Price: SOLD
Mileage: 128,000 Chassis Miles / 60,000 Motor Miles
Engine: S54B32 Inline 6-Cylinder Engine from 2004 BMW M3
Transmission: 6-Speed Manual Transmission
Exterior color: Topaz Blue Metallic Exterior (364)
Interior: Standard Grey Leather Interior (N6TT)
Additional features:
Carbon Fiber Wrapped Interior Trim
Clutch Masters FX300 Clutch
Aluminum Flywheel
E39 540i Shifter (similar to Z3)
Complete M3 Drivetrain Swap
M3 Front and Rear Subframes
M3 Front and Rear Brakes
M3 Limited-Slip Differential
Stainless Steel Brake Lines
M3 Radiator
Bimmerworld Group N Motor Mounts
BMW Transmission Mounts
Ohlin (DFV) Road and Track Coilovers w/
Eibach (ERS) Linear Springs (Ohlin Progressive Springs also included)
Ground Control Camber Plates
Ground Control Rear Shock Mounts
M3 Sway Bars
M3 Front Strut Brace
Powerflex Front Control Arm Bushings
Powerflex Rear Subframe Bushings
Powerflex Rear Trailing Arm Bushings
Stromung E46 S54 Touring Swap Stainless Steel Muffler
M3 Instrument Cluster
M3 Steering Wheel
M3 Front Seats w/ Adjustable Side Bolsters and Lumbar Support
Post-Facelift Hood, Headlights, Front Fenders and Front Bumper Cover
Gloss Black Kidney Grills
Clear Tail Lights
Clear Side Markers
ZHP Shift Knob
BMW Business CD
Harmon Kardon HiFi Sound System
Heated Seats
Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror
Xenon Headlights
Headlight Cleaning System
Fog Lights
Parking Distance Control (PDC)
BMW All-Weather Floor Mats and Rear Cargo Mat
18” Apex Arc-8 Anthracite Wheels (staggered)
Vorshlag Competition Wheel Studs
Continental Extreme Contact Sport High Performance Tires
17” BMW Style 96 Wheels w/ Blizzack Snow Tires
BMW Rood Rails
Yakama Cross Bars
Packsport Low-Profile Roof Box
Texas / North Carolina / Colorado Car
Clean Carfax
The E46 generation M3 was the last of a legacy of normally aspirated, inline 6-cylinder M cars that defined the marque for a generation. At the heart of the E46 M3 was the 333-horsepower S54B32 engine, an evolution of an architecture that reaches back to the original M535i and M1. The S54 won multiple engineering awards upon its release and, at the time, it produced the highest horsepower-per-liter for a normally aspirated production engine. A pull to its screaming 8000-RPM redline is a smile-evoking experience that is only made better by the communicative and composed E46 chassis. Unfortunately, that chassis only came in a coupe or a convertible—no sedan, and no touring (for us wagon lovers). Hardcore enthusiasts have been solving that problem for years by swapping the S54 into the E46 3 Series Sport Wagon. It’s not a small undertaking, but not unreasonable for the skilled enthusiast. A proper swap should have functional power steering, air conditioning, a clean engine bay, and all of the E46 M3 underpinnings—and the price varies with highly finished examples commanding significant premiums over the cobbled together projects at the bottom of the spectrum. The end result is the car that BMW should have built, an M-powered wagon that is both exclusive—because nobody else has one—and practical because it’s a wagon!
This 2002 M3 S54-swaped 325i Sport Wagon is one of those top-tier examples; I am selling on consignment for a Glen Shelly regular who also owns a specialty suspension shop and daily drives an S14-swapped square taillight BMW 2002. Originally optioned as a 5-speed 325iT in Topaz Blue over Grey Leather with the Luxury and Cold Weather Packages it also features Xenon headlights, fog lights, parking distance control (PDC), and Harmon Kardon premium sound. It was originally delivered in October of 2001 in New Jersey and spent a little over a year there before landing in Austin, Texas where it remained for the next decade. In 2012 it went to North Carolina with the previous owner, who I found it on E46 Fanatics from. A detailed pre-purchase inspection, along with service records and receipts begin with that owner at around 100K miles. That owner spent considerable time and money refreshing many mechanical and cosmetic items along with desirable upgrades like clear taillights. The current owner purchased it on my strong recommendation (after seeing it listed on E46 Fanatics) in 2015 and has since completed the S54 swap.
The S54 swap was done when the wagon had 113K miles with a 108K-mile M3 (5K less than the wagon had). This is noted by a tamper dot in the M3 cluster and confirmed by the Carfax of that M3, which is included in the records binder. Ultimately, that M3’s S54 engine was determined not to be up to par so BMW specialists SCR Performance provided a 60K-mile S54 from their racing spares. Prior to installation the S54 received a fresh valve adjustment, cam position sensors, oxygen sensors, water pump, accessory belt tensioners and belts. Virtually every E46 M3 mechanical component from the first M3 was installed under the skin including the 6-speed transmission with a Clutch Masters FX300 clutch and aluminum flywheel, drive shaft, limited-slip rear differential, front and rear subframes, swaybars, and brakes.
After that, the upgrades began. The S54 is mounted on Bimmerworld Group N motor mounts, shifts through an E39 540i short shifter with a ZHP shift knob, and sounds fantastic through a purpose built Stromung E46 M3 wagon conversion stainless steel muffler. Being a suspension specialist the owner opted for an Ohlin DFV Road and Track E46 M3 coilover kit, swapping out the Ohlins springs for linear Eibach Racing springs (the progressive Ohlins springs are also included). These are mounted through Ground Control camber plates and rear shock mounts, with Powerflex front control arm, rear subframe, and trailing arm bushings. The car was aligned and corner balanced by SCR Performance for the setup with the dampening indivudally tuned by the owner. The stock E46 M3 brakes wear stainless steel brake lines on each corner under staggered 18-inch Anthracite Apex Arc-8 wheels and Contintenal Extreme Contact Sport tires mounted on Vorshlag Competition wheel studs. A second set of 17-inch BMW Style 96 wheels with Blizzack Snow tires are also included in the sale because this is a wagon, so you should use it. Thanks to the limited slip differential, it’ll drive circles around any modern top-heavy crossover on all-seasons in the snow—because it is a BMW!
Inside matching Silver Grey M3 power heated seats were fitted in excellent condition; they feature adjustable side bolsters and lumbar support. The M3 instrument cluster and multi-function steering wheel were also fitted. A Carbon Fiber wrap covers the fine wood trim, along with a refinished headliner, BMW all-weather floor mats and rear cargo mat. Spares include M Tech side skirts, an extra driver’s side door card, the unused Ohlins springs, and lots of miscilaneous E46 touring parts. Just in case there isn’t enough room for your gear a Packsport low-profile roof box mounted on Yakama roof bars is also included, which makes the whole package look badass!
This S54-swapped Sport Wagon is a top of the market example. The wagon itself is an outlier due to its mileage, condition, and color combo—most E46 sport wagons were silver, white, black, or Orient Blue. Overall it is in excellent condition, but it isn’t perfect, which is a good thing because then you wouldn’t be able to use it without guilt. Post-swap the entire package looks factory correct and there are no loose ends that need to be tied up—the last 10% of any swap takes 90% of the time and effort. Everything works as it should and the suspension is significantly upgraded and tuned by a master, so it goes around corners much better than a stock E46 M3. It comes with a clean Colorado title, clean Carfax, a records binder dating back through two previous owners, and it passes Colorado emissions. We would like to find a new owner who appreciates what it took to make this car, and will continue its excellent ownership pedigree.
The Topaz Blue paint is in very good condition and is a defining element of the car. All of the paint is original with the exception of the hood, front fenders, and front bumper covers, which were painted to match when the post-facelift parts were fitted. There are few large paint chips in the lower leading edge of the hood and some moderate chipping on the front bumper cover. The body is clean of glaring defects, but close scrutiny does reveal lots of small dents and evidence of past paint-less dent repair. The rear bumper cover has several deep scratches just behind the left rear wheel. There is no rust and the VIN tag is in place. All trim work is in place and in very good condition with many pieces being replaced by the previous owner. The windshield glass is BMW glass that could be original; there are no cracks, but there is some pitting. The side and rear window glass are excellent. The Xenon self leveling headlights function correctly with good lenses that are protected by clear Laminx film. The front marker lights, turn signals, and taillight lenses are all crack-free. The factory roof rack rails are in excellent shape, as are the Yakima crossbars. Packsport roof box does have some scratches on the lid, but they aren’t visible with it mounted on the car. The Apex ARC-8 wheels are in excellent shape with one paint chip on the right front wheel being the only imperfection. The Continental tires have only a few thousand miles on them with 2017 DOT dates.
The grey leather interior is also in excellent condition considering its age and mileage. The carpet is protected by BMW all-weather floor mats and a rear trunk mat. The previous owner replaced the headliner, the sunroof shade is on the tracks and the sunroof functions correctly; the center switch panel is black. There is a hardwire cable for a radar detector by the mirror. The dashboard is crack-free and in excellent condition; there is a hairline crack in the upper left corner of the center vent surround. The fine wood trim is wrapped in carbon fiber and it looks fantastic. The seats are in excellent shape with no notable bolster wear or creasing and they have adjustable lumbar and side bolsters. The fold-down rear seats are in excellent shape with headrests. The rear hatch area carpet in good condition and the cargo cover is present. The inside rear hatch carpet piece has several broken clips that cause it to come undone if the hatch is slammed. The M3 leather steering wheel leather is in excellent shape with no failed stitching. There are no failed pixels in the M3 instrument cluster, radio, or HVAC panel, and there are no warning or check engine lights. The tamper dot is present due to the 5K mileage differential between the M3 ECU, EWS, and the original lighting control module. The auto-dimming rear view mirror has no leaking fluid. The BMW Harmon Kardon HiFi sound system sounds great. The BMW Business CD has an aux cord is routed to the rear ashtray. The heat blows warm and the air conditioning blows cold. The final stage resistor functions correctly and blower motor is quiet. The center console ashtray cover is scratched, but this is common on E46s. The ZHP shift knob is excellent with black leather shift and e-brake boots. The armrest has been removed, along with the rear ashtray cover. The power windows, door locks, and the sunroof operate correctly. The door cards are tight and the window regulators are quiet. The owners manual is included, along with two keys and the valet key.
This is a turn-key S54 wagon, it has no unresolved items that are common in so many swaps. No common E46 / S54 items are present; the VANOS is quiet, the rod bearings are healthy according to Blackstone Oil anaylsis, and the subframe shows no signs of cracking. The engine fires on command, idles smoothly and pulls strongly to redline. It does not leak, drip, or spot. There is some resonation in the cabin due to the Bimmerworld Group N motormounts, but this could be remedied with OEM mounts. The shifter is tight, the clutch does not slip, and Clutch Masters clutch with aluminum flywheel is a nice upgrade. The suspension is tuned wonderfully; turn-in is neutral with no understeer and mid-corner balance is easily modulated with throttle. The ride is perfectly compliant for daily driving, but with very little body roll during cornering. The brakes are strong with lots of life left. It passes emissions, which we pay for in the State of Colorado.
VIN Decode (original spec)
Options
First M3 had 108K miles, 5K less than the wagon had. Subframes, brakes, suspension, driveshaft, rear diff, exhaust, engine transmission, radiators, cluster, shifter, everything under the skin.
Second motor had 60K sourced from SCR Performance. Valve adjustment, and oil change. Cam Position Sensors, O2 Sensors, Steward Water Pump, Tensioners, no LEDs for rear doors in the M3 cluster.
All new:
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