Ask any auto enthusiast what they think about the wagon (or estate) body style, and you’ll probably be given an explanation on why it’s the best form factor that’s long enough to make a video that’s eligible for monetization.
We know the Germans are all over this, with crazy high-performance offerings like the Audi RS4 and RS6 Avant, and the Mercedes-AMG C63 and E63 Estate.
BMW has had a few of these ferocious wagons in the past, but they were only offered on the E34 and the E61 M5. There even was an M3 E46 Touring concept, which was made as an internal feasibility study back in 2000.
Well, 36 years since the introduction of the E30 M3, the badge finally has its own wagon variant called the M3 Touring, and it’s one car worth the kowtowing you’ll have to do to convince your wife to get one.
The front half of the Touring is mostly the same as the sedan, so you still have that love-it-or-hate-it face. Although you start to notice a couple of differences as you walk past the front doors.
The car is 85mm longer, 76mm wider, and 4mm lower than the standard 3-Series Wagon, wearing a staggered setup of 19/20-inch light-alloy wheels. Topping off the car (literally) are standard roof rails, and a Gurney flap on the model-exclusive roof spoiler to aid with aerodynamics.
It only comes in the Competition trim, meaning it has the same 3.0-liter twin-turbo in-line-six mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Sorry, no rear-wheel drive or manual transmission.
The numbers are as follows: 510hp and 650Nm, 0-100km/h in 3.6 seconds, 0-200km/h in 12.9 seconds, and electronically limited top speed of 280km/h (with the M Driver’s Package). The cargo bay has 500L of capacity that can expand all the way to 1,510L, thanks to the 40:20:40 folding rear seats.
And apart from the cavernous boot and the extended roofline for more rear-seat headroom, the M3 Touring comes with the BMW Curved Display, which runs the iDrive 8 operating system (with M-specific customizations) across two screens, a 12.3-inch instrument binnacle, and a 14.9-inch infotainment screen—along with all the other driver aids and tech goodies you’d see on any high-end Bimmer.
The front has heated, electronically adjustable M Sport seats that are upholstered in Merino leather. You can opt for M Carbon bucket seats if you want to save 9.6kg over the standard seats. There’s also an automatic tailgate with a separately opening rear window to help with loading cargo.
The M3 Touring will make its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and you can place orders starting September (prices haven’t been announced), with production beginning in November. The UK and Germany will get it first, and other markets (specifically Switzerland, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Japan) will follow suit.
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