F80 BMW M3 To Be Killed Off Early Thanks To New Emissions Test

It’s with a heavy heart that we announce the current ‘F80’ BMW M3 will bow out much earlier than expected. This August, to be specific, and it’s a result of the new Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure, or ‘WLTP’.

It’s a much more stringent test than the hilariously inaccurate ‘New European Driving Cycle’(NEDC) that’s been used by the industry for years, and while still lab-based, WLTP is supposed to more accurately reflect real driving conditions. NEDC on the other hand centres around an incredibly gentle driving routine you’d never be able to replicate IRL - that’s why downsized turbo engines tend to do so disproportionately well, because they’re generally off-boost for the whole damn thing.

It should come as no surprise then that the twin-turbo M3 - which manages a respectable 194g/km of CO2 and 34mpg combined according to official figures - doesn’t get on so well with WLTP. This, according to Autocar, has left BMW with no other choice but to take it off sale this year.

They could fit it with a petrol particulate filter, but it wouldn’t be possible to have the car re-homologated before the reveal of the all-new 3-series in October. With that in mind, BMW decided the best course of action was to merely kill it off ahead of schedule.

The M4 has the exact same ‘S55’ inline-six as the M3, but thanks to the younger 4-series range being on sale well into 2019, it’s escaped a similar fate to its four-doored brother. A BMW spokesperson told Autocar that the M4 will go off sale “for a couple of months” during the re-homologation period, after which it’ll be back in showrooms with its snazzy new filter.

It’s good to know that it is still possible for powerful performance cars to comply with the tougher regulations, but you’d best prepare yourselves now - we’re almost certain there’ll be more WLTP ‘casualties’ in the coming months.