For decades the E36 M3 was looked down on by enthusiasts in North America for not being a “real M Car”. They would cite the fact that it didn't have a bespoke engine by the Motorsport division and that it wasn't nearly as hard-core as the E30 M3 that came before it. But those enthusiasts couldn't have been more wrong. All it takes is a few minutes behind the wheel of an E36 M3 to realize that it is twice the car of the E30 M3 from both a performance and comfort standpoint. And that non-Motorsport engine that people critiqued it for early on is a smooth, torquey powerplant, a fantastic engine noise, and unlike the E30 M3, doesn't rack up 5 figure service bills when something goes wrong. Although values of these dipped for many years, people are starting to realize the error of their ways and finding a good E36 these days is no simple task.

This 1999 BMW M3 was originally a Canadian market car, finished in Alpine White over a Black leather interior. As a Canadian market car, the speedometer and odometer are both measured in kilometers, with the odometer showing 51,310 KM which translates to just 31,882 miles. Given such limited usage, it's no surprise that the exterior is in outstanding condition- the white paint practically glows and the black plastic trim isn't faded or damaged. Equipped with a set of M Contour wheels, this M3 looks like it could have been driven out of the showroom a month ago- not more than 24 years.

The black leather interior, much like the interior is in stunning shape throughout. So often, these cars were seriously modified with new steering wheels, shifters or head units but in this example, the stock units are all still in place. The black Vader seats hardly show signs of wear with just minor wrinkles on the bolsters and seat bottoms, and the rear seats may have never been used given their condition. One of the really cool little features on these M3s is the sprinkling of M colors interspersed around the interior. They are particularly vibrant in this car and can be found in the corners of all 4 seats and on the steering wheel stitching.

Much like with the rest of the car, under the hood is about as clean as you'll find anywhere. Like in the US, the Canadian market M3s were powered by the 3.6 liters S50B30US- with just a few rare exceptions. This engine is capable of 240 horsepower and will happily rev to 7,000 rpm all day long. Although these engines weren't equipped with individual throttle bodies like the European cars, the performance between the two was almost identical and you can routinely find US market e36 M3s with over 200,000 miles and an engine that has never been taken apart. This Inline 6 is attached to a 5-speed manual gearbox that sends power to the rear wheels and thanks to its perfect 50/50 weight distribution, has absolutely sublime handling.

When the values on these cars began to dip in the 2000s, many of them were either used up as daily drivers, or bought by owners who modified them within an inch of their lives-typically to the detriment of the vehicle. This example has clearly been cherished since new and comes with a binder that catalogues servicing back to 2001 and has numerous invoices included. This car would be a great addition to any collection, or a fun weekend car to enjoy and never loose a dime in value- any show you take this car to, people will be amazed by the overall condition and every time you take it for a drive, you will be reminded of just how great the E36 is from behind the wheel.