Straight Six August 2020 Member Edition by BMW Car Club GB

Straight Six MEMBERS EDITION

AUGUST 2 020 £5

The King is Dead… Long live the King - BMW’s M5 undergoes a facelift and keeps its supercar-slaying performance! PLUS: MEGUIAR’S CLEANING GOODIES TO GIVE AWAY!

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Bespoke arrangements for your Motor, Home and Commercial insurance needs. COVER AVAILABLE CAN INCLUDE: Ÿ Classic and Modern Car Policies

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www.BMWCARCLUBINSURANCE.co.uk Call the dedicated members line on 0330 123 0197 and speak to one of the team for all your Motor, Home, and Commercial Insurance needs. This agreement has been designed specifically for BMW Car Club GB, who have become an Introducer Appointed Representative (IAR) of A-Plan Holdings. A-Plan Holdings is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Registered office: 2 Des Roches Square, Witney, OX28 4LE. Registration number: 750484. To confirm our registration on the FCA website, go to www.fca.org.uk/firms/systems-reporting/register/ or by contacting the FCA on 0800 111 6768.

Formed in 1952 as The BMW Car Club of Great Britain, incorporated in 1982 as BMW Car Club (GB) Ltd. A non-profit making club owned and run by and for its members. Combined One-Make Car Club Assoociated Club of RAC Motor Sports Association Ltd. The views and statements made in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the BMW Car Club GB Founder The Late R.J.T Hewitt President John Safe Vice Presidents Chris Wadsley, Jeff Heywood, Len Oakshett Chairman Jamal Blanc Board of Directors Dave Evans Martyn Goodwin Neil McDonald Richard Stern Club Office Michelle Evans

inside this issue

Lisa Davies Anya Edwardes BMW Car Club Insurance Henry Francis

Patron Mike Wilds, The late Barrie Williams

MLife: Hot Competition

BMW’s sixth-generation F80 M3 featured turbocharging for the first

Editing Team

time. Was it a patch on the six and

Jeff Heywood

eight cylinder M3s that came before it?

Lisa Davies

Owning 007’s Roadster

Andrew Coles

The Z3 Roadster’s launch followed its appearance in James Bond film

Cover image: BMW Press Advertising Display Advertising

GoldenEye, which forever cemented the Z3 in movie folklore.

Hine Marketing 01452 730 770

Putting the ‘X’ in BMW!

BMW’s X5, their first 4x4, was introduced just over two decades ago.

nick@hinemarketing.co.uk

Loved and hated in equal measures,

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BMW went on a charm offensive by

office@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

creating the V12-powered X5 LM.

Online classifieds - £4.95 bmwcarclubgb.uk Classifieds - £9.95 per issue

Santorini Dreaming! Part 3

Following on from part 1 in July 2019 and part 2 in November 2019

Club Office 01970 267 989 office@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk BMW Car Club (GB) Ltd, Unit 5h, Glan Yr Afon, Aberystwyth, SY23 3JQ Website: www.bmwcarclubgb.uk Email: office@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk Tel: 01970 267989 Office Hours: 9:00am-5:00pm - Mon-Fri Published on behalf of BMW Car Club by Hine Marketing, Hill Farm Studios, Wainlodes Lane, Bishops Norton Glos, GL2 9LN. Tel: 01452 730770 sales@hinemarketing.co.uk

of Straight Six, Anthony Shilson

takes us through his next line of M3 modifications.

What might we want?

M Power Register Captain, Richard Baxter, is full of ideas. If you were given free rein of BMW’s parts bin, what might you build?

Fault Repair on Blaupunkt Verona CR 43

Contents

from the editor

32 regulars 6 Board Torque 8 Thoughts from the Boardroom 10 Club News 12 BMW News 16 Motorsport News 19 Products 22 Dan Norris 48 Pirelli 50 Crossword 51 Your Letters 51 My Other Car 53 Regions 63 Registers 71 Classified 72 Your Photos 74 Club Pub Meets

Welcome to the August issue of Straight Six! The August issue of Straight Six would normally see the many articles and reports of Club and Regional events, however don’t fret, we have selected a handful of great articles for you to read. This month’s MLife article focusses around the F80 M3, a car that was given a mixed reception once unveiled. Read the feature on page 24. James Bond has a knack for picking the perfect cars, and in the film GoldenEye he did just that with the appearance of the Z3 Roadster, which was soon followed by its official launch. Looking to own one yourself? Revisiting the Classics No.7 will help you with a thorough buyers guide on page 32. On page 37 you’ll read about the X5 Le Mans, a V12 powered version of BMW’s first off-roader, which required the brand to convince the doubters that this new version of BMW is what the market and the brand really needed. Club member Anthony Shilson takes us through his next line of M3 modifications in Santorini Dreaming! Part 3 on page 41, whilst Richard Baxter rummages around BMW’s parts bin for a BMW that ticks all the boxes on page 45. Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show is nearing! Join us at the NEC Birmingham on 13th – 15th of November, we will be in hall 1 stand 210. Read Martyn Goodwin’s Board Torque to find out what we have in store for our members on these three excitement-filled days. Club members can save £2 on their tickets by using Club code CC139 at checkout. Do you have an interesting article for Straight Six? Whether it’s a restoration project, technical information, Club event, or simply why you love your ultimate driving machine – please don’t keep your BMW adventures to yourself, we want to read about them! Remember, Straight Six is a magazine for members, written by members. Want to help the Club? We are always looking for volunteers with knowledge in BMW models to fill our vacant registers. To find out what roles need filling or to show your interest, email officeadmin@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk. Part-time photographer or just love taking pictures? Send us high quality images of your BMW along with a caption to officeadmin@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk to be in for the chance to win FREE Meguiar’s products! Below is this month’s winner, Glenn Taylor. Happy reading! Jeff, Lisa & Andrew Straight Six editorial team.

boardtorque

Pirelli P Zero . Custom-made performance since 1986. TM

For more than 30 years, P ZeroTM tyres have been the choice of the most prominent carmakers, for the best vehicles in the world. Today, based on this experience and on its cutting-edge technology, Pirelli launches the new P ZeroTM, the custom-made tyre for the next generation of cars, designed to draw out an even greater range of driving emotions. For custom-made performance, look no further than P ZeroTM. Discover more on Pirelli.com

The new P ZeroTM tyres are now available. The coloured limited edition version shown in the image will be available to order from September 2016, in selected sizes only.

For further information, please contact us at limitededition@pirelli.com Martyn Goodwin – Retailer Liaison

As we went into lockdown four and a half months ago, who would have thought that at the beginning of August we would still have clouds of uncertainty hanging over our mask covered faces, and that possibly the only Rally Plaques we will see for 2020 are for the NHS “Stay Home Rally” and for the Classics for Carers “The National Stay at Home Motor Show”. I have both adorning spaces in my office, along with some of the E60 M5 goodies that I have been quietly working on in the very rare few minutes of off time late at night that I haven’t been working, as revealed in the first of our BMW Car Club Podcasts! As I write this month’s Board Torque, I am mindful that mid-July is the time of year that I would have been typically worrying about the final arrangements for our traditional National Festival that should be taking place next month, had we not elected as a board representing you as our members, to re-think the event and give ourselves the time to re-invent, change it up, re-vitalise and re-brand for 2021 as BMW Sommerfest. The thoughts and options, possibilities and potential locations are still under review, but barring any long term cessation of mass public gatherings, this should be on the Calendar for 2021 with a date to be set as soon as we practically can, given that 2021 is probably going to be even more full of events crammed with special plans to make up for the lack of these in 2020. Lockdown has unfortunately meant that even normal dialogues between myself and our supporters within the building that I quite reverently refer to as The Citadel, more correctly known as “Summit One” or BMW UK’s Corporate headquarters, have also been at an alltime low, primarily due to them being furloughed, such that plans both with them and for cars on loan for our MLife features have also been furloughed. I am happy to report that communication channels are once more flowing and the plans are being made. It seems that either great minds think alike (or fools seldom differ), as I mentioned my plan for the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show at the NEC in November (assuming it does go ahead), we have been offered a pre-launch, accessorized G22 4 Series for its UK debut invoking the theme of the 2 door coupe evolution. As such, with the space available, we can go back through the E9, E31, E46, E92 and F32 with the G22 as the headliner. We have also been invited to attend the UK press event in mid-October for the new 4 Series

BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

(see last month’s Straight Six) which coincides with the latest iteration of the M5 at the same event. BMW Car Club GB have been asked to put on a display of heritage vehicles, so when I mentioned my thoughts for the November show, they immediately jumped at echoing the thought for the press event. I will be looking for some cars for both the press day (location in mid-Oxfordshire) and the NEC, so if any of you have cars that fit the bill and interested in either or both, please contact me via the Club office or directly. Changing gears, I find myself wondering how soon is too soon to start sowing seeds in a young mind? My grandson (our first) is now just 15 months old, not too young to have his fist BMW, right? So, he now has the Motorsport version of BMW’s Baby Racer, in white with M colour graphics, working head and tail lights and a nicely padded seat – he loves it as can be seen by his broad grin when he is being pushed along. He clearly recognizes the roundel as he has to touch it every time the car comes out, and now when he comes over into our “bubble”, he has to be taken to touch all of the four body roundels on the X2, each in turn (bonnet, tailgate and on both D-post ) and bonnet and tailgate on the X5. Wheels are out of bounds in case of brake dust. A car club shirt has the same effect, the roundel has to be touched - he has not yet been allowed into the man-

cave to see the M5, but it will come! So his second BMW is now on order, ceased production but I managed through BMW UK, to get one of the last four in Europe and possibly globally, a BMW i8 Spyder electric powered ride-in-car, to be stored in the man-cave until his second birthday. So, my answer is “It’s never too soon!” There’s a good segue into another thought about electric cars, not so much hybrid but full electric. I am sure that most of you would agree that most of the cars (sorry, even Tesla) for me just don’t look to have any character and appeal and however green they might be (never mind the fuels that have to be burned to generate the power to re-charge them) I have no desire to own one. From a BMW perspective, yes, the i3 is quirky and is sort of fun to drive – I love the challenge of driving and ending up with more range than you started with, the i8 was definitely appealing but not very practical, but have you seen the 02 Reminiscence Concept Rendering? Now there’s something that I am sure would sell to lovers of 60’s-70’s classic styling, a practical 4 seater that actually looks like it would be fun right from the get-go, classic style with 21st Century technology, so much so that even Richard Stern might be persuaded to have them in the 02 Register if BMW was to go ahead and develop the concept! Here are some pictures to whet your appetite.

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DISCOUNTED INSURANCE FOR BMW CLUB MEMBERS

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www.classiclineinsurance.co.uk BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

thoughts from the boardroom I

Graeme Grieve, CEO BMW (UK) Ltd.

t’s become one of the great motoring clichés but when scything up a sinuous mountain road – preferably in the Alps – one must subconsciously start humming Matt Munro’s ‘On Days Like These’. Yes, the opening sequence of The Italian Job has much to answer for and while the orange Lamborghini Miura and its driver ultimately come to a sticky end, there’s something about those few minutes of footage that are wonderfully evocative and sum up why we all love to drive. Empty roads, glorious scenery and an azure sky above – you couldn’t really ask for more, although being behind the wheel of an appropriate steed certainly helps. And back in the spring of 2013 I was lucky enough to be involved in a development drive of the new i8 in the Austrian Alps that felt like a modern take on the Italian Job. Ever since the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics had been the star of the Frankfurt motor show back in 2009, I had been dying to sample the i8 on the road and that early drive in the Tyrol saw me fall head over heels for this incredible car. Conditions were perfect with the early morning sun glinting off the snow that lay alongside the roads on the mountain passes that were all different, all stunning and all surrounded by immaculate picture book scenery. Yet despite this it was the car that really shone. Here was a plug-in hybrid that could whisk me up the mountain using its electric motor in almost eerie silence, yet was also capable of accelerating from zero to 62mph in just 4.4 seconds when its three-cylinder engine was also deployed. The way it devoured the Alps that day will live with me for a long time and the further I drove it the more I became attuned to its

BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

multifaceted nature. The i8’s different drive modes revealed distinct sides to its character and the 1.5-litre engine added a mellifluous and inspiring soundtrack. Sitting low down in the i8’s carbon monocoque made you really feel at one with the car and it had that innate poise and balance expected of a mid-engine machine. I was also taken with its supple ride and the ease with which it could cover ground so rapidly and effortlessly – it might have been a technological tour de force but its engine, electric motor and transmissions worked seamlessly and in perfect harmony. All good things come to an end though, and I eventually had to hand the keys back to my colleagues from Munich although the thought had occurred to me that a run back to the UK might be just the sort of extended road test that was needed! I was reacquainted with the i8 when I used one as my company car for six months and the breadth and depth of its talents truly impressed. It was eminently practical on a day to day basis, proving very easy to live with, and I loved its Jekyll and Hyde nature. I remember

many near silent stealthy runs through the city late at night where I felt like the future had arrived, yet it would thrill and entertain as only a true sports car can on early morning cross-country blasts down to Goodwood or Brands Hatch. Sadly production of the i8 has now come to an end but it will always be close to my heart. Even today, six years after production started, it looks like a vibrant and fresh piece of architecture with its swooping flying buttresses and glorious design details. With its carbon structure and innovative drivetrain the i8 was certainly ahead of its time and I can’t think of another car on sale at a similar price point that offered such a range of ability. The i8 proved that it’s perfectly possible to offer a sustainable supercar and I’m convinced it’s destined for classic status. I’d love to be able to recreate that Alpine drive in an i8 one day. Like the Miura – the first mid-engined supercar – the i8 was a game changer too and it would certainly be my choice for a blast through the Alps. Now, what did I do with that Matt Monro CD?

www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

A STATEMENT OF STYLE. BMW Lifestyle

The iconic style of BMW extends well beyond our cars. From travel accessories to the latest fashion, find what you need at your local BMW Retailer â&#x20AC;&#x201C; or visit shop.bmw.co.uk

clubnews What’s Your Other Car or Guilty Motorised Pleasure? As a BMWCC member, we inevitably all share one interest and passion – BMWs. But we would love to hear about and share your ‘Other Car’. Whether you own a Rover 800, an Alvis drop top, or something more modern belonging to the Audi family or a sporty Porsche 911 Turbo S; whatever it is, we want to hear about it! Let’s not forget to mention motorbikes, share those with us too! Think of it like a Top Trumps card, but of your vehicle. Please email office@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk with responses for the following points (max 300 words) and include a suitable image; - Owner: (your name) - Vehicle details: - Ownership history: (i.e. when you bought it and perhaps include why you did) - Interesting information: (i.e. fun facts, background, what have you done with it or to it) To start this feature off, our very own member of office staff and Straight Six editor Lisa, shares with us her father’s ‘Other Car’ passion on page 51.

Wheel meet again! Join us at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show at the NEC Birmingham in November. We hope to welcome you in Hall 1 stand 210 on 13-15th November. To book your tickets with the Club’s discount, use code CC139 at checkout https://www. necclassicmotorshow.com/

Trackday Calendar 2020 28 Sep: 6 Nov:

Snetterton – £200 Oulton Park – £170

Rafe Abrook

BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

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New Members CENTRAL George Smith Trevor Hodson Sanjay Dhiman

CENTRAL WEST Andrew Cox Gurvinder Preet Singh Ben Truslove David Grainger Gurdip Sidhu Richard Prosser Omer Simjee Phil Hillier

CHESHIRE & STAFFS Phil Newbould

Aaron Moss David Stooks

EAST ANGLIA Jonathan Madden Nick Evans Peter Hart Danny Collins Nick Read Alan Hughes Martin Wharnsby Ben Petrie Garry Ransom Diego Krawczyk Stephen Snelling Stephen Blyde Richard Haydon Simon Hobbs

CORNWALL

EASTERN

Robert Shedd

Kenny Catmull James Cook Gavin Orsborne John Gretton

COTSWOLD Nicholas Chapman James Kelly Steve Waygood Richard Mayo Adams Adam Harber

CUMBRIA Matt Longworth Gavin Tilston DEVON Peter Garfield Jason Stevens

Vinay Abrol Simon Adkins Robert Brzezinski Metin Hilmi Martin Murphy Nithiyananthan Janahan Abdul Hussain Ian Dormer Stevan Injac Tomas Alonso Neil Adamson Andrew Lawrence Damien Carlton Adrian Glowacki Kamaldeep Singh Sean Doyle Mark Papworth Asad Baig Ken Travers David Scarborough David Hitchcock

NORTH EAST

Gary Downey

John Smith Mick Golightly Tim Walden

LONDON

NORTH WEST

Ian Brownridge Michael Mokawem Christopher Cosser Richard Brown Marc Clare-Panton Martin Kirby Gabriel Pal

Peter Smalley Barry Woolley William Dooley Brian Wainwright

IRELAND

SCOTLAND William Smart

James Morrow

SOUTH EAST Rafiq Sadikot Gavin Waters Simon Hedges

SOUTH WALES Alix James Alun Jones Gareth Mole James Cox Kevin James

THAMES Jovan Korica

WESTERN Tom Elliott Wojciech Pawlowski Samantha Whyte Peter Harrison Emiliana Razzano Jonathan Delicata

WESSEX Suzanne Grant Philip Dulisse Ronald McKellar Christopher Wright-Holmes Tom Scantlebury Patrick Lefebvre Ian Todd Simon Jones Adam Stopher

National Events Calendar 2020 August 7-9:

Practical Classics Classic

Car & Restoration Show -

CANCELLED

New dates announced for the

popular show at the

NEC, Birmingham.

16:

National Concours

d’Elegance - CANCELLED

Stone Manor Hotel, Kidderminster.

Pre-book entry either with Club Office

01970 267 989 or through Club

Shop shop.bmwcarclubgb.uk.

October 4:

Bicester Heritage Sunday

Scramble

June’s postponed Sunday Scramble.

All bookings from June’s Sunday

Scramble will be valid on this day. Full

refunds are available if you cannot

attend.

November 13-15: Lancaster Insurance

Classic Motor Show

Wheel meet again at NEC

Birmingham! Use Club code CC139

for a discount on your tickets.

August Membership Promotion

We are pleased to announce that we have extended our Membership Promotion through to August. Once again members who join or renew through the month of August will receive a discount of £5.00 off their membership fee*, and the Club will make a donation of £2.50 to the NHS Charity on every renewal or new member sign up. Renewing early guarantees you don’t miss out on your monthly copy of Straight Six, so check the expiry date on your membership card to be sure you don’t miss out. If you pay your renewal fee by Direct Debit the discount will be automatically applied. *Valid on UK memberships only

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BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

bmwnews bmwnews

‘New’ BMW M5 Competition We just missed the print deadline last month with the arrival of the LCI M5 Competition, so here it is this month taking centre stage in all its Imola Red glory. The Life Cycle Impulse or midgeneration refresh that hit the G30 5 Series (we covered this in last month’s BMW News), has now found its way onto the F90 M5 Competition, meaning new front headlights and grill design, new LED tail lights, a chassis tuned for on-track performance with the addition of new dampers plus a larger 12.3-inch Central Information Display powered by BMW Operating System 7.0. According to BMW UK, the LCI F90 M5 Competition has an OTR of £98,095.

The M5 Competition still uses the same S63 4.4-litre twinturbo V8 which produces 625bhp and 750Nm of torque, although these figures have proven to be very conservative in rolling road tests. The M5 Competition, utilising its all-wheel drive traction, can scorch to 60mph from rest in a scant 3.1 seconds, before the fun stops at an electronically limited 155mph. Although, with the limiter removed this is a genuine 200mph car… This is of course a very brief overview of the LCI package for the F90 M5 Competition as the list of features, both standard and optional, is very long, so if you would like more info please visit bmw.co.uk.

BMW UK launches new digital car locator BMW and MINI retailers across the UK have reopened their doors to customers, and as inbound enquiries continue to rise, BMW Group UK has launched new digital car locator tools on the BMW and MINI websites to support customers with their next purchase. Customers using the New Car Locator will have real time access to the entire network of new stock vehicles at retailers across the UK. Each vehicle

BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

listing provides extensive technical details, specification information, pricing and accompanying imagery. In what is clearly going to be a challenging year for automotive retail, it is more important than ever that BMW UK provide customers with the right tools to research their next vehicle from home.

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bmwnews

‘Boney M’ M1 up for sale This stunning red M1 was delivered to its first owner, a Herr Franz Reuther in Berlin in February 1980. Herr Reuther was better known as Frank Farian, a German record producer, founding member and one of the voices behind the 1970s pop group and disco sensation ‘Boney M’. Herr Reuther/Farian enjoyed driving the M1 and in 1989 he

had the Procar style body kit and BBS wheels fitted. He finally parted ways with his M1 in 2008, the car has since had two more owners and covered a total of 90,000kms (55.9k miles) before coming into the possession of Sussex based specialist car dealer Dylan Miles, where the M1 was still for sale as we went to press.

Here’s your chance to be Daddy Cool in this fabulous M1, but it’s going to cost you...

BMW M1 Procar goes to Auction… This amazing M1 Procar goes across the block at the RM Sotheby’s auction on August 13th – 15th at Monterey. This M1 carries the chassis number 1195 and was the 36th BMW M1 Procar made, out of a total of just 54. The car was ordered by Joe Crevier who drove it alongside Al Unser Jr. at the 1981 Riverside Six Hours race. It was also raced in the IMSA GT Championship, with its best finish being 8th overall at both Lime Rock and Mid-Ohio in 1981. The M1 was recently restored ahead of sale, and has been seen at events like the Le Mans Classic.

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BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

bmwnews bmwnews Apple CarKey coming to BMW cars

Our heartfelt prayers and best wishes go out to Alex.

Alex Zanardi – latest…

BMW is the first carmaker to install Apple CarKey technology, and the new LCI 5 Series is the first model vehicle to be Apple ‘digital key’ ready

At July’s Apple Worldwide Developer Conference, the company announced that BMW will become the first carmaker to enable its customers to use their iPhone as a fully digital car key, and the first BMW to be equipped with CarKey technology is the new LCI 5 Series. The process is quite simple. You first pair your iPhone or Apple Watch with a car that supports CarKey. Next, you hold your Apple device near your car door’s handle. The authentication process now starts and you need to use Face ID or Touch ID to unlock the car. There is also an option to skip the authentication

which is called Express Mode. BMW currently offers a similar solution with Android phones. There are also separate apps offered by other automakers which offer a similar functionality. The caveat is that you need to have multiple apps on your iPhone. With the Apple CarKey, you can now consolidate all keys in your Wallet. BMW was the first automobile manufacturer to integrate iPod in their vehicles, the first to offer wireless CarPlay and now the first to introduce support for BMW Digital Key stored securely in Apple Wallet for iPhone.

Former Williams F1, BMW Touring Car racer and Paralympian Alex Zanardi is in a serious but stable condition after undergoing a second operation on his brain at the beginning of July. Zanardi was involved in a serious accident in June when the handcycle he was piloting in a race collided with an oncoming HGV. The double amputee (Zanardi had both legs amputated after crashing in the American Memorial 500 CART race at Lausitz, Germany, in 2001) was rushed to hospital in Siena and underwent immediate surgery before being placed into intensive care. The 53-year-old Paralympian and four-time Paralympic handcycling gold medallist is being treated at the Santa Maria alle Scotte Hospital in Siena, a spokesman said – “His condition remains stable from a cardio-respiratory and metabolic viewpoint, grave from a neurological viewpoint.” It is understood that Zanardi suffered serious facial and cranial trauma, and doctors have warned of possible brain damage. Everyone at the BMW Car Club GB is praying for Alex and we send our warmest, heartfelt best wishes to Alex and his family.

BMW’s Hungarian expansion goes ahead The automotive industry may be in turmoil thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, but it hasn’t stopped BMW and their expansion plans. BMW has confirmed it has recently acquired ownership of 400 hectares of land near the city of Debrecen in Hungary, and technical planning is already underway in preparation for the construction of the new plant. The new plant will be state of the art, with the total investment said to amount up to €1 billion by the time the plant is up and running. BMW says the new plant will have a capacity of around 150,000 units per year and will employ about 1,000 people.

BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

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The De Phillippi/Spengler #25 M8 GTE, looking resplendent in the new Motul livery, finished in 4th place at Daytona, but it could have been much better, a late splash and dash to take on fuel destroyed any chance of a race win or podium.

Daytona ends in disappointment for BMW… Following the C-19 pandemic, the IMSA-WeatherTech Sportscar Championship resumed with the IMSA WeatherTech 240 race at Daytona on July 4th, which was rather apt. A positive qualifying session saw the Edwards/Krohn #24 M8 GTE looking ‘racy’ and qualifying third in the GTLM Class and the sister car of De Phillippi/ Spengler qualifying fourth, things were looking good for the BMW RLL Team. After a positive race start, both M8 GTEs were running strongly, battling a Porsche 911 RSR and a pair of the new and spectacular looking mid-

engined Corvette C8.Rs for the lead. After eight laps the #24 M8 GTE slipped into the lead and both BMWs spent a significant amount of time running 1-2. Unfortunately the team hadn’t quite got their fuel calculations correct and an extra stop for fuel near the end of the race hit both BMWs hard, demoting the De Phillippi/Spengler #25 M8 GTE to fourth place at race end, while the sister

The Edwards/Krohn #24 M8 GTE was quick all weekend at Daytona, qualifying 3rd and running in first place for a while, but a fuelling miscalculation by the team cost the #24 car dearly.

BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

car of Edwards and Krohn came home in a disappointing sixth spot. With the BMWs needing the extra splash and dash refuel, it left a pair of Porsche 911 RSRs and the lead Corvette C8.R battling for GTLM Class honours, and at the chequered flag the Corvette swept home to take the class race win, delighting the crowd on Independence Day! The De Phillippi/Spengler M8 GTE was unlucky not to come home third, with the Makowiecki/Tandy 911 RSR just pipping the BMW at the chequered flag. The next round of the IMSAWeathertech Sportscar Championship takes place on July 18th at Sebring.

Both the BMW M8 GTEs carried the #ForzaAlex message at Daytona, as did many on the F1 grid in Austria in support of Alex Zanardi, who remained in a critical condition as Straight Six went to press.

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Roving reporters Jeff Heywood & Neil McDonald

Feature

WSR’s Dick Bennetts and Colin Turkington win prestigious Autocar Awards WSR’s Team Principal Dick Bennetts and reigning British Touring Car Champion Colin Turkington have both received prestigious honours at the 2020 Autocar Awards in recognition of their achievements in motorsport. Dick received an Outstanding UK Leaders award while Colin was named Motorsport Hero of the Year. Autocar, established in 1895, is the world’s oldest weekly motoring publication and is now published in 17 countries; its news, opinion and features setting the benchmark for car journalism worldwide. Dick’s award comes after a career of almost 50 years in motorsport that began in his native New Zealand and continued when he moved to the UK in 1972 to run great friend David Oxton’s Formula Ford 1600 car. Major successes with legendary drivers such as Niki Lauda, Keke Rosberg, Bobby Rahal, Eddie Cheever, Stefan Johansson and Brian Redman were the precursor to the establishment of WSR in January 1981 to race in the British Formula 3 Championship. Winning its debut race set in motion a chain of five WSR titles in 15 years for Jonathan Palmer, Ayrton Senna, Mauricio Gugelmin, Mika Hakkinen and Rubens Barrichello, plus Macau Grand Prix victories for Senna and Gugelmin. Since 1996 the BTCC has been the team’s home with 91 race victories and 12 outright championship titles (including 11 in the past six seasons), but it has also won in the FIA World Touring Car Championship, run at the front in the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport and helped design the racetrack at Hampton Downs in New Zealand. While ultra-successful drivers such as Nigel www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

Mansell, Tom Kristensen, Andy Priaulx, Gabriele Tarquini, Will Hoy, James Thompson and Anthony Reid have all benefitted from stints at WSR, further evidence of Dick’s outstanding leadership is revealed by the number of non-drivers who have used the lessons learnt under his tutelage to great effect. These include IndyCar Team Principal Trevor Carlin, Double R team boss Anthony ‘Boyo’ Hiett, Stephen Giles – Mika Hakkinen’s F1 title-winning numberone Mechanic at McLaren -, Bradley Joyce; now Lance Stroll’s Race Engineer at Racing Point F1 and former IndyCar VP of Technology Will Phillips. WSR’s greatest touring car successes have all come with Colin Turkington behind the wheel; most notably his record-equalling fourth BTCC crown last October. Joining the team in 2002, aged just 20, Colin’s rise to the top was rapid as he scored his first win the following season in an MG ZS and finished third in the 2006 points. It was the team’s switch to BMW machinery in 2007 that was the catalyst for his greatest moments. Three straight Independents’ titles culminated in the outright BTCC crown in 2009 in a 3 Series, and he added two more in 2014 and ’18 in the 125i M Sport, which was designed, built and run by WSR Last year; a season in which he became only the fourth driver to break 50

BTCC wins, he scored perhaps the most dramatic title win of all, winning five times in the brand-new BMW 330i M Sport but heading into the final race of the season on the back foot after being spun around by his chief title rival’s team-mate earlier in the day. Moving into a championship-winning position with just a lap-and-a-half of the season to go, Colin claimed an emotional title by just two points from WSR teammate Andrew Jordan. From August 2, he and Dick get to do it all over again. Dick Bennetts, Team Principal, said: “I’m truly humbled to receive this honour. To still be winning races and championships after all these years, I guess I must be doing something right. I think you can only be a good leader if you have a truly outstanding group of people around you, and throughout my career in motorsport I’ve always been fortunate to be in this position and I think that if you look at the men and women who have worked at WSR and what they’ve gone on to achieve, either with us or elsewhere, that point is pretty clear. I’ve been asked what the secret of success is many times, but at WSR we work hard, learn from our mistakes and look after each other… It’s no more complicated than that.” Colin Turkington said: “I’d like to thank Autocar for the recognition of my continued success with WSR. It’s quite a title and one I don’t think I deserve just yet. At the moment I’m fully committed to my current campaign in the BTCC and together with Team BMW we’re doing everything we can to keep delivering the results.”

Credit: WSR/Jakob Ebrey/BMW BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

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BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

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BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

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dannorris This is a rainy day. Let’s make hay while the sun shines… Last month a gentleman came into the showroom, and perhaps feeling that he should explain why he had decided to buy a car at this precise moment (note to the general public; please don’t feel the need to explain, a credit card will suffice), he came out with one of the classic quotes of 2020. ‘I’ve been putting money aside for a long time, you know, for a rainy day. If this doesn’t constitute a rainy day, then I don’t know what does.’ And you can’t help but see his point. He may not be alone in this approach, and this may help explain the second biggest surprise of the year – the first one being an unexpected pandemic that shut down the world. During lockdown, we said many things – the world would change irreversibly for the better – we’ve seen how nice the planet looked without pollution, so we’d never let it go back to what it was. Until we want to go to the beach at Bournemouth. We’ve seen what a waste of time going to work was, so from now on we’re going to work from home. But now the dressing gown needs a wash after wearing it for two months straight, and perhaps having colleagues - and even a boss - seems better than endless Zoom meetings whilst trying to clean the bath and simultaneously teach two children about the Spanish Armada. We’ve seen the dangers of obesity, and we’re going to do something about it until Maccy D’s opens again and we have government food vouchers in our hands. Not having children, I was able to spend the time looking at forecasting for the financial year ahead. You can imagine

that with showrooms closed around the country and people somewhat preoccupied with trying to breathe, my predictions for car sales for the 12 months ahead were, shall we say, restrained. But as with so many things we predicted from the confinement of our universal house arrest, that was all nonsense. It turned out people really wanted to buy cars. Before the showroom even officially opened on June 2nd, we’d made up for all the sales that hadn’t happened during lockdown – people trusted our word on the condition of the cars without having to see them. By the time we’d been open two weeks we’d reached our forecast target for the whole summer. We haven’t seen business like this since before the Brexit vote in 2016, and it isn’t just at Munich Legends. The whole motor trade is rushing around to try to keep up with demand, everyone wearing the same slightly confused look of ‘why now?’ combined with ‘thank God’. But there’s a newcomer to the business, an incumbent that’s got me even more confused. The online auction. Now, readers of this column (both of you) will know that in my professional capacity, I’m not a fan of the traditional car auction. My feeling is that car auctions, to be frank, are where the motor trade puts cars that they don’t want to retail from their showrooms. We see all too often the aftermath of these events – often a large percentage of the BMWs that go under the hammer end up at ML for a post purchase inspection – and it’s often pretty ugly. Cars described as ‘probably one of the best examples

available on the market today’ which turn out to be barely roadworthy and with the paint peeling off, or cars mooted as being part of this or that famous ‘collection’ when actually the bloke bought it in another auction two years earlier, put it into storage and then decided he didn’t want it after all. I suppose it’s the lack of accountability on the part of the auction house that really grates – ‘read our small print, we just pass on what the customer told us’ – I can tell you categorically that if we took everything sellers told us and put our name behind it without checking, we’d have gone bust years ago. Surely if the statements are true, you can stand by them. If they’re not, don’t print them. But printing statements that are unverified, as if they are the truth, and then effectively saying ‘this may be lies’ does seem a little bit like sharp practice. Or maybe I’m being too fussy. Of course, you can go and see the car before the auction. But if I had a dollar for every car I’ve seen on the ground and thought ‘looks lovely’ only for a technician to run up a five grand hitlist – I’d be on the beach rather than writing this article. During lockdown, the demise of one of the country’s biggest auctioneers brought all this into sharp relief – and may just about sum up the whole sorry business. Pre lockdown, I had an 850CSi at ML, dropped off by the

Forecourt sales are reported to be surprisingly strong for modern classics.

BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

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owner in the hope we’d find a home for it. It wasn’t a nice car, and the cost of putting it right far exceeded the value the owner would recover in a sale. So, having been given the bad news, things followed the usual pattern. ‘Should I put it in an auction?’ Coys of Kensington had one coming up, so we helped the owner prepare the car for their sale. What we didn’t know was that the clouds were starting to darken for Coys. Apparently, they’d sold a very expensive vintage Porsche to a canny collector, and it wasn’t the car they’d said it was. This time the new owner wasn’t buying the ‘we don’t stand by our statements’ line, and decided to sue – for a six-figure sum. Apparently undeterred by this, Coys went about collecting cars for their auction, and went ahead with the sale. Except when they’d sold everyone’s cars, instead of paying the sellers, they went into administration. I don’t know who I feel worse for – the guy driving around in a shocking 850CSi thinking it’s one of the best in the world, or the guy that thought he’d sold the car, only to have lost the lot. So why anyone would think that

taking it a stage further – buying a car from an online auction platform, with little or no legal protection, no pre-purchase inspection report, and only the website’s repetition of the seller’s opinion of the car, which they clearly say they do not legally stand by – is a good idea? Even the sales pitch of some of these websites is arguably disingenuous. They claim that the seller pays no fee, which, you have to admit, does sound attractive. They can even claim that the price a car ‘sold’ for is, say, £50,000 when the buyer had to pay £53,000 to actually drive the car away. By my basic maths, if your buyer pays 53 grand for the car in total and you, the seller, have trousered 50, you’ve paid a 3 grand fee for the sale. You can attribute that cost to whichever side of the deal sounds best in the pitch, but the money comes out of the sale all the same. So, with the ‘new normal’, and the current trend for buying and selling cars through anonymous websites, what is my prognosis for the traditional model as operated by Munich Legends and

our contemporaries? Well, actually, it’s rather upbeat. I believe most sensible buyers want an expert opinion on a purchase as significant as a collectable car. Most people want the seller - the people who’ve given you that expert opinion - to stand by their claims, and to be accountable if things don’t work out. I believe people want legal protection. I believe people want to deal with someone they can meet face to face, to buy without being pressured by a deadline or other people competing in the purchase. I believe that people generally understand that when a deal is too good to be true, it usually isn’t true. I also believe that all things have a pattern, and it won’t be long before the harsh reality of buying a car blind from an unaccountable online platform hits home. The ‘new normal’ of replacing the warmth of human interaction with a digital facsimile will wear thin. It turns out that as human beings, we may need each other more than we thought. Especially on those rainy days…

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Power Feature – BMW F80 M3 Competition Feature

LIFE

HOT COMPETITION… Words – Jeff Heywood / Photographs – BMW Press

BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

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BMW launched the sixth-generation F30 3 Series in 2011. After the success of the E90/92 it had a hard act to follow, but was launched to critical acclaim. All models utilised turbocharged engines for the very first time, however the M version followed three years later in 2014 to a mixed reception. There had been grumblings that the F30 didn’t enjoy the build quality of the earlier E90 models, so the F80 M3 was released to a sceptical audience, something BMW weren’t used to. It didn’t help that the new M3, now turbocharged, had only increased its power output over the previous and much loved V8 model by 11bhp, and confusingly, BMW decided to give the M3 and M4 models different factory code numbers, so the F30-based M3 was labelled the F80 – not the best of starts…

he F80 and F82 M cars certainly looked the part, though. Where the E90/2 M3 was quite subdued in the styling stakes, the F80/2 M shouted from the rooftops that they were BMW M cars, and BMW poured petrol onto the launch fire by releasing press photos and the first demo cars in new colours like Yas Marina Blue and Austin Yellow. Initial scepticism of the BMW S55 twin-turbo straight six powered F80 were quickly dismissed when several journalists recorded scorching 0-60mph times in their initial road tests, bettering BMW’s official figures by some margin. The V8 powered E90/2 was quickly forgotten as the M3 and M4 with 431bhp and 550Nm of torque scorched to 60mph in under 4 seconds (BMW quoted an official time of 4.1 seconds), with some scribes utilising launch control even reaching 3.7 seconds in the ubiquitous dash to sixty. The F80/2 was here, the motoring press and bloggers liked it and boy was it quick! The first chinks started to appear in the new M3/M4’s armour when the serious scribes from the motoring monthlies started to get their hands on the new M cars for ‘proper’ road tests, with one or two heavy hitters given longtermers by BMW. We then heard criticism of the suspension, saying that the M3/ M4 suspension settings weren’t suited to the UK’s bumpy and undulating roads. Poor body control, particularly at the rear, made the car feel difficult to predict and trust, especially when the weather was anything other than bone dry, feeling especially skittish at the rear in the wet. The Opposition There was no doubting the M3’s performance, although it was coming under fire more than it had ever done before – Mercedes-Benz had also introduced the W205 AMG C63 and C63 S in 2014 with 476/510bhp, and the new C-Class AMGs were much better cars than previous incarnations, and were really pushing the M3 hard. There was also the Audi (B8) RS4 to consider, with Quattro all-wheel drive traction and a 4.2-litre V8 kicking out 450bhp! And then came the real thorn in BMW’s side when Alfa Romeo launched the Giulia Quadrifoglio in June 2015, although we didn’t see the car in the UK until late 2016. Here was a car that had a lithe and supple chassis and suspension that provided wonderful body control and amazing handling, with a twin-turbo V6 producing 510bhp and offering some impressive credentials. It could hit 60mph from standstill in 3.5 seconds before topping out at 191mph, and to prove just how good the new Giulia was they took

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BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

Power Feature – BMW F80 M3 Competition

Perfect M3 CP territory, a quiet and open country road with a few twisties thrown in for good measure.

it to the Nürburgring where it covered a lap in 7 minutes 39 seconds! Sure, Alfa Romeo wouldn’t immediately start selling tens of thousands of Quadrifoglios overnight, but it became the darling of the motoring scribes who altered the motoring public’s perception that here was a car in class that was quite a bit superior than both the M3 and M4 BMW had a major fight on its hands. M Competition Package arrives Spring 2016 brought BMW’s answer to the Giulia and AMG, the Competition Package (CP) offered on the M3 and M4. For an extra £3,000 on top of the UK list price, the CP offered a far better suspension setup for UK roads and it totally transformed both cars. They both felt infinitely more stable and composed under cornering and when accelerating out of bends; gone was the skittishness experienced in the wet and the unruly nature on badly paved roads. It gave the M3 and M4 driver the confidence to take the car by the scruff of the neck. The CP equipped cars were also given a slight power boost – 19bhp – taking maximum power up to 450bhp and 550Nm of torque from the S55 3.0-litre straight six engine, which allowed some road testers to hit 60mph in 3.5 seconds, or less in cars fitted with

BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

the with optional 7-speed M dual clutch transmission. The Competition Package included adaptive dampers as part of a revised package, which also featured new springs and anti-roll bars, along with reconfigured driving modes (Comfort, Sport and Sport+). The standard Active M Differential and stability control had also been configured to match the upgraded dynamics. Forged, machine-polished 20inch alloy wheels with exclusive multi-spoke M styling and mixed tyres (265/30 R20 fronts and 285/30 R20 rears) completed the chassis upgrades. Lightweight M sports seats provided additional support combined with exceptional comfort for long journeys, while seatbelts with wovenin BMW M stripes helped lift the cabin ambience. The M sports exhaust system now had quad black chrome tailpipes that are real eye-candy and extended BMW Individual high-gloss Shadow Line exterior trim to finish off the exterior. The pictured Sakhir Orange M3 is similar to the one I loaned from a friendly local BMW dealer for this MLife article, it looks sharp but understated with the contrast between the paintwork and Shadow Line black gloss trim and those sexy 20-inch wheels.

Drivetime! Those who read my M3 CSL review in Straight Six will know that I employ a set route when testing cars which allows me to build up a mental comparison of how a car behaves, both chassis and performance wise, over the same roads. The roads in question traverse Saddleworth and West Yorkshire, from the Saddleworth villages via a trip east over the Pennines to Slaithwaite, onto Holmfirth and then a return over Saddleworth Moor. I picked up the M3 from my local dealer, resplendent in its Sakhir Orange paint. I really like the new 20-inch wheels that come with the CP, I think BMW have got the balance just right between being an anonymous 4-door saloon and looking too blingy spot on; the M3 is noticeable without being too over the top. On opening the door, I’m met with the new CP sports seats, which look and feel superb, you sink inside the bolsters and feel the grip without CSL-levels of discomfort! This car is also equipped with a 6-speed stick-shift, which is quite unusual as I’m told by the sales manager at the dealership that most M3 CPs were ordered with the 7-speed DCT gearbox. I’m not complaining though, I prefer a stick shift in an M car. The rest of the interior though is, well, very F30-ish, so functional but not overly glamourous. I press the Start button and I’m met with a muted roar followed by a distant M rumble at tickover. A quick blast over a local bypass shows that this M3 CP has pace and then some, quickly demolishing the 2 mile journey in what feels like a few seconds! I then crawl through the suburban sprawl, the M suspension making itself heard and felt over the pock-marked local roads, before the scenery turns greener as I reach Saddleworth. I work my way along the A62 before reaching Delph crossroads, turning left which leads me through the quaint village centre of Delph. King Street quickly winds us through the village and we then swing left onto the A6052 Denshaw Road; I press the Sport button to liven up the exhaust and I’m able to give the M3 its head on a derestricted section of single carriageway road. The muted roar

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Feature

An F80 M3 CP’s place of work; the seats are superb but the rest of the cabin isn’t as outstanding. It is nicely trimmed and well screwed together but is it special enough?

(now a little louder in Sport mode) again accompanies the M3 as it stretches its legs and goes, but I only use 4500rpm, which is good enough to be well over the 60mph

limit in 5th and 6th gears. I reach the Denshaw Junction and take an acute right onto the wonderful A640, which winds up and past the New

Year’s Bridge and Dowry reservoirs. Here I can finally give the M3 its head, with a nice couple of long straights that allow you to easily hit three figures, if you are so inclined of course, before climbing up in a sinewy wiggle over where the Pennine Way crosses the road, the M3 CP providing both grip and poise as it handles the climb to the top of the moor in its stride. The A640 then bobs and weaves across open moorland, the M3 CP’s suspension being tested to the limits by the undulations as we pass ‘Buckstones above the Road’, a favourite with rock climbers and hang gliders, before the road straightens out, passing a fork. The left fork takes you onto the B6114, but we keep right on the A640 for the sprint along Newhey Road, passing the well-known Nont Sarah’s public house on the left, now closed. The M3 demolishes this quiet road, the 3-litre straight six now emitting an animalistic howl as I press on. Unfortunately the

The F80 M3 CP’s powerplant; the 3.0-litre twin-turbo S55 straight-six produces 450bhp and 550Nm of torque www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

Power Feature – BMW F80 M3 Competition Feature

noise is still dampened somewhat by the two turbochargers, but it still sounds good in Sport mode and the car’s chassis feels totally benign, giving you lots of confidence that the car will never lose its composure at speed, eyes glued on the bleak moorland for wandering sheep. I turn right at Pole Moor, the M3 with steering light and precise, and descend the hillside slowly, giving Howard Walker a toot on the M3’s horn as I pass his house, watching out for the potholes – there are some real horrors that would easily buckle one of these huge rims – so I take my time, plotting a path around the worst of them, the suspension crashing into the more unavoidable minor holes and sunken manholes. That’s the price you pay for a stiffly sprung and damped M-car. I reach the centre of Slaithwaite village and turn off Sport mode to keep a low profile, ascending the steep Station Road, turning right then a quick left onto the B6109 Varley Road, climbing uphill and then forking left onto Chain Road in the direction of Meltham. The country roads here are narrow with plenty of blind bends, so the M3 and I just pootle up the hill, into and through Meltham, forking left past the golf club and leaving on the Wilshaw Road/Moor Lane/ New Road. It leads me to the

BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

A635 in the centre of Holmfirth, of Nora Batty/Last of the Summer Wine country fame! Holmfirth is well worth a visit, but on this day I’m hunting out fine driving roads as I pass the T-junction in the centre of Holmfirth and then fork right onto one of the finest driving roads in my locality – the A635 Greenfield Road, better known as the Isle of Skye Road. I take my time as I ascend what seems like a never ending hill as we pass the last of urban Holmfirth, a mix of stone cottages and newer brick built houses lining the A635 and necessitating a 30mph limit. If you ever wish to tackle this road can I ask that you hold your speed back as you first pass the last of the houses and onto the Ford Inn on your right, and then a few hundred metres to the Huntsman Inn, which is also on your right, as cars are always turning in and out of the pub car parks, so safety is key, and there’s enough of this road left to put a broad smile on even the most miserable of faces! Once past the Huntsman I start to moderately accelerate as the hill out of Holmfirth continues to climb up onto Saddleworth Moor, selecting Sport mode again to hear that straight-six howl. The

road is less challenging here, so I stick to 60mph-ish and let the 550Nm of torque pull me and the M3 CP up this incline. Eventually the road starts to flatten whilst also becoming narrower – the road now resembling a piece of race track. I now drop from 5th to 3rd and gun the M3 – bam! The CP roars as I quickly grab 4th, which is nice and long for overtaking then slip into 5th, at higher speeds the road starts to test a car’s chassis to the full. It is like a causeway as it threads its way over the underlying peat moor, the road raised to stop it being pulled into the peat bogs. The camber of the road is also pretty severe, throw in some aggressive undulations as well and you quickly build up a mental picture of this road. I mentioned it in the CSL MLife article, this road takes no prisoners and cars with chassis that are too soft literally bounce off the road and into the peat bogs if you tackle them too quickly. Here the M3 CP’s taught chassis allows me to exploit this fabulous road, providing poise and control over these undulations, the camber forever trying to throw us off line into the peatland. The M3’s steering communicates with clarity, letting you know what the front wheels are doing, the grip is tremendous and you just sit, ensconced in the CP’s superb sports seats, which allow you to concentrate on steering the car and changing gear. The gear change is quick and smooth, with a slight notchiness when cold, but now warm it’s like the proverbial knife through butter, the relatively light, progressive and smooth acting clutch aiding swift, smooth and fast gear changes. The big four-pot brakes (380mm front and 370mm rear), developed in conjunction with Brembo, are also mightily impressive, providing all the stopping power you could ever need, even when hurtling along moorland lanes downhill. I can’t report if they are up to track day work, but on my drive they never showed any sign of fade and never complained once. The A635 changes its name from Holmfirth Road

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MLife: My F80 M3 CP I wanted an M3 for years and finally the financial stars aligned and I got my Mineral Grey M3 Competition Pack in 2018. I’ve loved every minute driving it since. It really is the perfect car for me. Absolutely epic performance but as easy to drive slowly as fast. That might sound daft but it is great for storming up a motorway on-ramp or stringing together a series of roundabouts on an A-road dual carriageway (what else can you do legally on the road this side of the channel?) and then painless to daily drive to the shops. The Competition Pack allegedly sorted out a few issues with the original F80. The exhaust is definitely one. I regularly select sport mode to open up the valves and have had many compliments about the sound of this M3. The 666M wheels look stunning in the metal and the ride is fine if you set the tyre pressures correctly (so many people set them too high and then wonder why the ride is harsh). Last summer I got to do my dream drive when I took the family to the Austrian Alps, via the Nürburgring and Munich, of course. A journey to cover all the M3 bases including long stretches at three figure mph (only the traffic stopped me getting right to the limiter), sinuous mountain passes balanced by big city driving and maybe a few too many roadworks. 2,500 miles without missing a beat and ‘four up’ in perfect comfort (the seats with holes in really are not just a gimmick). And all at a 30mpg average. So a car not just for the special occasion but which, for me, can make any journey special. Now all I have to do is finish paying for it and then I can take it on track! Andrew Bowdler

The seats in the Competition Package cars are a nice touch, offering excellent support at speed whilst also looking the part www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

to Greenfield Road as we reach halfway, this roller coaster of a ride still thrilling as we nudge three-figure speeds (and maybe more on occasion), the chassis giving you the confidence to travel this quickly over this heavily cambered road. Believe me when I say that I’ve travelled over this road at half the speed I’m doing now in lesser vehicles and felt as though we were going to be pogoing off the road. People are bound to ask me to compare the F80 M3 CP and the M3 CSL over the same route. The CSL was as composed and confidence-inspiring, but with 450bhp and 550Nm of torque the M3 CP is always arriving at bends and severe undulations at much higher speeds, and that’s where it impresses. Where the CSL tackles a severe, cambered undulation at 70mph, the M3 CP is going through the same section at over 80mph, it’s just the 550Nm wall of torque that pushes you on, never feeling any lag as you hurtle forward with great alacrity. The A635 finally starts to wind downhill, slowly at first, but you soon clear this at speed, and you then descend a downhill section that rivals an Alpine Pass as it drops in sinewy fashion towards the Saddleworth village of Greenfield. You can get up to some insane speeds here, the M3 grips, rolls very little and literally flies as I try to straighten out as many downhill bends as I can, keeping my eyes peeled for traffic travelling uphill, flowing like a downhill skier, but being very, very careful on this section of road as there are always lots of cyclists, motorcyclists and cars using this part of the road as it feeds some local beauty spots. The road is now wider and better paved, the camber is a lot better and a downhill section always pulls you in to go faster, but unfortunately brakes don’t work half as well when hurtling downhill at speed - you just can’t overcome the laws of physics so it pays to be careful! I snick the gear lever into the higher gears now and let the M3 cool down as I traverse Greenfield and Uppermill villages and make my way back to the dealership by the scenic route – maybe there’s one last chance to open up this beast of a car before handing the keys back! Conclusion First and foremost, the F80 M3 CP is an awesome bit of kit. It is super quick, it handles sublimely with poise and has lots of grip through the twisties; it is also comfortable as long as the roads don’t become too pock-marked – stiff M suspension and tyres with a 30-profile sidewall don’t make for limousine-like ride quality – dodge those sunken manholes! And thank God for those CP sports seats, because the rest of the interior is just, well, it doesn’t look over special. It is nicely screwed together and relatively ergonomic BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

Power Feature – BMW F80 M3 Competition but not exciting, it looks like a standard F30. There’s nothing wrong with an F30 interior, but this is a £60,000 vehicle… The engine is smooth and powerful, but like many have said, it could do with being more vocal. And by more vocal I don’t mean artificially piped in like the pan pipe music you hear in a lift. It does have a nice bark, it pops and bangs from the exhaust when changing gear or lifting off on the overrun, and the engine itself sounds beefy enough, but we could do with a bit of that CSL scream at the top end; the pair of turbos mask the engine’s voice somewhat. As a blisteringly quick A-B crosscountry tool or for covering big motorway miles one cannot fault it, with all that power and torque on tap it makes for effortless motoring, eating up miles and leaving you stress free. But, there’s always a but. If you’ve been brought up on E30 M3s and maybe progressed onto an M3 CSL, which are very analogue, cars that you can get your hands dirty on, cars that scream their intentions at high revs, that provide all the thrills at lower speeds, you probably won’t easily connect with the F80 M3. The newer M cars are more digital, more refined, quieter, still very capable and incredibly fast, but not as involving in the driving, although travelling over an undulating road on Saddleworth Moor touching three figures galvanises oneself quite a bit! But on other, slightly less demanding roads the F80 M3 CP and similar cars become more anodyne, much like an M340i or similar, and that is the crux of the matter, you would never say an E30 M3 feels like a 318i on less involving roads. Every journey is an event. In the F80 you have to go searching for the ‘event’ roads, just as I did. For the analogue guy, he’ll probably never warm to an F80 M3, he may admire it as being a very quick car, but will never form a bond with it. But for everyone else, the computer age is here and the F80 M3 CP is just wúnderbar! The Competition Package made such a difference to the M3 that BMW

BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

MLife – My F80 M3 CP I happened upon my M3 CP purely by chance. I was visiting my local BMW dealer in Feburary 2020 to pick up some new windscreen wipers for my F30 330d. Whilst at the dealership I decided to have a quick look around the ‘used approved’ cars in stock. I immediately set eyes on an F80 M3 CP, sat there on its 20-inch 666M wheels and finished in eye catching BMW Individual Fire Orange II with extended black Merino leather, adaptive LED lights and a ‘carbon pack’, which contrasted wonderfully with the orange paintwork, especially at the rear where the small lip spoiler on the boot lid and rear diffuser breaks up the expanse of orange paint somewhat. The M3 was a late one, registered in May 2019 as a demo model by the dealer and had only covered 4,500 miles – perfect! I asked the sales manager if I could go for a quick test drive and they pulled out all the stops, the car ticking over 15 minutes later outside the showroom main entrance. The test exemplified everything I had heard and read about the Competition Package models, it drove and handled superbly, whilst also retaining a fair degree of comfort for an M car. We were back in the sales manager’s office 45 minutes later, thrashing out a deal. I’ve owned quite a few M cars in the past and my job dictated that I was covering quite a bit of mileage so the 330d was a necessity, but a recent promotion meant that I’m covering less miles now, making the 330d’s mileage not quite as important. I picked up my M3 just over a week later at the beginning of March, and it looked resplendent in its Fire Orange paintwork, the carbon pack breaking up the orange paint and contrasts perfectly. The orange paintwork is a Marmite colour, but my reasoning is why should you buy an M car and then blend into the background with a muted colour? I owned an Imola Red II E92 M3 and a Laguna Seca Blue E46 M3, so you probably can guess where I’m coming from. And then the C-19 pandemic struck, which has meant plenty of home working with very little driving - I’ve covered less than 2,000 miles since I picked up the car, although I did manage to have the paintwork detailed and ceramic coated, the paintwork now resembling orange glass! Thankfully as the lockdown was lifted both myself and my partner have managed to get out and enjoy the M3 a bit more. We’ve managed one or two trips out to local beauty spots, which has allowed me to open up the M3 CP in its natural environment, fast sweeping country roads and decent stretches of dual carriageway intersected with roundabouts. The car has masses of performance on tap and the M engineers have got the CP’s chassis/suspension spot on. The M3 puts the power down wonderfully and handles sublimely, with plenty of grip, thanks to the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres. On the motorway the M3 is sublime, eating up miles at ease in total comfort. We had planned to take the M3 on a Continental tour this summer which the C-19 pandemic has kiboshed, but I’m sure we’ll have plenty of memorable drives and trips in the coming months and years. Peter Cahill eventually dropped the ‘standard’ F80 M3, only offering the M3 CP in the UK, but that’s not to say the standard F80 is a poor car, don’t let that put you off. I’ve driven standard F80 M3s and when driven at 80 percent pace they are fine, very quick, handle well and provide all the thrills and values that an M car

brings. If you don’t intend to wring every last ounce out of the chassis or drive at ten-tenths all of the time, then an early standard car is just as appealing a prospect as the CP, it’s just that if you want that little bit more the M3 CP provides it.

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REVISITING THE CLASSICS – No7 – BMW Z3 Roadster Feature

OWNING

007’s ROADSTER!

Development of BMW’s allnew sports roadster started in 1991 under the watchful eye of Project Manager Burkhard Göschel. The retro styled exterior was designed by Joji Nagashima, being completed in mid-‘92, with the design being frozen in ’93. Production began on 20th September 1995 at BMW’s Spartanburg, South Carolina, plant and BMW launched the Z3 sports roadster worldwide in 1996 to critical acclaim. This followed the Z3’s appearance in the James Bond film GoldenEye in late ’95, which forever cemented the Z3 in movie folklore for being the steed of James Bond, even if it was only a brief relationship in the film…

Words/Photographs – Jeff Heywood, BMW Classic

BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

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Feature

he Z3’s appearance in GoldenEye was a masterstroke by BMW’s marketing team, as sales of the Z3 spiked as the film sat at number one at the box office. At the 1996 launch*, more than 15,000 roadsters were sold out by the time the car was introduced! BMW were also very clever in choosing to build an American plant to manufacture the Z3, mainly for marketing reasons. In 1992, work began on the Spartanburg plant. BMW’s plans for the Z3 centred around producing a competitively-priced and attractivelystyled entry-level roadster that would be fun to drive and satisfying to own. The sales success of the Mazda MX-5 in America was something that BMW felt it could emulate with the Z3; a model that it was confident would prove popular with US buyers. During the Z3’s lifetime, BMW went on to produce 279,273 Roadsters and 17,815 Coupe** models, although both figures include the M versions. Interestingly, the Z in Z1/3/4/8 stands for Zukunft in German, meaning future. People looking for a cost effective sports roadster are now turning to BMW’s Z3 in droves, now that they have realised the motoring scribes favourite, the Mazda MX-5, is slowly returning to mother earth as rust eats away at many first and even second-gen models, making the Z3 a smart alternative. There’s the Mercedes SLK to consider, but very few came with a manual ‘box in what is after all, a sports car, and in any case, finding an honest, rust-free gen-one car is tough. The Z3 it is then. Not that everyone thought so at launch. Motoring hacks and hardcore drivers alike bemoaned its relative lack of power and on-limit thrills, but the handsome roadster sold like hot cakes to people happy with its surprisingly secure reardrive handling, butch, retro styling that took some of its cues from the venerable BMW 507 and solid build quality. When the Z3 first hit the market, importers were bringing right-hand-drive Z3s into the UK

A nice Titan Silver LCI Z3 2.0 6-cylinder with the 150hp M52TUB20 engine

‘under the table’! Anyway, that was all long ago and the game has since changed to finding decent used Z3s with reasonable mileages, tight, leak-free hoods, reliable cooling systems, secure rear diff mounts and solid service histories. Remember, we’re now talking about a soft top that is up to 23 years old (we won’t be covering the M Roadster in this article). The first Z3s to hit UK BMW showrooms in ’97 were powered by a BMW M43B19 140bhp 1.9-litre 16-valve four-cylinder engine. The first 1.9 powered Z3s weren’t the ball of fire sportscars the motoring press were expecting so they received a bit of negative press. This was unfair because they are sprightly enough and outperform similarly powered sportscars, plus the M43 engine can also be tuned. They were joined a year later in 1998 by a more charismatic BMW M52B28 2.8-litre 24-valve straight six with 192bhp but still using a five-speed gearbox. The 2.8 was also available with an optional 4-speed GM autobox (as was the 1.9.) Some argue the auto ’box suits the 2.8 better than the manual, but I prefer the 2.8 in manual form. The 2.8 Z3 was well received by the motoring press and public alike, the extra grunt giving the car a 0-60mph time of 6.6 seconds. The M52B28 engine in the 2.8 powered model was replaced by the M52TUB28 2.8 engine in 1999, now with 193bhp and 5Nm more torque (280Nm v 275Nm). Performance was slightly improved, but the replacement was more to do with emissions than outright pace.

Also in 1999 the M43B19 1.9 lost four of its valves and some of its power to become an eight-valve unit with a lowly 114bhp – enough to cover 0-60mph in 10 seconds. This may not sound so sportscar-like but after owning one of these 114 horsepower models for three years now I can attest that they still provide for a thrilling and sporty drive. There was also method in BMW’s madness though, since the withdrawal of the more powerful 1.9 opened the door to a M52TUB20 2.0-litre six engine with 150hp to fill the gap. A year later in 2000, that was superseded by a M54B22 2.2-litre six with 170bhp and a subseven-second 0-60mph time. At the same time the 2.8 Z3 was replaced by BMW’s M54B30 3.0-litre six engine with 231bhp and 300Nm of torque. This gave the 3-litre Z3 a 0-60mph time of 5.5 seconds, which was quick. The 3.0-litre Z3 was available as a 5-speed manual as standard or with a 5-speed ZF autobox. An easy way to differentiate between cars is by the Z3’s tailpipes - four-cylinder cars have a single tailpipe and six-cylinder ones have dual ‘pipes. In addition to its greater power, the 2.8-litre models have a wider rear track than the pre-LCI 1.9-litre models and came with goodies including a powered hood and leather seats. As with most versions, air-conditioning and 17-inch alloys were optional. It had BMW’s single VANOS valve timing but later versions gained double VANOS control of both camshafts. If the system is giving trouble, Dr VANOS (drvanos.com) can help.

A BMW Press photo showing an early Bright Red 1.9 Z3 with the standard rear wing width… www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

Feature The engine changes of 2000 were accompanied by a worthwhile LCI facelift that saw all versions gain wider rear wheel arches, plus redesigned tail-lights and a relocated centre brake light. The interior got a light makeover too. Sport 2.2 and 3.0-litre cars gained M Sport springs and BBS 17-inch alloys. It is pointless going into any great detail about standard and optional accessories fitted to Z3s, mainly because most were purchased by private buyers as weekend toys and were hence very well optioned. I’m afraid you’ll just have to enquire - some are lavishly kitted out and make for great finds From a buyer’s point of view, the fact that so much of the Z3’s componentry was carried over from the pre-existing E30 and E36 3 Series models is a good thing. It means that everything is wellestablished in reliability terms, and all the characteristic problems are out there and known about, and with BMW build quality being what it is and owners being the enthusiasts they are, you should have little difficulty finding a good Z3. Just watch out for cars that have fallen into the hands of boy racers who have played about with their Zed, cutting springs to lower the car etc. Just stick to the original cars with full service history. A well-looked after Z3 should be rattle free on a road test, feeling solid and well screwed together. Z3s handle well, but lack a little in outright grip; they aren’t as nimble as a Porsche Boxster, the grip issue being more noticeable in the higher powered models; a penalty for using the old semi-trailing arm rear suspension from the E30. It works well, however, and suits the car. The general handling characteristic is for the car to remain neutral and then slightly understeer. Here are some things to look out for Engine An engine warning light on four-pot Z3 could be a failed lambda sensor; if you experience rough running on post-2000

The Z3’s attractive interior is well equipped and built to last. The interior seat and door trim came in a vast selection of colours, and the later LCI Sport models had a two-tone leather trim similar to the M Roadster…

six-pots with VANOS this could be the camshaft position sensor. Listen for dualmass flywheel rattles and for a six-pot engine tapping on start-up (an oil change might cure it). Anything louder could be drive belt tensioners. New starter motors on four-pot engines are expensive. The 2.8 models very rarely develop VANOS problems - listen for the tell-tale ticking from the front of the engine as repairs can turn out to be expensive. Thermostats can also play up on this engine, so any signs of warmer-thannormal running should prompt a change. It also makes sense to renew the water pump at the same time, as the pumps often fail. If you find a Z3 that is ‘right’ except that the engine that makes the car difficult to drive smoothly, being jerky under load, then it could be the throttle cable sticking. It can’t be lubricated, so replacement is the only solution, but it will make a big difference to throttle control and feel.

Cooling System Thermostats last around 60-80k miles but can stick in the open position. Check its housing, the radiator and the top hose connection for leaks. Listen for water pump noises; replacement is easiest on six-cylinder cars. Fan coupling lasts 80k miles or so. Check oil for coolant contamination. Transmission A sticky manual gear change on 2.8 models may require fresh oil. On all manuals, feel for clutch drag. Other than that, manual ‘boxes are relatively bullet proof. Everything wears with use and time, but the manual ‘box shouldn’t throw up any nasty surprises until a car reaches mega-high mileage when it may then necessitate a rebuild or replacement. Check an auto ‘box has had new fluid; check the rear diff mount’s condition. The auto-boxes are very reliable but not so desirable now. If they

A nice example of an LCI Z3 3.0 – the car has been fitted with chrome side grills that aren’t everyone’s cup of tea…

BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

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Feature feel sluggish, a switch to a fully synthetic lubricant will improves matters. Suspension and Steering Check front and rear anti-roll bar drop links, as wear in these is a common issue on pre-2001 models. Also check front lower ball joints and inner bushes. Dampers fail at around 80k miles, so you’ll find aftermarket Bilsteins with Eibach springs are common on highermileage cars. Check the variable steering pump for leaks. Check all bushes etc. for wear - although the Z3 is a generally decent-handling machine, the use of dated suspension technology (a mix of E30/E36) has created a few issues. As cars age, wear in the front wishbone bushes can create a disconcerting ‘tramlining’ effect. It is especially noticeable on uneven road surfaces. Replacing the tired and inadequate rubber bushes with harder, polyurethane alternatives, sorts out this issue. Some owners also opt to fit a strut brace across the top of the engine, to tighten things still further. Worn bushes in the rear suspension can also be a problem, leading to play in the axle mountings and a generally wayward feeling at the back-end. Fitting replacement bushes in the rear control arms sorts this issue out. Finally, with regard to suspension, check the condition of both the front and rear anti-roll bar drop link bushes. Bodywork Check the evenness of panel gaps and the consistency of paint colour. Check for rust around door bottoms, wheel arches, around the boot lock and fuel tank for damage. The main rust-prone area on a Z3 are the sills, especially the rear ends, which are prone to rusting due to water and mud being forced behind the plastic wheel arch liners. It is a relatively easy problem to fix as the panels bolt on but it’s still going to cost a few hundred quid to put right. Check the door mirrors, as the frames are alloy and corrode, so be careful when you turn/twist them inwards towards the door, as they can snap off! Keep an eye out for stone-chip damage, especially on the flanks, immediately ahead of the rear wheels where the wing panel flares out. The bonnet slam panel can also suffer with surface rusting, so check this as well. Don’t be concerned if you notice that the paint is a different colour under the bonnet – it was typically finished in a lighter shade at the factory. I would always recommend viewing a car on a ramp so that you can give the underside of the car a good going over, obviously looking for rust but also be on the lookout for accident damage, which is difficult to hide underneath. If it doesn’t look right, or is covered in www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

The Z3’s boot isn’t huge, which you’d expect in a small sports roadster, but it is a reasonable space and the CD changer box can be removed (top left) to give a bit more space for squashy bags. The storage compartment fitted to the underside of the bootlid is an aftermarket item but looks a good idea for storing odds and ends and is finished in a material that won’t damage other items being carried I the boot…

thick underseal, walk away unless you are 100% convinced with the vendor’s explanation. Interior An illuminated airbag warning light is probably a faulty seatbelt receiver. Knocks and rattles could be failing rear suspension top mounts. The interior is very robust and durable, it is testament to the Z3’s build quality, so there shouldn’t be any rattles or knocking etc. If you do hear any noises it’s probably down to someone having part of the dash out or glovebox etc. If a Z3 has been well looked after the interior should be in excellent condition. Hood As you would expect with a roadster, the hood section is the largest. Hoods are of a good quality, generally keep out the elements well and serious water leaks are rare. One of the few places to

watch is around the tops of the windows, where water can get in. The rubber seals are best treated with a smear of Vaseline in this area, and it’s also good practice to lower the windows an inch or so when raising the hood, and then close them once the hood and its rubbers are securely in place. Electrically-powered hoods are a desirable option, and the motor that operates them shouldn’t provide any problems. If the powered hood isn’t operating, it will probably be a fault with the top controller modules, which can play up. If you do need a new hood, there are plenty of outlets out there who will fit a new hood to your Z3. Do the obvious and make sure the replacement hood is of a good quality. Replacement can cost between £700 - £1200. It may sound obvious but make sure you also check the plastic rear window for cracks. Replacement rear windows are readily available both OEM from BMW and aftermarket, but will cost

A nice 2002 Calypso Red 3.0 Z3 with the 17-inch BBS wheels; note the wider rear wheelarch… BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

Feature approx. £270-380 to replace, depending on the trimmer you choose. You can D-I-Y with the window fitting, which ‘zips’ into place (in a fashion) but you need fourteen hands and the patience of a saint to complete. But, if you are handy with your hands and feel confident then give it a try, as per usual there are YouTube videos showing you how, they just don’t provide the extra pair of hands! Also worth knowing Service indicator lights can easily be reset, so scrutinise workshop bills. Look for oil and filter changes using BMW-approved synthetic oil at 6000 miles, plugs and transmission and diff oil at 18,000, and new brake fluid every two years. Air-con needs re-gassing every four years. Finally, on the mechanical side of things, while the Z3’s brakes are excellent, the pump and circuit board for the ABS system are combined as one unit that sits beneath the windscreen washer reservoir. Any leaks can cause expensive damage; replacements cost over £1,000 from BMW… How much to spend £500-£1200-ish: Early 1.9 runners with big mileages to 98-reg 2.0s with 120k miles for £1995. Tatty cars that are going to cost money to put right, but sometimes you can land lucky and find a car with faults that aren’t costly, giving you a reliable sportscar for little outlay. £1800-£3499: Smarter early 1.9s, the 114bhp 1.9s, and some 2.0 and 2.2s with around 80-120k miles. Maybe a mega high mileage 2.8 with work needed or just tatty and unloved – beware! £3500-£4999: 1.9s with low mileages and full service history in pristine condition. 2000-onward cars with 70k+

miles. High-ish mileage 2.8s that might need work. £5000-£6999: Early 2.8s with average mileages in good condition with no obvious faults. 3.0-litre models with average to above average mileages, may need a bit of work. All models, especially the smaller engine cars with mega low mileages in showroom condition. These cars will be like brand new, just run in and make for wonderful buys, the best buys IMO. £7000-£10,000: Good choice of late and mega low-mile 2.8’s and all 3.0-litre models with low to average mileage in excellent condition. Z3 prices are slowly rising for good cars, so anyone with a 3.0 boasting extremely low miles in concours condition might be asking more than £10k, and to be honest they are worth the money, they are excellent performers that have really nicely trimmed interiors with plenty of standard kit. Conclusion The Z3 is a handsome, solidly built and well equipped sports roadster that offers wind in the hair motoring for little cost, there’s nothing like punting a small, soft top sportscar down a country lane in the height of summer. But we also love to use our Zed in the colder months. On dry, crisp days with the roof down, heater whacked up to max and a snazzy beanie hat in place there isn’t a better feeling; make sure you have a wind deflector fitted though, or you’ll end up with frostbite around your ears! A hardtop is a good idea if you want to use your Z3 all year round. They aren’t cheap and are a desirable second hand purchase, so again do your homework, make sure all the hardtop seals are fine and ensure it comes with the fitting kit,

which is another expense if it doesn’t. You also need to think about where you will store the hardtop if you are going to enjoy topless motoring in the summer. This requires consideration because a hardtop is a big old lump to store. Expect to pay £600+ for a decent hardtop, plus you’ll probably have to pay to have it painted if you aren’t lucky enough to find one in the body colour of your car... Z3s are practical, cheap to service and run, most parts are reasonable plus there are plenty of pattern parts available, spare parts backup is second to none, and classic car insurance is crazily cheap – just over £100 for a 1.9 Z3! Choose wisely, always choose the best you can afford, make sure it has been well looked after with service and parts invoices to prove, and make sure if you aren’t confident enough to look at/detect the odd problem areas the Z3 may have, then take someone with you who is vastly experienced and knows the cars intimately. If you don’t know anyone, it is worth paying a professional motor engineer or a renowned specialist like BMR, Munich Legends or Darren Wood BMW Specialists to help inspect the car for you. It may cost you in the short term, but think of the money they could save you long term, or worse still, if the car has been badly damaged or poorly repaired in the past. Unfortunately, the used car market is still full of sharks out there, so, caveat emptor! *Rather frustratingly, UK sales of the Z3 Roadster didn’t start until 1997 **Only the M version of the Z3 Coupe was officially sold in the UK; 2.8 and 3.0-litre models were sold on the continent, mostly in the German market.

A Titan Silver 2.0 LCI model in a stunning setting - note the twin tailpipes…

BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

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BMW E53 X5 Le Mans

PUTTING THE ‘X’ IN BMW! Just over two decades ago, BMW introduced their first 4x4 off-roader to the model range, the X5. Hated by purists, who thought every BMW should be a saloon or coupe with power fed to the rear wheels, BMW went on a charm offensive to convince the doubters that the X5 was just what the BMW range, and more importantly, the market, needed, especially in the USA. As part of this offensive M Power were asked to come up with a hot X5 that could lap the Nurburgring faster than any of their road cars could at the time, to show the purists that a large 4x4 can ‘go’ just as well as any other BMW. The M engineers decided to shoehorn in a 700bhp version of the S70/3 V12 engine which had taken the V12 LMR sportscar to victory at Le Mans in 1999, before handing the keys to a certain Hans Stuck, who tore up the ‘ring in the V12 X5 in 2000 – here is the full story… Words - Jeff Heywood / Photographs - BMW Press www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

MW launched the X5 to a worldwide audience in 1999. It was their first Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV), featuring allwheel drive and available with either manual or auto gearboxes. Right from launch, BMW’s marketing team branded the X5 a Sport Activity Vehicle rather than an SUV, to emphasize its onroad ability, despite its size. The X5 heralded the shift from light truck-based body-on-frame SUVs to crossovers underpinned by unibody car platforms. The X5 shared its underpinnings with the E39 5 Series, and BMW developed the X5 whilst owning Land Rover, benefitting from Land Rover’s off-road BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

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The heart of the beast; BMW’s M engineers managed to shoehorn the Motorsport V12 from the Le Mans winning LMR V12 under the bonnet of the X5. They also tweaked the 6-litre lump to give 700bhp

technology. It shared the Range Rover HSE’s Hill Descent System and Off Road Engine Management System, while the E39 provided the X5 with its engines and electronic systems. Although the Mercedes-Benz M-Class had beaten the X5 to market by a year, the X5 was the first to use a unibody chassis whereas the M-Class used a (slightly agricultural) light truck ‘ladder-frame’ platform until its second generation. The X5 was a big hit in the US and with the Sloane Ranger set, quickly gaining the nickname ‘Chelsea Tractor’, and was often seen on the school run, parked up outside schools, and the only

off-roading they often saw was climbing a kerb outside the school playground. Although the X5 had its haters (and still does) it was generally well received, and went on to sell in big numbers, with 560,882 E53 X5s sold before being replaced in November 2006 by the second generation E70. It also went on to lead BMW’s renaissance into the new millennium, opening the door for a plethora of 4x4 crossover models like the X3, X6, X4 and finally the X1 and X2 models. As the title says, at launch the X5 was castigated in some quarters, mainly by the purists but also from serious

mud-pluggers who looked upon the X5 as a soft roader manufactured for wealthy yuppies - and they still do. So BMW turned to M Power to try and add some spice into the newly launched 4x4 to convince at least some of the purists that a large 4x4 can still be made to handle and drive in a sporting manner and feel like a true BMW. Long before BMW had an official M version of its X5, the M Power technicians came up with something even more intense. BMW’s marketing gurus billed it as an experimental vehicle, just in case things didn’t go to plan, which would enable them to drop it like a stone.

The X5 V12 LM sits skulking in a BMW park garage, looking lithe, poised and ready to pounce

BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

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I was lucky enough to visit BMW Mobile Tradition in 2003 and took this photo of the X5 LM Concept, which was on display with one of the BMW S70/3 6-litre V12 Motorsport engines sat alongside; BMW Mobile Tradition has now of course undergone a name change to BMW Classic.

This is how the world’s press viewed the interior, trimmed out with four superb racing bucket seats to allow senior BMW luminaries and a select group of guests from the motoring world experience some hot laps in the V12 X5

The X5 Le Mans (LM) received its name as a nod to the engine that was lurking underneath its vented hood. A naturally aspirated 5990cc 48V V12 sourced from the 1999 Le Manswinning BMW V12 LMR (a version also powered the McLaren F1 race and road cars) was shoehorned into the engine bay to create the world’s only X5 with twelve-cylinder power. The V12 engine

was mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. Suspension wise, race-spec springs, dampers and anti-roll bars were fitted, lowering the ride height by a considerable 50mm. The brakes were full race items located within sexy-looking 20-inch BBS magnesium rims, shod with 275/40 tyres at the front and 315/35 tyres at the rear. There was neither anti-lock braking nor

Hans Stuck’s office. Note his Recaro racing seat and roll cage around the driver – the passenger (as in Frankel’s case) had to ‘make do’ with the standard X5’s leather sports seat. This is an early shot showing how the car tackled the Nürburgring, hunting that hot time comfortably under 8 minutes. The car was later trimmed out with four racing buckets to allow ‘hot lap taxi rides’ www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

traction control. BMW never officially released overall weight figures, but it did say the weight was distributed 51:49 front/rear, so almost perfect. In this guise the legendary mill, tweaked to compensate for the X5’s extra bulk, pushed out a healthy 700bhp and produced a stump pulling torque figure of 700Nm at 5,000rpm. It still packs more horsepower than today’s £90,000 X5 M. In terms of performance, the X5 LM scorched to 60mph from rest in 4.0 seconds, the rear Michelins struggling for grip with so much torque being channeled through them! The official top speed quoted by BMW was 173mph, but later on it actually managed to hit 193mph on the Döttinger Höhe section of the Nürburgring. BMW’s technicians went to the trouble of modifying the interior by installing four bucket seats with frames made of aluminium, which was also used on the centre tunnel (see photos) and other areas throughout the cabin. They also removed the radio and installed three gauges that provided the driver with information on oil pressure, temperature and water temperature. The X5 LM’s interior photos show how it was presented to the world’s press after the Nürburgring hot laps, so the car could be used as a four-seater ‘taxi’ to provide hot laps to various BMW and other motoring luminaries. However, for the Stuck record-breaking ‘hot laps’ the rear seats were removed and a roll bar installed. At the time, the well-respected scribe Andrew Frankel wrote for Autocar and he was lucky enough to be chauffeured on a hot lap on the same day Stuck set the 7:50 time. Here is Frankel’s account; “I approached the X5 with a degree of trepidation. The X5’s cabin now has a roll cage threading around the interior and driver’s seat; the driver’s race seat is equipped with a full harness,” said Frankel. “Yet the passenger seat is a standard X5 leather sports seat – gulp!” – “the crazy thing is, the X5 still also has electric windows, central locking, air conditioning and even a sunroof!” BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

Feature “How futile is this car? Sensationally so. Its engine would fail every emissions test, making the car unusable on the road, while its 2200kg weight (not to mention its sky-high centre of gravity) means it would be utterly hopeless as a track machine.” A few days before Andrew Frankel had his passenger ride, its driver, Hans Stuck, had been tasked by BMW to try and break the eight-minute barrier around the Nordschleife. “His out-lap was 8min 6sec, it rained on the second lap and the car broke down on the third,” reported Frankel. Fortunately, there were no such problems on Autocar’s hot laps. Frankel adds - “We set off, Stuck revelling in the engines incredible torque spread, using as little as 3000rpm as he warmed the huge 6.0-litre V12 until it reached full operating temperature. The first lap is just a ‘sighter’, then he steps it up a couple of notches as we start the second lap, and I pull my seat belt tight! The revs increase to the 8000rpm maximum between quick and precise gear changes. “I wouldn’t call myself a Nürburgring expert but I know quite a bit of the circuit, so when we hit 130mph along Schwedenkreuz with the tight righthander at Aremberg coming up fast, I knew what was next, the drop down the

Fuchsröhre – gulp! We exited Aremberg, the X5 almost leaning on its door handles, Michelins screaming, then Stuck gunned the X5 through 3rd into 4th gear, then into 5th, the X5 hurtling down the hill, hitting the bottom of the Fuchsröhre in 5th gear, the speedo nudging 170mph as Stuck calmly slots into 6th, in the wet; I have to admit, it was a sphincter tightening moment!” Frankel continues - “On the near flatout run up the mountain from Bergwerk to the Karussell, Stuck is dazzling and effortless; entirely within himself, yet utterly committed. After the run down the Fuchsröhre, I now felt safe and relaxed. The X5, so big and slow in the really tight turns, now feels fluid, almost agile and very, very quick. We hit 150mph in fourth, skimming across the puddles, Stuck’s will stepping in when simple grip runs out. Right in the most difficult section of track, we run into a wall of fog. The sum total of Stuck’s reaction to such potentially cataclysmic weather is to say: “Ah. Fog.” He never mentions it again.” Final lap completed, Stuck returned Frankel to the pits, his ‘taxi ride’ over, his lap times had just come through; his best time had just broken the magic 8 minute barrier; BMW officials on-site were whooping with delight, but Stuck remained calm and unmoved – “we wait for the track to dry out, then we go again

- I can go faster…” He still didn’t mention the fog!” Later that same day Stuck took the X5 LM out onto this most vaunted of race tracks and pushed the X5 to, and at times, beyond, its limits; recording a time of 7:49. 7:49 - he knocked a full 10 seconds off the lap that Frankel had completed with Stuck in the morning session! Stuck and the V12 X5 tore up the Nürburgring in seven minutes and forty-nine seconds! That’s not only insane for an SUV but also insane for any car. At the time it had lapped the ‘ring faster than the best times posted by the likes of BMW’s own M3 CSL, a Porsche GT3, Lamborghini’s Murcielago, and Ferrari’s 360 Challenge Stradale! BMW now had something they could really ‘whoop-whoop’ about, with a lap time they were over the moon with. BMW said right from the beginning that the V12 X5 Le Mans was purely a one-of-one concept, without any intentions for series production, not even a miniscule run, and they remained true to their word, the record breaking machine was the only V12 powered X5 they ever built. We wish the V12 X5 LM a happy 20th birthday; it came from a time when a small number of BMW senior managers and technicians still had a glint of mischievousness in their eyes.

The X5 V12 LM Concept now sits in the BMW Classic collection and is often wheeled out for appearances in BMW Welte, at Villa d’Este and at other important events worldwide

BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

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SANTORINI DREAMING! PART 3 See part 1 in July 2019 and part 2 in November 2019 of Straight Six.

Words and photographs by Anthony Shilson

or those that remember my previous articles, I was looking at a final set of performance modifications with the aim to reduce weight but not at the expense of comfort. Well, I’ve made a little progress with that and also made two unconnected changes. I’ll start with the seats - I haven’t changed them. I previously sat in another V8 M3 with Recaro Profi XL (the same seats BMW chose for the GTS) and they were comfy for the 10 minutes or so I sat in them. However, my preference was to buy British and a few years ago at Autosport International I tried several seats by Corbeau. Unfortunately they no longer make the one I preferred and so visiting Autosport again this year, I wanted to try their seats again but sadly they did not attend. Cobra did attend www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

and they make a lovely seat for the M3 called the Nogaro, but sadly they were uncomfortable for me. The people on their stand did not actually work for Cobra and weren’t much help at all. For the time being I’ve paused my seat hunt but I will be saving a considerable amount of weight with a lithium battery from Deadweight Industries, though it’s not yet installed as I write this. This brings me to the changes not related to my weight saving goals. I attend a regular M3 meet where a few of the owners had changed the rubber bushes in the front control arms to solid ball joints, known as monoballs or uniballs. These owners were regular track users and said the biggest improvements were felt on the track when under maximum braking and turning into corners, but they do offer benefits for

road use too. They were adamant that the expected increase in NVH was not present with a version made by an American engineering company specialising in BMW and Porsche, called German Auto Solutions (GAS). The additional NVH, they said, was akin to running stiffer front suspension. The benefits of increased steering feedback and better steering control were well worth it, in their opinion. I therefore contacted GAS by phone, left a voice message and sent them an email with some questions. It’s very important that the monoballs are sealed to prevent the ingress of water and dirt, else they would become noisy very quickly. I also contacted Millway, a British manufacturer but they only made the unsealed type for the V8 M3. GAS soon replied and I placed my order, which arrived around a week later and I didn’t pay any custom charges or VAT, result! Their kit includes detailed instructions with colour photos and all the items to fit them, such as: Loctite locking compound, primer / activator and a Scotch-Brite pad for cleaning the bore. The M3 was due its routine service which was the big service as it includes engine oil and filter, spark plugs, diff oil, gearbox oil (if a manual – the DCT oil is changed less frequently, which mine is) and because of the age, the brake fluid. I ordered all the parts from Opie Oils apart BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

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Monoballs before install

from the coolant and oil filter, which I bought from Sytner HW. I don’t use the diff oil with the extra friction modifiers that BMW introduced because some owners complained of noises. Instead I choose outright performance over a little diff groan but I’ve never heard any diff groan with using the standard Castrol oil for the BMW M differentials. I booked the service with PMW Ltd along with installation of the monoballs and also asked them to look at an odd noise the car had, only when it was reversed out of my garage from cold. The noise sounded like a groan or a belt slipping. During the service, PMW identified the root cause as a failed AC belt tensioner – a common problem. I bought a replacement from Sytner HW but the new part is a bit rough to say the least… usual cost cutting measures I presume. PMW also said a few more of the plastic rivets in the DCT cover had broken (another common issue) and whilst the PAS fluid was not too dirty, the filter was black and they had given it a good clean and fully flushed the system. The work was done just before the lockdown and given it was early March, I hadn’t driven the M3 much since it went into hibernation for winter. I also didn’t get

Removing the original bushes

BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

Rubber tray

Phone cradle with cover removed

to drive it properly until May and therefore I am not able to say with absolute clarity the way the car felt pre-monoballs. What I can say is there is a significant increase in the amount of feedback at the wheel and the steering has a nicer feel, oddly a bit lighter at low speeds – something I was not expecting. The road and tyres now talk to me. There is a small increase in NVH on rough roads only, that manifests itself as increased tyre noise and stiffer front suspension but on smooth roads there is none. Having now used the performance of the car through some of my favourite combination of corners, the Burnham Bends, I am really pleased with the end result. Being able to really feel the front tyres working just adds more driving pleasure and makes the car more engaging to drive. However, it may be too focussed for a daily driver. The second change I made was during lockdown. I was bored and needed something to do. I decided to do a modification the dealers now offer and one that I had looked at doing previously but never got round to. My M3 comes with a phone cradle

inside the front centre armrest that enables a mobile phone to be securely connected, charged and use the car’s external aerial. I’d never used it and the quality of calls using Bluetooth was fine. BMW now offered a rubber tray to replace the phone cradle. Unfortunately the job of removing the cradle is not straightforward but I wanted a challenge and decided to do it, even

Monoballs fitted www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

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Finished job

with the car in the garage, because it was a very windy day. I was just too impatient to wait! The process involves removing the cradle, handbrake gaiter, clips, two connectors under the gear stick, rear seat squabs, rear centre console, smaller bits of trim, rear AC vent, another connector and finally what is called on M3 forums, the blue connector. I can

only hypothesize that BMW chose to use such fiddly and difficult to undo connectors for that reason, they won’t become unconnected and are built to last! The removal of the above also involved a lot of the worst possible swearing (thank goodness I was in the garage) but it did allow me to marvel at how well engineered the parts are so

they can be removed and reinstalled properly. I’m pleased to report there are no rattles and that the USB and other electrics all work as expected. The job, whilst a pain, did give me a lot of satisfaction and I am glad I did it. No doubt like for many of us, these little jobs helped us deal with the monotony during lockdown.

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here is undoubtedly an art to driving well, it will contain a fluidity and smoothness where swift progress can be made without drama. I recall my first ownership experience with the E30 M3 Evo 2 back in the early 1990s, it was a step up from the preceding E30 325i Sport. The handling was more stable, the steering faster and more direct, the braking more powerful and the engine would scream to the rev limiter. My local main dealer was polite, for it took them three replacement sets of cracked front discs under warranty (in under 4,000 miles) to quietly suggest that perhaps I was over driving! They were exactly right for I didn’t have the experience or confidence to carry speed through the corners, so it would be maximum power out of the apex and stand it on its nose in the corners! It took the Club’s track days to sort that out and to learn how to go faster by driving smoothly and with less drama. At that time it was the way one learned, each new car

would tend to be a little more powerful and handle a little better so that incrementally one’s experience would grow bit by bit to adapt. Eventually you would come to learn most of the vehicle’s and your own dynamic, the trust and intimacy is then optimized. In other words, you’d learn how to get the most out of the car, and I wonder if that really happens these days? Back then, initially the car might have been overwhelming, but as one became familiar with the limits it would be you riding the horse rather than the other way round, and then you were ready for another step up the performance ladder. Has there come a time when this area of the relationship has moved out of whack? Has the cake been over baked? Why does one hear with increasing frequency that cars are lacking in soul and boring to drive? Has the technical ability to keep us safe actually denied us the involvement? It wouldn’t help new car sales if their

latest models become widow makers, and so very politely these clever guys in research and development have quietly helped out the cause by incorporating electronic devices to keep us safe, particularly traction control in all its many guises. And, incidentally, has it been noticed just how wide and grippy modern tyres have become? It was only when driving the E34 M5 from Munich back to the UK following the 2001 Club factory tour that I actually came to truly understand the dynamic of that car. Being able to drive at maximum speed on the autobahn one can immediately appreciate the engineering principles of comfort, stability, power, braking and component integrity. Let’s face it, the M Power cars are not designed for UK roads or typical UK driving, and most of the car’s dynamic capabilities are underutilized in every department on our island. The stiff suspension that is so necessary at 150mph on billiard smooth autobahns is dreadful on

WHAT MIGHT WE WANT? Words: Richard Baxter Photographs: BMW Press, BMWBlog

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our small, bumpy roads where it is helping neither stability nor comfort. The effortless power to overtake swiftly and safely in Germany is compromised by our low national speed limit, by the everblocked so called ‘overtaking lane’ on our motorways and that the low inertia required for snappy overtakes in the UK is now thwarted by the ever increasing weight of new M Power cars, even though the 0-60 times are simply otherworldly! 1986 E28 M5: Weight: 1410kg, 0-60: 5.7secs. 2020 F90 M5: Weight: 1990kg, 0-60: 2.8secs. If one were to have the opportunity to have a spirited drive in either of the above what would you choose to drive in the UK? And what would you choose to drive in Germany? For myself it would be the E28 – UK, and F90 – Germany, simply because their disparate dynamics would be in far better harmony in matching their respective environments and for driver enjoyment and purpose. To my mind and probably why the modern classic car scene has become so popular was very well summed up by one of our clients at my car storage facility. A young professional owns a Porsche Cayman GT4 which he uses for track days, a BMW 7 Series for work and smiling from ear to ear turned up last week in his latest acquisition; a left-hand drive 1981 E21 316! “It’s just so much fun because it’s so simple and I’m in control of everything, the Porsche is great but it can be very scary.” This comment reminded me of my experience driving the M4 GTS, wonderful in the dry but unnerving in the wet and the feeling that this could catch you out and bite hard. On the one hand I wanted one as a challenge to try and get to grips with its many talents, but I left with the impression that it too can be very scary, especially as the turbos produce so much spiked power in a way that makes a normally aspirated engine simply more predictable! My mind was on a journey; what is

BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

it that I liked so much about M cars and have had my fascination changed over the past 30 years? In no particular order; I didn’t like the advent of traction control with the E39 M5. The normally aspirated engines were simply a marvel of engineering with their unique sound, predictability and urgency and the turbocharged motors can’t replicate it. Piping a false soundtrack through the speaker system is a major no no. The weight: Colin Chapman of Lotus was so right - to increase performance, add lightness. Clutch and gearbox are an involving art form and better for it, not least when maneuvering in tight spaces. The M seat fabrics with their creative designs, grippy texture and immediate warmth are very special. The feel of rack and pinion steering, engaging. All these intimacies are sending little messages to your senses and stimulating them, creating a fascination. We all have different needs and interests and I got to thinking; what if we landed in the M Power storage facility with a shopping trolley and the promise that we could raid the parts bins and put together a car to fit our purpose, how would we individualise it? An E36 and E46 Touring could be built up as an M3 making it a compact, versatile performance machine with practical space. Or a four-door E46 M3 because the E39 M5 was too large a car for your needs. A right-hand drive E30

M3 so one’s wife didn’t have to be hung out on the overtake, a Z1 with an S50 B30 engine installed to give it the go it so misses. One might also play around with the final drive ratios to provide sharper acceleration in the speed range that suits our roads rather than compromising it for economy at the higher speeds we never use. Fit a tyre with slightly less width to feel the break point more readily. We could also use parts from the Motorsport parts bin such as lightweight seats, and removing the back seats entirely which might never be used. Replace the standard heavy exhaust system for a lightweight titanium one from Akrapovic, fabricate the heavy front bumper unit in carbon fibre. I would be tempted into building an E31 8 Series that looked like the fabled M8; it would lose around 450kg by ditching the armchair seats, pop up lights and complicated wiring system. It would have an S62 engine from the E39 M5 but with a five-speed dogleg gearbox and a high ratio diff to give it scorching acceleration, the suspension would have Schnitzer style qualities of comfort in the straight line but would then weight up nicely for good cornering. What would your fantasy build from the BMW M Power parts bin? And could its simplicity and tactility bring back the missing fascination in driving?

The interior of the E31 M8 Prototype

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COME INTO THE LIGHT FAULT REPAIR ON BLAUPUNKT VERONA CR 43 Words and photographs by Neil Lamb & Andrew Lamb

o you find yourself putting your hand over the LCD display of the radio to try and see what radio frequency you are tuning to? It’s a common fault with vintage radio

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cassette units which often leads to an expensive purchase to replace. With time on my hands, I had been meaning to get round to repairing my unit in my E30; now I have the time! The first step is to remove the stereo from the vehicle and get it on the bench. By prising the radio’s top cover off you can find the LCD back light mounted in its shroud. This is a filament bulb held in the mount by a yellowish rubber fixing piece. This rubber piece gives the display its distinctive yellow/orange colour. The filament bulb is connected to the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) by two small black wires. After removing the bulb from the rubber fixing piece, you can see the

broken filament inside the bulb. Thinking ahead and not wishing to carry out this repair more than once, the thought of replacing it with an LED came to mind. An LED uses much less current and produces far less heat, along with lasting a very long time and providing a cleaner light. Connecting a multimeter to the two black wires showed that the supply from the radio was 12VDC, and so the hunt for a 12V LED began. The LED strip lights commonly used on contemporary kitchen units can be found in 12V versions. Most of these are easily cut into short one-inch pieces and soldered onto the two black wires. The most important thing is to ensure you get the polarity correct. The diagram on the PCB board shows a rectangle with the corner cut off, the wire connected to the board nearest the cut corner is the positive. Now it is a case of placing the short LED strip inside the mount and securing with a small strip of double-sided tape. The radio is now ready for the big turn on, and voila, you can tune into a station without guessing where you are on the dial! We may have lost the original orange glow of the radio, but we have a more reliable unit that will last far longer... A quick question to Concours enthusiasts – many will have noticed that the unit in question is a 1994 model radio cassette. My E30 is a ’90 model, what would it have been fitted with out of the factory? BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

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Club exclusive: claim up to £120 in our fuel gift card offer *Terms and conditions apply

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t has been a long three months or thereabouts, but finally the chance to drive regularly, just for fun, is back! And absence certainly makes the heart grow fonder. In many ways, returning to the BMW you’ve always loved feels a bit like having a new car all over again. Right in time for increased driving, the Pirelli fuel card offer is just the ticket for all BMW owners. Moreover, from August 1st the rewards with it are set to be even more generous because when you buy four new tyres, in sizes of 18 inches or bigger, you’ll now receive a fuel gift card to the value of £120. How does it all work? Well that is simple. Pirelli continues to offer a fuel gift card on purchases through official BMW dealers or Pirelli Performance Centres of up to eight Pirelli tyres within a calendar year. This offer can be used for your friends and family and isn’t applicable

BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

just for tyres for your BMW. Providing the terms and conditions are adhered to then you can take advantage for Pirelli tyre purchases for any family cars. It is a win-win situation for BMW owners to get involved with the fuel card offer from Pirelli. Not only are bespoke Pirelli tyres specifically created for more or less every old or new BMW out there, ensuring exactly the right mechanical feel, but now you will have more to spend on petrol. With a great summer of driving ahead after this frustrating period of prolonged inactivity, there has never been a better time to check your tyres, replace them if necessary, and make the most of the open road. In order to take advantage of this unique offer for BMW owners, please visit and find out how you can reap the rewards by fitting Pirelli tyres: www.pirelli.co.uk/bmwcarclub

Pirelli fuel gift card offer Rim Size

Two Tyres

Four Tyres

16” & below

£10

£30

17”

£30

£70

18” & above

£50

£120

Where can you get your tyres fitted? A dedicated website is set up at pirelli.co.uk/bmwcarclub. Here you will find all the promotional details and a dealer locator enabling you to search for your nearest participating dealer. Terms and conditions apply. Please note, only claims from a Pirelli Performance Centre or official BMW dealer will be accepted. And don’t forget, you can keep in touch with Pirelli here: www.pirelli.co.uk/keepintouch.

www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

OVER 10 YEARS BMW DEALERSHIP EXPERIENCE GENUINE PARTS USED MOT’S ARRANGED FREE NEW PURCHASE APPRAISAL

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ROYTHORNE THE BMW SPECIALISTS

Roythorne

www.roythorneandson.co.uk • All servicing and repair work undertaken • Menu service pricing (please ring for a quote) • Autologic diagnostics

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crossword 1

Winner of last month’s crossword Robert Lewis- All entrants for August’s issue crossword must be received into the office by 11th August. Winner will be announced in next issue. The first correct crossword chosen at random will receive Meguiars Goodies. Please email all completed crosswords to office@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk or post it to BMW Car Club GB, Unit 5h, Glan Yr Afon, Aberystywth, SY23 3JQ Answers to July 2020 Crossword Across: Across: 1. Trawlerman, 9. Oleous, 10. XLD, 11. Reverse Aid, 15. ISA (Individual Savings Account), 16. Oil, 17. BO (Bang & Olufsen), 18. NT (Northern Territory), 19. AOL (America On-Line), 20. ALO (Alonso), 21. Goldfinger, 23. Nee, 24. Giappo, 26. Bartington Down: 1. Touring, 2. Aviva, 3. Low Roof, 4. El, 5. Rexel, 6. MOLA, 7. Audible, 8. NS, 12. Estonia, 13. Silicon, 14. Doorman, 19. Adept, 20. Agent, 22. Lear, 24. GB, 25. PI

Sponsored by

Across 1. “... Never...”: (with 25. Across) Title of 18th James Bond film featuring a remote-controlled BMW E38 7 Series (8) 9. Keepsake or memento (8) 11. Marc...: Canadian fitness model and entrepreneur, with stated ambitions that “I always wanted a Rolex and a BMW since I was 9” (4) 12. Commonly-used initials for last individually numbered UK-only E34 M5 cars as well as Australian 540i models (1,1) 13. Postcode for location of BMW dealership founded by former British racing driver John Coombs. Today one of the Vines Group locations (1,1) 14. Goddess in Germanic and Norse mythology, also the name of a Barbie-like doll marketed in Islamic and Middle-Eastern countries (5) 16. BMW designation for injection, longwheelbase - for example, the 12 cylinder model used in 1. Across (1,1) 17. Classic BMW motorcycle initials for sports touring models (1,1) 18. Dr...: Mike Myers’ supervillain character in his spoof James Bond films (4) 19. Ransom Eli ...: Founder in 1897 of eponymous US motor vehicle company, credited with building the first mass-produced automobile (4) 21. Designation for grand tourer sports car produced by Mercedes-Benz since 1954 (1,1) 22. Initials for first method developed for making audio radio transmissions, and of a British grand tourer and sport car brand founded in 1913 (1,1) 23. Wolfgang von ...: German-born Ferrari driver who was tragically killed in the 1961 Italian Grand Prix when leading the F1 World Championship (5) 24. Shortform for US State of Herrin-Gear BMW of Jackson (1,1) 25. Initials used to designate the full suspension and electronics package on the latest BMW R

1250 GS motorcycle models (1,1) 26. See 1. Across (4) 28. Term for the length that car bodywork extends beyond the wheelbase (8) 31. L.J.K. ...: Distinctive and accomplished motoring journalist and author who sadly died in 2005 (8) Down 2. Initials for Open Systems Interconnection (or Open Simulation Interface) (1,1,1) 3. BMW’s racing division: What the ‘M’ in M3 etc stands for (10) 4. Not in! (3) 5. Generic initials for describing campervans, motorhomes etc (1,1) 6. Probably the main reason motorists would be using a service station (10) 7. Not off! (2) 8. Long-standing BMW dealers in Liverpool and Manchester. The company was actually founded in 1909 as a repairer of horse-drawn vehicles (8) 10. Fields or domains of activity (6) 11. What a racing driver might demand of an engine, particularly on the start line (4,4) 13. ... Bizzarrini: Italian automotive engineer who after career spells at Alfa Romeo and Ferrari started in 1962 the company that used his name (6) 15. Initials of French fashion house that offers a carbon fibre luggage set for the BMW i8 (1,1) 20. Diesel injection? (1,1) 26. Welsh or Japanese masculine given name, and also happens to be Daimler AG’s stock market identifier (3 / 1,1,1) 27. Could be Epsom General Hospital? (1,1,1) 29. British mobile network operator, internet service provider and since April 2018 a division of BT Group (1,1) 30. Commonly-used initials for Human Resources (1,1)

socialmedia Silverstone Classic’s online 30th Anniversary Party Silverstone Classic’s anniversary had been scheduled to run on 31st July to 2nd August, however the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to cancel. In true Classic style, this has not stopped them to plan for the party to continue, so over the same weekend of 31st July – 2nd August, everyone around the globe is invited to join the celebrations.

BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

The dazzling Online 30th Anniversary Party will be shared across the event’s YouTube and Facebook channels. It will feature ‘Classic Moments’ and past highlights, as well as live online classic, competition and automobilia sales from Silverstone Auctions. 2021 provisional dates are Friday 30th – Sunday 1st August.

BMW Group Live Streaming As car shows have been cancelled for the most of this year, BMW have been wise to move their world premiere of their new models to their online platforms. 2020 has already seen the premiere of the new 4 Series coupe, and there are many more to see on their website. Visit live.bmwgroup.com.

www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

yourletters THREE DECADES WITH MY E30 My article, featured in last month’s Straight Six, was originally submitted in 2016 and was published with updated photos. For the sake of completeness I should bring it up to date. She has only had light use since and the mileage is 145k. The following work has been carried out: • Bonnet strut rams replaced. • New engine soundproofing kit fitted. • Panel under the fascia extending down to the pedals replaced. In addition, on Neil McDonald’s advice, the following parts have been obtained from BMW: • Expansion tanks for the coolant and screen washers. • Windscreen moulding.

The present crisis has meant that she has remained in winter use, i.e. regular fettling runs only. However, advancing years and some underlying health problems have meant that it is time to say goodbye to her and give someone else the opportunity to enjoy her as I have. I am delighted to say that elder son Rhid and his petrol head partner are taking her on, I could not be more pleased. He actually came with me when I collected the car from Cotswold and he is on the insurance etc., and drives her in the summer months per the last picture in July Straight Six. Roger Taylor

August 2019

myothercar

office@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

To start this feature off, our very own member of office staff and Straight Six editor Lisa, shares with us her father’s ‘Other Car’ passion. Tim Davies: Ford Lotus Cortina My dad joined the Club in 2017 after purchasing a Brilliant Red E30 M3 Sport Evo from Portugal (pictured with his four Massey Ferguson’s). He adores the E30 model, having owned an Alpine White 325i since 2010. However he’s a Ford man at heart, and it shows in his collection of classic cars. Ford Lotus Cortina DEJ 630D was his first restoration project. After years of dreaming of owning one himself, he finally found a barn find that was in need of major TLC. Purchased in 1989, he spent 10 years to get her up to concours condition, and went on to win an Autoglym concours competition at the NEC Classic Motor Show in 2001. Alongside his show car in the image, is his Historic Saloon Car Championship Class B built Cortina race car. Running on an engine built by friend Neil Brown Engineering (other successes include WSR’s BMW touring cars), they won two consecutive championships in 2013 and 2014. He’s no stranger to the battle of motor racing, having spent his late 20’s competing in Formula Ford 2000 and Formula 3. www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

Other classic’s in his collection include a Cyprus import Mk1 3L Capri, Escort TwinCam, Fiesta XR2, and a Mini Pickup. His passion for cars, especially the classics, have certainly been passed on to my sister and I.

To feature in the next ‘My Other Car’ please email office@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk by answering the following (max 300 words), along with a suitable image: - Owner: (your name) - Vehicle details: - Ownership history: (i.e. when you bought it and perhaps include why you did) - Interesting information: (i.e. fun facts, background, what have you done with it or to it) BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

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regionalnews Central Tony Skerrett Central Region sponsored by

07879 404648 central@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

Barons Bedford

The number of Club activities has declined by the week, certainly for the Club but there is future activity on the horizon if only for onwards. Like many other members I have been carrying out minor repairs on my E46. Staying home is the perfect excuse to shut yourself in your garage and fettle your classic so it’s ready for action when the moment allows – at least that’s my excuse. Unfortunately, I have been coerced into repainting some bay windows which involved replacing rotten wood, plenty of filler and rubbing down; hate it! Whilst working on the car I regularly resorted to help from club members, the classic car community, Facebook, and Twitter. I also tidied the garage as best I could, but encountered some serious opposition from my beloved when it came to school books going back many years, not to mention old cans of decorating paint and such like. Still after an honourable draw I managed to reclaim some space to continue car preparation. For the perfect enthusiasts garage I loved this article from an American car magazine and fell about laughing at some of the ideas. If you’re a car enthusiast, you know a garage can be so much more than the space to park your car. In fact your garage can be a place to work, hang out and showcase your vehicle. Whether you’re in the planning stages or just daydreaming about the future, here are eight elements of the ultimate car lover’s garage.

01234 434 122

www.baronsgroup.co.uk/bmw BARONSCC20133 = 15% discount code

5. Storage Cabinets Of course, with all the tools, supplies and spare parts you have on hand, you’ll need to install custom storage cabinets to house it all. 6. Overhead Storage Can easily store your tires and other bulky items in overhead storage racks. 7. Lighting Whether you’re working on your cars or just admiring them up close, you may want to install a proper lighting scheme. 8. Bathroom (You what?!) Installing a full bathroom in your garage will give you a place to clean up after a long day under the lift, and it will let you get back to work (or watch the big game) more quickly. The reality is something like this; well for some that is! Future Events Central Regional Meetings will resume on Monday August 10th 2020 at Aviator Hotel Sywell. 7pm to 9.30pm. Outside only. Refreshments will only be available by pre-ordered Waitress Tray service. For members information we have reached a provisional agreement with Waterperry House near Oxford to arrange a visit in August. Date will be announced on the various media channels. Peak District Tour - August East Coast Seaside Trip - August Bicester Heritage Sunday Scramble - 4th October Nb at all these events BMWCC approved Covid-19 precautions will be in place. My Car by Niek Nijsen - Follow on from July’s Straight Six Report on Niek’s E9 Project

1. Car Lift Every DIY mechanic would love a two, or four, post car lift that would allow them to not only work on the undercarriage of their vehicle, but also provide a means to double their overall parking space. 2. A Custom Flooring Make your garage more inviting and the flooring more durable with an epoxy coating, which comes in a variety of colours. These types of floors are stain resistant, easy to clean and more resilient than concrete alone. Plus, you’ll help ensure your garage floor remains in quality shape for years to come. 3. Lounge If you’re building your dream garage, it should definitely be a place where you want to hang out. So why not make it comfortable and relaxing? 4. Tools, Tools and More Tools Stock your garage with everything from sockets and wrenches to a large-capacity compressor. www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

Here is an update on the restoration of my E9, so here goes. The original Zenith twin carburettors were removed and will be replaced by new triple Weber carburettors. Unfortunately, it turns out the engine bay will need some modifications in order BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

regionalnews to fit these carbs, including thermostat, engine oil filter and brake booster relocation. At least the new exhaust manifold by Schmiedmann fits. Then came the dreaded job of removing the old sound insulation, a horrible task. After hours of work I still got the rear seats to do. I removed the brakes and wheel hubs before arriving at the big moment of separating the engine and body. Not

through the conventional way, but by removing the entire subframe assembly along with the engine as I raised the body using the lift. I subsequently removed the automatic gearbox as I’ll be replacing this with a manual 5-speed. At the moment I’m removing the rear subframe, more on that perhaps next time. Full details and episodes available on my website; www.nieknijsen.com.

Central West Dave Evans Central West Region sponsored by

07800 616500 centralwest@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

Autobahn Servicing Ltd Unit 11, Pitcairn Drive Halesowen B62 8AG Tel 0121 585 9146 www.autobahnservicing.co.uk info@autobahnservicing.co.uk

Cheshire & Staffs Steve Cooper Cheshire & Staffs Region sponsored by

cheshireandstaffs@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

 DISCOUNT OF UP TO 10% IS GIVEN TO MEMBERS WITH VALID MEMBERSHIP CARD *Conditions apply

Cornwall Jim Husband

Monthly Meets The Cornwall Region monthly pub meets are still cancelled until

further notice. Hopefully we will soon be able to resume these monthly pub meets, which are held on the second Monday of the month. Car of the Month If you would like to have your car featured please send me details with a maximum of 100 words and a good quality photo. Even if you have had your car featured previously but have since modified it, an updated report would be good.

Cotswold Martyn Goodwin Cheltenham BMW Cheltenham MINI Cotswold Motor Group Cheltenham Motorrad www.cotswoldgroup.com Cheltenham Parts Corinthian Way, Cheltenham, GL51 6UP Cheltenham Service Hereford Roman Road, Hereford, HR1 1LN

Cotswold Region sponsored by

Cumbria James France Hello to all Cumbria Region members new and old, as I write this I should have been travelling through Belgium en route to the Le Mans Classic with eight friends, three Porsches and one Alfa - disappointed is an understatement! Planning for the Spa Classic next May all being well, which is BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

Knights Bede Road, Radial Park, Stoke on Trent Staffordshire. ST4 4GU Tel:01782 572100

cornwall@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

Hello to all members of the Cornwall Region. Not a lot to report I’m afraid. The lockdown, although being eased, is still in place and events either being cancelled or hopefully rescheduled. Hopefully by the time this is published we may be in a position to be out and about enjoying our cars. As soon as I possibly can I will arrange a drive out and reinstate the pub meetings. Welcome to two new members of the Cornwall Region, James and Tony. I hope you will enjoy being a member of the Club and Region. Please contact me if there is anything you wish to know about the pub meets, Club events or Regional activities we have planned. I hope to meet you at one as soon as we can recommence. If you are a Facebook user please check out the BMW Car Club GB – Cornwall page. Details of meets and events are posted on this page along with any last minute changes / updates. Please also check the Cornwall page on the Club website for details of events, I will update this as events are confirmed, and everything will be printed in Straight Six as deadlines allow.

Blue Bell Fourth Avenue, Weston Road, Crewe

Cheshire. CW1 6XH. Tel:01270 212525 

cotswold@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk 01242 335 335 01242 335 345 01242 335 355 01242 335 365 01242 335 375 01432 375 555

Cotswold Motor Group offer members: Generous discounts off the new BMW and MINI range

Discounts on approved used vehicles in stock 15% plus discount on parts and accessories, 10% discount on all service work and labour ( 15% on vehicles 4 years old plus ) Available to members presenting current valid membership card

cumbria@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

another brilliant event - uncrowded, access all areas and cheap as chips. I have mainly been doing house work over this lockdown, car jobs have been sparse but fitted a new electronic boost controller to my 944 Turbo and have had a couple of dents removed from my X3, a couple of parking dings removed from www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

regionalnews my Alfa, a machine polish, new rear brakes with fronts about to be fitted. And a new windscreen, after a stone strike cracked it. The company Auto Windscreens and fitter Steve did a brilliant job, highly recommended, unlike another windscreen company I had the pleasure of a couple of years ago who managed to

put the windscreen in the car wonky and not sealed on the passenger side Be careful, think about it and stay safe. Phone 07799 620 381 or e-mail jimfrance1@hotmail.co.uk. Regards, Jim.

Devon Kathy Jemfrey

01626 330436 devon@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

Devon Region sponsored by

INDEPENDENT BMW & MINI SPECIALISTS

The Calm before the Storm - 2013 How many of us remember Castle Hill Barnstaple back in 2013? See, my archives are working again. Picture one is of us on the Saturday when it was not that warm, but we had weather warnings in place for Sunday which said gale force winds. Little did we know all hell would be let loose with massive winds. We held onto our gazebo as best as we could but in the end it was to no avail. Never before or since have we demolished our encampment in such a ferocious storm. I am surprised several of us diehards have not got webbed feet and waterproof/ windproof skins by now. Any member who has photographs and a possible paragraph or so of a story, please email me and I will send to the head office. kathleenjemfrey@sky.com

East Anglia George Champ East Anglia Region sponsored by Barons Cambridge

& Stansted

07514 216660 eastanglia@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

www.barronsbmw.co.uk Cambridge Stansted

: 0844 326 7249 : 0844 326 7244

Barons offers members • Generous discounts off the new BMW and MINI range • A minimum discount of £500 on approved used cars in stock • 15% discount on parts and accessories 10% off servicing, excludes Value Line Servicing which applies to cars over 4 yrs old.

The past few months have rolled on by and we have been holding our breath and waiting for the lockdown to be lifted, and for everything to become safe and normal again. Unfortunately as we are all beginning to realise lifting restrictions has proven much harder than the initial virtually 100% temporary end to normal life as we know it. All I can do is publish events, or should I say event, from August onwards with the faint glimmer of hope that gradually some new windows of opportunity will present themselves, or at least Lodge Coaches can go ahead. Please therefore keep checking newsletters, e-mails and our respective excellent Facebook pages which are packed full of very interesting items and some great photos. In order to just brighten up the text a little, enjoy a selection of recent photos from our Facebook pages. Someone sent me a “Back to the Future” visual joke in which Dr Emmett Brown said to Marty McFly - whatever you do Marty, don’t time travel in the DMC DeLorean to 2020! www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

regionalnews cars came out of hiding to attend. Visitors were served coffee and cakes from a nicely converted Land Rover Defender and could then park up and wave to other classic car owners. In the meantime please all follow the guidelines and keep yourselves safe and well. Regards, George Champ.

Stu and Liz Blount had the opportunity to get their M5 out of their garage whilst at the same time observing social distancing. Quest Brothers Classic Cars of St. Ives organised a Drive Through Cars and Coffee morning on the 5th July, around 60

Eastern Paul Rice Car of the Month

This month we have Chris Kemp’s E93 325i M Sport. Chris purchased the car twelve months ago and with little usage at

BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

Forthcoming events Saturday 8th August – Mersea Island Show. CANCELLED Sunday 2nd August – Helmingham Hall Festival of Cars. CANCELLED UNTIL 1ST AUGUST 2021 Sunday 23rd August – Lodge Coaches Special Event including Bus and Train Rides. Hopefully still going ahead, await confirmation. Sunday 30th August – Little Gransden Air Show. CANCELLED Sunday 6th September - Classics by the Lake. CANCELLED Sunday 6th September – Classics at Glemham. Sunday 13th September – Kings Lynn Heritage Open Day and Classic Car Show in Market Square. Book direct west-norfolk. gov.uk/classiccarday. Sunday 27th September – The Warren Supercar and Classic Car Show. CANCELLED Sunday 18th October – Lodge Coaches including Auto Jumble. Contacts George Champ (East Anglia Regional Chairman) eastanglia@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk 07514 216660 David Adams (Suffolk Branch Rep.) bmwccsuffolkrep@btinternet.com 07774 668596 Stewart Chambers (Assistant Suffolk Branch Rep. and Motor Sport Coordinator) stwrtchambers@gmail.com 07717 327014 John Herman (Essex Branch Rep.) johnherman316@gmail.com Anthony Shilson (Asst. Essex Branch Rep. and M Power Development for EA Region) anthony_shilson@hotmail.com Matthew Hunt (Cambs/Beds Branch Rep.) matthew.hunt13@btinternet.com 07973 986525 Richard Howard (Norfolk Branch Rep.) bmwccnorfolk@gmail.com or janetrichard@rarness.co.uk Paul Roberts (Assistant Norfolk Branch Rep.) 07768 881763 Aaron Reeve (NW Norfolk, STH Lincolnshire, Peterborough Branch Rep.) westnorfolk@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk 01553 764600 Sindy Ratini (East Anglia Region Website and Facebook Coordinator) eastern@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

present, the car has only recently just covered 31,000 miles. The condition of the car is excellent, as with most BMWs it’s carrying its twelve years very well, with totally unblemished paintwork and an interior to match. Chris was hoping to have the opportunity to meet fellow members over the spring and summer but as we know the current global situation has rather overtaken us. Still, hopefully we may be out at events later in the year. Being from West Yorkshire Chris hopes to be attending our local meets as soon as they start up again, hopefully in the not too distant future. New Members June followed May with a splendid 11 new Eastern Region club members joining. As things start to improve on the ‘C’ front hopefully we will be able to meet up at some future events soon. www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

regionalnews Always good to feature new and current member’s cars in our regular Car of the Month feature. Up to 100 words and a good quality photo. Please send to me at eastern@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk. Shows and Events This month’s Regional page would historically have been made up of show reports and in particular my local show at the Doncaster Classic Bike & Car Show, a very popular event that has grown from year to year but sadly as with many this has had to be cancelled due to the current crisis. I keep thinking of all the events I have missed this year, today as I type I would have been visiting the North East for the Great North Classic Car Show. A chance to not only mix with fellow members but to be part of the display with my Z4 and also to ogle over a few Aston Martins at the workshop facility and show ground. Hopefully we will get an invite next year. With virtually every weekend pre-booked, my thoughts also are for the big one missing off the calendar, or should I say with cancelled written through, the Silverstone Classic; my annual four day camping jolly with fellow enthusiasts that has turned into a must. At least we already have the tickets for next year. Hopefully we will get a chance before the year is out to get together with Newby, Thoresby and Sewerby shows still a possibility.

opportunity to enjoy open top motoring courtesy of our Z4s. Social distancing at all times, easy with a car each, we headed off on our weekly run. Hornsea first port of call for lunch; fish and chips (well it would have been rude not too). After feeding our hunger and a brief look at the sea we headed north on the B1242 through some great coastal villages including Arwick, Skipsea and Ulrome before joining the A165 to Bridlington. After a quick look and drive by the harbour and spa we decided to give the seaside town a miss, opting to head off to the lighthouse at Flamborough for the obligatory ice cream and photo opportunity. A spirited run home (well within the legal speed limits), as usual avoiding the motorways got us back to Doncaster just as the rain came, great timing. There seems to be a pattern forming for our little trips out, not quite the gatherings we have become accustomed to, but very pleasurable all the same.

Fun Fridays Another visit to the East coast and some sunshine gave us the

London Anthony Mason London Region sponsored by

london@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

BMW Park Lane, 70 Park Lane London. W1K 7TT www.bmwparklane.com mail@bmwparklane.co.uk 020 7514 3559

Barons Watford 01923 700 217 and Borehamwood 02031 316 645 www.baronsgroup.co.uk/bmw This is our club, not my club... we are in it together for each other. Sadly another non-pub meet month in June, we had to make do with our virtual meet. Since I’ve taken on the London Region I try and maintain a presence on Facebook. I’m looking for ways to make it interesting and varied, I don’t just want to bore you with side shot Saturdays and the like, although I am rather partial to a front end Friday. If you are a part of the London Region write to me at london@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk and we can do a member feature. Show us your cars, and lifestyle, it doesn’t have to be flashy, if you don’t want to share too many details just send me a photo and rough location and I’ll post it on Facebook:

We have a couple of new cars to add to our regular attending cars. Jon Philips welcomes a beautiful Interlagos blue Competition pack E92 M3, following on from his CSL inspired E46 M3, and it will be interesting to see what route this one goes. I love them box fresh and OEM, but it’s not my car. Just before lockdown Vince Nevil brought us a Z3M convertible in Dakar yellow too, the funniest thing was it had a hard top on and from a distance looked like his Z3M coupé, so it took us a while to notice as we stood out in the rain. I feel Car of the Month will have to make a comeback, we have so many interesting people and resources in the Region, and we really should be getting to know each other.

1) Can you tell Straight Six readers a little about yourself, where are you from, your car history and what you do for a living? 2) If you drive a very cool and unusual car, can you tell me about it? 3) Can you tell us what your first thoughts were when you saw your car? 4) Can you tell us how long you’ve had the car in the family? 5) If you could drive any car, what would it be and why? 6) Although the COVID19-lockdown is changing the way we have car meets, what would you like to do with the car this summer or possibly next summer? The WhatsApp group has a steady stream of interesting car/ plane/boat related items and the odd random conversations which keeps us feeling like we are a community. I’m really looking forward to life getting back to normal, but I don’t want to rush and get it wrong. www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

regionalnews

North East

Nick Thomas

Welcome to all North East members who have joined the Club recently. With the lockdown you won’t have had a chance to meet us in person, however we are still active in a more virtual way and are starting to run a number of events as normal as possible in the second half of the year, following Social Distancing and hygiene requirements. Follow our Facebook group to see what is happening and what fellow members are up to. Please come and join us.

northeast@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

• 10th Place 22/38 - Simon Maskell • Must Try Harder. 21/38 - Paul Dodds Plans for a similar Navigational Scatter in the southern half of the Region are already being discussed.

Recent Events The June Monthly Meet was again a virtual meet via Zoom due to the Coronavirus shutdown. It was well attended with about 12 people. Mike Milbourne of The Polishing Company ran the June “Car of the Month” and Simon Maskell ran a BMW themed pub quiz which was won again this month by Mike Milbourne.

On Sunday 28 June we ran our first real-life event in the post-COVID-19 world. The socially distanced Treasure Hunt was very capably organised by Mike Milbourne, and saw a field of 13 cars entered. One could not make it on the day due to a stuck garage door, and one got lost mid-way through the route and was not seen again! There are no group photos to publish as we were never in one place at the same time, there is however a video of the event posted in the Facebook group. Results of the driving test element were: • 1st Place. 16 points - Richard Long • 2nd Place. 16 points - Nick Thomas (decided on wheel rotation test) • = 3rd Place. 11 Points - Simon Maskell, Graham Hinton, Greg Frost • = 6th Place. 10 Points - Tony Chamberlain, Peter Cossavella • = 8th Place. 8 points - Mick Golightly, Steven Fagan • 10th Place. 7 Points - Paul Dodds • 11th Place. 4 Points - Greg Webster Results of the Treasure Hunt element were: • 1st place. 35/38 - Megan & Nick Thomas • = 2nd place 32/38 - Peter Cossavella , Tony Chamberlain • = 4th Place 31/38 - Mick Golightly, Graham Hinton, Steven Fagan, Greg Frost • 8th Place 29/38 - Richard Long • 9th Place 26/38 - Greg Webster

North Wales David Allen Firstly my apologies for not submitting a news report last month. Even after two months there is very little to report but at least we are starting to see a general easing of the restrictions. I am reluctant to start organising any meets until we can be seen as responsible BMW members with our cars in locations where we will be made welcome. I will email/WhatsApp members with details of any meetings once I am happy we can meet without causing a problem.

BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

Forthcoming events North East events recently and over the next few months are very fluid. As I write this events that might occur over the next few months are possibly: • Sunday 02 August – Sports Cars in the Park (rescheduled from May), provided the venue gets permission to proceed. • Sunday 09 August – Monthly Meet • Sunday 23 August - Date held for possible Fish and Chips run Print deadlines for Straight Six mean last minute changes just cannot be captured. Please follow the North East Region Facebook group or keep an eye on the ‘2020 North East Calendar’ in the Club forum for the latest information. I will be very pleased to see you at one or more of our events. Car of the Month

The June “Car of the Month” was awarded to Greg Frost’s 1976 E12 525i. The June COTM was chosen by Mike Milbourne based on sharing photos of engine bays at the virtual meeting. All regional BMWs are eligible to win COTM and a goodie bag supplied by The Polishing Company. Join us at our next monthly meet to be in with a chance of winning. 07788 718590 northwales@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

Forthcoming events Last week I received details of a reorganised Classic Car meet at Bodrhyddan Hall previously scheduled on Sunday 26th July. This has been rescheduled for Sunday the 6th September. Classic Shows have confirmed - “Those visitors, traders and exhibitors who have already booked into one (or more) of the above events will automatically have their tickets moved to the www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

regionalnews rescheduled event.” If you would like to join in on the 6th September you need to contact ‘Classic Shows’ and ask to be included in the BMW area.

North West

Jeff Heywood

Car of the Month If any members would like their car featured, please give me a call.

BMW Car Club GB North West image Twitter: @BMWNW

News Welcome to August’s North West News. Things are slowly returning to normal, here’s hoping there hasn’t been any more spikes other than the Leicester one after writing this! Although pubs have reopened it is impossible to hold a NW pub meet yet, I’m just not comfortable organising a meeting for a large group together, plus the pub management won’t allow a large group to meet in a confined space, so I would have to say it’s limited to a set number of say 10 people, then I could be faced with turning people away and that’s the last thing I want to do. So best to stay safe, stay patient and hopefully we’ll turn the corner soon. What is more important is all our health. Keep visiting the NW Club page on Facebook and leave a comment and any photos in the ‘Post’ section, and feel free to visit my own page (Jeff Heywood) and send a ‘Friend’ request, plus don’t miss the latest ‘NW Lockdown Car of the Month’ featuring fellow NW committee man Andy Messina’s gorgeous E46 M3 Convertible, and please keep sending your entries in to the email address above!

Alloy Wheel Repair – Highly recommended Class Alloys – mobile visiting service, repair and refurb alloy wheels, all finishes including chrome shadowline. He covers most of NW Region. Discount given to club members, wheel repairs start from £40.00 – contact Steve on 07594 018525 – see Steve’s work on Facebook, search for ‘Class Alloys’ BMW Servicing & Repair - Highly recommended Darren Wood BMW Specialist (0161 425 7403) Bredbury, Stockport SK6 2QB. www.darren-wood.com Lockdown news – Darren Wood’s is still open repairing and servicing cars belonging to emergency services personnel and other key workers etc.

07801 506632 northwest@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

Express-dent-removal – Highly recommended Mobile Service covering the NW - speak to Simon Robinson on 0800 998 9828 or 07767 832255 – or visit www.express-dentremoval.co.uk Car Detailing – Highly recommended If you fancy treating your car to a summer spruce up, maybe a decent valet, detailing including ceramic coating, wheel refurb etc give Darryl at the Car Detailing Centre a call on 07415 945979

NW Lockdown Car of the Month – 2004 E46 M3 Convertible August’s Lockdown CotM is Andy Messina’s (Messi) stunning Carbon Black metallic E46 M3 Convertible (6-speed manual) with a matching black roof. The car’s interior is trimmed in Imola Red leather and looks equally as scrumptious! Andy purchased the car in 2009 from BMW dealer Williams Rochdale with just 29k on the clock. It was built in 2004 but used as a BMW UK press and promotional car so it wasn’t registered until 2007. The M3 was a replacement for Andy’s Arctic Silver Z4 2.5. Messi has kept the car mostly OEM, but one of the mods he made to the car was adding a set of 19” Dotz Mugello deep dish alloy wheels to add that personal touch. He has of course kept the original 19” M wheels. All servicing and repairs are carried out at Darren Wood BMW Specialists, and his car has full service history after covering just an additional 14k miles since he purchased the car, bringing the current mileage up to 43k – Andy said that after eleven years of ownership it is the longest he’s ever kept a car. Messi’s thoughts on his M3 – “The car drives brilliantly, it is an effortless performer that sticks to the road like a limpet. The fierce acceleration accompanied by the rasp of the exhaust never fails to bring a smile to my face, but that’s what owning an M is all about. The suspension can be a tad hard on poorly maintained roads, and is especially noticeable when you come from a softer sprung ‘everyday car’.

Bodywork – Highly recommended David Tully Bodyshop (Tully’s), Rochdale – top class paint/ body repair shop. 01706 643866 - www.davidtullyltd.co.uk www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

regionalnews The Imola red trimmed interior is particularly eye-catching, and the technology on-board was bang up to date when new and still holds its own, with a digital TV unit, sat-nav, 6-CD player, and on board computer, still making the M feel quite modern. It always puts a smile on my face when I get in and drive; it’s the kind of car I always dreamed of owning as a teenager. I just love the car’s styling, the slightly flared arches front and rear gives it an aggressive stance that looks just right.

South East

Ian Bryant

South East Region sponsored by

Chandlers Brighton 01273 769 812

The E46 shape has stood the test of time well. It doesn’t look out of place on today’s roads - I honestly think it looks better than some of the models on the road today…” Fast BMs are the norm in the Messina household; Andy’s everyday driver is an Estoril Blue M140i, one of the final run out models before BMW moved over to the new F40 1er, and partner Anne scoots about in a Mini Cooper S Clubman!!

southeast@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

Hailsham 01323 306 106 Worthing 01903 444821

www.baronsgroup.co.uk/bmw

BARONS CC20133 =

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It is encouraging to see restrictions are relaxing, hopefully not long now until we can commence a level of activity under some form of control. Update on events Michelham Priory has now confirmed a revised date of 15/16th August with social distancing measures being implemented. Please note this event is currently full. I am however trying to get more spaces, so if you’re interested let me know. I have been using both the Z3 and Z4M regularly in the last month, typically for a drive in the evening on my own. Two projects this month; 1) replacing the seat bushes on the Z3 and cleaning and 2) re-colouring and proofing both soft tops. The Z3 seat bushes are prone to falling apart as they are made of soft rubber with the end result being a loose seat that rattles. I decided to fit aftermarket bushes supplied by a company called X8R, they are British made of a much harder material called Delrin and significantly cheaper (£12.99) than the BMW bushes. The job is quite straight, the instructions from X8R are easy to follow, and there is a video and step by step guide on the link below: https://x8r.co.uk search for BMW under instructions. Having followed the instructions there are two recommendations I would make in steps 6 and 7. Step 6 - no need to have the bushes so tight that a vice is required, I hand pushed them and tapped in with a block of wood and hammer. I have no movement or rattles in the seat. Step 7 is the most important step, this all about making sure that the bush carriers are in exactly the same position for both slide rails, if not the motor will bind. I tried counting the turns as recommended in the video and always seemed to be half a turn out, and yes my motor did bind. So take both sides apart together, mark-up left and right components, fit new bushes and lay them side by side to ensure the bush carriers are in exactly the same position on each of threaded shafts. Another useful tip is to wind the bush carrier on the shaft 25 half turns then tweak so both carriers are in the same position, the reason for this is it makes it easier fitting the seat back into the car on these settings. If your seat does bind when back in the car and you cannot access the bolts, don’t panic, you can raise the seat with the other motor and then unscrew the front motor, there are three torx bolts, then slide the motor out. This exposes the flexible drive shafts and if you put a cordless drill on the drive shaft you can move the seat a bit at a time swapping the over drill from side to side.

South Wales Jonathan Bamford Welcome to our South Wales Region August news. Firstly, I hope everyone is safe and by now we are all working our way back to normality. If this is your first Straight Six issue, then welcome to the group. We run WhatsApp groups for chat and event info so, please message me if you wish to be added. I will also continue to use the Club’s mailing system to send out

BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

In summary fitting seat bushes is quite straightforward, my passenger seat no longer rattles when in the car on my own, and these bushes should last for ages unlike the BMW ones. My BMW bushes were actually in quite good condition but on close inspection the soft rubber had compressed and been rattling since I purchased the car with 20,000 miles on it. Torque setting for front seat nut 22Nm, rear seat bolt 43Nm and seat belt anchor 48Nm. Project number two was refurbishing the soft tops on both cars, I used Renovo. I have been using this for years, but typically only the clean and re-proof steps 1 and 3. This time I decided to restore the colour step 2. The job takes two days as you need to clean the hood, let it dry, apply two coats of colour restorer and then two coats of proofer. Full details and instruction on: www.renovointernational.com IYou may recall I got a puncture in Z4M and booked the car for two new rear tyres, I opted for Michelin Pilot Sport 4 to match the front. While the reviews of these tyres speak for themselves, what I wanted to highlight was a decent improvement in the ride quality over the Continental ContactSport 3, I was not expecting that. So until the next update stay safe and we hopefully will be able to meet soon. Key Events: 20/09/2020 The Warren Classic Concours d’ Elegance Cancelled Watch the BMW South East Region home page https:// bmwcarclubgb.uk/regions/south_east.html for latest updates. southwales@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

messages to ensure everyone receives them. The whole world has been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, which in turn has not given me very much news or events to report this month. It just leaves me with the news of the events that we have lined up that, at the time of writing, are still going ahead.

www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

regionalnews Summer Action Day, Castle Combe – 8th August – This replaced our booking for Spring Action day. At the time of writing, all tickets for the event were sold. A full and detailed write up will follow in next month’s issue. Forge Action Day, Castle Combe – 5th September – This has been provisionally booked and our Club have secured a stand for the show. If you would like to attend, please contact me for the booking details. Price is £17.50 per car and due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, it is only the driver and 1 passenger per car. Round Wales Trip – Weekend of 18th September – Proving to be a great trip already. Plans to cover many of the great sights of our wonderful country. This event is open to everyone and the more the merrier. It will include overnight stays on the Friday and Saturday, and lunch at Castell Deudraeth, at Portmeirion on Sunday. For more information on the castle, please follow this link. www.portmeirion.wales/eat/castell-deudraeth. We will also be having photos of our cars within the grounds of Portmeirion Village.

Don’t miss out on this as it is sure to be a huge success. For full details of times, dates, meeting places, route maps and itinerary, please contact me via the Club email address. Normally, our monthly meetings are held at the Twelve Knights Pub in Margam, SA13 2DB. They are held on the third Wednesday of every month. It is a great opportunity to meet new people and share your passion for cars. They start between 6:30pm and 7:00pm, with some arriving slightly earlier for food. Once these events are up and running again, you will be informed via email. Member’s Cars Finally, if you would like your car to be featured in a monthly write up in Straight Six, then please contact me directly and we can take it from there. We have over 100 members in the region and I’m sure each one of us would like to see other member’s cars. It’s your chance to show off your pride and joy, from totally standard to heavily modified. Whatever you drive, show it off here.

Thames Tony Skerrett The number of Club activities has declined by the week, certainly for the Club but there is future activity on the horizon if only for onwards. Like many other members I have been carrying out minor repairs on my E46. Staying home is the perfect excuse to shut yourself in your garage and fettle your classic so that it’s ready for action when the moment allows – at least that’s my excuse. Unfortunately, I have been coerced into repainting some bay windows which involved replacing rotten wood, plenty of filler and rubbing down; hate it! Whilst working on the car I regularly resorted to help from Club members, the classic car community, Facebook, and Twitter. I also tidied the garage as best I could, but encountered some serious opposition from my beloved when it came to school books going back many years, not to mention old cans of decorating paint and such like. Still after an honourable draw I managed to reclaim some space to continue car preparation. For the perfect enthusiast’s garage I loved this article from an American car magazine and fell about laughing at some of the ideas. If you’re a car enthusiast, you know a garage can be so much more than the space to park your car. In fact your garage can be a place to work, hang out and showcase your vehicle. Whether you’re in the planning stages or just daydreaming about the future, here are eight elements of the ultimate car lover’s garage. 1. Car Lift Every DIY mechanic would love a two, or four, post car lift that would allow them to not only work on the undercarriage of their vehicle, but also provide a means to double their overall parking space. 2. Custom Flooring Make your garage more inviting and the flooring more durable with an epoxy coating, which comes in a variety of colours. These types of floors are stain resistant, easy to clean and more resilient than concrete alone. Plus, you’ll help ensure your garage floor remains in quality shape for years to come. 3. Lounge If you’re building your dream garage, it should definitely be a place where you want to hang out. So why not make it comfortable and relaxing? 4. Tools, Tools and More Tools Stock your garage with everything from sockets and wrenches to a large-capacity compressor. 5. Storage Cabinets Of course, with all the tools, supplies and spare parts you have on hand, you’ll need to install custom storage cabinets to house it all. www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

07879 404648 thames@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

6. Overhead Storage Can easily store your tires and other bulky items in overhead storage racks. 7. Lighting Whether you’re working on your cars or just admiring them up close, you may want to install a proper lighting scheme. The reality is something like this; well for some that is!

Future Events Thames Regional Meetings will resume on Thursday July 30th 2020 at the Littlebury Hotel in Bicester. 7pm to 9.30pm. Outside only in the Secret Garden. Refreshments will only be available by pre-ordered Waitress Tray service. For member information we have reached a provisional agreement with Waterperry House near Oxford to arrange a visit in August. Date will be announced in due course. Peak District Tour - August East Coast Seaside Trip - August Bicester Heritage Sunday Scramble - 4th October Nb at all these events BMWCC approved Covid-19 precautions will be in place. My Car by Niek Nijsen - Follow on from July’s Straight Six Report on Niek’s E9 Project Here is an update on the restoration of my E9: The original Zenith twin carburettors were removed and will be replaced by new triple Weber carburettors. BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

regionalnews

a worthy successor to the M1. Speculation was ratcheted up another notch by two further prototypes, the BMW Nazca C2 (Tokyo 1992) and its open-top sibling, the C2 Spider (1993). But the BMW Nazca M12 never it into production. Unfortunately, it turns out themade engine bayseries will need some Which wasina order shame, course, but not the one-way modifications to of fit these carbs, including thermostat, ticket obscurity might booster have been. Because Group enginetooil filter andit brake relocation. At BMW least the new Classic gathered together a treasure exhausthas manifold by Schmiedmann fits. trove brimming with FORGOTTEN – andjob weofdelight in telling thesound fascinating Then cameHEROES the dreaded removing the old stories behind these unforgettable milestones BMW history. insulation, a horrible task. After hours of work in I’ve still got the rearCorrection seats to do.to the Jeff Leek article in SS6 June Issue. Jeff ILeek has requested to be known thatbefore the Gearbox removed the brakesit and wheel hubs arriving in at the the

Aston Martin (pictured below) is a Tremac and the following pictures of his car are the correct ones. I am deeply sorry for getting in such a tangle. Won’t happen again. big moment of separating the engine and body. Not through the conventional way, but by removing the entire subframe assembly along with the engine as I raised the body using the lift. I subsequently removed the automatic gearbox as I’ll be replacing this with a manual 5-speed. At the moment I’m removing the rear subframe, more on that perhaps next time. Full details and episodes available on my website; www.nieknijsen.com.

Tim Maltby Maltby Wessex Tim

Barons Barons Farnborough Farnborough 01252 883 565

07885 252448 wessex@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

Barons Hindhead 01428 853 357

It’s early days as Britain appears to be emerging from a lengthy hibernation, but as yet no Club events to report on. Recent Events When we thought that life under lockdown couldn’t get much worse, it is my sad duty to let you know that Ray Powell died in early July following a brief illness.

New Forest Treasure Hunt We met at our usual rendezvous, the St Leonard’s Hotel, for coffee a chat and a chance to check out the cars. A staggered start began at 2.00pm and the 36.8 mile drive through the most stunning New Forest countryside began. It must be said that one or two of us did considerably more than 36.8 miles. With 45 questions to solve, our navigators were kept busy. During the drive we saw New Forest ponies and their foals, longhorn cattle and everyone’s favourite, donkeys, all roaming freely from village to village. Various stop off points around the route enabled us to learn facts relating to the New Forest whilst solving the questions. We all arrived at the Bell Inn in Brook and sat down to a hearty meal.

Western Nigel Smith Welcome new members. Thank you to all that came along to BM’s on the Lawn, hopefully you all enjoyed yourselves; look out for the full article in next month’s magazine. Apologies to anyone who didn’t get the message that last month’s pub meet was held at an alternative venue due to change of ownership at our regular meet. However we will be back to normal this month unless anything else happens. At our last meet we held a little fun raffle and the prize was a bottle of Bead Maker by P&S Products, won by Scott Walters; well done Scott, we await his feedback. Our Dorset Drive is getting closer and it would be nice to know how many are interested in taking part. We have about 15

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Sharon and Mike were the winners and also the quickest, so congratulations to them. The sun shone all day, there wasn’t a traffic jam in sight, just a perfect day out. Our thanks to Belinda and Julian for organising the whole event and setting all the questions. In conclusion a brilliant day out and one that will be repeated in the future. Eric Thompson Diary Dates 2019 National Festival Gaydon 11th August. If you are parking up with Wessex then please drop Tim Maltby a line: Wessex@ bmwcarclubgb.co.uk- book your tickets bmwcarclubgb.uk Sunday 15th September is now confirmed for our visit to a working flour mill at Sturminster Newton and to indulge in a cheese festival. wastoone of our many unsung stalwarts and was MoreRay details follow. involved in helping with the resurgence of the Bournemouth group a few years ago. He was a great supporter of events and western@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk indeed helped organise several. So much so that breakfast at the Cliffhanger has contact becomeme an to institution, especially when the cars so far. Please register your interest. sunPlease shines!visit Rayour hadFBmany interests and thanks to his page for a full list of event datespassion and any for aircraft in aalso tripprinted to Brooklands. Thewould Concorde updates onresulted changes, here. If you like your car cockpit isincertainly squeeze! We will miss his cheery featured our Car aoftight Month then please forward some pictures disposition, caring nature, wicked sense of humour and wise to me. Happy motoring everyone. counsel. Our thoughts and condolences go out to Shirley and family. 2019 events dates for you all: 3rd July 2019, Pub Meet at the Woolpack, Weston-Super-Mare Forthcoming from 7.30pm Events – 2021 Sunday Julysee – Classics & Supercars Sherborne Castleshow 14th July21st 2019, us at Powderham Castle classic vehicle 7th August 2019, Pub Meet at the Woolpack, Weston-SuperMare from 7.30pm 11th August 2019, National Festival, Gaydon, Warwickshiretickets purchased at bmwcarclubgb.uk 1st September 2019, Dorset coastal drive, further details to come but will start at Portland Bill, Dorset, 9am start 4th September 2019, Pub Meet at the Woolpack, WestonSuper-Mare from 7.30pm 2nd October 2019, Pub Meet at the Woolpack, Weston-SuperMare from 7.30pm 6th November 2019, Pub Meet at the Woolpack, WestonSMG to be Super-Mare from 7.30pm New BMW 4 Series or not to be? That is the ques Breaks December 2019, Christmas meal TBA Cover… tion posed in this month’s MLif

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registernews 02 Richard Stern By the time you’ve read this the opening for non-German 02 Club members to book a place on the Bavaria Tour 2021 will have opened, I suspect it will be sold out the first day but you might be able to get on the waiting list. Failing that I’d recommend the Le Mans Classic which was postponed this year until 2021 and you will not be disappointed, so treat yourself and make sure you include paddock passes. 02 accessories - when I started researching this topic, I thought there’d be half a dozen things but it turned out to be a feast of parts that were available for 02s back in the day from your local BMW Concessionaires. We take a lot of these items for granted nowadays, but back then if you wanted mats or better lights you had to pay for it: Stereo with tape player Leather Steering wheel Passenger door mirror Chrome ring wheel trims Inflatable emergency windscreen Mud flaps Illuminated switch (for additional lights) 4 Headlamp conversion – Halogen Anti-roll bar kit (1602 only UK) Heated rear window Laminated windscreen and tinted version Head Rests Sports horns Touch up pencils (paint sticks) Sunroof deflector Alloy wheels – vast and differed from country to country Bottom chrome arch protector – that caused more rot as would trap the water behind it and rot out the rear Jacking points Set of snow chains Vinyl roofs seemed to be a dealer option.

1 Series

Anthony Mason

Last month was another challenging one with the 1M after it had been lovingly handed back to me from Specialist Cars with its shiny new ABS sensor and high pressure fuel pump. It then promptly threw up an engine overheating problem that was diagnosed by the BMW emergency services as a water pump fault. I’m lucky I extended the BMW warranty as it really has saved me from some astronomical bills. I was in Cambridgeshire, the closest solution was to go to a more local dealer, but I wasn’t happy with that so got the car recovered on the back of a low loader using my breakdown cover from the bank. Once at Specialist Cars they worked through a plethora of fault codes and systematically changed parts and tested the car as they went along. The car actually needed brake fluid just as a routine part of its maintenance so that was carried out at the same time. The team as per usual kept me up to date with what was happening with the car and were spot on for the timescale. I’m now at 75,000 miles in the 1M, quite high for a collectable car, but it just asks to be driven. My 17 year old daily is fast approaching 70,000. The mileage will mellow out, I honestly believe there will always be a market for these cars despite the mileage, and mine will fit the lower end of the 1M budget with the sub 10k mileage cars still fetching large sums. The residual values are fighting their way up through the COVID-19 crisis, a friend of mine was offered more than he paid for his up against a new limited run MINI. Since all the drama, the car has been performing perfectly www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

07770 443373 02register@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

For more images please visit bmwcarclubgb.co.uk/news/ all/2020/08/01/02_register_news_-_further_reading.html Tail Pipe New Steel door skins now available https://www.jaymic.com/02models-door-skin-steel-p-l.html 1series@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

and has been treated to a decent jet wash and quick polish. I took it down to Camden Town on Sunday to stretch its legs. I’m still patiently waiting for the Ace Cafe to reopen as this would have been the first Monday of the month, aka German night. Next week looks like the first of my London meets will be back on. Then there was the moment I lost my keys, but that is a story for another time. BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

registernews

3 Series E46 Simon Maskell

Hello one and all and welcome to the August edition of the E46 Register news. This month Steven Jaye shares his newly acquired E46 story with us. I am familiar with Japanese import BMWs, for some reason they often have really low mileage and can be in spanking condition. I will let you be the judge and thanks again to Steven: “Just thought I’d send in a few photos of my new E46 for possible inclusion in the magazine in case some of the other members might be interested in seeing something a little different - it’s a ‘fresh off the boat’ import from Japan! I bought a black 2002 registered 325i Sport manual saloon in 2014 with only 43,000 miles, which I thought was in good condition at the time, but it’s not a patch on this one! Supplied new by Hamamatsu BMW in 2001, the car is a 330i SE saloon, automatic, finished in white with an unmarked full red leather interior and wood trim. Completely rust free due to the different climate over there and non-salty roads, it is probably as close to a ‘new‘ E46 as we’ll get now. The car boasts a cracking spec including heated and electric memory seats, Harmon Kardon speaker upgrade and is showing 75,500 km on the clock, which works out to only 47,000 miles. It also has a fully stamped service history – if you can read Japanese! (Inspection 2 service at BMW already booked and waiting). The Japanese language factory BMW engine bay stickers are all present, complete tool kit, unopened first aid kit and it still has the dated ‘Shaken’ sticker in the windscreen, which is their version of an MOT. The only modification is a Japanese market Panasonic double DIN stereo linked to a Pioneer reverse camera and I have added a K&N panel air filter. The car arrived at Southampton docks at the start of May and despite not looking for a new car, I happened to be doing

3 Series E9x

Julian Pickering

e46register@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

some lockdown eBay browsing and luckily saw it the morning it was listed. A deal was soon struck and the car was delivered to me on a trailer a few days later by the seller/importer. Skip forward a whopping five weeks for the DVLA to sort out the registration paperwork and I can now finally use it. It has been purchased to use daily and I will for a while, but I fear it may become a garage queen in the future!” This month has seen me needing to replace a window regulator in the white 330i saloon featured in last month’s article. It’s not a monumentally challenging job, but I did consult YouTube to see how it is done. This proved useful for the location of all the screws on the door card, plus a bit of alignment advice provided on the clip I watched. The good news is it now works brilliantly, so I just need to get it sold. Check out www.collectingcars.com, they have some interesting lots for sale. Thanks for reading this month’s blurb, until next month, bye for now. e90register@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

Well it has happened eventually, as was inevitable, that there is nothing new for me to write about in this month’s Straight Six. I don’t have reams of old material to share with you and so I can’t provide the E9x equivalent of watching Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova battle it out on Centre Court in 1978. None of you E9x owners have sent me anything and so you are entirely to blame but I won’t hold it against you unless I find myself in the same position when I am writing the report for the September issue! I subscribe regularly to the BMW Car magazine but as with many magazine subscriptions, monthly editions often arrive through the door more quickly than I get around to reading them. I have a backlog pile by my sofa in my lounge waiting for that rainy day or, as I have found more recently, that lockdown

BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

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registernews day when I am finding it more challenging to avoid the internal house painting that I have been putting off for so long (if you are one of those people who loves house painting, please get in touch). One of my unread editions was July 2019, which contains an excellent article on a “Fire Orange” E92 M3 GTS. I can’t include photos as I suspect that this would violate all sorts of copyright but if the owner “Martin W” reads this report and is a member of BMWCC, please get in touch as I for one would love to understand more about his ownership experience. From the article, the cost of this car when new was £117,630 when a standard E92 M3 Coupe was a mere £54,495. The GTS has an updated version of the standard V8 in the E92 M3 but there were other major changes in the suspension, braking and custom front splitter and rear spoiler. Whether

4 Series

Paul Roberts

It’s that time again for me to write a few more scribblings, and of course we’re still in the throes of the coronavirus epidemic, although there are signs that as of July 4th the lockdown rules will be eased a little. The weather has been kind here in Norfolk so we have been able to drive out most days with the roof down. Must remember to put sunscreen on though! As for car stuff, well last week after some research I booked into BA Wheels of Norwich to have them all refurbished. I had

5 Series E34 Manj Sandhu Previously I wrote about the impending arrival of my non-runner 535i SE in Luxor beige. Since then a fair bit has happened, starting with the transporter chap taking it to the wrong garage! Not a good start, but this was still not the end of it. I had sourced a new fuel pump and my mechanic installed it only to report that car was refusing to start because it was missing its fob immobiliser alarm. The previous owner was adamant that he never had one and drove it without it. He even sent me a video showing the car driving around under his ownership. It could have been an old video for all I know, it is hard to tell. Am I right in starting to sense foul play here or do I have ‘mug’ plastered on my forehead? Despite my frustration, I put a call in to a reputable car security specialist to come and look, even they were unable to resolve it. Stating that it was a factory fitted immobiliser embedded into the car’s mechanicals and not an aftermarket one. The battery is also on its last legs, despite this the one thing the mechanic could confirm amongst all this is that the www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

these modifications justified an additional £63,135 in the original purchase is open to question but without a doubt this is now an extremely rare car and is almost certainly the most valuable E9x model ever produced. My E93 is having a fairly quiet time this year. It is well polished and is fully up to date with all servicing but it is a car I use mainly for holidays and club events and neither of these are on the current agenda, unfortunately. I race a Dart 18 catamaran and for the last few years have travelled to different European destinations to attend championships. The attached photo shows the car and boat on the ferry to France last year, prior to the long drive on the French autoroutes to Cavalaire-sur-Mer in the South. I look forward to taking the car over to Europe again soon. Until next month I hope that you and your families stay safe. 4series@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

two choices, either have them re-diamond cut, or re-painted. The diamond cut repairs would cost significantly more but would retain the original two colours. However a complete re-paint would provide more future protection, cost a lot less but I would lose the two tone colouring. After much thought I decided to go for a complete re-paint and having put a new alloy next to my car, I opted for gloss black. BA Wheels need the car for two days, so to avoid having to use public transport and wear a mask, my lovely step daughter came to the rescue and picked me up and then dropped me off the next day. True to their word, BA Wheels did a great job as hopefully evidenced from the before and after photos attached. I was slightly concerned to have black only, but given a coupe of bits of trim etc. I think they look great. That reminds me, I must re-order some more tyre dressing! If anyone wants more contact details of BA Wheels let me know or visit their website. Our road trip to Aberystwyth has now definitely been cancelled and as I type this I’m waiting for our very small deposit to be returned. I’m not sure whether we will get another chance this year to come over to Wales but let’s see how things go. For next year I fancy (as my wife wants to do a river cruise) using Scenic and Continental who offer a combination of a drive and river cruise either down the Rhine or the Danube stopping off at various places on route. I think they have run these for a couple of years now so if anyone has used them please let me know. We would be looking at July/September 2021. I think that’s all to report this time, but if any 4 Series owners want to send me pictures of their cars and some text please get in touch. Finally, has anyone seen the grill on the new 2021 4 Series? Comments… printable please! e34register@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

engine does turn over and the dashboard lights do turn on when turning the ignition key. It is a small thing but that is some positive news at least! Contacting my local BMW dealer, they quoted me £360 (excl. VAT) for a new fob. The local car security company told me they had expected it to be double that, so a little consolation there. Although that was just the cost of the fob, excluding VAT and any programming or work that goes with it to get the engine and car ‘unlocked’. Sounds like a big bill to me. This got me thinking, without being able to start the car and assess its condition I am blind not knowing the condition of the car - is the car worth saving? I mentioned the rare brown dash last month, add to this the super clean interior on top, the relatively low owners and last but not least a fully stamped service book. All this offset against the fact that originally the car was destined to be a parts car for the 535i Sport. I could purchase a fob, then what if it still does not start. Worse, it throws up other significant issues. What would you all do – take the risk and go for it? BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

registernews After some thought I asked my mechanic to hook up a diagnostic check, to assess the condition of the car. Unfortunately, he does not have the diagnostic tool anymore (consequence of the transporter dropping it to the wrong mechanic!). The security company then tried some of their now retired BMW security contacts but to no avail. Eventually, I had some luck with my mechanic’s uncle in Birmingham, only 20 miles from Coventry. He did some work on my E30 318iS a while back. A lot of work in fact. As I write this he is soon to be on his way with his diagnostic tool. Out of interest, I continued to get calls every day from BMW Coventry to purchase the fob. Thinking about it, I might need to go to BMW eventually as I am struggling to find someone who would be able to program the fob (if needed) to the factory fitted alarm/immobiliser. I sense a hefty bill coming either way. I will update on progress next month if nothing interesting pops up on email. Please do contact me if you would like me to include your vehicle in the magazine along with some details of the car. I am always interested in the back-story about how you came to own such a fantastic machine. The E34 Car of the Month is one that I would very much like for myself - Jay Mahmood and his Sebring Grey E34 M5. The grey tone really brings out the bodylines and shows the muscular nature of the beast. I know I said I was jealous in the past but this one really hits the spot. Well done Jay! Take care of that fabulous automobile.

6 Series E24

Konstantinos Loizou

A quarter of a century with this 635CSiA “Beautiful”, “Lovely”, “Classic.” These complimentary words have been said to me several times by complete strangers – invariably though they are referring to the 1990 635CSi BMW that I have been driving at the time. And she is; (I’m quite sure this car is a she). My late husband, Richard Edwards, bought her in March 1995 from a doctor who was leaving the country. She left the busy streets of London for the narrow lanes of Ceredigion to ferry my GP husband on his rural rounds. Back then it was normal to do house visits after every surgery and to be on call several nights during the week and every other weekend. And not once did she let him down, not even in the lashing downpours that the weather forecasters blithely pass off as ‘rain.’ Little do they know of the stuff that hits us just before those looming clouds tackle the Cambrian Mountains at 622m above sea level. Back in the day, before paramedics, first responders and the like had been ‘invented’, and when the county’s handful

e24register@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

of ambulances could be an hour or more away this BMW was often required to ferry those in a hurry to the local hospital mothers in labour, patients with heart problems, children with beads stuck in their noses. All that and more! My husband loved all things with a bit of history attached to them and the number plate this BMW sported during his lifetime was EJ 3. EJ bore no resemblance to his name, he bought it because EJ were the letters originally allocated to all Cardiganshire vehicles. And when he bought the number plate from a family based in Exeter in 1995 he felt that he was bringing it back to where it belonged. But there were more coincidences too. EJ 3 (and EJ 1 too) had originally belonged to George Bonsall, who, like my husband, was a family doctor in Aberystwyth. Both had graduated from London schools of medicine and both had worked for P&O. And both the original EJ 3 (a De Bion Bouton) and now Richard’s 635CSi BMW were blue! It was meant to be. Richard loved this car and now I want someone else, who will love her too, to bring her back to life. Dana Edwards Office@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk for more info.

Dr Richard Edwards with Mrs Violet Sayers, daughter of Dr Bonsall, the original owner of the EJ 3 number plate.

BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

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8 Series

Debbie Blythe

8series@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

Hi, I hope you are all staying safe and well. No events to report on but I have had a few of the members send me some content for the column, here are the first couple: Roy’s story – Owning, Running and Selling an 8 Series Greetings to all 8 Series owners out there. It is with sadness that I must notify you that I am now an ex-8 owner! After over 10 years of living with one of these wonderful cars, I decided (halfheartedly) to sell it and Chris Burton (8 Series guru) who had just fixed my seats and did an oil service knew the car well and put a prospective buyer in touch with me. My time with the 8 was remarkably trouble-free and I put many thousands of miles on it during ownership; indeed when I bought it as a daily driver I was working with Kent County Council and travelling from Oxford twice a week to all parts of Kent, I was clocking nearly 3,000 miles a month. Even when I bought it, there was probably no other 8 being used as a long-distance daily driver but mine was perfect for the role and was still fast when I wanted it to be (home time!). It would still show 150 at 120,000 miles - if you were to be abroad of course, officer! Not once did the car fail me and anyone who claims such a car is a ‘money pit’ has either never owned one or been unlucky; apart from routine servicing (done religiously) and consumables, I can only remember having a radiator, Brembo callipers and a starter fitted. Plus batteries of course. Due to the lockdown, selling was a strange affair; the buyer, Harry, couldn’t come up from Kent (there’s a coincidence) to see the car, but was aware that I would only sell if a particular car was still available for me to buy so time was of some relevance. After many conversations, photos, documents etc., Harry decided to pay up and get it collected on a lorry. This is a risky way of buying any car, especially an older and complex car like the 8, so applause to Harry for taking the plunge. It really mattered to me that the new owner would appreciate the car as much as I did, and it was absolutely true that I really didn’t care whether I sold it or not; I was therefore delighted to get a message from Harry to say it had arrived and he loved it! Condition was even BETTER than he had hoped and everything worked as it should. He was initially a bit concerned about the exhaust note through the stainless steel sports pipes but later mails suggest he is now happy with the V8 rumble. Engine mounts were known to need changing and Chris will be doing this for Harry when it’s allowed. I hope Harry will be an active part of the 8 Series Register, as he has been a BMW Car Club member before. We intend to meet up when restrictions are lifted and already I look forward to seeing my old 8 again. The garage will never be the same without an 8 in residence. I will still be in the Club as I bought a 6 Series - perhaps if I park it in a dark corner, I can still see friends at the next 8 meeting at WOTG.

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Jeff Leeks trip to the Picos Mountains Hilary and I purchased our 1997 840Ci Sport Coupe as an ex-Sytner demonstrator in January 1998, finished in Barbados Green with light grey leather trim, and to date provided 77,250 miles of superb comfortable driving experiences which have endeared us to this fabulous BMW. We’ve added a Superchip to primarily improve our fuel consumption and torque spread. Our 840Ci has been a very reliable car. We’ve proudly maintained her because she is an ageless stunning timeless classic, especially attractive with her headlights up in daylight, touring to many places in the UK. However, the most memorable trip was to the Picos Mountains in northern Spain, plus the Pyrennes and Andorra in summer 1998 where she drew lots of attention from locals and still does today whenever we go out for a drive. We ferried from Portsmouth to Santander and back seeing many whales, seals and dolphins in the Bay of Biscay. The winding smooth roads in the Picos were excellent with hardly any traffic and the scenery was like a lower Switzerland with many small/medium lakes, magnificent panoramic views including fast streams and waterfalls cascading, whilst cattle and sheep pastured on the

BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

registernews lush green grass. Staying often overnight in Spanish Paradors, which are mainly listed, in beautiful romantic buildings, even in a converted Monastery high in the mountains way off the beaten track. We drove up over the snow line into the Picos, Pyrennes and Andorra in very sunny clear weather including initially stopping in Santander which is architecturally amazing. Then visiting Biarritz, France, 20 miles from the Spanish border for a stopover, walking in the attractive city, beach and a refreshing swim in the Atlantic breakers. All so magical. Over a period of 10 days we thoroughly relaxed, meeting

Z1 Register

Jamal Blanc

Lockdown Project ‘Too many things to do and not enough fingers’, might be my latest catchphrase, but it’s a poor excuse for allowing the Z1 to sit unused for this length of time. Are cars that are left unattended more susceptible to long term damage? Since resolving the repetitive and costly dead battery issues a few years ago, by installing a cut-out and trickle charger, it’s possible this has led to a little complacency, the M20 may have a reputation for being bulletproof, but it’s still an engine. As I write this, I am acutely aware this is more a message to myself than fellow members of the Z1 Series Register, so I popped into Zroadster.net to catch up on all things Z1. Cars for sale, hard to find eBay listings, parts needed, the passing of an old acquaintance (RIP Mr Kabbert), someone chasing a noisy gremlin, how I have missed this place. An interesting thread started by Felix on ‘Z1 isolation projects’, inspired me to get my overalls on. What jobs are within my capability from those that require specialist knowledge? What parts are reusable and how much of a budget do I need to buy replacement parts? Cracked panels, paint defects, oil cooler casing, overdue major service, Nouvalari exhaust seam, wheel arch liners, roof revive, gasket seal leak, calliper rust… the list is long but manageable. It’s been a while since I did anything on a Z1 that involves a spanner, but most of what I need is archived on Zroadster or BMWZ1.co.uk. Which reminds me, must update that site with new content. One thing you need above all else, a decent set of tools. Good weather, also essential if working outside. A good phone signal, to call a friend if you get stuck. Patience, loads of that. Safety equipment such as carpet, useful for short breaks and not making creaky knees any worse, and your BMW Car Club membership card. Members get 10% off a low-profile trolley jack and set of axle stands at Halfords, plus up to 15% off parts from Cotswold BMW Group.

BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

and chatting with locals and other tourists, sharing our passion for classic touring in a welcoming and very scenic environment and atmosphere. If you’ve never been classic touring to these locations we strongly recommend it as we have many fond memories, even today, in our mint 840Ci Sport Coupe. Future events Sunday 27th September – Autumn meet at The Chequers Inn, WOTG, OX25 3QH. 10.00am – 2.00pm, contact me if you would like to join us for a very enjoyable carvery at the pub. z1register@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

Day one: Preparation, removal and cleaning Removing the undertray is relatively straightforward, as are side panels and the front bumper. Despite going easy on the plastic headed indicator lens screws, they tend to disintegrate, probably due to heat. Being NLA, I might replace them with selftappers to prolong the life of what’s left. Rear bumper requires removal of several pop rivets, bolts and panel gap clips before sliding off. The underside was absolutely filthy, but no biggie, I have a tool for that, any excuse to use a jet-wash. Thirty minutes later the steering, suspension, wheel wells, underbody, tray, and engine block are all done. I wouldn’t eat my dinner off them, but a big difference. Once dried out, apply some heatproof black paint to all the bare-skinned components, they look better and keep rust at bay. That’s quite enough excitement for one day.

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registernews Day two: The North With all bar the driver’s seat removed from the DIY hatchback and all four panels loaded, it was destination Telford to see Nice Nigel of Moseley Motorsport for a new side panel, then onto Oldbury in the Black Country, home of ex-Top Rot Z1 owner and bodywork specialist Roy Jones, who didn’t hesitate when asked to respray this less than immaculate Primordial Green car. I’ll be heading back there in a few weeks to pick them up. Day three: Parts and Servicing Doing business with Cotswold BMW Group is highly recommended, simply because the process was straightforward

Z3 Register

Alan Jones

and quick. With my list of part numbers validated on RealOEM, I contacted two BMW retailers, both took my number to call back with a quote, only one did, the Cotswold BMW Group. The cambelt, oil filter, fan belt, water pump, tensioner, gasket seal, rocker cover gasket, rocker shaft seals and camshaft seal O’ring, arrived two days later with 15% discount applied, courtesy of BMW Car Club. Having checked prior to booking that the local Independent specialist was happy to service the car with parts supplied, the job was done within hours. Next step: TIG welding a split in the seam of a Nouvalari exhaust and finding a fix for the oil cooler frame. New parts are NLA, and appears to be unique to the Z1 Roadster. z3register@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

Welcome to the August issue of Straight Six, hopefully by the time that you read this most of the lockdown measures have been lifted. I’m not sure of how long it will be before life does get back to normality though, but as they say only time will tell. I have another member who wishes to let everyone know about their Z3 ownership: My name is Cei Davies and I’ve been a member of the BMW Car Club on and off for quite some years (my membership card says ‘silver member’). I suspect that, like many members, I’m fairly inert and my greatest delight is the arrival of the (excellent) monthly magazine. In my defense I was quite heavily involved for many years with our local multi-make car club at Pontarddulais. I am 75 years old and survived a triple heart by-pass last year, and still remain very interested in all things motoring. I often note your appeals for snippets for the magazine, and perhaps the following may be of some use. My Z3 Having owned quite a number of BMWs as everyday cars, over the years my current smile maker is a 2-litre Z3, which I have owned for approximately eight years, and has covered 64,000 miles. We have always had older, sporty, cars as the family fun cars. MG – A&Bs, TR4, Scimitar, TVR , etc., a role happily fulfilled now by the Z3. Because of my age and background, to me a BMW means as little electronics as possible and a straight six engine – my little Z3 answers this perfectly. (All the zeds are lovable little cars, but a 2.8 or possibly a Z3 coupe would be even better than the one I have). Naturally enough I always read the Z3 section of the magazine first and have always enjoyed your comments, and for many months/years, those of Mike Fishwick. I purchased his book – Z3 Roadster Buyer’s Guide – and found it to be excellent. I loved his comment “In terms of the ‘classic sports cars’ it (the Z3) is a combination of the virtues found in the MGB, MGC, TR4a and the Austin Healey 3000, but without their failings”.

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All things considered my Zed has been cheap to run and reliable. At the last MOT test one front caliper was sticking slightly – I suspect due to lack of use. This freed off to satisfy the tester after a good run and some energetic braking – the car pulls up well and absolutely straight. I think that this year the Zed will get new calipers, discs, etc. as a treat! Those things that, due to age and health, I cannot do myself, have been farmed out to a local garage that I totally trust and have a certain sympathy for older vehicles. The Zed has happily taken me to Jersey without any bother, though its highlights now are the annual trips to ‘La Vie en Bleu’ at Prescott and to Shelsley Walsh and frequent trips around Pembrokeshire. I wanted a two seater with a hardtop that was not too demanding to drive, fairly economical, and would not depreciate too much. My Z3 does all I need and it still makes me smile too. What of the future? Are we all destined to work from home, to social distance and to move about in autonomous electric cars to save the planet? Surely not. Modern BMWs with all their advanced and expensive technology are to be praised but there is nothing quite like the open road and to enjoy the sound of the traditional BMW ‘Straight Six’. Best wishes, Cei Davies BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

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Z4 Register

Paul Dodds

z4register@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

Hello and welcome to the August edition of Straight Six. Last month we were introduced to both Don and Peter’s E89s. This month we dive deeper into Peter’s ownership of the 2014 Z4 sDrive18i. To recap, Peter is of the North East Region and has replaced a Porsche Boxster with this stunning Z4. Here is what Peter has to say: I purchased my Z4 E89 a year ago. It replaced a 2008 Porsche Boxster 2.7. I really liked the Porsche but found it difficult to live with as a daily driver. I reluctantly part exchanged it for my 2014 Z4 sDrive18i M Sport, in Melbourne Red metallic, I think the car really suits this colour and sets off the beige Kansas leather interior. The car sits on 19-inch wheels shod with Pirelli P Zeros and looks very sporty. The car has now covered 32,000 miles and appears to be in really good condition. It was purchased from a BMW main dealer and has a full BMW service history. It also came with a full 1 year BMW warranty, which gave me peace of mind. So far I have covered about 6,000 miles during my ownership. I have to say I have become very attached to it, and despite the smaller engine size, I still think it’s fairly sporty to drive and the auto gearbox is an absolute gem. The ability to drive it in manual mode using the paddle shifters allows more involvement, if and when I want to. Having recently had really good weather it’s been a pleasure to lower the roof and let the wind blow through. I have thought about buying a rear wind deflector, having had these fitted to the previous Boxster and a Mercedes SLK. I’m still not certain I really need one, however, if I was covering longer roof down journeys on a regular basis I probably would. Having not driven any larger engine Z4s I’m not sure what the power differences are in terms of driving experience. However, I am satisfied for now with the available performance I have. What would I look for if I were to change to another Z4? Perhaps a bigger engine, although the power difference would have to be balanced against things such as insurance, fuel and maintenance costs, i-Drive would be an option definitely worth considering, bringing the option of Satnav and HiFi info on a bigger screen.

Having previously owned a 2015 Mercedes SLK 250CDI and the Boxster, I am certainly happy with my purchase and have enjoyed the driving experience the Z4 is giving me. As with most cars, if looking to purchase an E89, I would suggest looking for a lower mileage, good condition, and full service history car, with plenty of paperwork to support the car’s history. I am pleased I joined the BMW Car Club as the knowledge of the members can be called upon to assist with any enquiries about any issues you may have. Unfortunately, lockdown has meant I have not as yet been able to attend any meetings, other than a virtual one, but look forward to doing so in the near future. That is all for this month but remember you can get in touch via the forum or email at z4register@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk for all things Z4 related.

Concours Dan Wood Concours sponsored by

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RYBROOK WARWICK http://www.rybrookwarwickbmw.co.uk/

http://www.meguiars.co.uk/

Individual Experience Dhaval Bakhai Stuart Hogarth – BMW M4 Competition Pack Individual My love for BMW happened by accident! In 2007 I bought and restored a Ford Capri 280 Brooklands, but as classic blue oval values soared and I was on the cusp of buying a house, it had to go in the summer of 2016. After a few months of having nothing as a toy, and trawling the internet when I should have been working, I looked at everything from 996 Porsches, to all sorts of ridiculous Italian things that I couldn’t afford. Then however my attention turned to BMW, and more specifically E36 Evos. I wanted something that I could have fun with, something quick but retro that didn’t need a huge amount of work, and also something that wouldn’t drop like a stone in terms of value. The E36 M3 ticked most of these boxes. After a few weeks of searching I bought a very clean M3 Evo Coupe in Mora Metallic, which in itself was pretty rare as far as I could gather with only a handful ever being built in RHD. I loved the car and it was great to own, fun to drive, extremely composed on the road despite its age, and aside from a Vanos replacement, with some

BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

pretty spirited driving the only thing I did to it besides servicing and brake replacement in three years, was put fuel in it. It was reliable beyond belief, and despite the E36 not exactly being famed for this or indeed build quality, it was faultless. This had well and truly whet my M Car appetite, and so I guess it made me wonder that if a 20 year old M3 was this much fun, what would something much newer be like in a similar guise? When Coronavirus hit the UK we were all confined to barracks, I found myself on a thing called ‘furlough’ and with

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more time on my hands than ever. That invariably meant that I had many hours at my disposal to browse for cars on the internet, albeit the only work that was sacrificed on this occasion was DIY and decorating! After some consideration, and a chat with my Dad (because that’s what us guys do), I had set my sights on an M4 Competition in San Marino Blue with a light interior, and full carbon. There were two of these for sale in the UK at the end of May, although one was lower mileage and higher spec with an Individual Opal White extended leather interior, Advanced Parking, Icon Adaptive LED Headlights, Heads Up Display, Leather Dash, Individual Piano Black interior trim, and just 3,700 miles on the clock. It had an eye watering new RRP of over £70K, but at 11 months old it had thankfully lost a sizable chunk of this, and although over my budget it ticked all the boxes; I just had to have it! So a deal was done, and as of June 6th I have been the proud owner of this 444bhp monster, some 123 more than my previous M3. I work in the motor trade and as a result have been no stranger to fast, exciting, and surefooted cars on the road. This however is something else! It doesn’t seem to turn corners, but merely eats them for fun, and its straight line acceleration is nothing short of incredible. It can be a sideways world when you want it to be or get overly exuberant with your right foot in the wet, but equally when in comfort and efficient driving modes as opposed to sport and sport plus, it is civilised, pedestrian and subtle. I am in love with everything about it and once lockdown restrictions are suitably eased in Scotland, I am looking forward to stretching

its legs on some of the fantastic driving roads we have up here before the winter comes. I have no plans for now for any modifications but who knows what may happen once it’s out of warranty. The biggest problem I am having currently, however, is two-fold; firstly I can’t stop grinning when I am behind the wheel, as the whole driving experience is so completely engaging, and the Heads Up Display is a particular novelty which I love. Secondly, I find myself almost falling over things as I walk away from the car having parked up, as I am too busy looking back at it in awe of its stance and presence; it’s a pretty thing! Needless to say I think I have made no mistakes here, and I am 100% M for the foreseeable future!

CLASSIFIEDS

in association with AnyM.co.uk

For Sale: E36 316i SE 1996. Red with black leather interior, 4 owners, 187,041 miles, MOT until January 2021. Original BMW wallet contains the Service book which is fully stamped, and outlines a variety of Extended Dealer Warranty cover that includes paintwork/anti-corrosion/etc. Extensive list of factory fitted extras which includes – sports wheel with airbag, front electric windows, auto-dim interior mirror, alloys wheels, electric sliding roof, etc. Over 60 invoices from BMW Dealerships, showing a total expenditure of over £18,000. Open to offers. Contact Frank Degg on 01782612187. Newcastle, Staffordshire.

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BMW Car Club Magazine August 2020

yourphotos

Straight Six August 2020 Member Edition

Articles inside

Your Photos

Club Pub Meets

Registers

Classified

what might you build?

2019 and part 2 in November 2019 of Straight Six, Anthony Shilson takes us through his next line of M3 modifications

Pirelli

creating the V12-powered X5 LM

Dan Norris

MLife: Hot Competition

the Z3 in movie folklore

eight cylinder M3s that came before it?

BMW News

Thoughts from the Boardroom

Board Torque

Motorsport News