Buying an E36 M3? 

its weird that kid in the 90s dream of owning a e36 m3 and kids nowadays dont dream about a brand new m3, they also dream about a e36 m3

I picked up a clean one last year and did suspension, cooling, shifter, diff gearing, brakes and wheels and love it. Such a good modding platform and a blast to mob around in. These cars are just so easy to drive it’s become my daily.

Those headrest move up on those Vader seats. They were on the lowest setting in this video.

That is one of the most beautiful e36s ive ever seen. That interior is so mint and looks so good against the green

Just got my E36 M3 3 months ago and I dont regret it! Its value is appreciating fast! Best of its time!

E46 honestly. Would love to see a E46 dialed in

I own an e36 and e46 M3. I recommend driving an e46 competition package 2004-2006 before you make your decision. the E46 has a motor that redlines over 8K, and the competition package gives the car a different steering ratio that just gives the car an unbelievable connection to the road. Both are great cars though and you will get more people giving you thumbs ups than any modern car.

These crayon smelling cars r the best. After high school I got my e36 m3 for $4200 with a bunch of Dinan goodies on it. Have been daily driving it for a few years + weekend track days and the car still puts a smile on my face every time

Yes Matt we all knew you were going to get one. You can order the exhaust now!

I bought my E36 M3 EVO in London 18 years ago. One of the last of them built in September 1998 my car is completely original 34 thousand miles from new. I love driving this ! Techno Violet is the colour I wanted .I love it !

I had a 95 with a VF Engineering supercharger and a cat back exhaust. It was amazing!!

I've been daily driving a 323i the last twenty years, and also own a euro M3 3.2. These roads where you are driving really aren't where an E36 shines brightest. Sweeping medium speed corners ("the hills") where you stay in third gear between 3500-6500rpm going from a left to a right and then left again.. THAT'S where the E36 shines it's brightest. Also sharp hairpins can be fun as you'll have to use the brakes to get weight transfer to get the front tires to bite.

My love for BMW with the E36 M3. When I was young playing basketball one of my teammates dad had a Dakar Yellow coupe with exhaust. That rasp is intoxicating you’ll enjoy it when it’s dialed in.

S52 with a nice set of headers and a tune sounds incredible and they are seemingly less finicky than a s54. My best friend had a s52 m coupe and with a nice set of coilovers the car was a n/a aspirated blast. You’ll easily be satisfied.

Matt, I think you should do an E46 M3 Singer type build. A lightened M3, manual, well done suspension. This car seems beautifully built/setup.

Owning both a e36 m3 and e46 m3, imo the US e36 is more of a driver’s car than the e46 on the street. Like you said driving a slow car fast is fun, not saying the e46 is the fastest out there but the e36 demands more driver effort to get everything out of it. The e46 feels bigger and you will instantly fall in love with the s54. Find yourself clean manual “ltw” (manual seats, no sunroof, basically option less) of both models. #savetherasp

Gorgeous color combo! What a great example of an E36 M3. Matt, we seem to have similar tastes in cars. I have had an E90 M3, a GT350, and currently on my second E36 M3 (4/5). It is a '97 also...and spent too much time at PSI. lol. I still enjoy driving it.

I suggest the E36 M3 3.2L 6 speed version in either the blue, Dakar yellow or green

So many new cars are too quick to enjoy on public roads without going to jail. Love the idea of an older analog sports car.

Ah man, I just love how you're still in love with the E36 M3 Matt, after all those years of admiring from afar haha! Even if you end up getting an E46 M3 instead or something completely different, can't wait to see another car getting dialed in.

In 1997, I was 37. There was the M3, the new C5 Corvette or the Supra Turbo. I scraped every dollar up I could find and bought the C5, probably due to Chevrolet's advertising. If I'd have bought the Supra Turbo, I'd be a HERO today!

There are so many great colors.. Avusblau, Estorilblau, Technoviolett and of course Darkargelb.

That video makes me want to add a E36 also. The e46 can wait a little longer

My ultimate car on the 90's was the Bugatti EB110 in French Blue. But all I could afford was to import a 180SX to Australia in 2000 which I still have I love it. Thought I work in Malaysia now and just got a E36 amd it's a nice car just be nice of it had a turbo.

Reminds me a lot of my E24, mostly due to the long gears and the BMW inline 6 sound. I'm excited to see you go through the process with an E36 - though I wish you'd do an E24!

First m3 I saw in person was in 1997. A Techno Violet e36 coupe with temp tags. For me at the time it was a totally unattainable car. Eventually I ended up with an e46, e90 and now an e92 m3. Ill never forget that e36.

this is one of the most sexies cars ever made. while everyone wants to have a porche or a supercar, i would love to drive this beauty every single day for no particular reason.

What do you guys think? As a kid, my parents had a very beautiful Madeira Violet E36 320i convertible with an M-pack. I LOVED it! Ever since then, it has been my dream to own a E36 M3 convertible. I've actually always delayed getting one even though I've been checking the market for about 8 years now. In the meantime, I bought another dream car of mine instead, the Skyline R32 GTR. I've rebuilt the engine and it pushes 583hp. While I really love it and it's a crazy, unique machine, I'm actually not enjoying it as much as I thought I would. I ran against so many issues since I owned it, it has cost me way more money than I would have wanted and it doesn't feel like it was worth it. But I'm really torn between keeping the R32 or selling it and chase my other dream to find a mint condition E36 M3 convertible. On some days I'm really convinced I will do it and on other days I fear that I might miss the R32 and that it would be a mistake. What do you guys think? Would I be crazy to sell my R32 GTR to get an E36 M3? Why I want an E36 convertible: - The nostalgia from when I was a kid - I actually prefer to cruise around with my car, enjoy the weather and the scenery compared to go out to drive flatout. - I know my wife would enjoy it as well and she would like to go on trips together. (She doesn't like the R32 at all :p ) - ...

Boston Green is a great color.

i want one of these as well. new cars suck for sooo many reasons. this one is perfect. it's NOT a slow car. It's perfect.

Would an s52b32 not be a better idea? I know that they were not available in the usa but maybe an import or? Boston green with that brown is sooo lovely tbh!

You should definitely get one. My favorite M3

Z4M would also be fun!

Get whatever makes you happy. YOLO! Enjoy it as much as possible.

When you pass through a tunnel you gotta do the courtesy rev!

I have a 95 M3, I love it. Honestly, I drive it more than my E92M 6MT

The E36 M3 is a better car overall than a E46 M3 and the E36 M3 costs less to maintain, is more reliable, and a better investment than a M3 E46 long term E36 M3 is a win win all round !!

Marshall Goldman in Cleveland OH has a one owner 95 in White with 27k

Buddy in Reno has a red 36k mile E36 4 door, super clean. Would probably part with it but def wants top dollar and has wrong seats

Crayon-smelling? Haha - mine smells like an old baseball glove! I LOVE how it smells!

There's a couple available right now on bring a trailer but I don't think there clean enough.

i have a e36 318ti with an s52 swap.. im down by clermont if you ever want to compare them hehe

Why’d you hate the supercharged S2000? Wanting the same.

Kids and girls look at mine as if its a classic ferrari.. if u keep them fresh, theyll keep you smiling for sure

Man, I want a silver slick top with all the Euro parts so bad..

Yesssss black

Crazy that you used to be near King of Prussia :O

Just got a M3 GT . Great car! Get a European M3, a perfect low km car.

When will you drive an N55 or S55 M2? I’m curious on what you think.

What is the type and brand of the front signal lights installed in that car?

Love the japanese car content. Get the ol' NSX

Oh yes, an E36 :O

King of Prussia in da house!

If you're gonna spend $140,000 on a Civic, you might as well just pony up for an E36 at EAG.

Why does Matt keep saying 240hp? AFAIK the earlier E36 M3s had 286 (metric) horsepower. The later ones even 321 (metric).

Just bought the new house and now it turns out the garage is too small for another car.

Will you film driving the G80?

Anybody know the model name of these wheels

I am thinking of selling my 135i “clubsport” 2011 for this car🤷🏻‍♂️ yes or no

Matt has his “BMW-lean” down to a T 😎

Let's go!

At least get the 321hp version then!! 👍💪

Wow! What a well preserved example of an e36. The fact that Matt had nothing bad to say about a 125k mile car says a lot! Hehe

Euro E36 have steering wheels that are adjustable.

So excited to see an E36 on the channel! I’ve had my ‘97 M3 for 15 years now, and I don’t think I’ll ever get rid of it. I take it out a couple of times a month and it just brings a smile to my face. After going through so many iterations of mods over the years, the two that really transform this car are the E46 330i ZHP steering rack and 3.46+ diff. OEM+ is definitely the way to go.

I’ve owned all iterations. The e36 is overall the best version.

I have recently found your channel, quickly becoming “obsessed”. Also, as a previous e36 m3 owner, you will never look back. Do it! E46 is too techy, much more expensive to maintain, and you just can’t beat the feel of the e36. It’s so enjoyable. I was nodding my head in agreement this entire video, the car just feels so good. Get one. You’ll love it forever.

I have a 23k mile '99 M3 that I picked up recently, I'm also very local to you. Great car.

Can we tag the owner? That e36 is the nicest I’ve ever seen!!! Such a good combo

Import an NSX or RX7 and dialed in. Will add variety of your collection

How much did you have to dial down the exposure so that Matt’s legs weren’t blown out

oh he's gonna lose it with this car

Shame the USA spec cars have a different motor to euro cars ,

I don’t really care what car you buy, I’m just excited for you.

An interesting option would be to import a 1995-96 euro spec M3 with the 320 hp S50B32 engine with the six-speed! Or the E36 M3 GT

I'd love to see an 03-04 terminator cobra version of the civic build.

I love how BMW offered so many unique and bright color options on the E36 M3. Boston Green, Dakar Yellow, Techno Violet, Estoril Blue, and the super rare Byzanz Metallic.

Late euro e36 M3 have 321hp.

The E36 made me fall in love with BMWs. I love everything about that car. It's my hero car as well.

Very nice find! I have a 95 AVUS Blue Metallic M3. I fully restored it, as it used to be a parts car. I still have the pics when I first picked it up since no one believes it was a parts car. I only bought it because I had a poster of it when I was in high school, with the exact same color (AVUS Blue), and it still had its drivetrain, NO RUST. But it was missing the entire front end, side skirts, rear bumper, driver side fender, and the entire interior. Took me two years to source the interior and parts, give it a coat of paint, and get the exterior trim. I enjoyed watching this video and your big smile while driving. I had the same exact smile after my car was finally done. I didn't install any intake or anything. Just the BORLA exhaust, Bilstein Suspension, Fluidyne Radiator, Stewart high pressure water pump, and H&R springs. Everything else is OEM BMW. I paid $3K for it, spent another $4K restoring it, engine, electrical gremlins, and drivetrain work was done by me, as was taught by my dad (before he passed). Definitely a good buy, just for sheer fun. New cars drive you more than you drive it.

I ❤️ my 98 e36 M3 Sedan!

These are great cars, lots of my friends had them years ago If I was you I would go for the E46 instead.

Yessss. A great car and opportunity to showcase how great the US spec car is.

I think we were all waiting for the E36/E46 transition

I’m so glad you got an m3

Incredible car , respect your elders!!! Can’t wait to see when you get the e30 M3

If you want the decent euro spec engine you might as well import one to the US. Otherwise you my prefer a more ‘modern’ E46.

I dunno. I went back n forth 2xs each from an e46 m to e36m and stuck w the e36. Felt less bloated and i just enjoyed it more. Nice video, glad u found yourself a tunnel to amplify great sound in!

I hadn’t even watched the video and I was gonna say Style 24’s or LM’s for wheels ha! 17x8.5 squared for Style 24’s. Maybe 17x9’s for BBS LM’s. The rest? Gotta go wingless. OE front license plate delete strip. GC Coils street set up with reasonable spring rates. S52 with M50 manifold, 3.5” Euro HFM, Dinan intake and exhaust. Engine tune. ZKW glass projectors with hid’s. No angel eyezzzz! Euro OE clear tails/sidemarkers/front corners.

The best time to buy an e36 M3 was in 2014. If you bought well back then and kept up on maintenance, you're sitting on 3-4 times the money now. Mine has 104K and is not for sale.

As an owner of a '98 M3 I can relate to all your comments about how it was a 'dream car', though I was a fair bit older than you when the E36 M3 became the Porsche Killer in '93 in Europe. I bought mine in 2008. Everybody on the forums laments about how the American M3's didn't get the 340hp European version, but I find the the torque of the S52 is excellent for NA roads and more than fast enough to get me into trouble. What you missed in your short drive is to get the car out on some twistys. The E36 M3 was Car and Driver's 1997 'Best Handling Car at Any Price'. it's not about how fast it goes from stop light to stop light. It's how good it feels going around corners that puts a perma-grin on my face.

youre 41? bro looks 60. also that's not an m3 dude

I’ve driven E36s almost got a decade now and they’re awesome cars. Very reliable and fun to drive, while looking stylish and cool at the same time.

Nice to have some BMW content coming from OG again!

That’s one of the cleanest E-36 M3’s I’ve ever seen! The E-36 has always been my favorite BMW M car ever made. I’d love to own this one!👌🏽🔥🔥🔥

Finally. A real car. Other than the EM1 of course.

I daily drive an e36 M3 sedan its a little beat up here and there sure but its such a proper car, never a dull moment. I love how engaging and pure it is to drive even if that crazy straight line speed isn’t there

Did Matt just confirm a Ferrari will come to the channel?

Damn Mr. Wahba....that is one clean E36

Gorgeous interior. That tan colored interior sold me on the car. I hope your buddy is getting years out of that M3.