1998 BMW E36 M3 Coupe, Japanese-Market Euro-Spec S50B32, 6-Speed Manual

Arctic Silver Metallic over Black Nappa leather. On a Japanese-market E36 M3 Coupe, that combination lands just right — purposeful, never overwrought.

Here's where the Japanese-spec car diverges sharply from what North America received. Rather than the detuned powerplant fitted to domestic-market E36 M3s, this one carries the full Euro-spec 3.2-liter S50B32 inline-six: six individual throttle bodies, double VANOS variable valve timing, a 7,600-rpm redline, factory-rated at 316 HP and 258 lb-ft of torque. Drive goes to the rear wheels through a 6-speed manual gearbox paired with a 25% locking limited-slip differential, and the rest of the package — sport-tuned independent suspension, four-wheel ventilated disc brakes, M-specific chassis engineering — follows suit. The seller confirms no mechanical modifications have been made; gauges and electronic systems all function as intended. No ownership or service records from before the September 2024 importation are available.

Exterior condition is reported as excellent. No noticeable scratches or dents. Paint meter readings do reveal the hood has been refinished, though the seller characterizes the work as excellent quality. Every M3-specific body detail is present: sculpted front bumper with air intakes, side skirts, M3-specific mirrors, trunk-mounted spoiler, and a revised rear bumper with a diffuser-style lower section. Fog lights and dual exhaust tips are fitted, and there's a power-operated sunroof. Factory 17-inch BMW Style 22 M Double Spoke alloys in a staggered setup carry the car — Bridgestone 225/45R17 up front, 245/40R17 at the rear. Those tires show 2012 production date codes and reportedly hold around 75% tread remaining.

The Black Nappa leather interior is centered on electrically adjustable, heated Vader sport seats. An M Sport steering wheel and M Sport gear knob are both present. Factory equipment runs deep: automatic climate control, power windows, remote central locking, auto-dimming rearview mirror, adjustable steering column, onboard Check Control, outside temperature display, folding rear-seat pass-through, and a HiFi speaker system. At some point an aftermarket Pioneer stereo calibrated for Japanese radio frequencies was fitted, along with an electronic toll collection reader. All gauges, electronics, and interior accessories are reported fully functional.

The car was imported to the United States in September 2024 and shows approximately 56k kilometers on the odometer. It's offered in Virginia on a clean title; a toolkit and spare tire are included in the sale.