Special Edition 50 Jahre BMW M Coming Soon

BMW’s M Division turns 50 years old next year, and the German automaker plans to celebrate with a special edition model (or models). Based on some recent trademark filings from BMW, we assumed the 50th anniversary might see the return of a long-dead M3 variant called the Evo Sport. However, another trademark filing with the DPMA in Germany points to a more likely candidate for the next year’s celebration. We can say with near certainty that BMW will reveal at least one Jahre Edition model in 2022.

BMW trademarked “50 Jahre BMW M,” likely in preparation for these celebratory special editions. Along with the name itself, the trademark application also includes a logo (pictured below) featuring the special edition name with M’s iconic blue, violet, and red stripes on either side. “Blue stands for BMW, red for motorsport and violet for the unique combination of the two,” says BMW.

This is far from the first time BMW has celebrated an important anniversary with a Jahre Edition car. “Jahre” means years in German, meaning BMW can assign a number at the beginning to signify an important milestone. A 30 Jahre M5 debuted in 2014 limited to just 300 units, followed by a 35th-anniversary model five years later without the Jahre name. The M3 got a Jahre model in 2016 with a 500-unit run, then BMW released an M4 Convertible Jahre to celebrate 30 years of drop-top M cars. These special edition models often come finished in a special paint color with unique trim inside, always sporting the Competition package with plenty of Jahre badges for good measure.

Though we now know what BMW has up its sleeve for next year’s big celebration, it’s still unclear which models will receive a 50 Jahre special edition. The 2021 BMW M3 and M4 are the freshest M cars in the lineup, so it seems likely that those cars are candidates for the celebration. We doubt the M2 will still be in production by the time these special editions come out, but the other M models could all receive their own special edition variants as well.