Review: BMW M340i 50 Jahre – A piece of history you can drive every day

Fifty years. That’s how long the BMW 3 Series has been shaping what we think a sports sedan should be. Since 1975, every generation has carried that blend of driving pleasure and everyday practicality, and today, the 3 Series is still the benchmark.

To celebrate, BMW Malaysia has brought us something a little more personal, a little more collectible: the M340i xDrive Edition 50 Jahre.

It isn’t about being faster or better than the regular M340i. Instead, this is a car for people who want to own a piece of BMW history. Just 50 units have been made available for Malaysia, and with its special touches, the 50 Jahre is as much a celebration as it is a car.

The familiar core, with extra meaning

Underneath, the M340i 50 Jahre is still the same brilliant M340i that’s been winning hearts since its facelift. The price starts at RM396,800 before insurance, or RM423,200 with the five-year warranty and service package.

That’s about RM8,000 more than the standard M340i, which means this is not about raw value. It’s about owning something that connects you to 50 years of BMW 3 Series heritage.

The 50 Jahre adds M Performance Parts like side skirts, Alcantara on the centre armrest, and carbon fibre shift paddles. The cabin can is dressed in Sensatec upholstery in Tacora Red, matched with a leather-wrapped dashboard and galvanic buttons.

On the outside, you’ll spot commemorative plaques on the B-pillars and on the inside, at the cupholder lid, each engraved with “50 Jahre Edition, 1975–2025. The media test car's wrote 1 out of 50, so that numbering will depend on which edition you potentially buy

It’s dressing up, yes — but it’s purposeful. It’s BMW reminding us that this car isn’t just another 3 Series. It’s a nod to the legacy that started with the E21 back in the seventies and continues today.

The Engine that defines BMW today

Lift the bonnet and you’ll see one of the real reason enthusiasts love the M340i — the B58 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six. With 387 hp and 500 Nm, it blasts from 0–100 km/h in 4.4 seconds, with a top speed limited to 250 km/h.

These numbers put it squarely in “junior M car” territory, but more importantly, the B58 is one of the finest six-cylinders BMW has ever built.

What makes it truly special is its DNA. This engine isn’t just for the M340i and Supra; it’s the very foundation of the S58 found in the M3 and M4.

That pedigree is rare these days, when engines are being downsized or replaced entirely by EV powertrains. The B58 is living proof that BMW can still build an engine that balances refinement and excitement. I wish more BMWs come with this engine to be honest!

Matched to the ZF 8-speed Steptronic Sport transmission and BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive, the M340i feels bulletproof. It’s smooth in jams along Jalan Kuching, but the moment the road opens up, it transforms, pulling hard through the revs with that unmistakable straight-six soundtrack.

A suspension that gets you

BMW’s ride and handling magic has always been about balance, and the M340i captures that perfectly. The adaptive suspension is stiff enough to give you confidence on a spirited run up Genting, yet supple enough to take the sting out of KL’s potholes and speed bumps.

This dual personality is what makes the M340i so versatile. It recalls the spirit of the M cars from the eighties and nineties — cars people drove because they were so much fun, even if it meant sacrificing a bit of comfort.

But the difference today is you don’t have to compromise anymore. The M340i gives you that same sense of excitement, yet it’s just as happy handling the weekday grind in complete comfort. And the 50 Jahre, with its celebratory parts, doesn’t change that balance — it simply adds a layer of theatre to an already brilliant formula.

On the road, the M340i 50 Jahre feels like a proper driver’s car, but one that doesn’t punish you for pushing it. The xDrive system here is rear-biased, so it still gives you that classic BMW balance — neutral through fast sweepers, playful if you provoke it — but with a layer of security.

Oversteer is more measured, understeer only creeps in if you come in far too hot, and most of the time the car just feels glued down. What really shines is how confidence-inspiring it is: you can carry more speed into corners, lean on the grip, and trust that xDrive will sort things out without killing the fun.

It’s the sweet spot between excitement and composure, making it as thrilling on a weekend drive as it is reassuring in the daily grind.

Everyday luxury

Inside, the M340i 50 Jahre keeps the practicality of the regular 3 Series. Rear space is fine for family duty, and the boot swallows enough luggage for a balik kampung trip.

Tech is top-notch too: the Curved Display pairs a 12.3-inch instrument cluster with a 14.9-inch infotainment touchscreen running BMW’s OS 8.5. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and the 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system makes traffic jams a little more bearable.

Driver aids like Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go and Parking Assistant Plus remind you that this is a modern luxury sedan as much as it is a sports machine. You get the thrill when you want it, and the convenience when you need it.

The only thing that might annoy some people is the lack of physical buttons for the climate control. Everything is now operated through the big central screen. That said, the system itself is fairly intuitive — once you’ve spent a bit of time with it, navigating and adjusting the air-con becomes second nature.

A Celebration of 50 Years

So what makes the 50 Jahre stand apart? Not extra horsepower, not a stiffer chassis. It’s the fact that it’s been created specifically to commemorate 50 years of the 3 Series. The plaques, the Alcantara, the M Performance touches, the carbon fibre paddle shifters — they’re all symbols of that celebration.

And whether that’s important is up to you. But the 3 Series isn’t just another BMW; it’s the car that made BMW what it is today. From the legendary E30 to the much-loved E46, every generation has a fanbase. In Malaysia especially, we know how much the 3 Series means — it’s been part of our roads, our culture, our car scene for decades.

Owning one of just 50 units of the 50 Jahre in Malaysia would mean you’re not just buying a sports sedan. You’re buying a slice of that history.

Why this still matters

It’s 2025, and we’re surrounded by EVs. Many of them are faster, quieter, and more efficient than a petrol-powered sports sedan. But here’s the truth: most of them feel like appliances. They’re fast, yes, but they don’t stir the soul.

The M340i is different. It’s one of the last four-door cars you can genuinely say you’d pick over an EV, because it gives you something more than numbers. It gives you feel. It gives you character. It gives you comfort. And that’s what makes it worth celebrating.

Just as Special, with extra meaning

At the end of the day, the BMW M340i 50 Jahre is not a “better” M340i. It’s not supposed to be. Instead, it’s for those who want to be part of the 3 Series story. It’s just as special as the regular M340i, but dressed up to mark half a century of BMW history.

And that’s why it matters. Because cars like this remind us why we fell in love with BMW in the first place. The M340i 50 Jahre doesn’t need to prove itself on the spec sheet — it proves itself every time you take the long way home, knowing you’re driving not just a car, but a piece of history.

BMW M340i xDrive 50 Jahre Specifications

Drivetrain: 3.0L B58 Inline-6 Turbocharged Petrol, xDrive All-Wheel Drive
Max Power Output: 387 PS @ 5,800–6,500 rpm
Max Torque: 500 Nm @ 1,800–5,000 rpm
Transmission: 8-Speed Steptronic Sport Automatic
Seats: 5
0–100 km/h: 4.4 seconds
Top Speed: 250 km/h (electronically limited)
Safety Features: Driving Assistant, Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Parking Assistant Plus, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Monitoring, Collision Warning with Braking Intervention, 6 Airbags.

Price: From RM396,800