10 Brilliant BMWs That Didn't Come From M Division

1. E34 540i

With 315bhp on tap (335bhp in the later 3.8-litre version) the E34 version of the M5 is a powerful brute, but the 540i really isn’t actually that far off the M5’s pace. The 540i sports 286bhp from its 4.0-litre M60 V8, and also happens to sound pretty nice if you stick on some more vocal pipework.

Manual gearbox versions are extremely rare and arguably the Holy Grail of non-M5 E34s, so if you see one, snap it up immediately.

2. F22 M235i

Of all the M235i triumphs, there’s only one key thing you need to know: we’d have one over the BMW M4. Its 322bhp output and smaller proportions are perfectly judged for real-world driving. It looks great, has a sweet-sounding turbocharged straight-six, is a joy to drive and inspires heaps of confidence. It does all this, despite being not far off half the price of its big brother, and it’s not even a proper M car; that letter at the start of the name refers to BMW’s new ‘M Performance’ sub brand.

3. E24 635 CSI

Arguably the prettiest BMW since the outrageously gorgeous E9 coupe, the E24 will surely go down as one of the all-time Bavarian greats. Sure, the M635i is the most special version of this 80s coupe, but the 635 CSI is still an object of pure Bimmer lust, with a wonderful 3.4-litre straight-six heart.

4. E28 M535i

Unlike the preceding E12 M535i, its E28 namesake was not an M division-built car: that was left up to the very first M5, which made its debut on the E28 chassis. It’s also packing the same M30 3.4-litre ‘big six’ as the regular 535i. However, the M535i is blessed with a gloriously chunky bodykit, sports seats and M Tech suspension. We’d own one of these shark-nosed beauties in a heartbeat.

5. BMW i8

With constant engine downsizing and a prevalence of not particularly exciting hybrid and electric vehicle technology, the future for us petrolheads has looked bleak for a while. But, like the instant torque hero Tesla Model S EV, the hybrid i8 has come along and shown us that being green doesn’t have to be boring.

It looks like nothing else on the roads (in a good way), is damn good to drive and is far cleaner and more economical than anything else in its class.

6. E30 318iS

The letter and number combination of ‘318iS’ always gets me right in the feels, as I used to own one of these; it was great until the cylinder head exploded due to the previous owner’s mechanical ineptitude. So, before I start weeping in sorrow, let me tell you what’s so special about these cars.

Unlike the regular 318i with its single overhead camshaft M40 four-pot, the iS received the bang-up-to-date twin-cam M42. This bumped the power up from 111bhp to 138bhp compared to the regular 318i, but that’s not the only change. The iS got M Tech suspension, plus a front splitter and small rear spoiler. Inevitably, it was labelled a ‘baby M3’ and that’s a title it definitely deserves.

7. E52 Z8

With the V8 running gear of the E39 M5 under the hood but less weight to haul about, the Henrik Fisker-designed Z8 should have been awesome. However, many road testers at the time found the BMW 507-inspired roadster to be sorely disappointing to drive, and weren’t entirely sure if it was supposed to be a sports car, or a comfy GT.

However, it still deserves a place in this list. Those retro drop-top lines are nothing short of stunning, and the incredible rarity (less than 100 are currently in the UK, according to How Many Left), means that it’s difficult not to get giddy when you spot one out in the wild.

8. E36 328i Sport

Like the 318iS, the 328i Sport is something of a ‘baby M3’ for its generation. With a sportier bodykit it’s the spit of its more powerful brother; if anything a little sweeter-looking with the gorgeous BBS rims at each corner. Earlier models also came with a limited-slip differential. Plus, with BMW’s M52 straight-six under the bonnet, all it takes is the addition of the less restrictive intake manifold of the older M50 to unlock extra poke, making the gap between this and the proper M3 a little smaller.

9. BMW Z1

Yes, it was built on the then-ageing E30 platform, yes, it’s not all that quick, but still, the Z1 remains one of the most coveted BMWs of recent years. With only 8000 produced it’s particularly rare, and with those ‘disappearing’ doors, it’s incredibly cool too. Power comes from a 2.5-litre straight-six producing 168bhp.

10. E31 840i/840ci

As much as we’d like to include the 375bhp 850 CSI here, the flagship version of this classy GT is in fact an M division-built car, and is considered a ‘proper’ M car in all but name. However, the 8-series as a whole is a Beemer worth celebrating, with stunning coupe looks that have only improved with time. It’s a 25-year-old design, but you really wouldn’t know it, save for the fabulous pop-up headlamps. Ignoring the M-built CSI, we’d take the V8-powered 840i.