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How to Spec: BMW M3 Touring

1 Apr 2023
6 min read
  • How to Spec: BMW M3 Touring

The BMW M3 Touring is one of the most eagerly anticipated cars of the last couple of decades. This is the long-awaited estate version of the iconic M3, and with so many people ordering these cars new, this guide will help you decide which options are worth considering. And if you're looking at a second-hand model, this should help you choose the right spec. Let’s get started.

Paint

The M3 Touring offers a variety of paint finishes, similar to the M3 Saloon. While BMW's Frozen (matte) paints look incredible, some may opt for a gloss finish with satin PPF for a similar look, added protection, and potential cost savings.

Here’s what’s available:

Standard Paints (Flat Colours)
  • Alpine White: A crisp, clean solid white that enhances the car’s lines with a classic, timeless look.
  • São Paulo Yellow: A bold, high-impact yellow with a neon-like vibrancy that makes a statement.

Metallic Paints (No Additional Cost)
  • Black Sapphire: A deep, metallic black with subtle shimmer under light, adding a sleek and sophisticated feel.
  • Isle of Man Green: A rich, metallic green with a slightly blue undertone, giving it a striking yet refined presence.
  • Portimao Blue: A vibrant, metallic blue with a sporty, high-energy feel that pops in sunlight.
  • Toronto Red: A bright, fiery red with a strong, sporty presence that stands out in any setting. 
  • Brooklyn Grey: A modern, chalky grey with a subtle metallic sheen, offering a sleek and contemporary look.
  • Skyscraper Grey:  A darker metallic grey with a more refined, sophisticated finish compared to Brooklyn Grey.

Optional Metallic Paints (Extra Cost)
  • Dravit Grey: A deep, smoky grey with gold and bronze undertones that shift under different lighting for a premium feel. 
  • Aventurine Red: A darker, more mature red with a hint of cherry, giving it a deep and luxurious appearance.
  • Tanzanite Blue: A rich, midnight blue with a metallic sparkle, exuding elegance.

BMW Individual Paints (Premium Finishes)
  • Frozen Pure Grey (as seen on the car in this review): A matte, stealthy grey with a cool, understated tone that enhances the car’s sharp lines and costs just under £3,000.
  • Frozen Portimao Blue: A matte version of Portimao Blue, offering a stealthy, satin-like finish for a more aggressive and premium look.
  • Frozen Brilliant White: A matte white with a soft, satin-like finish that gives a refined, high-end look while maintaining a striking presence and the most expensive, at nearly £4,000.

 

Carbon Fibre

Once you’ve chosen your paint, the next big option is the M Exterior Carbon Pack. It costs £4,500 and adds:

  • Carbon fibre inserts in the front bumper
  • Carbon fibre M mirrors
  • A carbon fibre rear diffuser with aerodynamic fins


Some might say £4,500 is a lot, but compared to Ferrari’s pricing for carbon options, it’s relatively reasonable. Carbon is really about bragging rights and adding to the high-spec appeal of the car.

If that’s not enough carbon for you, BMW M Performance Parts offers additional options such as aerodynamic winglets, carbon fuel filler caps, custom wheels, and even an aftermarket exhaust system.

 

The Roof

A carbon fibre roof isn’t available on the M3 Touring, which is a bit disappointing. BMW have said it was too costly to develop, so instead, you get a gloss black roof as standard.

There were rumours of a sunroof or panoramic option, but currently, there’s no option for one on the configurator, and no customer cars have been seen with it. That may change in the future.

 

Wheels & Brakes

The M3 Touring offers two wheel designs, both available in multiple finishes:

  • 826M – A more intricate, star-shaped design
  • 825M – A cleaner, more minimalist design

They are available in:

  • Orbit Grey
  • Jet Black
  • Bi-colour Diamond Cut
 
Carbon Ceramic Brakes (£8,000 – Included in M Pro Pack)

Most M3 Touring owners will be fine with the standard steel brakes (available with red, blue, or black calipers). However, the carbon ceramic brakes offer:

  • Lighter weight
  • Less brake dust
  • Greater resistance to fade & corrosion
  • Signature gold brake calipers


To get these brakes, you must opt for the M Pro Pack (£8,000), which also includes the M Driver’s Package. This raises the top speed limit and includes a load more carbon fibre customisation options to really make it your own. You’ll even get a BMW driver training experience.

For regular track use, carbon ceramics can be beneficial. However, bear in mind they are very expensive to replace.

 

Seats: Standard vs. Carbon Buckets

The seats are one of the biggest decisions when speccing an M3 Touring.

M Carbon Bucket Seats (£3,750 / £7,000 with Carbon Pack)
  • Carbon fibre backing
  • Aggressive bolstering for a sportier feel
  • Heated and electric, but not ventilated
  • Harder to get in and out of due to high side bolsters
  • Great if you’re using drift mode as they’ll keep you locked in place
Standard M Sport Seats
  • More comfortable for daily driving
  • Available in different leather colours

If you bundle the carbon seats with the exterior carbon pack, it costs £7,000, saving you over £1,000 compared to buying them separately.

 

Materials

The M3 Touring comes with a Carbon Fibre Interior Trim and Extended Merino Leather as standard in the interior, but you can upgrade to Full Leather (+£1500), which adds:

  • Leather dashboard
  • Leather door panels
  • Leather knee pads

You can spec these in different colours, including:

  • Black (default)
  • Kyalami Orange
  • Fiona Red/Black
  • Silverstone/Black
  • Yas Marina Blue/Yellow

You can pay a bit more for bi-colours, and if you go for Kyalami Orange it will colour match the entire lower dash as well, making for a very bold statement.

 

Comfort Pack

There are a few different packs to choose from. The Comfort Pack costs £1000 and gives you a few different perks, including:

  • Comfort access, which allows you to have the key in your pocket and walk up to the car and open it, as well as lock the car without the key by pressing a button on the door handle.
  • Comfort access also allows you to pair the car with your phone and lock it using your phone through the app.
  • Extended storage features in the boot with rails for sliding luggage in and keeping it in place when driving, a remote release for the backrest, multifunction hooks, cargo nets, and a 12v charging port 
  • A heated steering wheel as part of the pack. Very handy for those cold, winter days!

 

Visibility Pack

The next package on offer is the Visibility Package. It costs just over £1500 and includes BMW laser lights that give you 500 metres of light that is dazzle-free. If you do a lot of driving at night, you’ll definitely want to consider the Visibility Package.

 

Technology Pack Plus

Next up is the Technology Pack Plus. In terms of safety and convenience features, this is the pack to get. It includes:

  • The drive recorder which uses all the surround cameras on the car to record footage all around the vehicle. It also automatically records if it detects an accident.
  • The driving assistant professional, which gives you all sorts of features to keel you safe on the road, such as detecting traffic, lane assist, braking assist, and speed limit assist (just to name a few!) 
  • Park Assistant Plus, which uses all the cameras to give you a top, side, and even a 3D remote view to help you park.

 

Ultimate Pack

If all of these options sound like something you’d want, but you just can’t choose which one to pick, you’re in luck.  BMW offers the Ultimate Pack, which bundles all the Comfort, Visibility, and Technology Packs together for £13,500.

The Ultimate Pack is highly desirable for resale value. A lot of buyers looking for second-hand cars want an Ultimate Pack spec. The one thing it doesn’t include is the M Pro Pack (Carbon Ceramic brakes) or M Driver’s Package – those are separate options.

 

In Summary

That’s everything you need to know about the BMW M3 Touring’s options. The BMW M3 Touring has been one of the most eagerly anticipated performance estates, combining the practicality of a touring car with the thrill of M power. With its aggressive styling, powerful engine, and everyday usability, it’s a car that appeals to both enthusiasts and families alike.

Buyers have a wide range of options to personalise their M3 Touring, from striking paint choices like Isle of Man Green and Frozen Pure Grey to premium interior materials and carbon fibre styling packs. The Ultimate Pack is a great choice for those who want a fully loaded car, bundling together key features like Comfort Access, Laser Lights, and the Technology Pack. For those focused on performance, the M Pro Pack adds carbon ceramic brakes and an increased top speed.

Whether you’re speccing a new one or looking at second-hand models, the M3 Touring offers a blend of luxury, practicality, and track-ready performance, making it a standout choice in the performance estate market.

Fancy having a go at speccing your own? Check out our latest stock.