The E36-generation BMW M3 may not be the most desirable of M3 models but there is one variant of the E36 that really gets enthusiasts excited. We are, of course, talking about the BMW M3 Lightweight built in 1995.
This track-focused variant of the M3 was produced exclusively for the U.S. market for the 1995 model tear and capped at just 126 units. Various special features make it stand out from other M3 variants built around the same time and a particularly nice example has just appeared up for sale on Bring a Trailer.
The M3 Lightweight in question was registered to its original owner in Michigan but purchased by the current dealership in 2023. It has 88,000 miles on the clock and is being offered with a window sticker, service records, a clean South Dakota title, and a clean Carfax report.
As with all other examples, the car is painted in Alpine White and has tri-color graphics on the left-front and right-rear corners. It is also rocking on forged 17-inch BMW Motorsport Style 24 wheels wrapped in 235/40 Yokohama Advan Fleva tires at all four corners. It also retains the original rear wing.
Found inside the cabin of the classic sports car are sports seats clad in black cloth. The cabin also rocks various pieces of carbon fiber trim and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.
Read: 2023 BMW M3 Competition xDrive Hits 60 MPH In 2.8 Sec (w/Rollout) In C&D Test
Found under the hood of the M3 Lightweight is a 3.0-liter naturally-aspirated six-cylinder that was good for 240 hp and 225 lb-ft (305 Nm) of torque when it was new. This engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission driving the rear wheels through a limited-slip differential.
At the start of 2020, five BMW M3 Lightweight models formerly owned by Paul Walker were sold at auction. They sold for $350,000, $235,000, $220,000, $200,000, and $200,000 respectively but none of them had as many miles as the one in question. In fact, the highest-mileage one from Walker’s collection had 42,514 miles (68,419 km) under its belt. It seems entirely possible this car will sell for in excess of $150,000.