The BMW E36 is becoming extremely popular in enthusiast crowds, as nicer examples are rarer than ever. According to classic.com, sale prices for the E36 M3 continue to increase in value.
The E36 M3 features some of the coolest mods and is quite popular among tuners. With that in mind, the E36 M3 makes a great project car if you have the time and money.
In the YouTube video by StanceWorks, a beautiful E36 rebuild is easy on the eye but hard on the wallet.
About This E36 M3 Build
According to the video, this E36 is a project car from the owner's high school days. Regarding this build, the car needs some serious cleaning and restoration. First, the owner is resealing the glass using OEM parts.
Unfortunately, many of the parts are unusable, causing the owner to have to find and order what he needs. This is common with all older cars but is particularly expensive when it comes to BMW.
The interior also needs some serious work. The plan is to reupholster the bucket racing seats to match the rare M-Tech cloth "rain" design.
The issue with some of these older BMWs is parts availability. Since BMW discontinues many restoration parts, enthusiasts need to turn to the used market or find a distributor that makes an aftermarket solution to their needs.
This build also features an S54 engine swap from the E46 M3, giving this car an increase of 144 hp over the base E36 325is.
Around the back, a set of LED taillights and an OEM wing from the E36 M3 lightweight complete the OEM+ look. Although the build is not complete yet, the owner seems optimistic even as unexpected costs keep popping up.
Other E36 Builds
Although the StanceWorks E36 is not a real M3, it is common for owners of base E36 models to convert to an M3. Unlike other M3 models, the E36 does not have wider body panels, making it a much easier process.
What makes the E36 a wonderful platform is the variety of different builds you can achieve. Because of the E36's excellent chassis, track builds are a popular option. Also, in Europe and other markets, the E36 was available as a wagon.
After 25 years, importing these cars into the USA is now legal, making them a great starting point to a unique build. Whether you keep using the stock US engine, a Euro S50 engine, or the S54 motor from the E46 M3 like the build in the video, keep in mind that these builds are quite expensive if you want to do it right.