BMW axes M3 early over emissions

Update, February 5, 2018: BMW Australia has advised motoring.com.au that the European emissions legislation won't mean an end to M3 supply in Australia. The prestige importer expects to continue delivering new M3s to customers into the early stages of 2019.

BMW has announced it will end production of its F80-generation M3 sedan this August because the high-performance sedan does not meet new European emission regulations.

According to the German car maker, to pass the new Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) its 317kW/550Nm 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six petrol would need to be re-engineered for a new particulate filter to be fitted.

The filter is necessary to reduce the powerful turbo 3.0-litre's nitrogen oxide issues to new EU-mandated WLTP levels.

Once equipped, the M3 would then have had to undergo a homologation process to comply with the strict limits. A matter of months before an all-new 3 Series is launched in October, BMW is thought to have ruled the updates not worth it for the volume of cars it will sell.

For those hoping for an all-new M3 replacement, expect a long wait. BMW is rumoured to have delayed the launch of its Mercedes-AMG C63-rivalling small super sedan until 2020.

Exactly the same engine issue affects the current M4 but since the BMW coupe isn't replaced for another year yet, the re-engineering and re-homologation process could be justified.

BMW says the fast coupe will be withdrawn from sale for a couple of months while a WLTP-approved filter is added and then tested and homologated for global markets.

According to the German car maker, performance is unaffected by the addition of the new filter, with the updated M4 taking the same 4.1 seconds to hit 100km/h with the DCT dual-clutch seven-speed transmission fitted.