10 Fastest BMW Sports Cars Ever Made, Ranked

BMW are world-famous for a multitude of reasons; a brand that can boast a back-catalog of superb sedans, mightily capable SUVs, and of course, exquisite sports cars.

Focusing our attention on the sporting side of BMW’s history, just flicking through these models below, it’s clear to see that BMW is responsible for some excellent and affordable sports cars. Let’s take the time to celebrate a few of their fastest and most desirable models from over the years, including some super exclusive classics, among up to date tech-laden autobahn stormers.

10 2002 BMW Z3 M Coupe

Top Speed: 155 MPH

Performance

Famed for its iconic ‘clown shoe’ profile, this diminutive coupe has all the right ingredients to make it a truly awesome sports car. Firstly, at just over 3,000 lbs, this is a pretty lightweight car – especially considering it’s still equipped with a luxury interior, and a plethora of period options.

Secondly, a true M-car engined is crammed under the hood, sending 325 horsepower for a short trip down the chassis and to the rear wheels, making this a real handful when on the limit. This screaming 6-cylinder is a delight to drive, plus it looks epic; rising prices suggests everybody else thinks the same.

Related: 10 Affordable Performance Car Alternatives To The BMW M2

9 2006 BMW Z4 M Coupe

Top Speed: 155 MPH

Performance

Following on, we have the direct successor to the Z3 M, which is the much improved and modernized Z4 M. Stylish as ever, the E86 era of Z4 has aged gracefully, this M variant especially with its subtle flares and wide wheels.

Like so many German performance cars, this coupe is limited to 155 MPH, but that’s likely more than quick enough for most owners. The bigger brother to the Z3 M has only gained 11 lbs over the years, meaning it shares all the same awesome handling characteristics owners of the previous generation enjoyed so much.

8 2023 BMW Z4 M40i

Top Speed: 155 MPH

Performance

Let’s come right up to date now, with the latest iteration of Z car. The new Z4 has a much more dynamic look, and in particular this M40i looks superbly aggressive, more than hinting at the performance capabilities that lurk under the hood.

Drivers have the benefit of almost 400 horsepower under their right foot, so it’s not all show with no go either, ensuring this new generation of Z car follows on from where the previous left off. There’s no doubt about it, this new Z4 is a true gearheads car, and all driving enthusiasts should give it a go!

7 1996 BMW 850CSi

Top Speed: 155 MPH

Performance

Winding the clock back once again, we come up against this behemoth of a coupe – the mighty 850 CSi. Lifting the sleek hood up on one of these will reveal a gas-guzzling 5.4-liter V12 engine, which more than deserves a spot on this list of fast BMW sports cars.

The 8 series is not just a car for sporting enjoyment though, with an immaculately trimmed interior, complete with every option available at the time – including the coolest of ’90s options, the in-car-phone.

6 1998 BMW Z8

Top Speed: 162 MPH

Performance

It’s no surprise that we are back to another Z car now, as the Z car division is purely devoted to two-door, two-seat sports cars from the Bavarian firm. While the other examples have been fairly closely related, the Z8 stands out in any crowd, as perhaps one of the coolest and most desirable BMW sports cars of all time.

That sweeping body gets better with every year that passes, and the interior is a sea of epic retro-inspired design touches, helping to cement this icon in history as a real modern classic. It’s not all about the looks though, as this handsome roadster packs almost 400 horsepower. Unlimited, it’s rumored that these cool cars can reach 180 MPH.

Related: 10 Underrated Fast BMWs That Are Not M Cars

5 1978 BMW M1

Top Speed: 165 MPH

Performance

Talking of icons, how could we exclude the legendary BMW M1; this wedge shaped mid-engine sports car re-defined what the term meant in the late 1970s and ’80s, challenging the extortionately priced giants like Lamborghini and Ferrari, in a much more usable and affordable product.

They certainly aren’t affordable in 2023 though, with examples easily selling for $500,000 and above, which speaks volumes about how awesome these unicorn coupes are. The inline-6 develops a healthy 277 horsepower, and when coupled with the feather-weight chassis, transforms the M1 into a truly awesome driving machine.

4 2001 BMW M3 GTR

Top Speed: 182 MPH

Performance

Let’s keep the iconic models coming, as we now take a closer look at the greatest and coolest iteration of the beloved E46 M3, the GTR.

Unlike the base, CS and CSL models, the GTR has a naturally-aspirated V8 under the hood, which totally transforms the sports coupe into a fire-breathing supercar slayer. Unlimited, these monsters can breach 180 MPH, but we’ll bet the real magic comes in the corners.

Sadly, only 10 examples were ever manufactured for the road, as that’s all the American Le Mans Series called for to meet homologation requirements.

3 2016 BMW M4 GTS

Top Speed: 189 MPH

Performance

Bringing things back up to date a little is this, a track-focused M4 variant, with flashes of color and an unrestricted top speed of 189 MPH.

A whopping 500 horsepower helps the M4 GTS reach that dizzying top speed, while a massive rear wing helps stick it to the tarmac when cornering hard, making this one of the quickest road legal BMWs ever to leave the factory. Those orange highlights don’t make it any quicker, but they do look cool!

2 2021 BMW M8 Competition

Top Speed: 189 MPH

Performance

Matching the GTS’s top speed is this super-coupe, known as the M8 Competition. More than living up to the precedent set by its 8 series predecessor, the M8 Competition is also equipped with all the latest gadgets and luxury trimmings, while at the same time having an impressive turn of pace.

By far the most powerful car here, 617 horsepower requires all-wheel-drive in order to keep the crazy coupe pointing in a straight line, and we think it’d make for pretty much the ultimate sports car daily.

Related: 10 Awesome BMW M5 Models: The Epitome Of High-Performance Sedans

1 2023 BMW M4 CSL

Top Speed: 191 MPH

Performance

The crowning jewel of BMW’s sports car line up though is this, the all-new 2023 M4 CSL, which similarly to the old GTS, also has an epic set of decals.

The mean front end lets everybody know the CSL is a racer for the road, be-winged and turned up to 11, there’s little else out there that can outperform this monster. A jaw-dropping 543 horsepower is delivered exclusively to the rear wheels, allowing for a totally epic driving experience, if you’re talented enough to tame it on track.

Not for the faint of heart, this 191 MPH racer for the road is a classic in the making; will the next iteration finally crack the 200 MPH for BMW and their sports car line-up?