BMW 3er E46 Touring

"The station wagon that’s finally gorgeous enough, engaging enough to drive, and sufficiently

swell to lure folks out of those cumbersome utes." -Car and Driver

(Photo by Gordon Hancock)

Specifications

323iT

Model Year: 2000

Engine: 2.5L Inline 6 (M52TUB25)

Transmission: 5 speed manual or 5 speed automatic

Drivetrain: Front-engined, Rear-wheel Drive

Horsepower: 170 hp @ 5500 rpms

Torque: 181 lb-ft @ 3500 rpms

Drag Coefficient: .33

Curb Weight: ~3400 lbs

(~200 lbs heavier than 323i sedan)

Weight Distribution: 47.9/ 52.1% (Rear Weight Bias!)

0-60: 7.4 seconds (Manual, Car and Driver)

8.8 (Automatic, Edmunds)

1/4 Mile: 15.7 @ 88 (Manual, Car and Driver)

16.7 @ 83.8 (Auto, Edmunds)

Top Speed: 132 (Redline)

325iT

Model Years: 2001-2005

Engine: 2.5L Inline 6 (M54B25)

Transmission: 5 speed manual or 5 speed automatic

Drivetrain: Front-engined, Rear-wheel Drive

Horsepower: 184 hp

Torque: 175lb-ft

Drag Coefficient: .33

0-60: 7.4 seconds (BMW)

325xiT

Model Years: 2001-2005

Engine: 2.5L Inline 6 (M54B25)

Transmission: 5 speed manual or 5 speed automatic

Drivetrain: Front-engined, All-wheel Drive

Horsepower: 184 hp

Torque: 175lb-ft

Drag Coefficient: .33

E46 M3 Touring?

Only one factory M3 Touring Prototype was produced, and was only revealed in 2011. But tuning firms such as Rogue Engineering have come close. The M3's S54 engine implanted, 340 hp through a 6-speed manual transmission tranfered power to an M3 rear axle (and a limited slip differential).

Rogue Engineering "M3 Touring"

Reviews (323iT)

Car and Driver:

"Highs: Typical BMW road manners, world-class braking, roomy rear seat, snappy styling."

"...we think the performance of the 2.5-liter engine stacks up pretty well, particularly when it’s allied with the standard five-speed manual transmission, whose precise shifting we’ve extolled in every encounter."

"One thing’s certain: If your notion of station wagons is still stuck in the big bad barges of the Leave It to Beaver days, you’ve either been hibernating for several decades or watching too many SUV commercials. Station-wagon shame is gone, folks. Station wagons—at least some station wagons; this station wagon, for sure—are cool."

"...we think wagons make a lot more sense in most applications than do sport-utes. They’re handier and better-looking, and they get better fuel economy—remember fuel economy? And they’re more fun to drive."

"What you might not expect, however, is how small a performance price you’ll pay for the expanded cargo capacity. We were pleasantly surprised when the wagon hauled mass to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds, just 0.2 slower than the sedan and 0.2 quicker than the factory projections."

"We think this $1700 [Sports] package is not only a must-have for this car, it’s also a bargain."

"Maybe this is the one. The station wagon that’s finally gorgeous enough, engaging enough to drive, and sufficiently swell to lure folks out of those cumbersome utes. Compared with its X5 ute stable-mate, this wagon offers 60 percent more cargo space and weighs about a third less."

The Auto Channel:

"Wagons have rarely been stylish, but the 323 is an exception."

The sport suspension on my test car is firmer still, with ultra-low profile high-speed rated tires on 17-inch alloy wheels. It is the perfect enthusiast option, and balances sharp handling with civilized comfort.

"In many ways, an inline six-cylinder engine is the perfect engine, with excellent smoothness because of its design."

"CONCLUSIONS: Have your cake and eat it too with the BMW 323i sport wagon. It offers the space and versatility of a small SUV and the performance and handling expected of a BMW sports sedan."

Edmunds First Drive

"Sport wagons aren't about hauling the ubiquitous load of two-by-fours home from Home Depot; they're about versatile cargo space with the handling and performance of a sports car - a melding BMW has perfected."

"Once the tachometer hits the two-grand mark, the low-emission, Double-VANOS variable valve timing kicks in with a swelling rush of power to the rear wheels -- all the way to redline."

"In typical BMW fashion, the five-speed manual provided smooth and precise shifts with the signature "tink" into each gate and gear ratios perfectly mated to the engine's rpm band."

"Unlike many compact wagons, the 323i is right at home carving canyons with gusto...Press the DSC defeat button and the wagon will happily wag its tail upon driver command."

"On highway and city streets, the wagon exhibited the customary smooth and docile manners one would expect from BMW."

Edmunds Full Test

"Automotive stylists often seem to struggle with the shaping of wagons (1993 Toyota Camry Wagon, anybody?), but BMW has done right here....The 323i Sport Wagon looks like it was born with wagon DNA, not some hack job done by ACME Wagon Company."

"Like every other 3 Series car, the 323i Sport Wagon is perfectly capable of both highway cruising and high-performance handling. The body structure is quite rigid, and the cabin is very quiet at highway speeds. Thanks to its rear-wheel drive and 47.8/52.2-percent front-and-rear weight bias, the BMW is one of the most nimble compact wagons available. "

BMW North America Manager of Product Planning and Strategy, Rich Brekus:

Q: Where do you see the new Sportwagon fitting in among the explosion of new compact SUVs? Is there any demographic overlap?

A: The small SUVs and the SUV craze itself is more mainstream. The 3-Series wagon is a completely different kind of vehicle. It's truly about haying a great time driving and oh, by the way, bringing stuff. The Sportwagon buyer realizes that for the 90% of the time that they're not hauling anything, they don't want to be driving a truck. And they'll see the 3-Series wagon and know it's the perfect solution to their needs.

Photos

325iT non-Sport Package