The BMWs Everyone Will Want in 10 Years

Not Every Old BMW Becomes a Classic

There is a big difference between an old BMW and a future classic.

Age alone does not make a car desirable. BMW has produced millions of cars over the decades, and many of them will simply become cheaper used cars before eventually disappearing from the roads. The BMWs most likely to become genuinely desirable are different. They tend to combine a memorable engine, an engaging chassis, unusual specifications, limited production or some feature that later generations no longer offer.

The timing is also becoming particularly interesting. BMW is moving rapidly towards electrification, with the company confirming that its first fully electric BMW M models will arrive in 2027. BMW's new electric M technology uses four independently controlled electric motors and a completely new approach to performance.

That does not mean petrol BMWs will suddenly become valuable. It does mean that certain characteristics enthusiasts take for granted today could become increasingly unusual.

Here are the BMWs we think have the strongest ingredients to become highly desirable in 10 years.

1. BMW G80 M3 and G81 M3

The current-generation M3 is an obvious candidate.

The G80 M3 and G81 M3 combine BMW's S58 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged straight-six with modern chassis technology and, depending on specification, either rear-wheel drive or M xDrive all-wheel drive. More importantly for future enthusiasts, manual transmission remains available on selected versions.

BMW itself has now given the current generation an important historical milestone. The company announced the 2027 BMW M3 CS Handschalter as a manual, rear-wheel-drive special edition marking the close of the sixth-generation M3. BMW describes the combination of a six-speed manual gearbox and rear-wheel drive as a rare configuration in modern high-performance cars.

That does not mean every G80 will become collectible. The market will almost certainly favour the best examples. Low mileage, desirable colours, original specification, strong service history and enthusiast-focused configurations could matter enormously.

But if future M3s become increasingly electrified and automated, the current generation could eventually represent an important point in BMW M history.

It is the kind of car that could look increasingly interesting once the next generation has completely changed the formula.

2. BMW G87 M2

If the M3 is the obvious choice, the G87 M2 could be the more interesting one.

The modern M2 combines a compact two-door body with BMW's S58 straight six, rear-wheel drive and an available six-speed manual gearbox. BMW itself describes the combination of the straight-six engine, manual transmission and classical rear-wheel drive as a distinctive proposition in the current performance-car market.

That combination is exactly what could make the M2 interesting in the future.

The car is also considerably more compact than an M3, which gives it a character of its own. Enthusiasts looking for a relatively small, rear-driven BMW with a powerful six-cylinder engine may find fewer alternatives as the market changes.

The G87 is not rare today. That is important. It means nobody should buy one simply because they expect scarcity to make it valuable.

However, if BMW's future compact performance cars become substantially more electrified, the manual, rear-wheel-drive G87 could eventually look like a product from a very different era.

3. BMW F87 M2

Before the G87, there was the F87 M2.

This could ultimately become one of the most interesting modern BMW M cars because it combined size, engine and relative simplicity.

The original M2 used the N55 turbocharged straight-six, while the later M2 Competition and M2 CS moved to the S55 twin-turbocharged engine. The M2 Competition and M2 CS are particularly interesting to enthusiasts because they combine a compact body with the S55 engine and rear-wheel drive.

The F87 also arrived before BMW's latest generation of increasingly digital interiors and increasingly complex driver assistance technology became so dominant.

That gives it an interesting position in BMW M history.

The M2 was never intended to be a limited-production supercar. There are plenty of examples on the market. But future buyers may not be looking for rarity alone. They may be looking for a compact BMW M car with a conventional petrol engine, rear-wheel drive and a manual gearbox.

The best examples could therefore become increasingly desirable.

4. BMW F30 340i

The F30 340i is perhaps the sleeper on this list.

It does not have an M badge, and that could actually make it more interesting to a different type of future buyer.

The 340i introduced BMW's B58 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six to the 3 Series. BMW described the B58 as a new modular six-cylinder engine when the 340i launched, producing 320 hp in the US-market specification.

The B58 subsequently became one of BMW's most widely used modern six-cylinder petrol engines, appearing across numerous BMW models.

That gives the F30 340i an unusual combination of characteristics. It looks like a normal 3 Series, but it has a highly regarded straight-six engine and the potential for long-term enthusiast interest.

The 340i is unlikely to become an E30 M3 overnight. But that is not the point.

A decade from now, a well-preserved F30 340i with the right specification could be exactly the sort of understated BMW enthusiasts start searching for once newer cars become increasingly electrified.

5. BMW M340i

The M340i takes the same basic idea into a newer generation.

The G20 M340i combines BMW's modern six-cylinder petrol engine with sophisticated chassis technology and mild-hybrid assistance in current versions. BMW updated the M340i powertrain for the 2025 model year, with the revised system producing 392 hp and using a 48-volt mild-hybrid system.

It is not a full M3, and that distinction matters.

The M340i is designed to be a fast daily driver rather than a dedicated M car. For many owners, that may actually make it more desirable in the long run.

If the performance-car market becomes increasingly dominated by fully electric models, there could be strong enthusiast demand for a relatively understated petrol six-cylinder BMW that can still be used every day.

The M340i therefore has potential as a future modern classic, although its relatively high production numbers mean that rarity is unlikely to be its main selling point.

6. BMW E90 M3

The E90 generation M3 has something that modern BMWs cannot reproduce in the same way.

A naturally aspirated 4.0-litre V8.

The E90 M3's S65 engine produced 420 hp and revved to 8,400 rpm. BMW paired it with a six-speed manual gearbox, with power sent to the rear wheels.

That combination is increasingly difficult to find in any modern performance car.

The E90 M3 was not the last naturally aspirated BMW M car, but it occupies a particularly important position because of its V8 engine and traditional rear-wheel-drive layout.

Running costs are not insignificant, and buying one today requires careful attention to condition and maintenance history.

That is precisely why good examples could become increasingly interesting.

A neglected E90 M3 is unlikely to become desirable simply because it is old. A well-maintained, original car with sensible mileage is a completely different proposition.

7. BMW E46 M3

The E46 M3 is already collectable in many markets, so calling it a future classic is hardly controversial.

The reason it remains relevant is that it represents a combination of characteristics that BMW no longer builds in the same way.

The S54 3.2-litre naturally aspirated straight six, compact dimensions, rear-wheel drive and classic BMW M proportions give the E46 M3 an identity that is increasingly separated from modern performance cars.

The important question is not whether good E46 M3s will be desirable in 10 years. They almost certainly will be.

The bigger question is how much the gap between an average example and an exceptional example will grow.

Originality, maintenance history, mileage and specification are likely to become increasingly important. Cars that have been heavily modified or poorly maintained may struggle to compete with genuinely preserved examples.

8. BMW E39 M5

The E39 M5 is another BMW that has already achieved modern-classic status among enthusiasts.

Its combination of a naturally aspirated V8, six-speed manual gearbox, rear-wheel drive and understated saloon design gives it an unusually broad appeal.

The E39 M5 was never about extreme styling. It was about having an executive BMW that could transform into a serious performance car when required.

That understated character is part of its appeal today.

As BMW's future performance cars become more technologically sophisticated, the E39 M5's relatively analogue personality could become even more attractive to enthusiasts who want a car that feels mechanical rather than software-led.

The Common Thread Between These BMWs

These cars are very different, but there is a pattern.

The BMWs most likely to remain desirable are not necessarily the newest, fastest or most expensive. They are the cars that offer something future BMWs may struggle to reproduce.

A manual gearbox is one example.

Rear-wheel drive is another.

A naturally aspirated engine is becoming increasingly unusual, while a high-performance straight six with a conventional petrol powertrain could also become more distinctive as electrification expands.

Compact dimensions matter too. So does the feeling that the driver, rather than the software, is responsible for operating the car.

That does not mean modern BMWs are worse. The new generation is bringing impressive technology and performance of its own. BMW says its upcoming electric M cars are being engineered to deliver the brand's characteristic dynamics using four electric motors and advanced control systems.

The point is simply that different generations will offer different experiences.

What Could Make a BMW Valuable in 2036?

Nobody can accurately predict which BMW will be worth the most in 2036.

However, certain factors are likely to remain important.

Condition will be critical. A well-maintained car with a documented history will always have an advantage over an identical model that has been neglected.

Originality could also matter. Cars that retain their factory specification may become increasingly desirable as modified examples disappear from the collector market.

Specification will be important as well. Manual gearboxes, rear-wheel drive and desirable factory options can make one example considerably more interesting than another.

Mileage will obviously influence value, although low mileage alone does not guarantee a good car. A properly maintained higher-mileage example can be a better purchase than a low-mileage car that has spent years neglected.

Finally, the story behind the car matters.

The BMWs that become genuinely desirable are often the ones that represent something significant in the company's history.

The Biggest Mistake Would Be Buying One as an Investment

There is a temptation to look at this list and immediately start treating these BMWs as investments.

That would be a mistake.

Nobody knows what used BMW prices will look like in 2036. Regulations, fuel prices, taxation, insurance costs, economic conditions, availability of parts and changing consumer tastes could all affect future values.

A BMW should therefore be bought because you actually want to own and drive it.

If the car becomes more valuable later, that is a bonus.

The best future classics are often the cars people bought because they loved them, not because they were trying to predict the collector market.

The Bottom Line

The BMWs everyone will want in 10 years probably will not be the cars with the longest list of screens or the biggest power figures.

They may be the cars that offer something that has become difficult to buy.

The E46 M3 has its naturally aspirated straight six and classic proportions. The E39 M5 has its V8 and understated character. The E90 M3 has its high-revving V8. The F87 and G87 M2 combine compact dimensions with rear-wheel drive, while the current G80 M3 and G81 M3 offer the S58 straight six and, in selected versions, a manual gearbox.

The F30 340i and G20 M340i represent another side of the story. They are fast, usable BMWs with six-cylinder petrol engines that can be driven every day.

BMW is not abandoning performance. Far from it. The company is investing heavily in its electric M future, with fully electric M cars arriving from 2027 and a four-motor system designed to deliver a new type of performance.

But that change could make today's best combustion BMWs more interesting with every passing year.

Ten years from now, enthusiasts may not be asking which BMW was the most technologically advanced.

They may simply be asking which one still feels like a BMW.

Disclaimer: Future BMW values are speculative and depend on factors such as condition, mileage, specification, demand and market conditions. This article is for general information only and is not investment advice.