MEET THE E36 STW

During our Grand Opening, this BMW E36 STW was without doubt one of the most admired cars on display. A very special project that we at MATS are extremely proud to have worked on.

MATS VD Brand and Michael Cullen acquired this original STW in December 2024. The car was still largely in its original condition and comes with a remarkable motorsport history. During the 1990s, it competed in the STW, one of the most spectacular touring car championships of its era.

A complete rebuild

In September 2025, the E36 entered our workshop for a complete rebuild. The goal was clear: to fully restore the car mechanically while staying as close as possible to its original specification and character.

This proved to be quite a challenge. Original STW parts are extremely rare, and many components have not been available for years. With the help of our partners, and by developing or reproducing several components ourselves, we were able to rebuild the car step by step.

The original Penske dampers were fully rebuilt, while a modern and reliable solution was developed for the engine wiring loom and ECU. Components that were no longer available were reproduced or professionally restored. Even the original fuel tank was recreated, while various systems were renewed without compromising the car’s authentic appearance.

Back on track

After approximately 700 hours of work, the BMW E36 STW was complete and ready to return to the circuit. During its first roll-out at Circuit Zolder, the car completed its first kilometres without any problems.

The result is an E36 STW that is once again ready to be driven as intended, while remaining as faithful as possible to its original specification and appearance.

Following the completion of this first STW, several more examples have already arrived at our workshop. Our aim is to restore these special cars to their original condition and preserve an important part of BMW Motorsport history for the future.