The world’s longest racetrack, Germany’s legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife, is turning 100 next year, and BMW’s M division is prematurely celebrating.
Special ‘100 Jahre Nürburgring’ editions are coming for four key M models.
It’s a shame there’s no such publication as Chasing Bikes, since BMW has also given the anniversary treatment to three of its motorbikes: the M1000RR, M1000R and M1000XR.
Though there are no mechanical changes, unique visual touches commemorate the circuit famously nicknamed the “Green Hell” with either a new ‘Nürburgring Green’ or metallic Black Sapphire paintwork, with the addition of a white stripe over the roof.
Special graphics on the side of each model feature the iconic – and official – Nürburgring logo across the rear guards flanked by a ‘M born on the racetrack’ livery, as well as ‘100 Nürburgring since 1927’ graphics across the lower door skins.
The M2 100 Jahre Nürburgring has black wheels, while the M3, M4 and M5 have special green accents on their wheels. All will have the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife logo embroidered on the front seats, and the six-cylinder models (M2, M3 & M4) have Alcantara steering wheels.
The M3 Touring (BMW’s term for a station wagon)
The M2 also gets lightweight carbon-fibre seats as standard.
The M4 convertible and XM miss out on a special edition, as do the X5 M and X6 M, which will shortly be updated.
Exact specifications for the 100 Jahre Nürburgring editions are unclear, as BMW has not stipulated which exact variants the M2, M3 and M4 special editions are based on.
The M5 Touring in Black Sapphire, the second of the two colour options.
Conveniently, there’s only one spec for the M5, so we can safely state the M5 100 Jahre Nürburgring will offer a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8, an eight-speed automatic, BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system, and a plug-in hybrid system, for a combined 535kW and 1000Nm, and 65km of EV range (WLTP).
The M3 Touring (wagon) depicted is the Competition, meaning a three-litre twin-turbo straight-six making 390kW and 650Nm, an eight-speed auto and xDrive. The M3 sedan and M4 coupé depicted are the regular versions, which have the same straight-six making 353kW and 550Nm, rear-wheel drive and a six-speed manual.
The sedans (M3 & M5) and coupés (M2 & M4) have carbon-fibre roofs, while the M3 Touring and M5 Touring have steel; BMW couldn’t find a supplier for a carbon-fibre panel long enough for a station wagon’s roof.
The M4 coupé
Exact Australian specs and timing are TBC. Overseas, the M3, M4 and M5 are on sale from this month, with the M2 waiting until January 2027.
