s54 Swapped Touring on BaT

[maw1124]

Fortunately you can have your pick of the litter. Unfortunately my tastes always end up being the most expensive and never by intention.

Trust me, I understand. It’s not for kids. But I consider it fortunate.

Get that Sonderklasse life going, and enjoy it.

maw

[old///MFanatic]

The wagon is smaller— the M3 is longer and wider.
The e46 wagon chassis also has significantly greater torsional rigidity than the e46 coupe chassis.

Well..to be fair those statements are kind of a bit misleading. It’s just 1 cm longer, however the wagon is taller. Coupes have a more raked streamline windshield but of most importance the wagon has a higher and longer roofline all the way to the back hatch. Which makes for undesired weight at top and at ends.
As for “M3 coupe” chassis, the E46 wagon has significantly less torsional rigidity..close to 5,000 Nm/deg (between non-M Coupes it’s nowhere near that).

[WestBankM4]

This is a great thread, learning lots. I do agree it's a polarizing look, I've never been into wagons personally but to each their own. The E46 chassis is super versatile, too bad they didn't make sedan's. That red one is a lovely build, phew.

[Obioban]

Well..to be fair those statements are kind of a bit misleading. It’s just 1 cm longer, however the wagon is taller. Coupes have a more raked streamline windshield but of most importance the wagon has a higher and longer roofline all the way to the back hatch. Which makes for undesired weight at top and at ends.
As for “M3 coupe” chassis, the E46 wagon has significantly less torsional rigidity..close to 5,000 Nm/deg (between non-M Coupes it’s nowhere near that).

BMW E46 Convertible 10,500
BMW E46 Coupe (W/folding seats) 12,500
BMW E46 Sedan (w/folding seats) 13,000
BMW E46 Sedan (W/o folding seats) 18,000
BMW E46 Wagon (w/folding seats) 14,000

The M3 is stiffer than the non M coupe, but it's from the bolt on bits you get when you do the conversion-- thrust plate, V brace, etc.

I'm sure the wagon CoG is higher, but I don't think it's necessarily significantly rear heavier-- my M3 converted wagon is only ~100 lbs heavier than stock e46 M3 coupe. Take out the clip in cargo cover, spare tire, and jack (that the M3 doesn't have), and that difference is pretty close to zero. It's not really a lot more material, it's the same material raised (as in, it's not like the coupe is a void there-- there's a trunk lid). The extra car pretty much comes down to the rear side windows.

[puma1824]

BMW E46 Convertible 10,500
BMW E46 Coupe (W/folding seats) 12,500
BMW E46 Sedan (w/folding seats) 13,000
BMW E46 Sedan (W/o folding seats) 18,000
BMW E46 Wagon (w/folding seats) 14,000

The M3 is stiffer than the non M coupe, but it's from the bolt on bits you get when you do the conversion-- thrust plate, V brace, etc.

I'm sure the wagon CoG is higher, but I don't think it's necessarily significantly rear heavier-- my M3 converted wagon is only ~100 lbs heavier than stock e46 M3 coupe. Take out the clip in cargo cover, spare tire, and jack (that the M3 doesn't have), and that difference is pretty close to zero. It's not really a lot more material, it's the same material raised (as in, it's not like the coupe is a void there-- there's a trunk lid). The extra car pretty much comes down to the rear side windows.

Nice. Where did you find those numbers? Would be interesting to know the weight of a fully converted Touring to M3 spec. For mine, I will be keeping the rails (another polarizing option) but removing the sunroof. Removing the rails would slightly help higher CoG and weight but I personally want to keep as I see them as another benefit/feature specific to the Touring. Oh yeah good point on the jack, I'll remove that as that won't be needed without a spare. I opted for manual seats so that should remove a little more weight.

[Obioban]

Nice. Where did you find those numbers? Would be interesting to know the weight of a fully converted Touring to M3 spec. For mine, I will be keeping the rails (another polarizing option) but removing the sunroof. Removing the rails would slightly help higher CoG and weight but I personally want to keep as I see them as another benefit/feature specific to the Touring. Oh yeah good point on the jack, I'll remove that as that won't be needed without a spare. I opted for manual seats so that should remove a little more weight.

https://beautifullyengineered.tumblr.com/post/19609093654/torsional-rigidity-a-compiled-list-of-known-specs

Keeping the factory rails, IMO, decreases the roof rack functionality. The stock rails run length wise, so you can't really put anything on the roof. When you remove the stock rails, you gain access to the same trap doors that are on other e46s, so you can run cross bars-- which let you actually put things on the roof. Plus, that roof rack installs and removes in minutes.

I run mine without the jack/space for DD use, but throw it in when going on a long drive.

... factory manual seats are ~2 lbs lighter each than power seats.

[kaiv]

That compact picture is very generous to the compact, by hiding it's lights in artificial shadows 🤣

I secretly really like this lol

[old///MFanatic]

The e46 wagon chassis also has significantly greater torsional rigidity than the e46 coupe chassis.

You stated wagon chassis is significantly greater than coupe, it’s not. That’s was one clarification I was making as it seemed to be misrepresented.

The M3 is stiffer than the non M coupe, but it's from the bolt on bits you get when you do the conversion-- thrust plate, V brace, etc.

E46 Coupe 12,500 Nm/deg
E46 Wagon 14,000 Nm/deg
E46 M3 ~18,800 Nm/deg

Even if you want to say it’s from bolt-on’s, it’s not just from bolt-on’s. (And even if that were strictly true same argument can be made for the non-M Coupes getting these bolt-on’s raising its torsional rigidity). Which would make the same difference as before, meaning no significant advantage using wagon chassis. And not better than M3 coupe.

Yes I’ve seen M’s document stating the trust plate gains. But M also says it does (120) more welds, gussets to frame rails and reinforced C pillar, etc strengthening to achieve its M3 chassis strength.

[Obioban]

You stated wagon chassis is significantly greater than coupe, it’s not. That’s was one clarification I was making as it seemed to be misrepresented.

E46 Coupe 12,500 Nm/deg
E46 Wagon 14,000 Nm/deg
E46 M3 ~18,800 Nm/deg

Even if you want to say it’s from bolt-on’s, it’s not just from bolt-on’s. (And even if that were strictly true same argument can be made for the non-M Coupes getting these bolt-on’s raising its torsional rigidity). Which would make the same difference as before, meaning no significant advantage using wagon chassis. And not better than M3 coupe.

Yes I’ve seen M’s document stating the trust plate gains. But M also says it does (120) more welds, gussets to frame rails and reinforced C pillar, etc strengthening to achieve its M3 chassis strength.

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I guess it depends on your definition of "significant". I can easily feel vert to coupe, and that is "only" 2000 nm/deg.

e46 M3 is 18,500, CSL is 18,750, per BMW (in their document about the CSL roof, they mentioned the increased torsional rigidity that resulted from it). I've never seen 18,800 listed anywhere.

I have seen the above docs mentioning weld in reinforcements in the M, but I've never actually seen them in the metal (M3 vs non M coupe).

Anyway, like for like (before M modifications), the wagon is inherently more rigid than the coupe-- that's all I was trying to say.

... this all reminds me that I need to get my Slonik plate in before spring.

[sapote]

Personally, I think the wagon looks great.

Me too and I think the E46 wagon is one of the best looking wagon ever made.
Just like the Citroen SM, I love it and have one, but others hate it.

[sapote]

I would think that making money isnt what drives wagon swaps, its the love of the wagon.

The donor M3 was bought on June 2020 and transplanted to the wagon, so this car is for sale a year later with love or not, or it's a forced sale. I like the wagon, but not on white.

[puma1824]

Me too and I think the E46 wagon is one of the best looking wagon ever made.
Just like the Citroen SM, I love it and have one, but others hate it.

My other BMW is also polarizing. It's definitely not photogenic and looks a lot better (to me) in person. In pictures, they are UGLY lol. I didn't want anything to do with it until I saw one and drove one in person.

[phoenx]

That thing is awesome!

[old///MFanatic]

e46 M3 is 18,500, CSL is 18,750, per BMW (in their document about the CSL roof, they mentioned the increased torsional rigidity that resulted from it). I've never seen 18,800 listed anywhere.
I have seen the above docs mentioning weld in reinforcements in the M.

Yeah I posted those docs before specifically explaining to you about welds, etc in another discussion about what makes up the M3s torsional rigidity.
Now here’s from BMW GROUP’s own internal graph. *Terra can verify it. Looks to show:
M3 approximately 18,700-18,800 Nm/deg. And the CSL 19,100 Nm/deg. Sure hope you appreciate this as it took me like 2 hrs to find my backup data lol 😝
Translation for those who don’t speak German:
Brown Line Graph=Torsion Stiffness with CFRP Roof
Red Line Graph=Torsion Stiffness with Steel Roof
Blue Line Graph=Shear modulus of test adhesive

[usdmej]

My other BMW is also polarizing. It's definitely not photogenic and looks a lot better (to me) in person. In pictures, they are UGLY lol. I didn't want anything to do with it until I saw one and drove one in person.

low key the I3 will be a collectible someday based on styling/design alone.
their wheel/tire strategy for it was a big miss tho and is the main reason i can't convince myself to get one