BMW M Celebrates 100 Years of the Nürburgring with Exclusive M2, M3, M4 and M5 Editions
For BMW M, the Nürburgring is much more than a racetrack. It is a development laboratory, a benchmark and a place where BMW engineers push production cars to their limits.
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the legendary circuit, BMW M has introduced a special 100 Jahre Nürburgring edition.
The anniversary lineup includes six BMW M cars, joined by three high-performance BMW Motorrad M motorcycles.
In total, BMW is celebrating a century of the Nürburgring with nine exclusive high-performance models.
100 Years of the Nürburgring
The Nürburgring officially opened on June 18, 1927. Since then, it has become one of the most famous names in motorsport and one of the world's most demanding testing environments.
The legendary Nordschleife is 20.8 kilometers long and features 73 corners, significant elevation changes and constantly changing track characteristics.
Those conditions make the circuit particularly valuable to automotive engineers.
At the Nürburgring, BMW can test much more than lap times. Chassis tuning, suspension, steering, brakes, aerodynamics, powertrains and thermal management are all exposed to extreme loads.
For BMW M, the Nürburgring has effectively become a second home.
Six BMW M Cars for the Anniversary
The automotive part of the 100 Jahre Nürburgring edition consists of six BMW M models:
- BMW M2
- BMW M3 Sedan
- BMW M3 Touring
- BMW M4 Coupé
- BMW M5 Sedan
- BMW M5 Touring
The lineup covers a large part of BMW M's current high-performance range.
These are not completely new technical variants. Instead, the anniversary models are based on the latest BMW M high-performance cars and receive exclusive design elements and equipment created specifically for the Nürburgring celebration.
Nürburgring Green
The most recognizable feature of the anniversary edition is the special Nürburgring Green paint.
The choice is hardly surprising. Green has always been closely associated with the Nürburgring, which is famously known as the Green Hell.
BMW uses the historically inspired green shade as the visual connection between the nine anniversary models.
The BMW M cars can also be ordered in Black Sapphire metallic, but Nürburgring Green is clearly the color that makes the special edition stand out.
The Nürburgring Is Written Across the Bodywork
BMW went much further than simply adding an anniversary badge.
The cars feature graphics inspired by the Nürburgring Nordschleife, the 100 Years logo and the wording “Nürburgring since 1927.”
Depending on the model, the graphics appear on the front doors, C-pillars or rear side sections.
The roofs receive another distinctive element: special anniversary stripes combining light grey, Nürburgring Green and black.
On the BMW M2, M3 Sedan, M4 Coupé and M5 Sedan, the stripes run across the carbon roof.
On the M3 Touring and M5 Touring, they are applied across the steel roof.
Green accents on the wheels and selected M design elements complete the exterior treatment.
The result is more than a standard M car with a few anniversary badges. BMW has created a recognizable visual identity for the entire edition.
A Special Interior
The same philosophy continues inside.
The interiors are predominantly black and feature contrasting green and white stitching.
The inline-six-cylinder models receive a special M Alcantara steering wheel with matching stitching and a 12 o'clock marker.
The M5 models feature an M steering wheel with the same anniversary-inspired design details.
These may seem like small touches, but together they give the cars a much stronger connection to the racetrack.
BMW M Ignite Brings New Technology
One of the most interesting aspects of the anniversary edition is not its appearance but the technology underneath.
BMW is introducing BMW M Ignite on the inline-six-cylinder models — the BMW M2, M3 and M4.
The technology uses a pre-chamber ignition system developed and patented by BMW.
According to BMW, the system is particularly beneficial under high engine loads. It improves efficiency, helps reduce fuel consumption under racetrack conditions and supports compliance with increasingly strict emissions requirements, including Euro 7.
Most importantly for M enthusiasts, BMW says this is achieved without sacrificing performance.
That makes the 100 Jahre Nürburgring edition more than a visual celebration. It also showcases some of BMW M's latest engine technology.
The BMW M5 Joins the Celebration
The anniversary edition includes both the BMW M5 Sedan and BMW M5 Touring.
That makes the series particularly interesting because the M5 Touring combines the practicality of a large estate car with the performance of BMW's flagship M model.
Both versions receive the same Nürburgring-inspired visual language, including Nürburgring Green, special roof graphics, anniversary details and unique interior touches.
BMW is therefore making a clear statement: Nürburgring performance heritage is not limited to two-door sports cars.
Even a high-performance wagon can carry the spirit of the Green Hell.
BMW Motorrad Joins BMW M
The Nürburgring anniversary is not limited to four wheels.
BMW Motorrad has created three special M models for the celebration:
BMW M 1000 RR
BMW's uncompromising high-performance supersport motorcycle, designed with a strong focus on racetrack performance.
BMW M 1000 R
A hyper-naked motorcycle that brings Superbike technology and performance to the road.
BMW M 1000 XR
A high-performance crossover combining high-speed stability, long-distance capability and serious M performance.
There is one particularly important detail: each motorcycle will be limited to 100 units worldwide.
The Motorcycles Get Their Own Anniversary Treatment
BMW Motorrad follows the same design philosophy used for the cars.
The motorcycles feature Nürburgring Green paint, a fuel tank decorated with the Nordschleife silhouette, an anniversary-designed airbox cover and an individual “one of 100” marking.
Carbon wheels receive Nürburgring Green accent stripes, while black chassis components and an Alcantara-style seat with embroidered “100” lettering complete the design.
The M 1000 RR and M 1000 R also receive an exclusive M Cover Kit.
The result is a coherent anniversary family while keeping the individual character of each motorcycle intact.
“Born on the Racetrack. Made for the Streets.”
BMW has chosen a fitting slogan for the anniversary edition:
Born on the Racetrack. Made for the Streets.
Few phrases describe the philosophy of BMW M better.
For BMW, the Nürburgring is not simply a place to chase lap records. It is an engineering laboratory where production vehicles are tested under extreme conditions.
The lessons learned on the Nordschleife influence the development of road cars.
That means technologies and engineering solutions tested on the track can eventually make their way into cars that people drive every day.
When Can You Order One?
Orders for the BMW M3 Sedan, M3 Touring, M4 Coupé, M5 Sedan and M5 Touring will open in September 2026.
The BMW M2 will join the anniversary lineup later, with orders scheduled to begin in January 2027.
Ordering information for the three BMW Motorrad models — the M 1000 RR, M 1000 R and M 1000 XR — will be announced separately.
BMW also notes that availability will vary by market.
Why Does the 100 Jahre Nürburgring Edition Matter?
At first glance, the 100 Jahre Nürburgring edition could look like another special series built around an exclusive paint color and a few unique design elements.
But there is more to it.
The Nürburgring has been deeply connected with BMW's engineering and motorsport history for decades. The Nordschleife remains one of the toughest environments in the world for testing a performance car.
The anniversary edition brings together three things: the history of the Nürburgring, the current generation of BMW M cars and the latest technologies being developed for future high-performance vehicles.
That is what makes these cars more interesting than a typical appearance package.
A Nürburgring Green M2, M3, M4 or M5 carrying the silhouette of the Nordschleife is effectively a piece of BMW M history on four wheels.
100 years of the Nürburgring. 100 years of history. And BMW M is still testing its cars where the road ends and the Green Hell begins.