1995 BMW (E36) M3 SALOON - 34,517 MILES

This 1995 BMW M3 saloon is a sublime example of the E36 model, remaining original and unmodified, and offered from its first and only private owner of 25 years. It is equipped with a 3.0-litre S50 straight-six engine producing 282bhp, coupled with a five-speed manual transmission. With just 34,517 miles from new, backed up by the complete MOT history, this is a genuine collector-quality M3.

First registered in August 1995, there is one previous registered keeper on the log book, which was the supplying dealer. The owner acquired the car in November 1995, and it has been in single private ownership ever since. It has been very well-maintained, garaged whenever not in use, and now presents in remarkable preserved condition. The cherished registration ‘M3 PWS’ is also included in the sale.

The vendor reports the car’s Cosmos Black paintwork remains original, though some very minor stone chips have been repaired to a good standard by ChipsAway smart repair. The car has kept its glossy finish, even in commonly damaged areas like the door sills, shuts and hinges. All of the badging remains in good order, while the engine bay has been kept very clean and tidy. The car rides on 17-inch ‘M Contour’ five-spoke alloy wheels, which look as though they’ve never left the showroom.

Moving inside, this M3’s Lotus White leather upholstery is in excellent condition, with just some light creasing commensurate with the car’s age. Lending a sophisticated touch to the cabin, there are walnut inlays across the dashboard, centre console, and for the gear knob and handbrake grip, while the steering wheel remains in superb condition, even on the main contact points. The M3 comes equipped with a Pioneer stereo and six-disc CD changer, dual-zone climate control, and a sunroof. There are no electrical gremlins, and no warning lights on the dashboard.

The last service was undertaken in August 2020 at 34,489 miles by BMW Sytner in Maidenhead, where technicians changed the engine oil and filter, replaced the battery, spark plugs and injector seals, fitted a new digital motor electronics (DME) unit, and fixed a power steering fluid leak with new hose clamps. The vendor notes that prior to this, the car received any servicing and maintenance required based on the dashboard indicator lights, plus regular oil and filter changes when prudent.

The most recent MOT test was on 11 July 2019 at 34,437 miles, which resulted in a clean pass with no advisories or defects, with the next test due date now falling on 28 January 2021, due to the COVID-19 extension. The vehicle rides on Michelin Pilot Sport tyres on all four corners, which the vendor says all have 7mm of tread depth remaining.

Accompanying the vehicle are the original handbooks, service book, first aid kit and spare floor mats. There is also a file of paperwork, copies of the car’s MOT certificates, registration certificate and even a thank you letter from BMW following the initial private purchase of the vehicle in November 1995.

This BMW (E36) M3 is a superb, low-mileage example of the ‘90s performance hero, with a wonderful factory colour scheme and an excellent maintenance history. Finding clean examples of the E36 is becoming increasingly hard, and finding a single-owner car that still looks this good is virtually unheard of. Original and unmolested throughout, this M3 represents a rare opportunity for the enthusiast or the die-hard marque collector alike.

The description of this auction lot is, to the best of the seller's knowledge, accurate and not misleading. Collecting Cars requests a range of detail about the lot from the seller, and performs a level of due diligence through HPI checks and history MOT where available. However, bidders must satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of the description, and conduct any research they feel is necessary before committing to a bid. Please see our Terms and Conditions for full details.

All UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Collecting Cars are run through an online HPI check. This vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and has no finance owing.