The BMW M3 E30 and the BMW M3 E36 are the only two series of the M3 that were not built directly on the assembly line by BMW, but by BMW Motorsport GmbH (now BMW M GmbH) in Garching, founded in 1972.

Unlike its predecessor, the E30 M3, the M3 E36 was not built for homologation purposes, to meet the FIA ​​regulations, but for the first time only designed as a pure high-performance sports vehicle, which should represent the highest level of motorization of the 3-series model. Because of this basic concept, which BMW entered this new segment of the market for the first time, potential customers did not have to do without driving comfort. The M3 E36 was the first Gran Tourismo vehicle that BMW built. A cross-over vehicle that should manage the balancing act between sporty engine performance and pleasant driving comfort for long distances and in everyday life. Last but not least, the smoother and quieter running of the in-line six-cylinder engine, with an initial 3.0 liter displacement and a nominal output of 286 hp according to BMW information, which was significantly higher, and the 3.2 liter and 321 hp that followed later with the facelift Engine power, which was then supplied as standard with a 6-speed manual transmission and the sequential manual transmission, which was available as an option for the first time, contributed to this.

BMW engin S50B30


 

The chassis was also its own design, which was only installed in the M3 and in the special AVUS and Class II models. The stabilizer was thicker and the coupling rods shorter. The wishbone mounts on the body were also reinforced, eccentric and asymmetrical. The wishbones of the rear axle were also different from the series and marked with the /// M logo. The E36 M3 was delivered with 17 inch rims as standard. The achieved production and sales figures exceeded those of its predecessor by more than three times, although this vehicle was considerably more expensive than its predecessor. A total of exactly 71,242 units of the M3 E36 were built, which is more than three times the sales figures compared to its predecessor, by which the E36 M3 had to be measured from the point of view of the BMW Board of Management.





In contrast to its predecessor, BMW offered the E36 M3 not only as a 2-door and convertible version, but also as a sedan. With the latter, BMW also had the US market in mind, as sales figures for 4-door vehicles are traditionally higher there than on the European market. However, the M3 E36 was not offered in the USA with the same S50B30 and S50B32 engines, as these did not meet the emissions requirements in the USA.

With these two brochures, the BMW M3 E36 was offered on the American market from 1992 to 1999.
The M50B25TÜ derived from the E36 325i and derived from the S50B30US engine with 240 hp, which was used in the M3 E36 models sold there due to the emission regulations in the USA, as the Moto S50B30 offered in European models did not meet the legal emission regulations in the USA .
This is the original brochure with which BMW had offered the special model only available in the USA, the E36 M3 LTW, which was produced in a limited edition of only 150 vehicles, in the United States.

In the USA, the S50B30US, which was basically a slight modification of the M50B25 TÜ of the 325i engine with an output of 240PS and the later S52B32US, introduced with the facelift, was offered with 245PS. Only in Canada were 50 copies with the European engines sold and introduced to the USA. However, it was not BMW who came up with this strategy, but a car dealer who absolutely wanted the original European vehicles with more power in the USA for themselves and their customers. These vehicles, which still exist in the USA, are now fetching prices of around 450,000 US dollars, although they are not even a special model, which is more than the special model M3 LTW offered in the USA.

The M3 E36 offered by BMW in the USA also received the facelift and thus also got a new Motot with 5 hp more power, now 245 hp, the internally designated S50B32US


 

 

In contrast to its predecessor, the E30 M3, BMW did not offer any special models on the German market except for the M3 GT. In the meantime, however, there was BMW Individual GmbH, newly founded in 1992, into which BMW Motorsport GmBH was also integrated in 1992, from whose range potential buyers were also welcome. In principle, everything was also available for the BMW E36 M3 that could be ordered for all other vehicles in the E36 series. Only the M3 Gt, which was only built 356 times in 1995 and only available in British racing green with the exception of one example in silver, had to do without a few things in the equipment catalog. There was its counterpart on the American continent, which BMW offered under the name E36 M3 LTW (lightweight), of which only 116 were built. And then there was the M3 Individual offered in England, which was also only built in the color British racing green and in a number of 50 vehicles. However, the British were lucky because they also got the BMW E36 EVO Coupe, which was also only built in a number of 50 vehicles. This exhibit was offered exclusively in the color Imola red and both variants of the British, M3 Individual and EVO Coupe had all spoiler applications from the M3 GT.

There was also the E36 M3-R in Australia, of which only 15 were built, but opinions differ, as this is a project collaboration with BMW and Frank Gardner’s racing team, who homologated these vehicles for participation in competitions built in Australia. The vehicles with particularly spartan equipment and selection of the most powerful engines, which were then installed in these vehicles at the BMW plant, were all painted in white and sent to the Gardner team in Australia, where they then converted the vehicles and also the Engine performance increased through additional parts and adjustments. Since this vehicle was not actually completely built in Munich and then fitted with parts that BMW never sold itself, most do not see this vehicle as a special model from BMW and therefore do not count it among them. For the sake of completeness, we only want to mention this vehicle here.