Back in July 1975, BMW unveiled the E21 at Munich’s Olympic Stadium, marking the debut of what would become the brand’s most successful nameplate. Five decades and seven generations later, the 3-Series has gone from saving BMW from near-bankruptcy to defining what a sports sedan should be. Now, the company is commemorating this milestone with the M340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition — a limited run that resurrects the most distinctive paint schemes from the model’s first five generations.
A Rolling Color Archive
Rather than throwing on some commemorative badges and calling it a day, BMW took a deeper dive into its archives. Each of the five available design packages pairs a heritage BMW Individual paint with period-correct Extended Merino Leather upholstery — which, notably, has never been offered on a US-market 3-Series until now. The E21 gets honored with Ruby Red Metallic over Ivory with red brake calipers. The E30’s Boston Green Metallic comes with Tartufo leather and blue calipers. Representing the E36 is Avus Blue Metallic (also on Tartufo with blue calipers), while the E46 wears Carbon Black Metallic with black leather and red calipers. Rounding things out, the E90 gets Sparkling Graphite Metallic paired with Tartufo and red calipers.
Beyond the paint, the 50 Jahre Edition comes standard with the M Performance exhaust system, featuring Shadowline-finished tailpipes, a carbon fiber rear spoiler, 19-inch M dual-spoke wheels in Bicolor Black, and the full Shadowline treatment across the kidney grilles and air intakes. Inside, carbon fiber trim complements the leather, while a Harman Kardon system and BMW’s Curved Display with Head-Up Display round out the tech.
Still the Benchmark
Mechanically, this is the M340i you already know. The 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six with 48-volt mild-hybrid assistance pumps out 386hp and 398lb.ft of torque, routed through an eight-speed automatic to xDrive all-wheel drive. The chassis tuning remains unchanged, meaning you’re getting the same precision and balance that’s made the 3-Series a benchmark for decades.
Spec Sheet
Model: 2026 BMW M340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition
Engine: 3.0L turbocharged inline-6 with 48V mild-hybrid
Power: 386 hp
Torque: 398 lb-ft
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Drivetrain: xDrive all-wheel drive
0-60: 4.1 seconds
Top Speed: 130 mph (electronically limited)
Wheels: 19-inch M dual-spoke Bicolor Black 792M
Special Features: M Performance exhaust, carbon fiber rear spoiler, Extended Merino Leather (first time in US 3-Series), five heritage color packages
MSRP: $75,200 (plus $1,175 destination)
Pricing & Availability
Limited to an unspecified edition size, the M340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition starts at $75,200 before the $1,175 destination charge. Production has already begun at BMW’s Munich facility, with deliveries expected in Q1 2026.
Recap
2026 BMW M340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition
BMW’s celebrating 50 years of the 3-Series with the M340i 50 Jahre Edition, which brings back five iconic paint colors from the model’s first five generations, each paired with Extended Merino Leather that’s never been offered on a US-market 3-Series before.
