in motorsports. Today, it’s among BMW’s most successful series, with a cult-like following from all over the world. But what exactly makes BMW M cars so special?
Before it became the BMW legacy it is today, the M Division started as a small subsidiary called the BMW Motorsport GmbH focused on BMW’s racing teams. It was founded by Robert A. Lutz and 34 colleagues in 1972, following the BMW 2002 TIK’s win at the European Touring Car Championship (TCC).
Tasked to ensure another ETCC victory, BMW M redesigned the 3.0 CS and turned it into the 3.0 CSL, short for “Coupe Sport Lightweight.” It’s the first car to feature the iconic MSport colors of blue, red, and purple.
Since then, the BMW M division has produced impressive sports cars, such as the M3, known as the most successful touring car of all time. The Motorsport subsidiary is also known for its experimental prototypes, such as the transport version of the E30 M3 and the M8 prototype.
The BMW M’s future is undeniably bright, but its humble beginnings can be hard to pinpoint. However, three vehicles can be considered to be among the very first M cars:
The 3.0 CSL might not have “M” in its name, but it’s still the M Division’s first car. Manufactured in 1973, the 3.0 CSL has a curb weight of around 2,800 lbs, which is about 440 lbs lighter than the 3.0 CS model.
The CSL has 3.2 liters of displacement and can produce around 206 horsepower. It has an aerodynamic package that features large wings and spoilers, which earned the race car the nickname “the Batmobile.”
Based on the E12 5 Series, the BMW 530 MLE was produced to allow BMW to compete in South Africa’s Modified Production racing series. Short for Motorsport Limited Edition, the MLE only had a small production run, with only 100 ever made.
The 530 MLE isn’t as well-known as the M1, but it’s still one of the first to carry the iconic “M” nameplate.
To many, the M1 is BMW’s first true M car because it’s the first serial production M car. It was produced from 1978 to 1981, with only 450 units made, making it as rare as it is iconic.
Specifically designed for the racetrack, the BMW M1 had a four-valve engine with 3.5 liters of displacement and impressive handling. It debuted in the Procar competition series as part of Formula 1’s supporting program.
BMW Art Cars is a collaboration between the BMW brand and legendary artists from all over the world. It’s a collection that currently comprises 20 vehicles, with two stand-out pieces from the BMW M Division.
The very first BMW Art Car was a colorfully painted BMW 3.0 CSL race car by American sculptor Alexander Calder. French racing driver Hervé Poulain drove the art car in the Le Mans 24-hour race, and although he didn’t finish, the audience loved Calder’s colorful design.
Hand-painted by the legendary Andy Warhol, the BMW M1 is arguably the most famous BMW Art Car ever. While other artists designed a scale model, the famous American pop artist painted it himself. He painted the entire vehicle in under 30 minutes, an incredible feat when you consider the amount of paint he used.
“I attempted to show speed as a visual image. When an automobile is really traveling fast, all the lines and colors are transformed into a blur,” Warhol explained.
The Warhol-painted M1 also won sixth place in the 1979 Le Mans overall standings. Today, it’s being displayed across the globe as part of the BMW Art Car World Tour.
The BMW M’s logo is the iconic tricolor stripes, consisting of blue, red, and purple. This color combination dates back to the early ’70s, when BMW was trying to win Texaco over as a sponsor by using the color red. While the deal unfortunately fell through, BMW kept the red to represent motorsport.
Meanwhile, the light blue is taken from the Bavarian flag, and the violet is a combination of the two colors.
The BMW M’s meaning is actually quite simple. The “M” stands for “Motorsport,” a fitting name for a division that originally began as a subsidiary dedicated to BMW’s racing program.
The exact cost of a BMW M car can vary depending on several factors, including its exact year and model. High-performance M models, which are among the fastest BMWs on the market, typically have an MSRP between $68,200 and $132,100. Meanwhile, M electric vehicles (EVs) can cost anywhere from $70,700 to $186,700.
You can also go for other BMW vehicles with an M engine under the hood. These models typically have a base price of around $49,500 to $115,900.
The BMW 3.0 CSL, a limited-edition model celebrating BMW M’s 50th anniversary, is BMW’s most expensive new car ever sold, with prices exceeding one million euros. Other highly expensive and rare BMW M cars include the BMW M1 Procar, which sold at auction for over $900,000, and the street-legal M3 GTR Strassenversion, with limited production and an original price of about $290,000.
BMW M models are all about high-performance driving, which means you can expect a top-tier engine under the hood. Most vehicles under the M Series are also known for their advanced engineering, high-quality materials, and impressive technology. Some models also have limited production runs, such as the BMW M3 E90, with only 67 ever produced.
Plus, BMW is a brand that produces luxury vehicles, so you can expect most of their cars to be quite expensive.
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