The Sport Wagon Enthusiast

“The grass is always greener on the other side,” is a common refrain here at the SWE. With high-powered battlewagons being unveiled annually across the pond, Americans have few options when it comes to a production sport wagon—which is why enthusiasts in the States frequently build their own custom wagon projects. Look no further than the Ferrambo (Ferrari-powered Nash Rambler Wagon) or Supra-powered Datsun 510 as proof. Yet this “grass is greener” mentalit still endures—especially when it comes to an English gentleman named Gerard and his awe-inspiring E36 M3 Evo Touring build.

We’ve presented the quasi-mythical M3 Touring here before—namely BMW’s E46 M3 Prototype and a custom E91 M3 Touring—but have never shown an E36 M3 Kombi. Like all M3 wagons, BMW never built a production E36 M3 Touring, and thus the charge was left an enthusiast. Gerard set his sights high when building this M3, aiming to replicate what a factory M3 Evo Touring would have been (plus a few upgrades here and there)—even down to the smallest details.

Starting with a 1999 BMW 328iT sport wagon with the M-tech styling package, Gerard began the long road to a purebred 5-door M3. The heart of the project is the M3 Evo’s 3.2L inline-six, designated “S50B32” by BMW. Cranking out 321 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque in stock form, this masterfully engineered straight six made BMW’s second generation M3 a cult classic. With experience gained from developing the V12 for the McLaren F1, BMW bestowed the S50B32 with individual throttle bodies and double VANOs engine timing for superior performance, and it shows—this was the first street-legal BMW to achieve over 100 bhp per liter.

Adding to the M3’s performance, this custom Touring features a Milltek exhaust to liberate each and every Bavarian horse. Like the stock M3 Evo, Gerard paired this impressive powerplant to a Getreg 6-speed manual and a limited-slip differential. For faster and more satisfying shifting, a short-shift kit from the Z3M was also installed. To ensure proper stopping power a set a OEM M3 Evo brake rotors have been added—with Pagid RS29 brake pads—to great effect.

For superior handling, Gerard went above and beyond what BMW engineers made standard for the M3 Evo. With Eibach Pro Street S coilovers, Z3M top mounts, H&R front and rear anti-sway bars, 10mm front spacers, and a subframe reinforcement kit, this E36 M3 Touring can confidently hit the apex every time. In the styling department, this M3 comes as close as any to replicating a factory version. With this end in mind, Gerard installed an M3 front bumper with an Evo splitter, teardrop mirrors, and doorsills—and painted them to match the Touring’s beautiful “Meergrun” exterior color.

With considerable effort and cost, Gerard has built an E36 Touring worthy of the title “M3 Evo Sport Wagon.” We only have appreciation and compliments for those true enthusiasts who can create such a technological masterpiece—and hope others look to Gerard’s M3 Touring for inspiration.

January 11th, 2012