These days, the BMW M3 is one of the brand's most sought after cars and represents the ultimate intersection between performance and practicality in the brand's lineup. But a few decades ago, there was a chance the United States would never see the M3 in dealer showrooms again. Although the E30 M3 is now considered an icon to car enthusiasts around the world when it first came Stateside in March of 1987, sales were lackluster at best and BMW dealers had unsold cars sitting on lots for years. The combination of a high price and performance that, on paper, didn't look significantly better than the much less expensive 325is meant that, while 6-cylinder E30s were quickly snapped up, the 4-cylinder M3 was a much harder sell to the general public. Because of this, when BMW debuted the E36 M3 in 1992, they had no plans of sending the car to the US. What they didn't expect was the outpouring of enthusiasm for the new model from enthusiasts across the country who implemented a letter-writing campaign to convince BMW to offer the E36 M3 in the United States. BMW eventually came around to the idea and began selling E36 M3s in the United States in 1995- unlike the E30 M3, these cars flew out of dealerships and they had no issue selling more than 30,000 units in the 4 years it was on sale here.

This 1999 BMW M3 Coupe is finished in Cosmoschwarz Metallic Over a Modena Leather interior. Showing 116,570 miles, this car is in very good overall condition and has remained largely stock over the past 24 years. The color combination is striking and quite rare for an E36 M3 and the fact that it is still in such highly original condition makes it all the more desirable. The BMW M-Contour wheels that are fitted to this example were the wheels fitted to the majority of late-production E36 M3s and are in very good condition around the car.

What really makes this car special is the Modena interior- BMW has never been known for its tan interiors, which frequently end up light beige and looking rather cheap. But Modena is one of just a couple exceptions to that rule, a deep yellow-tinted tan that carries over from the seats, to the carpet set and door cards, this gives a really upscale look to the interior and was a rarely chosen option when these cars were new. For the most part, the interior looks really nice but the driver's seat does show some cracking, tearing and wear in the leather- but is all likely reparable without having to find a new seat cover for the car. In contrast, the passenger seat and rear seats look to have barely even been used with hardly so much as a crease in the leather, and the stunning dark tan color retained.

Powering the E36 M3 is BMW's S52- a unique powerplant only installed in these cars for the US and Canadian markets. Although frequently cited as “not a real M engine” due to the lack of individual throttle bodies, and a list of bespoke parts, these engines are notoriously stout and require minimal specialized maintenance to keep on the road. Producing 240 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque, the US market E36 M3 was down on power over the European model, but performance between the two cars in the real world is nearly identical. This engine is then connected to a 5-speed manual gearbox that sends power through a limited slip differential to the rear wheels. Although almost completely stock, this car is equipped with a UCC exhaust back box that offers a slightly heaftier sound and helps the car breathe a bit easier.

Finding an E36 M3 in this color combination is no simple feat, and when you factor in the very good overall condition, this M3 is a real unicorn. That being said, thanks to the 6-figure mileage, this car is the perfect example to buy and enjoy spending time behind the wheel, while upgrading to fit your taste, or fixing the few faults on the car and having an ultra-clean stock example.