The E36 3 Series, built from 1990 to 2000, has crossed over from used car to collectible. Good examples — particularly the coupés, convertibles and M3s — are now being restored rather than run into the ground. The E36 interior was a step up from the E30 in refinement, but its plastics belong to the same era, and thirty years has made many of them brittle.
Four body styles, different trims
The E36 was offered as a four-door saloon, a two-door coupé, a convertible, an estate (Touring) and the shorter three-door Compact. Dashboards are broadly shared, but trim around the doors, seats, seat belts and rear cabin differs. The convertible in particular has its own interior panels, because of the folding roof and the lack of a fixed B-pillar.
Seat belts and pillars
On the two-door cars the front seat belts emerge from trim at the side of the cabin, and these outlet covers crack where the belt rubs. The seat belt outlet cover trim is listed for either side, with a separate BMW number for each.
Convertible-specific trims
E36 convertible interiors include flaps and panels associated with the roof mechanism and the rear compartment. The convertible interior cover trim flap is supplied per side. The convertible also has its own lighter and ashtray panel, available for left- or right-hand drive.
Centre console and armrest
The centre console is where E36 interiors usually look most tired: armrest lids lose their catches and the rear console trim cracks. The centre console armrest rear cover is listed in a range of colours. Z3 owners should note that some console parts are shared — the Z3 is based on E36 underpinnings — and the centre oddments box cover is one such part.
Small parts shared across BMWs
Some BMW interior parts barely changed for decades. The window crank cap and door panel plug fits everything from the E12 to the E36. If you run more than one older BMW, check part numbers before assuming a part is model-specific.
Reading BMW part numbers
BMW part numbers are eleven digits, usually written with a space or dots, such as 51 43 8 176 285. The first two digits identify the group the part belongs to — 51 covers body and interior trim. You will often see the last seven digits used on their own as a short form. Left and right versions of the same part normally have consecutive or near-consecutive numbers. Our search accepts the number with or without spaces and dots.
Browse E36 parts
Everything we list for the car is in the BMW E36 parts collection; owners of the earlier car should see our E30 interior trim guide. All parts are made to order and matched to the original BMW part number, typically produced in 3 to 14 days.