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Description

AST Weld-in Roll Cage BMW E46 Compact V3

The AST Weld-in Roll Cage BMW E46 Compact V3 is a full roll cage for the BMW E46 with 3-door Compact bodywork. This Weld-in E46 Compact V3 supplements the V2 frame with door bars on the driver’s and passenger’s sides: the first real side protection in the range.

The cage is designed and built by AST Roll Cages in Spain, for drifters and track drivers who take side impacts seriously but still want to keep a usable interior.

Key benefits

• Door bars: side protection at the occupants’ hip and shoulder height.
• Fully closed side section: the sill and the pillars are tied together.
• Eight welded mounting points: permanently attached to the bodyshell without any play.
• E355 steel: 45 mm main hoop, 40 mm for the other tubes.
• Custom-designed: every 3 mm steel foot plate is drawn up individually for each car.
• 71 kg: a complete side frame without unnecessary weight.
• Supplied unpainted: free choice of coating and colour.

Suitable for

BMW E46, 3-door Compact

• BMW E46 3-door Compact
• Type: weld-in roll cage, version V3
• Drifting, track use and rallying

Technical specifications

• Manufacturer: AST Roll Cages
• Manufacturer part number: CMBN03031
• Sunroof: for roofs without a sunroof
• Headlining: for roofs without headlining
• Rear anchorage: in the rear suspension area
• Rear structure layout: V design
• Type: full roll cage, weld-in (permanent)
• Main hoop: E355 steel, 45 mm diameter
• Secondary structure: E355 steel, 40 mm diameter
• Foot plates: 3 mm steel, custom-designed for each car
• Mounting: 8 welded mounting points
• Weight: 71 kg (manufacturer’s figure)
• Finish: unpainted weld-in kit
• Included: weld-in kit, gussets, reinforcement plates, bolts, washers and nuts, documentation, fitting instructions and sticker set

Fitting and delivery

The cage is built to order; the standard delivery time is 15 to 35 working days. Bear in mind that the door bars narrow the entry opening, so choose a seat and seating position to suit.

From V3 onwards, the E46 Compact gets real side protection, with door bars on the left and right.

Why choose this Weld-in E46 Compact V3 roll cage?

In drifting and on track, impacts often come from the side, and that is exactly where V3 adds something that V1 and V2 lack. AST digitises the bodyshell with laser scanners and designs the cage in 3D, so the door bars sit tight against the sill and you keep as much interior space as possible. For many drivers, this is the point at which a cage goes from looking the part to genuinely providing safety.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still get in and out normally?

Yes, but it is a little less easy than with V2. The door bars of the Weld-in E46 Compact V3 run across the door opening, so you step over the bar rather than straight through.

Is this cage also compatible with a standard door card?

The straight door bars of V3 stay within the profile of the sill and the pillars, so in most cases you can keep the door card. This is not the case with the NASCAR versions.

What is the delivery time?

The standard delivery time for this roll cage is 15 to 35 working days.