by 
The Curious Bag
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The BMW M3 has for many years been purported as "the ultimate driving machine," a descriptor that seems borne out by decades of racing victories. However, even this paragon of German engineering is not free of defects, which becomes ever more apparent as this clockwork racer ages.
Shock Tower Mounts
One of the most common failures experienced by E36 M3s is cracked rear shock tower mounts. This has less to do with any factory defect than the abuse dished out by lead-footed drivers.
Bent Wheels
When buying a 1995 M3, verify that it does not use the similar looking wheels from an older E36 chassis. Wheels used on 1992-1994 cars have a tendency to bend and crack under stress.
Ignition Cylinder
One of the more common 1995 M3 faults is a faulty ignition key cylinder. Over time, these cylinders can break, causing the key to spin around and around in the lock without engaging anything.
Uneven Idle
Some M3s have experienced an uneven idle on cold starts, but the condition disappears once the vehicle warms up. This could be due to either a maladjusted TPS sensor or a dirty IAC valve.
Water Pump Failure
When replacing the water pump on your M3, be sure to get one with a metal pump impeller. Pumps with plastic impellers fail on a fairly regular basis.
Source:
Resource:
How an M3 Lock Cylinder Works (Video)
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