There are a few different terms for when a music artist’s second album is lackluster in quality when compared to its debut album–terms like “second album syndrome” or “sophomore album curse” or “sophomore slump.”
Unless that artist is BMW, of course, and its second album is the E36-chassis M3–and if the E36 M3 is the second album, then the E36 M3 Evolution is the remaster.
Introduced in 1995 (for the European market), the Evolution was, essentially, a mid-cycle refresh. Styling remained largely unchanged, though it was the powertrain that got the biggest upgrades, in the form of a larger 3.2-liter straight-six good for 321 horsepower.
As for this particular E36 M3 Evolution, it’s a right-hand-drive model from 1998 fitted with a cutting-edge-for-the-time SMG I semi-automatic transmission. (The E36 M3 was one of the very first BMW models to be equipped with an SMG gearbox.)
The BMW has also had just a single owner since new, and is accompanied by extensive documentation that includes the car’s history and service records.
Currently showing 83,901 miles, the E36 M3 also had its engine rebuilt in 2002 when it showed only 38,000 miles.
Find this 1998 BMW M3 Evolution up for auction from Historics Auctioneers on November 23 with an estimated value of £15,000 to £20,000, or approximately $19,466 to $25,955 USD.
