As some of you probably have noticed, BMW names some of their M colors after racing circuits, racing events or prominent racing locations. Some are quite known and obvious, some not so much. Here is a list I compiled so far. Let me know if I missed anything or if you spot any mistakes.
Another BMW website actually did an article on this, but I only discovered it when I was looking for the Kalyami photo. It is missing some colors though.
The discontinued date and used on section only apply where those colors were offered as a non-special order color. A lot of those colors were used by special editions, but according to BMW the colors were special orders and therefore are not included.
Full-sized images can be downloaded
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1. Sebring Grey metallic (229)
- Introduced: In 1988 on the E34 M5
- Also used on: E30 325i Convertible Last Edition
- Notes: Even though it is named after a US based racetrack, the color was not available on the US-spec M5.
2. Misano Red metallic (236)
- Introduced: In 1988 on the E30 M3 Evolution II
- Also used on: E34 M5, E24 M635CSi Motorsport Edition, E30 M3 Ceccotto/Revaglia and E30 325i Convertible Special Edition
3. Nogaro Silver metallic (243)
- Introduced: In 1988 on the E30 M3 Evolution II
- Also used on: E24 M635CSi Motorsport Edition, E30 M3 Ceccotto/Revaglia and E30 325i Convertible Special Edition
4. Macao Blue metallic (250)
- Introduced: In 1988 on the E30 M3 Evolution II
- Also used on: E34 M5, E24 M635CSi Motorsport Edition, E30 M3 Ceccotto/Revaglia and E30 325i Convertible Special Edition
5. Dakar Yellow (267)
- Introduced: In 1992 on the E36 M3
- Also used on: E36 318is Sedan Class II
- Discontinued: End of 1995
6. Mugello Red (274)
- Introduced: In 1992 on the E36 M3
- Discontinued: Fall of 1994
7. Avus Blue metallic (276)
- Introduced: E34 M5 in the late 1991
- Also used on: 850CSi, various E34, E36 models and E39 M5
- Discontinued: August 2000
8. Daytona Violet metallic (283)
- Introduced: E34 M5 in the late 1991
- Also used on: 850CSi and various E34 and E36 models
- Discontinued: End of 1997
9. British Racing Green (312)
- Also used on: South African built E36 M3
- Discontinued: September 1998
- Notes: Not exactly sure if this should be on the list, but I decided to include it anyway.
10. Estoril Blue metallic (335)
- Introduced: Mid 1995 on the E36 M3
- Also used on: E36/7 M Coupe/Roadster, E46 Clubsport, various E53 models
- Discontinued: Summer of 2006
11. Dakar Yellow 2 (337)
- Introduced: Late 1995 on the E36 M3
- Also used on: Various E36 and E36/7 models
- Notes: The first "come back" color. This time Dakar Yellow comes with a clear coat.
12. Kyalami (351)
- Introduced: Never. Used on some pre-production E36/7 M Roadster built in 1997
- Notes: This color actually never went into the series production. Only 3 pre-production M Roadsters were built in this color. Interestingly enough, the Kyalami interior color went into production.
13. Imola Red (366)
- Introduced: Never. Used on some pre-production E36/7 M Roadster built in 1996
- Notes: Ever wondered why your Imola Red is Imola Red 2? Well, that is because just like Kyalami, the original Imola Red never went into production. BMW built 18 pre-production Imola Red E36/7 M Roadsters
14. Le Mans Blue metallic (381)
- Introduced: At the end of 1999 on the E39 M5
- Also used on: Too many to list
15. Imola Red 2 (405)
- Introduced: End of 1997 on the E36/7 M Coupe/Roadster
- Also used on: Too many to list
- Discontinued: February 2015
16. Silverstone metallic (425)
- Introduced: Spring of 1998 on the E39 M5
- Discontinued: September 2001
17. Phoenix Yellow metallic (445)
- Introduced: Late 1999 on the E46 M3
- Launch color on: E46 M3 Convertible
- Also used on: E36/7 M Coupe/Roadster, E85/E86
18. Laguna Seca Blue (448)
- Introduced: Late 1999 on the E46 M3
- Launch color on: E46 M3 Coupe
- Also used on: E36/7 M Roadster/Coupe
- Discontinued: August 2004
19. Silverstone 2 metallic (A29)
- Introduced: In 2004 on the E60 M5
- Launch color on: E60 M5, E90 M3
- Also used on: Most M models
- Notes: Another "come back" color.
20. Interlagos Blue metallic (A30)
- Introduced: Spring of 2003 on the E46 M3 Competition Package
- Launch color on: E46 M3 Competition Package, E61 M5
- Also used on: E63/4 M6, E9x M3 and E85/6 M
- Discontinued: September 2013
21. Indianapolis Red metallic (A31)
- Introduced: In 2004 on the E60 M5
- Discontinued: Summer of 2010
22. Sepang Bronze metallic (A32)
- Introduced: In 2004 on the E60 M5
- Discontinued: Summer of 2010
23. Jerez Black metallic (A73)
- Introduced: In 2007 on the E9x M3
24. Melbourne Red metallic (A75)
- Introduced: In 2007 on the E9x M3
- Launch color on: E71 X6 M
- Also used on: Too many to list
25. Monte Carlo Blue metallic (B05)
- Introduced: E70 X5 M and E71 X6 M
- Launch color on: E70 X5 M
- Discontinued: End of 2016
26. Singapore Grey metallic (B41)
- Introduced: In 2011 on the F10 M5
- Also used on: F06/F10/F12 M6, G11/G12
27. Valencia Orange metallic (B44)
- Introduced: In 2010 on the E82 1 Series M Coupe
- Launch color on: E82 1 Series M Coupe
- Also used on: On many Leipzig built models. Not available on any M cars.
28. Estoril Blue 2 metallic (B45)
- Launch color on: F30 M Sport
- Also used on: Too many to list
- Notes: After a 6 year hiatus, Estoril Blue is back, but this time it's not available on the M models.
29. Sakhir Orange metallic (B50)
- Introduced: Late 2011 on the F06/F12/F13 M6 and F10 M5
- Also used on: F80 M3 and F82/F83 M4
30. San Marino Blue metallic (B51)
- Introduced: Late 2011 on the F06/F12/F13 M6
- Launch color on: F12 M6 and M4 CS
- Also used on: F80, F82, F83
31. Austin Yellow metallic (B67)
- Introduced: In 2013 on the F80 M3 and F82/F83 M4
32. Yas Marina Blue metallic (B68)
- Introduced: In 2013 on the F80 M3 and F82/F83 M4
33. Long Beach Blue metallic (C16)
- Introduced: In 2014 on the F85/F86
- Launch color on: F86 and F87
34. Donington Grey metallic (C28)
- Introduced: In 2014 on the F85/F86
- Launch color on: F85, F97
35. Sakhir Orange 2 metallic (C1H)
- Introduced: In 2016 on the F80 M3, F82/F83 M4
- Notes: Due to a supplier issue BMW created a new formula for the F80 M3, F82/F83 M4 models. For a short period of time Sakhir Orange 2 and the original Sakhir Orange were available at the same time. However, they were not offered on the same model at the same time.
36. Marina Bay Blue metallic (C1K)
- Introduced: In 2017 on the F90
37. Misano Blue metallic (C1D)
- Introduced: In 2017 on X2 M Sport
- Launch color on: F39 X2 M Sport, G29 M40i, F40 M135i, F87 M2 CS
- Notes: After 30 years Misano Worlds Circuit gets a second. This is the first time a race track gets a second color. This is the second color that is introduced on the M Sport / M Performance model rather than a full M car
38. Hockenheim Silver metallic (C33)
- Introduced: In 2018 on F87 M2 Competition
- Launch color on: F87 M2 Competition
39. Portimao Blue metallic (C31)
- Introduced: In 2018 on G20 3 Series M Sport
- Launch color on: G20 3 Series M Sport
- Also used on: G80 M3, G82 / G83 M4
40. Toronto Red metallic (C3G)
- Introduced: In 2019 on F97 X3 M
- Launch color on: F98 X4 M
- Also used on: F97 X3 M, F95 X5 M, F96 X6 M, G80 M3, G82 / G83 M4
41. Motegi Red metallic (C3K)
- Introduced: In 2019 on F91 and F92 M8
42. Brands Hatch Grey metallic (C17)
- Introduced: In 2019 on F91 and F92 M8
43. Isle of Man Green metallic (C4G)- Introduced: In 2020 on G80 M3, G82 / G83 M4
44. Sao Paulo Yellow (C4H)- Introduced: In 2020 on G80 M3, G82 / G83 M4
- Notes: First new non-metallic M color since Laguna Seca Blue which was released over 20 years ago. This is the second color that Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace gets.