BMW once used the marketing slogan, “The M is the strongest letter in the alphabet. ” From the perspective of an average car enthusiast, this could be true. For over four decades, BMW M models have been amongst the fastest and most exciting cars you can get, combining a driver-focused nature with powerful engines and impeccable design. But which one of those impressive machines is the best? We couldn’t decide on one, so here are the 10 best BMW M cars ever made.
1. BMW M1 (1978-1981)
Before the M3s and M5s took over the world, the BMW M1 was the brand’s only valid supercar. Designed with the help of Giorgetto Giugiaro and built in collaboration with Lamborghini (initially), the M1 was a mid-engined, 3.5-liter straight-six machine born to race in the Group 4 and Group 5 classes.
Its 277 horsepower may seem modest today, but its Motorsport DNA shines through. The M88 engine would power many M cars in the years to come. Raw, analog, and unfiltered, the M1 was more than a car — it was the soul of the M brand taking form.
2. BMW M3 E30 (1986-1991)
The E30 M3 didn’t just launch a legend; it redefined performance sedans forever. Built for DTM homologation, it was lightweight, box-flared, and perfectly balanced. With a high-revving 2.3-liter four-cylinder (S14), rear-wheel drive, and razor-sharp handling, the E30 M3 was a driver’s car from any angle.
It wasn’t about brute force. It was about response, feeling, and involvement — traits that modern performance cars often overlook. Today, the E30 is a collector’s icon, and rightly so. Every M car since owes it a debt of gratitude.
3. BMW M5 E39 (1998-2003)
With understated looks, a glorious 4.9-liter V8 (S62), a six-speed manual, and rear-wheel drive, the E39 M5 was a perfect storm of engineering precision and old-school driving purity.
Delivering 394 horsepower through a chassis tuned for agility and poise, the E39 M5 didn’t need flashy spoilers or gimmicks. It was the wolf in tailored clothing — capable of chasing down Ferraris while offering seating for five. It is arguably BMW M’s high-water mark, blending luxury and savagery with surgical precision.
4. BMW M3 E46 GT (2003)
The E46 M3 GT wasn’t sold in the U.S. and remains one of the most exclusive M3s ever made, with only 135 units built. Created for FIA GT racing homologation, it was lighter, stiffer, and even more focused than the standard E46.
An accurate track weapon, it came with a carbon fiber roof, upgraded brakes, revised aerodynamics, and a more aggressive tune. While overshadowed by the CSL, the GT version deserves praise as a rare jewel in BMW’s motorsport lineage, with performance to match its scarcity.
5. BMW M3 CSL E46 (2003)
The E46 M3 CSL isn’t just one of the best M cars — it’s one of the best driving machines of the 21st century. Lighter by 110 kg thanks to a carbon roof, thinner glass, and stripped interior, the CSL was a purist’s dream.
Its 3.2-liter straight-six (S54) was bumped to 360 horsepower, and the handling was surgical. Critics may note the SMG-II gearbox as its weak point, but few cars offered such an intoxicating blend of noise, feedback, and confidence at the limit. The CSL is mythical, deservedly so.
6. BMW 1M Coupe (2011)
Nobody expected much from the 1M. It was cobbled together from a parts bin — an E82 chassis with E92 M3 suspension and a tuned N54 twin-turbo inline-six. But the result? Pure magic.
With 335 horsepower, a six-speed manual, and rear-wheel drive, the 1M was the spiritual successor to the E30 M3. Compact, punchy, and endlessly fun, its short production run (just over 6,300 units) only enhanced its cult status. The 1M wasn’t perfect — it was better than that: flawed brilliance in the best M tradition.
7. BMW M2 F87 (2016-2021)
In an era of bloated dimensions and synthetic sensations, the BMW M2 F87 brought us back to basics. It had the right size, the right engine, and the right attitude. Especially in Competition Trim, where it got the full-fat S55 engine from the M3/M4 with 405 horsepower, the M2 came alive.
The steering was precise, the brakes strong, and the balance impeccable. More than just a fast car, the M2 was an experience, reminding us that joy doesn’t always come from more power, but from clarity, connection, and control.
8. BMW M5 CS F90 (2021-2022)
At over 600 horsepower, the M5 CS shouldn’t make sense. It’s a luxury sedan with carbon bucket seats, yellow DRLs, and a Nürburgring lap time that would shame Ferraris. And yet, it works brilliantly.
This special edition was BMW M pushing its ultimate sedan to the limit: 627 horsepower, lighter weight, recalibrated AWD, and track-tuned suspension. It was absurdly fast but also shockingly composed. If the E39 M5 was the gentleman, the F90 CS is the track-hardened assassin in a tuxedo.
9. BMW M4 GTS (2016)
The M4 GTS is not subtle. It’s aggressive, raw, and laser-focused. With 493 horsepower from a water-injected S55 engine, a massive wing, and a stripped-down interior, the GTS was never meant to be comfortable.
Instead, it was BMW’s attempt at Porsche GT3-level focus. It succeeded — sort of. The ride was brutal on the street, but on the track, it came alive. Limited to just 700 units globally, the GTS is a rare beast, best appreciated in its natural habitat: the edge of grip, in full-throttle fury.
10. BMW M3 Touring G81 (2022-present)
BMW fans begged for it for decades — and finally, the gods listened. The M3 Touring is authentic, and it’s glorious. Combining the G80 M3’s performance with the practicality of a wagon, the Touring is proof that you can have your cake and drift it, too.
With 503 horsepower, xDrive all-wheel drive, and enough cargo space for a weekend escape (or track day tires), the M3 Touring isn’t just practical—it’s a celebration. It’s for the enthusiast with family duties, the driver who refuses to compromise. And in typical M fashion, it looks mean doing it.