BMW secretly built the M3 E46 tour in 2000, but the car was only publicly unveiled in 2016. We had to wait even more for the first production M3 with a long roof-the G81 was launched in 2022. Similar to the M3 touring sold today, its predecessor was also intended as a do-it-at-Auto. A new Walkaround video that was shot at Retro Classics in Stuttgart shows the unique M3.
Although the car is marked as a concept, it was actually a fully functional prototype. It was even tested on the street with the S54 engine. The naturally sucked inline-Six with a 3.2-liter shift made a strong 343 hp and 365 nm. Let’s just say that this car could drag without sweating. The output was directed to the rear axle via a six-speed manual transmission. The setup activated a 100 km/h from 0 to 62 km/h in the low five-second range.
Like the regular M3 E46, the hot car inherited the wider wheel boxes and the bulging ventilation hood. Larger air inlets and a quad exhaust were also added, together with 19-inch M-styling 67 bikes. BMW decided to first paint the car in chrome shade metallic and then spray the tour in bright silver.
The biggest challenge to make the M3 E46 -Touring concept was the change in the rear doors so that they insert themselves with the rear wheel boxes without having to invest money in new tools. The rest of the car was easy to complete, since BMW had already available the parts from the M3 Coupé and Cabrio. To spice up things, the interior of black Alcantara used with so -called “F1” factories with metallic accents.
Although BMW flirted with the production of an M3 E46 car, journalists never allowed journalists to test the concept and decided to think everything. To be honest, we are just glad that it exists. In 2025, the M Division sells two cars: M3 Touring and M5 Touring. Factor in the M340I and M340D Teurmodelle, and you can certainly say that BMW adapts the niche of the performance estate.
Video: Drglumolunatic / YouTube
