Price: SOLD
Mileage: 90,200 Miles
Transmission: 5-Speed Manual Transmission
Exterior color: Estoril Blue Exterior (335)
Interior: Dove Gray Leather Interior (N5TT)
Additional features:
Dark Blue Soft Top
Limited-Slip Differential (25% lock)
Power Soft Top
Cold Weather Package
Heated Seats
Heated Driver Lock / Washer Nozzles
Power Sport Seats
3-Spoke M Steering Wheel
18-Button On Board Computer
C33 Business Stereo
Harmon Kardon HiFi Sound
Cruise Control
Rear Headrests
Front Armrest
White Direction Indicator Lights
Factory Alarm / Keyless Entry
17-Inch Style 23 Contour Wheels
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 Tires
California / Colorado Car
At Glen Shelly Auto Brokers we absolutely love the BMW E36 M3 (1995 to 1999 model years). We have bought, sold, and sorted over a dozen of them over the years. Time has been kind to the E36 M3; like a fine wine, it has only improved with age. It occurred at a sweet spot of BMW evolution where power, weight, size, suspension design, reliability, and luxury all intersected. The driving experience is connected and visceral, yet the driver enjoys luxuries that took other marques years to offer. It is also one of the most reliable BMWs ever built. With only the slightest amount of talent the E36 M3 is a highly capable platform that can easily outperform much more powerful and expensive vehicles. Abuse, neglect, and entry level buyers have decimated the population of worthy examples. Clean, low mileage examples are becoming rare—very rare!
With only 90,200 miles, this M3 Convertible is one of those examples. Shod in Estoril Blue with a Dark Blue soft top over Dove Grey leather, it came in one of the most popular E36 colors. Other options include the Cold Weather Package (heated seats, driver’s door lock, and washer nozzles), power seats, 3-spoke steering wheel, 18-button onboard computer, Harmon Kardon HiFi sound, and 17-inch Style 23 Contour wheels. The latter are finished in chrome, which actually works quite well against a backdrop of Estoril Blue—and is quintessentially ‘90s! With a build date of August 8, 1999 it was one of the last E36 M3s produced, as August 1999 was the last production month. It was originally delivered in Southern California, and remained there through several owners before coming to Colorado in 2006 with 66,000 miles. It passed through a couple more owners here before being purchased in 2015 by an eccentric collector who favored ‘90s era convertibles. He tucked it away, putting less than 100 miles on it over the next three years until we purchased it as part of a bundle from him. He replaced the fuel filter, accessory belts, spark plugs, and mounted Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 tires. In preparation for sale we completed an entire preventative cooling system overhaul including the radiator, hoses, thermostat, thermostat housing, expansion tank, expansion tank cap, and fan clutch. We also rebuilt the driver’s power seat gearbox and gave it a fresh oil change based on time, not mileage. The Carfax reports an accident in 2015; it does not reveal details, but from what we can tell it was minor. As it sits, it is a very nice E36 M3 ready for its new owner. It presents wonderfully, but is imperfect enough to be used and enjoyed.
Estoril Blue metallic is one of the best E36 M3 colors, and the paint on this example is in excellent shape. There are no significant dents, dings, door dings, or the rock chips that Colorado cars get. There is no failed clear coat and no rust. All VIN tags are in place. Some of the car has been repainted at some point, but it is a perfect match and takes a keen eye to catch. The Roundels and M3 badges are clear with no faded paint. All trim and black-work are present, but they do have minor UV fade. The front bumper cover does not flex side to side and the brake ducts are present. The top does not sag or have any holes and the rear window is clear. The fog light lenses are not cracked. The headlight lenses are clear but have moderate pitting. All indicator lenses and taillight housings are clear and crack-free. The reverse lights have light condensation. The Style 23 M Contour wheels have no bends or significant curb rash, only some minor rub marks on the lips. The chrome on the right front wheel is slightly discolored. The Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3’s have lots of tread remaining.
Interiors are a weak spot of the E36, but this one is in decent shape. Open the door and you are greeted with that lovely leather smell that all BMWs of this era have. There are no odors and it has never been smoked in. The carpet has no stains or tears and has been protected by factory M3 floor mats. The sport seats have no failed stitching or excessive bolster wear. The driver’s seat bottom is beginning to show some cracking from creasing over time, along with light wear on the driver’s side bolster, but it is presentable. All power and seat heat functions work. The rear seats are in good shape, although the headrests are beginning to separate at the seams. The 3-spoke steering wheel has no excessive leather-wear or failed stitching. There are no failed pixels in the instrument cluster, warning lights, or check engine lights. The center vent louvers do not sag (a common issue). The climate control HVAC panel has no failed pixels; the heat blows warm, and the air conditioning blows cold. The blower motor does not chirp and the final stage resistor functions correctly (common issues). There are no check panel warnings. The glove box has minor sag. All power windows, door locks, and the convertible top work correctly. The door cards are not delaminated and the map pockets are all intact. The driver’s door card armrest padding has minor wear. Both front door-mounted tweeter and mid-range speaker trim circles are intact. The trunk tool kit is complete and the spare tire is present. There is a FOB and two standard keys included.
The S52 engine starts on command, idles smoothly, and pulls strongly to redline. It does not leak, drip, or spot and the temperature runs cool thanks to the recent cooling system overhaul. The clutch and shifter are crisp; there is slight fifth-gear lean before the transmission warms up. The shift pins don’t warrant replacement at this time and based on my experience will not need to be addressed for 10 to 20K miles. The brakes are firm, the suspension is compliant, and there is no driveline or wheel bearing vibration or whine. All suspension bushings are tight. We reset the clock on the cooling system, and no other significant E36 / S52 issues are present. It will need, and deserves, the preventative care and maintenance that all BMWs do, but the E36 is a robust platform that will last nearly forever if maintained correctly.
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