BMW 316 Touring Converted into a Supercharged Wagon Beast

BMW 316 Touring Converted into a Supercharged Wagon BeastIt is a pure driving machine.

Automotive enthusiasts hold the BMW 3 Series internal designation E30 a special place in their hearts. It is considered the most reliable and enjoyable model in the history of the Bavarian brand. It is so popular that M3s of the E30 family have skyrocketed in price – to the point that a naked shell can be purchased for $30,000. There are always other options if you don’t want to spend a lot on a 1990s performance car.

Castro Motorsports, a BMW-specialized repair and tuning shop in Los Angeles, has created a replica M3 wagon based on a 1991 stock 316. The AutotopiaLA YouTube has a new video that details the project. Here’s what you should know before you watch the video.

The supercharged S54 BMW engine under the hood produces approximately 470 horsepower (350kilowatts at wheels), which should translate into a total output of close to 540hp (403kW). This is a very impressive figure for a retro wagon that only weighs 3,000 pounds (1.360 kg). The six-cylinder engine comes with a six speed manual gearbox. This was sourced from a 2001 to 2006 330i.

The suspension is a mixture of various BMW models, but the most important aspect is that it has been modified to a 5-lug setup. It can now use larger M3 (E36), brakes. The car is now fitted with 215/40 R17 tires wrapped around BBS Style 19 19-inch wheels that were part of a 2001-2003 BMW 5 Series. Interestingly, the car still uses its original manual windows and has air conditioning.

The video’s description says that the car “looks like a cool grocery getter but it makes 470 hp at the wheels and handles/brakes/drives like a pure sports car” and we can’t think of a better way to describe it. Enjoy!