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JANUARY 2022

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 CONTENTS
Welcome
Independently written for real enthusiasts It has been quite some time since a brand new BMW graced
BMW Car, Kelsey Publishing Ltd, The Granary, the front of this magazine as our main cover car, however the
Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Yalding, Kent, ME18 6AL iX is no ordinary new BMW. Like it or not, the shift to electric
EDITORIAL power continues to gain momentum with every passing month
Editor: Simon Jackson
Email: [email protected] Tel: 07391 718134 and in the iX BMW has set out its stall for the future. BMW Car’s
Contributors Bob Harper, Andrew Everett, Guy Baker, Dan Bevis, resident road test guru, Shane O’ Donoghue, introduces his
Jason Dodd, Shane O’ Donoghue, Elliott Stiling, Dan Bathie, Uwe
Fischer, Robb Pritchard, Rob Richardson, John Glynn, Graham Leigh, drive of this vitally important car by saying it is BMW’s ‘line in
Ryan Lindsay the sand between the past and the future’ and I have to agree
Art Editor Lorna Mansford
with that analysis. In the iX we have the physical embodiment of
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www.kelsey.co.uk www.fastcar.co.uk JANUARY 2022 3
38

Contents
Independently written for real enthusiasts
Regulars
Independently written for real enthusiasts 006 News 060 Workshop Wisdom
Catch up with the latest BMW news Andrew Everett gets his hands dirty
with a range of BMW technical issues
025 Comment: Bob Harper
Our resident marque expert talks 065 Our Cars
all things BMW The trials and tribulations of the
BMW Car fleet
026 Comment: John Glynn
John has some unusual advice 072 Subscriptions
Subscribe to BMW Car and save money!
028 New Products
Shop for the latest and greatest products 074 Trouble-Shooter
Technical tips and fixes for common
032 Motorsport Month BMW problems
The latest BMW motorsport news
079 Reader’s Rides
035 Letters Your BMW’s five minutes of fame – did
Have your say your car make it this time?

058 Market Watch 080 Classifieds

BMW marketplace analysis Find a bargain in our free classifieds

082 Next Month

What’s in the next issue of BMW Car?

4 BMWcar
 CONTENTS
10 06

46 52

Follow us on social media:

BMWCarMagazine @bmwcarmag bmwcarmag

January 2022
Features
010 G21 Alpina D3 S Touring 018 iX First Drive 038 F82 M4
At a time when its ilk are being phased BMW sets out to reinvent its cars for When the opportunity to feature this
out of existence, does the G21 Alpina the seismic shift towards electric power stunning Yas Marina Blue F82 M4 arose,
D3 S Touring – based on the and autonomous technology; the iX is we didn’t need to be asked twice.
M340d xDrive – do enough to rebel the company’s line in the sand between Suitably impressed, It’s had us perusing
against the extinction of diesel? the past and the future. We’ve driven the classifieds ever since. Maybe you
the xDrive50 model. should do the same…

046 E36 318i Cabriolet

32 Conceived in the Morning Glory era and
ripe for reappraisal, this showroom
condition 318i convertible is a near
unbelievable 9,100-mile stunner.

052 900hp E30 Sleeper

Looks can be deceiving – this innocent
looking E30 from the Czech Republic
packs a serious 933hp punch!

JANUARY 2022 5
NEWS

BMW
News
ALL-NEW 2 SERIES
ACTIVE TOURER
BMW has unveiled a re-engineered 2 Series Active Tourer designed for
ICE and electrified powertrains with prices starting at £30,265.
BMW sold more than 430,000 first-generation have been increased by 25mm at the front diesel engine producing 150hp and 265lb ft
2 Series Active Tourer models, interestingly and 26mm at the back. enabling it to reach 62mph in 8.8-seconds,
around 80 percent of those sales were to Initially customers can choose from two while returning 53.3-58.9mpg with emissions
customers new to the brand. Off the back of petrol engines and one diesel, a new 1.5- of 125-138g/km. The seven-speed Steptronic
those sales it will come as no surprise that litre three-cylinder unit comes in the 220i dual-clutch transmission is standard. The range
an all-new 2 Series Active Tourer has now producing 156hp assisted by a 19hp electric is set to expand from summer 2022 with
been revealed. The new model has been motor for a combined output of 170hp and the addition of two plug-in hybrid models
designed to run with a mixture of conventional 206lb ft torque, it accelerates from 0-62mph equipped with fifth-generation BMW eDrive
combustion engines, hybrid or electrified in 8.1-seconds. The 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit technology for a significantly extended electric
drivetrains ensuring it will offer options for all powering the 223i develops 218hp (204hp range (230e xDrive and 225e xDrive).
types of buyer. The new model is larger than plus 19hp) and 265lb ft – it sprints from A choice of Sport, Luxury and M Sport
its predecessor – by 32mm in length, 24mm 0-62mph in 7.0-seconds yet emits 137-149g/ models arrive at debut, an updated chassis is
in width, and 21mm in height. The wheelbase km and achieves 42.8-47.1mpg. The 218d said to have improved efficiency and agility
is unchanged at 2,670mm, but its track widths gets a redeveloped 2.0-litre four-cylinder across the board. Notably, the new model

6 BMWcar
 NEWS

marks the debut of the BMW Operating

System 8, but there is no iDrive controller in
Refreshed M135i xDrive
the centre console. A Curved Display appears
BMW has revealed a revised M135i xDrive with a
in a compact-class BMW for the first time (up retuned chassis and tweaked soundtrack.
until now the system has been in only the iX BMW has revealed a revised M135i xDrive which it says is now better honed for the track.
and i4). The four-cylinder hatchback boasts upgrades to its chassis, a retuned soundtrack to make
Two non-metallic and nine metallic paint the driving experience more engaging, and new colours. The refresh comes ahead of a full
finishes are available, including the new facelift expected in 2022 and ensures that the model can keep pace with its rivals. Power
Sparkling Copper Grey metallic, 17-inch remains the same at 306hp with 332lb ft of torque, M Sport brakes and 18-inch wheels
light-alloy wheels are fitted as standard to together with a limited-slip differential remain as standard. 
Sport and Luxury models, with additional The changes to the chassis include tweaks to the camber of the front wheels, which has
18- and 19-inch wheels as options. Inside been increased to better absorb lateral forces in the corners. A new hydromount is attached
things have been completely redesigned to the front suspension wishbones, while the mounts for the trailing and control arms at the
taking cues from the iX. An increase in head, rear have also been redesigned. Both the spring and damping systems have undergone a
shoulder and elbow room both front and recalibration, the end result is said to offer a significant improvement in roll through corners,
back is combined with an increase in knee which has a further beneficial effect on steering feel. The note from the twin-tailpipe exhaust
room for rear passengers. Newly-developed system has also been augmented, amplified in the cabin via the audio system’s speakers.
seats provide improved long-distance comfort Perhaps the most obvious change though is on the exterior. A new selection of striking
and enhanced lateral support. There are five paint finishes have been introduced as part of BMW Individual. At the special request of
interior trim variants with options allowing customers the Leipzig plant can now paint your car in Sao Paulo Yellow non-metallic, Frozen
owners to individualise the interior to their Orange metallic or Frozen Pure Grey. Pricing for the new version of the M135i is yet to be
own tastes and requirements. confirmed for the UK market.
Produced at BMW Group Plant Leipzig,
the new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer will be
priced from £30,265 and is due for launch
and first UK deliveries in March 2022.

Remote Software Upgrade

Two million BMW models around the world will
receive an over-the-air software upgrade.
UK BMW customers now have access to its third over-the-
air software upgrade – around two million BMW vehicles
worldwide will benefit from the improvements. The upgrade is
focused on the expansion of driver assistance functions, it also
adds Spotify Podcast playlists functionality and a unique sound
experience for the M3 and M4.
Newly added features include the ability to avoid
unnecessary steering interventions thanks to an improved Lane Departure Warning
system on narrowing roads without centre markings. There's also a new Assisted View, and
when Active Cruise Control is activated the vehicle recognises the situation around it in
moving traffic – even in fog – adding more safety. Enhanced driver detection in the vehicle
ensures the correct driver profile is loaded, no matter where the key located in the car.
The new BMW M Sound Control for the M3 and M4 enables customisable interior
sound. In addition comes advanced volume control for Android smartphones connected to
the vehicle via Bluetooth. The upgrade is available to all BMW customers as an automatic
download directly through their vehicle now.

JANUARY 2022 7
NEWS

BMW
ENTHUSIASTS
AT 10
BMW Enthusiasts – a group for like-minded BMW
fans – has celebrated its 10th anniversary.
BMW Enthusiasts was formed in 2011 has partnered with Barons BMW for the place at the George & Dragon in Elsworth,
by a trio of – unsurprisingly – BMW annual Drive Day at its Cambridge site. A punctuated by a charity raffle for numerous
enthusiasts! The group set out to add a more variety of models are made available for BMW/car-related prizes (kindly provided by
social dynamic to the internet forum scene, members to drive, the workshop's ramps are Barons and Revive Detailing). The raffle raised
as forums faded from relevance the group opened for underbody scrutiny and, along with a total of £325 which was donated in its
migrated to Facebook and went global. Now the helpful Barons BMW technicians, parts entirety to Cancer Research UK – the group
boasting almost 2000 members, it organises gurus and Revive Detailing products, a great has supported the charity since it was founded
regular trips to Europe's largest BMW event day is regularly had by all. This year the range a decade ago.
– Bimmerfest, and works in partnership with of BMWs available to drive was curtailed by BMW Enthusiasts actively encourages
other like-minded BMW Facebook groups with 2021's well-publicised vehicle supply issues, co-operation with like-minded BMW groups,
whom BMW Enthusiasts happily co-exists. nonetheless the weather was fair and the it already regularly combines with Alpina GB,
A bumper year was promised for 2021 as cars on hand very much enjoyed. As usual Southsiders, Total M Cars, and the BMW E39
the group's 10th anniversary beckoned, and there was a display of member's cars too, and Club, and all genuine BMW fans are welcome
the timing created a perfect storm with the Barons even facilitated the creation of a short to join its ranks. Plans are already afoot to be
aftermath of Covid-19 allowing in-person get film of the day (search for 'BMW Enthusiasts in attendance at the major BMW shows in
togethers to thrive once more. 2021' on YouTube). 2022. You can find out more about the group
For much of its 10-years, BMW Enthusiasts In the evening the usual revelry took via Facebook – search for 'BMW Enthusiasts'.

8 BMWcar
BMW ACCIDENT SUPPORT.
DEDICATED EXPERTS. EXCEPTIONAL CARE.
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Should an accident happen, BMW Accident Support will assist
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G21 ALPINA D3 S TOURING

Extinction
Rebellion
At a time when its ilk are being phased out of existence, does
the G21 Alpina D3 S Touring – based on the M340d xDrive – do
enough to rebel against the extinction of diesel?
Words: Simon Jackson Photographs: Dan Bathie

F
or better or worse the diesel car will ilk are viewed as dinosaurs. Rebelling against selling cars like hot cakes at the moment and,
soon be consigned to the history the extinction of diesel is probably pointless notably, Touring models outsell their saloon
books, but no matter your view on but in the G21 M340d xDrive we have one counterparts such is their enduring appeal.
whether that is a good or bad thing of the all-time greatest derv-supping BMWs of The fast diesel BMW Touring is not done quite
one fact remains: for decades some modern times – a mighty swan song for the yet it would seem...
of BMW’s most popular models have been genre? Perhaps. This latest Alpina Touring retains the 3.0-
powered by the stuff. That’s never been truer Alpina’s G21 D3 S Touring – the first mild- litre twin-turbo six-cylinder diesel engine and
than when it comes to the diesel Touring – hybrid out of Buchloe – is based on the four-wheel drive setup found in the base car.
powerful, economical, mile-munching diesel M340d xDrive but it aims to improve upon the That motor is no slouch as standard, delivering
estates are an area in which BMW has, and (already fabulous) factory recipe in every way. 335hp and 516lb ft of torque with a 48V mild-
does, excel – even today, when cars of that Sales suggest it succeeds in its quest, Alpina is hybrid system providing 11hp via an electric

10 BMWcar
 G21 ALPINA D3 S TOURING

motor. It’s a case of old technology working power two new radiators and an intercooler are lettering, a redesigned rear bumper – home
in harmony with new. The hybrid system fitted to keep the car’s mechanicals cool, there’s to chrome quad exhaust pipes, and then
essentially fills in the gaps in power delivery also a different exhaust system for freer-flowing there are those signature Alpina wheels
left by the internal combustion engine – most gasses and additional changes to when and – staggered five-spoke ‘Dynamic’ 19-inch
importantly eradicating any unwanted turbo lag. how fast the ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox affairs (8.5-inches wide at the front and 9.0
Through Alpina’s ECU trickery the G21 D3 S (it is the 8HP76 ‘box) shifts gears – there’s at the rear) as standard but striking multi-
Touring benefits from a hike in both power and an uprated torque converter here too, all this spoke forged ‘Classic’ 20s in this instance (a
torque to a not-so-inconsiderate 350hp and serves to improve the driving experience. £2080.00 option box you simply must tick).
538lb ft (up 15hp and 22lb ft respectively), Alpina’s traditionally subtle styling cues Inside there are a few clues to distinguish this
peak torque being available at 1,750- continue. There’s an extension to the front car from that upon which it is based – Alpina
2,750rpm. In order to accommodate the extra bumper prominently featuring the Alpina graphics on the digital dashboard display, a

JANUARY 2022 11
G21 ALPINA D3 S TOURING

numbered plaque on the centre console. To will reach 62mph in 4.8-seconds and this car 70 ALP’ – from Alpina’s UK headquarters at
look at and on paper, then, this car is every matches that (the saloon is a shade faster Sytner Nottingham. There’s time to appreciate
inch an Alpina, but what is it like to drive? at 4.6-seconds to 62mph), and it’ll reach its style, of which there is much to like. The
Realistically there’s very little that overtly the round 200km/h (124mph) figure that interior is finished in Merino leather Ivory
signals this car is a diesel, from the moment the German car industry often uses as a White (a £1900 option) while I personally
you start it, especially compared with BMW oil benchmark in 18.3-seconds (17.5-seconds love the usual 3 Series options here of a
burners of old that’s for sure. That illusion is for the saloon variant), that’s before reaching a Panoramic glass sunroof (£1,190), Head-up
continued as you get moving, thanks in part top speed of 170mph. Yet those numbers tell Display (£1,030) and LED headlights
to the clever use of that electric motor which far from the full story. (£935.00). I feel that the optional matt
ensures the car travels through the power We pick up our test car, shot in Alpina black Alpina Switch-Tronic shift paddles, CNC
band with minimal interruption – much like Green metallic (a £1740 option) and machined from aluminium, probably represent
a petrol car might. The factory M340d xDrive appropriately shod with the numberplate ‘MY £280 well spent, too. In total the options list

12 BMWcar
 G21 ALPINA D3 S TOURING

Its entry-level cost is only a few thousand pounds

more than the car on which is it based

runs to a total of £13,805 making this car’s

total on-the-road price £69,755.00 before
the addition of VAT. Now, admittedly that’s
quite a bit of money for a 3 Series but this is
no ordinary 3 Series and, perhaps unusually
for an Alpina, its entry-level cost at £55,950
is only a few thousand pounds more than
the car on which is it based.
Navigating through Nottingham’s busy
roads the car is more than easy to use in an
urban environment, smooth and responsive
but never overpowering in sedate city traffic.

JANUARY 2022 13
G21 ALPINA D3 S TOURING

The versatility here is almost

incredible. The only question left
is whether you should buy one?
There is, however, the underlying knowledge need to drive them back-to-back for best
that this car can take-off at the drop of a hat, analysis. On the same note, you’ll be hard
and when the road ahead opens-up and pushed to provoke the rear end here which
with said hat thrown to the floor – Comfort is either music to the ears of those who are a
mode replaced with Sport – that is quickly trifle intimated by the sheer power and ability
confirmed. Although the overall pace up to of this car, or disappointing for those who like
62mph is the same as the base car the power the feeling on the edge of adhesion as many
delivery through the middle of the range is BMW drivers likely do. That said we are talking
not, the far more pronounced torque curve about a very quick car here, one that could get
ensures the D3 S Touring feels very fast away from you in a flash if things didn’t go to
indeed. Its punch in the overtaking window of plan, and besides, those changes to the torque
40-60mph is probably where its best talents split favour a rear-bias, more so than in the
are to be found, all this without much – if any factory M340d xDrive, anyway. But in summery,
– turbo lag which soon has you forgetting that even in Comfort mode, there’s nothing to worry
it doesn’t much excite above around 5000 about as this car is very rewarding to drive.
revs, conversely it is almost breath-taking at So, what, if anything, does this diesel
around 3000rpm pushing you back into your Touring offer that a petrol Alpina relation
seat – such is the way of powerful diesels. cannot? Economy, of course. The paperwork
Thanks to that xDrive system and specially accompanying this car tells us that it can
designed Pirelli P Zero tyres (marked ‘ALP’ by achieve 42.2mpg on the combined cycle and
way of confirmation) traction is never broken. that’s not hyperbole – as we discovered on
Alpina has devised its own torque split for the a sensible motorway run. In all honestly it’s
four-wheel drive system, and in combination one of the most impressive things about this
with its other chassis tweaks it means you can car for one minute you are asking a 2010kg
really hustle this car without loosing grip. The estate to reach 62mph in under 5-seconds,
fitment of Eibach springs and bump stops, the next to carry up to 1510-litres of your
dampers and anti-roll bars is joined by uprated luggage, and then to return over 40mpg. The
driveshafts and bespoke software for the versatility here is almost incredible when you
electronically-controlled limited-slip differential stop and think about it. The only question left,
out back. The braking system comprises fixed then, is whether you should buy one?
four-piston callipers with 395mm discs at the Undoubtedly Alpina customers are
front (these pinched from the more powerful connoisseurs of all that is BMW, so it’s unlikely
608hp Alpina B5), and floating callipers with that a high percentage of those in the market
345mm discs on the rear. for one might be considering anything similar
The steering too has been revised, it from a rival brand – the likes of the Audi S4
provides a composed and somewhat pointy Avant, for example, purely because there is
nose which in combination with the chassis little similar nor as exclusive. You buy an Alpina
upgrades adds dollops of confidence in the because of what it can do, but also what it
corners – it’s likely a touch more granular in represents to you as a true BMW enthusiast.
detail than in the M340d to boot but you’d That’s the crux of the matter here – this car’s

14 BMWcar
G21 ALPINA D3 S TOURING
G21 Alpina D3 S Touring
ENGINE: 2993cc inline six-cylinder diesel,
48V mild hybrid
MAX POWER: 355hp @ 4000-4200rpm
MAX TORQUE: 538lb ft @ 1750-2750rpm
0-62MPH: 4.8-seconds
TOP SPEED: 170mph
EMISSIONS: 176g/km
WEIGHT (EU): 2010kg
PRICE (OTR): from £55,950
PRICE (AS TESTED): £69,755

JANUARY 2022 15
G21 ALPINA D3 S TOURING

The diesel-powered Alpina is surely

not long for this world?
exclusivity. Far from being your common-or- Cars like this Touring are therefore special, they and drivability where a car like this can drive
garden tuning house, Alpina’s cars are lifted turn the heads of the initiated, they command almost as an equal to its petrol equivalent.
off the main BMW production line and given the respect of those in the BMW world, but to But such is the way it must be in the name of
their exclusive finishing touches, and Alpina’s others they can fly straight under the radar as progress and the environment.
chassis stamp as a bonefide car manufacturer, ‘just another BMW estate’. Therein, for some, I The D3 S Touring – surely one of the final
in Buchloe. Cars like the G21 Alpina D3 have no doubt, lies their appeal. diesel-powered Alpinas, is also one of the
S Touring follow in a long line of revered With the rise of the electric car the diesel- best. Should you buy one? Indeed you should
Alpina cars, vehicles oozing style, speed and powered Alpina is surely not long for this for in the not too distant future you will not
exclusivity. When you look at a car like this world? That’s a shame as with this D3 S be able to buy such a car. This may well be
you either instinctively know it is as an Alpina, Touring we have reached a point in the the epitome of the diesel-powered BMW and
or you do not. You either ‘get it’ or you don’t. development of diesel and hybrid technology what a way to sign off... O

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The Next
Generation
18 BMWcar
 iX FIRST DRIVE
BMW has set out to reinvent its cars for the seismic shift
towards electric power and autonomous technology, the
iX is the line in the sand between the past and the future.
We’ve driven the xDrive50 model.
Words: Shane O’ Donoghue Photographs: Uwe Fischer

B
MW gave us fair warning. It large D-pillar is disguised by a detail that
announced as far back as May visually links the iX with the original BMW i3.
2018 the iNext project that would Depending on specification, the rear end with
culminate with an all-new vehicle its full-width tailgate can look a little bulbous,
encompassing a ‘toolkit’ for BMW’s but the slender new LED lights are attractive –
future, a future featuring electric propulsion, and this time the BMW badge hides the rear-
automated driving and a high degree of view camera and a cleaning jet for its lens.
connectivity. It then previewed said vehicle Behind that is a boot of disappointing
in concept format, called the Vision iNext, in volume, only holding 500-litres of luggage
September of that year. when the rear seats are in their regular
Even so, when the covers came off the position. Sure, the seat backs split and fold
new iX at the end of 2020, it was met with down flat to allow for up to 1,750-litres, but
electronic gasps from all corners of the by comparison, the BMW X3 holds 550-litres
social media world. The kindest thing we’ve of luggage with the rear seats in use, while
heard anyone say about the car so far is “it’s most versions of the X5 – with which the
growing on me.” To which some cad quickly iX shares most of its external dimensions –
responded, “what, like a fungus?” accommodates 650-litres in the boot.
Our first proper walk around the iX in daylight So far, not so good for the iX – its styling is
is outside Munich airport as we pick up the key best described as ‘divisive’ and it’s just not as
to our test vehicle for a long day of driving in practical as you’d expect a car of this size to be.
Germany. No matter what you think of the iX’s But then you pull open a door and the iX’s
design, there’s no doubt that it has presence. prospects improve immeasurably. For starters,
And magnetism for that matter, drawing the the glass is frameless, which always adds to
attention of all and sundry that pass it by. Sure, the occasion. This is the first time BMW has
the reactions aren’t always favourable, but the used frameless door glass on an X model,
iX is certainly a talking point – and perhaps incidentally. The drama of that detail is quickly
that’s the whole reason for the exercise. usurped by the view within, as the iX’s cabin is
Naturally, most criticism is directed towards simply beautiful. It looks like something you’d
the blanked off interpretation of the hallowed expect on a future-gazing concept car and
kidney grille up front. The upright and narrow while it’s completely different to anything else
shape of this isn’t as controversial as it was in the BMW line-up, there are elements that
before the G22 4 Series hit the market in clearly link it to the firm’s other cars.
June 2020, but it still draws condemnation. The new curved display screen that appears
BMW says it serves a purpose in the iX, as to float above the gorgeously trimmed
it hides an army of sensors to feed into the dashboard is stunning. The graphics are crisp,
driver assistance technology, and it even has there’s lots of customisation of the layout
an integrated heater to keep it clear in wet or available, it’s packed with features and the
wintry weather. Meanwhile, the polyurethane new generation 8.0 BMW operating system is
surface self-heals scratches and stone marks. a joy to use. However you interface with the
The prominence of the grille’s shape is system – gesture, voice, touch or iDrive rotary
emphasised by the new headlights, an all-LED controller – its response to input is super-fast
affair (unless you go for the optional laser and though it does take a while to find your
items) in the slimmest housing yet used on way around the new menu system, it’s quite
a production BMW. They butt up against the intuitive. We would have preferred if BMW
grille and appear to define the shut line of the kept physical buttons for the climate control,
bonnet as well. It turns out that the bonnet but that’s one of our few criticisms.
can’t be opened by mere mortals (only by Between the front seats is a tall centre
those in a BMW workshop with the tools and console, separated from the front fascia by
knowledge), though the iX’s owner can top a large gap, which adds to the airy, spacious
up the washer fluid themselves by pushing feeling. Ahead of the armrest is a fresh style
the spring-loaded BMW roundel at the front of interface for the iDrive controller and more.
to reveal a filler neck. That’s part of what It’s a solid piece of transparent glass that is
BMW calls ‘Shy Tech,’ and there are plenty remarkably satisfying to use. Our test car
more examples around the car where the featured the optional open-pore walnut control
technology is hidden away until needed. surface underneath, which is wonderfully
The front of the iX isn’t the only aspect of tactile and also tastefully designed. It’s not
it that has drawn disapproval. The surfacing just for show, either, as it features shortcuts
on the side, with oddly truncated wheelarch to various menus in the infotainment. The
sculpting and weirdly styled flush door handles lettering is backlit and the whole element
has also been in the firing line, while the moves for haptic feedback.

JANUARY 2022 19
iX FIRST DRIVE

Space in the cabin is very good,

various trim ‘worlds’ are on offer
but leather is an expensive option

20 BMWcar
 iX FIRST DRIVE
To the left of this is a simple drive select microfibre upholstery are the default options. system. Obviously, it’s not a sharp-edged
nub and other buttons, for the parking brake The rear seats look great, too, and while the hexagon, more a rounded interpretation of
for example. At the front of the console is boot space is unsatisfactory, there are no such the 2d shape with its six ‘sides’ smoothly
an innocuous-looking slot that has been issues with rear-seat accommodation. The joined, but it’s still a major change for BMW.
ingeniously designed to hold a smartphone seat base is wide, the floor is completely flat Nonetheless, its rim feels good to hold, and
upright. The cleverness continues underneath all the way across and there’s even a recess the large ‘diameter’ means it’s really easy to
in a lower layer. If that phone needs plugging at the back of the centre console to allow the see the digital instruments behind.
in, this is where the USB ports are, along with middle rear passenger to stretch out their legs. Somewhat surprisingly, it soon feels second
two cupholders and a wireless charging pad. After a long day at the wheel, we found the nature when you’re driving, whether that’s
This slick functionality is backed up by front seats quite comfortable – and as ever on the motorway or manoeuvring in town
wonderfully tactile materials and attention to in a BMW, the driving position is massively or tackling an interesting road. And the iX
detail in the design that really stands out. It’s adjustable. However, there’s no provision for manages to excel in all of these conditions.
quite daring, as well. Witness the soft gold altering the length of the base of the seat, With a wide track, long wheelbase and ultra-
colour found on the air vents, door handles, which is disappointing. low centre of gravity – due to the battery
electric seat controls and elsewhere. The seats A bigger talking point is the new steering pack’s location in the floor – the BMW iX feels
themselves are worth a mention. They’re a wheel. We’ve oft commended BMW for nothing like the company’s other SUVs on the
new design with the headrests integrated resisting the trend to flatten the bottom of road. It’s much smoother, more refined and
into the backrests and they look particularly its steering wheels. Other car makers do more car-like than any of them.
striking thanks to asymmetric stitching. There’s this in a bid to align their sporty models The iX is, however, a very heavy vehicle
a variety of ‘interior worlds’ to choose from, with motorsport, but we prefer the purity – getting on for 2,500kg in most guises.
though interestingly, genuine leather is an of a circular steering wheel. So the iX’s new Nonetheless, the chassis design and tuning
expensive upgrade, while synthetic leather or hexagonal wheel is a bit of a shock to the do a respectable job of hiding that from the

The iX feels nothing like BMW’s

other SUVs on the road

JANUARY 2022 21
iX FIRST DRIVE

driver. Our test car featured air suspension, is keen to enter a tight curve. It corners flat, quietness. It feels like a luxury car, in essence.
adaptive damping, variable ratio steering and feels perfectly balanced mid-bend and, if you The BMW iX will get all-wheel drive as
even Integral Active Steering, so it had a good push the accelerator a little early on the exit standard thanks to an electric motor on each
start in life. On the derestricted Autobahn in there’s even a vague sense that it’s rear drive axle, but we don’t expect many to take it
Germany, it accelerated fiercely to its limited as it slingshots out onto the straight. off-road. The entry-level version, called the
top speed of 124mph and it was quite happy Not that it’s ever untidy. Traction is strong xDrive40, produces up to 326hp and 464lb
to cruise along at that pace, too, feeling stable, and it generally goes where it’s steered, though ft of torque, which means it’s no slouch,
secure and even quiet other than the wind with more driver interaction than might be despite its considerable weight. It comes with
being buffeted out of the way. expected from a big electric SUV. The only time a 71kWh usable battery pack and an official
On twisty country roads, it’s equally you really feel the iX’s weight is when heavily maximum range of up to 257-miles.
impressive, soaking up bumps effortlessly braking into a sharp s-bend, but even then, it Tested here is the iX xDrive50, which, thanks
while still being surprisingly fun to drive. The manages to keep things under control. Driven to a more powerful rear motor, can produce up
steering is particularly well-judged, and the iX normally, the overriding impression is one of to 523hp and an incredible 564lb ft of torque.

It’ll undoubtedly go down in

the annals as a milestone
moment for the brand...

22 BMWcar
 iX FIRST DRIVE

That means 0-62mph in a faintly absurd 4.6-

seconds. BMW has calibrated the system to
be smooth rather than scary fast, however,
so it’s easy to drive it and never feel such
shocking performance, though it is notably
more responsive in the Sport driving mode.
If that’s still not enough performance for you,
there’s an iX M60 in the pipeline with 600hp.
The xDrive50 comes with a battery
pack of 105.2kWh usable energy capacity.
Depending on specification, that translates
into a maximum range between charges
of up to 380-miles. In our day with the car,

where speeds were undoubtedly higher than xDrive30d xLine is still fair value at £60,735,
would be achieved in the UK, the average though it’s much slower and comes with
consumption figure of 23kWh/100km we higher running costs.
achieved would still result in a range of well The plug-in hybrid X5, the xDrive45e at
over 300-miles. And this iX can avail of rapid £66,415, is a closer comparison, especially
chargers up to a rate of 195kW, so it’s suitable as it can’t be had with seven seats and its
for lots of motorway driving. boot only holds 500-litres. That’s still a very
No, it’s not as practical as an X5, but not all impressive car by any measure, but the iX
X5 buyers need the space or seating capacity immediately dates it. That’s how big a step
available. Against a starting price of £69,905 forward BMW has taken with the launch of this
for the iX xDrive40 Sport – or £91,905 for car. It’ll undoubtedly go down in the annals as
the xDrive50 Sport – the entry-level X5 a milestone moment for the brand O

Rapid charging (up to 195kW) is

helpful, so too a ‘real world’ driving
range of over 300-miles on a charge

iX xDrive50
ENGINE: Electric motor on each axle – up to
385kW in total
MAX POWER: 523hp
MAX TORQUE: 564lb ft
0-62MPH: 4.6-seconds
TOP SPEED: 124mph (limited)
RANGE: 365-380-miles
EMISSIONS: 0g/km
WEIGHT (EU): 2585kg
PRICE: from £69,905 for xDrive40
or £91,905 for xDrive50

JANUARY 2022 23
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 COMMENT

BOB HARPER
Bob is struggling with the new 2 Series Active Tourer.

There’s no iDrive
system on the new
Active Tourer

I
distinctly remember going on the launch of the 2 Series Active Tourer acknowledged within the industry as the best in the business it would
when it was originally launched back in 2014 and I’m pretty sure seem as if BMW is about to turn its back on the system in favour of the
that when I posted something moderately positive about the car on madness that is touchscreens in cars. It’s odd though as the all-new iX
the magazine’s Facebook page I was metaphorically sent to Coventry. and i4 both retain the iDrive scroll wheel, so why not the 2 Series Active
It seemed like many folk just couldn’t get their heads around BMW Tourer? I’m hoping it’s a blip or an anomaly and that the next swathe of
entering the MPV/people carrier sector and the fact that it looked like new models retain the iDrive but I fear my hopes may be in vain.
it had fallen out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down So what vital piece of equipment goes where the iDrive controller
really didn’t help. should be? Ah, that would be the volume control for the radio – there
There was some weeping and wailing too about its driven wheels. isn’t one in the traditional position on the dash – and the hazard light
Yes, this was the first BMW to feature front-wheel drive and some switch. Hazard lights are something you might need to find in a hurray
seemed affronted that BMW was using a MINI platform for one of its so quite why you’d move the switch from its central position on the
cars and the use of a three-cylinder engine raised a few eyebrows, dash where it’s been for decades to a location where it’s no longer in
too. While I wasn’t a fan of its looks, I wasn’t against the idea of BMW your line of sight seems incomprehensible. And it’s probably best not
producing this sort of car and the packaging gains of front-wheel drive to get me started on the functionality of touchscreens in cars – surely
made the driven wheels a no brainer. your eyes should be on the road not on the screen? So many functions
All-in-all it wasn’t a bad car and revisiting it when I drove one to the that used to be controlled by simple knobs or buttons you could locate
Alps for a skiing holiday a year or so later demonstrated that it was without looking now have to done through the screen – a hugely
more than fit for purpose, whisking five of us down to Mont Blanc in backwards step.
one sitting in ample comfort. My rationale was that if cars like this keep According to the BMW press release for the 2 Series Active Tourer,
the profits rolling in at BMW and allowed it to keep developing M3s and “The new BMW iDrive system greatly increases the ways in which
M5s then I was all for it. After all, if you didn’t like it no one was going to drivers can enjoy easy, intuitive, multimodal control of vehicle,
force you to drive one. navigation, infotainment and communication functions and also use
And so here we are seven years later with the second generation of digital services.” Additionally, BMW says, “operating steps carried out
2 Series Active Tourer. Overall, I think the styling’s a little bland and the with the BMW Controller on the predecessor model can now be
oversized kidneys don’t sit quite right but even if I was looking for this performed more easily and intuitively using the touchscreen, voice
type of car I wouldn’t buy one. And the reason for that is the interior, or control or the buttons on the steering wheel.” It’s utter tosh if you
perhaps more specifically, the iDrive – it doesn’t have one. ask me and I’m almost certain the controls in the new car have been
Having spent 20-years perfecting the system to where it’s generally designed by someone who doesn’t actually drive. Sad times O

JANUARY 2022 25
COMMENT

JOHN GLYNN
John explains how he uses the work of psychologist
Daniel Kahneman when sourcing cars...

I
n his 2011 masterpiece, Thinking, Fast and Slow, the psychologist Daniel Kahneman outlined some
of the myriad ways in which we can lay the foundations for disaster by making decisions based on
personal biases and flawed or incomplete assumptions.
Breaking our decision-making processes down into two modes – systems one and two -
Kahneman notes that system one is all about quick access to easily available information, while
system two is a slower system that looks deeper into memory and a wider range of available data.
System two tends to be the more effective when it can be activated in place of the fast track solution.
If you have not read Kahneman’s book, I highly recommend it. Flawed heuristics such as anchoring,
availability, substitution and loss aversion are described in detail, with ideas for techniques to defend
against these thinking traps. The audio version is on my phone and a regular dog walking companion.
The book is a contradiction in places as even the author falls victim to some of the traps he explains.
Outsmarting thousands of years of evolutionary thinking is no easy task but developing the skills to
sidestep decision-making pitfalls is fun and compounds over time.
In my work as a car valuer, court expert witness and car buying consultant, it is all too easy to
be misdirected by my own tastes, biases and gaps in intelligence, so I refer to Kahneman’s insights
hundreds of times in a typical day. One idea I lean on a lot is “what you see is all there is” – WYSIATI.
Guarding against WYSIATI is a key component of decision making that is often overlooked. For
example, a buyer may say they want to spend up to £5k on a convertible, which should be cheap to
run, automatic and good for the planet. This being the case, what should they buy?
A quick look at the classifieds will throw up a few possible suggestions, but if reliability and some
degree of prestige is involved, you will soon realise that this is an impossible quest. On sharing this
with one recent buyer, they replied to me that they “could go to £10k and maybe push it to £15k if
needs be.”
WYSIATI led to acceptance of their £5k limit as all there was to know regarding budget, but the
lesson is that there is always more to know. More time spent in the discovery phase will help to share
better advice.
I am currently consulting with a successful young woman who already has a classic car, but would
like to use it more. She finds her existing classic quite hard work to drive every day and wants to drive
an older convertible (late ‘50s/early ‘60s) that has been modified and updated to suit regular use. She
will only consider one colour and the car has to be RHD, has to be automatic and has to be beautiful.
Budget is up to £100k.
One of the prime options would be an E-Type Roadster, but a Series 1 E-Type in RHD in the target
colour without money to spend with the right mods and available to buy today to start using tomorrow
under £100k is not on the market right now and may not be available anytime soon. When you’re
used to walking into a dealership, picking your favourite car and driving home in it, the idea of waiting
for the right car to come to market is anathema.
After a lengthy discussion on possible options, the next day she sent me an email with a link to
a car costing over £200k. This is a prime example of WYSIATI: clients often do not know what their
priorities are until they are told their opening budget won’t buy it. When the priority is speed, then
more budget can help, as we can explore off-market options.
In another example, a client who I’ve worked with for several years recently emailed details of a
German classic he was thinking of buying for a six-figure sum. The dealer had offered him the car on
via kahneman.socialpsychology.org

loan for a week, so could we get together to inspect the car and consider the pros and cons?
A quick look at the history and provenance versus the asking price suggested that the car was
overpriced and a long chat considering other options ensued. We discussed potential alternatives and
Photos: Daniel Kahneman

the client went off to do a bit more homework. Within the space of a week, he had spent twice the
original sum on a similar but much later model.
Had the eventual budget been clear from the start, we could have considered some off-market
options and potentially found something even nicer, but the client was happy and the responsibility for
any future issues would not lie with me, so all good.
WYSIATI is just one way in which we can unwittingly misdirect ourselves down a flawed path of
decisions. If you’re considering a significant purchase in 2022, Kahneman’s work should be regarded
as essential reading. Forget joining a gym this new year (optimism bias) and read this book instead! O

26 BMWcar
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28 BMWcar
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will withstand day-to-day rough use, such as being walked over or dragged along the floor. All the cables come with a
protective storage case to make tidying away easy, but also prevent damage from being left on the boot of a car. Each
cable is TUV CE and UKCA certified.

Self-Stiring Mug BMW

How Much? £9.99
Softdown
Where: firebox.com Jacket
The perfect gift for the truly lazy tea and coffee lover, How Much? £125.00
the Self Stirring Lazy Mug will whip your brew into a Where: discover.bmw.co.uk
miniature vortex at the touch of a button. This Genuine BMW Men's
The mug holds 400ml of your favourite Softdown Jacket Top Coat could
hot beverage and uses be perfect for the colder winter
a tiny battery-powered months. It comes in
impeller in the base of Sand only and in a range of
the cup which spins sizes via the BMW online store
rapidly to swirl the liquid which is currently undergoing
around the bottom. Just a redesign, when you navigate
press the button on the your way there you will therefore
handle and watch as be redirected to the official
your hot beverage BMW eBay store. For this one,
slowly starts to spin. note down BMW article number
80142466172.

JANUARY 2022 29
NEW PRODUCTS
Akrapoviˈ Lightweight
M3/M4 Exhaust
How Much? £TBC
Where: afe.akrapovic.si
Akrapoviˈ has added to its already impressive array of exhaust systems
and carbon-fibre accessories for BMW cars with the launch of the Slip-On
Line (Titanium) and rear carbon-fibre diffuser for the latest M3 (G80)
and M4 (G82). Constructed from high-grade, lightweight, titanium and
finished with hand-crafted carbon-fibre tailpipes, the use of lightweight
materials has produced an exhaust that weighs in at 35% lighter than
the standard stock system and features a pair of collectors cast in the
Akrapoviˈ foundry.
The Slip-On Line (Titanium) comes with a specially developed Akrapoviˈ
control kit for a complete sound experience. The sound character offers a
rich tone at normal cruising, rising to a deep sporty sound when the M3/
M4 is driven more dynamically. It serves up a perfect sound at all rpms,
delivering comfort and sportiness in one exhaust.
An attractive new design for the tailpipes finishes this exhaust perfectly.
A ground-breaking octagonal shape has been fashioned from lightweight
titanium with a carbon-fibre outer sleeve, and for more traditional
buyers there is the classic cylindrical design, also constructed from same
materials, but featuring an update to the current range of tailpipes for
BMW cars available from Akrapoviˈ. For extra visual impact, there is the
option of adding a hand-crafted
carbon-fibre diffuser.
Performance from the Slip-On
Line (Titanium) is another factor,
with a power increase of 10.9hp at
6,000 rpm and a torque gain of 10.2 lb ft at
5,000 rpm when tested on the Akrapoviˈ
dyno against an M4 Competition with a
standard exhaust system. Remapping is not
needed for this configuration, and it meets ECE type
approval conditions for cars with OPF filters.

Forza Horizon 5 E92 M3 / E82

How Much? £49.99
Where: xbox.com
1M Coupé Bushes
How Much? £80.94
Following on from the Where: powerflex.co.uk
other hit Forza games Powerflex has added to its range of products for the BMW E92
in the franchise, Forza M3 and E82 1M Coupé with the new PFF5-401G Front Radius to
Horizon 5 allows players Chassis Bush Caster Adjustable bush, it provides up to +/- 0.75
to navigate an open world degrees of on-car caster adjustment, resulting in greater in-corner
behind the wheel of a camber gain, improved
range of cars, including stability at high-speed and
BMWs. The list of BMWs the ultimate optimisation of
in the new release is your vehicle's front wheel
extensive, ranging from geometry. Made from its
the 1957 Isetta 300 to stiffest Black 95A material,
the 1 Series M Coupé the bushes also fit the E81,
of 2011, to current cars E82, E87, E88 1-Series, E9x
such as the M2 Coupé 3-Series and E89 Z4.
and Z4 Roadster. It is
available now on Xbox
and Windows PC.

30 BMWcar
 &DPEULGJHVKLUH·V
,QGHSHQGHQW 6SHFLDOLVW
+XQWLQJGRQ  
3HWHUERURXJK  

%0:0,1,
Θ

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0DLQ'HDOHU
([SHULHQFHDYDLODEOH
MOTORSPORT MONTH

Motorsport
Month
BTCC
Team BMW Takes Sixth Straight Crown
Colin Turkington took his 60th win and Team BMW its sixth
consecutive Manufacturers’ title in the final two BTCC weekends of 2021...
Team BMW arrived at Donington Park for Oliphant endured a frustrating day, starting by Drivers’ Championship with one weekend
the penultimate BTCC weekend of 2021 finishing 16th in the opener. remaining. A racy Jelley made further gains to
with a clear mission and a fighting chance Four-time champion Turkington was finish ninth in the final – moving up a spot to
at championship glory. Significantly, Colin attempting to move into a podium spot 11th in the points standings, Oliphant came
Turkington has won at Donington Park in every in Race Two when he clipped a kerb at home in 20th spot. BMW would go to the final
season since the BMW 330i – designed, Donington’s Old Hairpin and spun, dropping event of the season with a commanding lead
built and run by WSR – debuted in 2019. to 11th place. Jelley improved to 13th in Race in the Manufacturers’ Standings as they sought
Saturday's qualifying session saw Turkington Two with Oliphant losing several spots after a record-breaking sixth-consecutive title.
finish as the highest placed BMW driver in being hit close to the end and dropping to A five-way fight for the drivers’ title at the
sixth with teammates Stephen Jelley and Tom 24th. A stroke of good fortune came shortly season finalé was always going to prove
Oliphant sharing row nine. after the chequered flag as Turkington was dramatic. From eighth on the grid it was a
In the first of the weekend's three races randomly drawn on pole position for Race strong seventh-place finish in Race One for
Turkington put together a well-judged run to Three’s partially-reversed grid. Turkington, that meant it quickly became a
fifth place while carrying 48kgs of success A perfect drive in a ballast-free BMW two-horse race for the overall crown. Oliphant
ballast. Jelley moved up from 16th to 11th in delivered Turkington the 60th win of his BTCC drove to 11th with Jelley in 23rd in Race One
Race One when a side-by-side moment at career, putting him level with Andy Rouse after suffering an electrical glitch which caused
the chicane put him off the track and lost in third place on the series all-time winners’ a misfire and led him to back off over the final
him several spots – he finished 15th while list and moving him into second place in the lap-and-a-half.

32 BMWcar
 MOTORSPORT MONTH

With Turkington's success ballast reduced Team BMW made history at Brands Hatch,
significantly from 66kg for Race Two, Colin securing a record-breaking sixth consecutive
passed key title rival Ash Sutton and fought his Manufacturers’ title. It is the 15th overall BTCC
way up to fourth by the chequered flag. Jelley title won by WSR – every one of them coming
staged a legendary fightback during Race Two, with BMW cars – and the 14th in the past
climbing 11 places from 23rd place on the eight years for the Sunbury-on-Thames team.
grid on the first lap, eventually ending up ninth Turkington secured the runner-up spot in the
– a result that gave him pole on the partially- Drivers’ Championship, Jelley was 12th with
reversed Race Three grid. An innocent victim Oliphant 16th.
in a Race Two incident at Surtees that involved Turkington said: “We’ve made history
six cars, Oliphant was left with extensive today for BMW in the Manufacturers’
damage to his front-right corner, but incredible Championship, which is a great thing to
teamwork by the WSR mechanics got him be a part of for myself and the team. My
back out for the finalé. target this weekend was to win the Drivers’
In the final race of the season Turkington Championship, but it wasn’t to be this
made an early exit – forced off the track at time. We did everything we could, got the
Graham Hill bend early on, his right-rear maximum from the BMW in Races One
suspension was broken. Jelley was on course and Two with the ballast we had, but it was
for a strong result in the final when he was always going to be a tall order because of
spun by a rival at Surtees, Oliphant staged the way the points were coming into the
an equally heroic recovery from 27th on weekend. We’ve won races this year, shown
the Race Three grid to finish 15th where he what we were capable of and we can walk
claimed the final championship point. away knowing we did the best job we
Despite enduring a difficult weekend possibly could.”

JANUARY 2022 33
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 YOU WRITE

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Write...
G80 Grilling?
Bob Harper’s timely and judicious article in the
November 2021 issue of BMW Car on the styling
of the new M3/M4 prompted me to wonder
whether all the consternation over the grille has
merely reverberated in an echo chamber.
Some comparative contextualisation of the
G80 alongside competitors surely makes the
general dismay over its design language seem like two colossal pillars. I was frankly stunned only exacerbated derogatory estimations of
rather exaggerated. A quick sideways glance at when I finally had chance to walk up to a G80, what may, in fact, be a statement of design
Audi and Mercedes, for instance, reveals the not by the size or contours of its snout but evolution from BMW that’s far more modest
G80’s grille to be in fact quite understated: think by the realisation of how disproportionately than monstrous. Anyway, I really very much
of the Audi RS5, for which no amount high- objectionable it had been made to seem by appreciated what your article was trying to do.
gloss mesh is going to hide its yawning black all the reviews I’d read – reviews that have Prof. David James, Oxford
maw; as for a Mercedes C63-AMG, its front-end
does a great job of imitating a giant grouper
preparing to swallow some sort of three-
pronged starfish.
Frankly, the M3/M4’s lengthened kidneys
seem unassuming in comparison to these
theatrically gaping rivals. Furthermore, as those
who remember their initial experience of
seeing a new M3/M4 in person for the first
time might attest, if anything is too stylised it’s
not the G80’s nose but the very manner in
which car mags have typically photographed
it: nobody approaches the front of a car with
their head two inches from the tarmac, but
it’s from precisely this ground-level angle that
most shots are taken, making the grille appear

E21 Love
I really enjoyed your classic BMW special edition – the December 2021
issue of BMW Car – but I have to ask – where was the E21 love? I for one
think that the E30 is rather overrated and that the E21 is in fact a classic
BMW that should receive greater plaudits from the wider BMW scene. After
all, where would the E30 be without its predecessor?
On a separate note I have to say that the E36 is looking more and more
the modern classic with each passing month – highlighted by your article
pitching it against the E34, a BMW that we can all agree is one of the finest
ever produced, one nailed-on as a classic in the minds of everyone, surely?
Nick Davies, email

Well Nick, we knew we’d generate some conversation with the vehicles we
had to leave out of our classic special – there just wasn’t room for them all!
However, rest assured that, like you, we do have plenty of love for the E21
and we hope to bring you some full features on great examples of the breed
soon! Does anyone have a fine example they’d like to share with the world?

BMW Car magazine and Kelsey Media

If you’ve got a point to make, a view to express or a burning, BMW-related bee in
do not necessarily share the views
your bonnet, then we’d love to hear from you. Email us at: [email protected],
expressed within the letters on this page
contact us via social media or write to: BMW Car, Kelsey Publishing Ltd, The Granary, Downs
and accept no responsibility for any
Court, Yalding Hill, Yalding, Kent, ME18 6AL
inaccuracies they may contain.

JANUARY 2022 35
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F82 M4

Yas Please
When the opportunity to feature this stunning Yas Marina Blue F82 M4
arose, we didn’t need to be asked twice. Suitably impressed, it’s had us
perusing the classifieds ever since. Maybe you should do the same…
Words: Graham Leigh Photographs: Ryan Lindsay

B
ack in our August 2021 issue, BMW E46 Compact, my second BMW was a Eunos Roadster featuring a two-point roll cage,
we featured Beth Halsey’s 2006 E92 325i where I fell in love with the Momo steering wheel, an LSD and, of course,
impressive modified F80 M3 and straight-six engine. My third BMW was an F32 a driftastic hydraulic handbrake. His F32 435i
considered the four-door model 435i before finally buying my dream car – this was clearly a place where he honed a classier
to be somewhat of a performance F82 M4,” Sam said. “I found a love for BMWs OEM+ style to his repertoire, plumping for
bargain. This month is the turn of the F82 M4, when I first got my E46 Compact at 19. I carbon fibre wing mirrors, rear diffuser and
essentially the coupé version of the same car. remember how different and amazing it was a duck lip spoiler. A Rouge Performance
This example belongs to Sam Jones, a 25- driving a rear-wheel drive car, but if I’m honest downpipe was the only aftermarket tuning part. 
year old acoustic sound barrier engineer who I had no idea what BMWs were like to drive so Whilst the 435i was a great car, by this
resides in Polegate, East Sussex. the real reason I bought the E46 was because stage, Sam wanted to realise his dream and
Sam started his driving career young with a of the angel eyes it had fitted! We were all found this M4 on the BMW website. Bar
Mk4 VW Golf. His car history is pretty eclectic young once.”   a few stone chips on the front bumper, it
and includes a Vauxhall Corsa B and a couple Sam has successfully walked the tightrope was in good condition. The already iconic
of modified MX-5s but fear not, he is one of subtle modifications with his M4. He’s combination of Yas Marina Blue with Oyster
of ‘us’: “The first BMW I owned was a 2001 no stranger to enhancing cars with his Mk1 White interior was a deal clincher. Sam didn’t

38 BMWcar
 F82 M4

have a plan for the M4 when he bought it  Sam wanted a look that combines a DTM stopped here for Sam with plans afoot to fit
and he was pleased to have achieved his influence whilst still retaining the identity of a GT wing, and whilst not everyone’s cup of
ambition of M4 ownership. Presently, he is the M4. As well as keeping the F82 regularly Darjeeling, there’s no doubting it will look at
more than happy with the impressive standard detailed including that high maintenance but home with that rear diffuser. Sam informed
performance and has opted for handling and gorgeous Oyster leather interior, Eastbourne- that if money was no object he would go
aesthetic modifications with the exception of based The Features Club have also assisted the whole hog fitting a half roll-cage, GT3
a Miltek cat-back system. BC 20mm lowering with fitting many of the styling items. The wing, and Liberty Walk body kit. Whilst getting
springs improve handling and looks and factory full carbon roof is a signature feature stopped by the police for those that have
coupled with the 12mm front and 15mm rear for the F82 M4 and Sam has carefully selected realised such projects becomes de rigueur,
spacers get the car sitting nicely on its 19-inch other items in the wonder weave material to Sam was surprised to get a pull within the first
wheels. Sam explained: “I did consider the complement it including a rear duck lip spoiler, days of ownership. It turned out the friendly
BMW M4 CS wheels as I know they weigh dash accents, gear knob, shifter paddles, Carbon bobby loved the car and wanted a photo
a lot less but I just love the double-spoked Factory rear diffuser (with built-in F1 style rain with the striking example as his son is also a
437M 19-inch wheels as they give the car a light) and four-inch exhaust tips. Samuel, as depicted on the private plate! For
stocky and solid look.”   It seems that the modifying bug has not Sam, this car is a long term keeper, planning

JANUARY 2022 39
F82 M4

40 BMWcar
 F82 M4

Sam wanted a look

that combines a DTM
influence whilst still
retaining the identity
of the M4...

only to sell on if a young family renders the cross-plane cranked V8 in the E9x. What this speed, the M4 is gaining itself a reputation as
coupé unpractical. He intends to use this new forced-induced inline-six lacked in naturally a fantastic tuning base. Stock fuelling, turbos
opportunity to move into a BMW X4M.  aspirated scalpel-sharp responsiveness, it more and internals which feature partially forged
 Released in 2014 alongside its F80 M3 than made up for in torque, brute power and components, a closed deck and unique coated
stablemate, the F82 was the first generation to the more accessible nature of the peak power. cylinder wall and pistons capable of handling
carry the M4 moniker donating its coupé body Whilst in standard form the S55 engine only up to 600hp at the wheels have helped
style. A quick check of the classifieds reveals made 11hp more than the S65 it replaced, cement this status. Be wary of standard crank
a glut of examples around the £25k mark peak power in the F82 comes in between hubs and charge pipes which have become
with 60–80,000-miles being the expected 5500-7300rpm as opposed to a heady known Achilles heels and are worth changing
odometer reading in this category. Not an 8300rpm in its predecessor. The real revolution on anything more than most tuners’ stage 1
insignificant amount of money but an extremely was the torque and although finding it in the packages. As ever with mechanical/software
capable car for the budget. As is so often the older models was all part of the fun for some, upgrades, always do your homework in this
case with M cars, the market and enthusiast the F82 right-hooked its 406lb ft from 1850- sphere as established specialists may be more
audience warms to them as time goes on. 5500rpm making the 295lb ft at 3900rpm feel expensive than the local chop shop but doing
The S55 powerplant employed twin turbos comparatively gutless if driven back to back. it once and doing it properly is usually the
for emissions reasons which was a departure Sam has decided that the impressive best long-term plan and although good value,
from the screaming straight sixes in both the standard figure of 431hp is plenty for the the base cars are still a substantial investment
E36 and E46 variants and the highly-strung time being but for those with a need for in the first place. Different tuners will use

JANUARY 2022 41
F82 M4
F82 M4
ENGINE: S55 3.0 twin turbo inline-six,
TRANSMISSION: M DCT 7-speed dual-clutch, Carbon fibre 4” exhaust tips, Miltek cat-back
exhaust system
CHASSIS: BC 20mm lowering Springs, double Spoke 437M 19” wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport
4S Tyres (front 255/35, rear 275/35), 15mm rear wheel spacers, 12mm front wheel spacers
EXTERIOR: Factory Yas Marina Blue, rear carbon duck lip spoiler, full carbon roof, Carbon Factory
rear Diffuser with built-in F1 rain light
INTERIOR: Factory Oyster White, carbon dash accents, gear shifter, and change paddles
THANKS: Ryan for his incredible photography (follow via Instagram @inmotion__media), Josh
at The Features Club for keeping my car spotless (follow via Instagram @Thefeaturesclub). And
follow my Instagram for more updates on this M4 @bm_54mul

slightly different software packages and the the £1000 zone but prices vary considerably are impressive, throughout its lifespan the F82
numbered ‘stage’ terminology can be slightly depending on accompanying breathing and received some significant upgrades. LCI (Life
confusing as it varies from place to place as exhaust choices. Cycle Impulse) models were released in 2017
to exactly what it involves. For example, some F82 M4s were offered with either a six- which featured an updated interior, revised
companies incorporate an aftermarket exhaust speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch iDrive system and LED rear lights. 2018
on a stage 2 package and others deem it automatic DCT option. The DCT is excellent heralded adaptive LED headlights, subtle trim
unnecessary. Hit up the forums, get horse’s in either manual or automatic mode and, alterations and a touch screen command
mouth experiences or, even better, go out in for all but the budding Stigs out there, is the system for the iDrive. 2016 also saw the
a company demonstrator or two. Assess what quicker car. However, in an era where manuals introduction of the Competition Package which
power delivery, package and price tag suits were already starting to be phased out, it’s had improved handling thanks to new springs,
your needs and wallet. A stage 1 tune is purely refreshing that BMW offered it as an option dampers and anti-roll bars. A revised ECU
software-based for many tuners and can be and good news for those intent on driving with meant that driving modes were sharpened
installed for around the £700 mark. A dyno a ‘stick’. and 450hp was achieved. A more aggressive
session is usually around £150. Typical power Fuel consumption (on standard examples) LSD was the icing on the cake. Expect to pay
figures will see the car jump from its factory was improved over the outgoing V8 E9x by at least £35,000 for a nice example of this
settings of 431hp and 406lb ft to 520hp over nine miles per gallon on a combined run sought-after model.
and 510lb ft. Stage 2 tuning starts at around (22.8mpg versus 32mpg). Whilst all examples As with most cars of this calibre, they’re

42 BMWcar
 F82 M4

Throughout its lifespan the

F82 M4 received some
significant upgrades...

JANUARY 2022 43
F82 M4
Available 24/7
TABLET • MOBILE

From £2.31
pocketmags.com
shop.kelsey.co.uk/bmc

not cheap to run with a basic service around With sharp-suited coupé looks, well-appointed
£400 and a major service starting around interiors and giant-killing potential, it is not
£800 depending on what requisite parts it hard to see why the F82 M4 is becoming
It is not hard to see may unearth. A set of Michelin Pilot Super
Sports will set you back £1000. As with all
such a popular choice. Well supported by
specialists, new enough to still hit up the main
why the F82 M4 is M cars, regular servicing not only provides
peace of mind but a decent history to ensure
dealer for parts and an aftermarket awash
with upgrades, it’s certainly an inspired choice.
becoming such a maximum resale value. It’s also one of those cars that manages to do
Far from the early outcries of the it all. We’ll let Sam have the last word:
popular choice cancellation of naturally aspirated screamers “Owning an M4 is just breathtaking! It’s
in the M Sport stable, there seems to be an reliable, comfortable, quiet or loud depending
increasing number of young drivers that favour on what drive setting you have it in and just
the more accessible forced induction era. an all-around incredible car!” O

44 BMWcar
 Classics World TV

START Visit classicsworld.co.uk

Head to YouTube and search Classics World
WATCHING TODAY
E36 318i CABRIOLET

46 BMWcar
 E36 318i CABRIOLET

Common People
Conceived in the Morning Glory era and ripe for reappraisal, this showroom-
condition E36 318i convertible is a near-unbelievable 9,100-mile stunner.
Words: Dan Bevis Photographs: Jason Dodd

T
here’s something elemental about driving and with a near-enough 50:50 weight distribution
a convertible. With pleasant conditions across the range), and it’s interesting to note that the
and a suitably appealing backdrop, you convertible variant didn’t arrive in the showrooms
can feel truly at one with the machine until 1993, a good few years into the cycle. The 3
beneath you while the multi-sensory Series has always had an interesting relationship with
whooshing of nature itself serves to amplify the roofless variations; looking back a generation, the
visceral experience. The tactility of the inputs and convertible version of the E30 was never originally
rewards, the artful rearrangement of your hairdo, intended to exist. When the E30 launched as a range
there’s nothing quite like it. of saloons and estates, the drop-top wasn’t in the
Throughout the summer months, we know precisely picture; knowing that there would be a niche demand
what that means: the roof goes down, the tunes go for a soft-top, BMW commissioned Karrosserie Baur to
up, life is sweet. Yes, it may seem hard to imagine develop one as an option, replacing the main roofskin
right now, as we trudge through the seemingly endless with canvas. When it became apparent that an open
and murky depths of winter, but the sun will come E30 was something the public really wanted, however,
again, we promise. And now is really the time to be BMW’s engineers cracked out the can-openers quick-
thinking about buying a drop-top because, well, what smart and crafted something that was elegant and
manner of crazy person would be driving around in sophisticated, a full convertible. So it was clear that the
winter with the roof down? format would be in the offing from the outset with the
Well, not crazy people at all, in fact. Sensible E36, but there was still a certain amount of testing of
people. Because we’d suggest that if you’ve bought the water to be done. A considered approach, to bring
a convertible, it’s pretty much your civic duty to drive to market something that really would sell like heiße
it with the roof down at all times, unless it’s actively kuchen. Indeed, to keep the public sufficiently juiced,
raining. Just stick the heater on and enjoy the fresh the E30 convertible remained on sale in parallel with
air, we say. the rest of the new E36 range, to keep the party
This sort of laissez-faire tomfoolery is very much rolling and the sun-worshippers satisfied.
in keeping with the over-arching ethos of the 1990s, The E36 convertible, then, was an elegant thing.
which is eminently appropriate given that the subject Tastefully conceived, its lines speak of a design that
under scrutiny is an E36. The third generation of 3 was on the table from the get-go rather than simply
Series was on sale for the entire span of the nineties, scything the roof from an existing model. And as befits
the time of Britpop, New Labour, Crinkly Bottom the all-things-to-all-people diversity of the E36 model
and Girl Power, life was optimistic and colourful range, there was a wide assortment of engine options
and vibrant and exciting. Sort of the opposite of in addition to trim levels and spec variants. Yes, there
the 2020s, really. BMW’s E36 was very much the was even a rag-top M3. And sitting way down at the
automotive embodiment of this period in history, with other end of the food chain was the humble 318i –
the range offering all manner of diverse models from the car you see here. And at this point it’s going to be
the sublime to the ridiculous. The glory box for the necessary, if you don’t mind, to figuratively cup our
‘common people’ could be a well-specced saloon; palms around your ears and wiggle your head from
if your house smelt ‘like teen spirit’ then there were side to side a little. You see, in this day and age this
sensible hatchbacks and Tourings to accommodate, car requires a gentle reframing. There was a time
whereas those looking to ‘spice up their lives’ could when the ill-informed might perhaps have sneered
opt for a full-fat M3 in assorted configurations. at a 318i, particularly one with an automatic gearbox,
Interestingly, BMW chose to launch the E36 with as these humble ingredients mightn’t have held
the four-door saloon as the flagship, with the other much sway with the sort of 325i driver who liked to
variants arriving shortly after, and it’s fair to say that slap his oversized BMW keyring down on the bar at
each individual character found its niche. With the crisp the Lamb & Flag and proceed to tell everyone how
new ‘dolphin shape’ design and typically engineering- brilliant he was for owning such a thing. But the world
led underpinnings (propelled from the rear, naturally, has moved on. With the benefit of hindsight – not

JANUARY 2022 47
E36 318i CABRIOLET

E36 318i Cabriolet

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION: M43B18 1.8-litre inline-four, 4-speed automatic
CHASSIS: 10-spoke alloy wheels, Z-axle multilink rear, discs/drums
EXTERIOR: Arctic Silver, optional heated door mirrors, blue electric soft-top
INTERIOR: Blue leather trim, optional front passenger airbag, manually
adjusted steering column, leather steering wheel, heated sports seats, front
centre armrest, outside temperature gauge and BMW Business radio

48 BMWcar
 E36 318i CABRIOLET

The drop-top E36 isn’t a sports

car. Not in its soul. It’s a cruiser.
to mention the E36’s solid gold credentials stretched and tangled over time; in the case
as a desirable modern classic – we can of Arthur Dent, it’s severed entirely when the
see this formula for what it is: an eminently Earth is demolished by the Vogons. But for
appropriate accompaniment to a car built for this 318i, the imperceptible tether can only be
luxurious wafting. Because while it’s true that a few miles long; on sale today at Goss Hall
the convertible was available in full-fat M3 Classics in Ash, just outside Canterbury, it’s a
spec (and a very capable thing it was too), the stone’s throw from the dealer which originally
drop-top E36 isn’t a sports car. Not in its soul. supplied it on June 6th 1998 – Newmans of
It’s a cruiser. And a 318i with a slushbox does Canterbury. Presumably that buyer in the Blur
the cruising thing exceptionally well. vs Oasis era wasn’t aware that they were being
As if your perceptions weren’t already handed the keys to something which would
confounded enough with all of this new-wave one day be considered museum-grade, but
caper, we have a further surprise to impart: here we are. Life has a funny habit of working
this 318i isn’t just a strangely tidy example; out that way. That same owner has hung onto
no, in fact it’s something so outstanding as it for the entire time, keeping it impeccably
to most likely be unique. It’s a survivor. A maintained and flawlessly presented, until
genuine, bona fide, nearly-new curio. Peep at events conspired to eventually let it go.
the milometer and you’ll see that in its entire Oh, and it’s a magnificently specced
life, this car has covered just 9,100-miles. thing too. 1990s BMW options lists are
That’s a mere 395-miles for each year it’s always fun to peruse, and this canny owner
Available 24/7 existed. You’ve walked more miles than that clearly had an eye on the finer things; they
TABLET • MOBILE just going from the sofa to the kitchen and may have plumped for the comparatively
back for Hob Nobs. humble drivetrain choice, but they made
It’s not just the mileage that makes it up for it in the details. This Arctic Silver
remarkable. Fans of Douglas Adams’ seminal convertible features a contrasting blue roof
masterpiece, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the to complement the gloriously blue leather
Galaxy, will be aware of the notion that interior. Elsewhere we find boxes ticked to
From £2.31 throughout one’s life, there’s an invisible cord upgrade to the heated door mirrors, front
pocketmags.com running from your umbilicus and attaching you passenger airbag, manually adjusted steering
shop.kelsey.co.uk/bmc
forever to the place of your birth. These get column, leather steering wheel, heated

JANUARY 2022 49
E36 318i CABRIOLET

sports seats, front centre armrest, outside transmission is a handy accomplice as its
The other open-top E36 temperature gauge, and BMW Business radio. ratios are well-judged and it leaves you free to
Even if the car weren’t an absolute timewarp, get on with the business of grasping for your
If you’re the type of person who prefers
this specification would be impressive. As hat as it sails away, and scraping the flies from
their cars to be belligerently strange, there
is another open-air E36 to consider. Well, it is, we want to wrap it up in our arms and your teeth. In an impeccably elegant manner,
if you can find one. Built by Karrosserie tenderly carry it home. of course.
Baur, who have been slicing the roofs off With this powertrain, it makes for a What this 318i is really, in essence, is
BMWs since the 1930s, the TC4 was a surprisingly compelling package. The later a gateway to a simpler time. An age of
properly odd kid. Based on the four-door 318i came with the M43B18 engine Teenage Fanclub and The Big Breakfast,
saloon, it essentially replaced the centre (as opposed to the earlier before the world got all worrying and strange.
section of the roof with canvas while cars’ M40), and while its More than that, it’s a car that deserves to be
retaining full-length rails, like a Citroën 114hp and 124lb ft were reconsidered. In these times of clarity, we
2CV. Their line of thinking was that it unlikely to help you can see this E36 for what it is: a magnificent
provided all the freedom of a convertible win at Top Trumps, it example of a superb all-rounder O
with all the safety of a tin-top. Sadly the delivers smoothness
buying public didn’t agree, and just 321 and frugality with THANKS
of these bizarre rag-tops were retro-fitted an endearing Goss Hall Classics
for truly discerning oddballs. underlying eagerness. Goss Hall Classics for the loan of this vehicle:
The automatic Web: gosshallclassics.co.uk

50 BMWcar
 SHEFFIELD’S INDEPENDENT BMW SPECIALISTS
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900hp E30 SLEEPER

Deep Sleeper
Looks can be deceiving. This innocent-looking
E30 from the Czech Republic packs a
serious 933hp punch!
Words and Photographs: Robb Pritchard

W
hen Viktor Zp˔vák first so much he joined the E30 Club of the Czech drift on them as much as we wanted as there
joined his local BMW club Republic, but it was there that he realised that was no organisation, no marshals, no safety,
as a teenager he had the his beloved new ride wasn’t quite so special just a few friends.” But when some private
least powerful car in the after all, because literally everyone in the club people bought the airports, the E30 club had
group. It has been a long had cars that were a lot more powerful than to become a little more ‘official’ and take their
journey, but twenty years later he now has an his. “I had to do something!” he laughs. cars to do track days instead. Now, instead
E30 that is almost as powerful as an F1 racer. That something was buying an E21 and of just more power, Viktor and his friends
Viktor’s life-long interest in BMW tuning putting a turbo on it. Weighing just 1000kg needed cars that could handle well and stop
began almost as soon as he’d passed his and with 250 blown horsepower, that E21 properly… and so with a 635CSi biturbo he
driving test, as it didn’t take him too long to wasn’t just a fun car, it was what set him on stripped-out, he learned about suspension set
get bored with his parent’s Skoda Fabia. With the way to creating the understated monster up and competition brakes.
every last Czech koruna in his pocket he that now lurks in his garage. “Back in those But every car he built had a turbo fitted.
bought an old 318i, which compared to the days there were abandoned airports from the “Getting more power out of a naturally
family hatchback felt like a rocket. He loved it Soviet era in the area that we could drive and aspirated engine is very expensive. It works

52 BMWcar
 900hp E30 SLEEPER

out that for every horsepower you increase by, Czech Republic to build their projects.” years of accrued knowledge into the ultimate
it costs about £30. So a turbo is the quickest And as he was learning about forced creation. “I knew what was possible, what I
and cheapest way to make more power. But induction his collection of cars began to grow. could do and what I could afford…” he says,
everything I did, I learned how to do it myself, A red 635 CSi joined the old E21 drift car, as but there was one seemingly insurmountable
from what parts to use, what compression did an E30 cabrio, an 850 and more. Some problem in his way. The Czech equivalent
to set it to, which turbo to start with. I spent were sold, one was stolen, but quite a few of the DVLA are notoriously old-fashioned
many nights on the internet taking ideas and he kept, and he now has a grand total of and restrictive when it comes to vehicular
little bits of information from everywhere, fourteen BMWs. “I just love driving them,” he modifications and before he started anything
the books written by Corky Bell were a great shrugs. “All of them are BMWs, but they are all knew that there was absolutely no way he
source of knowledge. But I also had to learn completely different. A coupé is nothing like a could get what he wanted to build registered
about engine management, as when you use convertible, which is nothing like a saloon… for the road. But there was another way to get
a turbo you can’t just use a standard ECU. In one is comfortable, another is sporty… and I his dream machine. “A friend of mine in Berlin
the end this was very worthwhile as I learned want them all!” was making something a little similar with an
enough to help a lot of other people from the A few years ago he decided to pool all of his E30 to what I had in my mind… and so when

JANUARY 2022 53
900hp E30 SLEEPER

Most importantly it was

registered with the engine he
wanted – the E34 M5’s S38B36

54 BMWcar
 900hp E30 SLEEPER

it was registered with the TÜV (The German He also needed a narrower axle to fit bigger
version of the DVLA) I bought it, because wheels, yet still keep them under the arches,
Available 24/7 anything that is registered in Germany can be another ‘Sleeper’ innovation to keep the true
TABLET • MOBILE registered in the Czech Republic.” power of the car hidden from the authorities.
Although the car was complete it was The car came from Germany with an E36
still quite far from what Viktor wanted, but 323Ti axle fitted but after looking though lots
most importantly it was registered with the of information on the internet Viktor decided
engine he wanted, the E34 M5’s 3535cc to fit hubs from a Z4.
S38B36. It was only rated at 400hp though To keep such enormous power in check,
From £2.31 and as he wanted much, much more than upgraded brakes were essential as the
pocketmags.com that everything from the output shaft back standard set from an E30 it came with
shop.kelsey.co.uk/bmc had to be changed, as even the M5 gearbox wouldn’t even last a lap no a track day before
wouldn’t be able to cope with the power he fading. It was easy enough to get bigger disks
was about to unleash into the transmission. made and a local company machined a pair
The replacement Viktor chose is a Getrag 290 of dual mass disks, with aluminium hubs
from an Alpina B10 biturbo, which can handle and steel disks, bolted together, a design
a massive 808lb ft of torque. intended to reduce vibration. But the calipers
The clutch is a Sachs twin-disc race one themselves proved a little harder. “I knew
with ceramic plates. Its either on or off so that I wanted Hartge 16-inch wheels so I
is a little hard to shuffle the car around in needed calipers that were very strong, yet
the garage. “It was expensive, but the main small enough to fit inside the rims.” Some
thing is that because you can’t see it... what more internet research and he ordered a pair
the Czech authorities don’t know, they can’t of 325mm Wilwood six-pots. “They are very
complain about…” tight with clearance but they fit.” But it wasn’t
The propshaft is from a company in Berlin, simply a case of bolting them on because he
customised from an E34 Alpina, as the E30 also needed an adapter. This he designed
wheelbase is a little shorter. This connects to a himself, then printed out with a 3D printer to
custom diff from an E30 M3, one with a 2.79 make sure all the dimensions were correct,
LSD and Z3M cooling. “Normally in an LSD Only when it was perfect did he take it to
diff there are two clutch packs, but I had extra a friend to get it laser cut in steel. The rear
pair put in, which gives a stronger and more wheels have standard E36 calipers.
aggressive LSD activation. Now, every time Those Hartge wheels are 7.5- on the front
I give a little gas it engages and drives both and 8.5-inches on the rear and are shod
wheels. But when you come off the power it with Toyo R888Rs, which Viktor says hold
will steer.” The complicated design was made the power quite well. “But it’s hard to use all
by a local friend who is a specialist in such power when it’s not a hot day,” he says. “In
feats of engineering. cold weather they just spin. In every gear.”

JANUARY 2022 55
900hp E30 SLEEPER

The forward motion is

simply brutal. Like a
head-on accident in
reverse...

Suspension is provided by a set of K-sport This little beast is used only sparingly and the forward motion is simply brutal. Like a
shocks and springs. though, as with the demands of his job and head-on accident in reverse.
And then it’s time to open the bonnet. To a young family Viktor only has time to drive it The dot ahead quickly turned into the
say that the M5 block looks shoehorned in is once or twice a month in the season. “But it’s back of a van ahead and with his foot off
an understatement to say the least, but it’s the so quick, like being in a fighter jet, so it gives the big pedal and the wastegate chatters,
massive BorgWarner S300SX turbo stuffed in enough adrenaline to last for the rest of the almost cheekily as though it knows how
next to it that is the main point of attention. month.” And to demonstrate this we took it naughty it was to force all that air through
With no accommodating bulges in the bonnet, for a little test drive… Crawling out of the little the intake. Viktor also had a wicked smile. In
from the outside it doesn’t look such an Bavarian village do the neighbours wouldn’t my experience, scaring journalists is often a
extreme build, so you’d never guess the level of be too shocked we went to the nearest favourite past time of makers of cars like these.
engineering that went into this car. But as Viktor Czech equivalent of an A-road… where he The closest experience I can compare it to,
explains, it was far from just a simple bolt in job. put his foot down. is not a supercar, but a Group B rally car. I am
As well as a custom ECU it also needed Trying to put the sensation of being reminded of when John Wheeler, the designer
a custom stainless exhaust manifold, a dual slammed into your seat with 933hp on the of the Ford RS200, tried, and succeeded, to
wastegate system, and a Nuke fuel system as other side of the dashboard isn’t that easy. scare me. That old-school analogue engine,
a normal fuel pump just couldn’t cope with It’s not supercar fast, exactly. Flooring it in a gearbox, diff, tyres and a dearth of electronic
the rate of fuel flow needed. And to cool it an McLaren or a Ferrari, as fast as they are, there trickery, nothing but a massive turbo and a
oversize Mishimoto race radiator sits in front, is still a sense of control threaded through transmission strong enough to take it.
which is helped by an electric water pump to the powerband. In Viktor’s little beast, the The project isn’t quite done yet and the
give increased circulation more flow, even if sensation is of being well out of control. The next thing on the to-do list is water-methanol
the car is standing still. turbo gushes with a noise of a power station injection. “I run it on normal fuel, so I

56 BMWcar
 900hp E30 SLEEPER
900hp E30
ENGINE: S38B36 engine Borg-Warner turbocharger,
custom stainless exhaust manifold, dual wastegate
system, Nuke gasoline system, custom ECU, Alpina
290 gearbox from Alpina B10 biturbo, 808lb ft
torque, Sachs twin-disc race clutch with ceramic
plates, custom centre shaft, 2,79 LSD with Z3M
cooling.
CHASSIS: 5x120 conversion, K-sport suspension,
325mm custom front discs with Wilwood brake
calipers, rear E36 brakes Mishimoto race cooler and
Craig Davies electric water pump.

need system which lowers the exhaust gas

temperature, which is important, as with such
power it has the risk of melting pistons or the
turbo. And that would make me sad. I have a
temp sensor and when it gets too hot it lowers
the boost pressure... it says, ‘Hey, calm down.’
But it only happens on a very hot day.”
Twenty years ago Viktor started with the
least powerful car in the club, now he has
one of the most powerful in the country. But
he doesn’t know for sure. “It’s a little hard
to tell who officially has the most powerful
car as it depends on things like the ambient
temperature and what fuel you have. On the
testing rig, once I had 900hp, 933 a couple of
times, and another was 908.”
With 933hp, it seems that the round figure
of 1000hp is tantalisingly close, but Viktor is
not interested in such goals. “I don’t need
numbers. For me the car is only about the
feeling and right now the feeling is great!” O

JANUARY 2022 57
MARKET WATCH

Market
Watch
F90 M5 Saloon
You can now buy BMW’s range-topping four-wheel drive F90 M5 Saloon for
the price of a brand new rear-drive M2. Words: Guy Baker Photography: Various

B
MW’s M5 has always set the heavily biased towards the rear wheels. But if was introduced in August 2018, with power
benchmark for the ultimate the ESC is disabled it can effectively become increased to 617hp at 6,000 rpm and the
performance saloon and the latest completely rear-wheel drive. All cars come official zero 62mph acceleration time was
twin-turbo V8 2017-on F90 model with an eight-speed ZF GA8HP75Z automatic reduced by 0.1-seconds
is no exception. It is however the transmission and derivatives of BMW’s 4.4-litre Other goodies included stiffer springs,
first to come with four-wheel drive. And that S63 twin-turbo V8 powerplant, with factory increased front camber, a 7mm lower ride
means that – compared to its predecessors – 2017 models capable of accelerating from a height, revised wheels and a redesigned
it possesses immense grip, enabling the driver standstill to 62mph in just 3.4-seconds. exhaust system with a particulate filter added.
to lay down as much power as possible. And With the optional M Driver's Package the Limited-edition wise BMW produced 400
there’s plenty of that. The ‘standard’ model delimited top speed is 190mph and despite Frozen Dark Red Metallic First Edition M5s in
packs 600PS (or 591hp) and 553lb ft of the added all-wheel drive components the mid-2018, as well as 350 £104,880 35 Jahre
torque, whilst the tweaked Competition model F90 M5 is around 40kg lighter than the M5 Individual Frozen Dark Grey cars in 2019,
has 617hp. previous F10 generation M5. List price in before a facelifted £102,325 F90 arrived in
As a new car the M5 is eye-wateringly the UK was £89,705, without any options, August 2020. And those with absolutely no
expensive, but its sizeable depreciation means although most first owners specced their budget restrictions can now order a 626hp M5
you can now pick one up for just over 50 cars to nearly £100,000. Optional M Carbon CS – which will set you back a cool £140,780
percent of the original list price. And there are Ceramic Brakes for example added £7495 plus options! You’ll only need £50,000 or so
plenty advertised for sale, quite a few at main to the bill. In-gear acceleration is savagely to buy an good early F90 though, with lots
dealers with a BMW warranty. quick however and the M5’s handling is very advertised for sale – many at main dealerships.
Unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in impressive too for such a big car, but there is a Excellent examples start at just £60,000.
September 2017, the F90 M5 is produced price to pay in terms of fuel economy – which Like the stunning 2019 Marina Bay Blue
at BMW’s Dingolfing Plant. Based on the G30 struggles to better 25mpg. Metallic M5 Competition we spotted at Roy
5 Series its sophisticated xDrive control is BMW’s £95,380 M5 Competition model Humphrey Prestige Cars in Suffolk (www.

58 BMWcar
 MARKET WATCH

royhumphreyprestigecars.co.uk). A 68-plater these days – Apple CarPlay preparation. alloys with Bicolor finish.
with full Merino black leather and just 23,000- You’ll pay quite a bit more for a slightly Surprisingly perhaps, there are lots of
miles it is priced at £61,895 and comes with lower mileage example however, so the sensibly cars at BMW dealers right now, with
a full BMW service history, as well as a high very similar looking 2019 69-plate M5 the highly-specced 2018 M5 Competition
spec. Aside from all the usual M5 factory items Competition with just 8629 miles at Pure Cars at Sytner BMW Sheffield (www.sytner.co.uk/
the car also boasts Steering wheel heating, in Wakefield (www.purecars.co.uk) is priced bmw/sheffield) typical of what you could buy.
BMW Display key, Driving Assistant Plus, the at £69,990. Equally well kitted out it comes With 34,636-miles it’s stickered at £59,000
M Driver's Package, sunblinds on the rear with a 20GB Hard drive, BMW’s Live Cockpit and comes with Singapore Grey Metallic paint,
windscreen and rear side windows, heated Professional sat nav system with a 10.25-inch Silverstone full Merino leather and 20-inch
and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, the high-resolution display and Intelligent Voice style-789 M Y-spoke Alloys.
Through-loading system and that 'must have' Assistant and 20-inch M Y-spoke style 789 Your M5 must come with a complete
BMW service history, just one previous owner
and either the original or an extended BMW
warranty. That way you should have peace
of mind should anything untoward occur.
Fortunately, however, the F90 seems to be a
pretty reliable beast, but you should still keep
an eye out for misbehaving VANOS solenoids,
excess oil consumption, coolant leaks,
misfiring spark plugs and blown ignition coils.
A few owners have reported S63 engines
replaced under warranty (but this seems rare)
– and check that all the M5’s sophisticated
electrical systems work as they should O

WITH THANKS...
Grant Darling and Darren Parker at
James Paul (www.jamespaul.co.uk), the
BMW Car Club of Great Britain (www.
Recent BMW M5 Saloon F90 auction prices* BMW Car retail bmwcarclubgb.uk), British Car Auctions
(www.bca.com), Silverstone Auctions (www.
Model Trans-
mission
Reg Mileage
Year
Sale
Price
price guide silverstoneauctions.com), Bonhams (www.
Poor: Under £52,000
bonhams.com), Coys (www.coys.co.uk)
BMW M5 Saloon xDrive Competition Auto 2019/19 6,769 £66,800
Good: £50,000 to £60,000 Luzzago.com, Classic Car Auctions (www.
BMW M5 Saloon xDrive Auto 2019/69 20,567 £53,200
Excellent: £60,000+ classiccarauctions.co.uk), Glenmarch.
BMW M5 Saloon xDrive Competition Auto 2020/20 3,190 £80,200
Special editions: M5 com, www.bimmerforums.co.uk, Redish
BMW M5 Saloon xDrive Competition Auto 2020/20 13,709 £62,900
Competition £62,000+, 30 Motorsport (www.redish-motorsport.com)
BMW M5 Saloon xDrive Competition Auto 2020/70 10,179 £66,400
Jahre M5 95,000+ and Glass’s (www.glassbusiness.co.uk) their
BMW M5 Saloon xDrive Competition Auto 2020/70 5,239 £79,400
help with this feature.
*Sale prices of good-condition examples sold recently at British Car Auctions

JANUARY 2022 59
 1971

MENTS Bringing motorsport memories into focus

MOTORSPORT
MOTORSPORT
M MENTS Bringing motorsport memories into focus

M
The publishers of Motorsport News
are proud to introduce this fabulous JACKIE STEWART AND TYRRELL
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1981 1991 2001

MENTS

MENTS
Bringing motorsport memories into focus

Bringing motorsport memories into focus

MENTS Bringing motorsport memories into focus

MOTORSPORT

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M

WHEN THE FORD ESCORT AYTRON SENNA GRABS A MAJESTIC ROCKINGHAM: BRITAIN’S
MK2 RULED THE WORLD WORLD HAT-TRICK FOR McLAREN INDYCAR SPECTACULAR
The Brazilian is peerless for his final drivers’ championship win in Formula 1
How Ari Vatanen and David Richards fended off the threat of the Audis When the American giants came to Northamptonshire to put on a real show

WATSON RULES THE PORSCHE RETAINS ITS SOUTH AFRICA: THE GRAND INSIGHT: MAZDA FINALLY AMERICAN LEGEND THE McRAE STAR HOW FERRARI SET NEW JASON PLATO WINS THE RICHARD BURNS CLIMBS
ROOST AT SILVERSTONE LE MANS KINGSHIP PRIX THAT NEVER WAS CONQUERS LE MANS RICK MEARS SIGNS OFF STARTS TO EMERGE BENCHMARKS IN F1 TOURING CAR WAR TO THE TOP OF THE WORLD
When the Ulsterman scored his greatest win Ickx and Bell reunited for 24-hour glory When F1 teams and the rulemakers clashed Rotary glory for the Japanese underdog Penske man takes his final Indy 500 gloy When Colin conquered British rallying Michael Schumacher crushes the grand prix field Tin-top favourite claims a hard-fought BTCC crown The Briton’s greatest career triumph recalled

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WORKSHOP WISDOM

Workshop
Wisdom
4-Cylinder Thermostat Swap
Suffering from a coolant leak on your N42, N45 or N46? This might be the reason...

I
t’s twenty years this year since the all-new BMW N42 engine for going brittle and snapping off in the head when disturbed. I’d
arrived, fitted to the new E46 316Ti and 318Ti Compacts and the recommend you buy a new one and replace it as a matter of course
facelifted 318i. The ‘cassette’ timing chain and tensioner set up and (the BMW part number is 11537572158) and they are either £40
the position of the two VANOS solenoids meant there was no room from BMW or around £17 for an aftermarket part.
on the front of the block or the cylinder head for a water pump or
thermostat, so both items were remotely mounted and bolted to the
power steering pump and water pump unit on the exhaust side of the
engine with the thermostat built onto the side. The power steering
pump is driven by the auxiliary belt and the water pump is bolted
to the back of it, driven from the PAS pump shaft. It’s a neat and
compact set up and, without the stress of a drive belt on the pump
bearings they very rarely need to be replaced. The thermostat is then
an ECU controlled ‘mapped’ unit that opens when the ECU tells it to
rather than the traditional wax element type.
Our 2004 316Ti Compact had a coolant drip from the thermostat
housing that required constant top ups with tap water due to a big
crack all around the area where the inlet pipe from the cylinder head
joins. This required fixing and anti-freeze adding before winter. 
I bought a new stat housing from online parts suppliers Autodoc for
£25 delivered, it looked a good quality item and it certainly fitted well
– I reused the existing thermostat as it worked fine. I also had ready a
good used head to thermostat housing pipe as these are renowned

61 BMWcar
 WORKSHOP WISDOM

1 The first job is to remove the engine 2 Now remove the two smaller bore hoses 3 The upper part of the thermostat
covers and washer bottle to improve access. from the thermostat housing and catch any housing had broken off around the fracture
For the ‘stat, there are four E8 Torx bolts to coolant escaping – the undertray is best but that makes removing the horizontal
remove here, the vertical ones that secure removed. The BMW snap fit hoses made E8 bolts easier –s certainly the top ones.
the thermostat to the housing underside. assembly faster at the factory but can be The two lower ones are slightly easier to
Because of the bolt positions you cannot stubborn now. Lift up the spring clip with a remove from underneath the car but there
remove the whole thing as one unit. screwdriver as shown and wriggle the hose off.  isn’t much in it.

4 The thermostat housing can now be 5 Here is the thermostat mounting flange 6 We reused the old thermostat as it
removed leaving the thermostat itself on the water pump, now is the time to give worked fine – every pound is a prisoner on
dangling on the bottom radiator hose. If you it a good clean up with a wire bush and old cars like this. You can go through the
are fitting a new one then remove it by first emery paper before the new housing is hidden menu on the dash and see what the
unplugging the electrical connector. Then fitted. Like all old BMW engines, it’s pretty coolant temperature is – it needs to be at
you’ll need to wrestle the hose snap fit oily down here and you might want to least 95C degrees so if the heater is feeble
connector – they can be very stubborn.  degrease and pressure wash it all. and MPG not as good as it could be, fit a new
thermostat now.

7 The new thermostat housing 8 I fitted the new housing after giving the 9 The new housing was good and the hoses
was supplied by Autodoc at less than rubber gasket seal a light smear of grease – snapped back on easily – next we refill the
half the £50 BMW unit (part number don’t use silicon sealer. Access to the upper cooling system. Add anti-freeze first a litre
11517572859 if you go the genuine two bolts is pretty tricky on reassembly at a time leaving a few minutes between to
route). The housing can fracture around the even with a 1/4-inch drive ratchet but as prevent air locks. There are two bleed screws,
base of the upper cranked hose connector I’d cleaned the threads up beforehand they one on the expansion bottle, another on the
so be careful when removing or refitting it. went in easily enough.  water to oil cooler by the inlet manifold.

JANUARY 2022 62
WORKSHOP WISDOM

10 There is a rubber O ring inside the 11 The cylinder head coolant pipe fits here 12 I fitted a good used one as the original
snap fit hoses that is held in place with on the front of the head. The plastic stub gets looked grim. With the hoses fitted, refill the
a plastic ring that can break loose. If it brittle with age and are easy to break if you’re system with the bleed screws removed,
does, clean it up and refit it. Never use careless, they rarely come out in one piece and clean water first and then the correct amount
penetrating fluid here as it expands and we’d advise fitting a new one anyway. Because of anti-freeze. Refit the bleed screws when
ruins the O ring – a smear of washing up the hose is fitted to the stub with a steel band, coolant escapes and run the engine until the
liquid is ideal to aid fitting.  you can only buy the complete hose. heater is warm. Finally, check for leaks. 

Checking
Coolant
Temperature
1 E46: With the engine
running at operating
temperature, press the
left hand reset button
on the instrument
cluster until the mileage
is replaced by ‘test’.
Release the button and
immediately press it
again repeatedly until you
get to number 19 on the
dashboard display.

2 When you get to 19,

release the button and it
should say ‘off’ or ‘test’.
Press the button again
repeatedly until you get
to number 7 and that
will display the coolant
temperature on the left
side of the display.

E87/E90 & Variants

1 Fit the key into the dash slot until the 3 Add up the five numbers of the VIN 5 Now press the odometer button
mileage shows on the instrument panel. – for example, 28763 will add up to 26 – repeatedly again until you get to your code
memorise that number. number. Then press the odometer button
2 Hold the odometer button for around again until you get to number 19 and the
20-seconds until ‘FGSTNR’ appears in the 4 Hold the odometer button down again dash will read LOCK OFF.
upper display between the speedo and rev for a couple of seconds and release when
counter. Underneath ‘FGSTNR’ is the seven the VIN disappears and ‘FGSTNR’ is there 6 Now repeatedly press the odometer
digit VIN, two letters and five numbers. on its own. Press the odometer button button until you get to menu number 7
repeatedly until number 19 appears on the and this will reveal the engine coolant
top line. The display will now say LOCK ON. temperature. Easy when you know how!

63 BMWcar
 OUR CARS

Our
Cars
Welcome to BMW Car magazine’s fleet of vehicles... Here
we share the trials and tribulations – both good and bad –
Jason Dodd

of running a range of BMWs in the real world...

2017
F87 M2

Elliott Stiling Matt Robinson

1983 1989 2003 2007

E28 Alpina B9 E30 318i SE E46 325Ci Sport E61 M5 Touring

Andrew Everett Patty Harper Rob Richardson

1994 1997 2014

E36/5 318Ti Compact E39 528i Auto F25 X3 xDrive20d SE 1973 2002

Bob Harper

2006 1976 2002 2003

E61 530i SE Touring E3 3.0L E46 330i Sport E39 530i Sport

070
JANUARY 2022 65
OUR CARS
Rob Richardson
1973 2002

Split & Polish

Rob adds some girth to the nose of his 2002...
In 1971 the 2002 received a the car is still not painted. Though
minor facelift and included in the we’re still in the realms of this
list of updates was a 20 percent being a positive thing as my front
better heating system. As I rolled splitter has only just arrived, so
it out the garage at 5.45am on I’ve been fitting that so it’s ready
a crisp Autumn morning to use to go when the day finally comes.
mine to get me to work I was The only real issue is me having
very grateful of this. It is genuinely to come to terms with driving it to
Fibreglass splitter
scorching and helped nurse my the painters in winter and giving gives the front end
hardly-awake body to life. I’ve not it a big wheels-off clean when a new look
often used the car for work this it gets back. Not the end of the
year, as I’ve been largely working world I suppose.
from home, but this was a special There is a surprisingly large to some extent squared off and if anything actually turned up… it
occasion. The weather was range of addenda available for a bit ‘80s looking (even though did! And actually, it’s really good
looking great and I had a hot-date the E10 and I have to be honest, none of them are). Not having quality for a fiberglass part. I don’t
after work with a pint of beer and I don’t like almost all of it. You one was also an option. Most mean to sound so surprised, but
the last classic car meet-up of the can’t embrace Bauhaus design of the period pictures of racing my expectations were low.
year held at the Heart of England and then put some large, complex cars did without, but I’ve always Fitting it was a simple, but
show ground in Fillongly. There gilded gates and a pair of pot loved how it makes the car look meticulous job. I had to get it right
is something very special about lions outside the front. Simplicity lower at the front, extenuates the if I was going to drill holes in my
using a classic as a “normal” is key and for me, the draw of the shark nose and in my case, offers lovely un-spoiled front panel. A
car, it just gives a real sense of ’02 and the ethos for my build. some visual balance to the wide lot of measuring and some detail
occasion to everyday life. I’m sure There is of course one exception wheels and low stance that will trimming with the Dremel later it
my neighbours also enjoyed it, to this and that’s the Alpina finish the car. It was only when I was on. I used M4 hardware and
especially firing up with a bark in “Schweinebacken” wide arch kit, wasn’t really looking and actually washers through 6mm holes in
the early hours too… but that gets a pass in my book searching eBay for something the splitter and 4mm holes in the
So now it’s (probably) turned for function defining form, and totally different that I came across body to give me a little wiggle-
its wheels for the last time this what a form… maybe one day. the perfect splitter: the right room for alignment, but overall
year it’s time to get stuck back So, despite many offerings from size, simple and clean looking. it was a really good fit. It’s only
into the projects and the to-do the likes of Alpina, Zender, Kamei, £130 to my door shipped from on temporarily though
list I’ve been building over the BMW’s own Turbo spoiler and Europe and made of only the as I’ll have to remove
summer. Top of that list is still more, I couldn’t settle on splitter best fibreglass. I took a punt and it again for paint, but
paint. Another month passed and I wanted. They are all bulky and waited a couple of weeks to see even in the “squint

66 BMWcar
 OUR CARS

and it’s nearly matching grey

primer” it looks good. Exactly
what I was looking for and gives
the car the visual balance it’s
needed since fitting the wheels.
So, now it really is ready for
paint… hopefully by my next
column it’ll at least be in the
paint shop. Good things come Trimming with
the Dremel
to those that wait, right?
Rob Richardson

Drilling the front

panel was worrying

JANUARY 2022 67
OUR CARS
Bob harper
E61, E3, F25

Assault & Battery

Electrical problems for the E3, but not quite what you’d expect...
it on a Sunday and had it in my
grubby little mitts two days later
on the Tuesday which seemed
like exceptional service. Once
fitted the M30 cranked into life
and has been fine since. I was
It’s been a little quiet for the Anyway, after a period of inactivity I’d propped the bonnet open I even able to pump the tyres up a
Harper fleet this month but not I knew the E3’s battery would realised that I’d managed to pick bit with one of those new-fangled
an entirely trouble-free one but be somewhat discharged so I up a 14mm spanner by mistake. I electric pumps. When I had the
fortunately the majority of the decided to take it off and give left the battery by the side of the tyres fitted the guy who installed
issues do seem to have been it a thorough replenish with the car – it was parked right outside them did say that the rims weren’t
minor niggles and nothing that’s excellent Ctek battery charger my front door after all – and all that brilliant around the area
beyond my capabilities. However, rather than just give the E3 popped back indoors for the where the tyre’s bead sits and
it’s now MoT month for both the a jump start from the 530i. I right spanner. Yes, you guessed that would seem to be the case.
530i and the X3 so I’m crossing always remember one of the it, in the 30-seconds or so that Wheel refurbishment added to
my fingers that the annual tests electrical technicians from my old I’d been in the house some the list of jobs needed then…
won’t throw up anything untoward dealership days saying that an miserable little scroat driving down While I was washing the E3 the
as the coffers are looking a little alternator was only designed to the road had stopped, picked up other day one of my neighbours
bit empty at the moment. keep a battery in a charged state the battery, and driven off with it. (who I fancy isn’t the most car-
And that’s the main reason rather than to charge it up, so it To say I was somewhat miffed is orientated person on the planet)
that there’s been very little action pays to keep it fully topped up as putting it mildly. stopped to ask me what I was
on the E3 of late. Pickings are far as I’m concerned, especially as A quick internet search for an going to do with the car now the
currently a trifle slim in my odd the E3’s M30 does need to crank identical Bosch battery (it’s the new Ultra Low Emission Zone
little corner of the freelance world over a fair bit before it erupts into highest output unit that will fit in (ULEZ) has expanded to include
and while there’s a temptation a somewhat lumpy life. the E3’s fairly small battery tray) all of London with the north and
to just ‘whack it on the plastic’ I So, battery fully charged lead me to The Battery Group south circular roads acting as the
would like to know that there’s overnight I sallied forth to the who promised a replacement for outer boundary. Was I going to
something coming in before street with the battery and my £75.98 including delivery which pay the £12.50 charge every time
committing to further outgoings. trusty 13mm spanner, but once seemed like good value. I ordered I used it? I was rather pleased

X3 took a trip to
Devon this month

68 BMWcar
 OUR CARS

F25 X3 xDrive20d SE
YEAR: 2014
MILEAGE THIS MONTH: 984
TOTAL MILEAGE: 62,061
MPG THIS MONTH: 38.6
COST THIS MONTH: £ Nil

Following the battery incident

Woody keeps watch on the cars

E3 3.0L
YEAR: 1976
MILEAGE THIS MONTH: 3
TOTAL MILEAGE: 11,700
MPG THIS MONTH: 0
COST THIS MONTH: £75.98 (battery)

E61 530i SE Touring

YEAR: 2006
to be able to inform him that as fact that his 540i was an auto, if it sea if only for a couple of days.
MILEAGE THIS MONTH: 475
a ‘Historic’ vehicle (i.e. one over had been equipped with the six- I do also need to sort out TOTAL MILEAGE: 71,705
40-years-old) it was exempt from speed manual it would have met what to do with the set of winter MPG THIS MONTH: 22.4
the charge. I couldn’t resist telling the ULEZ standard. wheels and tyres from the X3 as COST THIS MONTH: £ Nil
him I also didn’t have to have an In other goings on Mrs H’s X3 Mrs H has recently downsized
annual MoT carried out and that it also had a minor tyre-related her office space and as that’s
attracts a zero rate road tax! problem this month when the where they’re stored they’re now The 530i hasn’t seen a huge
What’s less pleasing is that quite good old tyre pressure monitor just getting in the way. I’m all for amount of use this month and it
a few folk around where I live bonged into life indicating that popping them down the end did throw a slight wobbly at the
have sold off perfectly good cars to there was a potential loss of of the garden to join the 530i’s lack of use with the coolant level
replace them with more modern pressure, but the offending tyre spare set but apparently that’s warning coming on again. This
machinery that meet the ULEZ seemed to have lost just 0.1 bar. It not a very aesthetically pleasing only seems to happen when it’s
requirements. One chap in my has no obvious defects or foreign option so I may well have to bung parked at a particular angle on a
road sold his cherished 1999 E46 bodies in its tread so we’re hoping them on eBay. If anyone wants section of road that has quite an
328i and you could see how much it was nothing more than a glitch. to make me an offer feel free to extreme camber but I’m at a loss
it upset him which was a real While it’s ferried Mrs H around drop an email to the mag. From to know where the small amount
shame. Another neighbour had for various work-related trips just what I remember they’re a set of coolant is going! Fingers
an E39 540i Touring which he’s about its only family duty has of E90 alloys fitted with a set of crossed it passes its MoT next
chopped in for a VW ID.4 electric been to whisk us down to Devon Falken runflats – the rolling radius month… money not spent on the
SUV – you can bet he’ll miss that for a long weekend to stay with is correct for an F25 X3 but they Touring can go in the E3 fund!
V8 burble. He was bemoaning the friends. It was lovely to see the don’t have tyre pressure sensors. Bob Harper
E3 is exempt
from ULEZ
charges

Touring’s coolant loss

is hopefully nothing to
worry about

JANUARY 2022 69
OUR CARS
Elliott Stiling
1983 E28 Alpina B9 Elliott used Cartec
products on the E46
2003 E46 325i Ci

Crease Free
It’s been a fairly busy period for the E46 325Ci,
if not in mileage certainly in fettling terms...
I left things last time on the verge able to recommend things to before getting the machine Given it was a small section I felt
of embarking on a thorough you, and in this case I would polisher out. At the polishing confident that I could tidy this area
home detailing session to highly recommend products from stage make sure you have the up myself without resorting to a
spruce the exterior of the car Cartec. They aren’t a common right products, take your time, professional body shop, and the
up. Don’t get me wrong we’ve name within the hobby detailing and constantly check your work results look pretty good I think.
always looked after the car but market but are highly respected and it’s the same advice for the Once the paintwork was clean, I
as it shares daily driving duties in the professional market but as coatings and protection with an started to decontaminate it. To do
with our Land Rover Defender it I’m about to show you there their extra emphasis on the quality of this I used tar remover to soften
tends to drop down the pecking products are both easy to use products you are using. and dissolve the inevitable spots
order when the machine polisher at home and provide amazing As a starting point our car is on the lower sections of the car
comes out, which given the colour results – the perfect combination. usually what most people would and then used a Meguiars clay bar
of the car and how elegant E46 Splitting the various tassks call clean. I wash it thoroughly and to remove whatever contaminants
coupés look is perhaps a shame. down into sections, firstly there is fairly often but still contaminants remained. ‘Claying’ the paint is
One of the challenges facing the wash and decontamination will cling to the paintwork, such an important step, it ensures that,
anyone looking to detail their own stage, then comes the polishing as road tar and dirt will get in 1) you’re polishing an entirely
car is choosing what products to stage, followed by the final awkward crevices and creases, so clean surface and, 2) you aren’t
use from the myriad of options stage which is the application of for this session we needed to go clogging your polishing pad up
out there and determining which coatings and protection. further which involved removal of with contaminants or rubbing the
stages you actually need to go My top tips for you in these the rear lights because you’d be contaminants into the paintwork.
through for the level of finish you three sections would be to surprised what crud can hide in With the car thoroughly clean
want to achieve. be very thorough and not there. I also took the opportunity you could see the circular swirl
I’ve spent countless hours rush through the washing and to re-paint a small area of the marks in the paintwork and
researching just this subject, so decontamination stage because rear panel just under the OSR various fine scratches from
I feel pretty confident in being you need a squeaky-clean car light because the paint had faded. people rubbing against the car

70 BMWcar
 OUR CARS
The end result is
looking fantastic

Dent removal
specialist worked
his magic

in supermarket car parks etc, so I mean!! Both polishes smell

out came the machine polisher. amazing by the way but that’s just
I split the polishing stage into a bonus.
two. Firstly, I used Cartec’s more For the coating and protection
aggressive polish (Cartec 3000 or stage I used a combination of
‘the green one’) to really dig into Cartec and CarPro products.
the paintwork and remove the Plastic and rubber surfaces were
deeper scratches. When coupled coated in Cartec Vinyl which is
with their corresponding green a spray on, spread and buff off
foam pad this stuff is nothing product that deepens the colour
short of amazing and really lifts of the surface and then protects
those annoying marks out of it from the elements. Paintwork
the paintwork. Given its strength protection wise there are really
though it can leave the paintwork three choices – traditional waxes,
a touch ‘hazy’ so the second paint sealants or ceramic coatings.
stage is to refine the finish using Given this is a daily driver, and the
a less aggressive compound and paintwork is red which can fade
pad – in this case Cartec 9000, in the sun I chose to go down the
or ‘the white one’ with Cartec’s ceramic coating route because
white foam pad. This important they last the longest of the three E30 318i SE
stage really brings out the gloss options (1-2 years typically) plus YEAR: 1989
and shine in the finish. Just look have the best UV protection TOTAL MILEAGE: 37,371
at the reflections of our garage in properties. There are so many MILEAGE THIS MONTH: 00
the passenger door to see what choices out there though and MPG THIS MONTH: 0
such varied price points, but I COST THIS MONTH: none
went for an old favourite of mine,
CarPro Cquartz 3.0 UK. I use
this product for several reasons
– it ‘only’ costs around £55 for
a bottle that will easily cover
two decent sized cars, it’s user ball shaped dent in it. Thankfully
friendly and application is just an hours’ worth of effort from a
about being methodical, taking dent removal specialist removed
your time, and making sure you the offending blemishes as if E46 325Ci
spread the coating evenly, and nothing had ever happened. YEAR: 2003
finally it also seems to last. Two The last thing to report this TOTAL MILEAGE: 99,720
coats of the Cquartz (applied an time is that the car needed an MILEAGE THIS MONTH: 772
hour apart to allow the curing MoT recently. Despite being 18 MPG THIS MONTH: 27.6
process to start) and a sacrificial years old (isn’t that incredible COST THIS MONTH: £40 interior
protective layer of CarPro’s paint really that E46s are that old, and trims, £136 two rear tyres
sealant “Reload” applied a further this is a younger example) I never
hour later and the paint looked worry too much about how the
amazing with a really deep gloss car will fare. The car did fail on a
and shine to the finish. Overall, broken rear suspension spring but
the process took three days, two replacing both sides with quality
days of which was pure polishing M Sport replacements was only
and refining the finish. £150 including labour so it was
E28 Alpina B9 3.5
YEAR: 1983
There was one final thing to hardly an expensive drama.
TOTAL MILEAGE: 138,532
do though on the presentation Now the car is driving and
MILEAGE THIS MONTH: 0
front and that was to have some looking its best we plan to take
MPG THIS MONTH: 0
annoying car park dings removed it on a 1,000-mile plus road trip,
COST THIS MONTH: none
from the bodywork, most notably more on that next time.
the driver’s door which had a golf Elliott Stiling

JANUARY 2022 71
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TROUBLE SHOOTER

Trouble
Shooter
We look at everything you need to
know before buying the E85 Z4 2.0...
Words & Photography: Andrew Everett

T
hroughout history, it’s been quite common for a successful mistake and in 2006 the Z4 range was joined by a 143hp four-cylinder
car to be replaced by something better that doesn’t sell quite 2.0 N46.
as well. The 2003 E85 Z4 was one of those cars. The Z3 had The Z4 is seemingly immune to the annoying cosmetic rust that the
been a huge (and probably surprising) success yet under Z3 can suffer from but there are other pitfalls. But, there are loads to
there skin it was a bit of a let down after the clever Z1, a car choose from because the 2.0 quickly became the biggest seller in the
that showcased new manufacturing techniques and introduced the Z Z4 range with used prices ranging from £2000 for a 100,000-mile
axle. Launched only as an M54 six-cylinder in 2.2 (170hp), 2.5 (193hp) 2006 car, up to £8000 for a late 2008 car with around 30,000-miles.
and 3.0 (231hp) forms, the Z4 was probably considered too expensive We found a black three owner 2007 car with 49,000-miles for £4200
for would be buyers who bought an MX-5 instead. BMW realised its and that sounds like a deal to us. 

N46 Engine
The 2.0 N46 was plucked straight from the E46 318i and was a
development of the 2001 N42 unit. The changes amounted to little
more than the Valvetronic control being integrated into the engine
ECU. The troubles that can afflict this engine may put you off – it leaks
oil from the VANOS solenoid seals, the brake vacuum pump O ring,
the rocker cover gasket and the oil filter housing gasket, but none of
this is hard or expensive to fix. There is plenty of room around the
engine when fitted to the Z4 and you’re looking at about £60 in parts.
The timing chain can stretch and the nylon chain guides can break
up so beware chain guides that, upon inspection from the oil filler
hole, look really dark brown. At 100,000-miles the whole lot needs
changing because if a bit of chain guide breaks off, it ends up in the
oil pick up strainer. The VANOS units can fail and a misfire at idle
points towards a worn eccentric shaft – that's expensive to fix. High
mileage engines can suffer piston ring wear and burn oil so beware
an engine that smokes when warm after blipping the throttle. Regular
oil changes and keeping the unit oil tight all help and it’s quite a pokey
and economical unit.
A Z4 peculiarity is the exhaust manifold and catalytic converter, a
combined unit. These are known to crack and blow, but they aren’t
too bad to remove and they can be welded with a reinforcing brace
welded on as well. 

74 BMWcar
 TROUBLE SHOOTER
Clutch and Gearbox Wiper Linkage
There is no automatic option on the 2.0 which is almost a pity as the The problem here is that the wiper link arm would wear the plastic
N46 2.0 suits the ZF 5-speed auto. The regular manual 'box is the bush and pop off the ball end. BMW will sell you a complete new
standard GS6 six-speed unit and it’s just about unbreakable and silly wiper rack and motor for around £350 (plus VAT), which is good of
cheap to replace. The clutch is allied to a dual mass flywheel and them. One solution is to remove the rack assembly before drilling a
these are expensive – by the time the clutch starts to judder on brake small hole through the centre of the steel ball end and fitting a screw
up, you need a new one and good used ones are rare. Chances are a and nyloc nut and washers to keep it on. Another solution is fitting
used one will be just as bad as yours.  Mark 2 Fiat Punto wiper linkage repair clips for less than a fiver that
just clip on, using the strength of the sprung steel to hold it together –
this can be done with the linkage still fitted!

Hood Motors
All Z4’s have the electro/hydraulic hood with the motor is buried
down in the rear wing in a plastic box and it powers the hydraulic
pump that activates the hood. All it takes is a blocked drain hole
for that wing area to fill the box with rain water and ruin the motor.
The motor lives down in the passenger side rear wing well, with the
hood open and the corner trim piece unclipped you can look down
in there with a torch to check for water sloshing about. Poking the
drain bung clear is a good idea if not very easy. New hood pumps can
be supplied and fitted from £500 and the BMW price for the motor
unit is £450 – you can buy just the basic motor for under £250. UK
firm roofmotors.co.uk are a good source of new units. Should you be
feeling a bit cheapskate, you can disconnect the hydraulic lines and
just open and close the hood manually using just the motor at the
front of the hood to clamp it shut.

Electric Steering Column

The Z4 was the first BMW to use EPS (electric power steering) and
rather than having an electric motor on the rack as they do now, they
built the motor into the column and fitted a non-hydraulic steering
rack. Whilst they don’t fail that often, bear ind mind the column new
from BMW (a complete unit of course) is a whopping – wait for
it – £2672 (plus VAT). You won’t be spending that on a £3000 Z4!
So, your options are to fit a good used one, making sure the steering
angle sensor is locked straight ahead before removal from the donor
car. It will then need to be reset with diagnostics. Another alternative
is to convert to hydraulic PAS with an E46 hydro steering rack, PAS
pump and pipes from an E46 318i – you will also need a Z4M lower
steering shaft plus possibly coding out the EPS warning light.

JANUARY 2022 75
TROUBLE SHOOTER
Tinny Doors Run-Flat Tyres
Z4 doors shut with a tinny 'clang' and not the solid 'thunk' that you The original generation of run-flats were rock hard and gave the
might expect. However, it can be overcome by removing the door Z4 a poor ride, particularly sport models that could be really harsh.
cards and sticking some of those adhesive sound deadening pads They are better these days but they’re still quite pricey with a pair
inside. To do this you will need to disconnect the battery first before of Continentals in 225/55x16 flavour costing you over 200 quid.
carefully unbolting the airbags, but do not disconnect them before Bridgestones and Dunlops will be closer to £250. Non run-flats are
you tie them up out of the way. Two layers of the pads will reduce not much cheaper – Maxxis are £160 a pair, and Kumhos £170 with
that 'clang' considerably. some premium regular rubber – such as the Continental Premium
Contact 2 – costing a bit more than run-flats.

Driveline Shunt
An annoyance is the soft ‘thunk’
you can get on drive being taken
up, both when pulling away and
during gearshifts. This can be many
things. The splined joint where the
front and rear propshaft halves
join with the threaded collar nut
(regrease the splines and retighten
the collar nut), or it can also be
that the diff is well worn with a
lot of play in the sun/planet gears
and shaft. Refilling with straight
EP140 gear oil can reduce that
but as the Z4 uses an E46 diff, a
good secondhand one is a better
plan. The inner CV joints can also
be worn but good used or recon
driveshafts aren’t expensive.

Others Issues...
The Z4 is a pretty reliable car and
rust is rarely a problem, do check
for water leaks into the cabin
though. Radiators last about ten
years – look for the base of the rad
bowing downwards and choose a
good quality rad either from BMW
or a Nissens unit. Window motors
can fail, good used ones are the
answer as a new one from BMW
(motor and regulator) is priced at
over 200 quid.

76 BMWcar
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JANUARY 2021 FEBRUARY 2021 MARCH 2021 APRIL 2021

Cover Story: E30 325i Cover Story: 2002tii Cover Story: E46 M3 vs E92 Cover Story: E30 M3
Inside: Birds 340i Touring, Inside: Alpina B3 Touring drive, 335i Inside: E30 M3 collection: race,
E93 M3 Convertible, BMW 1M E36/5 Compact, Classic buys: Inside: 3.0 CSL, Z1 trio, E34 5 rally and road, £5k BMW Buys,
coupé, 128ti driven 850 Vs M3, M440i drive Series, E39 5 Series, X1 drive E38 7 Series, 4 Series driven

MAY 2021 JUNE 2021 JULY 2021 AUGUST 2021

Cover Story: E36 at 30 Cover Story: E36 M3 track car & Cover Story: 2002Tii at 50 Cover Story: E36 Alpina B2.5
Inside: F15 X5 vs F16 X6, Frank Compact rally car driven Inside: F40 128ti meets E46/5 Inside: Neue Klasse at 60, E53
Sytner interview, E39 5 Series Inside: E39 M5 vs M635CSi, Compact ti, E30 M3 racer, E39 X5, E38 7 Series, modified F80
Champagne, E30 325i Sport E30 325i Touring, Z4 3.0 530i, E46 330Cd, G30 530e M3, F86 X6M

SEPTEMBER 2021 OCTOBER 2021 NOVEMBER 2021 DECEMBER 2021

Cover Story: £15k BMW Buys Cover Story: M2 – buying and Cover Story: F30 3 Series at 10 Cover Story: E30 3 Series
Inside: E46 M3 Cabriolet, F31 owning BMW’s pocket rocket Inside: G80 M3 vs G82 M4, Inside: E34 vs E36, E9 2800CS,
335d Touring, E24 635CSi racer, Inside: E39 Alpina B10, E64 restored E30 320i Touring, F06 E23 7 Series, Top 10 classic
F25 X3, F90 M5 CS First Drive 645Ci, E36/8 Z3M M6 Gran Coupé, 007’s E38 BMWs, G12 7 Series

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 READER’S RIDES

Reader’s
Rides

Mark Watson’s G20 330e

M
ark tell us that he has been ever owned a car.  arrived four days later to drop off the G20 and
hooked on BMWs ever since The second game changing moment for take the F30 away!”
his first purchase of one – an Mark came via another test drive of a type One day Mark hopes to get an M car, but for
E36 318iS Coupé in 1994. The of car he’d previously ruled-out – a hybrid 3 now he says that the 330e is a perfect balance
Coupé was replaced by an E36 Series. A nearly new F30 330e ex-demo at of power, handling and economy, and it’s good
318i saloon company car, after that he drove Barons in Farnborough soon became Mark’s for the environment, too.
an E46 330i Convertible in Orient Blue, a next BMW. “In all my years of owning BMWs I have had
second E46 LCI 330i Convertible followed. “There started my hybrid era. The 330e nothing but joy,” we’re told. “I only ever had a
However, a test drive an E60 535d Touring served me well for three years until one single breakdown when the 535d just didn’t
at North Oxford Garage changed everything. Sunday night on the iPad (after a few large start. The garage sent a low loader to collect it
The 330 was I traded in there and then for a G&Ts) I saw an ex-BMW owned G20 330e within 30-minutes and took me back to there
535d saloon. After that Mark purchased his with under 2,000-miles on the clock and every where it was fixed within another 30-minutes. It
second 535d (the Space Grey car pictured) conceivable option box ticked,” Mark says. “The was a software error and a quick reset did the
which he ran for 10-years – the longest he has Internet is a dangerous thing, Sytner Solihull job – they even cleaned it for me as well!”

We want your car!

Want to see your BMW in print? Email us a
handful of high resolution images of your car
alongside a 100-200 description in your own
words – we want to know why you bought it
and what you think of it! We’ll do the rest in our
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Email your entry to: [email protected]

JANUARY 2022 79
MOTORFREE ADS
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CURRENT LISTINGS

BMW 330 BMW 523 BMW 840

1997, £8,450. Supplied by Park Lane BMW 1997, 88000 miles, £23,950. 840Ci 4.4 V8 Sport
London in October 1997 to its first owner with Coupe. Finished in Barbados Green with M Styling
just four more owners to date however the car System II light alloy wheels and electric sunroof.
was in long term ownership from 1999 to 2019. Light parchment leather interior with Sport
The service book shows 2 stamps but we have electrically adjustable front seats, cruise control,
evidence of 13 more services up to 2019. The M Sport suspension, M aerodynamics package
dash currently shows 5 green lights. The car is and Hi Fi loudspeaker system. Only 88,000
£4,995. 03 BMW 330ci convertible auto M sport now sitting on 20,576 miles. We have a full book miles with history file and stamped service book.
with hard top met silver/grey leather interior 90K pack and the current MOT test is valid until August Excellent condition throughout. Please call 02085
with FSH charcoal alloys with newish tyres very 2022 with no advisories – and the MOT history is 679729, Greater London.
110159
nice original car. Please call 01652 678417 , East very clean. Recent new Uniroyal tyres all-round.
Midlands. Please call 07711645465, South East. (T)
110959 110932
BMW 840

BMW 330 BMW 635

1989, 121441 miles, Guide price: from £10,000

to £12,000. 635 CSI Auto, Diamond Black, Petrol,
3430cc. Current local owner since 2003, four 1994, 95750 miles, BMW / 840 CI Auto / Coupe
previous keepers, comprehensive history file. / Silver / Petrol / Auto / 3982cc / 95750 miles.
Original BBS TRX wheels with tyres included Direct from BMW main agent heritage collection,
2009, 100500 miles, £5,200. BMW 3 series in sale. UNDERGOING CHERISHED NUMBER three previous keepers. Freshly recommissioned.
330D. Well looked after, comes with auto TRANSFER. LOGBOOK TO FOLLOW. To bid online To bid online please create an account on the
headlight and window wipers, cruise control, please create an account on the Hobbs Parker Hobbs Parker website. Physical viewing at our
AUX compatible radio, year MOT ( completed in website. Auction 28/29th July. Viewing from the auction centre from 9:00am to 6:00pm from Mon
September), cream leather interior. Please call 26th July. Please call 01233506266, South East. 25th to Wed 27th and Thurs 28th from 9:00am.
07715585205, South East. (T) Please call 01233506266, South East. (T)
111191 109525 109985

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BMW 850 BMW M5 BMW Z3

2000, 135979 miles, Auction. BMW / M5 (E39)

Manual / Saloon 4 Door / Silverstone Blue / Petrol
/ Manual / 4941cc / 135900 miles PDI plus 16 2001, 119604 miles, Z3 2.0 Roadster.
service records, five previous keepers, Michelin Convertible / Silver / Petrol / Manual / 1991cc.
Pilot tyres. In lovely order throughout. Original Lind BMW and one local lady owner from new.
43950 miles, BMW / 850 I Auto / Coupe / Red Please call 01233506266, South East. (T)
bookpack manuals and spare key. (Full Service
/ Petrol / Auto / 4988cc. 4 previous keepers, 110205
History) Guide price: from £20,500 to £22,500 To
current since 2014. 7 service stamps up to 43,500
bid online please create an account on the Hobbs
miles in May 2019. More photos on the Hobbs
Parker Online Bidding website.This is an online
Parker website. Online auction - Register on the
timed auction. Please call 01233506266, South BMW Z3
Hobbs Parker website. Please call 01233506266,
East. (T)
South East. (T) 110749
110646

BMW ALPINA BMW M3

2000, 19584 miles, £12,995. 2.0 Straight Six.

Topas Blue with Black trim. Auto. 1 Previous
owner with only 19k miles covered. Original owner
2005, £24,995. A very rare and powerful Alpina was the founding member of The Searchers, Mike
B5 with just 3 owners. In fantastic condition Pender. Owned from new and used as a second
throughout, with no dents or scratches just very 167134 miles, Auction. BMW / M3 (E36) Coupe / car. Please call 01636 812700, East Midlands. (T)
minor stone chips to the leading edge of the Coupe / Silver / Petrol / Manual / 2990cc / 167134 110385
bonnet, the alloys are almost perfect and recently milesCurrent owner since 2001, fastidiously
refurbished, the interior is beautiful with no rips, maintained with excess of £23,500 of expenditure
tears or marks. Please call 07711645465, South in his custodianship. All old MOT’S, last oil BMW Z3
East. (T) change September 2021. 5 x AC Schnitzer Type
109008 II alloys and pedal set. (Full Service History)This
is an online timed auction. Physical viewing at our
auction centre from 9:00am to 6:00pm from Mon
BMW M3 25th to Wed 27th and Thurs 28th from 9:00am.
Please call 01233506266, South East. (T)
110758

BMW Z3 2000, 96788 miles, Auction. BMW / Z3 Roadster

(RESTORED TO A VERY HIGH STANDARD) /
Convertible / Green / Petrol / Manual / 1991cc.
Panel off body respray including new genuine BMW
door sills. New soft top and refurbished leather
interior are amongst other things in no expense
2001, 137000 miles, £20,500. Fantastic original restoration down to details such as renewed
spec, excellent drive and stunning condition. This number plates. Current owner since 2016, five
has been my dream car since they were released. previous keepers. To bid on this vehicle online
I bought this in 2012. I have loved, cherished and please create an account on the Hobbs Parker
looked after this car to the best of my ability from Online bidding website then closer to the sale date
day 1. Since March 2020 it has cost me £12,000 1999, 43000 miles, £24,995. Z3 M, 3.2 you can register for the Classic Car auction.Guide
in planned and unplanned maintenance and on convertible, two door petrol, manual. In near price: from £5,000 to £6,000.Physical viewing
my salary I can no longer do this. That’s why I’m faultless condition. Silver coach work with black at our auction centre from 9:00am to 6:00pm
selling even though I don’t want to. Please call and red leather interior. Great spec. Please call from Mon 25th to Wed 27th and Thurs 28th from
07799737979, East Midlands. 01623 411476, East Midlands. 9:00am. Please call 01233506266, South East.
110171 108350
(T)

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 NEXT
ISSUE
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24 DECEMBER 2021
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WHAT’S INSIDE
THE FEBRUARY
2022 ISSUE?
OWhen one classic 6 Series isn’t
enough what do you do? You buy a
second, of course – we meet one BMW
owner with a pair of stunning E24s.

OBMW Group design boss Adrian van

Hooydonk talks to BMW Car about BMW
styling past, present and future.

O£10k BMW Buys: our market expert

recommends five of the best used BMWs
that you can buy right now for £10,000.

OFor over two decades BMW South

Africa produced some very unique models,
culminating in the E36 M3 – we pitch
Coupé against Saloon in remembrance.

OIt once ruled the outside lane of the

motorway, but has time been kind to the
E60 535d? We meet a cherished example
to find out.

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GREEN HELL
Less than 2 hours’ drive from AC Schnitzer’s headquarters in Aachen lies the Nürburgring, winding its way through the Eiffel
mountains and affectionately known to some as “The Green Hell”. This is one of several locations, along with public roads,
used by AC Schnitzer to test and develop AC Schnitzer suspension, performance upgrades and other components.

Extensive R&D combined with real world testing is why AC Schnitzer upgrades feel the way they do. Sure footed, but agile.
Comfortable, but precise. Thrilling, but still perfectly suitable for everyday use. And all backed by our industry-leading warranty
solution.

Get in touch to experience our latest project, the “Green Hell” Edition ACS1 35i, or for the location of your nearest AC Schnitzer
dealer.

*Images show BMW M135i 2021 model.

BMW dealer enquiries welcome. E&OE. Finance available subject to status.

Performance upgrades Suspension upgrades

Sports exhausts Alloy wheels
Aerodynamics Interior accessories
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inch of your car and will give it the care and attention it deserves
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And, if it needs any repairs, they will only use Genuine BMW Parts
with a Lifetime Workmanship Guarantee, to give you perfect peace
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