"The U.S. E36 is the M3 to have" | Jason Cammisa Revelations on Hagerty

[MeisterS]

Never stop closing the glovebox Or fixing the drooping headliner.
Still the best car you can own under $12000.

[XsltAnalyst]

thanks Jason, it's not like we needed help inflating the E36 prices.

in any case, E36 was the perfect compact size, easy to see out of, and even the regular 6 cylinder was a hoot to drive.

[RichP]

Originally Posted by XsltAnalyst

thanks Jason, it's not like we needed help inflating the E36 prices.

in any case, E36 was the perfect compact size, easy to see out of, and even the regular 6 cylinder was a hoot to drive.

Agreed. My first BMW was a 328iS.. and I have always wanted an E36 M3. Ive had every generation of 3 Series after the E36; yet the E36 was always the most special feeling of the bunch. Prices are starting to get crazy now for one that isn't abused.. I should have bought one a decade ago!

[Nettles]

Originally Posted by MeisterS

Never stop closing the glovebox Or fixing the drooping headliner.
Still the best car you can own under $12000.

When I got my E36 back in 2013ish it was the $10k rule. If you don’t spend $10k you’ll spend the difference to get it up to there. That rule was changing more to $12k as I was looking. Doubt you can find an all around clean one for less than $20k now especially with how all M3 pricing is going these days.

[P1]

It certainly aged better than the E92, didn't it?

[wknddrivr]

Originally Posted by W///

What a great insightful video. His videos are super well done

I've owned mine for almost 10 years and I've considered selling it many times to fund other M's or a Porsche and I've yet to be able to do it. This car, out of all the M's I own, is definitely the car that's so much more than its performance on paper. What no one ever tells you is that this car has got really good torque at midrange. Never got into it and thought it was slow. As a matter of fact, it's got just the right amount of power that you can really redline through the first few gears and enjoy.

Ironically, this is the least maintenance heavy car I have (apart from crappy interior) but also the only one that's ever left me stranded when the slave cylinder blew

This video just highlights everything. Long live the US M3:

+1

I've had my E36 m3/4/5 for 5 years now. I got it by chance because my E90 was totaled and it was the only BMW I could find at the time that had a manual transmission in the area. I never liked the styling of the E36 prior to owning it, but when I went to check it out and took it for a test drive, I fell in love with how it drove. I've also come around on the styling, and its between that and my E39 M5 for my favorite design...Interestingly, they were both designed by the same guy, Joji Nagashima. You simply can have fun at normal speeds without going crazy and its just so enjoyable.

Since I got the E36, I leased a G30 530i (turned in, boring car), bought an E39 M5 (still have great daily), bought an E46 330xi (would be great but 200k miles and not well cared for so I've got a bad impression of it but it was cheap), and bought an E90 335i M-sport.

I still have all of those cars except the 530i, but the one that I enjoy the most and feel the most connected with is the E36 M3. The E39 M5 is a great all around car, but never gives you the emotional connection or road feel that you get with the E36. On the other hand, I wouldn't want to drive the E36 on a long trip...I've taken it from California to Colorado and my back was killing me...the same trip in the E39 M5 and I was way more comfortable.

Regarding reliability, the E36 has been the least troublesome out of all my cars. I have 160k miles, and aside from the clutch slave cylinder that also left me stranded, its been perfect. The Interior isn't the best quality, but aside from sagging headliner, I haven't had issues. I replaced the original headliner with Alcantara and it looks a lot more upscale with the black Alcantara headliner and Magma leather.

Cant say enough good things about the E36 M3, and out of the 4 cars currently in my garage, its the one I'd keep if I was forced to sell 3 of them.

[mfarrzhp]

Originally Posted by W///

What a great insightful video. His videos are super well done

I've owned mine for almost 10 years and I've considered selling it many times to fund other M's or a Porsche and I've yet to be able to do it. This car, out of all the M's I own, is definitely the car that's so much more than its performance on paper. What no one ever tells you is that this car has got really good torque at midrange. Never got into it and thought it was slow. As a matter of fact, it's got just the right amount of power that you can really redline through the first few gears and enjoy.

Ironically, this is the least maintenance heavy car I have (apart from crappy interior) but also the only one that's ever left me stranded when the slave cylinder blew

This video just highlights everything. Long live the US M3:

You got the best color, maybe a tie with Estoril, and those wheels just transform the M3 apart from the other wheel options in my opinion.

The E36 M3 was the first BMW I ever drove, which was just a test drive for fun as a teenager. A couple years later I got my first BMW a 2002 330i lease, I couldn't afford to buy it. Lol.

Ever since I've gone straight BMWs, for my daily, 10 to be exact, and on my third M Car.

I still really want an E36, and I should have pulled the trigger years ago when they were still reasonable. It's definitely one of my favorite BMWs of all time, and I only drove it once.

[Bahn360Photo]

Slowly years are creeping up

Few years ago it was e30 m3 or nothing

[EXE46]

Originally Posted by stein_325i

Another great video from Cammisa and Hagerty. I always will have a soft spot for the E36 (both M and non-M versions) being that it was my first Bimmer. So much fun, and it seems that E36 prices are finally ticking upwards as more and more great examples start to disappear.

Ditto! my first bimmer was a 96 318is 5sp manual.

[jp1984]

Originally Posted by Bahn360Photo

Slowly years are creeping up

Few years ago it was e30 m3 or nothing

I am not sure you will find too many folks saying

"E36 M3 or Nothing"

I think we are just finding a new appreciation for an old model through time and perspective.

[Haywood]

Originally Posted by wknddrivr

+1

I've had my E36 m3/4/5 for 5 years now. I got it by chance because my E90 was totaled and it was the only BMW I could find at the time that had a manual transmission in the area. I never liked the styling of the E36 prior to owning it, but when I went to check it out and took it for a test drive, I fell in love with how it drove. I've also come around on the styling, and its between that and my E39 M5 for my favorite design...Interestingly, they were both designed by the same guy, Joji Nagashima. You simply can have fun at normal speeds without going crazy and its just so enjoyable.

Since I got the E36, I leased a G30 530i (turned in, boring car), bought an E39 M5 (still have great daily), bought an E46 330xi (would be great but 200k miles and not well cared for so I've got a bad impression of it but it was cheap), and bought an E90 335i M-sport.

I still have all of those cars except the 530i, but the one that I enjoy the most and feel the most connected with is the E36 M3. The E39 M5 is a great all around car, but never gives you the emotional connection or road feel that you get with the E36. On the other hand, I wouldn't want to drive the E36 on a long trip...I've taken it from California to Colorado and my back was killing me...the same trip in the E39 M5 and I was way more comfortable.

Regarding reliability, the E36 has been the least troublesome out of all my cars. I have 160k miles, and aside from the clutch slave cylinder that also left me stranded, its been perfect. The Interior isn't the best quality, but aside from sagging headliner, I haven't had issues. I replaced the original headliner with Alcantara and it looks a lot more upscale with the black Alcantara headliner and Magma leather.

Cant say enough good things about the E36 M3, and out of the 4 cars currently in my garage, its the one I'd keep if I was forced to sell 3 of them.

Nice garage. I have the same!

I've told this story before, but I had a 2013 e92 M3 (bought new), and added an e36 M3 in 2016 with only 73k miles. I started driving the e36 more than the e92. Although the V8 is intoxicating, I loved how light and toss able the e36 was. I ended up selling the e92 and adding an e39. I will never sell this M3. Yes, the interior door cards are falling apart and I still haven't fixed the glove box. But, I don't care. I just laugh and smile every time I redline it and take turns at ridiculous speeds and it goes exactly where you point it. It's the most underrated M3 and that's fine with me.

[tankertoad]

I know this is heresy, but, if you can get past the fact that it's not an M car, an e82 128i with the usual mods has been said to have similar size, feel, and performance to a U.S. e36 M3 (with better interior).

Maybe Obioban can chime in with regard to this comparison.

[GuyOh]

E36 will always have a soft spot in my heart. I was born in 1987, my mom bought a brand new manual 1992 e36 325i sedan, i grew up in that car, i learned to drive in that car, was the first bmw and car i ever drove. When my mom traded it in for 2004 e46 sedan, I literally cried watching them take the old e36 away.

[mfarrzhp]

Originally Posted by tankertoad

I know this is heresy, but, if you can get past the fact that it's not an M car, an e82 128i with the usual mods has been said to have similar size, feel, and performance to a U.S. e36 M3 (with better interior).

Maybe Obioban can chime in with regard to this comparison.

I say this as a loyal prior owner of 2 E82 135i's. It was a great car to drive. It's not nearly as good looking as the E36.

The E82 is Definitely a better value proposition in regards to starting price for a low mile car, but the E36 will only go up from here.

[MrOhnoez]

I'm glad I picked up a 23k mile E36 about 2 years ago at a great price.
I was so tempted to sell it, but it's just so fun and enjoyable.

[Davil]

The biggest problem with the Euro motor wasn't spun bearings it was that bloody Vanos. I had one. Great when the Vanos was working. Back in the 90s in the old forums I remember how pissed off US folk were about their engine. With hindsight they probably got the better deal. Improved day to day driveability due to better low down torque and much better reliability. However, I have say when that Vanos did it's thing it felt like you made the jump to hyperspace… in 90s terms anyway.

Steering wheel was the size of a maritime vessel and the rack was so slow in modern terms but with reasonable steering feel. I also remember it feeling like a heavy car in the day which it was.

It was a pretty decent drive overall. An old car now but it would probably be lots of fun just for the retro experience.

[M-technik-3]

Bought mine for 5.5K when they had bottomed out in 07, 92k mile 95 auto with manual vaders, Did 5 speed swap and drive it for few years. HG went so I did a S52 swap, wanted an S54 and had started to do it but reverted back to S52.

[IB M]

Great video. That blue euro - what color was that?

Keeping my 1999 AW - agree with all the comments, luckily my glove box stays closed and the door cards are fine. Only the slightest headliner sag - a few inch section above driver door. Car was always garaged which is a must with a E36. Jason did not cover 5spd vs 6spd euro. Do wish we had the 6spd in US.

[KINY3RA]

Originally Posted by Sublime00

Not sure if this was posted or not but here's a nice vid on the E36, specifically why the US spec was "better" than the Euro spec

I've experienced the full Euro Spec E36 M3, and there's nothing like that S50B32. That engine's just ALIVE!

[Mpassioned]

Originally Posted by Merlin_83

Jason - Bro - cool and insightful vid....buuuuuuut the very best part was the end credits where you had the driving.

I replayed that at HIGH volume - that was super cool.


Cheers,
Merlin

I've always loved the driving at the end of the videos in this series, and always thought "ooh, I'd love to drive that road!" After the third or fourth one I watched, I caught a glimpse of something that I recognized and realized that - holy shit! - all those drives are filmed in a road near where I live, which I drive all the time!

[chris82]

Originally Posted by omasou

I miss my E36M3 and he's right. It was a bargain. I traded in my less than 1 year old 325i b/c it was cheaper to buy the E36M3 than start messing w/325i "upgrades".

I so envy how much of a bargain that sounds like!

Originally Posted by tankertoad

I know this is heresy, but, if you can get past the fact that it's not an M car, an e82 128i with the usual mods has been said to have similar size, feel, and performance to a U.S. e36 M3 (with better interior).

Maybe Obioban can chime in with regard to this comparison.

I got my 128i down to 3070lbs without me in it after putting in a cage and race seats (mostly a track car). It's so tossable at this point, ive been in the E36 M3 a handful of times and get the same feeling

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by tankertoad

I know this is heresy, but, if you can get past the fact that it's not an M car, an e82 128i with the usual mods has been said to have similar size, feel, and performance to a U.S. e36 M3 (with better interior).

Maybe Obioban can chime in with regard to this comparison.

Originally Posted by mfarrzhp

I say this as a loyal prior owner of 2 E82 135i's. It was a great car to drive. It's not nearly as good looking as the E36.

The E82 is Definitely a better value proposition in regards to starting price for a low mile car, but the E36 will only go up from here.

Originally Posted by chris82

I so envy how much of a bargain that sounds like!

I got my 128i down to 3070lbs without me in it after putting in a cage and race seats (mostly a track car). It's so tossable at this point, ive been in the E36 M3 a handful of times and get the same feeling

This is exactly the way I'm heading for my next vehicle... the E82 just seems like a great vehicle and closest to an E30 or E36 as you can get. Probably a N52 version if I'm honest with myself. Problem is, they are just plain out few and far between here in The States. Then add in MT, then add in sport package, then add in heated seats... not holding my breath for one!