BMW M Confirms Availability Of Classic Colors For M3 and M4
Update: BMW reached out and told us all of the colors shown in the online configurator are available on all M3 and M4 models. The automaker wanted to show as many colors as possible, but is limited to just five in the configurator.
A BMW spokesperson confirmed the range of BMW Individual colors is even wider than shown on the BMW USA configurator. You can view the entire spectrum of paint available in the BMW Individual configurator."
Fans of E36- and E46-generation M3s will instantly recognize the paint colors BMW just released for the 2026 M3 and M4 lineup.
Key Points
- The 2026 BMW M3 revives classic paint options from the E36 and E46 generations, including Dakar Yellow II, Technoviolet Metallic, Laguna Seca Blue, and Imola Red II.
- These historic hues are part of the BMW Individual program, costing $4,500 each and adding a 10–14 week delay to production.
- Not every color is available across all trims—Laguna Seca Blue, for example, is excluded from the M3 Competition—making color choice a key consideration for buyers.
The paints will be available through the BMW Individual program—but buyers should be prepared for a heavier price tag and a longer wait time. BMW just launched a new configurator that allows you to check out all the different permutations.
Some of the greatest colors in BMW M history are available—standouts include Dakar Yellow II and Techno Violet Metallic, both highly sought after shades from the E36 generation M3. Along with Laguna Seca Blue and Imola Red II, which were both originally offered on the E46 M3.
The 2026 BMW M3 with a manual transmission offers access to the best selection of colors, including Techno Violet Metallic, Dakar Yellow, Oxford Green Metallic, Laguna Seca Blue, and Imola Red.
Because the classic colors aren’t part of BMW’s standard palette, each one falls under the automaker’s Individual program and adds $4,500 to the bottom line. There’s also a production delay—choosing one of these shades will extend build time by 10 to 14 weeks.
For enthusiasts willing to wait for special paint, the payoff could be one of the rarer M3s ever built—maybe even rarer than the classic E36 and E46 cars they're emulating.
This isn’t the first time BMW has tapped into its back catalog for special paint options. In 2022, the automaker reintroduced several historic colors, including Dakar Yellow and Daytona Violet, as part of its M division’s 50th-anniversary celebration.
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An experienced automotive storyteller and accomplished photographer known for engaging and insightful content. Michael also brings a wealth of technical knowledge—he was part of the Ford GT program at Multimatic, oversaw a fleet of Audi TCR race cars, ziptied Lamborghini Super Trofeo cars back together, been over the wall during the Rolex 24, and worked in the intense world of IndyCar.
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Why would BMW replace Imola Red? In my mind, a mistake.