Richard Hammond and Co. decided to create their ideal BMW M3 out of an ordinary 3 Series. The idea was to create a tribute, a homage of sorts, to all of the M3s they’ve loved over the years. So they started with an E90, since it’s one of the best, and built on it to create their perfect “M3.” And in this new video, you can see that the results are pretty impressive.
The BMW M3 has changed a lot over its four decade run. It started out as a homologated race car with four cylinders. Then it because just the hottest version of BMW’s smallest sedan with a straight-six. At one point, it had a V-8. Then it dropped back down to an I6 but gained two turbos. Soon, it will be electric. So the recipe has changed wildly over the years, but the ethos is still the same: it’s a genuine sports car based on a sensible sedan, and it has to ride the line between comfortable daily driver and backroad lunatic.
YouTube | DriveTribe
To start, Hammond and his DriveTribe team took a BMW 335i, specifically a pre-LCI model. So it has a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged “N54” engine, but this tribute car’s engine is heavily modified. With bigger turbos, a tune, a new exhaust, and a few other upgrades, the N54 makes 570 horsepower, more than any stock M3. OK, that might not be everyone’s ultimate M3, as the N54 was excellent but not a proper M engine. And it’s an especially odd choice since the E90 generation’s own M3 had probably the best engine in the model’s history. I guess this is the most cost effective way to make big power from a standard 3 Series, though. Plus, the 1 Series M used an N54 engine, so there’s some M history there.
On track, this “Ham3,” as Hammond calls it, seems like a load of fun. It’s shockingly quick, slides around nicely thanks to an upgraded Quaife rear diff, and acts just like an M3 should. Hammond also praises the stock steering, which should come as no surprise to E90 owners. Having owned two, I personally can say it’s among the best steering you’ll find in a normal car, and far better than any steering from any BMW currently on sale. So getting into an E90 after driving more modern stuff is always a delight. Especially on track, with 570 horses at your disposal.
