e36 M3's

[m325i 709]

Now that the e36 M3 is becoming affordable for the masses, I thought it may be a good idea to group opinions and facts on the model.

There are multiple varaints right, (3.0 and 3.2?)

Are 4dr versions the same spec?

How reliable are they in their old age? VANOS meltdowns etc?

I guess they suffer from the same generic problems as other e36's? But is there anything that is worse on the M3 model?

I wouldn't want fellow BSers to jump into a $20k lemon.

[hybrid 1043]

Generally in this country you get:

3.0 (286bhp) e36 m3

3.2 (321bhp) e36 m3 sport evo (six speed)

more rare in this country 3.0 (286bhp) e36 m3 sedan.

here is the production numbers from wiki:

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Performance

Version Power 0-60 mph Top Speed

3.0l-24v I6

Euro Version 210 kW/286 bhp 6.0 s. 155 mph / 250 km/h (electronically limited)

U.S. Version 177 kW/240 bhp 6.1 s. 137 mph / 220 km/h (electronically limited)

3.2l-24v I6

Euro Version 236 kW/321 bhp 5.3 s. 155 mph / 250 km/h (electronically limited)

U.S. Version 177 kW/240 bhp 5.4 s. 145 mph / 225 km/h (electronically limited)

Special Models

There were five special-edition models of the E36 M3 produced: the M3 Euro-Spec (Canadian Edition), M3 CSL (M3 LTW), M3 GT, M3 GT-R, and the M3-R. There was also an M3 Anniversary Edition in Australia. Only 50 coupes were produced. Also, "BMW Individual" were also able to custom design an M3 with specific coloured leather, woodgrain and other personalised options including polished magnesium alloy wheels from the Anniversary edition.

M3 Euro-Spec (Canadian Edition)

In 1994 agreements existed between Canada and several countries in Europe which allowed any car federalized in one participating country to legally be sold in any of the others. Though BMW had unveiled the next generation E36 M3 in Europe in 1992, the company felt that the production version would need to be priced much higher for export to North America than the market would allow. While the engineers worked on a less expensive North American version of the E36 M3, BMW Canada seized the window of opportunity: 45 numbered European specification M3 coupes were specially produced and imported into Canada.

Even with a base price of $59,900 (a substantial sum for the day given that the standard equipment list did not include forged lightweight wheels, air conditioning, a sunroof or even metallic paint), all 45 cars were spoken for in just 3 days by wealthy, well connected buyers. Unlike the other special versions of the E36 M3, buyers were free to choose any colors and options they wanted on their cars, limited only by their wallets. The cars all came equipped with the 286 bhp 3.0 L inline 6 cylinder engine, vented brakes with floating rotors, glass headlights and other European standard equipment. They were initially delivered to Toronto, then shipped all across the country to the dealerships where they were ordered.

Canada would not see another E36 M3 for sale until two years later, when BMW finally made the American versions of the 1997 M3 available for sale.

Canadian Government Imposed Changes

Rear fog light delete

Daytime running lights

Third brake light

Revised license plate arrangement

BMW Individual Program

Unlike cars sold in the United States (with few known exceptions), Canadian buyers had full access to the BMW Individual program, giving them many unique custom paint and interior color combinations and other options for customization of their vehicles.

This program was not available in the United States due to special laws granting buyers the right to cancel specially ordered vehicles without penalty[citation needed] - a situation BMW would not allow.

Number Built

45 Euro-Spec Canadian Edition cars were built, each one having a numbered engraved plaque in both the glovebox and the custom leather case which holds the owners manuals. Only the Australian M3-R was built in lower numbers.

M3 CSL (E36)

Beginning with the first E36 M3's delivered, BMW racers began pressuring BMW for a race-ready version with which to compete against Porsche 911s in sports-car racing.

In 1995, BMW relented and began building batches of the M3 CSL at BMW Individual. Upon completion they were sent to Prototype Technology Group (PTG) Racing in Virginia for final preparation, which included the front and rear Motorsport flag decals, and "trunk goodies."

CSL vs. Lightweight Naming Controversy

There is a minor controversy in which some people believe the M3 CSL should not be called an M3 CSL (referring to the famous 3.0 CSL), but rather an M3 Lightweight, as that was the name that BMW advertised the car as.

While it is true that BMW's press referred to the car as the M3 Lightweight, each M3 CSL's build sheet (the instructions from BMW AG to BMW Individual) clearly labelled the car as an M3 CSL, so there can be no doubt that the factory itself thought of the car as a CSL. In addition, the additional manual that came with the "M3 Lightweight" identified it as the CSL.

This controversy can perhaps be attributed to the fact that the English translation of CSL is Coupé Sports Lightweight.

Number Built

Although BMW promised to build at least 85 examples, BMW never released the number of M3 CSL's built, and because of the peculiar assembly line, to this day may not be known. However, enthusiasts now believe the number of models extant are approximately 120.[1]

The first two cars, which were used as press cars, are not technically M3 CSL's as they were regular production M3's that PTG made similar in appearance to the not-yet-built CSL. After press duties, those two cars were brought back into the PTG stable.

Hand-picked Engines

BMW and other German car makers test each engine on the assembly line to ensure that they meet the claimed power rating. It is claimed that the most powerful motors of each batch were hand-picked and reserved for the M3 CSL. However, at least one M3 CSL owner disassembled his motor and compared it to a stock U.S. S50 engine and found no differences. Nonetheless, some who drove both stock M3's and M3 CSL's remarked how much more powerful the M3 CSL motor was.[citation needed]

Racing History

In an ironic twist, the car that BMW built to race was hardly raced.

Outside of multiple cars raced in the BMW CCA Club Racing series (an amateur series specific only to BMW models) PTG had between two to four models that they raced in IMSA. It seems that one of those cars was sold to Jeff McMillian, in which he won the SCCA World Challenge series, without winning a single race. One was raced in the SCCA's Touring 1 class by John Browne, and one or two may have been raced in the extinct Motorola Cup.

Most M3 CSLs, it seems, never saw a racetrack.

M3 GT

1995 BMW M3 GT IndividualThe M3 GT Coupe was a limited-edition mainland Europe only edition of which 356 were made, 50 further M3 GT Individuals were made in right-hand drive for the UK market. All built in 1995.

Famous for being British Racing Green with a Mexico Green interior - a peculiar choice when the traditional German national racing colors were white with red numbers.

The BMW M3 GT was a homologation series special built to allow the E36 M3 to compete in the FIA-GT class II, IMSA GT and international longdistance races.

M3 GT2 / M3 Evo Individual

The M3 Evo Individual was a limited-edition (200 units for Europe with part VIN WBACB5103-AN307--, 50 for the United Kingdom) car sometimes referred to as the M3 GT2. The engine and performance characteristics of the car were unchanged, and a special exterior and interior colour combination was once again chosed by BMW; imola red (405) paint with nappa leather & Amaretto seats in imola red and anthracite seats.

M3 GTR DTM

Very little is known about this car: it is believed that BMW intended to race the E36 M3 in the DTM racing series. When mid 1990s pre-season testing showed the car to be quicker than existing competition, Mercedes-Benz purportedly influenced the DTM sanctioning body to either slow the M3 GTR or make it illegal for DTM. Wide-body E36 GTR cars were entered in the German ADAC "GT Cup" series.

M3-R

Fifteen M3's were ordered by BMW Australia in 1994 to race in the Australian Super Production series. All were delivered to Frank Gardner Racing for final preparation.

Accolades

The E36 M3 is considered one of the better-handling cars of all time, and was in fact named "Best-Handling Car Ever" by Car and Driver in 1997.

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Issues from what I know from research on the m3/m-coupe parts we are using.

* Six speed ZF gearboxes are reported to not be as strong as the 5 speed ZF Gearbox (this is not an issue really on a standard spec car)

* Vanos gear's need to be maintained (same with all vanos really)

* the SMG 1 gearbox is a bit slow but fine to use, expect shorter clutch life.

* brake disc's are twice the price

* Check LSD for abuse (check bite)

* not that there are many here, but avoid the lower powered US model, (doesnt have a real engine )

more engine info

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S50B30US (US version)

The S50B30US was a 3.0 L version, which powered the US-spec E36 M3. Power was 240 hp (179 kW).

Applications:

1995 E36 M3

(its a totally different engine than the euro version)

S50B30 (Euro version)

The S50B30 was a special sports-oriented 3.0 L version, which powered the RoW spec E36 M3. Power is 286 hp (210 kW). The S50B30 has a bore of 86mm and a stroke of 85.8mm, with a total displacement of 2990cc.

Applications:

1992-1995 E36 M3

S50B32 (Euro version)

The S50B32 was an evolution version of the S50B30. Power of the 3.2 L version is 321hp. This engine has a bore of 86.4mm and a stroke of 91.0mm giving a displacement of 3201cc.

Applications:

1996-1999 E36 M3

1997-2000 M Roadster

1998-2000 M Coupe

:edited

[Grant 4]

You can also get the 6 speed 3.2 in a 4 door sedan here too.

A big problem with the 6 speed gearbox, is the ramming it into the wrong gear...can't remember off the top of my head, but it something like 4th to 1st instead of 4th to 3rd (or somesuch). This is a driver problem rather than a gearbox problem.

Cheers

Grant

[M3_Power 636]

here is the production numbers from wiki:

Coupe and Sedan Convertible

BMW M3 Euro model (143 kW/147 kW) 8661

BMW M3 US model 4996

BMW M3 Evo 1 (147 kW) 505

BMW M3 Europa late model (158 kW) 1519

BMW M3 Evo 2 (162 kW) 500

BMW M3 Convertible (143 kW/158 kW) 786

BMW M3 Sport Evolution (175 kW) 600

BMW M3 Europameister (143 kW)

all signed by Roberto Ravaglia 148

BMW M3 Cecotto (158 kW)

25 as special edtion Ravaglia 505

BMW M3 Cecotto Switzerland (throttled to 155 kW) 50 of above mentioned 505

Total Around 18000

eh .... I am sure those are E30 M3 production numbers ....

[hybrid 1043]

eh .... I am sure those are E30 M3 production numbers ....

box of lol .. they are too! .. Im going to have a big edit to stop the confusion ... I copied and pasted the wrong part too quickly at work ..

/endselfpwnt