Hardcore track-focused 3.3-litre 387bhp BMW M3 E46

Built for ultimate track performance, this CSL-styled E46 M3 will sing for you the song of its people, and it’s an NA symphony you won’t forget…

Words: Elizabeth de Latour

Photos: Deniss Podnebess

LIGHT FANTASTIC

Hardcore track-focused 3.3-litre BMW M3 E46 build

HARDCORE 3.3-LITREE46 M3

The E46 M3 gets a whole lot of love, and all of it is deserved. After the lukewarm reception that the E36 M3 received upon launch (retrospectively undeserved), its successor made amends in every way imaginable. Muscular styling, a howling S54 under the bonnet, and a razor-sharp chassis all combined to create the perfect package. It’s easy to see why it was showered with universal acclaim when it first emerged, and why it remains such a firm fan favourite now. For those looking to build themselves a track car, the E46 M3 also remains an extremely popular choice of base car and drinking in the details of Max’s example, it’s easy to see why.

Hailing from Latvia, Max is a BMW fan through and through, and it’s not just a personal passion, it’s a professional one, too. “I have been interested in BMWs for over 20 years now,” he enthuses, “it’s the character and design of the cars that makes them so special to me. My first car was an E30 323i, it was being parted out and was cheap. I now run a BMW workshop, and currently I own an F13 M6, E39 M5, an N54-swapped E46 and this M3,” he grins, and that’s a hell of a collection.

This isn’t Max’s first PBMW rodeo, as we featured his N54-swapped E46 back in our November ’17 issue, and his E46 M3 is no less impressive of a build. When Max found this car, it was an SMG-equipped example, which also came equipped with a little bit of front wing and front bumper damage, but, as his goal was always to turn it into a track build, that was no big deal. With an extensive history of modding and a whole string of modded BMs under his belt, it was always guaranteed to be a full-on build, and it most definitely is. The first item on Max’s to-do list was dealing with the SMG gearbox – some people love it and the way driving with it feels, while other people disagree with their opinions. In Max’s case, he wanted a manual in his M3, so a swap was duly carried out and, with that sorted, work could continue on the rest of the project.

With Max looking to turn his E46 into a track-focused machine, it’s no surprise that the first main area for mods was the chassis. Out of the box, the E46 M3 has an awesome chassis, it’s one of the reasons why the car was so well received when it was new and why it’s so awesome to drive. Even in stock form, it’s not too shabby around a circuit, but if you’re serious about track work, then you need a serious suspension setup, and Max has not cut any corners here. First up, you’ve got the KW V2 coilovers, which offer a wide range of adjustment, allowing him to get the car set up exactly how he wants it, as well as naturally serving up a substantial drop, which is a very welcome bonus. The coilovers are joined by custom camber plates, which offer further adjustment to fine-tune the handling, Powerflex bushes throughout the chassis to remove any slack and slop and keep everything seriously tight, and H&R anti-roll bars to keep the M3 flat through the corners. It’s a serious setup and a significant upgrade over the stock chassis.

Obviously, serious circuit work means you need some serious brakes on board because the stock stoppers will start to wilt very quickly on track without any enhancements, and so Max’s M3 is now equipped with some suitably heavy-duty brakes. Up front, you will find hefty six-pot BMW M Performance calipers, and these are mated to CSL discs mounted on aircraft aluminium adapters, while at the rear sit four-pot 996 911 calipers, also clamping CSL discs. The whole lot is finished off with HEL braided brake lines, and it ensures that Max can rely on his brakes to deliver serious stopping power lap after lap without worrying about them letting him down.

When it came to wheels, Max’s decision was based purely on aesthetics and to be honest, we don’t blame him at all. The BBS CHs he’s chosen for his M3 are awesome, they’ve got that motorsport look, and these 19s suit the E46 so well, filling out the arches perfectly, and they are wrapped in grippy Yoko AD08R rubber for maximum on-track traction.

There’s more to this M3 than just the wheels when it comes to aesthetics, though, and a quick glance at this build is all you need to know exactly what Max’s inspiration was here. “We put most of the OEM CSL parts on the car to make it look similar to a genuine CSL,” he says, and as they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Up front, you will find a genuine CSL front bumper, along with a set of gloss black grilles, while at the rear sits that iconic ducktail boot lid, plus a carbon diffuser, and even the side vents on the front wings are the correct CSL-badged items. Finished in stunning Imola red, it’s an awesome-looking machine all-round. Take a look inside, and you’ll quickly realise just how hardcore this build is.

What you will notice immediately is not the Sparco Pro 2000 seat that has been fitted for the driver, but rather the complete lack of a passenger seat, which really drives home the point of just how focused a build this is. That single seat is equipped with a Sparco six-point harness, and the rear seats have been removed, and there’s a bolt-in half-cage in their place. Other additions are the suede-rimmed Sparco steering wheel, the carbon trim, the suede gear gaiter, an OMP fire extinguisher and an EGT monitor mounted in an air vent, and it all makes for one perfect track-focused cabin.

There’s one area that we haven’t yet touched on, and that’s the engine. Now, there’s not a lot that you can do to the S54 when it comes to extracting extra power from it unless you’re willing to spend some serious cash on it. The most obvious choice is forced induction, as it delivers arguably the biggest bang for your buck; Max, however, wasn’t interested in that. He wanted to keep things NA, but he also wanted more power, and that meant some serious work was needed. How serious? Well, the S54 nestled under the bonnet is now a 3.3-litre with oversized JE pistons, and they are joined by FCP forged rods, Supertech valve springs and titanium retainers, 288/280 Schrick cams and a balanced crank. But that’s not the end of it, because there are Supersprint race exhaust manifolds, a custom middle exhaust section, and a lightweight Arqray titanium rear box weighing just 9kg while, under the bonnet, sits that stunning Karbonius carbon race airbox.

This comprehensive selection of engine mods is truly impressive. All the internal upgrades and the capacity increase have resulted in this S54 now producing a hefty 387 naturally aspirated horses. That intake and exhaust setup, meanwhile, means that it also produces an absolutely incredible soundtrack to go with it, and we really respect Max’s decision to commit to the NA setup, it was absolutely worthwhile. This is a very impressive build on every level. Max set out to put together a full-on track M3, he’s definitely succeeded, and the end result is nothing short of awesome. For starters, it looks fantastic, thanks to those CSL styling additions. Then you’ve got the handling enhancements that hone the chassis to perfection, and the crowning glory is that awesome engine, with its host of epic NA enhancements. As far as track packages go, they don’t come much more complete than this.

After five years of comprehensive upgrades, the project is done, and with Max being a serial modder and car enjoyer, it’s no surprise that this build is up for sale, and he’s already hunting for his next purchase. It won’t be a BM, though, with a Gallardo or 911 GT3 in his sights, and to be honest, we’re not surprised that he has to aim that much higher for his next hit of adrenaline because this E46 M3 delivers pure motoring thrills on another level.

This M3 was built for the track, and it really delivers CSL bumper features carbon splitters 19” BBS CHs and M Performance six-pot front calipers Arqray titanium rear box weighs just 9kg. might not be a CSL, but it’s arguably even more hardcore. EGT display. S54 now sits at 3.3-litres and features a carbon airbox. Single Sparco seat inside.

All the internal upgrades and the capacity increase have resulted in this S54 now producing a hefty 387 naturally aspirated horses”

DATA FILE E46 M3

• ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION Straight-six S54, 3.3-litres, oversized JE pistons, FCP forged rods, Supertech valve springs and titanium retainers, Schrick 288/280 cams, Karbonius race airbox, Supersprint race exhaust manifolds, custom middle section, Arqray 9kg titanium rear box, individual cylinder EGT monitoring and control. Getrag Type D six-speed manual gearbox swap, Driftworks flywheel, Sachs racing clutch, AC Schnitzer short-shifter
• POWER AND TORQUE 387bhp and 277lb ft
• CHASSIS 8.5x19” (front) and 10x19” (rear) BBS CH wheels with 225/35 (front) and 265/35 (rear) Yokohama AD08R tyres, KW V2 coilovers, custom camber plates, H&R anti-roll bars, Powerflex bushes, BMW M Performance six-piston calipers and CSL discs with aircraft aluminium adapters (front), Porsche 996 911 four-piston rear calipers and CSL discs with aircraft aluminium adapters (rear), HEL braided brakes lines
• EXTERIOR Genuine CSL front bumper, front wing vents, ducktail boot lid and carbon diffuser, gloss black grilles
• INTERIOR Sparco Pro 2000 driver’s seat, passenger seat removed, Sparco six-point harness, rear seat delete, bolt-in half-cage, Sparco steering wheel, OMP fire extinguisher, vent-mounted EGT control monitor, carbon trim, Alcantara gear gaiter
• THANKS Our shop’s main mechanic Ilja Krilov