So there you are, sitting on the couch watching "SpongeBob Squarepants" with your kids when the wife appears out of the darkness and utters the absolute most horrible phrase ever spoken, "I think we need a minivan."
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!Your entire automotive life passes before your eyes. Sweat begins to pour down your face. This can't be happening. Yes, you're a dad, but you're a cool dad, not a minivan dad. You're a dad who does burnouts and matches revs on every downshift. You're a left-foot-braking dad, a dad who knows the difference between Michael Schumacher and Tony Schumacher, a dad who has drag raced, road raced and once owned a shifter kart. You're a dad with an SCCA license, a dad who watches Speed Channel, a dad who once shook hands with Dan Gurney, for Pete's sake.
After a few minutes of panic, you gather yourself, and do what any real man would. You watch the rest of "SpongeBob," and then you call Ben Liaw, the owner of Rogue Engineering (RE) in Ho Ho Kus, N.J. Rogue recently built this M3-powered 3-Series wagon for Ben, and just in time. During the photoshoot, Ben's wife went into labor with their second baby, causing him to leave in a cloud of tire smoke, diapers and child seats. At least the car was well sorted.
What was once an underpowered girly ride is now an understated German musclecar in the great tradition of the BMW 2002 Tii and Mercedes-Benz 500E.
At its core is the 333-hp 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine found within the current-generation M3. Although the physical size of the M3 motor is the same as the smaller 2.5-liter six the wagon came with, there are significant differences in the wiring harness and associated electronics, including the MSS54 DME, which is a unique ECU to this powertrain.
Fitting the M3 six-speed transmission, which is held in place by RE transmission mounts, was also a challenge and required the driveshaft to be shortened and modified, but generally this isn't a hard swap.
"I'd have to say this transplant was pretty much plug-and-play," says Ben. "It was time-consuming, but everything bolted right in. Still, this was a learning platform for us. It took a lot of time sorting things out, finding the differences between the 325i and the M3 engine. We're in the process of doing another one. I think it'll be even better." For the first few months the clutch and flywheel were M3 issues, but too many "Baby on Board" burnouts forced Ben to switch to an LTW clutch with a sprung hub disc and an LTW aluminum flywheel.
To continue the theme inside, Rogue used the instrument cluster, with its unique active redline tachometer, and three-spoke steering wheel from an M3, while the interior trim, shift boot and illuminated six-speed gear knob are from a 330i. The shifter was also treated to an Octane short-shift kit so Ben can better bang gears on the way to preschool.
For a bit more power the engine was massaged with the beautifully designed GruppeM carbon-fiber filter ram charger and Rogue's E46 M3 power pulleys. With their larger diameter and underdriven power steering and water pump functions, the Rogue power pulleys add an additional 5 to 8 hp, according to Ben. The exhaust is a custom job Rogue designed specifically for this car. Like production RE exhausts, it's comprised of high-quality stainless-steel, mandrel bends and gorgeous welds.
The wagon's underpinnings include Leda coil-overs that feature 24-way adjustable compression and rebound. Leda suspension is used extensively in rally racing and its street applications are custom-built per car.
"I've got the Leda suspension set at two. It's very similar to a stock M3," says Ben. "I've still got 22 settings to go." A BMW Motorsport strut brace and RE's rear shock mounts provide additional chassis rigidity.
Rolling stock is comprised of BBS RE wheels, forged units measuring 18x8 inches and 18x9 inches, respectively. Pirelli P Zero Nero rubber measures 235/40R-18 up front and a sizable 255/35R-18 out back. Brakes are Brembo Gran Turismo units, with four-piston calipers gripping 355mm and 294mm slotted rotors front and rear. Because he hates bolts, Ben converted the hubs with Rogue's stud conversion kit.
He's a big fan of factory aerodynamics, however, and this Touring wears BMW's M Technic body kit and M3 mirrors, installed and painted by C&D Autobody in South Hackensack, N.J. Umnitza Phosphyre Angel Eyes headlamps round out the package.
Now the father of two, Ben is no doubt planning his next project car, probably an M5 wagon with lots of child seats and Scotchgarded upholstery.
2003 BMW 325iTEngineType: 3.0-liter inline six, four valves per cylinder, DOHC, VANOS variable valve timingExternal Mods: GruppeM carbon-fiber filter Ram Charger, Rogue Engineering power pulleys, Rogue CNC oil lid, Rogue custom exhaust
DrivetrainLayout: Longitudinal front-engine, rear-wheel driveDrivetrain Mods: E46 M3 six-speed, E46 M3 rear subframe, E46 M3 LSD 3.91 axle ratio, LTW flywheel and sprung hub clutch
Suspension Front: Leda 24-way adjustbable coil-overs, E46 M3 Motorsport strut braceRear: Leda 24-way adjustbable coil-overs, Rogue rear shock mounts
BrakesFront: 13.9-in. rotors, Brembo four-piston fixed calipersRear: 11.5-in. cross-drilled rotors, Brembo four-piston fixed calipers
ExteriorWheels: 18x8-in. and 18x9-in. BBS RE (Rogue stud conversion kit, alloy lug nuts)Tires: 235/40-ZR18 (F), 255/35R-18 (R) Pirelli P Zero NeroBody: BMW M Technic body kit, M3 mirrors, Umnitza Phosphyre Angel Eyes headlamps
InteriorE46 M3 steering wheel and gauge cluster, BMW 330i aluminum cube trim, illuminated shift knob, Alcantara shift boot and e-brake boot