Have you ever encountered an automobile at a present that fully blows you away, making all the other things feel a bit… atypical by comparison?

Automobile exhibits are undeniably enjoyable for anybody with a deep love for automobiles; however, average attendees like myself will generally feel repetitive. Maybe it’s the shortage of innovation, the predictable codecs, or the usually unfinished tasks on show. With the latter, I blame social media, where sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes content material usually overshadow the ordinary unveiling course.

Despite doing several walks through the 2024 Oslo Motorshow again in October, it was towards the end of my time in the present that one thing I had beforehand caught my eye. I’m glad it did because Jørgen Aune‘s 2002 BMW E46 M3 is excellent.

Jørgen, a 39-year-old automotive builder and proprietor of JAAS Industriservice AS/JAAS Efficiency in Surnadal, Norway, has been immersed in the modified automotive scene for over 30 years. During that time, he’s constructed several automobiles, including two we’ve featured previously: a 900hp BMW M3 clone and a 1,000hp BMW E21 ‘Road Sweeper.’

At first glance, Jørgen’s new E46 BMW M3 might seem like a comparatively atypical construct—if you look past the outsized wheels and tyre setup. However, as is usually the case with his creations, there’s way more than meets the eye.

Jørgen’s signature model revolves around a clear and refined exterior with just a few well-chosen aftermarket touches. The true artistry always lies beneath the floor. We’ll delve into these particulars shortly.

His fundamental focus with the outside was to accommodate huge 300/68/18 Michelin racing slicks underneath the rear wheel wells. To realize this, 40mm of additional physique width was added to every rear fender. No modification was wanted on the entrance to suit the chosen Michelin 280/68/18 rubber. The wheels are three-piece Work Meister S1s: 18×10.5-inch on the entrance and 18×11-inch on the rear.

The BMW additionally sports a {custom} carbon fibre entrance lip, an HGK carbon roof, and an aftermarket boot lid, all contributing to its minimalist but purposeful look.

And now, for the half that made my jaw drop. Displayed on the Buldre Racing Workforce sales space, the M3’s presence was unmistakable. If you realize Buldre, you’ll perceive that these Norwegian tuning consultants are recognized for constructing insane machines that produce ridiculous energy.

The massive Garrett intercooler hanging from the entrance is the primary clue that one extraordinary thing lies underneath the E46’s hood.

Behold, the wildest-looking BMW S62B50 engine I’ve ever laid eyes on.

What instantly caught my attention was the engine’s uncommon structure. Jørgen has repositioned the engine 350mm rearward, primarily to accommodate a modified BMW E30 325i differential, reversed and mounted in front of the engine. That’s right, this M3 puts its energy down through all four wheels.

This radical setup allowed dual Precision 6266 turbos, every with a 50mm wastegate. With the engine sitting farther again within the bay, {custom} piping was fabricated to route air by way of the intercooler earlier than it enters the combustion chambers by way of twin Bosch 74mm throttle our bodies.

If that’s insufficient, look at the {custom} air intakes routed by the headlights!

The engine’s internals are equally spectacular: ported heads by Tore Toppklokk with Supertech valves, Wiseco cast pistons, and ZRP cast connecting rods all work in tandem with the inventory BMW S62B50 crankshaft, guaranteeing rock-solid reliability.

The MaxxECU engine administration system was tuned in-house by Jørgen himself. The consequence? A staggering 1,250hp and 1,400Nm at 1.6 bar (23.2psi) of enhance.

All this energy is transmitted through a Tilton quad-plate clutch and {custom} flywheel right into a Samsonas 5-speed sequential gearbox, paired with a Nissan Skyline R33 GT-R switch case. The rear diff is a BMW E34 M5 unit, with Gripper LSDs that include entrance and rear.

As soon as a unibody, the M3’s chassis now revolves around {a custom} tube body. Coilover suspension – a mixture of AST (entrance) and BC Racing (rear) – enhances the dealing with and units the journey peak. In contrast, Ksport 8-piston and 6-piston brakes entrance and rear, respectively, ensure the automotive can cease in addition to it goes.

The entrance body extends into the cabin, where a totally built-in 6-point roll cage and 4 further rear attachment factors ensure that the construction can withstand all on-track punishment.

The BMW’s unique inside is gone, changed with a stripped-down, race-focused setup. The firewall was custom-built to accommodate the relocated engine, and a precisely fabricated transmission tunnel was created to suit the 4-inch exhaust system.

Mounted on the tunnel are a Blink Marine keypad for controls, a QSP hydraulic handbrake with a Wilwood grasp cylinder, and a Samsonas shifter for lightning-fast gear adjustments.

The interior also features Atech bucket seats with 6-point harnesses, a QSP steering wheel, and an ECUmaster ADU7 sprint logger for superior information monitoring.

The trunk home has two 405mm Spal cooling followers paired with an HGK 970x470x65mm dual-pass radiator. Gas is provided by three Walbro 535 pumps, a Nuke Efficiency regulator, and a {custom} catch tank.

“The thought of constructing an AWD BMW M3 got here to me because I’m uninterested in spinning the wheels with my earlier automobiles. I needed one thing that might hook up this time,” says Jørgen. “The principal inspiration was Ken Block’s Hoonicorn Mustang. I needed one thing that might do the identical insane issues – but compete within the Gatebil Excessive sequence. Above all, I needed to construct one thing nobody had ever achieved earlier than.”

With these phrases, I can’t wait to see Jørgen in motion at subsequent years’ Gatebil occasions – each competing in time assault and placing his AWD drift expertise to the check within the Breisladden (Energy Drift) competitors. What a machine!

Alen Hasta
Instagram: hazetaa