The E36 automobile platform was the basis for the 1991-1999 BMW 3 Series entry-level luxury car / compact executive car. It was the successor to the BMW E30 an was eventually replaced by the BMW E46 in 1998. However, because the E46 series 2-door coupes and convertibles were still being developed at the outset of its introduction, BMW continued to produce these models as E36 versions through the 1999 model year. The M3 was produced as an E36 from 1995-1999 in the US, and 1993-1999 in the European market.