Finally! An E46 M3 Touring you can actually buy

BMW never productionised a much-loved concept; 25 years on, a UK specialist is making the dream a reality

The fact that so many people have built their own M3 Tourings when BMW wouldn’t shows just how popular the idea always was. Ever since the first concept was shown (and driven) at the turn of the century, fans were desperate for the real thing, only to remain disappointed all the way until 2022. And a G81 Touring, cool machine though it is, patently represents a very different kind of M3 wagon - two turbos, four-wheel drive, standard auto - than an E46 equivalent.

Now, more than a quarter of a century after BMW’s concept, a limited run of complete E46 M3 Tourings is being made. We’ve all seen plenty of labour-of-love projects over the years - one of two probably in Readers’ Cars, actually - but this is the first time there’s been a batch of them lined up. The glorious Laguna Seca Blue creation you see here is the work of Petroyle, a restoration specialist based near Oxford. While their work covers a lot of brands, they love an old M car at Petroyle (the LSB coupe you see here is owned by the boss), and it’s the years of BMW experience and expertise that’s gone into the Touring project.

Obviously the significant change from a factory E46 M3 to a Touring is in the bodywork. When Petroyle suggests that ‘integrating the flared wheel arches, signature side grilles and custom rear bumper requires extensive engineering and meticulous fabrication’, you sense even that might be underplaying the task somewhat. But with that done for the first car, the process is in place for those examples that follow. Interestingly the Touring-specific panels - rear bumper, front wings, sills - are made from carbon fibre, which is good from a rigidity point of view, but is said to be ‘more cost effective than steel’ in this instance as well. It also means keeping the kerbweight close to that of an M3 coupe (which is 1,570kg).The quarter panels are still steel, like the concept, plus those that want a carbon roof to create a Touring CSL are able to do so. And before you say anything: yes, the boot floor has been reinforced. In fact the entire structure is stiffened up, so hopefully it’ll really drive like an M3 Touring and not just an engine swapped project.

Build 001, colour and trim aside, is intended as an exact remake of the original M3 Touring concept, down to clear glass and properly sized wheels (that so many people get wrong on similar builds). While Petroyle does have donor machines ready to build M3 Tourings from, it also has access to zero-mile S54s for those that want ‘a truly factory-fresh experience.’ Imagine that. Or for something wilder, the later S65 V8 and S85 V10 can go in.

Obviously paint, leather and materials are all customisable to your heart’s desire. While Laguna Seca Blue and Cinnamon would hardly be an original choice given this car already exists, it’s easy to imagine one or two more being commissioned. Look at it! Often custom builds feature something that easily identifies as not from an OEM, but everything about the Petroyle M3 Touring that can be seen - the little details like ride height and wheel fitment, for example - appear as if from factory. And very cool as a result.

‘The E46 M3 Touring project represents an exciting new chapter for the business - an opportunity to bring our renowned craftsmanship into the modern-classic arena’ says the marketing material. ‘We are excited to apply the same precision, passion and expertise that define our restoration work to the creation of each bespoke M3 Touring.’ Petroyle will only make 50 Tourings, the build cost is from £130,000 - or about what a new CS might cost - and, yes, being the envy of all your M3 owning friends seems guaranteed. Even those with Tourings. We’ll get behind the wheel as soon as possible.

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Howrare

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