This 1995 BMW (E36) M3 R is just one of 15 to be made exclusively for the Australian market and presented in stunning order. Under its bonnet sits a naturally-aspirated 3.0-litre inline-six-cylinder engine outputting 239kW and 320Nm. This power is sent to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual transmission. The odometer of this car currently states 43,102km. The BMW E36 M3 R is one of the rarest special editions of the entire M3 model line, developed by (and for) Australians. In order to race in the Australian Super Production Series – an endurance event populated by rivals such as the Porsche 911 RS CS and Mazda RX-7 SP – racing team owner Frank Gardner campaigned BMW for a race-ready competitor, which required a road-going homologation version.

The E36 M3 R is the result – just one of 15 examples sold to the public at a whopping $189,450 price point. It took a barebones E36 M3 with every option removed, but added new camshafts, optimised exhaust ports, new dual pickup oil sump, revised intake, and a new ECU to develop more power. It was also 100kg lighter than a standard M3. It is effectively the GTS or CSL version of the E36 generation, developed specifically for Australians. It remains incredibly rare today. All E36 M3 Rs were painted in Alpine White and feature cloth upholstery in place of leather.

However, this car shows with E36 M3 Lightweight-spec chequered flag graphics on the exterior and is also equipped with an aftermarket Supersprint exhaust with no central muffler. It rides on a set of 17-inch BMW alloy wheels wrapped in Pirelli Cinturato tyres. Manufactured new by BMW in Munich and finished off at Frank Green Racing in March 1995, this E36 M3 R is number 6 out of 15. Little information is known about the car’s history, though it was purchased by the current collector owner from Dutton Garage a few years ago. Recent servicing has been performed at specialist SouthernBM in Victoria. According to to the seller there are no known faults; it runs in good order.

This BMW M3 R presents in brilliant external condition and obvious care has been taken in its preservation. There are no obvious swirl marks seen on its Alpine White paintwork and no scuffs are seen on lower trims. The seller notes the car has some light stone chips on the front end and the lower splitter has taken some scrape damage. There is one scuffed wheel rim. All others present without noticeable damage. Inside the cabin this car appears in as-new order.

The cloth-upholstered sports seats remain with good, chunky bolsters, while no staining or fade is seen in the fabric. The dashboard and instrumentation contains no cracks or scuffs. No fraying is seen in the carpeting and headlining. This car will come with a service booklet and two keys, but no additional documentation. As per Trading Garage’s Terms and Conditions, although Trading Garage have completed the following checks, bidders must satisfy themselves to the accuracy of the description and do any research, they feel necessary before bidding. All listings are sold in Australian dollars.

This vehicle is currently registered in Victoria under a club permit. There are no security interests registered on the PPSR against the serial number and it is not recorded as written off or stolen.