Walking through the Tuning Experience hall at the Essen Motor Show, you expect to see wild builds, but every now and then something stops you dead in your tracks. Did you catch my take on this year’s event? If not, you can still check it out on the Turnpike Global site.
Among the wild show cars and slammed stances sat a machine that looked like it had been teleported straight from the Nürburgring paddock: a 1996 BMW E36, reborn with the heart of an M4 and the soul of a race car.
This isn’t just an engine swap; it’s a complete transformation. Under the bonnet lies BMW’s S55B30 straight-six from the F82 M4, paired with its seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Team Schirmer’s fingerprints are everywhere: engine mounts, transmission crossmember, and a rear axle housing a Drexler limited-slip differential with 45% lock and dedicated cooling. The numbers speak for themselves: 431 horsepower pushing just 1,270 kilograms. That’s serious firepower.
But before we dive deeper into this build, let’s talk about Team Schirmer. They are a renowned German motorsport specialist headquartered in a small town called Boos, near the Nürburgring. With over three decades of experience engineering performance-focused BMWs, they develop and produce high-end motorsport components, from carbon-fibre aero parts to suspension kits, drivetrain solutions, roll cages, and more.
While their products serve track-day cars and road-going builds, their roots lie in competition. Team Schirmer has fielded full race cars in prestigious events such as the 24 Hours of Nürburgring and, more commonly, VLN races at the same circuit, often running BMW M2s and older-generation M3s. They know a thing or two about building fast BMWs.
The suspension setup is equally uncompromising. Fully adjustable KW V5 Racing coilovers, dialled in by Team Schirmer, work alongside race-spec control arms, camber struts, and Uniball bearings. Grip comes courtesy of 18-inch BBS E88 three-piece wheels with gold centres and polished lips, wrapped in Dunlop Direzza rubber, 265 up front and a monstrous 295 at the rear. I’ve always liked the meaty tyre look; it makes the car feel truly purposeful.
Braking? AP Racing six-piston calipers up front, Porsche four-piston units at the rear. And because no detail was overlooked, the car runs full M4 tech, including ABS Mk100, steering column, and steering rack.
Then there’s the bodywork: carbon doors, carbon bonnet, custom underbody panels, carbon diffuser, carbon front fenders, plus widened rear arches in metal. Lexan windows replace the glass, and a Coupe GT Class 2 wing and carbon front splitter complete the aero package. Inside, it’s all business: a full Schirmer safety cage, carbon center console, KMP steering wheel, and Recaro buckets with six-point Schroth harnesses. Even the paint tells a story — the entire car, from engine bay to underbody, has been resprayed in crisp white after a bare-shell rebuild.
In a hall full of showpieces, this E36 stood out because it wasn’t built for Instagram likes; it was built to hunt apexes. It’s a love letter to BMW’s motorsport heritage, executed with obsessive precision and best of all, it still retains a licence plate. If you ever needed proof that the E36 is still a weapon in the right hands, this car is it.