Petroyle E46 M3 Touring Revealed

When BMW revealed the existence of an E46 M3 Touring prototype in 2016, enthusiasts the world over went into collective mourning for one of the all-time what-ifs. Ten years later, the car has finally gone on sale – only the invoice won't come from Munich.

It will come from Petroyle, an Oxfordshire-based coachbuilder best known for classic restorations, with its Series 2 E-Type taking a class win at the 2025 Salon Privé Concours d'Elégance. Why the pivot to the E46? The fact the matching Laguna Seca Blue coupé pictured belongs to Petroyle's boss might have something to do with it.

E46 M3 Touring conversions are nothing new. Petroyle, however, claims to offer the first truly faithful recreation of the prototype, right down to the complex integration of the rear doors with the E46's flared arches that proved such a headache for BMW. All M3-specific body panels – rear bumper, side sills, boot floor and front wings – are manufactured from carbon fibre rather than steel, with quarter panels retained in steel as per the original design. The approach keeps kerb weight on a par with the 1,570kg coupé, while a reinforced rear axle carrier panel and additional bracing address the well-documented subframe cracking issue and improve torsional rigidity throughout.

Petroyle E46 M3 Touring in laguna seca blue - front three-quarter static on a rooftop next to an E46 M3 Coupe — Carbon panels ensure the Petroyle Touring weighs the same as the 1,570kg coupé

Petroyle E46 M3 Touring in Laguna Seca Blue rear doors and wing integration

Build 001 is finished in Laguna Seca Blue over Cinnamon leather, with its six-speed manual and 18-inch wheels echoing the original prototype. Customers are not restricted to that template, however: buyers who find the S54's 338bhp a little undernourished will be able to specify either a V8 or V10 conversion, while a full-length carbon roof is also available for those dreaming of a CSL Touring.

According to Petroyle, 001 has resolved the principal fabrication and engineering challenges, with the focus now shifting to refining the process for subsequent builds. Pricing starts from £130,000 – on a par with a G81 M3 CS – and production will be limited to 50 examples. We'll take ours in Oxford Green with Dark Mocha leather.