2023 BMW M4 Edition 50 Jahre celebrates five decades of M

The 2023 BMW M4 Edition 50 Jahre BMW M has been announced today – exactly half a century after BMW M was born.

BMW unveiled the special M4 model in celebration of BMW M division’s 50th anniversary – with ‘Jahre’ translating to ‘years’ in English.

Based on the standard M4, the changes are mainly cosmetic, with ‘Edition 50 Jahre BMW M’ plaques and door sills, retro BMW roundel badges, and heritage colours including Carbon Black, Macao Blue, Brands Hatch Grey, Imola Red, and San Marino Blue.

A set of 19-inch M forged alloy wheels at the front and 20-inch wheels at the rear can also be optioned in Orbit Grey Matte or Bronze matte for the first time.

The M4 Edition 50 Jahre BMW M is powered by the same 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline-six engine found in the M4 Competition, sending 353kW and 550Nm to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual, or 375kW and 650Nm with an eight-speed automatic.

While it’s expect Australia will get the European-spec M4 Coupe, North America gets an M3 Edition 50 Jahre, which gains a few extra carbon-fibre bits like a boot lid and front lip spoiler.

The M4 does unfortunately miss out on some of the more beloved paint jobs being offered on the M3 Edition 50 Jahre, including Interlagos Blue, Vermilion Red, and Techno Violet purple.

Exactly 50 years ago today (24 May 1972) marks when BMW Motorsport was born, later renamed as BMW M, but it would be another six years before the first M-badged road car would appear – the BMW M1.

It was the mid 1980s when groundbreaking models like the M3 and M5 were launched, arguably setting the standard by which other high-performance coupes and sedans are judged.