(NOTE: Click on the picture to stop the slide show and expand the pictures. Scroll down to see all photographs)

September 20, 2023 Update – The high bid did not meet the seller’s reserve price, so we’ve moved this vehicle to our “Buy Now Make Offer” page.  Click the blue button above or below to navigate to this ride’s bid page, where you can either select the green “Buy Now” button or place a realistic counteroffer in the “Bid” box.

GuysWithRides.com is excited to offer Lot 259, a silver over black leather, 1999 BMW E36 M3 Coupe 5-Speed, for sale in an online, reserve-style auction on behalf of the current caretaker.

Bidding opened Wednesday, August 30th, and continues through Wednesday, September 20, 2023, at 6:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time.

This 1999 BMW E36 M3 Coupe 5-Speed for sale at auction currently resides in the greater Seattle, Washington area.

The Deets

Current Bid: $100

The 1999 BMW M3 is a high-performance sports car that belongs to the E36 generation of the BMW 3 Series. Known for its dynamic handling, powerful engine, and sleek design, the M3 is an iconic model that has garnered a strong following among car enthusiasts. Here’s a detailed description of the 1999 BMW M3:

The exterior of the 1999 BMW M3 is characterized by its aggressive and sporty design elements. The car features clean lines, a low-slung profile, and aerodynamic enhancements that contribute to its performance-driven aesthetics. The front end is highlighted by a distinctive double kidney grille, flanked by sleek and stylish headlights. The M3’s widened fenders accommodate larger wheels and tires, adding to its muscular appearance. The rear end showcases a lip spoiler, quad exhaust outlets, and sculpted taillights, emphasizing the car’s performance-oriented nature.

Inside the 1999 BMW M3, the focus is on creating a driver-centric cockpit that blends luxury with sportiness. High-quality materials like premium leather and soft-touch surfaces create an upscale ambiance. The front seats are bolstered and provide excellent lateral support, ensuring a comfortable and engaging driving experience even during spirited driving. The M-badged steering wheel is ergonomically designed and offers various audio, cruise control controls, and other functions. Aluminum or carbon fiber accents can be found throughout the interior, enhancing the sporty atmosphere.

At the heart of the 1999 BMW M3 is a high-performance engine that sets it apart from the standard 3 Series. The 3.2-liter inline-six engine, known by its engine code S52, is naturally aspirated and produces around 240 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque. This engine is mated to a precise and smooth-shifting 5-speed manual transmission, allowing drivers to fully engage with the driving experience. The M3 is rear-wheel drive, which, combined with its balanced chassis and suspension tuning, provides excellent handling dynamics.

The chassis of the 1999 BMW M3 is specifically tuned for performance driving. It features a sport-tuned suspension with firmer springs, shocks, and anti-roll bars, allowing for improved handling and reduced body roll. The precise steering and well-weighted controls provide excellent feedback, ensuring a direct connection between the driver and the road. This setup and the rear-wheel-drive layout contribute to the M3’s reputation for delivering an engaging and thrilling driving experience.

While the 1999 BMW M3 focuses on performance, it still offers a range of features and technology for driver convenience and entertainment. Depending on the trim level, you might find amenities such as power-adjustable seats, a premium sound system, air conditioning, and power windows. However, compared to modern standards, the technological features of this era might appear more basic.

The 1999 BMW M3 holds a significant place in automotive history as one of the standout models in the M3 lineup. Its combination of a powerful engine, exceptional handling, and a driver-focused design has solidified its status as a sought-after collectible among enthusiasts. The E36 M3 paved the way for the ongoing success of the M3 series, which continues to be a benchmark for high-performance sports cars.

The 1999 BMW M3 is a performance-oriented sports car with a thrilling driving experience, thanks to its powerful engine, agile handling, and iconic design cues. It embodies the essence of the M3 brand and remains a highly regarded model among car enthusiasts to this day.

The current caretaker of this 1999 BMW M3 for sale indicates their example features Vader front bucket seats.  He purchased it from a local seller who intended to turn it into a track car but never got around to it, leaving it to sit on the street collecting dust.  He purchased the car and drove it daily for several years averaging sixty miles per day, before retiring it to weekend duty.  The car now lives under a car cover and is only brought out during nice weekend weather.  The car has never been tracked and is fully stocked.  We like how the seller adopted a “replace it with OEM when it breaks” attitude towards the car. He’s replaced the clutch master cylinder, front brake calipers/pads, battery (2022/2023), windshield, fog lights, and headliner.  One exception to the keeping it stock rule exception was the radio.  The current caretaker upgraded the stock radio with a Kenwood head unit, but will the original (with the security key) with the sale.  He also replaced the door speakers in both doors (low profile speakers, so there is no interference with the windows).  The car has the Harmon Kardon Hi-Fi system featuring a six-disc trunk-mounted CD changer.

Other features include Fog lights, Cruise control, Passenger/side airbags, Heated locks/mirrors, Heated front seats, a Sunroof, and the Canadian version of Daytime running lights.

This 1999 BMW M3 is 24 years old and was driven daily on the highway, so there are naturally rock chips and minor flaws throughout.  None of the rock chips have penetrated the primer, and there is no rust.  Some pictures show some chips, but there are too many to capture all of them.  These are primarily located on the front bumper and side view mirrors.  Since both sides of the car were mildly damaged in fender benders (city driving under ten mph), both sides have been resprayed, so much of the car has new, flawless paint.  There is curb rash on all four wheels (shown in the pictures), but according to the seller’s local wheel repair shop, all are repairable.  This BMW M3 for sale is currently missing two of the four center wheel caps.

If the seller were to keep this car they would rebuild/replace the shifter linkage as they feel there is more play in the stick than I’d like, but still shifts fine and never pops out of gear.  To the seller’s knowledge, their M3’s suspension is original and is due for a rebuild.  Also worth noting, the car throws the occasional p0440 code and an intermittent code related to oxygen sensors.  The seller purchased two replacement sensors but did not install them;  they will be included in the sale.

Additional things included in the sale (all are pictured): Four Michelin Pilot Sport 4s tires (Bilzzaks are currently installed), parking distance sensor kit, original head unit with security code, car cover (Covercraft Custom 5-Layer All Climate Softback Car Cover) with cable and lock, miscellaneous bulbs for fog/plate/brake lights, and other miscellaneous parts (spark plugs and things like that).  The car will basically be loaded with everything needed to drive, store, and maintain it in all weather conditions.

In summary, the car is beautiful inside and out.  The exterior is in great shape except for a few minor scratches and dings.  The interior has been well maintained and is also in great shape.  The seat bolsters show wear but are not tearing (I’ve taken great care not to damage this when I get in/out of the car).  There is no glovebox sag, the new headliner looks great, the sunroof works perfectly and doesn’t leak, the windows work without issue, the door cards do not detach as they often do, the radio works great, AC blows cold, and the car starts without issue every time.

The seller provided the following YouTube links to a few videos showing a cold start and the interior, exterior, and engine views:

Cold Start Engine Bay: https://youtube.com/shorts/Yk_JW8xROko?feature=share

Cold Start: https://youtube.com/shorts/BvXWm8-YVQk?feature=share

Exterior Walkaround: https://youtube.com/shorts/aZBmBYC6L3c?feature=share

Interior View: https://youtube.com/shorts/SHJr7-bn2wU?feature=share

The seller informs us that they are unhappy about parting with this car.  He loves the car very much love it and it turns heads every time every time he takes it out for a drive. He’s only selling it because owning and maintaining vehicles in Seattle has become prohibitively expensive for multiple vehicles.

The complimentary CarFax® confirms this M3 has a clean title. However, it points out that the car has been involved in two minor accidents over its 24-year lifespan.  As the pictures provided highlight, these incidents have been repaired. To view the complete CarFax, please click on the picture below.  When complete, click your browser window’s back button to return to this listing page:

To help you make informed bids, we’re providing a link to Classic.com, the analytics and search engine for the Classic Car market, that provides a summary of other recently sold BMW M3 Manual Coupes:

If you have any questions about this 1999 BMW E36 M3 Coupe 5-Speed for sale, please leave a comment below or feel free to call Rudy directly at 877-468-6497.  Thank you for looking and happy bidding!