OK, here's a question for you.

I love my Type-R, and until about 11pm last night I had no thoughts about getting rid of it.

But right before going to bed I was paging through the classifieds in AutoWeek and stumbled across a very rare car that I have drooled over for years, and it's right in the local area. (In fact, the only one of these cars I've ever seen was this very car, and it was right around the corner from where I live).

Anyways, it's a 1995 BMW M3 Lightweight. For those of you that don't know, this is the "type-r" of M3's. It's stripped down, just like the R, but even moreso. Weighs 200-300 lbs less than a normal one.

And this one has only 7,000 miles on it, and is a relatively reasonable price. The sold for around $46k new, when the normal ones were like $35.

And did I mention that only 85 or so of these made it to the US?

Damn. I've loved the M3 since the originals came out, and this is like the ultimate one. And I race in SCCA Solo II faithfully so I understand what the car is about. But then I think of getting rid of the R, and all that hassle, and the higher payments...

Argh, I'm confused. I'm going to call the guy today and see if I can get a look at it.

 

Those lightweights are absolutely gross...it will be faster and it's almost as rare, if not more so than the R. Is it feasible to have both?

 

Heh. 7000 miles. Only driven on sundays.

Warren

 

You are the ONLY person that has a real reason to sell your R.

GET THAT M3 Lightweight NOW!!!!

OMG, M3L vs. R is a complete lob-sided victory for M3L.

 

well that's what I was thinking. It's just so damn rare to even see those, let alone have the chance to buy one.

I so wish I could do both but I can't possibly keep the R.

Ack!

 

Make sure it's even a REAL lightweight and not one converted to 'look' like one

yoshi - who used to see two of them around Irvine

 

Well he gave the VIN so I'd guess it's real. I just talked to him actually and am going to check it out tonight. It's like 5 minutes from my house. Whodathunkit?

Damn, as much as I'd hate to ditch the R that would be very cool. Hmm....

 

Maybe you missed that part about there being only 85 in the entire country.

That would qualify as rare in my book...

 

No! I saw that ad first!!! LOL. I would find out, though, how many of those 7,000 miles are hard track miles. That is what that car was made for. If I had a buyer for the beast, I would jump all over that. Keep me posted, if you wouldn't mind on what you find out after looking at it! Thanks!

 

You're right, I did miss that part. Get the car.

 

Those are problably 7000 *tough* miles.

Just like my R has 9800 *spirited* miles. haha.

How much are they asking for it?

 

so there are only 182 (less now cause i know guys who crashed them) Black 2000 Type Rs in the country. Thats pretty rare.

 

GET IT!!!
What's the asking price?
The only diffrance in the drivetrain between the L and regular M3 is high rear-end gearing.
I've never seen one in person.

 

Oh man....I am excited just thinking about it. I would be calling Jim Conforti first thing to get some goodies for it, too...

 

Well he's asking 31k or best offer. I imagine I could talk that down a bit. I've looked at M3's before and most of the 97-98 are around 30, so that's not totally outrageous. Considering the rarity and all. Pretty good actually.

And yes, I'd imagine it was run hard, but I run my R plenty hard too. If it was properly maintained I don't really have a problem with some "rough" miles.

 

Here's the link to the specs.
http://www.bmwworld.com/models/m3_ltw.htm

GET IT!!!

Here's a pic that I stole






[Modified by Cosworth, 11:06 AM 11/5/2001]

 

OMG, buy it now and ask questions later...

 

Very sweet cars. I saw one at a shopping mall in Columbus and actually waited for (stalked) the owner. When he came out I started asking him about the car and he said it was his daily driver, never tracked, etc. Whoa!!

Anyways, about this local M3, ask the guy if its been to Nelson Ledges. I saw a Lightweight out there a few times. It looked stock, but the guy did do a few track events with it. No biggie I guess. If its been flogged alot, it'll probably look beat up, so you should be able to tell.


Good luck man, that is a choice car!!

 

Hey Brett, I was actually going to email yo about that. I kind of figure that this is a weekend car, and it's probably been run hard a few times, as it should be. I don't have a problem with that as long as it's been taken care of. With only 7k miles I'm guessing it's not bad. I talked to the guy and he said he's selling it for the cash. I'd guess he has a few other cars and just doesn't need it.

I'm going to look at it tonight...

And I'll bring my camera.

 

But... this got me thinking...
a '95 came with the 3.0L engine, and its the same motor in the L and the regular M3.
In '98, the motor grew to 3.2, the wheel/tire diamter improved and the suspension setting changed a little bit. The car was over-all improved.
The question is wheather the Lightweight is that much better and faster then the '98 and up 3.2L. If not, then is getting it for exclusitivity reasons is justifiable?

A trully rare find in a '93 Porsche 911 RS America... a Type R version of the 911. That thing dosen't even have power windows. I've seen one for $50k last year.

 

Just ask him if its been tracked, and if so, how many times he's been to Nelson, Mid Ohio, etc with it. Hopefully he'll be honest.

Oh yea, for Solo 2, I'm not sure where that thing is classed. Its on the exclusion list from the stock classes (see http://www.scca.org/news/fastrack/01-10.pdf) so it might be in one of the SP classes right off the bat.

 

IF we go by magazine races, then M3 L is quicker/faster/better. The increase in displacement had only a marginal effect in the performance of 98+ M3's. Simple track rules dictate lighter the better.

 

What's your source for that? Not talking smack, but I can think of at least six black R's not far from me. I had heard that there were fewer black than yellow, but that number seems really low.

[edit] Fuggin' typos... [/edit]


[Modified by itr009, 12:21 PM 11/5/2001]

 

I've driven 3.0 and 3.2 liter Ms. There is a noticable change in low and mid range power.
Granted a regular 3.2 M3 is heavier then the L, but also has more power (peak HP # did not change, but the area under the curve, looking at a dyno plot, sure did)... theoretically speaking the hp/weight ratio should be similar and you can always put the M3 on a diet.
Anyone knows what, if any, changes there were in suspension design between the regular M3 and the lighweight?

 

try this page for a decent write up of the major changes

http://www.racepad.com/BMW/E36M3LTW/E36M3LTW(95).htm