Overseas tuners have boosted the BMW M3 Touring to 850 horsepower—where are the top domestic tuning masters?

I’ve always thought I was pretty calm when it comes to high-performance station wagons. The RS6 Avant? A great car, yet nothing to blow my mind. The E63 S Estate? Blisteringly fast, but it never struck a chord with me. Then I laid eyes on this Manhart-tuned MH3 800 Touring—a modified M3 Touring packing 850 horsepower, all-wheel drive, and enough cargo space for an entire family’s luggage—and it completely blew me away.

First of all, this car is modified based on the BMW M3 Competition Touring (G81). The crew at Manhart completely disassembled and overhauled the stock S58 engine: they fitted larger turbochargers, a new intercooler, high-flow air intakes, a full exhaust system, and flashed a custom-tuned ECU map. As a result, the factory output of 503 horsepower was cranked all the way up to 850 horsepower, while torque surged from 650 N·m to 1050 N·m. Just looking at these figures, you can tell this build means serious business.

In terms of appearance, Manhart did not go overboard with exaggerated modifications. It is fitted with a carbon fiber front splitter, side skirts, rear diffuser and a large rear wing, yet the overall original silhouette of the M3 Touring is preserved. It falls into the category of “understated to the untrained eye, but instantly recognizable as a formidable machine to enthusiasts”. The wheels have been swapped out for the brand’s signature classic design, and the ride height has been slightly lowered to achieve a more aggressive, slammed stance.

What surprises me most is that this car wasn’t built solely for straight-line acceleration. According to the specs I’ve read, it can reliably transfer power to the road even on slippery country lanes, thanks to BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system and Manhart’s revised chassis tuning. Admittedly, I haven’t driven it, so I can’t speak to exactly how stable it feels, but from a technical standpoint, it’s truly impressive to deliver 850 horsepower while still maintaining great handling.

As for its drawbacks: it is expensive. It is said that the total cost of the car plus modifications can easily exceed 200,000 British pounds. Its fuel consumption is also staggering; when driving aggressively, it feels as if the fuel tank is leaking. The exhaust note sounds fantastic, yet the low-frequency noise during long-distance cruising may wear on your ears. None of these are hidden flaws—after all, performance cars always come with trade-offs.

Overall, I find this Manhart MH3 800 Touring a fascinating case study: it proves that a station wagon can deliver extreme performance alongside everyday practicality. It offers ample cargo space while packing a ferocious powertrain that flies under the radar. If you are interested in high-performance station wagons, or simply curious about how far tuners can push an M3, this build is well worth examining.

Back to this Manhart MH3 800 — it packs 850 horsepower, can fit the whole family, and outperforms supercars even on slippery country roads. This all-round brute performance philosophy is quintessentially German. But after reading this, you might share the same thought as me: overseas tuning shops dare to push the M3 Touring to such extremes, so those domestic shop owners who quietly tinker with their own vehicles probably have plenty of ferocious builds hidden away.

The King Car Judging Contest of APAxpo 2026 has just kicked off recently. It will be held in Hall 1 of Foshan Tanzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center from October 16 to 18, with a total prize pool of 100,000 RMB. The champion will receive 30,000 RMB in cash plus a CAMMUS simulator. The competition format works as follows: the top 50 entries selected through online voting will advance to the on-site round, after which an international and domestic elite judging panel will score the works on-site to determine the top three rankings. Neither competitors’ experience nor backgrounds will be taken into account—only their creations matter, which really suits my taste.

So if you own a modified car that you’ve tinkered with for years and believe “no other car can beat mine”—whether it’s a station wagon, a JDM vehicle, a performance car or a customized new energy vehicle—you can check out the registration channel. We can’t get our hands on this Manhart MH3 800 in China for now, but your own ride might just be the next benchmark in the eyes of the elite judges.