Description
A Belgian car enthusiast wanted to build a beautiful track day car based on an E36 coupé, preferably an M3. Usually, the best cars are not selected for track day cars, but this man had a completely different vision: one that suits us well.
He was looking for a perfectly maintained and damage-free coupé with a low mileage as a base. A beautiful damage-free M3 turned out to be difficult. Even a beautiful 6-cylinder coupé is almost a unicorn. Eventually, in 2018, he found a beautiful, late, Orient blue facelift BMW 323CI in Belgium. This car met all requirements: original Belgian car with very low mileage (demonstrable with the booklets and with the Belgian Car-Pass), manual transmission, completely in first paint (except for the boot lid), from the first owner, dealer maintained and in an immaculate condition. The original purchase invoice is even present.
The purchase was therefore, at least that is what we suspect, quickly concluded and the second owner got to work. The idea was to make a car in the style of the limited M Clubsport, and then suitable for the circuit. A complete M package was installed consisting of a front bumper, front bumper lower lip, side skirts, rear bumper with diffuser, thick door frames, M exterior mirrors (electrically adjustable) and an M spoiler on the trunk lid. The door frames were provided with original M Clubsport logos. An original RET (Rheinland Eisenmann Tuning) exhaust muffler, yellow headlights and fog lamps really complete the exterior.
In the interior, Recaro Pole Positon seats were placed on original Recaro seat frames with adjustment options and rails. However, the Recaros were first reupholstered at Carmeb with leather and alcantara and M-stripes (like the M-Vader seats). The door panels were provided with alcantara by Carmeb and the rear seat was removed and provided with a blind plate that is of course also covered in alcantara. An OMP steering wheel was installed, of course covered in the same alcantara. The stitching of the alcantara interior parts reflects the orange/ copper in which the roll cage of Wiechers, the heart of the OMP steering wheel and the short shifter of RTD are sprayed. 5-point belts were installed (removable) for the more serious work. The original belts have also remained (when the 5-point belts are not desired) of course with an M-striping in the belt webbing. Real carbon was used for the center console and it was equipped with a VDO Gauge panel with an oil pressure gauge, an oil temperature gauge and a voltmeter.
The chassis was equipped with a KW coilover suspension and special brake discs and pads. The engine was given a cold air intake and a different intake manifold. The car was also equipped with different rims and semi-slicks.
After the 323i had been prepared for circuit use in this way, the owner was so pleased with the result that he decided not to use the car for racing or rallies and to protect it from damage or careless use. The car came to the Netherlands in 2024 via valued colleagues. At our request, the finishing touches were really put on it: the car was fitted with a black Alcantara headliner and Alcantara A- and C-pillars. All other grey interior parts were made black, including the edges of the interior lighting parts. The car was fitted with a Dutch registration.
We thought the rims and mounted semi-slicks did not completely match the style and quality of the car. To really top it off, we fitted the E36 with a restored original M-Motorsport wide set with new tires. In our opinion, the set of rims for an E36.
The end result is truly fantastic and we enjoyed it for a while before we sold the car at the end of March 2024 to a Dutch enthusiast (actually only the third owner). He also did not use the car for track days. We are now allowed to offer the car for sale on his behalf due to changes in his fleet. The car is in an incredibly beautiful condition and has only a modest mileage of 74, 137 kilometers. Are you going to use it as a track day car? Perhaps a shame. Will it also be a café racer for you to occasionally go for a spin around the block and really let off steam? The choice is yours…
