E36 M3 Compact (1 of 2 Ever) Driven on Track

Robin_NL · 07-23-2025, 11:45 AM

Only two of them made by //M GmbH as a sort of prototype, not streetlegal, Matthias gets to drive one:

Too much power vs short wheelbase vs 'E30 more or less' rearsuspension : So a no go

Cheers
Robin

M-technik-3 · 07-23-2025, 04:30 PM

Compact and a traditional E36 have the the same wheelbase. It's the rear over hang that's different. I have had three S5X powered compacts and and 4 E30's with M/S5x engines Makes for a fun car. Always wanted to find a M52B28 Alum block from a 97 or 98 Z3 but settled with what I had iron blocks.

Tallest · Today, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M-technik-3

Compact and a traditional E36 have the the same wheelbase. It's the rear over hang that's different. I have had three S5X powered compacts and and 4 E30's with M/S5x engines Makes for a fun car. Always wanted to find a M52B28 Alum block from a 97 or 98 Z3 but settled with what I had iron blocks.

Did the M3 Compact have same E30 rear suspension like the E36 non M compact did? Which was why it was unloved by reviewers at the time, heck even I remember this and I am not that old.

M-technik-3 · Today, 12:05 PM

It did but the M3 Compact's was reinforced aka the M Coupe that had big brakes. and proper offset for the bigger wheels.

Compacts were built to compete with the onslaught of fast fwd cars coming from Japan and Germany at the time and BMW did not have a cheap car to market at them so this was drawn up on the fly. Was cheap to insure and cheap on gas. There were only 4 engines available the 1.6l 1.8 single and twin cam in M42 and M44 variants and the M52b23 for EU only.

Hartge and ACS both did versions of them. I will say I do miss mine but they rust out easily.

BMWCompact · Today, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M-technik-3

Hartge and ACS both did versions of them. I will say I do miss mine but they rust out easily.

I bought my 318ti Compact brand new in 1997 in the southeastern area of the US. I had it up until about 2006 or so, ~135k miles. Absolutely loved it. Would have another if I had the garage space.

Surprised to hear you mention rust. Never an issue with mine, driven year around.

My M3 · Today, 03:52 PM

Friend of mine some years ago had one & installed an E36 3.0 M3 engine for super sprint days a little taily but overall, a good package

M-technik-3 · Today, 03:59 PM

I live in the NorthEast Road salt loves to chew through Green Period cars When BMW transitioned from E30/E28/E32 cars that were basically before the Green push they tended to last for quite a few years then BMW said we are not in the business or repairing cars we make money selling them so cars became a disposable asset.

If I could find a rust free shell that was say Hennarot aka a 95 club sport I would grab it in second. Not sure what engine would be swapped in but it would be something fun.

07-23-2025, 11:45 AM	#1
Robin_NL S0THPAW 9146 Rep 7,885 Posts Drives: HS M2 Competition Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: The Netherlands iTrader: (0)	E36 M3 Compact (1 of 2 Ever) Driven on Track Only two of them made by //M GmbH as a sort of prototype, not streetlegal, Matthias gets to drive one: Too much power vs short wheelbase vs 'E30 more or less' rearsuspension : So a no go Cheers Robin
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07-23-2025, 04:30 PM	#2
M-technik-3 Lieutenant Colonel 3165 Rep 1,926 Posts Drives: E30 M3, E36 M3, 328iT, 335i Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: western Ma iTrader: (0) Garage List 1995 M3 [9.33] 2007 E91 [8.17] 1988 M3 [9.60]	Compact and a traditional E36 have the the same wheelbase. It's the rear over hang that's different. I have had three S5X powered compacts and and 4 E30's with M/S5x engines Makes for a fun car. Always wanted to find a M52B28 Alum block from a 97 or 98 Z3 but settled with what I had iron blocks.
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Today, 12:05 PM	#4
M-technik-3 Lieutenant Colonel 3165 Rep 1,926 Posts Drives: E30 M3, E36 M3, 328iT, 335i Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: western Ma iTrader: (0) Garage List 1995 M3 [9.33] 2007 E91 [8.17] 1988 M3 [9.60]	It did but the M3 Compact's was reinforced aka the M Coupe that had big brakes. and proper offset for the bigger wheels. Compacts were built to compete with the onslaught of fast fwd cars coming from Japan and Germany at the time and BMW did not have a cheap car to market at them so this was drawn up on the fly. Was cheap to insure and cheap on gas. There were only 4 engines available the 1.6l 1.8 single and twin cam in M42 and M44 variants and the M52b23 for EU only. Hartge and ACS both did versions of them. I will say I do miss mine but they rust out easily.
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Today, 03:52 PM	#6
My M3 Second Lieutenant 261 Rep 234 Posts Drives: 2023 M3 Competition X Drive Join Date: Sep 2023 Location: Sydney, Australia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2023 BMW M3 Competi ... [0.00] 1986 Chevrolet Corv ... [0.00] 2021 Toyota Camry A ... [0.00] 2019 Mercedes Benz ... [0.00]	Friend of mine some years ago had one & installed an E36 3.0 M3 engine for super sprint days a little taily but overall, a good package
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Today, 03:59 PM	#7
M-technik-3 Lieutenant Colonel 3165 Rep 1,926 Posts Drives: E30 M3, E36 M3, 328iT, 335i Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: western Ma iTrader: (0) Garage List 1995 M3 [9.33] 2007 E91 [8.17] 1988 M3 [9.60]	I live in the NorthEast Road salt loves to chew through Green Period cars When BMW transitioned from E30/E28/E32 cars that were basically before the Green push they tended to last for quite a few years then BMW said we are not in the business or repairing cars we make money selling them so cars became a disposable asset. If I could find a rust free shell that was say Hennarot aka a 95 club sport I would grab it in second. Not sure what engine would be swapped in but it would be something fun.
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