In total, 431 customers have, this year, taken delivery of a high-performance car from across the BMW M range, representing an increase of more than 150 per cent compared to 2007.

As a result, BMW M has already set the best Australian sales year on record – with three months still to go – surpassing the previous full-year record of 409 cars achieved in 2003.

The E92 M3 Coupé, which has sold at almost twice the sales rate of its predecessor (E46), has been the major contributor to the record tally, followed by the M5 Sedan.

Since launch late last year 483 Australians purchased the iconic M3 Coupé powered by the V8 engine, delivering some 309 kW.

In the coming months the M3 Coupé will be joined by the M3 Convertible (complete with its poor rear-end crash test result) and for the first time in Australia the M3 Sedan (December).

BMW M currently offers six models in Australia including the M3 Coupé, M5 Sedan, M6 Coupe, M6 Convertible, Z4 M Roadster and Z4 M Coupe.

A total of 3,924 BMW M vehicles have been delivered in Australia over the years.

Globally, BMW M GmbH is also heading for a considerable increase in sales.

In the 30th year since the start of vehicle production, the company has sold more than 16,150 units worldwide, exceeding the total sales figure of the previous year.

"This is really a strong statement of our customers", said Ludwig Willisch, Chairman of the board of BMW M GmbH.

"The fact that we have been able to achieve such extraordinary success, particularly in 2008, speaks for the uniqueness of the BMW M models."