1996 PRE-LCI · E36 M3 EVOLUTION
BOSTON GREEN × MODENABoston Green.Modena leather.
Boston Green metallic / Modena Natur Nappa leather.
One of 14 worldwide. One of 5 for the UK.
PRE-LCI EVOLUTION PRODUCTION
A brief production window.
A rare specification.
The pre-LCI M3 Evolution was produced for only a few months. This short production period is central to its rarity, before the Boston Green metallic and Modena Natur leather combination narrows the numbers further.
Fourteen pre-LCI E36 M3 Evolution coupés were produced in Boston Green metallic with Modena Natur Nappa leather: five for the UK market and nine for Australia.
Three additional pre-LCI coupés paired Boston Green metallic with Modena Natur extended Nappa leather. All three were produced for the UK market and are separate from the 14 above.
| Modena Natur upholstery | UK | Australia | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nappa leather THIS CAR’S SPECIFICATION | 5 | 9 | 14 |
| Extended Nappa leather | 3 | 0 | 3 |
All figures above apply specifically to pre-LCI E36 M3 Evolution coupés. Source: Alex Palevsky at BMW M Registry, who has access to a copy of the production database.
01 / THE DETAILS
A rare pairing.
A short-lived specification.
Boston Green metallic outside. Modena Natur Nappa leather within. This 1996 pre-LCI M3 Evolution coupé brings together a rare colour combination with aluminium doors and BMW Motorsport door handles.
02 / THE S50B32
The reason
to drive.
A naturally aspirated straight-six with six individual throttle bodies and double VANOS. The S50B32 is the heart of the Evolution: smooth at a cruise, with its strongest performance waiting high in the rev range.
FACTORY EUROPEAN SPECIFICATION
236 kW / approximately 316 bhp. Factory output, rather than a measured figure for this car.
- Engine
- S50B32 · inline six
- Valvetrain
- 24 valves · twin overhead camshafts
- Camshaft timing
- Double VANOS
- Compression ratio
- 11.3:1
- Transmission
- Getrag six-speed manual
BEHIND THE CHARACTER
More than
the numbers.
Explore the engineering behind the response, flexibility and appetite for revs.
Six individual throttle bodies+
Each cylinder has its own throttle butterfly, a hallmark of these M engines. Together with natural aspiration, they give the S50B32 its distinctive induction character.
Double VANOS+
Continuously variable timing on both inlet and exhaust camshafts helps the engine work across a wider rev range. Peak torque arrives at 3,250 rpm; peak power comes much later, at 7,400 rpm.
Over 100 PS per litre+
321 PS from 3.201 litres works out at approximately 100.3 PS per litre, achieved without a turbocharger or supercharger. A remarkable specific output for a 1990s road engine.
The Evolution step+
The 3.2-litre engine brought greater displacement, higher compression and double VANOS, paired with a six-speed manual. BMW quoted 0–100 km/h in 5.5 seconds for the European M3 coupé.
Factory specification references: BMW Group Classic · BMW M · BMW M Registry
03 / GOODWOOD · 2026
Chosen by BMW UK.
Driven up the hill.
BMW UK selected this E36 M3 Evolution to take part in its 40th anniversary celebration of the M3 at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Driven up the famous hill by its owner, the car joined a procession with other M3 models—a celebration of four decades of the M3.
04 / IN FOCUS
Every angle.
Boston Green. Modena leather. Every detail.
05 / ON FILM
As seen on
JayEmm on Cars
This M3 also featured in a YouTube video during the previous owner’s ownership—a look back at the car’s story.
Filmed during previous ownership.
Watch on YouTube ↗THE PROJECT CONTINUES
Follow the journey.@d2.rol on Instagram