G-Power Tuning is misty eyed over E46 BMW M3
It’s nice to see a major tuner take time to treat customers to some of the good stuff without using a very expensive new car as a starting base.
Infamous performance tuning specialist G-Power has decided to breathe some extra life into the heart of the BMW M3’s E46 version.
A bit of an aging rock star it may be, but the E46 BMW M3 is no slouch. Even so, the tuner has given it a considerable amount of extra poke.
The 3.2 liter naturally aspirated six cylinder engine receives an ASA T1-518 centrifugal supercharger, a revised exhaust kit and an ECU remap to make them all work together.
Combining them takes total output beyond what the E92 M3 can develop and somewhere around what most people estimate the F30 M3 will produce.
The stats are now at 450 horsepower and 339 lb-ft of torque. That’s a bump of 107 horsepower and 70 lb-ft of twist.
0 to 124 now takes 14.7 seconds and acceleration doesn’t really stop until the top speed figure of 186 is reached.
You’d obviously notice it but you’d also need a few more tricks to keep it civilized. That’s why the G-Power E46 BMW M3 gets some handling updates.
These include an adjustable coil-over suspension, a high performance braking system and a new set of 20 inch alloy wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport tires.
Finally, there’s the issue of cost; all of the modifications above cost $27.860. Factor in the cost of the old BMW M3 and you’re still about halfway in terms of costs to what you’d have to pay for a new E92.