• The S54-powered E46 M3 is widely regarded as a fan favorite among the BMW M car lineage.
• The car was a big step forward from the E36 generation for enthusiasts in the United States since we never received the 321hp S50B32 engine.
• Andy Hong’s penchant for BMW shines with his latest E46 M3—a BMW Individual Estoril Blue Metallic example modded in his signature OEM+ style.

You have to honor your passions. It sounds like a simple message, but societal pressures, your own self-disparagement, and the never-ending quest to find yourself can get in the way of either understanding what makes you happy or whether you allow yourself to exercise it to its fullest potential.

It sounds like a heady way to start a feature story about an E46 M3 in Turn 14 Distribution’s enviable lobby, but this particular example—owned by Andy Hong—is a living, breathing example of an honored passion realized. Hong makes no apologies for his unwavering love for the BMW marque; decades ago, he committed to the brand and never strayed, even as other BMW loyalists turned their back on the brand in favor of greener pastures—including me.

AGAINST THE GRAIN

In a lot of ways, being a die-hard BMW fan means going against the grain in 2024; even though the marque still claims to make the Ultimate Driving Machine, the brand’s modern styling has tested long-time supporters’ resolve. Those who stayed pillars for BMW, through thick and thin, are individuals. For Hong, it was appropriate enough that his E46 M3 would reflect this reality; the Estoril Blue Metallic hue you see here is a legacy color from the BMW Individual catalog that first appeared on the E36 M3. The choice makes this S54-powered gem a rare bird, indeed, and almost immediately sets it apart from the sea of other Blue-hued Bimmers. “There were 81 Estoril Blue E46 M3s sent to the US market,” Hong revealed. “It’s a relatively rare color for the E46 M3 with ‘only’ 1,116 having left the factory in this shade out of the 84,383 made. Of these, only 224 were LHD and only 81 of those came to the North American market.” The color was the excuse that Hong needed to modify his coupé as a homage to BMW M, one that would blend the marque’s most iconic styling cues into a truly fanatical expression of taste.

STAND OUT

It’s not often that I start singing praises about a car because of its interior, but Hong’s treatment warrants a shift in my approach. A pair of Recaro Sportster seats are the first thing that you see, and the inserts have been reupholstered in Grey “M Rain” fabric as another nod to the E36 M3. The move was atypical and brave—black would’ve been far more commonplace—but I think it was the right choice. Subdued Grey Alcantara, which Hong even extended onto the shift knob, provides balance to the flashy M Rain inlays. Fold the Recaro reclinables forward and you’ll notice that Hong didn’t stop with the front seats; the interior remix playfully extends rearward, even to the booster seat behind the passenger.

STYLE UP

BMW heads would look at Hong’s E46 and spot these System II “Throwing Star” covers…and they’d be right. This three-piece 18” set was custom-built to Hong’s specifications by Rimal Chand (aka OEclassics) who believed that the classic Style 21 multi-piece wheel deserved a modern interpretation. Although I’m immensely biased—the System II covers are one of my all-time favorites—I think Andy’s E46 M3 proved that Chand was right. The polished lip adds a satisfying glimmer to the exterior and provides just enough contrast to the timeless, silver wheel face. MCS Coilovers with Vorschlag camber plates and Rogue Engineering rear camber arms help dial in the car’s fitment perfectly.

Refreshingly enough, all of the immaculate OEM chrome is present—the side grilles, front grilles, roundels, and trunk emblem—and firmly extends the car’s gleaming quality. While so many of us yearned to be on equal footing with our European counterparts for years (see clear corners and side markers), Hong reminded us that the right exterior color can look incredible with ambers too. I won’t go so far as to say that his M3 wouldn’t have as much style without them, but the addition makes the car unmistakably Andy’s.

AS BMW INTENDED

If you were expecting a slew of carbon fiber, forced induction, or some color-matched do-dads underneath the hood, you’ll be massively disappointed. “As I get older the more I appreciate the original specs of the cars from the factory.” Indeed, save for a Rogue Engineering strut brace, Andy left his E46 M3 as BMW intended: a naturally aspirated, 333hp Bavarian joy magnet. Like most cars from BMW M’s back catalog, this M3 wasn’t designed to set land speed records. Instead, it remains a high-revving, experiential motorsport utensil for our five senses and that’s why—despite its speed deficit to modern machinery—it manages to hold a special place in our hearts. Hong’s commitment to keeping this part of the car stock must’ve taken immense restraint, but applying his efforts elsewhere more than made up the difference.

Like his E30 M3 that we hosted last year, Hong’s E46 M3 is executed on a level that few can mimic. The finished product is OEM+, which has become a hallmark style—a happy rebellion to the nips, tucks, and other surgical blasphemies of internet fame—that owners can enjoy on a daily basis instead of twice a year pilgrimage to a car show. After all, cars are meant to be enjoyed as much as they are cherished and Hong’s E46 M3 strikes that balance better than anyone else in the game.

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