It is frequently said that when it comes to E36 M3s, the Europeans got the better car. Although that is debatable, what isn’t up for debate is that the US-only M3 Lightweight is one of the most unique and special variants of any M3 ever produced. Built as a homologation car to make the E36 M3 eligible for US racing series, the LTW was more than just a sticker package with a wing on the decklid. BMW engineers were able to shave nearly 200 lbs out of the car through the addition of aluminum door skins, thinner underbody sealant, no air conditioning, and decreased carpeting and sound insulation. BMW never officially released production numbers for the Lightweight but enthusiasts agree that only about 125 of these unique cars left the factory, making it one of the rarest and most sought-after M-cars ever produced.

This 1995 E36 M3 Lightweight is a particularly special example, showing just 9,290 miles at the time of cataloging. As with all Lightweights (LTWs), this car is finished in Alpine White III with the tri-color M-Flag graphics on the rear right and front left fenders. In addition to the flag graphics, the LTW received a large rear spoiler from the Euro-spec M3 GT, along with a deeper front splitter and unique “BMW Motorsport International” badging on the black plastic rub strip. The car sits on a set of BMW Style 24 “Motorsport” lightweight wheels, which are 17x7.5” front and 17x8.5” in the rear. As you would expect for a car with such low miles, the overall condition is spectacular. When these cars were new, a number of performance parts were given to buyers in the trunk, with a waiver that said they weren’t supposed to install them for road use - these included a high-performance oil pump, adjustable front splitter, lower cross brace, front strut tower brace, and risers for the rear wing. All of these items are still wrapped in bubble wrap and in as-new condition.

On the inside, the seats are wrapped in black M-Hurricane cloth, and unique carbon fiber trim is applied to the center console and passenger dashboard trim, along with another BMW Motorsport International badge. Although the stereo head unit wasn’t installed at the factory, it was pre-wired with speakers throughout the vehicle and a blank-off plate where the cassette radio would have typically been located. The manual climate control doesn’t have air conditioning capabilities, but power windows and the onboard computer remain installed.

Under the hood, the engine remains essentially the same as a standard E36 M3, with the 3.0-liter inline 6 producing 240 horsepower, which is sent through a 5-speed manual gearbox. What has changed is that the limited-slip differential now has a shorter final drive, reduced from 3.15 to 3.23, and the top speed limiter has been removed. The new rear end enhances the car's acceleration, and when paired with the lowered Euro-spec springs, allows the car to exit corners far more quickly than a standard M3.