[Video] In Review: E46 BMW M3 with an S85 V10 engine

It’s not every day that we get an E46 BMW M3 loaded with an S85 engine. It’s been making headlines on the internet lately, and finally, we’ll get to see this engine-swapped M3 in action. One clever owner chose to replace the E46 M3’s 3.2-litre inline-six with an S85 5.0 litre naturally aspirated V10 from the E60 M5. Now, it produces more power and torque, and on top of that, it sounds far better than a stock E46 M3. In this video by AutoTopNL, we’ll see it beyond the looks and sound.

Besides the swapped ten-cylinder engine, the E46 M3 also comes with a DCT, becoming even quicker and more thrilling to drive. The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) replaces the older six-speed sequential manual gearbox (SMG) seen in the E60 M5 and E46 M3. As a result, the car shifts faster and smoother than it had been previously.

The E46 BMW M3 is definitely a blast to drive, with its V10 engine coupled with fierce acoustic sound. In its stock form, it made 500 horsepower and revved past 8,000 rpm. This car, though, has a custom exhaust with the M Performance silencer from an E92 M3, making it sound much better than it already does. In this video, it sounds amazing, especially while travelling through a narrow tunnel.

Clearly, the DCT’s shifts are on par with those of a current sports vehicle, as you can see in the video. It is what makes all the difference, actually. This is in contrast to the previous SMG, which was often the biggest criticism about previous M vehicles’ transmissions. Obviously, this E46 M3 is our favourite build yet—it’s got creativity, ambition, and uniqueness. The only thing bad about it is we can’t drive it.