2023 BMW M3 G80

Edition 50 Jähre (M xDrive)

VIN#: FN51157

ENGINE  3.0-liter S58B30T0 twin-turbo inline six-cylinder

OUTPUT  503 hp @ 6250 rpm, 479 lb-ft @ 2750 rpm

TRANSMISSION  8-speed. ZF automatic

CURB WEIGHT  3990 lbs

TOP SPEED  180 mph

BUILD DATE  August 2022

COLOR  Cinnabar Red

OWNER  BMW of North America

OWNED SINCE  2023

LOCATION  Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey

The G80 M3 is more than the F80 in every single way. It’s wider, longer, heavier, more expensive, more powerful, and blessed with more tech than any M3 before. A clutch pedal is offered only on the base trim; more powerful models receive an eight-speed automatic. When the G80 arrived on the market, all-wheel drive also became optional.

“At the time, we were a little concerned about both of those technologies not being immediately accepted by the community,” says Tom Plucinsky. Currently head of BMW Group Classic USA, Plucinsky was leading BMW of North America product communications when the G80 debuted.

“We had automatics in the M235 and M2CS Racing, and those gearboxes are bulletproof in those race cars,” Plucinsky says. “So it made sense to put the automatic into the M3. I think it’s a fantastic transmission; it’s all dependent on tuning. M did an excellent job matching it to the character of the M3 and M4.”

And the addition of all-wheel drive, well, that made the M3 an all-weather weapon. The biggest difference may have been on track, where managing grip was no longer a worry and the M3 became almost comically fast.

“We had one of the tracks at Thermal Club for our press drives. And we had Connor De Phillippi and John Edwards as our pros there,” Plucinsky recalls. “They went out and they’re chasing each other, John comes back and he’s like, ‘There’s something wrong with my car. I was doing everything I could, and Connor could just pull away at will.’ Connor had all-wheel drive and John was like, ‘Oh, man. So it does make a big difference.” It doesn’t make the car any less an M3 than it was before.”

This particular G80 is a 50 Jähre Edition, built to commemorate the 50th anniversary of BMW M. Just 500 examples came to North America. These fully-loaded Competition xDrive models retailed for $96,695 and were available in five colors, each one a tribute to a previous generation of M3. Our display vehicle is Cinnabar Red, a shade borrowed from the E30 M3.

The G80 expanded the M3 footprint once again—and 50 years later, it’s still the perfect one-car solution.