e36 Archives | Page 32 of 43 | German Cars For Sale Blog

1997 BMW 318ti

Published December 27, 2013 by Paul

The Mercedes-Benz CLA and forthcoming Audi A3 sedan are proof that Americans can be open minded to compact premium vehicles. However, dial it back a few years and you’ll come across one small BMW that was barely a blip on the sales radar screen: the 3 series Compact. Sold as the 318ti stateside, this hatchback was a mix of old and new, featuring the E36 front suspension setup while utilizing the old trailing arm setup from the E30. A simpler dashboard and unique bodywork from the A-pillar were additional features that set it apart from the rest of the E36 clan.

When introduced for 1995, these cars retailed for just under $20,000, opening the BMW experience up to a new demographic. Subsequently, given their lower priced status, there are few good examples left out there on the used market. This clean 318ti for sale in California has just over 100,000 miles and the 5-speed manual gearbox.

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1995 BMW M3 Turbo

Published December 23, 2013 by Nate

It’s always been a dream of mine to have a car that can do rolling burnouts at highway speeds. A recurring object of this desire is a big, insane Mercedes for the sheer madness, but making a monster M3 is always an entertaining proposition. As opposed to most modified E36s, the exterior of this M3 is almost completely, beautifully stock. It doesn’t even have a spoiler, which is an instant E36 mojo-killer. What it does have hiding behind the commuter-car exterior is an insane 606 horsepower at the rear wheels. That’s roughly 700 at the crank. Driving it will most certainly induce one kind of fear, while the maintenance and tuning will elicit another. But if you’re going to turbocharge an E36, this is exactly the way to do it.

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1995 BMW M3 Dinan S3

Published December 22, 2013 by Nate

The E36 M3 was lauded as one of the greatest handling cars of all time, but those of us in the US were always a little disappointed that the M3 made due with 240hp here throughout its lifespan, while the Euros ended up with a 321hp beast that makes the E46 seem like a lot less of a leap than it was here. There were many ways to go about fixing the lack of power, but few are more reputable and holistic than Dinan’s packages. With just an intake, chip, and exhaust, the first M3 I drove had a healthy dose of aggression. Today’s comes with the full meal deal, earning the Dinan badge and a Euro-shaming 340hp out of the supercharged 3.0l. That’ll be plenty for me, and it carries the bigger stick without raising its voice, just some Dinan blocks at each corner. This example is cherry in color and condition, having covered just 38k miles. With BMW’s endorsement of Dinan, examples like this may well become the most sought-after, especially when they are this well cared for.