1990s BMW
1990s compact
1990s coupe
1990s sedan
1990s touring
A01=James Taylor
Author_James Taylor
BMW 3 Series
BMW E36
BMW E36 color options
BMW E36 design
BMW E36 history
BMW E36 performance
BMW E36 variants
BMW M3
Category=WGCB
classic 3
E36 collector cars
E36 compact
E36 coupe
E36 engine tuning
E36 engine types
E36 exterior design
E36 interior features
E36 limited editions
E36 model comparison
E36 motorsport
E36 production years
E36 sedan
E36 specification
E36 technical specifications
E36 touring
E36 trim levels
eq_isMigrated=1
eq_nobargain
forthcoming
Product details
- ISBN 9780719847073
- Weight: 949g
- Dimensions: 215 x 260mm
- Publication Date: 29 Sep 2026
- Publisher: The Crowood Press Ltd
- Publication City/Country: GB
- Product Form: Hardback
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The BMW E36 3 Series cars were central to the motoring scene in the 1990s. They were launched into a market that expected them to improve on the technology and prestige of their E30 predecessors, and they went on to become BMW’s most successful range of cars yet.
From the beginning, a four-door Saloon was planned as the centrepiece of the range. Its siblings were to be a sporty two-door Coupé, a luxurious and fashionable Convertible, and a stylish but not very spacious Touring estate. Later, as BMW decided to investigate the booming market for small hatchbacks, the E36 would be adapted to provide a Compact model as well.
The huge success of the M3 high-performance variant of the E30 had left BMW with no option but to follow it with an M3 derivative of the E36 range. The E36 M3 arrived in 1992 and was initially based on the Coupé bodyshell. Later, the range would be expanded to include Convertible and Saloon versions of the M3, too, and then a second-generation model, the M3 Evolution, took centre stage.
By the time of the E36 range, the BMW name stood not only for high performance, but for high quality as well. The marque’s strengths were particularly rooted in its engines, and the E36 range showcased a wide variety of technologically impressive types. The mainstream cars had 4- and 6-cylinder types in both petrol and diesel forms, and there were even experiments with engines adapted to run on natural gas.
Today, the much-admired E36 has earned its place as an automotive icon, appreciated not only by enthusiasts but also by anyone interested in great design, engineering progress and driving culture. This book is a fascinating exploration of the model’s evolutionary changes and technical advances so, whether you are already a fan or someone who may one day consider owning an E36, you will find a wealth of valuable information and entertainment between these covers.
James Taylor has been writing professionally about cars since the late 1970s, and his interests embrace a wide range of older cars of all makes and nationalities, as well as classic buses, lorries and military vehicles. He has written several books about BMW cars within a portfolio that now consists of well over 130 books. Many of these have been definitive one-make or one-model titles, including a number for Crowood. He has also written for enthusiast magazines in several countries, has translated books from foreign languages, and makes sure he always has something old and interesting in the garage.
