LS-Swapped BMW 3 Series Touring Is the More Practical Family Hot Rod: Track Time Tuesday
BMW 3 Series Touring is one heck of a hot rod thanks to its 850 horsepower LS-powered infusion.
Station wagons were once the preferred family road trip vessel in the U.S., but in recent years, they’ve given way to crossovers and SUVs. The vast majority of car enthusiasts still have a soft spot for wagons, however, and every time we see a cool one it reminds us of the fact that these things are superior to their higher-riding brethren in every conceivable way, save for perhaps off-road capability. That includes this amazing LS-swapped BMW 3 Series Touring that was recently taken out for a spin by the folks behind the YouTube channel The Bimmer Barn.
The BMW 3 Series Touring was discontinued years ago in the U.S. due to poor sales, but this wicked build proves that they’re still cool, especially when they have the right powerplant under the hood. In this case, the 328xi model’s original, naturally aspirated N53 straight-six engine has been replaced with a turbocharged 6.0-liter LQ4 V8 that uses 22 psi to lay down a whopping 850 horsepower at the wheels, which should come in handy when the kids are late for soccer practice.
What’s even cooler is that this particular Bimmer even retains its original xDrive all-wheel-drive system – which, along with plenty of weight over all four wheels – helps put all that power to the ground. It’s also quite fun to drive thanks to the addition of a TR6060 six-speed manual transmission, which has been fitted with an upgraded clutch, as well as an 8.8 inch Ford rear end with an Eaton limited-slip differential. Parts for the build came from a variety of places including a couple of Camaros and a CTS-V, along with the truck engine, of course.
Unsurprisingly, this swap was done in an effort to put the wagon’s mechanical issues to bed once and for all, but in the process, the previous owner created one heck of a hot rodded wagon. Even with around 4,100 pounds to push around, it’s quite the handful on the street, as our host quickly finds out. But to us, if you’re going to be stuck with a family and have to put up with kids all the time, you might as well own a super cool vehicle to haul them around in to make those annoying trips more tolerable, right?
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