For years, E36 M3s were worth almost nothing on the second-hand market. Although this provided a great opportunity for the less well-heeled enthusiast to get behind the wheel of a truly fantastic car, it also meant that many examples fell into the wrong hands. By the mid-2010s, it was easier to find an E36 M3 that had been turned into a drift car or had a blown motor, than it was to locate one that had been well cared for and cherished for what it was. Although these M3s are less mechanically complex than their predecessor or the cars that came after them, they are still highly tuned sports cars that require a level of upkeep that someone looking to spend $8,000 for a car, just couldn't keep up on. In light of this, people began to realize that the formerly unloved E36 was not just a sublime car to drive, but that truly great examples were few and far between. Since then, values have been on the rise for all E36 M3s but the best cars are in a league of their own.

This 1998 BMW M3 is finished in Cosmosshwarz Metallic over a black leather interior and shows just 34,870 miles on the odometer. All it takes is one look at this car to understand how immaculately it has been kept over the past 25 years, although there are a few minor paint blemishes, the overall quality is stunning. In the gallery, there are photos showing what imperfections are present and, to even the most demanding enthusiast, these wouldn't even be mentioned on a car that is a few years old- let alone one heading into its 3rd decade. Receipts on file show work carried out by BMW experts Enthusiast Auto Group of Cincinnati, OH in 2017, totaling over $6,100.

The seats are covered in black leather that shows nearly no wear on any of the surfaces. This interior is about as close as you can find to a brand-new example and was fully loaded from the factory. Equipped with features like heated Vader seats, Harman/Kardon audio with remote 6-CD changer, and a sunroof, this M3 represents the best of what was available in 1998 from BMW. Even the plastics on the dashboard and the leather on the steering wheel retain the original matter finish which is nearly impossible to replicate and really only remains thanks to limited use.

Powering the E36 M3 is BMW's S52 Inline-6 which produces 240 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque. In this example, the figure is likely higher thanks to the installation of a Dinan cold air intake and Dinan software tune which were both carried out by Enthusiast Auto Group in 2017. Although this likely provides a modest performance increase, what it really does is opens up the intake for an amazing sound which makes the car far more exciting to rev out. The engine is then connected to a 5-speed manual gearbox which sends power to the rear wheels. In the gallery are photos of the car's underside which is in outstanding condition and many parts retain the original Cosmoline that would have been put on the car at the factory and is usually long gone at this point.

With less than 35,000 miles on the odometer, this car is a true unicorn. The mileage on this car puts it in a real sweet spot where it is nearly flawless, yet you can still drive it some and enjoy the feeling of being behind the wheel of an essentially new car- without driving the value out of it. If you owned one of these M3s when new, or are a BMW collector looking for the pinnacle example, this car will not disappoint and is ready to show you why these cars have become so sought after in recent years.