The History of BMW's M Division

Responsible for some of the most iconic sports cars in recent history, BMW's M division established a template that other manufacturers have tried in vain to imitate. Andy Enright reports.

BMW calls it the world's most powerful letter. To most of us, the M designation designates a fearsomely rapid BMW model born from the origins of racing success. Purists will always prefer those M cars that have cut their teeth in the crucible of competition but it hasn't always been so, despite some believing that the M badge has recently encountered a little mission creep from its motorsport roots. It has allowed a wider participation in the worldwide M fraternity and with intently driver-focused models constantly appearing, there's now an M car to suit virtually all tastes.



Unbeknown to many, the first BMW M car didn't even wear the hallowed badge. BMW M GmbH was established in May 1972 as a division of BMW AG, incorporated to formalise what was previously a loose collaboration of employees who overlooked BMW's racing programme during the late 1960s. With just eight staff on board, BMW M GmbH set to work developing the BMW 3.0 CSL road car which sold 1265 units between 1972 and 1975 as well as the massively successful 'Batmobile' racing car which mopped up seven European Touring Car titles.



The next step for the M division was ambitious a...