BMW celebrates half a century of an icon.
The BMW 3 Series is not just any executive car, it’s a model that achieved legendary status, and one of the most integral trailblazers that helped write the story of the BMW that we know and love today as enthusiasts. Its performance-oriented variants featured precision and engineering that set standards in the industry, and even the standard 3 Series has stood out for generations as a luxurious, agile executive car that combines creature comforts and bar-setting technology with spirited character and driving joy.
It was 50 years ago when the BMW 3 Series was first introduced into the automotive lexicon, specifically at the Olympic Stadium in Munich, Germany, in July 1975. At that moment, a new era began for BMW, one characterized by an incredibly successful sports sedan that would help put BMW on the map across the globe as a manufacturer to beat when it came to its self-proclaimed “Ultimate Driving Machine.”
To mark that milestone, BMW has revealed a new special edition of the 3 Series for the 2026 model year: the 2026 BMW M340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition. This new special edition not only commemorates the half-century anniversary of one of BMW’s most legendary and impactful model series, but it also brings together a unique combination of features and finishes that make the commemorative car noteworthy and memorable as a special edition.
With a single equipment profile carrying an MSRP of $75,200 plus $1,175 destination and handling, the new 2026 BMW M340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition is a unique statement of automotive history, with unique finishes combining historic colors with Extended Merino Leather upholstery, a first for the US-market 3 Series, and either red or blue brake calipers. Each color is inspired by one of the first five generations of the 3 Series: Ruby Red for the first E21 generation, Boston Green for the second, the E30, Avus Blue for the E36, the third generation, Carbon Black for the fourth, the E46, and Sparkling Graphite for the E90, the fifth.
An M Performance Exhuast system highlights the sporty character of the special edition, and features like the BMW Curved Display with Head Up Display, as well as a Harman Kardon surround sound system celebrate how far the technology seen in the model has come. Edition-specific badging and door sills highlight the exclusivity of the special edition, and the new 2026 BMW M340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition is undoubtedly a unique vehicle, celebrating the legacy of a model that is certainly worth the fanfare.
Image Source: BMW
