BMW explains why the M3's rear doors look so unusual and it's to do with power

BMW has explained why the doors on its new M3 and M5 look a little odd, saying it was a completely purposeful design decision. 

If you’ve taken a look at the latest generation M3 and M5, you might have noticed something different about the back doors. 

Unlike on other BMW models, the back doors don’t quite line-up with the rear wheelarch. 

Once you’ve seen it, it’s hard to unsee it, but BMW boss Frank van Meel recently explained to Auto Express exactly why the doors look like that. 

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Here’s why those BMW rear doors look a little unusual

Most BMW models out there feature a smooth transition between door and fender. 

But this isn’t the case for the modern M3 and M5. 

Both vehicles have been given wider rear axles, to accommodate the extra power, which means the rear fenders need to be a bit wider, too. 

Despite the wider fear fenders, the carmaker decided to keep the same rear doors you’d find on a standard BMW. 

However, this wasn’t an error. 

Boss Frank van Meel told Auto Express that it was a deliberate decision so that you can see the extra width and therefore allow people ‘to see the power’. 

 “If you look at the M3, what’s part of the thing that makes it so cool is that you have to pull out the rear arch,” he told the publication. 

He went on to say that the designers would ‘like a new door’ but that he held firm as both he and customers don’t want that. 

 “That’s what makes an M3 so cool,” he added. “It’s not as smooth – you can see the power.” 

Van Meel said that other models, like the M4 had a much ‘friendlier’ look whereas the M3 had a look that resembled a race car.

The M3 is a high-performance icon

The high-performance M3 Series was developed by the carmaker’s motorsport division and was initially introduced in 1986. 

Since then, there have been some incredible cars released under the nameplate, including the super rare M3 GTR.

The car was initially in production across five generations up until 2018. 

But it was revived in 2020 with the launch of the G80/G81 generation, featuring the slightly unusual rear doors – and now you know why they’re there.

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