One car to do it all.

The car:

2004 BMW E46 M3 Touring Titan Silver Metallic 
S54 with CSL Flash
6 Speed SMG with CSL flash

The story:

This car started its life as a regular old 318i Msport and in 2015 was completely converted to M3 spec by the guys at HellBM in Auckland NZ. Fast forward 2 years and we purchased it from them. Then proceeded to make an already good car great. Originally bought by Nathan just before his second child was born, the design brief was simple: "one car to do it all", it needed to fit car seats in the back during the week; cart around gear and bikes then hit the race track on the weekends.

 

 

Now this was no regular M3 conversion, Hellbm went to great lengths to replicate the one and only e46 M3 touring produced by BMW (1 of 1; now living its life in the secret BMW storage facility in Munich) so much so that even the spare tyre location was replaced with an M3 'deleted' version and tool kit.

 

The rear guards use a stitched on M3 rear guard with the rear doors slightly flared to match. The front guards are a stitched together combination of touring and M3 guards. The bonnet, front bumper and headlights are all undeniably e46 M3 items. The rear bumper was another heavily customised and lengthened piece using the m3 lower portion with the touring upper for hatch clearance.

As well as all that, you can bet your bottom dollar that it was fitted with the famous S54 6 cylinder engine. Mated to the sometimes infamous 6 speed SMG transmission. Although the SMG gets a bad rep on the internet, Nathan says that driving this one was nothing short of exciting every time he hopped in. We fitted a new OEM clutch, flywheel and bushings, and this coupled with the CSL flash was a delight to drive round town, and a beast to drive on track. It gave the flexibility of a daily driver with the automated shifting but with the ability to bite like a ferocious dog in full race mode.

 

 

This car was nothing short of amazing. However, when we first got it we started about rejuvenating all of the finer details you might expect from WerksGarage, things like bumpers were refitted so they sat like the OEM versions, panel gaps were finely tuned to reflect how they should have looked from the factory. The interior was completely overhauled with many new plastic panels and switches. We fitted a customised set of Recaro sr7 seats with Msport fabric inserts - again, amplifying the OEM+ theme; of course we went to great lengths to mount these to the e46 electric seat rails retaining as much of the OEM functionality as possible. CSL alcantara steering wheel from Royal Steering Wheels in the UK was fitted and matching CSL alcantara gear and handbrake boots.

 

 

Externally the car benefited from PSS10 adjustable suspension, with adjustable camber/caster plates up front and camber arms in the rear. All m3 sway bars and running gear was already being used (driveshafts, control arms you name it, it was M3). We added CSL 2 piece front rotors with freshly painted 996 Porsche calipers utilising Pagid RS19 pads. In the rear; brand new m3 rotors and 996 Porsche rear calipers. Holding it all together was brand new ATE gold (typ 200) brake fluid.

 

 

And the piece de resistance of course were the Avant Garde M359 19" wheels. Spec'd in 19x9 et35 and 19x10 et38 they gave a 'I mean business' look while not being overly aggressive (that wheel spec is traditionally a spec for the BMW e90). We wrapped them in Michelin's finest tyre for all activities the pilot sport 4S. 

It was all brought together with a full detail from our friends down at AutoNiche to make everything pop.

 

 

The car was an absolute delight and was a crowd pleaser where ever it went, Of course only the trained eye really knew why it was special. Its now moved on to its new owner but it will forever hold a place in our hearts.

 

If you are interested in owning a unicorn like this (or perhaps you'd like to build a sedan version) then please dont hesitate to get in contact - we would love to help you out.