E36 M3 Lightweight

[Bazza]

Hi Fanatics.

I'm looking at buying a low mileage E36 M3 "lightweight". I have doubts about what the seller is pitching me about the car and was hoping someone on the forum has knowledge of this edition of the M3 and I could hopefully chat to you and get some feedback?

Please drop me a PM and maybe you could help a fellow fanatic out.

Thanks in advance everyone!

 

[///Avi]

The LTW was for the US market. We didn't get it here.

I stand to be corrected.

 

[Bazza]

Some were made for the Euro market, but yes, the lightweights were orginally produced for the US market for racing.

 

[Riaad]

The LTW was for the US market. We didn't get it here.

I stand to be corrected.

We got a "LTW" version ...these are the 1993 models that were imported from Germany as complete cars ...they have the tri colour cloth seats...I dont think these were numbered models like the Proper LTW models that had decals and the LTW spoiler :thumbs:

I also stand to be corrected ...

There is a 1993 e36 m3 "LTW" for sale...it has 80k kms and the advertised price is 450k...was on the fb market place.

 

[FiRi@Rennzport]

The LTW was for the US market. We didn't get it here.

I stand to be corrected.

We got a "LTW" version ...these are the 1993 models that were imported from Germany as complete cars ...they have the tri colour cloth seats...I dont think these were numbered models like the Proper LTW models that had decals and the LTW spoiler :thumbs:

I also stand to be corrected ...

There is a 1993 e36 m3 "LTW" for sale...it has 80k kms and the advertised price is 450k...was on the fb market place.

We got poverty specs e36 Ms... Our guys market it as "lightweight"

@dvst8
@fuzz

Can advise correctly

 

[rodga]

The LTW was for the US market. We didn't get it here.

I stand to be corrected.

I think he is referring to the first batch, that had cloth seats, no airbag, no sunroof etc...

Im not sure if the story of them being imported for racing homologation, which was cancelled, is true. Perhaps someone here can verify? I saw this was brought up again on facebook yesterday on ants for sale post.

https://web.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10157667517759188&set=p.10157667517759188&type=1

---

ok took too long to reply lol

 

[dvst8]

No, you do not have a “LTW” !

LTW’s were NEVER available here.

What you may have is one of the earlier release models.

They are not LTW’s, they were just part assembled locally. They were shortly after launch replaced by Full Imports.

Dont know where okes come up with this SA LTW M3 BS !

 

[AdiS]

I think term "South African Lightweight" is being used loosely, here.

What it means is a very early model which has manual cloth seats, and a few other spec options that result in the car being slightly lighter than the later models which all had a more luxurious (and hence slightly heavier) spec.

It's similar to the E46 M3 market in the USA, where E46 M3s that have manual seats, no sunroof, and no xenons are considered the 'lightest' possible spec and are hence more desirable than other models.

 

[Bazza]

Yes the M3 from Spotless Classics is the one I'm looking at. Drove to Knysna yesterday to have a look at. Has sunroof, cd changer, aircon and the heat mat under the bonnet. No carbon fibre trim inside and the car is not white. Furthermore the car weighs 1460 which is the exact same weight as a normal E36 M3. I'm going to BMW now to check the VIN with a buddy at SMG and see what the final drive fitted to this car is, should be a 3.23 as opposed to the standard 3.15. As far as I can see, the only thing correct on this car is the cloth and alcantara seats, no airbag in the steering wheel and has true 217KW with a factory fitted Alpina chip... according to BMW.

 

[Captain_Stealth]

There will be a tag on the diff stating what diff it is

 

[KPM3_30]

Remembered reading something similar, managed to find the thread.. https://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=67&highlight=Light+weight+me+e36

 

[dvst8]

So, Low Spec, not LTW

:sorry:

 

[Riaad]

The LTW was for the US market. We didn't get it here.

I stand to be corrected.

We got a "LTW" version ...these are the 1993 models that were imported from Germany as complete cars ...they have the tri colour cloth seats...I dont think these were numbered models like the Proper LTW models that had decals and the LTW spoiler :thumbs:

I also stand to be corrected ...

There is a 1993 e36 m3 "LTW" for sale...it has 80k kms and the advertised price is 450k...was on the fb market place.

We got poverty specs e36 Ms... Our guys market it as "lightweight"

@dvst8
@fuzz

Can advise correctly

Note the inverted commas :tiptoe:

Side note...there was a really good looking LTW rep that was at the GAS Motorshow recently :blowheart: