66% say the Evo X is the one to go for – that’s fine. I’ll take my V and run. This week, let’s revisit an old friend. You see, five years ago I spent some time with an insane BMW 328i xDrive Sports Wagon.
And now, you can buy it.
The 2011 BMW 328i xDrive Sports Wagon vs the 2001 Audi RS4 Avant
My E92 M3 broke. Yea, I know – can’t believe it right? Lucky me, it was still under warranty. So I took it to the dealer, where they promptly handed me the keys to a 335d loaner.
“Ew. How am I supposed to get girls in THIS?”
Forgive me, for I had sinned – I was young, and knew not of the diesel’s magic powers. 457 lb-ft of torque is just 20 less than the G80 M3 makes today.
Unfortunately, they only put the M57 diesel engine into the sedan body here in the U.S. (I can’t imagine the face I’d have made if they handed me the key to a wagon). But my friend Brian has rectified the issue (he built this E46 M3 wagon too) – by taking a BMW 328i xDrive Sports Wagon, ditching the N52, and plopping in one of those M57s. Then he upped the torque to over 700 lb-ft.
Umm, it’s fun, yes.
But I get it – diesels may not be your jam. Maybe you don’t like chocolate bars and sunshine either. No judgement. But this wagon is immaculate; bet it goes for a significant amount. I need to find something just as cool, just as wagon-y.
An Audi RS 4 wagon (Avant if you’re pretentious)? This is another German car we didn’t official get, and yet here it is with the steering wheel in the right place to boot. It too is blue, immaculate, and expensive.
Let’s see what wagon will wagon better.
The 2011 BMW 328i xDrive Sports Wagon
Market Snapshot
- Original MSRP: $39,150
- Current Value Range: $3,500 - $26,750
This car isn’t just the engine – it’s as if BMW made it and sold it off the factory floor.
- 93,500 but the true mileage is a mystery
- Montego Blue Metallic over Orange leather
- Eight-speed automatic
- Tri-turbocharged M57 3.0-liter inline-six diesel engine, rated at 265 horsepower and 425 lb-ft of torque. After a steroid injection, it now produces 571 horsepower and 765 lb-ft.
- Rear-wheel drive conversion – donor car had xDrive.
- A host of upgrades, like a custom leather interior, Alcantara bits, and even the tach from a 335d. Hell, it even has Apple CarPlay.
- Bid to $35,335 so far
How to recreate this? You can’t. Well, you can, but it won’t be easy because you’re not Brian. First, you have to find a donor 328 wagon and a donor 335d sedan. Combine until creamy smooth. Course, you’ll need to find someone willing to take on such work.
But before we sign up for that, how about an RS?
The 2001 Audi RS4 Avant
Market Snapshot
- Original MSRP: $54,000
- Current Value Range: $12,595 - $175,000
I don’t get these two. BMW needs to be put in a choke hold to bring us a wagon, while Audi often only makes performance variants available as wagons.
Good for you Audi.
- 53,600 miles
- Nogaro Blue over Black leather
- Six-speed manual
- Get ready: French-spec, located in Connecticut, registered in Montana, imported from Japan. This car needs a passport stamp.
- Twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine, rated at 375 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque, with Quattro all-wheel drive
- Minimal mods – Bilstein coilovers, aftermarket steering wheel, but it all looks very OEM+
- Sold for $85,600
Now, as I said, Audi never sold any RS4 in the U.S. for this B4 generation, so that makes this rare. But if you notice something *counts on fingers* – the 25-year import ban will soon be up on this car, which means you won’t need to convert it. And that means more will be on the way soon.
That said, one of these just sold for $175,000 on Bring a Trailer. Looks like this has been infected with the “cool car, worth anything” virus. Maybe look at one with a V-8 from later generations.
So we have two cool blue wagons. I don’t make it easy on you this week, that’s for sure.
