1995 BMW M3 Lightweight - An In-Depth Look and Drive! aka the E36 M3 CSL... 

This car is the reason why I have always loved/owned BMW's. Back in 1995 when I was 12 years old my stepfather took me to Lime Rock Park in CT to watch the weekend races. At the time the E36 M3 had just come out in America and BMW was sponsoring the weekend races. I remember they had multiple M3's displayed all over the park. At the time I wasn't really that into cars and didn't really know much about BMW's other then the fact that all my rich friends parents drove them. People were crowding around them trying to get a peek inside the car. The Dakar Yellow M3 was of particular interest to most people. I remember thinking "that's a cool car" but still wasn't that impressed not knowing anything about the car. Or cars in general for that matter. I was more interested my new Gary Fischer mountain bike then I was in cars. Then we saw this booth offering rides in the new M3 for some nominal fee. $15 or $20. I can't really remember the exact price. So being 12, not into cars and bored out of my mind. I begged my stepfather to pay for us to take a ride in the M3. After some pleading he finally relented. After paying we were told to head to this empty parking lot and that's when we saw them. Three BMW E36 LTW's parked in a row. At first I remember being impressed by the flag decal but then was disappointed when I climbed into the back seat wondering why we were getting into a "cheaper" car. This wasn't the cool yellow M3 I saw earlier. It had cloth seats and didn't even have a sunroof. I remember feeling like we had been tricked into going for a ride in these inferior cars. That all changed when our driver started the car and drove off on the course they had set up in the parking lot. He started off by taking us through a slalom course expertly weaving the car through a set of cones. Followed by a 180 degree turn sliding the back end of the car out. Then a few laps at high speed around the parking lot course and then ended it by doing a few donuts before finally parking the car next to the other two M3 LTW's. I had never had so much fun in a car ever. They literally drove the hell out of those cars. I think had BMW known they would be selling for upwards of $200k today perhaps they would have been a bit more gentle with them. After that I was completely sold. One day I'm going to buy a BMW. I even had a poster of a Dakar Yellow M3 on my bedroom wall. I became obsessed with BMW and really 26 years later I'm still obsessed. It wasn't until a few years later that I realized just how rare those M3's were and I feel privileged in way to have even seen one let alone 3 in person and also to be able to go for a ride in one. I'm now on my 3rd BMW after purchasing my first, an E46 3 series when I was 24 years old. A car which I still own today. So the M3 LTW will always hold a special place in my heart as the first car to ever pique my interest in cars as well as my interest in BMW's.

i have a 95 m3 us spec put a 6 speed in out of a 330i rebuilt motor at 240000 i now have 320000 she runs like new and the cosmos black is in excellent condition easy to work on and handles great the haters will always hate there just jealous cause most of the shit talkers are to stupid to turn a wrench on a BMW thanks for sharing this awesome collection

The backwards sidemarker on the LTW with extended splitter made me die a little inside. Outstanding collection in that warehouse, every enthusiast's dream.

Beautiful cars. It's so hard to beat the old boxy M3s

Incredible cars, great video as always 👍👍

Always make me nervous blasting the IH roads! Love the video, keep them coming!

Beautiful machines!

LEGEND,ICONIC 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽❤️

Awesome collection!!! Watch out for the deer!!! Had 5 of them cross the road in front of me a few days ago while ripping those roads in the E39...

Great content love the collection 🔥

My Dream car✨.. beautiful collection

amazing story (:

Masterpiece

Truly Iconic car

Greetings from South Africa. We were in the fortunate position to get the Euro spec engines here! Can you provide more detail on the Euro spec engine car in the video? It looks to be an S50B30 with the standard intake air box etc. It does sound extremely good. What type of exhaust does this car have?

Hi, excellent video, can you tell me what kind of spring the lightweight use? I was thinking I'm Eibach Pro kit or Eibach Sports.

Dream car

Not the S14, but the two litre S42 in the Supertouring championships. And not the early days either, but up until 1998.

Honest question, why would you sell five of the limited production car to the same guy? In my mind he's creating a "monopoly" on lightweight market and can raise their price and profit from resale. That's no enthusiast thing. Hopefully you can provide further explanation.

2nd from the left with the extended lip. I thought you bought that from Max Power Motors? I saw the car there.

The late Paul Walker had a handful of them in his car collection

Pinnacle cars

Back in the day these cars did not sell well at all. I remember a dealer on the east coast sitting on one for nearly 2 years. It was ordered by a customer, when it came in the customer did a big mistake and brought his wife along to see it. When she found out it had no AC and no stereo amongst other things she made him buy different BMW with AC, stereo etc. LOL Now IF these LTW's had the hot Euro 3.0L or 3.2L motors then folks in the USA would literally be fighting over them in the dealers parking lots back in the day.

Damn

I miss my '95 M3, but she was slow af.

That car at 3:00 wasn't real? You got me

The us spec are amazing cars. Period.

Please dm me the link for that board around @8:20.

Tuna No Crust

Thats the baddest E36? For new M money? Man a good strong bolt on S52 car for an eigth of the price is where I'd put my cash on value for badness. It's not really worth a premium just for the driving experience over a non-lightweight car so let's not kid ourselves.

Johnny Cecotto 🇻🇪 glad that you mentioned the Moto GP champion, F1 Driver (Senna’s teammate with Toleman) , DTM runner up in 1992 thanks to stupid Michael Schumacher ruining his race, German Super Tourenwagen champ 1994/1998

Ha super secret warehouse

I have no idea why people pay those prices for the Lightweight E36 when it still has the wrong motor in it. They may be a bit lighter ,but they failed not putting the real M motor in the car. The fact that all the extra parts that came in the trunk voided the warranty was kind of stupid too,but I guess if you were going to take it racing BMW didn't want to be responsible. They are cool looking and interesting ,but for 2,3,or 4 times what it cost for a regular E36 M3 with the wrong motor, Nope. Im just going to find a Euro spec one and buy that because they are available.

Omg just say it was Paul Walker

So we FINALLY get lucky enough to be the ones that get the lightweights....then someone comes to America and takes 5 away from us. Thanx asshole

240bhp neutered engine it sucks to miss out of the Euro engine :)

Jesus Christ... this is just a glorified infomercial, to sell to potential buyers upon purchase. Just show the cars and leave the BS out.

Most overrated E36. The main reason this car exist is because USA was mad & jealous that in 1994 BMW offered the Eurospec M3 to Canada with a loophole they were legal here. Our 45 edition is way more rare & special than this in my opinion also Ac schnitzer did the craziest track E36. I can still appreciate the Ltw cool factor from USA perspective.

Arguably the most overrated overpriced M car