bmw e36 m3 gt british racing green bavarian old school

Bmw E36 M3 GT, Limited Edition

356 UNITS IN BRITISH RACING GREEN.

The high-performance coupé was only available in one colour: the BMW shade with the code 312 – British Racing Green. This applied to all of the 356 vehicles produced (including the five pre-production models). The rare special edition can thus basically be identified by its paintwork. In addition, there were specially made front and rear spoilers, along with aerodynamically optimized mirrors and M double-spoke aluminium forged wheels in the format 7,5J x 17" at the front and 8,5J x 17" at the rear which were only available as special extras in the M3 series. With tyres of the size of 235/40 ZR17, in the mid-90s the sports car gained the respect of observers even when merely parked. Another difference to the standard model was the front indicators, in white glass instead of yellow. Indistinguishable from the standard models were the weight-optimized doors made of aluminium.

 In the colour-coordinated interior, the eye is immediately caught by the Amaretta sports seats in Mexico Green nappa leather, along with the high-quality décor trim made of carbon. In contrast to the civil BMW M3 E36, the GT model was never available as a four-door limousine.

Bmw E36 M3 GT Limited Edition bavarian old school

PURE DRIVING PLEASURE.

25 years after the launch of the BMW M3 GT E36, the vehicle still radiates a fascinating dynamism today. That’s not only down to the clear design, which with a few precise lines is particularly timeless, but also the performance – it’s hard to believe you’re sitting in a sports car that is already a quarter of a century old: The M3 GT’s sprint qualities still thrill drivers today, the large-volume engine’s elasticity can be felt with every overtaking manoeuvre. Underlined by the great sound of the normally aspirated 6-cylinder engine, a unique driving feel is created that still enchants motorsports enthusiasts today.

 

The reason for this is also to be found in the puristic character of the M3 GT E36: the lack of electronic driving assistance allows drivers with skilful hands to experience and enjoy the “pure doctrine”. This makes the coupé a car for sports drivers to the core.

bmw e36 m3 gt limited edition bavarian old school

RARE EDITION MODEL.

The BMW M3 GT was only available in Germany, so it’s a rare find for international fans and collectors. According to estimates, there are around 80 E36 M3 GTs in Germany. The rest are scattered through Sweden, the UK, the Netherlands, Norway, Italy, Portugal and Turkey. In Japan, too, a few M3 GTs are lovingly cared for.

The engine of the BMW M3 GT.

When the M3 GT was launched in 1995 at a price of DM 91,000, under the bonnet was still the S50B30 3.0 litre inline 6-cylinder engine which had been introduced with the E36. Technical highlights were the six single throttle valves and the newly developed camshaft control called VANOS. This innovation enabled improved fuel injection and thus higher torque. 323 Newton metres at 3,900rpm made the M3 power unit the best of the naturally aspirated engines.

98,7 hp/l

The power density of the M3 GT's engine was superior in the 1990s.

The motor already had the short intake manifold from the 3.2l S50B32 engine from the facelift model of late 1995. The altered set-up with a 264° camshaft raised the power level from 286 hp of the series M3 to 295 hp. That translates to a power density of 72.2kW (98.7 hp), an excellent figure for the 1990s. The power unit is seen by many fans as a masterpiece of engine-building: Already from idling speed, the four-valve motor develops as much power as its predecessor at maximum level. Let off the leash, it catapults the M3 special edition to 100 km/h in just 5.9 seconds. The high rev character with its spontaneous throttle response can be experienced in every situation, at 7,000 camshaft rotations full power is reached. On the way there, it develops the typical sound of the BMW M straight 6-cylinder engine of that era.

 

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