When you think of high-performance sedans, many of us think of BMW. The German giant has produced cars like the M3 and M5 for decades and has also built some of the best family cars and SUVs on the market.
Over the years, BMW has also worked hard on special editions and unique concepts. Some of which are exceptionally rare.
In this list, we will look at rare vehicles and various concept cars. We will also look at some unique edition BMWs you might not remember.
BMW M1 Homage
The M1 Homage is a digital creation from Chris Bangle. As the name suggests, it is a modern-day reinterpretation of the iconic M1, the first car from BMW’s M division.
A sleek, streamlined, and modern design refreshes the M1 while staying true to the heritage and DNA of the original.
BMW i3 Shadow Sport
An unlikely rarity is this special edition of the i3 electric car. BMW unveiled this EV in November 2015 for the US market, with a Fluid Black paint color plus a new interior design.
BMW would make just 50 units, selling out in less than an hour. The i3 Shadow Sport, however, had a limited range of 81 miles.
BMW M3-R
This unique edition of the M3 was the creation of Frank Gardner Racing in Australia, in a joint venture with BMW. Both companies did this to battle Porsche and Mazda.
The engine had a revised camshaft, dual-pickup oil sump, an improved air intake, and a new ECU. This boosted the power up to 322 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque.
BMW 2002 Hommage
The 2002 Hommage is easily one of the most dramatic-looking BMW concept cars. The car is a tribute to the 2002 Turbo of the 1970s, with the Hommage launched in 2016 to mark 50 years since the original.
BMW described the car as “a design study that reimagines the engineering behind the original model,” although BMW released no information on the car’s powertrain.
BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R
Revealed in 2015, the CSL Hommage R is another theatrical concept from BMW. The car pays homage to the original 3.0 CSL Batmobile from the early 1970s, and the inline-six engine provided the concept with 500 hp.
Incredible exterior changes, such as the new rear wing and front splitter, highlighted the changes, as did the dramatic BMW Motorsport paint scheme.
BMW M1
The M1 is the car that started the BMW M story, but it nearly didnt happen at all. Dallara worked on the original chassis, and Lamborghini was initially supposed to build the car.
But they hit severe financial trouble, with BMW taking over the plans and finishing what Lamborghini started. The M1 became the perfect car for the new 24-valve BMW M straight-six engine.
BMW M3 E30
The M3 E30 is arguably the greatest generation of the M3 and is the original edition. The E30 is an actual homologation special, with the car making a name for itself in touring car racing.
The chassis is one of the best BMW ever created, and the party piece was, of course, the S14 four-cylinder engine.
BMW 2800 GTS
The 2800 GTS is a BMW you might not have heard of. That is because it was the product of Italian coachbuilder Pietro Frua.
Based on the BMW E9 platform, the 2800 GTS had a unique body, and the covers came off the car at the 1969 Frankfurt Auto Show. The 2800 GTS was also practical as a four-seater, and sadly, it would never enter production.
BMW Isetta Bubble Car
The Isetta came during a mini-craze for bubble cars. These were small, three-wheeled machines with a door opening at the front of the vehicle.
The Isetta’s surprisingly good fuel economy made it the world’s first mass-production car to achieve 94 MPG. Bubble cars never caught on, and BMW produced the last Isetta in 1962.
BMW i8
The i8 is one of the few BMW concept cars that made it into production. The i8 was a hybrid sports car, showcasing what BMW could do with the technology. Its fuel economy was fantastic at 112 MPG, thanks to the 369 turbocharged inline-three with its 131 hp electric motor.
While performance was not what BMW had hoped for, the i8 received high praise for its refreshing design.
BMW 328 Homage
The 328 Homage is a striking concept that pays tribute to the original 1930s roadster of the same name. BMW took the covers off the homage in 2011, celebrating 75 years of the 328 as it mixed the retro cues from the original with those of a modern sports car.
Leather bonnet straps, a tall BMW kidney grille, and multi-hole alloy wheels were the standout cues from the original 328.
BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupe
BMW took the covers off this concept in 2013 at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. Pininfarina played a massive role in its design, contributing to its stunning-looking concept with its low and long shape.
It had no engine, but it would anticipate the V12 twin-turbo-powered 8 Series that came a few years later.
Mini Rocketman
While it doesn’t carry a BMW badge, the Mini name now falls under the BMW umbrella. The
Rocketman was an extraordinary concept, creating the first faithful Mini since the very early days of the car. It never entered production, but the idea showed us that a small Mini is still possible.
BMW Z22 Concept
The Z22 is quirky, showcasing a futuristic four-door station wagon resembling a BMW 2 Series Active Tourer. It celebrated the 15th anniversary of BMW Technik GmbH, and it was full of electrical and digital experiments, such as a digital dashboard and a rearview monitor in place of a mirror. Despite its excellent design, BMW chose not to pursue the X22.
BMW E1 & E2 BEVs
This pair of electric car concepts broke cover in the early 1990s. The first BMW EV was a modified 1602, the 1602e, from 1972. But the E1 and E2 are the first actual BMW electric cars.
The E1 had a 32 kW motor, giving a top speed of 75 mph and a maximum range of 124 miles thanks to the 120-volt battery. The E2 further evolved the concept, creating a bigger vehicle more suitable for families.
BMW M5 Touring
The original M5 Touring from the 2000s has become one of the most revered BMW M5s. BMW wanted to create a racetrack-capable five-door car, so it shoved a 5.0-liter V10 with 500 horsepower and 384 pounds of torque under the hood.
Performance was impressive, with a limited top speed of 155 mph and 0-62 mph of 4.8 seconds. For those who wanted a faster M5 Touring, customers could obtain the optional speed of 189 mph.
1972 BMW Turbo
The 1972 BMW Turbo is one of the most famous BMW concepts. Showcased at the 1972 Olympics, the Turbo had gullwing doors, a shark-like body, and a 280 hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
There were apparent design similarities with the M1, but sadly, this fantastic-looking car would remain a concept.
BMW Z1
There is no arguing that the BMW Z1 is a great-looking sports car. It has quirks like the retracting doors, but its aggressive, sharp lines created a fast-looking car.
The Z1 was sadly let down by the 2.5-liter straight-six engine, taken from the contemporary BMW 3 Series. With just 170 hp, it did not produce the performance expected of a sports car.
BMW 7 Series Hydrogen
Easily forgotten is that BMW once produced a hydrogen luxury sedan. This was the 7 Series hydrogen, produced from 2005 to 2007, which was a specially prepared 760 Li model that ran on liquid hydrogen and regular gasoline.
Sadly, a slow production rate let down the first production-ready passenger car that ran on hydrogen.
BMW 3-Series E21 Baur
Baur is a German company that once had a strong working relationship with BMW. The company produced unique limited-edition models with bodies supplied by BMW.
One was the 3-Series E21 Baur, limited to just 4,500 units. The E21 Baur is rarer in the US, with only 25 examples sold.
BMW 502 Barockengel
BMW looked to rebuild after World War 2 and introduced two sedans, the 501 and 502. The 502 was a very luxurious, hand-made two-door coupe and convertible with an aluminum V8 under the hood.
As it became known, the Barockengel (Baroque Angel) suffered with its high price tag and the unreliable aluminum V8. But this 2.0-liter powered car has become a real collector’s item, and it was good enough to worry Mercedes in the 1950s.
BMW E36 M3 GT
The E36 M3 GT is a scarce version of the sedan, with only three units produced by BMW. BMW added the GT moniker to the M3 to bring track performance to the streets, and they used each car for testing and development.
Under the hood, the M3 GT had a 4.0-liter V8 with 450 hp, reduced to 390 hp for the street-legal version.
BMW Z8 Alpina
Alpina is to BMW what AMG is to Mercedes. The tuning company took the already impressive Z8 and created the Alpina Z8.
Alpina replaced the 4.9-liter V8 with a slightly smaller 4.8-liter engine and made a touring version of the convertible with only 555 units produced. Power was still strong with 375 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque.
