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Tag: Rare M3

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1995 BMW M3 GT

Published December 10, 2023 by Carter

While you’re no doubt familiar with the great lament of the de-tuned E36 M3 and the inflated price of the very limited Lightweight model, Europe enjoyed a full spectrum of Motorsport performance. One of the potent additions to the lineup was that of the M3 GT. Intended to homologate racing bits and aerodynamic tweaks for the E36, 350 limited BF99 examples were produced in early 1995. The motor was turned up to 295 horsepower with hotter cams, special oil pumps and Motorsport oil pan and revised computer controls. They also had stiffened and lowered suspension, a strut brace and a 3.23 final drive. Outside new spoilers front and rear increased downforce, and like the Lightweight the GT wore the M forged double spoke staggered wheels. Harder to spot were the aluminum doors the car wore to help keep weight down. All were painted 312 British Racing Green and featured Mexico Green Nappa leather interior with Amaretta bolsters, special Motorsports badging, and carbon-fiber trim.

They’re a very special and rarely seen variant of the E36 M3, and increasingly in this collector market that means a higher asking price:

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1994 BMW M3 Coupe

1994 BMW M3 Coupe

Published April 1, 2023 by Carter

For some time, there was a giant gulf between European-spec cars and US-specification cars. Granted, part of that divide still exists today if the large assortment of cars that do not make it to these shores, but at least enthusiasts can rejoice that at last – for the most part – performance versions that are available in Germany are very close to the same that we receive here. One of the last notable cars to exhibit the large divide was the E36 M3; while Europeans enjoyed over 280 horsepower from the individual throttle body S50B30 in 1992, the later-released US-specific M3 carried an entirely different motor with some 40 horsepower less. Though the S50B30US is certainly a great motor by itself, the knowledge that the “better” version existed across the pond somehow took a bit of legitimacy away from it. Also differentiating the European versions were better floating rotor brakes, better glass headlights, better lower and stiffer suspension, and some neat interior options. Later Euro E36s got even more power and the optional SMG 1 transmission or a 6-speed manual – none of which came here.

But if you fall into “the US version of the E36 M3 is garbage” camp, you don’t have to scream at the internet for “forum cred” anymore as early versions of the Euro cars are now fully legal for import – though, that does not mean they are inexpensive. Today’s example goes to 11 with its Dakar Yellow paintwork, forged Style 24 wheels, Amaretta M cloth upholstery, manual Vader seats, and “slicktop” roof – enough to make most E36 fanatics weak in the knees:

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1990 BMW M3

1990 BMW M3

Published July 9, 2022 by Carter

That the E30 M3 has been on a stratospheric price rise is old news. So are the stories of “I could have bought one for $400 20 years ago”. You know what? I could have bought a really nice piece of land near the coast in Rhode Island for 10% its current value 30 years ago, but I didn’t. Old, too, are the stories of what floor some ex-M3 owners got off at; for unlucky examples, it was $15,000 a decade ago, but smarter sellers have cashed in on E30 mania. How high it will go? At what point will people say “You know what? This is a 4-cylinder near-luxury economy car that I’m paying $100,000 plus for”? It would seem that every time someone raises the flag of THE END IS NEAR another shockingly priced example clears what appeared previously to be an insurmountable hurdle and Mr. Toad’s wild ride continues. While there’s been a slight cooling in the acceleration curve, it’s still pretty insane – with top-condition cars priced at and selling well over $100,000. But the market has realized that many of the examples coming to market weren’t condition 1, or frankly even condition 2. Lesser than top-tier example’s value has gone almost completely flat, and now it’s the really exceptional models that are rising to the top rather than the entire crop. Today’s car is priced towards the top and claimed to have been restored – let’s take a look:

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2017 BMW M3 30 Jahre Edition

2017 BMW M3 30 Jahre Edition

Published February 6, 2022 by Carter

Back in August 2020, I took a look at one of the more odd celebrations of BMW history – the BMW M3 30 Jahre Edition:

2017 BMW M3 30 Jahre Edition

Why was it odd? Well, first off they chose to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the M3 with a car that shared almost nothing outside of the Roundels, the color – Macao Blue – and the M3 nameplate. That meant it was a sedan instead of the 2-door coupe, turbocharged instead of naturally aspirated, and full of gadgets that couldn’t even be considered when the original first arrived. Still, they’re neat and potent cars, with the S55 banging out 444 horsepower in Competition Package trim. At the time, I said the one to get was one of the rare manuals. Would you know what I’ve come across today?

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