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Thread: The Definitive E36 M3 Door Panel Insert Options Thread

  1. #1
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    The Definitive E36 M3 Door Panel Insert Options Thread

    I posted in the E36 section asking to identify my 98 E36 M3 door panel insert part number. I'm going to try to put together a comprehensive list with pictures here. As more data comes in I will edit this first post.
    The list will include both USA and EUR options for the ODBI and ODBII M3's. I am excluding non-M cars to limit the number of options.

    Few questions:
    1) What inserts are on the LTW? They have a lot of grain are they buffalo leather, montana leather or vinyl?
    2) Did E36 M3's ever come w/ the vinyl or imitation leather inserts or is it always either leather, m-cross cloth or m-rain cloth?

    Black Nappa Leather (Schwarz)(N5SW/L7SW)
    black_nappa2_WBSBG9333XEY83600_1999_1024.jpg
    black_nappa2_1024.jpg

    Black Nappa Leather Luxury Equip. (Schwarz)(SA772 N5SW)
    black_lux_WBSBG9328VEY73973_1997_1024.jpg

    Light Grey Nappa Leather (Hellgrau)(0641/N5TT/0636/L7TT)
    light_gray_nappa_leather_N5TT_WBSBG9336XEY82540_1999_1024.jpg
    light_gray_nappa_leather_WBSBF9327SEH01175_1995_1024.jpg
    Last edited by archmaneric; 05-11-2021 at 10:47 PM.

  2. #2
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    Modena Nappa Leather (Modena)(L7AY/N5AY)
    modena_nappa4_1024.jpg
    modena_nappa1_1024.jpg

    Modena Nappa Leather Luxury Equip. (Modena)(SA772 N5AY)
    modena_lux1_1024.jpg
    modena_lux2_1024.jpg

    Sand Beige Nappa Leather (Beige)(L7SN)
    sandbeige_N5SN_leather_WBSBG9330XEY82033_1999_1024.jpg

  3. #3
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    Mulberry Nappa Leather (Maulb.)(L7MQ/N5MQ)
    mulberry_napa1_1024.jpg
    mulberry_napa2_1024.jpg

    Mulberry Nappa Leather Luxury Equip. (Maulb.)(SA772 N5MQ)
    mulberry_lux_1024.jpg

    Magma Nappa Leather (Magma)(L7AX/N5AX)
    magma_nappa_leather_N5AX_1024.jpg

    Magma Nappa Leather Luxury Equip. (Magma)(L7AX/N5AX)
    magma_lux_WBSCD9328VEE05791_1997_1024.jpg

  4. #4
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    Champagne Nappa Leather (0558/N5CM/L7CM)
    champaigne1_1024.jpg

    Champagne Nappa Leather Luxury Equip. (0558/N5CM/L7CM)
    champaigne_lux_1024.jpg
    champaign_lux_2_1024.jpg

    Lotus White & Black Nappa Leather (Lotosweiss)(L7LO)
    lotus_white_nappa_1024.jpg

    Hazelnut Nappa Leather (Haselnuss)(L7HS) (this is an M5 but you get the idea)
    hazelnut_m5_1024.jpg

  5. #5
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    Mexico Green Nappa Leather & Anthracite Amaretta (N5MX)(M3 GT)
    mex_green1_1024.jpg
    mex_green2_1024.jpg

    Violet Blue & Black Nappa Leather (Blauvio.)(0639/L7MA/L7CM)
    blue_1024.jpg

    Anthracite M-Rain Cloth (0740/B4AT)
    This is not original cloth & it's upside-down - will update when have new pic
    mrain1_1024.jpg
    mrain1b_1024.jpg
    Last edited by archmaneric; 05-12-2021 at 09:04 PM.

  6. #6
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    The Lightweight, just like like all 95 M3, had vinyl door panel inserts. 96+ M3 were actual leather or cloth, no vinyl... but you're mixing in non-us interiors (that champagne M Coupe Sport seat one for example), so all bets are off with worldwide builds added into the mix. There may be some deviation in the "all 95 M3". This is a year that I care the least about (Lightweight excluded).

    - - - Updated - - -

    The Mexico Green in the M3 GT was paired with anthracite Amaretta, not black leather.
    Last edited by Braymond141; 05-11-2021 at 10:49 PM.

  7. #7
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    Anthracite M-Cross Cloth (D8AT)
    mcross_WBSBG9322VEY75606_1997_1024.jpg

    Black Vinyl (all '95 M3's)
    ltw2_1024.jpg
    ltw3_1024.jpg

    Silvergrey M-Rain Cloth (0640)
    no picture yet

    Grey M-Rain Cloth (B4TT)
    no picture yet

    Grey M-Cross Cloth (D8TT)
    no picture yet

    Anthracite Buffalo Leather (0418/M7AT)
    no picture yet

    Classic Red & Black Nappa Leather (0638/L7GD)
    no picture yet

    Classic Red Nappa leather (N5GD/L7GD)
    no picture yet

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Originally Posted by Braymond141 View Post
    The Lightweight, just like like all 95 M3, had vinyl door panel inserts. 96+ M3 were actual leather or cloth, no vinyl... but you're mixing in non-us interiors (that champagne M Coupe Sport seat one for example), so all bets are off with worldwide builds added into the mix.

    - - - Updated - - -

    The Mexico Green in the M3 GT was paired with anthracite Amaretta, not black leather.
    nice. thanks. updated

  8. #8
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    The M-Rain example you posted is replica and the driver side is installed upsidedown.

    I like where this is going. I'll see what pictures I have saved that will be helpful.
    Last edited by Braymond141; 05-11-2021 at 10:53 PM.

  9. #9
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    It's nice that members are creating threads which show interest in the M3 etc... but I have to say a little odd that you chose to focus on door panel inserts. By the way, using the word "insert" implies the center portion of the door panel to me. It appears you're talking about the whole door panel?

    OBD I and OBD II is a U.S. distinction between the S50B30 (US) and S52B32 only. The euro models are just S50B30 and S50B32.

    The way the door panels came from the factory has everything to do with the option code you choose for the interior.

    A lot of info can be found here:

    https://bmwmregistry.com/model_faq.php?id=14 and
    https://bmwmregistry.com/model_faq.php?id=15

    LTWs never came with Buffalo leather. Vin spec for one is attached.

    Not aware of any U.S. M3s coming with imitation inserts. The "euro" (i.e., rest of world) cars had so many options and could also be region specific so that is a possibility but not sure.

    Easiest way to do this is to focus in interior option codes.

    N5 is leather
    L7 is extended leather (quite a few add ons)
    B4 is Amaretta
    D8 is also amaretta
    M7 is buffalo

    And of course there's always an oddball here and there: https://bmwmregistry.com/detail.php?id=1143

    Beats the hell out of me why someone would order Montana leather. I assume the insert (i.e., center section of the door panel) on that car was also Montana leather.
    Attached Files Attached Files
    Last edited by Jim E.; 05-11-2021 at 11:23 PM.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jim E. View Post
    It's nice that members are creating threads which show interest in the M3 etc... but I have to say a little odd that you chose to focus on door panel inserts...
    thanks for the detailed reply! I’m indeed interested in the insert specifically, simply because I started researching replacement inserts for my car since the vinyl door panels are great but the material on insert has shrunk and lifted. I may very well expand the list to door panels options just for the sake of it...
    Last edited by archmaneric; 05-11-2021 at 11:51 PM.

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by archmaneric View Post
    thanks for the detailed reply! I’m indeed interested in the insert specifically, simply because I started researching replacement inserts for my car since the vinyl door panels are great but the material on insert has shrunk and lifted. I may very well expand the list to door panels options just for the sake of it...
    The insert for your 98 M3 sedan is (or should be) nappa leather (N5) assuming you're not one of the Montana leather casualties or had some real oddball order.

    "Why do some late North American-spec E36 M3 sedans have M stripes on their headrests?
    Due to supplier issues, BMW was no longer able to produce sufficient quantities of the Black (N5SW) or Light Grey (N5TT) Nappa leather interiors for the North American-market E36 M3 sedan beginning in March of 1998. Therefore, a total of 1,252 E36 M3 sedans produced for the US and Canadian markets received the lower-grade Montana leather from the normal E36 3 Series and a "leather credit" refund (listed as Option Code S996A on the build sheet) of several hundred dollars was applied to their MSRP. M3 sedans with Montana leather can be identified by M stripes on all four headrests, as the Montana leather did not include the usual M stripes on the seats themselves. E36 M3 sedans with Mulberry, Magma and Modena Natur Nappa leather interiors continued to be produced with no alterations."

    Pull up your rear bench seat and your original build sheet should be stapled to your seat foam. Take a look and you may need to use google translate.

    I'd be really surprised if you had vinyl inserts.

    Look to see if you have P7SW or P8SW or color codes 518 or 514.

    If you're wondering what the difference is, P8 is standard Montana which had a grain. P7 was used on sport package cars and was similar to the N5 Nappa with slightly more grain. Not really that noticeable but for some of the hawk-eye members on this forum probably very noticeable. That's not a hard and fast rule because it depends on the production year.

    That Montana leather M3 that I linked in my earlier post is P7 Montana. You can see it's smoother leather. Door panels are the luck of the draw.
    Last edited by Jim E.; 05-12-2021 at 12:44 AM.

  12. #12
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    Wow. Thanks for taking the time again to reply. So I'm about to pack it in for the night and now I'm crawling in the car flipping over the seat.. my wife is thrilled. And walla.... N5SW but no 0514 or 0518. So I guess standard nappa leather so nappa leather door inserts I guess.

    my_build_sheet.jpg
    Last edited by archmaneric; 05-12-2021 at 09:25 PM.

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