BMW to Bring M5 Wagon to the US, While M3 Touring Stays Away

BMW plays a strategic game with its wagon lineup, dangling the mighty M5 Touring in front of American buyers while keeping the beloved M3 Touring out of reach.

There’s something genuinely frustrating about BMW’s bizarre relationship with America and wagons. The latest chapter in this saga? BMW has officially confirmed the current G81 M3 Touring will never grace American shores, but they’re throwing US customers a bone with the upcoming M5 Touring instead.

Talk about mixed signals.

Sylvia Neubauer, BMW M’s Vice President of Customer, Brand, and Sales, recently dropped the hammer on any lingering hopes that the current M3 Touring might somehow find its way stateside. According to Neubauer, it’s simply “too late in the model’s lifecycle” to bring it over there. Translation: “We never planned for this, and we’re not changing our minds now.”

But here’s where things get interesting – and slightly manipulative. BMW is essentially telling American wagon enthusiasts: “Show us you really want wagons by buying the much more expensive M5 Touring, and maybe – just maybe – we’ll consider bringing the next-gen M3 Touring to America.”

It’s like parents telling children that if they eat all their vegetables, maybe they can have dessert. Except these are adults with money to spend, and BMW is treating them like children who can’t be trusted with nice things.

To be fair, the M5 Touring looks absolutely bonkers on paper. We’re talking about a 717-horsepower hybrid monster that combines a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 with electric assistance to deliver a staggering 738 lb-ft of torque. Zero to sixty? Just 3.5 seconds. Top speed? Up to 190 mph with the M Driver’s Package. This thing is basically a supercar disguised as a grocery-getter.

And it’s not just about straight-line speed. The M5 Touring comes with all the luxury trimmings: M Multi-function seats, Sky Lounge Panoramic Roof, and that massive curved display running the latest infotainment system. Plus, with 57.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats down, it’s actually practical.

But here’s the thing – the M5 Touring starts around $121,500 in the American market. That’s a significant jump from what an M3 Touring would cost if BMW deigned to offer it there. The M5 is positioned to compete with the Audi RS6 Avant and Mercedes-AMG E63 Wagon in that ultra-premium performance wagon segment, while the M3 Touring would have hit a slightly more accessible price point.

What’s particularly frustrating is that BMW knows there’s a dedicated audience in America. They know wagon enthusiasts in the US are among the most passionate car buyers. These are the people who keep their cars forever, who mod them, who create communities around them, who attend every cars and coffee just to show them off.

Neubauer herself acknowledged this, suggesting that “pent-up demand for the M3 Touring could help the M5 Touring” succeed in the US market. In other words, they’re counting on American desperation for any M wagon to drive sales of their flagship offering.

The truth is, BMW’s playing it safe. Wagons make up less than 2% of US car sales nowadays, down from over 10% in the 1990s. Americans have mostly abandoned practical longroofs for bloated crossovers and SUVs, and even Volvo is hinting at stopping wagon production. But wagon enthusiasts know – a low-slung performance wagon is infinitely cooler and better to drive than any SUV could ever be.

For those who’ve been holding out hope for an M3 Touring in their American driveway, BMW’s message is clear – the current generation isn’t coming. The “consolation prize” arrives in early 2025, and it’s arguably the most insane wagon BMW has ever built. And if enough American buyers invest in it, they might just convince BMW that the US market deserves the full wagon treatment next time around.

Interesting Facts:

• The M5 Touring’s 18.6 kWh battery provides approximately 25 miles of electric-only driving range
• At about 5,390 pounds, the M5 Touring weighs almost as much as some midsize SUVs
• BMW last offered a wagon in the US market in 2019 (3 Series Sports Wagon)
• European markets purchase 5-7 times more wagon models than American buyers