The BMW M3 is still an icon among enthusiasts and tuners. After years of fan complaints, the automaker finally made a wagon variant for the first time, and aftermarket specialists were quick to tune it. AC Schnitzer is the latest, giving both the M3 Touring and sedan a makeover.
The aftermarket specialist offers the M3’s twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six engine with two tunes. The former boosts power to 590 horsepower (434 kilowatts) and 553 pound-feet (750 Newton-meters) of torque. The second increases power to 610 horsepower (454 kW) with the same torque. However, AC Schnitzer tweaked more than just the powertrain.
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The AC spring kit lowers the front of the M3 by 0.59 to 0.79 inches (15 to 20 millimeters). However, customers can also get the RS coilover setup. The tuner offers the M3 Touring and the sedan with the AC3 lightweight forged wheels or the 20 inch AC1 light alloy wheels finished in silver/anthracite or anthracite. The AC3 are available in silver/anthracite or anthracite/silver.
The body kit does more than shake up its style, adding functional aerodynamic elements. On the nose, the tuner’s black front splitter increases front axle downforce by 88 pounds (40 kilograms) at 124 miles per hour (200 kilometers per hour). A rear roof spoiler increases downforce on the rear axle by 44 lb (20 kg) at the same speed. A new diffuser helps manage the airflow at the rear while grouping the carbon tailpipes. The body kit also adds bonnet accents and fenders to the front bumper.
Inside, the M3 is available with AC Schnitzer’s sports steering wheel. The tuner wraps it in black perforated Nappa leather and black Alcantara sewn with light gray thread. Larger aluminum gearshift paddles replace the original ones, and the tuner also replaces the pedals and footrest with shiny pedals, as well as other interior trim parts.
The M3 wagon and sedan come from the factory with plenty of power under the hood for most people. However, AC’s upgrade packages show that the M3’s powertrain has more performance potential than stock.
