Is This the Weirdest BMW M3 Ever? Four Grilles and a Unique Design Unveiled in China

A shocking sight: a BMW-tuned vehicle
Combines two M3 bodies
A total of four gigantic kidney grilles

BMW’s iconic M3, known for its performance pedigree, made waves in 2020 by introducing the sixth-generation model (codenamed G80). The bold and polarizing design of its oversized kidney grilles split fans, with some loving the aggressive look while others were less enthusiastic. The M3 peaked in grille size, drawing more attention than ever before.

Nicknamed “pig nostrils” and “nutria teeth” for its vertically stretched kidney grilles, the M3’s face sparked considerable debate. In response, the aftermarket quickly stepped in with front bumper alternatives that toned down the controversial look. But now, an even wilder take on the M3 has surfaced—this time from China—and it’s turning heads in an entirely new way. A custom build featuring a wider body and not two but four massive kidney grilles has emerged. The question is: what is this strange creation?

Only the appearance is BMW M3
The rest is applied with replacement parts

On September 23, a video showcasing a custom build called the “BMW M3 Squared” appeared on the Chinese video platform BiliBili. At first glance, it might seem like a regular M3 stretched horizontally, but it’s an entirely different machine beneath the surface. While it retains some of the M3’s body panels and interior pieces, nearly everything else is aftermarket.

The builder behind this creation fused two early G80 M3 bodies at the kidney grille, creating a car unlike anything seen before. This isn’t the first time the builder has attempted something this ambitious, having previously worked on a custom Volkswagen Lamando for the Chinese market. He added a “2” next to the M3 badge to complete the look, signaling this one-of-a-kind creation.

Equipped with a 1.4L 4-cylinder gasoline engine
Some BMW parts applied to interior

As one might expect, combining two vehicles into one leads to some challenges. While the car doesn’t look “natural,” the builder did try to maintain quality where possible. The four kidney grilles are aligned with precision, and the character lines on the hood match the contours of the design. There are some noticeable gaps between the bumper and hood, but overall, the finish is surprisingly cohesive.

However, this custom M3 Squared doesn’t boast the power of a standard M3. Instead of BMW’s 3.0L inline-six, the builder installed a 1.4L four-cylinder engine, likely due to budget constraints. The engine comes from the same Volkswagen Lamando project, so performance is far from what you’d expect in a high-performance M3. Inside, the driver’s seat area features genuine M3 components, including door trims, the dashboard, and the center console, making it feel more familiar to BMW fans. The rear seat, however, remains unfinished, with the builder covering it with a camouflage tent in the meantime.

The motivation for its production is even more surprising. It seems difficult to drive on public roads

The interior space is truly vast, as it is made up of two vehicles joined together. Although no other seats are installed besides the driver’s seat, the manufacturer plans to make the interior as close to the original M3 as possible. The tuned vehicle Volkswagen Ramando produced previously can accommodate eight people, including two in the passenger seat and five in the back seat. It can accommodate up to ten people if desired. Meanwhile, the manufacturer chose the BMW M3 for this tuning project for a unique reason. According to the video, he said that he chose the M3 because “it looks better when it’s stretched out.”

The only images of the vehicle revealed so far show it driving on a controlled circuit. It seems unlikely that it would be legal to drive it on public roads.