Photos of the 2027 BMW M350 xDrive appeared on Reddit this week — taken at BMW’s facility in Munich, no camouflage anywhere on the car. The official world premiere is not until late September.
New 3 Series is the G50 in BMW’s internal coding. 2027 BMW M350 sits at the top of that lineup short of the full M3. The quad exhaust in the photos gives it away — standard G50 variants get two pipes, not four. G84 M3 replacement — 2028 at the earliest.
What the Spy Photos Show
The car was spotted without disguise at BMW’s Munich facility — the same plant currently building the electric i3 sedan. The “PP” on the license plate is BMW shorthand for M Performance Parts. This test car has them fitted.
Trunk spoiler on the back. Glossy black accents throughout. Both are M Sport Package items that come standard on the M350 xDrive. Traditional silver alloys rather than the two-tone or black wheels BMW has been favouring recently. Wheel size already confirmed — 20-inch alloys with 245/35 R20 front and 275/30 R20 rear tyres.
The front of the car is not visible in the photos. Based on the rear and side profile the 2027 BMW M350 looks almost identical to the electric i3 — which is exactly what BMW intended.
G50 Design Follows the Electric i3 Closely
Remove the quad exhaust tips from the 2027 BMW M350 prototype and most people would mistake it for the i3. The two cars share the same Neue Klasse-inspired design language — BMW’s new visual direction introduced with its latest electric models — despite sitting on completely different platforms.
The G50 3 Series uses BMW’s existing CLAR architecture — the modular platform underpinning the current 3 Series, 5 Series and 7 Series. The i3 is built on the Neue Klasse platform, engineered exclusively for electric vehicles. Different bones, near-identical bodies.
The combustion-powered M350 needs more air intakes up front than the i3 to cool its inline-six engine. That means a slightly longer front section and marginally different body proportions. Both cars parked side by side will still look like they came from the same design studio.
Inline-Six Engine, All-Wheel Drive Standard
B58 turbocharged inline-six — updated for the 2027 BMW M350 xDrive. 382 horsepower in the current US M340i. 415 to 420 in the M350 according to reports. 428 pound-feet of torque expected.
xDrive — BMW’s all-wheel drive system — comes standard on the M350. Rear-wheel drive version — no confirmation, considered unlikely for 2027. BMW has not said never but has not said yes either.
Want a six-cylinder G50 3 Series that is not a full M3? The 2027 BMW M350 xDrive is it — BMW is not replacing the M340d diesel and the G84 M3 is still two years out. Adaptive suspension and M Sport differential come on every xDrive model.
Interior Drops iDrive Knob, Gains i3-Style Cabin
The 2027 BMW M350 interior mirrors what BMW has already shown in the i3. iDrive rotary knob — gone. Traditional buttons and switchgear — mostly gone with it. In their place a curved display setup similar to the i3, combining the instrument cluster and infotainment into one continuous screen.
The steering wheel loses most of its physical controls too. BMW is moving functions to touchscreen menus and capacitive surfaces — the same direction taken in the i3 and the latest 5 Series and 7 Series. For G20 3 Series owners used to the current layout this will be a significant adjustment.
BMW has not officially shown the G50 interior. The world premiere in late September will be the first look at the complete car inside and out.
Production Moves From Munich to Dingolfing
The G50 petrol 3 Series will not be built in Munich. Production moves to Dingolfing — the plant that builds the 5 Series and 7 Series. Munich keeps the electric i3. That is the split going forward.
It is worth noting BMW considers the i3 a 3 Series model. So the Munich plant will still build something BMW calls a 3 Series — just not the petrol one.
On Sale in Europe First, US in 2027
After the world premiere in late September the 2027 BMW M350 goes on sale in Europe first. US market availability follows sometime in 2027.
The M340i currently starts at $58,000 in the US. More power, adaptive suspension, M Sport differential standard — the 2027 BMW M350 xDrive costs more than that. BMW has kept the number to itself for now.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2027 BMW M350
What is the 2027 BMW M350?
G50 generation 3 Series M Performance model. M340i replacement. Updated B58 inline-six, 415 to 420 horsepower, xDrive standard, quad exhaust. World premiere late September 2026.
How much power does the 2027 BMW M350 make?
B58 inline-six updated for the G50. Reports put it at 415 to 420 horsepower — 33 to 38 more than the current US M340i’s 382. Torque around 428 pound-feet.
When does the 2027 BMW M350 go on sale?
Late September world premiere. Europe first. US sometime in 2027. No price confirmed yet for either market.
Does the 2027 BMW M350 come in rear-wheel drive?
xDrive confirmed. Rear-wheel drive — not for 2027. BMW has not permanently closed the door but no confirmation exists for any market.
What separates the 2027 BMW M350 from the M3?
M350 is M Performance. M3 is full M. No flared arches on the M350. Lower output. M3 G84 replacement does not arrive until 2028 — until then the 2027 BMW M350 xDrive is the only six-cylinder G50 3 Series on sale.
Where does BMW build the 2027 BMW M350?
Dingolfing. Same plant as 5 Series and 7 Series. Munich builds the electric i3 instead — first time a combustion 3 Series does not come from that plant.
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