Yahoo Autos 1995 BMW M3 Lightweight Is Today's Bring a Trailer Pick
The E36-generation BMW M3 Lightweight was a track-focused special sold in limited numbers exclusively in the U.S.
It had no air conditioning, no radio, and no extra horsepower. On the plus side, it was 200 pounds lighter.
This example has just 29,000 miles and is nearly stock, apart from a performance ECU. It's up for auction until September 27.
When it comes to track-focused specials, less is always more. Want better agility, shorter stopping distances, and a better power-to-weight ratio? Sure, you can throw more engine and tire in the mix to fight physics, but it's far more satisfying to shave off the pounds and create something that loves to dance. And, in 1995, that's exactly what BMW did with the M3 Lightweight.
This 1995 BMW M3 Lightweight, up for sale on Bring a Trailer (which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos) is one of just 126 built. All were finished in Alpine White, all featured not a single horsepower more than the regular U.S.-spec M3, and all were utterly magic to drive. They don't come up for sale often, so here's your chance to park one of the best analog-feel BMWs in your driveway.
When the second-generation M3 arrived in U.S. showrooms, there was a not inconsiderable amount of complaining about its being down on power compared to the European model. North of the border, BMW Canada did manage to sneak in a few dozen full-potency M3s, but that handful of cars cost the equivalent of $10,000 to $15,000 more than the U.S. M3's base price of $36,620.
The U.S. car's engine had no trick BMW Motorsport individual throttle bodies and made 240 horsepower instead of 286. Also, the U.S. M3's suspension was a little softer, it didn't get the six-speed manual available in later Euro M3s, and you could spec an automatic transmission. It was still a great car to drive, just skewed toward a less hardcore buyer.
Not so the M3 lightweight. BMW managed to shave 200 pounds out of the E36 chassis, skimping on everything from carpets to audio and air conditioning and installing aluminum door skins. The suspension was changed to the stiffer Euro setup, a lower 3:23.1 final-drive ratio was fitted, there was an adjustable front splitter and a high-rise rear wing, and the cars shipped with extra bracing parts in the trunk for owner installation.
This car has 29,000 miles on the odometer and minimal modifications. An aftermarket ECU should wake up the 3.0-liter inline-six somewhat, but the rest is just as it left the factory. There are some minor cosmetic imperfections noted, but that just means there's no need to keep it tucked under a cover in a garage. Good thing too, as it's this kind of car that felt like BMW had actually earned its "ultimate driving machine" tagline.
Everything's the antithesis of the big, heavy modern M-car bruisers, from the relatively modest naturally aspirated power to the slightly slow steering. But that engine is easy to modulate, that steering provides crystal-clear feedback, and the slight body roll you won't get from some trick adaptive suspension just tells you what the car is actually doing.
The M3 Lightweight is a total package car that offers the best of what made most fans of the company fall in love with BMWs. In that way, it's a proper successor to the frenetic four-cylinder first-generation M3. Neither was the mass-appeal M3, but that just makes them both more special.
The auction ends on September 27.
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