BMW Won’t Build an M3 Wagon, so He Built it Himself
The cure for the current SUV craze is here in the form of this 530-horsepower BMW M3 wagon.
The SUV is in and the wagon is out. Sales figures and perusing any parking lot will tell you that wagons are relatively scarce. Some SUVs can be made into some serious performers, such as BMWs own X6 M, but they still have inherent disadvantages when compared to a simple wagon. However, car companies build what people want and most people want SUVs. With that being the case, you can’t really fault BMW for not delivering on the reports that they would give us an M3 wagon. Then again, BMW enthusiasts are not most people, so you certainly can’t fault the man who decided to build his own M3 wagon.
YouTuber Joe Achilles gives us an overview of this spectacular build of the world’s first F81 M3 wagon. The car is owned by Nick Prichard, who designed and built the car to his specifications. He is definitely a BMW wagon fan with some experience, having previously built an E91 M3 wagon. For this build, he started with a 320 diesel wagon and merged many parts from the M3 into it. The car looks like it rolled out of BMW’s own factory.
If you are going to go through all the effort to build a car like this, you may as well up the power a bit and that is exactly what Prichard has done. The S55 engine has been enhanced with an air intake, downpipes, and a software tune. In its current configuration, it puts out about 530 horsepower. You can hear each and every one of those horses through the modified competition package exhaust.
Taking a walk around the outside we can see several modifications that make this car look stunning on the road. As Achilles says, “I would say in my rearview mirror this car on the road has so much presence it just looks so mean and so awesome and sexy and everything, I just think it looks fantastic.” The look is enhanced by the beautiful M3 GTS hood, front splitter and LED headlights up front. On the corners are fully forged aftermarket wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires. Out back is the aforementioned performance exhaust and a rear diffuser that sets off the sporty look of the car.
On the inside, you are treated to a lovely Sakhir Orange extended leather interior with the carbon fiber package. It also has the M Performance steering wheel with integrated shift lights and fluid temperature display. It is a beautiful place to spend some time and even the view out the windshield is extraordinary. “Looking ahead I can see that lovely bonnet, that absolutely gorgeous bonnet, it just all feels so great in here.” Says Achilles.
Does it drive as well as it looks and sounds? Yes. The cool and damp weather made pushing the car hard a challenge, but even at relatively sane speeds, the car feels special. And despite its performance capabilities, it is a comfortable cruiser. “What I just can’t get over is how good the ride quality is in this car…the ride comfort is just amazing,” Achilles states.
Kudos to what Prichard has done here in building a car that looks, sounds and performs the way an M car should, yet provides all the utility of your average wagon. SUVs can be good, but this wagon is great.