This summer the automotive icon that is the BMW M3 turns 30. That is obviously something the manufacturer has to celebrate, and they’re going to, with a special edition. The celebratory model is called 30 Years M3 and it’s limited to 500 units worldwide.

That means BMW M3 “30 Years M3” is going to sell out in a matter of minutes when the order book are opened. But don’t despair, you are not missing out much here. Yes, it’s a special edition M3, but the car is, in essence, a Competition Pack M3 with a fancy paint job. You can do a lot better than that, and probably at lower cost, by going aftermarket.

At any rate, BMW M3 “30 Years M3” comes in Macao Blue metallic with the Competition Package as standard, adding 19 hp to the output of the car’s engine, bringing it up to a nice and round 450 horsepower. Also included in this package are Adaptive M suspension, new springs, dampers and stabilisers, modified characteristic curves of the three modes Comfort, Sport and Sport+ as well as a correspondingly modified standard Active M differential.

You also get a set of 20-inch M light-alloy wheels with 666 M star spoke design with the M3 30 Years borrowed form the M4 GTS. BMW Individual High Gloss Shadow Line exterior package and full leather Merino trim in bi-colour Black/Fjord Blue or optionally in Black/Silverstone are among the other highlights. BMW M3 “30 Years M3” costs 10,000 Euros more than the regular Competition Pack M3.