prestigeandperformancecar.com SEPTEMBER 2023 3 Editor’s welcome There will undoubtedly be some people who look at this month’s cover car and get mad about it, and I understand why. The E30 M3 is held in such high regard as a performance icon and a slice of BMW history, that the idea of someone carrying out an engine swap, even one from the BMW back catalogue, feels wrong to them. In the case of our epic September issue cover car, there is context, that being that the car was purchased without an engine, so something had to be inserted into the engine bay. Naturally, some purists would insist that should have been an S14, but the S85 is too awesome to turn down, and it means another E30 M3 is still alive, with the help of a heart transplant. I think preserving classics is certainly important, and I love to see immaculate concours machines, and, if this was the last-ever E30 M3, then I think it would be very important for it to be preserved in as close to its original condition as possible. But, equally, if whoever owned that car decided they didn’t want to do that, I would respect their decision. I feel that variety is very much the spice of life, and life is too short to be spent worrying about what anyone thinks about your car and what anyone else thinks you should be doing with your car. The amount of hate non-BMW engine swaps still get among the community is honestly disappointing and frustrating in equal measure, even when those engines are more reliable, more powerful, or just better than some of BMW’s offerings. The BMW scene is all about community, and I think that if people respect your decision to do what you want with your car, you can respect their decision to do whatever they want with their cars. And besides, if you don’t think a V10-swapped E30 M3 is an absolutely epic machine, I’d question your position as a petrolhead… Regardless of how you prefer your BMWs, we’ve got a little something for everyone in this issue. Fans of modern modded machinery will enjoy the absolutely awesome G82 M4 we’ve got for you, and it’s a stunning 700hp machine that will convert even the most die-hard of doubters. We’ve also got an air-ride E46 330d Touring that is serving up a serious helping of individual flair, and we also heard your call for more E36 content and have answered with a spectacular turbo M50 build that is just so good. Elsewhere, we’ve got a full-on E30 Touring race build, as well as an immaculate E39 Alpina B10 3.3, plus an incredible BMW collection from South Africa that will blow you away. On top of all that, we’ve got show reports, a first drive of the new hydrogen iX5 prototype, and a guide to all things to look forward to at the German Car Festival. If you haven’t yet booked your tickets for this awesome event, taking place at Silverstone on Sunday 10 September, head to Fastcar.co.uk and go to the events pages to get your tickets. Next month we’re bringing you a full-on F87 M2 Comp build that will rock your world, so make sure you don’t miss it! For now, please enjoy everything the September issue of Total BMW has to offer, and I will see you next time! Elizabeth de Latour Editor prestigeandperformancecar.com TOTAL BMW Kelsey Publishing Ltd, 5 Yalding Hill, Downs Court, Yalding, ME18 6AL EDITORIAL Editor: Elizabeth de Latour Email: [email protected] Design: AT Graphics Contributors: Kristoffer Kling, Bob Harper, James Fossdyke, Viktor Benyi, Jason Dodd, Wilhelm Lutjeharms, Peet Mocke, Deniss Podnebess, Robb Pritchard, Rob Hawkins, Guy Baker, Tony Forbes-Marsden, Mani Singh Hayer, Ian Shaw ADVERTISEMENT SALES Talk Media Ltd Garry Brookes Tel: 01732 442245 Email: [email protected] ADVERTISEMENT PRODUCTION Talk Media Ltd Email: [email protected] MANAGEMENT Chief Operating Officer: Phil Weeden Publisher: Gareth Beesley Managing Director: Kevin McCormick Subscription Marketing Director: Gill Lambert Retail Director: Steve Brown Print Production Manager: Georgina Harris Print Production Controllers: Kelly Orriss and Hayley Brown Subs Marketing Manager: Dave Sage SUBSCRIPTIONS 12 issues of Total BMW are published per annum UK annual subscription price: £71.88 Europe annual subscription price: £84 North America annual subscription price: £84 Rest of World annual subscription price: £90 CUSTOMER SERVICE TEAM UK – 01959 543 747 Overseas – 0044 (0) 1959 543 747 USA – 1-888-777-0275 HELP DESK [email protected] Email – [email protected] Postal address – Total BMW Customer Service Team Kelsey Publishing Ltd, 5 Yalding Hill, Downs Court, Yalding, ME18 6AL Find current subscription offers on our website – shop.kelsey.co.uk/totalbmw Already a subscriber, manage your subscription online – shop.kelsey.co.uk/myaccount WEBSITE Find current subscription offers at shop.kelsey.co.uk/pbmw Buy back issues at shop.kelsey.co.uk/pbmwback Buy merchandise at shop.kelsey.co.uk/pbmwmerch Already a subscriber? 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4 TOTAL BMW FEATURES 06 Violet Tendencies Finished in a dazzling Individual shade of purple, covered in carbon, and serving up 700hp, this G82 M4 is a serious machine. 28 Perfect 10 With an S85 V10 stuffed under the bonnet, this epic E30 M3 is modified retro perfection. 36 The Best of the Best? Alpina’s six-cylinder E39 models have so much to offer, as this immaculate 3.3 proves so effortlessly. 44 The Spice of Life With a mind-blowing collection filled with an incredible variety of cars, this South African enthusiast is living the BMW dream. 52 Load Runner From its bottle-green wrap to its custom wheels, this air-ride E46 330d Touring is packed with plenty of flair. 60 Impossible is Nothing The owner of this turbo E36 has not had an easy time with his project, but it was worth all the effort. 68 Learning Curves This striking father-and-sonbuilt E30 Touring racer is one seriously cool machine. Issue #009 September 2023 TotalBMWMagazine Follow us @TotalBMWMag P94 SUBSCRIBE ANDSAVE! Go to shop.kelsey.co.uk or call 0044 (0) 1959 543 747 52 22 06
SEPTEMBER 2023 5 28 68 44 60 REGULARS 14 News All the latest global BMW news. 16 Products The newest mods and accessories for your car. 20 Column: Bob Harper Bob laments the demise of the diesel. 22 First Drive: G05 iX5 Hydrogen Prototype Is hydrogen the fuel of the future? We get behind the wheel of the iX5 to see what it’s like. 76 Liqui Moly Tech Q&A We sit down with the experts at Liqui Moly to learn how their products can reduce emissions. 78 Market Watch Our expert takes a look at the F86 X6 M used market. 80 German Car Festival Our guide to the highlights at this year’s German Car Festival! 82 Events Our reports from the Bespoke and PlusFourFour shows. 86 Our Cars 94 Subscriptions 96 Classifieds 98 Next Issue A full-on F87 M2 Comp build.
6 TOTAL BMW G82 M4 people out there who felt that way from the off, but likewise, we reckon there are also plenty of people out there – quite possibly more – who didn’t share that enthusiasm for the latest almost always the case, time (around three years at this point) has done wonders, and not only have we now got used to the styling, it’s honestly grown on us. We still maintain that purple for his G82 M4 and then proceeded to throw a whole load of carbon at it because the end result is a ferocious-looking car that will surely convert even the most die-hard of haters.
prestigeandperformancecar.com SEPTEMBER 2023 7 TENDENCIES Words: Elizabeth de Latour Photos: Kristoffer Kling “I can still remember going to Germany with my father when I was young and seeing an E36 M3 for the first time. So the E36 is extra special to me,” he adds, and it’s no that time. Of course, it had super-wide ‘German-style’ wheels and coilovers so low that it was almost impossible to drive,” he laughs, but it was the perfect introduction the enviable position of being surrounded by a near-limitless selection of BMW upgrades from countless brands, so, unsurprisingly, he’s always got a couple of modded cars on
8 TOTAL BMW G82 M4 the go. “We had an F82 M4 that had a feature in PBMW a few years ago (April 2019). After that, I’ve been mostly doing some endurance racing with an old E46 that I share with some friends. This is an E46 328i with a WTCC body kit, upgraded brakes and some smaller modifications to the engine. The rules in the racing series prevent us from doing too much with the engine, so our main focus on that one has been to get the weight as light as possible and traction as good as possible,” he explains. “Then there is the G82 M4, of course, and we just got an E36 325 that we will rebuild as an endurance race car for next season. I usually borrow one of the F20 118is that we have at work for my commute,” he smiles, so it’s fair to say he’s living his best BMW life right now. “We are always trying to be early with new models as show cars,” says Viktor as we turn our attention to the G82. “We really thought the new M4 had potential, and, personally, I was missing having a track day car that can be used for both street and track,” he adds with a smile. “We ordered this one new from the factory, and we ordered parts the same day as we ordered the car! When we decide to do a big project like this, we always try to stand out and be one of the first with the mods. So some of the parts we could not order before we had the car here to take some measurements on it etc.,” he explains. The build has developed and evolved since the car was delivered in 2022, with new mods being added, and it’s turned into a real beast. It’s the imposing exterior that gets your attention first, with that dazzling purple bodywork, but that’s no wrap. You’re looking at Individual Venetian Violet The twinturbo S58 has been treated to a selection of upgrades and is now making around 700hp
prestigeandperformancecar.com SEPTEMBER 2023 9 The interior is covered in carbon and features some individual touches Pearl, and it’s an absolutely sublime shade of silky purple that envelopes the M4’s exterior, changing hue and intensity depending on the light, and it’s simply stunning. We said the G8x was colour-sensitive, and purple is definitely a winner in a big way. But shift your gaze from the paint to the rest of the body, and you’ll see the numerous aero additions that give this M4 so much presence and muscle, and it’s with all these aggressive extras that the styling really starts to shine. “The first time I saw a picture of the M4 GT3, I knew we had to get some similar kidneys for the car, which changes the whole front bumper look. Not long after, Vorsteiner released its kidneys in carbon, which had a similar design, so this was a no-brainer,” explains Viktor. “Besides that, we wanted a nice clean straight front lip in carbon and the carbon air channels for the front. We were pretty satisfied with these parts, to begin with, but then Flossmann contacted us and told us they just finished their first parts for the G82. They asked us if we had a show car to test the parts on, and we just couldn’t say no to that,” grins Viktor. “So, we got the front fenders, hood and a GT4 rear wing all in carbon from Flossmann that really gave the car a unique look. When the CSL came out later, we thought the trunk lid was really nice, so we changed out the wing on the original trunk to a CSL-style trunk in carbon which we partly painted and left some visible carbon on the spoiler,” and all that combines to make this an awesome-looking machine. The full carbon grille makes the nose so much more appealing, especially when combined with the angular carbon intakes. Then you’ve got the vented front wings and that carbon bonnet with its power dome and functional vents, all of which immediately transforms the front end of the car. And the rear end is finished off with that stunning CSLstyle boot lid, and allowing the carbon weave to show through on the edge of the spoiler lip was an inspired decision. As we all know, wheels play a crucial part when it comes to a car’s looks, and choosing the right set for this build proved tricky for Viktor and the Schmiedmann team. “The wheels were a real headache to decide on,” he sighs. “When we at first had the APEX VS-5RS 10x19” and 11x19” wheels on, we saw that there was lots of space left. We tried to find if someone else had tried to go up a size but couldn’t find anything,” he shrugs, so they had to be the ones to go for it. Since we ordered this car new, we, of course, added the carbon bucket seats from the factory. These are perfect for a street/track day car “We measured a few times and decided to custom-order BC Forged wheels for the car. As always, when you customorder something, we were a bit nervous while waiting for the wheels to arrive,” chuckles Viktor. “We wanted to get as deep and concave wheels as possible, so we ordered the fronts 11” wide with ET-2 and the rear ones 12” wide with ET19. The result was perfect and exactly how we pictured it to be,” he grins, and these wheels were the perfect choice for this G82 build. The BC Forged LE52 splits have gloss black lips and brushed black centres, with gold bolts breaking up all that blackness, and they absolutely nail the race-style look combined with an elegant finish that Viktor and the team were aiming for. The hefty widths mean they fill out the arches to perfection, and we love the fat sidewalls of the massively wide Nankang AR-1 tyres, with 305s up front and 325 rears.
10 TOTAL BMW G82 M4 Naturally, the stock suspension was never going to be suitable for a build with track work in mind, so the chassis has received some upgrades. “We’re currently running KW V4 coilovers and adjustable top mounts. We are waiting for CSL sway bars that haven’t arrived yet, unfortunately,” says Viktor, and those will help to further sharpen the chassis and get the handling even better. “We tried the KW H.A.S. kit at first, but it was not optimal for the track. The KW V4 coilovers are working really great, especially on the Nürburgring,” he explains, so you know they’re doing a good job with praise like that. They’ve also got this M4 sitting perfectly, and it looks so good with that drop. The S58 that powers the G8x M duo is an awesome engine that delivers huge power and monster performance out of the box. But with the ability to extract more of that with very little effort, it’s only natural that Viktor and the Schmiedmann G82 M4 ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION: 3.0-litre twin-turbo S58B30, BMS open air filters, Supersprint cat-less downpipes and Race exhaust, HCP tune. M Steptronic eightspeed automatic gearbox POWER AND TORQUE: Approx. 700hp and 700lb ft CHASSIS: 11x19” ET-2 (front) and 12x19” ET19 (rear) BC Forged LE52 wheels with black brushed centres, gloss black lips and gold hardware, 305/30 (front) and 325/30 (rear) Nankang AR-1 tyres, KW V4 coilovers, adjustable camber plates (front), Wiechers carbon strut braces EXTERIOR: Individual Venetian Violet Pearl, carbon fibre front splitter and air intakes, Vorsteiner carbon kidney grilles, Flossmann vented carbon bonnet and front wings, CSL-style carbon boot lid INTERIOR: BMW M Performance steering wheel, Schmiedmann steering wheel roundel and headrest stitching
prestigeandperformancecar.com SEPTEMBER 2023 11 team couldn’t help but give the powerplant a little bit of a tweak. “When we ordered the car, we thought we had to do a new tune for it, but after testing it on track, we realised that the power output was much higher than expected,” he grins. “So we calmed down with unlocking the ECU and tuning it. At first, we just mounted the Supersprint cat-less downpipes and rear silencer, which gave a few extra horsepower. Now we have unlocked the ECU and are running a tune and complete Supersprint Race exhaust, which replaces the OPF and gives a lot of extra power,” smiles Viktor. “We’re satisfied with the power as it is now since it’s made for track and not drag race. But This M4 has been built for road and track, and it delivers on both you never know, we might upgrade it more in the future…” he adds with a grin. This M4 isn’t exactly lacking in terms of performance as it is, and it’s making somewhere in the region of 700hp and 700lb ft, which is, let’s be honest, an awful lot. Finally, we come to the interior, and while Viktor hasn’t made many changes here, it still looks fantastic from the factory, and there are a few additional touches that just make a difference. “Since we ordered this car new, we, of course, added the carbon bucket seats from the factory. These are perfect for a street/track day car,” explains Viktor, and they are joined by the Carbon Package that slathers the interior in carbon trim. The steering We really thought the new M4 had potential, and, personally, I was missing having a track day car that can be used for both street and track
G82 M4 12 TOTAL BMW wheel is an M Performance item, with its sexy Alcantara grips, and a Schmiedmann badge replaces the roundel, while the headrests also boast the Schmiedmann script and logo for the finishing touch. You would expect the CEO of Schmiedmann’s Swedish arm to drive an impressive BM, but even so, this G82 M4 takes things to the next level. From its dazzling paintwork to its outrageously sexy carbon additions and menacing wheels, it packs a serious punch in terms of styling and backs that up with its hefty 700hp. This is a serious piece of kit and no mistake, but there are still a few more upgrades left in the pipeline. “We’ve had the car for a year now, and it’s almost finished, but we plan to keep the car for a few years and might do more modifications to it. It would be nice to get the weight down a bit, but we don’t want to sacrifice the comfort too much – I kind of like that the car can be driven to and from the track, so we don’t want to overdo it either,” reasons Viktor. As it stands, this is a car that will cruise to the ’Ring in comfort, then absolutely monster the track, and get Viktor home again without any stress or fuss. It’s an insanely capable machine, and Viktor and the Schmiedmann crew have put together an absolutely epic M build Supersprint Race exhaust delivers a proper soundtrack we have unlocked the ECU and are running a tune and complete Supersprint Race exhaust, which replaces the OPF and gives a lot of extra power
Comes ready to go & includes: • DX4000 Dash Cam (100 x 70 x 30mm) • Windscreen & Fixed mounting kits • 12V/24V in-car charger • GPS tracking & video playback software • 16GB SD Card - PC & Mac compatible • FREE lifetime speed trap updates • 12 month warranty Protect yourself from speeding tickets, road hazards & insurance scams! DX4000 Drive Assist dash cam and speed limit alert system. DX4000 Drive Assist is so much more than a dash cam. Simple to use, this sophisticated device records every mile you drive in crystal ČŕĚîƑĺĿijĺēĚǛŠĿƥĿūŠDžĺĿŕĚēĿƙƎŕîNjĿŠijƥĺĚƙƎĚĚē ŕĿŞĿƥūIJĚDŽĚƑNjƑūîēîŕūŠijƥĺĚDžîNjȦ'ÝǪǦǦǦDžĿŕŕ alert you audibly and visually to approaching ƙƎĚĚēČîŞĚƑîƙDžĺĿŕƙƥēĿƙƎŕîNjĿŠijƥĺĚƙƎĚĚēŕĿŞĿƥ îƥîŕŕƥĿŞĚƙîŠēDžĿŕŕDžîƑŠNjūƭĿIJNjūƭîČČĿēĚŠƥîŕŕNj ĚNJČĚĚēƥĺĚƙƎĚĚēŕĿŞĿƥȡîƙDžĚŕŕîƙDžĺĚŠNjūƭ drive from one speed limit to another, for total ƎĚîČĚūIJŞĿŠēȦ DX4000s super wide-angle lens continuously ƑĚČūƑēƙŠĿijĺƥîŠēēîNjĿŠĺĿijĺēĚǛŠĿƥĿūŠūŠƥĺĚ ǧǬHfi¬'ČîƑēĿŠČŕƭēĚēîŠēîƭƥūŞîƥĿČîŕŕNjŕūūƎƙ DžĺĚŠƥĺĚŞĚŞūƑNjČîƑēĿƙIJƭŕŕȦƙNjūƭēƑĿDŽĚƥĺĚ built in GPS antenna plots your exact location ƥūîŕĚƑƥNjūƭƥūDžĺîƥɄƙîƑūƭŠēƥĺĚŠĚNJƥċĚŠēîŠē ƥūƎƑūDŽĿēĚƎĿŠƎūĿŠƥĚDŽĿēĚŠČĚȡĿIJĚDŽĚƑƑĚƐƭĿƑĚēȦ ŕîƙƙŕĚîēĿŠijĺĿijĺēĚǛŠĿƥĿūŠēĿijĿƥîŕDŽĿēĚū recording and crystal-clear high-resolution playback come as standard as does the large ċƭĿŕƥȹĿŠǩȦǫĿŠČĺg 'ƙČƑĚĚŠȦ'ÝǪǦǦǦČūŞĚƙ ƎƑĚŕūîēĚēîŠēƑĚîēNjƥūƭƙĚDžĿƥĺƥĺĚŞūƙƥ comprehensive speed trap database and the speed limits of every road across the UK îŠē/ƭƑūƎĚȦ¡ŕƭƙȡîŕŕƙūIJƥDžîƑĚîŠēēîƥîċîƙĚ updates are completely free! The comprehensive database preloaded into ƥĺĚ'ÝǪǦǦǦŠūƥūŠŕNjČūŠƥîĿŠƙƥĺĚƙƎĚĚēŕĿŞĿƥƙ of every road across the UK & Europe it also includes the locations of Gatso, Truvelo, O'/ ¬ǩȡ¬ŞîƑƥqūƥūƑDžîNj îŞĚƑîƙȡ ØîƥČĺŞîŠȡ¬ƎĚĚēČƭƑċȡ'¬Ǩȡ¬¡/ ƙîDŽĚƑîijĚ ƙƎĚĚēČîŞĚƑîƙîƙDžĚŕŕîƙƥĺūƭƙîŠēƙūIJ ŕūČîƥĿūŠƙDžĺĚƑĚŞūċĿŕĚČîŞĚƑîDŽîŠƙîŠēƙƎĚĚē ƥƑîƎƙîƑĚIJƑĚƐƭĚŠƥŕNjƭƙĚēȦ¹îŒĚƥĺĚƭŠČĚƑƥîĿŠƥNj ūƭƥūIJēƑĿDŽĿŠijȡūƑēĚƑNjūƭƑ'ÝǪǦǦǦƥūēîNjȦ “If it wasn’t for our dash cam footage, the other driver might not have been held responsible for knocking the cyclist off his bike & injuring him. ” See the evidence for yourself online “The driver coming in the opposite direction jumped the red light, knocking the cyclist off his bike & leaving him seriously injured. Mandy helped the cyclist whilst the emergency services were on their way. We showed the police the high-res dash-cam footage of what happened & they were really impressed with clarity of the recording. Later, it came out that the driver of the other car had denied jumping the red light, but when confronted with the video evidence quickly confessed. Our dash cam footage helped the poor chap who was injured as it could have taken months, if not years, to sort it out otherwise. We wouldn’t drive without our DX1000 dash-cam now.” John & Mandy Nightingale DISPLAYS SPEED LIMITS ¹gg¹Tq/¬ DISPLAYS SPEED LIMITS ~G/×/¤Þ¤~' ¤~¬¬¹O/ UK & EUROPE Crystal Clear Day & Night For the last 5 years there has been a steady rise in ‘crash for cash’ incidents and acts of ‘driver aggression’ on our roads. Motorists are now taking action to protect themselves from the rise in fraud as well as the increased threat of violence. Rating 4.6 • Excellent Call 0330 102 5578 online: aguriworld.co.uk £169.99 DX4000 Drive Assist Dash Cam. R.R.P £239.99 - Now £209.99 DX4000R Dash Cam + Rear Camera. R.R.P £279.99 - Now FREE FAST DELIVERY Save £70 - Quote Special Offer Code: MOTOR23 Save £70 fiƭNjūŠȹŕĿŠĚîŠēƙƎƑĚîēƥĺĚČūƙƥDžĿƥĺǩĿŠƥĚƑĚƙƥȹIJƑĚĚƎîNjŞĚŠƥƙȦ¬ĚĚDžĚċƙĿƥĚIJūƑēĚƥîĿŕƙȦ~ƑēĚƑŠūDžIJūƑG¬¹G¤//ēĚŕĿDŽĚƑNjĿŠǨȹǩDžūƑŒĿŠijēîNjƙȦGūƑIJƭŕŕƥĚƑŞƙîŠēČūŠēĿƥĿūŠƙƎŕĚîƙĚDŽĿƙĿƥDžDžDžȦîijƭƑĿDžūƑŕēȦČūȦƭŒ
14 TOTAL BMW NEWS X1 M35i xDrive details BMW UK takes home six awards at the Auto Express New Car Awards 2023 BMW UK proudly took home six awards from the Auto Express New Car Awards 2023, demonstrating its continued excellence across a variety of categories and reinforcing the breadth of its model portfolio. BMW secured five awards across numerous categories, and MINI garnered an additional victory with the MINI Convertible. The third-generation X1, launched in the summer of 2022, led its class according to Auto Express by winning the Small Premium SUV of the Year award. The i4— the first fully-electric Gran Coupé—continues to make an impression nearly two years post-launch, claiming the Premium Car of the Year award. Another of the BMW brand’s fully-electric models, the iX, impressed judges with its luxurious and contemporary interior, earning the Best Large Company Car of the Year accolade. The brand’s flagship model, the i7, already boasting four major awards since its UK launch at the end of 2022, now adds Auto Express’ Luxury Car of the Year to its roster. The all-new M2, which launched recently in the UK, received its first accolade in the UK at the Auto Express New Car Awards 2023, securing the Performance Car of the Year title. Fans of small SAVs looking for something sporty have found what they’ve been looking for with the new X1M35i. Under the bonnet sits the B48 four-cylinder TwinPower turbo engine making 300hp in European models, and 317hp for the USA and other selected markets. Peak power is delivered between 5750-6500 rpm, while peak torque of 295 lb ft is on tap from 2000-4500rpm, and the X1 M35i hits 62mph from a standstill in 5.4 seconds. The car comes fitted with a seven-speed Steptronic gearbox with shift paddles, and if you pull the left paddle for at least one second, the M Sport Boost function activates, and all the powertrain and chassis systems are switched to their sportiest setting. Naturally, the X1 M35i features xDrive 4WD, which includes a mechanical limited-slip differential on the front axle with a locking factor of up to 26%. This increases traction over loose terrain or in adverse weather conditions at the same time as boosting agility and handling dynamics when taking corners at speed. The X1 M35i comes with 19” wheels as standard, with 20” items available as an option, and Adaptive M Suspension also comes as standard, with the M35i sitting 15mm lower compared to other X1s. The X1 M35i also features an integrated braking system which generates a degree of stopping power that is matched exactly to the driver’s inputs, while also providing excellent feedback via the brake pedal. It brings together the brake activation, brake booster and braking control functions within a compact module, while an electric actuator is used to trigger the required brake pressure. The X1 M35i is also available with optional M Compound brakes, comprising four-piston, fixed-caliper brakes with 385mm drilled discs at the front wheels and single-piston, floating-caliper units with integrated parking brake and 330mm discs at the rear. The calipers are grey and bear the M logo.
BMW has just announced that a new M5 Touring is in development, and has teased eager enthusiasts with these photos. As you can see, there’s not much to go on, and we’ll have to wait until 2024 for its launch, but anyone in the market for a big AMG or Audi RS estate is definitely going to want to wait and see what this new M5 Touring is like. Just like the future M5 Saloon, the Touring variant will also feature a completely newly developed partially electrified drive system. Thus, BMW M is steadily progressing on its path to electrification. “We are now also installing a hybrid drive system with typical M performance in other highperformance cars,” said Dirk Häcker, Head of Development at BMW M. With the new M5 completing its test drives on public roads, testing of the first prototypes of the new M5 Touring is now underway in urban traffic as well as on country roads and motorways around Munich and at the BMW M headquarters in Garching. The integrated application of all drive and suspension systems will then also be carried out for the new M5 Touring on the Nürburgring, among other places, to ensure the ideal balance of sporting performance on the racetrack and superior ride comfort in all situations. With the last M5 Touring launching back in 2007, it’s about time that a new model enters the fast-estate fray, and we can’t wait. M5 Touring announced EVENT The German Car Festival will be held at Silverstone on Sunday, 10 September, and it promises to be a spectacular celebration of the finest automotive exports to come out of Germany. Expect BMWs, Audis, VWs, Porsches and Mercedes. The event welcomes all German car clubs to display their members’ cars, and you can guarantee that there will be an incredible variety of clubs and cars on show. We will, of course, be flying the blue and white flag high for Bavaria and BMWs; you can expect some stunning displays of incredible modified machinery, classic icons, and awesome high-performance builds. If you’re displaying your car at the event, you will be able to purchase a professional image of you driving your pride and joy into the venue. A team of editors will also be going around the event, picking their favourite cars and handing out rosettes. The German Car Festival gives you the opportunity to hit the hallowed tarmac of Silverstone circuit itself, putting your pride and joy through its paces on the twists and turns of this awesome track. If you’re heading on track at German Car Festival this year, you’ll be able to bag yourself a picture of your car roaring around the famous circuit. If you’re looking for some topnotch products for your car all in one place, then be sure to head to the extensive Retail Village, and pick up some goodies for your pride and joy, and a little something for yourself, too. The German Car Festival promises to be an awesome celebration of Germany’s finest machinery, and if you love German cars, you owe it to yourself to come along, so make sure you don’t miss out! Head over to Fastcar.co.uk and check out the events section for more info and to buy tickets, and we’ll see you there! German Car Festival SEPTEMBER 2023 15
Driveway Detailing Warrior Washing your car properly can be a little daunting if it’s not something you’ve done before, but this handy guide will tell you everything you need to know about detailing your pride and joy. The man behind Driveway Detailing Warrior is S. L. Lucas, the owner and creator of the popular ‘Driveway Detailing Warrior’ home detailing blog and a blogging mentor in the home detailing community. In this book, he shares his top 10 money-saving, technically accurate and inspirational detailing projects, along with sage advice and entertaining anecdotes that will put a smile on the face of every petrolhead. Informative and entertaining, Driveway Detailing Warrior is perfect for anyone looking to learn the ins and outs of keeping your car clean, properly and getting dazzling results each time. Price: Hardcover £27.99, paperback £15.99, Kindle £5.99 Web: www.amazon.co.uk PRODUCTS 16 TOTAL BMW MMR G-series Hubcentric Wheel Spacers and Bolt kit A set of wheel spacers will instantly enhance the look of your BMW by getting the wheels sitting nice and flush with the arches, and this set from MMR is exactly what you need. Available in 12mm and 15mm widths, these lightweight aluminium spacers feature a hubcentric lip that makes for precise location onto the car’s hub, avoiding runout and vibration through imbalance. Whichever width you select, the MMR Spacers are of a hubcentric design, meaning that they are machined with an alloy spigot to make for perfect centring while maintaining the OE 66.5mm centre-bore for the correct fitment with factory or aftermarket wheels. The hubcentric lip ensures precise location onto the car’s hub, making them easier to fit and less prone to vibration through imbalance – all experts strongly advise against any wheel spacers that aren’t of this hubcentric design on a performance car. They are precision machined from heat-treated aerospace aluminium 7075 T6 for increased strength and durability, and have a black anodised finish to protect the aluminium from road dirt and corrosion. This surface treatment avoids the risk of bonding to the wheel or hub, which can happen with cheaper finishes over time, and combines with the design of the rear mounting faces, which feature cutouts, to make removal easy even after thousands of road miles. Finally, the subtle laser-etched ‘MMR’ logos are a nice finishing touch, just visible through your wheel spokes. These CNC-machined precision alloy wheel spacers come with a 66.5mm bore and 5x112mm PCD stud bolt pattern, perfect for all G-series BMW models, as well as the F4x 1 Series. Price: £89.99 Web: mmrshop.co.uk DEI Radiator Relief If your BMW is struggling to keep cool in the summer heat, this is the product for you. DEI Radiator Relief is a high-performance coolant additive that ‘supercharges’ the radiator by transferring heat more efficiently through the radiator to prevent overheating. Radiator Relief is designed to reduce the surface tension of the coolant, which maximises the thermal conductivity and transfer process through the cooling system. This coolant additive has been proven in the desert heat of the South Western United States. It will reduce engine operating temperature by as much as 17°C, thereby reducing engine wear and improving reliability. This new Radiator Relief blend is compatible with all types of anti-freeze mixtures and includes an anti-foaming agent to improve the heat transfer process. Radiator Relief contains a corrosion inhibitor that balances the negative acidic effects that can develop over time in antifreeze and water solutions and stabilises the pH level to reduce rust, prevent electrolysis, mineral deposits and scale build-up from forming, thus reducing the chances of overheating and potential radiator core damage. Radiator Relief can be used in all water-cooled engines (a special version is available for diesels). It is safe for all alloys, including aluminium, and it is 100% biodegradable, water-soluble, non-corrosive and non-toxic. No premixing is required. Price: RRP £7.85
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PRODUCTS 18 TOTAL BMW Official BMW clothing If you want to look and feel cool this summer, look no further than this stylish selection of clothing from BMW. Keep the sun at bay with this grey baseball cap with a small BMW logo on the side, and why not pair that with this grey unisex M logo T-shirt? If you fancy something with a bit more flair, this red T-shirt with a striking M logo in a fade design is the perfect pick, and it’s MStyle G80 M3 Competition Conversion Kit MStyle now offers a conversion kit for the G80 M3 Competition. The carbon fibre body kit includes an M Performance-style front splitter, side blades and rear bumper corners, instantly giving the high-performance saloon a much more aggressive appearance. For the finishing touches, you can add Eibach Pro-Kit lowering springs, and a set of MStyle’s wheel spacers, which come with longer bolts and locking wheel bolts, with the car in the photo wearing both the springs and the spacers. Order now, and you will get 10% off the carbon components and 5% off the spacers, and fitting for all parts is available at MStyle’s Romford workshop at extra cost. Price: Carbon front splitter £799, carbon side blades £1399, carbon rear bumper corners £699, Eibach Pro-Kit springs £162.16, spacer kit £149, all prices include VAT Web: www.mstyle.co.uk Email: [email protected] Tel: 020 8598 9115 Autoglym Instant Tyre Dressing and High Performance Tyre Gel Tyre dressing provides the finishing touch to clean wheels and helps to restore rubber to an attractive, as-new appearance. Autoglym provides two practical, long-lasting solutions in this respect, the choice between them coming down to your preference between speed or hand-applied precision. As the name suggests, Instant Tyre Dressing is the quickest to apply due to its spray-on formula, yet it can provide either a matt or satin finish depending on how it is treated. High Performance Tyre Gel, on the other hand, is an award-winning product designed to be worked around the sidewall with an applicator pad. It uses active silicone polymers to transform the rubber with satin or high-gloss finishes. Price: Instant Tyre Dressing £8.50, High Performance Tyre Gel £11.20 Web: www.autoglym.com available in men’s and women’s styles. And so the kids don’t feel left out, there’s this children’s T-shirt complete with the BMW roundel on the front, ensuring the whole family can represent their favourite brand in style. Price: Baseball cap £25, unisex M logo T-shirt £45, red M logo T-shirt £25, children’s BMW logo T-shirt £18 Web: shop.bmw.co.uk
20 TOTAL BMW Bob Harper Bob wonders why we’re giving up diesel without a fight? Can you hear it? The last, slow, dying breaths of the compression ignition engine? Yup, diesel-engined cars are on their last legs, and while it’s not my favourite fuel, it certainly made quite an impression during its brief lifespan. Back in the olden days – when I was a lad – you wouldn’t have dreamed of ordering a diesel car: vehicles that supped from the black pump were primarily HGVs. The cars were slow, noisy, and unrefined, and while they might have been efficient, fuel was so much cheaper back then that there just didn’t seem to be much point in buying one. All that changed, of course, with the advent of turbo-diesels, common-rail direct injection, and more advanced electronics, which allowed diesels to be more powerful, torque-rich, very economical, and, dare I say it, rather sporty, too. The E36 and E34 tds models started the genre from a BMW perspective, but it was the debuts of the E46 320d and E39 530d that really changed the way we looked at diesels, and it wasn’t too long before diesel almost became the default choice for a huge number of drivers. The cars were great, and company car taxation rules meant they were the de facto choice for those lucky enough to be on a corporate scheme. Indeed, we were encouraged to buy diesels thanks to their low CO2 outputs, and in the fuel’s heyday, they accounted for over 50% of all new car sales. For a brief period, it appeared that diesel could do no wrong, and demand for petrol engines in some model lines was so small that manufacturers simply stopped importing them to the UK – witness the F25 X3, which was only ever available with diesel engines in the UK. And now the world has been flipped on its head – only 13 years since that all-diesel X3 range was launched, and the new 5 Series won’t be offered with a diesel engine in the UK. It’s a bit of a gamble for BMW – it sold over 2000 520ds in the UK in 2022 – and I should imagine the hope is that customers will opt for the 520i, one of the i5 models or the forthcoming hybrids. But should we be abandoning diesel quite so quickly? So far this year, diesel registrations account for less than 5% of all new cars sold in the UK and while the ‘dieselgate’ fiasco seriously eroded consumers’ confidence in the fuel, it seems that our readiness to ditch diesel is more a result of a media frenzy than any factual knowledge of their emissions. All new cars have to comply with Euro 6d, which involves vehicles being tested in real-world conditions, with diesels and petrols having slightly different limits. If we look at NOx levels, petrols have to emit less than 60mg/km while diesels can be slightly higher at 80mg/km. Finding actual NOx outputs isn’t quite as easy as you might imagine, and you certainly won’t find it on most manufacturers’ websites, which seem obsessed with connectivity, touchscreens and lifestyle choices. However, if you pop along to the government’s Vehicle Certification website, you can find the nitty-gritty detail. Unless you want BMW figures, where you get a useful pop-up telling you: ‘BMW have yet to submit data to the VCA.’ Quite how BMW has managed to get away with this, I don’t know (it similarly applies to Audi, incidentally), so we’ll use some figures for the old enemy, MercedesBenz. A new C200 petrol saloon emits just 19mg of NOx per kilometre – impressively low given the 60mg limit – but a C220 diesel does even better at just 7mg of NOx per kilometre while emitting less CO2, as well. So one is left wondering why we’re all being encouraged to buy hugely expensive electric boxes that run out of juice after a couple of hundred miles when modern diesels really are staggeringly clean and efficient and can almost certainly get there and back on less than a tank of fuel?
MMR PERFORMANCE UPGRADES FOR BMW & MINI. BMW & MINI PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE THE ULTIMATE www.mmrperformance.co.uk All MMR Performance products are created in the world's toughest development lab: motorsport. We push the limits and reach new heights on track; then refine our products to give you the performance you need when you want it on the road. Take a look through our website to see what we’ve got for your BMW or Mini. Designed and developed in the UK by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts.
22 TOTAL BMW ROGEN
prestigeandperformancecar.com SEPTEMBER 2023 23 Much has been made of hydro fuel cells a eir potenti or use in passenger cars. Or t c thereof. It seems an opl are divided by th pect of fuel cells, combine hydrog ter l trici t l i onl ‘t f, u t, hydrogen power i ction e goal, ich i ed str t e ca ry. BM a n hydrogen suited to ce i p wing long m s i r Together, they hold up to 6kg of hydrogen, compressed to 700 bar. That feeds a stack of fuel cells, which are taken from the Toyota Mirai as part of BMW’s ongoing partnership with the assive Japanese manufacturer, n e in turn, fuel a rearmo d e c or, whi produces 401hp. t that you’d notice that f outside, had BM not er ‘ G05 iX5 Hydrogen Prototype POWERTRAIN: 295kW electric motor with 125kW fuel cell stack and lithium-ion battery MAX POWER: 401hp MAX TORQUE: 524lb ft 0-62MPH: <6 seconds TOP SPEED: >112mph ECONOMY: 52 miles per kg of hydrogen EMISSIONS: 0g/km WEIGHT (EU): 2460kg
24 TOTAL BMW FIRST DRIVE emissions, and there are no exhaust outlets poking through the rear valance, but otherwise, it could be any other X5. The interior is nigh-on identical to that of your commonor-garden X5, too, aside from the reappearance of the blue trim. Not only are there blue accents for the displays and a blue start button, but there’s more blue on the dash and the centre console. It’s a bit much, but then, it isn’t vastly more in-your-face than a 330e’s cabin. And although these cars are test mules, designed solely for internal use, they feel every bit as premium and as well built as a customer-bound X5. The leather is tactile, the build quality is first-rate, and the technology is largely clean and easy to use. Even the iDrive controller on the centre console is still in place, and although the digital instrument cluster is still a bit busy (and a bit blue), it’s every bit as useful as before. It has even been adapted to show your fuel consumption in miles per kilogram of hydrogen. Interior space is just as good as before, too. BMW has managed to stow the hydrogen tanks in roughly the same space as the standard X5’s transmission and fuel tank, which means there’s no noticeable difference in interior capacity. There’s still plenty of space up front, and there’s ample room for two adults to sit across the back seats. You could get three in at a push, and all three would have enough headroom. Boot volume, meanwhile, is identical to that of the plug-in hybrid X5 xDrive45e, which means you get 500 litres of cargo space when the back seats are upright. Fold them down, and that expands to more than 1700 litres. That isn’t huge by big SUV standards – the basic X5 has a 650-litre boot with all five seats in place – but, it’s still on a par with a 3 Series Touring, and that’s hardly cramped. Anyway, back to the powertrain lurking under the floor and a short physics and chemistry lesson for those uninitiated in fuel cell tech. The two high-pressure hydrogen tanks send hydrogen to the Toyotaderived fuel cells, where the world’s most abundant element reacts with oxygen from the ambient air to produce electricity and water (H2O). The electricity goes off to feed the electric motor and a small high-performance battery, which is always topped up. The battery allows the car to use its full 401hp output because the fuel cells can only provide enough juice to produce around 170hp at any one time. However, the technology has its limitations. There are the difficulties in transporting and storing hydrogen and there are problems with producing it in volume because although it’s the most abundant element in the universe, it’s also very keen to latch on to other elements and much less keen to unstick itself. In short, producing it takes a lot of energy. All of this means some engineers reckon it’s more efficient to simply put that energy straight into a battery and send it to the car’s motor, reducing losses at various stages. However, while BMW agrees that most cars should be battery electric, it also thinks hydrogen fuel cells still have a part to play, and the iX5 demonstrates why. That 6kg of hydrogen gives you enough power to travel 313 miles before refilling, which gives economy of around 50 miles per kilo of hydrogen. With a kilo of so-called ‘green’, low-carbon hydrogen – the stuff you need to make running a hydrogen car even remotely as ecological as a fully electric car – setting you back about £20 today, you’re talking about a price per mile that’s only slightly higher than that of an X5 M Competition. Blue accents and the hydrogen gauge remind you that this is no ordinary X5. Interior space, meanwhile, is unaffected by the twin hydrogen tanks on board The exterior is largely identical to that of any X5, bar the blue highlights and lack of exhaust pipes
SEPTEMBER 2023 25 It isn’t cheap transport, but it isn’t too outrageous either. Filling up with that fuel is a simple business that’s arguably easier than filling up with petrol, although you will need two hands. First, you open the filler flap, as you might in any other car, before removing the rubber cap over the filling nozzle. Then you’ll have to do the painful bit – paying up. At present, many hydrogen stations use RFID tags, as you might get with a charging membership, but credit and debit card payment is on the way. That bit done, you clip the hose to the filler nozzle until it clicks (some older pumps need you to lock the hose on with a lever) and press the green button on the pump. There’s no pistol grip to hold, and there’s nothing to do except listen to the pump go through its pressure checks and start delivering fuel. If you want to stop at any point, press the red button, otherwise it’ll keep going until the tank is full. Then you unclip it (this is the bit you need two hands for) and return the hose to the holster it came from. The entire process takes roughly the same time as filling with petrol. Once that’s all done, our test drive suggested the 313- mile range would almost be achievable from day to day, particularly in traffic. Certainly, you’re talking about more than 200 miles on a tank, and while that looks expensive in today’s Filling up is simple and takes a matter of minutes money, you have to remember you can’t buy a hydrogenpowered X5 yet. Before BMW enters the market properly, the infrastructure will have to be in place, and the first hydrogen trucks will have to be on the road, taking advantage of the short filling times and the longrange provided by the fuel cells. Given haulage companies are unlikely to stomach £20 a kilo for fuel, the price of hydrogen will likely have fallen by that point. Hydrogen has other advantages over battery-electric power, too, including an insouciance to cold weather and a reduction in the number of rare metals used to build the car in the first place. But when you drive the iX5 Hydrogen, it feels exactly as you expect an electric X5 to feel. Not that such a thing exists. What we mean by that is it’s smooth, it’s quiet, and it’s refined. It’s comfortable, too, thanks to its air suspension, although the weight of around 2.5 tonnes means the ride is a little brittle over certain bumps. Generally speaking, though, the X5 has all the attributes you expect. And it’s potent. While 401hp isn’t all that much compared with an X5 M Competition, the instant shove in the back you get from an electric motor means it feels faster than its six-second 0-62mph time would suggest. Overtaking is easy, nipping around in traffic is even easier, and it does it all with very little noise whatsoever. There’s a little bit of tyre roar and wind noise, which is perhaps to be expected, and that’s it.
26 TOTAL BMW FIRST DRIVE What’s more, the iX5 Hydrogen still drives like an X5 should. BMW hasn’t set this car up to be particularly sporty, but it still hangs on well in corners, and the steering feel is just as good as that of the standard X5. There’s a bit of body roll, of course – even the air suspension can’t combat the laws of physics to that extent – but it’s relatively well-controlled, and it’s much better than in some big SUVs. However, the fuel cell car doesn’t seem to have the rigidity or the low centre of gravity you get from an electric SUV. The top speed is limited to around 112mph, which isn’t especially exciting. In fact, it’s a bit slow for a German SUV which is designed to deal with the demands of the derestricted autobahns. Nevertheless, whatever your thoughts on the usefulness of hydrogen in passenger cars may be, it’s hard to deny the customer appeal of a fuel cellpowered X5. The 313-mile range is an instant boon, as is the prospect of a five-minute refill. Of course, you can achieve all this with a petrol-powered X5, but as great as those cars may be, they aren’t as refined as the iX5 Hydrogen and they emit considerably more environmentally damaging substances from the rear. Naturally, there are obstacles. The number of hydrogen filling stations in the UK has barely reached double figures, and the fuel itself isn’t cheap (or necessarily very green), but these are infrastructure issues rather than problems with the car itself. Yet the iX5 Hydrogen will never go on sale in this form, partly because the infrastructure still isn’t there yet, and we hate to think how much it would cost, but there are definitely situations in which the hydrogen powertrain will one day make sense. Even if it isn’t as efficient as electric power or as cheap to consume, it has the potential to be more versatile for the end user. And in markets such as Japan, where hydrogen filling stations are becoming increasingly numerous, that time is not too far away. Even there, though, the antihydrogen lobby will probably want its say. But no powertrain will ever be perfect, and the secret will always be to choose the best propulsion system for a given circumstance, regardless of what that might be. With current tech, it seems battery-electric power will remain the best choice for many, but it won’t suit everyone everywhere. In short, we need choice, and if nothing else, the iX5 Hydrogen is a welcome reminder that manufacturers are still considering all their – and our – options. It also shows us that no matter what kind of powertrain BMW puts under the bonnet, the firm can still make brilliant cars The hydrogen fuel cells create electricity, which feeds an electric motor and a high-performance battery, resulting in 401hp and a range of over 300 miles
Beverly Hill Car Club ONE OF THE LARGEST DEALERS OF EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN CLASSIC CARS IN THE WORLD! Please check our website as we have cars being delivered daily to the showroom ALEX MANOS, BEVERLY HILLS CAR CLUB 4576 1/2 Worth St., Los Angeles, CA 90063 T: +1 (310) 975-0272 https://www.beverlyhillscarclub.com E: [email protected] 1984 BMW M6 3UHVHQWLQJWKLVÀUVWJHQHUDWLRQffifl%0:0WKDWLVÀQLVKHGLQLWVIDFWRU\FRORU Graphite Metallic (087) complemented with a beige interior. Equipped with a 5-speed PDQXDOWUDQVPLVVLRQVWUDLJKWVL[HQJLQHIRXUZKHHOGLVFEUDNHVSRZHUVWHHULQJ 9'2LQVWUXPHQWVWZLQH[KDXVWÀQLVKHUVIRJOLJKWVTXDGKHDGODPSVVXQURRIFKURPH trim, a rear lip spoiler on the trunk, three-spoke steering wheel, alloy wheels wearing 0LFKHOLQWLUHVWRRONLWDQGDIXOOVL]HVSDUHWLUHÀWWHGLQWKHWUXQN$PHQLWLHVLQFOXGH air conditioning, dual-side mirrors, cruise control, AM/FM radio, glove box, a center console, check control panel dash warning lights, door pockets, and sun visors with a vanity mirror on the passenger side. In addition to the equipment, this 1980s classic FRPHVZLWKDFOHDQ&DUID[UHSRUW$WRSRIWKHOLQH0(WKDWMXVWFDPHRXWRIWKHGU\ GHVHUWVWDWHRI$UL]RQDDQGLVDOVRPHFKDQLFDOO\VRXQG For $46,500 1976 BMW 2002 This adorable 1976 BMW 2002 is available in Malaga with a sand beige interior. The vehicle comes equipped with a 4-speed manual transmission, single Weber carburetor, VXQURRIDQGIURQWZKHHOGLVFEUDNHV$IXQDQGGHVLUDEOHZHHNHQGFUXLVHUWKDWLV mechanically sound. For $29,950 1991 BMW M5 5-Speed )LQLVKHGLQLWVIDFWRU\FRORU%ULOOLDQW5HGFRPELQHGZLWKD%ODFNLQWHULRU(TXLSSHGZLWK a 5-speed manual transmission, inline-six engine, 4-wheel disc brakes, power steering, HOHFWULFVOLGLQJVXQURRI9'2LQVWUXPHQWVWZLQH[KDXVWÀQLVKHUV+HOODKHDGOLJKWV IURQWIRJOLJKWV0EUDQGHGÁRRUPDWVIRXUVSRNHVWHHULQJZKHHO6XPLWRPRWLUHV DQGDOOR\ZKHHOV$PHQLWLHVLQFOXGHDLUFRQGLWLRQLQJSRZHUDGMXVWDEOHIURQWVHDWV power windows/mirrors, cruise control, sun visors, door pockets, and a cigar lighter with an ashtray. In addition to the equipment, this 1990s classic comes with an owner’s manual booklet, booklet with stamps, and service receipt copies. A highly collectible and well-equipped E34 M5 that is mechanically sound. For $26,500 1993 BMW 850Ci )LQLVKHGLQLWVIDFWRU\FRORU%ULOOLDQW5HGFRPSOHPHQWHGZLWKDJUH\LQWHULRU (TXLSPHQWLQFOXGHVDQDXWRPDWLFWUDQVPLVVLRQ9HQJLQHIRXUZKHHOGLVFEUDNHV SRZHUVWHHULQJHOHFWULFVXQURRISRSXSKHDGOLJKWVIURQWIRJOLJKWVTXDGUXSOHH[KDXVW WLSVIRXUVSRNHVWHHULQJZKHHODOOR\ZKHHOV%0:WRRONLWDQGDIXOOVL]HVSDUHWLUH WKDWLVÀWWHGLQWKHWUXQN$PHQLWLHVLQFOXGHDLUFRQGLWLRQLQJSRZHUDGMXVWDEOHIURQW seats, cruise control, power mirrors/windows, sun visors with vanity mirrors, a cigar lighter with an ashtray, a lockable glove compartment, and a vintage car phone. &$5)$;RZQHUYHKLFOHSHU´&DUID[µUHSRUW$ZHOOHTXLSSHGDQGH[WUHPHO\FKDUPLQJ E31 8-Series that is mechanically sound. For $23,500 1994 BMW 850CSI 6-Speed 3UHVHQWLQJWKLVKLJKO\FROOHFWLEOHffiffi%0:fl&6,6SHHG flffiRXWRI&6,V LPSRUWHGWRWKH86$ffiffiffi DQGIHDWXUHGZLWKffiPLOHVRQWKHRGRPHWHU Available in black with a black and grey interior. The E31 comes equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission, 5.6-liter V12 M-Division engine, air conditioning, power ZLQGRZVSRZHUVWHHULQJSRZHUIURQWVHDWVSRZHUVXQURRIZKHHOGLVFEUDNHVDQG spare tire. Also includes the original owner’s manual as well as service documents and UHFHLSWVFRSLHVWRWDOLQJRYHUffi$EHDXWLIXODQGZHOOHTXLSSHGRZQHUfl&6, that is mechanically sound. For $96,500 1972 BMW 2002tii )LQLVKHGLQDFRORUVFKHPHRI7DLJD*UHHQ0HWDOOLFFRPSOHPHQWHGZLWKD%ODFNLQWHULRU 7KLVRULJLQDO&DOLIRUQLDFDULVHTXLSSHGZLWKDPDQXDOWUDQVPLVVLRQIXHOLQMHFWHG LQOLQHIRXUHQJLQHIURQWZKHHOGLVFEUDNHV9'2LQVWUXPHQWVGDVKERDUGDQDORJFORFN Renown branded steering wheel, chrome trim, glove box, manual-crank windows, vent windows, driver-side rearview mirror, and Yokohama tires. This example comes with receipt copies totaling over $7,800 that has recently been invested into the vehicle GDWLQJIURP6HSWHPEHUWKURXJK)HEUXDU\$QH[WUHPHO\FKDUPLQJ%0: WLLWKDWLVRIIHUHGLQDIDEXORXVFRORUFRPELQDWLRQDQGLVPHFKDQLFDOO\VRXQG For $44,500 /RRNLQJIRUFODVVLFRUOX[XU\VSRUWVFDUV" :HEX\DQGSLFNXSIURPDQ\86$/RFDWLRQ:RUOGZLGHVKLSSLQJ
V10 E30 M3
V10 E30 M3 30 TOTAL BMW T here are not many V10- powered production cars out there. It’s one of the least popular of the more exotic engine configurations, but it’s left its mark on the motoring world in a big way thanks to its incredible exhaust note. Think V10, and you immediately think of machines like the brutish Dodge Viper, magnificent supercars like the Porsche Carrera GT, Lexus LFA and Lamborghini Gallardo and Huracan, and, of course, BMW’s own E60 M5 and E63 M6. While BMW was not the only car manufacturer to produce a V10-powered saloon and estate, with Audi offering both body styles, it was the first. Before the E60 M5, you had V8s for power and V12s for refinement: that was the established formula, and everyone was happy with that. And then BMW, off the back of its involvement in F1, decided that the most logical thing in the world would be to create an absolutely epic, high-revving V10 from scratch for its next M5, and a legend was born. And that might have been the end of the V10’s story because BMW never again produced a V10 road car after that, which makes the E6x M legacy all the more special. But then what happened was that people then eyeing up other BMs, and looking at the engine bays, their heads slightly tiled with a ‘What if…?’ expression on their faces. And then they started to put that V10 into cars that it was never meant to be in, and that it was hard to believe it could even fit into, creating incredible machines that took modding to the next level, and that’s exactly what you’re looking at here. Ronald Norat (@rennerprojekts, @masterclassauto), the man behind this epic E30 M3, is a man for whom BMW has been a passion since an early age. He’s taken that passion and built his life around it, and he is unquestionably a true Alcantara headlining adds an opulent finishing touch to
SEPTEMBER 2023 31 chassis to the largest (most expensive models),” he tells us with a smile, though it would be a little while before he got his first taste of BMW ownership. “It wasn’t until 2000 that I was able to purchase my first BMW – a 1988 325is – which I went on to fully restore to OEM specs. While I was really hoping to acquire an E30 M3, I only had the budget for this. Five years later though, I had the opportunity to purchase two E30 M3s, which I also went on to fully restore,” he says, and it’s clear that the E30 M3 holds a special place in his heart, as if you couldn’t have already guessed. “My passion for BMW led me to open my The S85 V10 takes up the entire ’90s and re-engineering them When I launched Renner Projekts, I wanted one of the first prototypes to be based on the iconic E30 M3 chassis lamenting the fact that someone
The interior has been treated to a full retrim in dark blue Nappa leather 32 TOTAL BMW V10 E30 M3 in good condition, but it came without a powertrain,” he says, and now it all makes sense. “Because the vehicle was missing its original engine, instead of doing a traditional OEM restoration, I thought it could be a candidate for a Renner Projekt. I don’t have the heart to sacrifice an E30 with an original engine,” he chuckles, so the purists among you out there can relax. With the E30 acquired, it was time to get stuck into the build, and the first step was sorting the fundamentals and getting the car in perfect condition for its transformation. “I started on the chassis first – stripping and media-blasting down to the bare metal. Once I sourced the S85 donor engine, it was all hands on deck!” exclaims Ronald, and the engine was the biggest part of the whole build. “The powertrain layout, an S85 engine from a 2008 E60 M5, was completely redone and designed so as not to harm the original firewall, transmission tunnel, and structural frame. As you can imagine, fitting a V10 into the E30 is no easy task,” says Ronald. “We had a custom oil pan fitted, and the front subframe and rack and pinion were modified to fit the new engine and transmission. A custom rear differential was installed (from a Z3 M Roadster). The AC was also retrofitted with a new compact system (all-inone compressor, condenser, and evaporator in a single unit) that is not attached to the engine to avoid resistance,” he explains, and this gives you an idea of just how much work was involved. The sight of the 5.0-litre V10 stuffed into the E30’s engine is something else; it takes up all the available space, there is no engine bay left, and it’s simply magnificent. In the Projekt 3, it’s been treated to a carbon plenum and carbon intakes, which make it look and sound even more spectacular, and it’s a fitting centrepiece for this awesome build. With a V10 replacing the original four-cylinder S14, the chassis naturally needed some attention to make sure the car could cope with that fivelitre engine up front. “Custom coilover suspension was installed together with bigger sway bars and reinforced lower control arms, all for maximum handling,” explains Ronald. That combo ensures that this E30 is a joy to drive and to ensure it stops with equal enthusiasm, the brakes too have undergone some upgrades. Up front, there now sit massive S85 V10 E30 M3 ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION: 5.0-litre V10 S85B50, carbon intakes and plenum, all-in-one air-con unit, custom Renner Projekts stainless steel exhaust. Custom six-speed manual gearbox, custom E36/7 Z3 M Roadster LSD CHASSIS: 8.5x18” (front) and 9x18” (rear) custom Renner Projekts/AL13 wheels with blue hand-painted details, custom coilovers, thicker anti-roll bars, reinforced lower control arms, sixpiston calipers (front), four-piston calipers (rear), double-piston boost-less master cylinder EXTERIOR: Full respray in custom silver, two-tone blue pinstripes, blue bumper strips INTERIOR: Full retrim in blue Nappa leather with contrasting stitching, blue seatbelts, Alcantara headlining and pillars, retrimmed steering wheel, modified dials
The original exterior design was preserved to celebrate the iconic styling of the vehicle This M3 caught everyone’s attention at last year’s SEMA show prestigeandperformancecar.com SEPTEMBER 2023 33 six-piston calipers, with four-pot items at the rear, and that combo delivers massive, effortless stopping power on demand. The V10 is the wildest part of this build, and the rest of this E30 is far more subdued, but we really appreciate that, and we love the approach that Ronald and the Renner Projekts team had. “The original exterior design was preserved to celebrate the iconic styling of the vehicle,” explains Ronald. “In-house, we blended an original colour with lots of metallic flakes to create a unique presentation. From media blast to final paint and assembly, the exterior restoration took approximately six months.” When it comes to classics, we always say that we really love it when people let that retro styling speak for itself, and that was exactly the approach taken with the Projekt 3. Nothing has been changed on the exterior of this M3, everything has been left as it was from the factory, with just the colour and wheels doing all the work on the aesthetic front, but that combo makes a huge difference. The colour is absolutely gorgeous. Silver can be a little underwhelming, let’s be honest, but this custom shade is simply stunning, and when the sun hits it, that flake pop is just outrageous. It looks so good on the M3, and the light background is the perfect canvas for the little colour highlights. You’ve got the two-tone blue pinstripes running down the car’s flanks that look so perfectly period, and we love the blue strips in the front and rear bumpers. And as for the wheels, they make this E30 look like an ’80s concept car and completely transform it. “We designed and fabricated – in partnership with AL13 – custom 18” staggered wheels with hand-painted colour accents,” says Ronald, and they look spectacular. The handpainted cross-spoke details on the centres are the finishing touch that really makes these wheels stand out so much, and that aero-disc design works perfectly on the M3. With those big faces, the wheels look huge, and they immediately grab your attention with what is quite a simple design, and we love how they effortlessly emphasise the E30’s ’80s aesthetic. Finally, we come to the interior, and, much like the exterior, the aim here was to keep things simple and clean while adding a special touch. “The E30 M3 is known for its simplistic beauty, so all fittings were kept true to the original layout, except for the modified (and personalised) cluster. The upholstery was redone in dark blue Nappa leather for added luxury, together with
Carbon engine bay elements look stunning 34 TOTAL BMW V10 E30 M3 Alcantara suede accents on the headliner and pillars,” says Ronald, and we love how the cabin looks. The dark blue leather is beautiful, and subtle, while the light blue contrasting stitching adds an extra flash of colour; even the seatbelts are blue, as are the needles on the custom dials. The Alcantara headlining, meanwhile, adds the perfect opulent finishing touch to the interior and the whole build. This E30 M3 is absolutely glorious there’s no other way to describe it. It’s a subtle but simply sublime build that keeps its card close to its chest and only reveals its secrets when you delve beneath the surface, and we love that about it. It’s not a sleeper, but it certainly doesn’t shout about its V10 powerplant, either; well, not until you put your foot down, at least. And it is, naturally, the V10 that’s the star of the show here. “The engine – by far – is the most iconic component that makes this car so special,” smiles Ronald, and we completely agree: it makes this build. “The full restoration – from media blast of the chassis to the engineering, customisation, and final assembly – took approximately 12 months,” The engine – by far – is the most iconic component that makes this car so special Ronald tells us, adding, “Nothing was held back, and no budget was spared,” which is exactly why it’s a build of such an incredibly high calibre. And while the Projekt 3 might be done, Renner Projekts is just getting started, with two other builds already completed and coming to these pages very soon, and Ronald isn’t done creating showstopping demo builds. “I am currently working on the next Renner Projekt 3 (v2.0) – another E30 M3/S85 resto-mod with a DTC transmission from the E92 M3,” he grins, and when it comes to the relentless pursuit of retro perfection, Renner Projekts’ results speak for themselves
- TITANIUM WHEEL HARDWARE - PSD SHIFTERS - STYLING - TUNING - PERFORMANCE PARTS - HANDLING - CARBON FIBRE AERO
I t’s a testament to how well the E39 generation of 5 Series has stood the test of time that nigh-on 30 years since its launch, the good old ‘best car in the world’ epithet is still going strong. The Fives that have followed have all been great cars, but none have caught the imagination quite so successfully as the E39, with its near-perfect blend of performance, space, ride, handling and subtle good looks. Good though the E39s undoubtedly were, there’s always room for a little bit of additional spice, and, as usual, if you wanted a fitter and faster E39, it was well worth your while beating a path to Alpina’s door. The E39 5 Series was often touted as the best car in the world, and Alpina’s sublime B10 3.3 might just be the ultimate version. THE BEST? Words: Bob Harper Photos: Jason Dodd
38 TOTAL BMW ALPINA B10 3.3 Alpina was swift off the mark when it came to fettling the E39, and it wasn’t long after the car’s launch that the first B10 model became available. The V8 was the first of the Alpina B10s to appear in March 1997, and it was naturally enough based on the 540i. To extract more power without the need to resort to forced induction, Alpina asked BMW to cast special blocks based on the 4.4- litre M62 unit, which resulted in a displacement of 4619cc. There was more to the car than a simple capacity upgrade, though, as Alpina specified a new crankshaft, reprofiled camshafts, lighter, higher compression Mahle pistons and a reprogrammed Motronic control unit, and, in keeping with Alpina tradition, the head was hand-ported at its HQ in Buchloe. The result was 340hp at 5700rpm and 347lb ft of torque at 3800rpm, which was good for claimed performance figures of 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds with a top speed of 172mph, comfortably eclipsing the 540i and not far off the M5 that wouldn’t arrive for another 18 months. So that was Alpina’s E39 range-topper taken care of, but there were gaps further down the BMW model range that Alpina was keen to exploit. The 528i was a great machine, but its 193hp wasn’t anything to write home about, and while the sixcylinder BMWs were the sweetest-driving models – thanks to their rack and pinion steering – it seemed a shame that there wasn’t a model with the power to best exploit its chassis. Alpina, of course, had the answer with the B10 3.2. Late in 1997, Alpina launched the B10 3.2, which was based on the then-current 528i. The engine was from the E36 B3 3.2, which meant a 3152cc displacement and power and torque figures of 260hp at 5900rpm and 243lb ft, respectively. The engine was actually based on that used in the US-spec E36 M3 Evolution, which was an ironblock M52 derivative, but the head was all Alpina’s work, along with the expected Mahle lightweight pistons and bespoke Alpina engine management tweaks. Still, with gains of 67hp and 37lb ft over Iconic Alpina Softline wheels
prestigeandperformancecar.com SEPTEMBER 2023 39 The 3.3-litre straight-six makes a healthy 280hp the 528i, the 3.2 was a real flying machine that was almost as quick as a 540i. 0-62mph was quoted as 6.5 seconds, while the top speed was 162mph, which wasn’t to be sniffed at. As with the B10 V8, a Touring version was also produced, and while performance was blunted slightly by the additional weight, it could still muster a sub-seven-second 0-62mph time. Autocar tested the first car in the UK and came away deeply impressed, despite its £41,950 price tag, which made it a hefty £9000 more than a 528i SE Touring. It concluded the B10 3.2 Touring was a “Pricey but superior alternative to the standard 528i Touring,” and that it was “also a more engaging car to drive and look at than the more expensive 540i wagon.” Perhaps Alpina could have left it at that, but it’s never been one to rest on its laurels, so it further developed the straight-six to add a little bit more pizazz. In 1999, the 3.2 engine was superseded by the 3.3-litre version, which was again based on the US-spec M3’s unit and shared with Alpina’s E46 B3 3.3 too. The additional capacity – now exactly 3300cc – was achieved by fitting a bespoke crankshaft, but there were further changes than just an increased capacity. There were revised inlet and exhaust manifolds, and a great deal of care was taken to ensure that the 3.3 wasn’t afflicted with the potential imbalance that long-stroke engines can suffer from. The lightweight pistons were matched with a dual-mass flywheel, and that new crank had
40 TOTAL BMW ALPINA B10 3.3 a bespoke damper to ensure smooth running. It worked, too, with the 3.3 offering 280hp and 247lb ft, which equated to better flexibility and a smidgen more performance. While the B10 3.2 had only been available with a five-speed manual, the 3.3 was equipped with a six-speed manual ’box with slightly closer-stacked ratios and a longer-legged sixth cog, and later in its life, it was also possible to spec the SwitchTronic gearbox, too. This carried a price premium of £2000 and offered three different modes – normal drive, sport, and then Switch-Tronic, which allowed the driver to select ratios manually by using the buttons hidden behind neatly stitched ‘up’ and ‘down’ arrows on the steering wheel. For the 2001 model year, BMW carried out a host of changes for the E39, the most obvious of these being the introduction of the much-copied angeleye headlights. Naturally enough, the Alpina B10s adopted these changes too. As with all Alpinas, though, there was more to the B10 than just an engine job. The suspension was by bespoke Alpina-specced springs and dampers, while the anti-roll bars were also uprated. The standard wheels were 18” items with 235/40 and 265/35 Michelin rubber, although 19” rims could be chosen from the extensive options list. To differentiate the B10 from run-of-the-mill Fives there was a typically functional Alpina front spoiler, while at the rear, there was an optional boot lid spoiler, too. Externally, the 3.2 and 3.3 looked virtually identical to the V8 models, although, for the eagleeyed, the V8s had chromed grille slats, whereas the six-cylinder cars had black plastic items. Unlike all pre-Sport-kitted BMWs, the B10 had two purposeful exhaust pipes that sprouted from under the rear valance. The trademark Alpina decal set could be specced on UK cars, but the vast majority of them did without it. Blue dials and lashings of wood in the cabin E39 Alpina B10 3.3 ENGINE: 3.3-litre straight-six BORE/STROKE: 86.4/93.8mm COMPRESSION RATIO: 10.2:1 POWER: 280hp @ 6200rpm TORQUE: 247lb ft @ 4500rpm 0-62MPH: 6.3 seconds (6.8) STANDING KILOMETRE: 26.5 seconds (27.2) TOP SPEED: 164mph (160) ECONOMY: 27.7mpg (23.7) WEIGHT: 1540kg (1570) * Figures in brackets refer to Switch-Tronic The B10 3.3 really does offer the best of both worlds, exhibiting all the strengths of the standard E39 but with better performance
prestigeandperformancecar.com SEPTEMBER 2023 41 Inside, the standard spec was fairly restrained, with Alpina-logo’d dials, door sills and that steering wheel as well as the traditional Alpina production plate. If you wanted to have the full-on Alpina stitched seats, that was entirely possible but would add heavily to the cost. The glorious example you see here is a facelift 3.3 machine, which makes it a pretty rare beast as just 112 3.3 saloons made it over to the UK, along with a further 19 Tourings. It’s finished in Individual Bluewater metallic with a black leather interior and is believed to be the only B10 3.3 produced in this colour. It’s currently for sale at Quick and Big, and along with its unique colour combination, it’s also a low-mileage example, having clocked up just 71k since it was registered in October 2002. Quick and Big’s owner, Peter Moore, is a huge E39 fan, having owned upwards of 20 examples over the years, and he believes that the B10 3.3 is one of the best. “I always like to look for things that are unique and different, whether it’s as my Peter Moore, the owner of the used car company selling this B10, is a big E39 fan and Alpina enthusiast personal transport or whether it’s for something we can prepare and sell, and the B10 fits that brief perfectly,” he tells us. “The Bluewater looks fantastic, it’s better than plain old metallic silver, and you realise how different the colour is, and when the sun’s out, it really does look superb.” “It drives beautifully,” he says. “It really does drive as well as it looks in the pictures, and its history and low mileage back it up, and I’m hoping there will be an enthusiast out there who it will suit, but if there isn’t then I’ll keep it. We keep finding these rare things, and the great thing about them from a price point of view is what great value they are. They’re still relatively affordable, especially when you look at the prices that some M5s are making. It’s rarer than an E39 M5; sure, it might never be quite as iconic as an M5, but it is the Alpina take on the M5. It doesn’t brag about its performance, it’s more about individuality, and I love the fact that Alpina takes something from BMW and says: ‘We don’t think that’s good
42 TOTAL BMW ALPINA B10 3.3 THANKS AND CONTACT: Quick and Big for the use of its lovely B10 3.3 for photography Web: Quickandbig.com Tel: 01303 641054 enough, we’ll make it better’. I really hope that some of that doesn’t get lost after BMW’s takeover of Alpina. It would be a crying shame if the Alpina name stopped being unique and different and just became another trim level or styling exercise!” Just in case the worst-case scenario happens, you could do a lot worse than get on the B10 train before everyone cottons on to how good they are. The B10 3.3 really does offer the best of both worlds, exhibiting all the strengths of the standard E39 but with better performance. To leave it at that, though, would be to do the car an injustice. Where Alpina has always really scored over its BMW counterparts is in providing a blend of ride, handling and road holding that is second to none. Initially, they might seem as if they’re too softly sprung to be able to enthral when you get to the twisty bits, but they do have excellent body control when pressing on, too. Grip’s immense, thanks to the wide rubber, but the flip side of the coin is that they still retain an excellent ride despite a wheel diameter of at least 18”. The Alpina B10 V8 might seem like the most obvious choice when looking at a non-M E39, but it would be remiss not to have a try of a B10 3.3. It might not have the ultimate grunt of the V8, but it’s certainly no slouch, and with its rack and pinion steering it’s a much sweeter steer than the biggerengined models. Performance, superb ride quality, exclusivity – what more could you want from a more focused version of the best car in the world? Performance, superb ride quality, exclusivity – what more could you want from a more focused version of the best car in the world?
EŽƚĂůůŵĞŵďĞƌƐƚŽƌĞƐĐƵƌƌĞŶƚůLJŽīĞƌďƵLJŽŶůŝŶĞͬĐŽůůĞĐƚŝŶƐƚŽƌĞďƵƚĂůůƐƚŽƌĞƐŽīĞƌĂƚĞůĞƉŚŽŶĞŽƌĚĞƌŝŶŐƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ͘ We sell everything but . . . WWW.CAARPARTS.CO.UK WITH OVER 350,000 PARTS & ACCESSORIES FROM OVER 300 INDEPENDENT MEMBER STORES CLICK & COLLECT
SA BMWs 44 TOTAL BMW Marek’s extensive collection includes numerous M5s of varying vintages
prestigeandperformancecar.com SEPTEMBER 2023 45 Having had a career at both BMW and Rolls-Royce, Marek Letowt’s love for BMW goes back several years to his earliest childhood memories. He opens his garage doors to his impressive collection. THE SPICE OF LIFE Words: Wilhelm Lutjeharms Photos: Peet Mocke T hey say variety is the spice of life, but some enthusiasts would at least like to narrow it down to mainly one brand. In that case, the model range will be the spice of their collection. That is indeed the case with Marek Letowt, based outside Johannesburg in South Africa. Before Marek takes us to the main building, he first directs us into a barn. It houses a wide variety of cars. “Rolls-Royces and BMWs are my favourites – I’ve worked for both companies – but overall, I collect cars that have sentimental value, cars I have fond memories of or cars that friends and family have owned in the past,” he tells us. “I also have a soft spot for uniquely South African cars. With the political sanctions of the ’70s and ’80s, the local motoring industry was involved in some really interesting projects, and I’m fascinated by the finer details on these cars, from the different badges to the interior trimmings that were used.” One of Marek’s earliest motoring memories was packing a Volkswagen Kombi – a vehicle he still owns – before he and his family headed 200 miles northeast to his grandmother in Tzaneen. “My grandfather always drove BMWs. He first had a BMW motorcycle, and then he owned a 2000, then a 2500, followed by a 733i, which I currently still own,” smiles Marek. The shed contains several project cars and familyowned cars, many of which they use regularly. “The first BMW I owned was a 1977 E3 3.0L, which I bought in the early ’90s. I am the second owner and bought it from an old man who was the first owner,” he tells us. We walk over to a nondescript BMW family saloon, a 1969 2000 Cheetah, but it grabs our attention because we’ve never seen one before. Marek is eager to explain the significance of this car, “BMW started manufacturing in South Africa in 1968 with the 2000 SA. These cars were sent to Rhodesia, Zimbabwe, in knocked-down form to be assembled. I bought this one around 10 years ago, and it is totally original. The only BMW badge on this car is the one on the front grille, which is not a BMW kidney grille but a Hans Glas GmbH item.” After being shown another historically significant car or two, we walk over to the main garage. What greets us is a tightly packed garage with M5s, a rare and South African-only E30 333i, two M5 estates and even a beautiful 850CSi – it is heaven for any BMW enthusiast. Marek continues: “I do appreciate originality. People have their own ideas about the condition of cars, but a car is only original once in its lifetime. There is no reason to always strip and paint these cars; it is not necessary. I drive it, and I enjoy it – that’s what it’s about. “This 1995 850CSi was essentially an M8. This car’s engine number starts with an S, like all other M-cars’ engine
46 TOTAL BMW SA BMWs codes. For this model, the V12 engine was enlarged to 5.6 litres. And this car is a unique Individual-spec car with Orient blue exterior paint and buffalo leather. It was originally sold in the UK before being imported to South Africa. I got the car in 2009. It is a relatively rare car, around 1500 were made and 150 in right-hand drive,” he enthuses. The smaller and compact 333i was developed and built in South Africa. Few enthusiasts outside South Africa are aware of this car, a model that has significantly appreciated over the past decade. “The left-hand-drive E30 M3 was never homologated and imported for the South African market,” Marek explains. “So BMW SA developed and built its own interpretation, powered by the 3.3-litre straight-six from a 7 Series. It’s one of only 210 produced. I bought it when I was working at BMW in 1993. At the time, it had 8700 miles on the odo. A few years later, I sold it with only 9300 miles showing. “I tracked down the new owner years later and bought it back with 55,000 miles on the clock. Before I did any work on it, I drove it further than I did when I owned it the first time. Part of that was driving the 373 miles from here to Tzaneen and back via the wonderful Magoebaskloof Pass,” he says with a smile. “Because the previous owner drove the car so often, and I’ve used it liberally, several of the panels My grandfather always drove BMWs. He first had a BMW motorcycle, and then he owned a 2000, then a 2500, followed by a 733i, which I currently still own Marek has amassed a huge range of memorabilia over the years Marek’s E39 M5 features Heritage leather and Comfort seats
prestigeandperformancecar.com SEPTEMBER 2023 47 This immaculate E28 M5 is a stunning example
SA BMWs 48 TOTAL BMW were chipped. I had the nose and mirrors resprayed, the headlamps replaced, fitted the correct tyres and replaced the windscreen. I spent a huge sum of money on it, but here she is, looking beautiful. The result is that, for me, this is now more than just a rare 333i. “I’ve driven an E30 M3, but I prefer our local version. This 333i is actually, in some ways, not very BMW-like because it runs out of breath past 5000rpm. It is also heavier than the E30 M3 and very tail-happy. At the time, you could specify power steering or air-conditioning, but you couldn’t have both. This one is fitted with air-con, which I like because I prefer unassisted steering. I ordered a new Alpina exhaust system, and to my surprise, it arrived here, safely in South Africa, in one piece – from the manifold to the outlets.” We could easily spend a few hours exploring Marek’s collection, and listening to the abundance of anecdotes and snippets of motoring history he has to share. Clearly, this is an evolving collection, with each respective project requiring restoration and/or management on an individual basis. Marek admits more cars find a home here than leave the premises. “Until recently, if you’d have asked me what was my most treasured, or certainly irreplaceable, car in my collection, it would have been my E23 1983 745i. Not only were these cars unique to South Africa, fitted with the M1’s 3.5-litre straight-six and costing more than a Ferrari 308 when new, but this one has a unique story of its own to tell.” Marek shows us pictures of the model’s sales brochure, whose pages feature the very same car he owned. That’s not all – his was a pre-production unit, the first to be manufactured, and it once belonged to former Volkswagen AG chairman Dr Bernd Pischetsrieder, head of BMW SA at the time. He was directly involved in the development of this model. This is also one of 14 manual E23 745is, including several race cars. “The late renowned BMW privateer Tony Viana raced these cars across South Africa, in the process creating a distinctive piece of local history. Marek’s E61 M5 Touring sits alongside his E31 850CSi
prestigeandperformancecar.com SEPTEMBER 2023 49 “This was one of the cars that I never intended to sell, especially because it is such a uniquely South African car. However, when the BMW Museum in Münich showed interest in it, I thought that there is probably no better place for the car to spend the rest of its life,” explains Marek. “I know it will be maintained and preserved there, and that the car will also be appreciated by each visitor to the museum. Hopefully, it will educate them about BMW South Africa’s colourful history for a long time to come,” he smiles. As expected, there are still another three E23 745i models in his collection, as no South African BMW collection will be complete without it. With the latest G81 M3 Touring receiving a lot of attention, we often need to remind ourselves that BMW has built two M estates in the past. Marek has a very soft spot for estates, and that is evident with the two M5 wagons in his collection, the E61 and the E34. Although the E61 is by far the more modern of the two, the E34 still has immense presence. Stand a little back, and the E34 wagon looks purposeful from almost any angle. The light-coloured, gunmetal grey front splitter at the front, deep-dish (especially at the rear), double-spoke alloy wheels that purposefully fill the wheel arches and the double exhaust pipes do not try to hide the car’s performance intent for a single moment. Freshly imported from Germany in 2018, Marek has added this car to his already impressive M5 collection. As he describes it, we sense that this is a very exceptional car for him. “I wanted to complete my M5 collection with this car. But apart from that, it is one of the rarest M cars. Not many were made, and it is also known to be one of the The first BMW I owned was a 1977 E3 3.0L, which I bought in the early ’90s. I am the second owner and bought it from an old man who was the first owner The South African-only E30 333i
50 TOTAL BMW SA BMWs last M cars to be built by hand. I found it through the website Mobile.de, one of Europe’s largest automotive classified sites. I wasn’t able to personally have a look at the car, but a kind friend of mine did. What makes this particular model special is that the first owner selected nearly all the options. The cabin is fully trimmed in leather, and it also has climate control. There is also the double sunroof, one in the front and another in the rear, and they can be opened both at the same time.” He had actually never laid eyes on an E34 M5 Touring before, that was until the car finally arrived in South Africa. Needless to say, he was smitten. “The E39 M5 I bought around 2017. It is a Heritagespecification car, which means it Rolls-Royces and BMWs are my favourites – I’ve worked for both companies – but overall, I collect cars that have sentimental value, cars I have fond memories of or cars that friends and family have owned in the past has this honey-coloured leather, and mine has Comfort seats, not the sport seats. It also has the fridge in the back. The only option this car is not fitted with, of all the options available at the time, was the boot that could have been lined with Alcantara.” Before we leave, Marek takes us to a little room on the side of the large barn. Here in alphabetical order, is one of the largest private collections of brochures we’ve seen. It is literature he has collected from the time he was a child. There are also owner’s manuals and tonnes of magazines, both local and international. Whether it is the cars, parts, or collecting the information about the history of these cars, it is all here to see and experience