BMW E36 M3 saloon? Jawohl!

What do the BMW E36 and Mazda MX-5 have in common? They’re both a very popular choice for folks attending our trackdays and sprints for modern classics. Nothing wrong with that, but we’re keen(est) on the cool, quick and quirky and as good as the little Mazda and predictably popular 328i are we like to see the rarer classics. BMW made over 12,000 of the E36 M3 saloon but they’re a rare sight on the road so when Rad Pajor told us about this fantastic example we had to have a look.

Why so rare? We have a theory that as the cheapest of all the M cars, the E36 M3 saloon probably fell into the hands of skinflints who couldn’t afford the upkeep and the TokyoSkiddoSidewaysYo! brigade, who often pranged them. Fortunately this beautiful Boston green example was previously owned by a successful drifty-chap, Mike Jankes, who kept her in good shape. We’re not sure about the carbon fibre bits but this is otherwise otherwise original down to the torch, fuel sticker on the instrument binnacle and M contour II wheels. Lovely, isn’t it?

BMW lacked a more-door model in their M car portfolio between the end of the E34 M5 in ’95 and the start of the E39 M5 in ’98 so the E36 got the gig. The engine started out as a 3 litre straight six with 282BHP and a 5 speed ‘box and ended up with a 6 speed or SMG ‘box and 3.2 litres and 316 BHP. That’s a lot, even now, and unlike later M cars they weren’t that porky at around 1500KG. Speaking of pork, the M3 is the only model to have more wins in Motorsport than Porsche’s 911. These cars are performers and you can pass one off to your other half/accountant as a semi-sensible daily driver if needed.

An E30 M3 will cost you the equivalent GDP of China to buy today and seemingly every single E46 M3 for sale is a bit broken, owned by an oik, or both. The E36 M3 Coupe won’t be silly money and a saloon like this one is a sure fire classic. Find a tidy example now (if you can) and buy it before the prices get silly. Would we want to see this rare M3 at a MotorPunk event? Jawohl!

For our guide to all those BMW M3 Myths, click this.

Big thanks to Rad Pajor for the excellent photography.