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BMW

Germany · Founded 1916

The Ultimate Driving Machine before the marketing ruined it. BMW built driver-focused cars that rewarded skill and attention.

Heritage

Bayerische Motoren Werke started with aircraft engines, moved to motorcycles, then cars. The company nearly collapsed several times before finding its identity: sports sedans that could outhandle dedicated sports cars while carrying four adults in comfort. The 2002 started it. The E30 3-Series perfected it. The E36 democratized it. Then BMW got fat, added screens everywhere, and forgot what made them special. The older cars remember.

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BMW Vehicles (1)

1995 BMW E36 328i

$5,000-20,000 Car

Engine: 2.8L M52 inline-6

Power: 190 hp @ 5,300 rpm

Trans: 5-speed manual

Years: 1992-1999

The E36 is the forgotten middle child between the legendary E30 and the bloated E46. But it might be the sweet spot. It's the last 3-Series you can work on without dealer software. The last one that feels connected to the road through hydraulic steering. The M52 straight-six is one of the great engines — smooth, willing, and tough. These cars taught a generation what 'Ultimate Driving Machine' actually meant, before BMW forgot.