How US buyers got screwed over the E36 M3

[Paul-Bracq-BMW]

Pics of the E36 GT. Love it!

[9iron]

Serious question:

I drive an '08 E90 328i sports package/ 6MT. What car is more fun to drive..... my E90 with upgraded suspension or an E36 M3? Power production is similar.

I owned an '08 E90 M3 which was amazing, but wondering how the M3's of old compare to the base 328i's of today.

[Paul-Bracq-BMW]

Racing verion of the E36 GTR

[u2b]

[/u2b]

[MSCD]

Lived in the UK during the 1990's and was aware of the engine difference. Just brought BMW CAR magazine back and the August edition has the Australian M3-R very cool! (thanks Nugget)

[ec_E92]

Originally Posted by 9iron

Serious question:

I drive an '08 E90 328i sports package/ 6MT. What car is more fun to drive..... my E90 with upgraded suspension or an E36 M3? Power production is similar.

I owned an '08 E90 M3 which was amazing, but wondering how the M3's of old compare to the base 328i's of today.

I have fully loaded e92 m3 6mt and stripper sunroof-delete e36 m3 setup for street/track. They're completely different cars. E36 is so nimble/balanced/quick. E92 feels like a really good muscle car. Polar opposites and I love them both for different reasons. E36 is so rewarding and such an amazing car to "work" on a road course. I could mask so many driver errors with hp in the E92 that I decided to dedicate e36 to track use and e92 to daily for my own driver skill development. Will not part with either car.

Let me add the comfort and tech are light years ahead in the E90. E36 doesn't even have a legit traction control system and you're better off removing the system completely (secondary throttle body that chokes the intake). Also plastic interior is becoming fragile with age.

[debom3]

Everyone knows the e36m is the red headed step child of the m3's. But you know what's awesome about the US market e36m....

No rod bearing issues!

I have almost 300k on a stock bottom end on my e36.

I believe what we lost in performance is made up for in reliability.

[elons335i]

This thread made me hit up the local list of Craig...

This one seems legit: http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/n...746494268.html

[9iron]

Originally Posted by ec_E92

I have fully loaded e92 m3 6mt and stripper sunroof-delete e36 m3 setup for street/track. They're completely different cars. E36 is so nimble/balanced/quick. E92 feels like a really good muscle car. Polar opposites and I love them both for different reasons. E36 is so rewarding and such an amazing car to "work" on a road course. I could mask so many driver errors with hp in the E92 that I decided to dedicate e36 to track use and e92 to daily for my own driver skill development. Will not part with either car.

Let me add the comfort and tech are light years ahead in the E90. E36 doesn't even have a legit traction control system and you're better off removing the system completely (secondary throttle body that chokes the intake). Also plastic interior is becoming fragile with age.

That is awesome! Very cool to be able to take both generations to the track.

[Haywood]

Looks like EAG has both CSL versions!

http://enthusiastauto.com/qsearch/?f...1D=19&1574_0=1

[rjd598]

Originally Posted by doogee

Owned one and had a few rides in a euro (Canada got some).

The US spec is a glorified 328. Still fun, but it's not an M3.

damn for a glorified 328i it sure did beat a lot of nonglorified cars.

please don't misinform the forums with your "knowledge". by your logic an M2 is not a real M car either and fits the same bill as the e36 yet it has been stated to be the most "M" car BMW has put out in awhile. hmmmmm

[ec_E92]

Originally Posted by Haywood

Looks like EAG has both CSL versions!

http://enthusiastauto.com/qsearch/?f...1D=19&1574_0=1

Not CSL, but the LTW "club racer" car. Aprox 85 were imported (actual number not known) only in 1995.

[e92_m3]

Originally Posted by Haywood

Looks like EAG has both CSL versions!

http://enthusiastauto.com/qsearch/?f...1D=19&1574_0=1

Yup! Saw that one as well. Winning the Lottery would be so nice right now...

[Paul-Bracq-BMW]

Originally Posted by ec_E92

Not CSL, but the LTW "club racer" car. Aprox 85 were imported (actual number not known) only in 1995.

According to the M3 register, it was considered as the "CSL" internally. info below, with 126 built in total...

What is an E36 M3 Lightweight?
The M3 Lightweight (referred to internally as the E36 M3 CSL) is a special track-oriented version of the U.S.-spec 1995 E36 M3 coupe designed for serious driving enthusiasts. Though BMW of North America originally stated that just 85 M3 Lightweights would be produced, it has been confirmed that exactly 126 were ultimately built: Ten pre-production examples in January and February of 1995, plus one more in April of 1995, then 115 standard production examples between August and October of 1995. All Lightweights share their VIN sequence with the standard 1995 M3 coupe and were built in periodic batches on the standard 3 Series assembly line. They retained the stock 240-hp S50 B30 USA powerplant, though BMW NA claimed that all engines fitted to the Lightweights were tested to make sure they were operating at the top of the acceptable range. According to BMW figures, the M3 Lightweight weighs 2,950 lbs., 225 lbs. less than the regular M3 coupe. All M3 Lightweights were painted Alpine White III (300) and included the following special features:
-Shortened 3.23:1 final drive
-Aluminum doors
-Reduced sound insulation
-Stiffer springs and shocks from the European-spec E36 M3 coupe
-M shock tower brace
-Forged M Double Spoke alloy wheels (7.5x17-in. front, 8.5x17-in. rear)
-M3 GT front spoiler lip extension
-Standard M3 rear spoiler with integrated third brake light
-Chequered flag decals in BMW Motorsport colors on left-front and right-rear corners of bodywork
-"BMW Motorsport International" emblems on exterior door moldings, interior door sill plates, and trim panel above the glovebox
-BMW sport seats (manual adjustment) covered in Anthracite "Hurricane" cloth with red highlights
-Carbon fiber-look dashboard and center console trim
-Anthracite carpeting from the four-cyilnder E36 coupe
-Air conditioning delete
-Radio delete (pre-wiring for radio and two door speakers included)
-Sound insulation reduction
-Tool kit delete
-Console Valet delete

In addition, the following items were offered as special-order options that could be installed by the dealer:
-M3 GT-style adjustable rear spolier (with integrated third brake light)
-Lower chassis X-brace (for added stiffness)
-Upper strut tower brace
-BMW M oil pan and dual-pickup oil pump
-Ride-height adjustable suspension
-Cross-drilled brake rotors
-Adjustable camber plates

[Haywood]

Originally Posted by ec_E92

Not CSL, but the LTW "club racer" car. Aprox 85 were imported (actual number not known) only in 1995.

Oh ok. Cool.

[raysspl]

Ya I believe it

[ilya335]

Go to any track event and there is always some very very fast e36's.

[Puryeah]

A was shocked a few years ago when I found out the difference between the US and EU spec, we had a big advantage on that one

But hey, you buy all american muscle cars dirt cheap while we pay quite alot more over here.

[Bosozoku]

Drove a friend's E36 M3 back in the day. Fantastic car.
Lightweight, torquey but not a dragster, extremely agile and communicative.

Only bad thing about it was those ugly "M Mirrors."
Still a problem to this day.

[SoCali E36]

Perfectly happy with mine

[BEAM3R]

Love my E36 M3.

[IB M]

Btw - actually thankful the US did not get those headlight washers. Look awful and I'd never use them.

[kprocivic]

My little money pit lol.