Also known as the F80, the current-generation M3 was launched in 2014 with new, evolutionary styling, a revamped interior, BMW'->ke178s latest technology,->ke1701 and a brand-new engine. The biggest change compared to the previous M3->ke2366 was made under the hood, where the high-revving, naturally aspirated, 4.0-liter V-8 was replaced by a turbocharged, 3.0-liter inline-six. Although the F80 is not the first M3 to use a six-cylinder engine, it is the first to employ forced induction. Updated for the 2016 model year, the high-performance four-door is expected to be replaced by a new model in 2019.

Much like any generation before it, the M3 has spawned numerous special edition->ke2041 models, while customers also had access to exclusive features and colors via the Individual customization program. With the M3 nameplate celebrating three decades since its introduction in 2016, BMW has launched the limited "30 Years M3" edition. Limited to only 500 units, the anniversary M3 follows in the footsteps of the M5 "30 Jahre M5," which was unveiled for the 2015 model year to celebrate 30 years since the debut of the high-performance sedan.->ke142

The larger four-door was limited at only 300 examples and only 30 were imported to the U.S. The vehicle sold like hotcakes and one changed owners for a whopping $700,000 at auction. Will the M3 "30 Years M3" become as desirable as its bigger cousin? Let's have a closer look at what this sedan has to offer until we find out.

Continue reading to learn more about the BMW M3 "30 Years M3" Edition.

What makes the BMW M3 "30 Years M3" Edition special

The first thing that catches the eye when looking at the M3 "30 Years M3" is the exclusive Macao Blue Metallic exterior color. The bright, flashy hue was first introduced as an option on the first-generation M3 and BMW revived it for the special occasion. The limited-edition sedan also stands out thanks to the Competition Package it received as standard. The bundle adds sportier bumpers, special wheels, and the BMW Individual High Gloss Shadow Line with enhanced features such as the black chrome tailpipe. Other goodies include unique M gills with "30 Years M3" lettering on the front fenders. The sedan rides on 20-inch M light-alloy wheels with 666 M star spoke design and mixed tires.

Overall, the limited-edition sedan has just enough extra features to stand out in a crowd. It's only drawback -- if you're a purist -- is that the current M3 comes in a four-door configuration, whereas the first-gen M3 was available as a two-door only.

On the inside, the M3 "30 Years M3" also benefits from the upgrades that come with the Competition Package, including M sports seats and seatbelts with woven-in BMW M stripes. The "30 Years M3" logo adorns both the door sills and the carbon-fiber trim of the dashboard to remind owners that this is no regular M3. The same lettering is also embroidered into the front headrests. Finally, the limited-edition sedan features an exclusive full leather Merino trim courtesy of BMW Individual. The standard upholstery comes in Black/Fjord Blue, but customers can opt for a Black/Silverstone combination. Both layouts have color-matching contrast seams that give the sporty cabin a sophisticated character.

Under the hood, the Competition Package injects an extra 14 horsepower into the M3's standard 3.0-liter inline-six, increasing the output to 444 horses. Torque remains unchanged at 406 pound-feet. The bundle also adds the Adaptive M suspension, which has been upgraded to withstand the increased performance. BMW also optimized the new springs, dampers and stabilizers, and modified the setup of the three driving modes and the Active M differential on the rear axle. All these improvements make the "30 Years M3" model slightly quicker than the standard model. Whether you go with the standard six-speed manual transmission or the optional seven-speed DCT, the sedan will get you to 62 mph a tenth-second quicker that the series production model. That's four seconds in the automatic and 4.1 ticks for the manual. Not only quicker, the "30 Years M3" also sounds more aggressive thanks to its M sports exhaust system.

U.S. pricing and availability is not yet known, but BMW says that the anniversary model will cost €10,000 more than the BMW M3 with the Competition Package in Germany. With the latter available from €90,290, it's safe to assume that the "30 Years M3" will fetch in excess of €90,000. For reference, the standard M3 retails from €72,600. In the U.K., the limited-edition sedan will start from £82,675.

Sales will commence in the summer of 2016, exactly 30 years after the signing of the first contract for the purchase of a BMW M3.

Should the "30 Years M3" cross the pond to the United States, expect it to cost around $80,000 before options.

BMW M3

The F80-generation M3 was launched for the 2014 model year in Europe and the 2015 model year in the United States. For the first time in history, the high-performance model was offered only as a sedan, following BMW's decision to split off the coupe and convertible from the 3 Series and sell them as the 4 Series. As a result, the M3 Series Coupe became the M4. Despite having the previous 4.0-liter V-8 replaced with a 3.0-liter inline-six, BMW managed to make significant improvements to the cars performance and dynamic, mainly due to the use of turbocharging. However, the engine swap was heavily criticized by purists, who claimed that BMW had stripped the M3 off its heritage by dropping the naturally aspirated mill. For the 2016 model year, the M3 retails from $63,500 in the U.S. The M4, on the other hand, starts off at $65,700.

Continue reading our full review on the BMW M3 here.