1999 BMW (E36) M3 Convertible, 49K Miles, Fern Green Metallic, Magma Leather

1999 BMW M3 Description

1999 BMW M3 Convertible

Fern Green Metallic Exterior (386)

Magma Napa Leather Interior (N5AX)

49,200 Miles

S52B32 Inline 6-Cylinder Engine

5-Speed Automatic Transmission with Sport Mode

Color-Matched Green Power Convertible Top

3-Spoke M Steering Wheel

Harmon Kardon Premium Sound

JL Audio Subwoofer with Adjustable Crossover

6-Button On Board Computer

Power Sport Seats

Rear Head Rests

OEM Clear Turn Signals

Staggered Style 23 Contour M Wheels

Continental Extreme Contract DWS Tires

Factory Alarm / Keyless Entry

Clean Carfax / No Accidents

Background

At Glen Shelly Auto Brokers we absolutely love BMW E36 M3s (E36 is the 1995 to 1999 model years). I have bought, sold, and sorted a lot of them over the years in addition to my own personal E36 M3. Time has been kind to the E36 M3; like a fine wine, it has only improved with age. It occurred at a sweet spot of BMW evolution where power, weight, size, suspension design, reliability, and luxury all intersected. The driving experience is connected and visceral, yet the driver enjoys luxuries that took other marquees years to offer. It is also one of the most reliable BMWs ever built. With only the slightest amount of talent the E36 M3 is a highly capable platform that can easily outperform much more powerful and expensive vehicles. Clean low mileage examples are becoming rare—very rare!

Summary

This 1999 M3 convertible is a repeat visitor to Glen Shelly. It is one of only 4017 convertible automatic E36 M3s produced for the North American Market. I sold it to its current owner last year and now I am selling it on consignment for him. It is an exceptionally clean and low mileage M3 in a very rare color combination. Fern Green Metallic (BMW color code 386) was only available in later years of production. Magma (dark tan, textured leather) was a very rare interior option that compliments the green wonderfully. It was delivered to its first owner in March of 1999. Over the next 10 years the Carfax shows it was dealer serviced and driven only 21,917 miles. The second owner (the Carfax shows more, but they were dealers) purchased it and drove it sparingly until I sold it for him last year at 45,000 miles. The current owner has a small car collection and is only selling it to make room for a new addition. It is well optioned with the more desirable 3-spoke M steering wheel, Harmon Kardon premium sound, and my favorite E36 M3 wheels—BMW Style 23s, also called M Contours. It is completely stock, other than a JL subwoofer powered by its own amp concealed behind the center rear seat bolster. All manuals are present; it has a factory alarm and keyless entry, and two keys.

Exterior

The most striking element of this M3 is its low mileage condition, and Fern Green is the perfect color to accentuate it. I am highly critical of our cars and try to point out every imperfection. The paint is in excellent shape. There are no glaring defects, failing clear coat, or leading edge chipping often found on Colorado cars. It is clear that this M3 has always been a second vehicle, always been stored indoors, and only enjoyed on fair weather days. All VIN tags are in place and the Carfax is clean. There is no rust what so ever. The front bumper cover is firmly in place and does not flex side to side (a common issue afflicting all E36s). All trim and black-work are present and not UV faded. There are a few very light scuffs on the lower front splitter. The headlight lenses are crystal clear and the factory-spec’d clear (not amber) indicator lenses are the color that every M3 should have come with. The color-matched convertible top is also in excellent shape. The rear window glass is clear with no cloudy spots, scratches, or cracks (they often develop at the crease where it folds). A rolled towel (pro trick) has prevented this when it has been retracted to prevent hard bends. The cloth is good, but it does have a few imperfections. The worst are two small holes where the C-pillar would be on the driver’s side (a common issue). The rubber trim around the rear window is slightly crinkled where the fold occurs (I am being picky). The front and side window glass are in excellent shape, and there are no cracks or chips. The Style 23 M Contour wheels, 17” x 7.5” in the front, 17” x 8.5” in the rear are straight and true with no bends. There is no major curb rash, but there are a few small nicks and scratches (photographs are on our website if you are reading this elsewhere). The Continental Extreme Contract DWS tires have even wear with over 60% tread remaining.

Interior

The interiors were a weak spot of E36 M3s and clean ones are difficult to find. This interior is not only in above average condition—it is Magma. Magma leather was found on very few E36 M3s, the majority of which had black or dove grey interior colors. There are no odors, other than that lovely napa leather smell, and it has never been smoked in. The carpet is free of tears or stains and has been protected by factory Magma colored floor mats. The front and rear sport seats are in great shape, with no failed stitching or excessive bolster wear. The only imperfections are very light creases on the seats and slight discoloration on the aft portion of the rear headrests (I am being critical again). All power seat functions work. The 3-spoke steering wheel has soft leather and no wear or fading. There are no warning lights in the instrument cluster and the check portion of the onboard computer shows no system lights. The HVAC panel has no blown out pixels; the automatic climate control functions correctly with hot heat and cold air condition. The final stage resistor operates as it should and the blower motor is quiet (common issues). The factory BMW Alpine C33 head unit also no blown out pixels and the volume knob functions correctly (common issues). The Harmon Kardon premium sound stereo system sounds fantastic with the JL subwoofer. The adjustable base crossover is done through a knob mounted in the parcel tray below the on board computer. The 6-button on board computer does have some pixilation, but it is minor compared to most E36s. The power windows, door locks, power top, and all-windows-down button work correctly. There is no glove box sag (a common issue). The door cards are not delaminated (another common issue); late model E36s had reinforced material behind them. The driver’s side door tweeter does have a cracked trim ring, which is fixable, but I would not do it until the door panel had to be removed for something else. The factory spare tire is present under the trunk floor and the tool kit is complete.

Mechanical

The mechanical condition of this M3 is consistent with the rest of the car. Everything is 100% stock. The S52B32 engine idles smoothly and pulls strong through the rev range. In preparation for sale I gave it a fresh oil change. There are no leaks, drips, or seeps. There is no VANOS rattle. The cooling system is original, but it operates correctly even under hard driving in summer temperatures. I recommend preventative replacement of the water pump, thermostat, thermostat housing, and expansion tank at 60K miles, and the radiator at 90K miles, which are both well into the future. The automatic transmission shifts smoothly and features normal, manual, and sport modes. In sport mode it will downshift early to keep the revs exactly where they need to be. The brakes are firm with healthy pad thickness and rotor run out remaining. The suspension is compliant, and there are no driveshaft, center shaft bearing, CV axle, or wheel bearing vibrations. It does have the slight body shimmy that all convertible M3s have, but that could be improved with strut braces. The front control arm bushings are solid, as are the all rear subframe and trailing arm rubber. There no codes, check engine or air bag lights. This is a turn-key E36 M3 ready to be driven and enjoyed by its new owner.

Even though I am a staunch manual transmission advocate, I quite like this car as an automatic. It is perfect for top-down mountain road cruising and spirited drives. I never once longed for a third pedal while driving it. If you like the car, but can’t live with the automatic I have a low-mileage manual swap I will sell for an additional $1500.

VIN Decode

Build

VIN: WBSBK0331XEC40529

Type: BK03

Model: M3 - USA

Development Code: E36 (C)

Chassis: CABRIO
Steering: LL
Doors: 2
Engine: S52
Displacement: 3.20 Liters
Power: 240 Horsepower
Drivetrain: Rear
Transmission: Automatic
Color: Fern Green (Farngruen) Metallic 386

Upholstery: Magma Leather (L Teilleder W.n./magma) N5AX

Production Plant: REGENSBURG, DE

Production Date: 12-15-1998

Standard Equipment

209 Limited Slip Differential (25%)

214 Automatic Stability Control+traction

314 Heated Windscreen Washer Nozzles

354 Green Stripe Windscreen
411 Window Lifts, Electric
441 Smokers Package

481 Sport Seats F Driver/front Passenger

520 Foglights
542 Check Control
556 Exterior Temperature Display

687 Radio Preparation
710 M Leather Steering Wheel
785 White Direction Indicator Lights
850 Add Fuel Tank Filling For Export
853 Language Version English
992 Number Plate Attachment Management

Optional Equipment

243 Airbag For Front Passenger
260 Side Airbag Driver/frt Passenger
392 Softtop Dark Green
395 Roll-bar Protection System
399 Softtop Operation, Fully Automatic
458 Seat Adjustment, Electric. F Driver/pass

473 Armrest, Front
498 Headrests In Rear, Mechanic. Adjustable

534 Automatic Air Conditioning
540 Cruise Control
674 Hifi Loudspeaker System Harman Kardon

692 Cd Changer I-bus Preparation
781 M Lt/aly Wheels Contour
818 Main Battery Switch

925 Shipping Protection Package

Glen Shelly is a low-volume auto brokerage focused only on the highest quality vehicles. We are two airline pilots, mechanics, and auto enthusiasts who bring a high level of professionalism and attention to detail to the automobile business. Our philosophy is to keep our inventory small so that we can focus on thorough mechanical and cosmetic preparation of the vehicles we select. We have more than 20 years of experience restoring and repairing automobiles and are intimately familiar with our cars. We do the inspections, service, detailing, and corrective maintenance using only OEM parts and service manuals. We offer an informed and low-pressure sales environment, resulting in a premium buying experience. Find our M3 listing here: http://glenshelly.com/sales/1999-bmw-m3-convertible.