You Need This: A not-so-subtle, S54-powered E36 BMW wagon

Some cars are modified into sleepers, while others are tweaked into an OEM+ style build. This E36 BMW wagon is neither of those things–quite the opposite, actually.

The big-ticket upgrades? The S54 engine from an E46 M3 plus a six-speed manual gearbox–and the massive fender flares, of course, courtesy of Pandem.

Seemingly everything that could be modified or customized was upgraded, be it the custom Avus Blau exterior paint, the Turner Motorsport CSL carbon fiber intake, the Supersprint racing exhaust, JBL speaker system, BMW Z3M instrument cluster or even the custom Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel.

Comments

dean1484 GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
10/16/24 2:52 p.m.

I would take the cadge out of it and street drive that thing. I really like the fender flares and the "stance" that it has been set up with.

David S. Wallens Editorial Director
10/16/24 2:58 p.m.

Yeah, the cage might be a bit much for the street, but the swap, the stance, the flares and the colors....

paddygarcia GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
10/16/24 3:09 p.m.

That cage is nightmare fuel.

wvumtnbkr GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
10/16/24 3:11 p.m.

That cage needs to gtfo. That thing could kill you in a low speed wreck.

We used to call those poser cages.

The rest of the car? Chefs kiss.

Lof8 - Andy GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
10/16/24 3:15 p.m.

lol. Came to comment on the cage and every previous comment is also about the cage. Anytime I see those curvy front bars, I have to question the overall legitimacy of any build. The rest of it does look great, though.

codrus (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
10/16/24 5:54 p.m.

Lof8 - Andy said:
lol. Came to comment on the cage and every previous comment is also about the cage. Anytime I see those curvy front bars, I have to question the overall legitimacy of any build. The rest of it does look great, though.

Agreed. A cage with bars that curve around the dash like that adds safety hazards for street driving (head impact, plus egress concerns), while also simultaneously defeating the whole purpose of having a bar there in the first place.