Straight Six January 2022 by BMW Car Club GB

JANUARY 2 022 £5

BMW’s First Ever M Car… We bring you the history behind the BMW E12 530 MLE, the ultra-rare South African-built homologation special, and find a pristine example living here in the UK owned by Club member Ian Bergin…

PERFORMANCE PARTS.

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With our range of BMW M Performance Parts, you can take sportiness right down to the last detail. Style your BMW to suit you and enhance your driving experience with our range of impressive extras, inspired by decades of BMW motorsport success. Shop online by searching BMW M Performance Parts, or contact your local BMW Centre to find out more.

BMW CAR CLUB INSURANCE DEVELOPED BY EXPERTS FOR BMW CLUB MEMBERS

COVER AVAILABLE CAN INCLUDE: • Classic and Modern Car Policies

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• Like for Like Cover on modifications

• Agreed Values

Bespoke arrangements for your Motor, Home and Commercial insurance needs.

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 as 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 Roces Square, Witney, OX28 4LE. Registered in England, Registration number 750484. To confirm our registration on 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, run by and for its members. Combined One-Make Car Club Associated 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 Chairman Martyn Goodwin Board of Directors Dave Evans Jamal Blanc Nick Thomas Richard Stern Club Office Michelle Evans Lisa Davies

inside this issue

BMW Car Club Insurance Henry Francis Patron Colin Turkington, Mike Wilds, The late Barrie Williams Editing Team Jeff Heywood Lisa Davies Will Beaumont

28 Creating the Ultimate Garage: Tools

Advertising Print & Digital Next Step Heritage Madeleine Lillywhite 01485 779455 07855 447968 advertising@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

In this month’s Creating the Ultimate Garage, we talk about the most essential accessory to a proper kitted out garage; tools.

32 The Green Agenda AC Schnitzer’s new car in their line-up is the ACS1 35i, with just 20-or-so extra bhp over the standard M135i it’s built on, does this model live up to its premium price tag?

38 Celebrating 70 Years of the BMW Car Club GB he Club celebrates its platinum anniversary. T Find out how the Club was founded, and get involved with the celebration.

Classifieds - From £9.95 per issue 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 Cedar Group, Unit 3, The Triton Centre, Premier Way, Abbey Park Industrial Estate, Romsey, Hampshire SO51 9DJ Tel: 01794 525 020 info@cedargroup.uk.com BMW Car Club (Great Britain) Ltd Registered in England Number 1617753

MLife: The Holy M Grail… E12 530 MLE in this month’s MLife.

Cover image: Patryk Bargielski

Website advertising Next Step Heritage Madeleine Lillywhite 01485 779455 07855 447968 advertising@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

Club member Ian Bergin owns the ultra-rare

No Baddies in Sight

Club member Tom Malcolm shares his experience after being invited to a Classic & Sports Car photoshoot.

It’s Alive! K-based Redux has now completed its U second restomod E30 M3. Take a peek before we feature it in next month’s MLife.

Contents

from the editor Welcome to the January issue of Straight Six. Happy New Year to all our members, and what an exciting year it is. The BMW Car Club celebrates its platinum anniversary this year, and we have planned to celebrate all year round. Head over to page 38 to find out some history about the Club and how it was formed, and how you can get involved in the celebrations this year. The Club is excited to announce the return of the national day, the BMW Sommerfest. Mark your diaries, the provisional dates are 6 – 7 August at Donington Park circuit. Keep an eye on your emails and social media for the details. In this month’s MLife, we introduce you to Club member Ian Bergin’s rare E12 530 MLE. Imported from South Africa during lockdown, this car may be the only example in the UK. Read the exclusive feature on page 20. On page 28 we bring you the next part of Creating the Ultimate Garage, this time we’re taking tools, and on page 32 Will Beaumont reviews the new ACS1 35i from AC Schnitzer, with just around 20 extra bhp more than the basic M135i it’s built on, this model holds a very strong price tag, but is it worth it? Club member Tom Malcolm discusses what it’s like to be invited to a magazine photoshoot, and on page 46 we take a sneaky look at the completed Redux E30 M3, with full details available in next month’s MLife.

20 regulars 6

Board Torque

Thoughts from the Boardroom

10 Club News 12 BMW News 14 Motorsport News 18 Products 52 Pirelli 54 Crossword/Classifieds 57 Regions 69 Registers 81 Your Photos 82 Club Pub Meets

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. Please send article suggestions to officeadmin@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk. 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, Richard Ansari. Happy reading! Jeff, Lisa, & Will Straight Six editorial team.

boardtorque Nick Thomas – Technical Director

n October we held our first face-toface Board meeting since lockdown. It was my first time attending in real life, so it was interesting finding out how tall the rest of the Board really are. We had some really productive discussions, and carefully evaluated the costs and benefits of a number of exciting initiatives to improve the services the Club offers to the members. The successful run of BMWednesday virtual events in early 2021 gave us invaluable insights into the benefits and downsides of the virtual world. Based on survey data from participants at the BMW & Art, BMW Museum and British Touring Cars events, over 95% of you would attend another virtual event, and over 85% of you thought the Club should keep organising them. As a result the Board decided to run another series this winter to brighten the cold dark weeks. It’s shaping up that we will have another three unique events in January, February and March, however as I write this it is too early to give details. Watch out for the announcements of each BMWednesday event soon. Since joining the Board, I have been looking at how we can improve technical support within the Club. It’s an activity that often gets interrupted by jobs, such as planning virtual events and fixing cars that breakdown at awkward moments. A big piece of this will be the Technical Section Knowledgebase. This will be a way to collect, retain and share the technical knowledge that club members hold about repair, maintenance, modification and restoration of our cars. It will be a resource members can use to get good advice that cuts through the noise on Facebook and YouTube, taking advantage of the more modern backroom workings that the new Club website is based on. At the October Board meeting we approved the spending for the website development work needed to host this. The Knowledgebase should be starting a phased roll-out over the first half of 2022, with much more visibility and content on tech support. The Board also started looking at some of the documents behind how the Club runs, such as the Articles of Association. It is clear that there are a number of them, often out of date and sometimes inconsistent with each other. We are working to update them and pull them together into a single Club Handbook. 2021 was unusual. Lockdowns prevented some parts of club life from getting going at the start of the year. Once the restrictions were lifted, though,

6 BMW Car Club Magazine January December 2022 2021

the events soon sprang back. It was good to look at just how much goes on, with the new events section of the Club website showing how many events we run all around the country. Thanks to everyone who gives up time to organise these, and to everyone who supports them by joining in and having fun at them. I ended up missing the London Classic Car Show at Syon Park in June due to self-isolating, however I did get to enjoy the club stand at The Classic in Silverstone and the Classic Motor Show at the NEC. I was able to go out on the track at Silverstone for the first time, admittedly only a parade lap but it was still a thrill to be driven around such an iconic place in an ’02. Back in September I was at the Club’s Anglesey trackday, my favourite UK track, where again I got to do a parade lap. It was interesting to experience the track that I have lapped so many times in the track car with a helmet on, but never before with four of us in my E30 convertible with the roof down and wind in our hair. Lisa from the office came along to give members a chance to meet the office staff, buy club merchandise and sign up a few new members. It’s not all serious though, and Lisa enjoyed trying out a few of the track cars. The photo is of when Lisa joined me out on track, and has become one of my favourite photos as it captures three club members enjoying club life. I think Lisa is laughing at my poor lines and I’m happy that the car was running right after major breakdowns at last year’s Anglesey trackday. The third member is Steve Bostock who spent the day photographing the mood of the trackday, his photos are in the gallery section of the website. Thank you Steve for this image. The day after the trackday I took the opportunity of being in the area (well about three hours driving after taking in some of the Snowdonia scenery and getting lost) to visit the Club office. I learnt a lot about the background workings of the Club, plus had the pleasure of Michelle and Lisa’s company. If you are in the area do drop in and say hello. E10 petrol: A lot has been written

about ethanol in petrol, and even more stories have been spread on social media. I recommend Will Beaumont’s article in the October 2021 Straight Six, or the FBHVC website. I’m feeling quite relaxed about it. I tend to put V-Power petrol in my classics, just because they don’t get driven that much so I don’t mind paying the bit extra. Fuel hoses can be impacted by ethanol. However fuel hoses degrade with age anyway, as I found out on my 1988 325i two years ago. Although the car had never seen any E10 at this time, and I had asked my workshop to replace all fuel hoses as a precaution, one was missed and split about half a mile away from my house. By the time I got home the car was leaving a smelly trail down the road and had dumped a quarter of a tank of petrol. Luckily the leak was on the cold side of the engine or the car could have easily gone up in flames. Treat your fuel hoses like tyres and cambelts, replace them regularly before they fail. Otherwise the only change I have made is that I have started to add a fuel stabilizer to the tank whilst my two oldest BMWs are in winter storage. As I write this the news is all about Omicron. By the time you read this we will know what the impact will be. Whichever way, the Club is strong enough to keep going and we will keep on enjoying our BMWs. The vaccine programs should allow the plans for the BMW Sommerfest to move ahead. Also in 2022 we are celebrating both the BMW Car Club GB’s 70th anniversary, and 50 years of M. Watch out for the 70th Anniversary limited edition merchandise for 2022, as well as some special 70th anniversary stickers. I wish us all a happier New Year. www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

www.traveldestinations.co.uk/driving-holidays/BMW-Car-Club

thoughts from the boardroom W

Chris Brownridge. CEO BMW (UK) Ltd.

hen a company has such a rich and vibrant heritage it’s somewhat inevitable that there is an anniversary of some note to be celebrated every year, but even by BMW’s own high standards 2022 will be cause for a particularly special celebration. This year will mark the 50th anniversary of the foundation of BMW M GmbH and it’s safe to say that it will be a vintage year for BMW M. In May 1972 BMW Motorsport was formed and while it was predominantly involved in winning on track – which it did so with what must have seemed like monotonous regularity to the opposition – the fledgling sporting arm of BMW was soon responsible for some iconic road cars. The 3.0 CSL drew on its racing experience while the 2002 Turbo utilised technology honed by competition, too. By the late 1970s the M1 supercar was nearing completion and by 1993 BMW M GmbH had been established to become the world’s leading high performance specialist. I won’t delve too much deeper into the history books as I’m sure you’re all aware of the stunning machinery to emerge from BMW M’s hallowed halls, but I would like to look forward to what will be a fascinating year. No doubt you’ll have seen the BMW Concept XM that was recently revealed at Art Basel’s Miami show and this previews the most

8 BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

powerful BMW M car to ever go into series production towards the end of 2022. With 750hp and 1000Nm of torque from the combination of a V8 and a powerful electric motor, it will be the first electrified high-performance vehicle from BMW M GmbH. With the Concept XM, BMW M is reimagining the high-performance luxury segment and breaking with established conventions and I’m delighted with its bold design. The detailing is exquisite and I particularly like the twin BMW logos etched into the rear window glass as a link to the two logos found on the back of the M1. And on the subject of harking back to the past I can’t help but be reminded of the original high performance concept Sports Activity Vehicle, the X5 Le Mans. This incredible machine was fitted with a V12 with Le Mans-winning pedigree, yet a scant couple of decades later we’ll have a road car that eclipses its power output!

The celebrations don’t stop with the Concept XM though, there will be a number of other exciting BMW M cars launching in 2022, along with some very special high performance models. The first ever series production M3 Touring will make its debut along with a rather spectacular model based on the M4 Coupé. The next generation of M2 is also nearing fruition and, given the reception the M240i xDrive has received, I’d bet on the M2 being another brilliant M car. But perhaps my favourite aspect of our celebration of BMW M’s achievements over the years is the select number of performance and high performance models we will be producing for the UK market in BMW Individual colours. These will reference different eras from BMW M’s past with iconic hues such as Dakar Yellow, Fire Orange, Daytona Violet, Macao Blue and Imola Red, and these exclusive machines will feature the classic BMW Motorsport logo at the front and rear and on the wheel hubs. I can’t wait to see them in the flesh. Of course, 2022 won’t just be about BMW M, but I’m really looking forward to celebrating our high performance heritage as well as seeing what the future will bring. I hope you have all been able to enjoy the festive period and are anticipating the arrival of 2022 with as much excitement as I am.

www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

clubnews Limited Edition 70th Anniversary BMW Car Club Stickers and Rally Plaques To mark the 70th Anniversary of the BMW Car Club GB, please find enclosed your complimentary limited edition window cling sticker to display in your BMW! The Club is also releasing special rally plaques to mark this fantastic achievement, you will be able to purchase these on the Club Shop by visiting www.bmwcarclubgb.uk This year also marks the return of the Club’s national day, the BMW Sommerfest. Dates are currently provisional, however save the date for this summer, it’s a festival you do not want to miss. More details to follow in the February 2022 issue. 6 – 7 August 2022

Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show Although the BMW Car Club will NOT be having a club stand at this year’s Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show, as a member you can still benefit from the discounted ticket price. Just visit www.necrestorationshow. com to book your tickets and insert the code C22RS164 at checkout.

Renewals and Straight Six To ensure members receive all 12 issues of Straight Six we encourage our members to renew their memberships before the end of their individual expiry month. The Straight Six Magazine mailing list is an automated process and sends over a full list of active members to the mailing house on the 14th of each month. If a membership has not been renewed by the time the mailing list is sent over then you will not receive the following month’s issue. We do receive additional copies into the office each month, but the amount is very limited. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that members who renew after the 14th of the month following their renewal date will be able to have a copy sent out to them.

10 BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

New Members CENTRAL

Kevin Frost

Norman Crossland

Martin Evans

Terry Relf

Tim Finney

Sam Parfitt

EASTERN

SCOTTISH

Raed Nassar

Jamie Burke

Zehn Asgher

Guy Shenton

Patrick McGuire

Nick Evans

Stephen Drew

SOUTH EAST

Nigel Eaton

Mark Worsfold

John Pointon

Dan Liddiard

CENTRAL WEST James Clarke

CHESHIRE & STAFFS

IRELAND

James Sawyer

Marc Patton

Thomas Bertram

Owen Maguire

Reuben Sokhi

LONDON

THAMES

Steven Hawkins Neil Devesey

Dawid Wereszczynski

Cyril Barrett

COTSWOLD

Muhammad Ismail

David Dack

Nick Fell

Arjuna Chandrakumar Marlon Prince

WALES - SOUTH

DEVON

Adrian Cahill

Douglas Humphrey

Steve Boswell

Mohammed Yaqub

Aubrey Gregory

Luckman Miah

Craig Link

EAST ANGLIA

George Hillman

Neil Brett

Romin Boulton

Trevor Seymour

WESSEX Michael Culhane

Matthew Dugdale

NORTH WEST

Joshua Thorpe

Mohammed Riaz

Tracy Kirby

Mike Walley

Matthew Keen

*Provisional dates

March Anglesey

June 30:

April 24: Southern Concours Southern Concours returns in April 2022 at Sherborne Castle, Dorset.

June 5: BM’s on the Lawn The Show & Shine returns next year on the Westonsuper-Mare front lawns, in memory of late Club member, Robert Scanlan. 12: Munich Tour Previously postponed due to Covid restrictions, this tour is now scheduled for 2022. To register your interest, email 3series@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk.

August 6 – 7: BMW Sommerfest The BMWCCGB national show returns this summer. More details to follow. *Provisional dates 26 – 29: The Classic, Silverstone The Classic returns on a new date for 2022. Bookings open soon. *Provisional dates

Trackday Calendar 2022 26:

What’s Planned for 2022…

Cadwell Park

September 4: BMW Car Club GB Ireland Tour Four days exploring some of Ireland’s most dramatic scenery on this relaxed driving holiday. Head to page 7 for more information.

September 12:

Croft

November 11:

Oulton Park

Contact lisa@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk for more information.

www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

bmwnews The BMW Concept XM breaks cover… Towards the end of 2021 BMW M GmbH took the motoring world by surprise when they unveiled the Concept XM. Our initial thoughts were “it’s only a concept, it won’t make production” until we read this: “The BMW Concept XM looks ahead to the most powerful BMW M car ever to go into series production, which is set to begin at the end of next year.” Gulp! The styling is brutal. The XM’s kidney grilles have already been roundly slated on social media, along with the styling, which has been likened to the Range Rover Velar. But although it’s a concept, it looks like the grilles are staying. Here are some quotes from the BMW press release: “The new, progressive front-end design of BMW’s forthcoming luxury-class models can be seen for the first time on the BMW Concept XM. […] The series-production model – the BMW XM – will be produced from the end of 2022 at BMW Group Plant Spartanburg in the USA. […] BMW M GmbH will be presenting the first standalone M model since the legendary BMW M1 in the year it celebrates its 50th anniversary. […] The BMW XM will be the first electrified high-performance model in the BMW M portfolio. It will be available as an M Hybrid only. […] The newly developed M Hybrid drive system combines a V8 engine with a highperformance electric motor. It generates maximum output of 550 kW/750 hp and peak torque of 1,000 Nm, while the drivetrain enables an allelectric range of up to 80kms.” So there you have it, in 2023 the BMW XM will be coming to a BMW showroom near you.

BMW Group hands over one-millionth electrified vehicle Shortly before Christmas, the BMW Group celebrated the delivery of its one-millionth electrified vehicle. Pieter Nota, BMW AG board member, handed over the milestone vehicle, a BMW iX xDrive40 to its owner at BMW Welt in December. The company included a special bonus with the delivery, the customer received a BMW Wallbox, including installation, to enable safe and convenient home charging, as well as the keys for their new vehicle. Nota added, “The delivery of our one-millionth electrified vehicle marks a milestone in our transformation – and we already have the next one in our sights: we aim to break through the twomillion mark in just two years.”

12 BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este confirmed for 2022 BMW Group Classic have confirmed that the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este will take place from the 20th to the 22nd May 2022. This spectacular event in Cernobbio, with its presentation of rare historic and classic automobiles against the backdrop of Lake Como, was hit by the Covid pandemic in 2020 and only a slightly scaled down event finally took place in October 2021. Thankfully the Concorso is back to its usual date in May, and registration for the competition is now open.

This happy couple are handed the keys to a BMW iX xDrive40 by BMW AG board member Pieter Nota. The iX was the milestone one-millionth electrified vehicle produced by BMW

www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

BMW Group UK & Rolls-Royce looking for apprentices BMW UK and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is offering a record number of places on their apprenticeship programmes in 2022. BMW has 95 apprenticeship places available at their production sites at Oxford, Swindon, Hams Hall near Birmingham, Goodwood and at our National Sales Centre at Farnborough. For full entry requirements, further information and hits and tips on your application visit the following link: link: www. bmwgroup.jobs/gb/en/opportunities/apprentice.html Entries are open until 20th February 2022, but early applications are advised. Rolls-Royce is offering a record 37 places on its prestigious apprenticeship scheme for 2022. Candidates for all apprenticeship positions should apply online at: www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com/careers Applications close at 12.00pm on 20th February 2022.

Both BMW and Rolls-Royce are looking for apprentices in 2022

Winter News in brief from BMW Top Gear crowns BMW i4 Saloon of the Year The first fully-electric Gran Coupé from BMW, the i4, has been crowned Saloon of the Year by Top Gear. Editor Jack Rix commented “We love the i4 because it could be any other well-specced BMW. The way the interior is arranged around you, the way it steers and drives. It’s lowslung and sporty and there’s just a certain rightness and cohesion to it. The all-drive chassis is more fluent than the Tesla or Polestar equivalents”.

BMW named Most Reliable Carmaker at Fleet News Awards BMW took home two awards at the 2021 Fleet News FN50, including Most Reliable Car for the BMW 3 Series and the highly coveted Most Reliable Car Manufacturer gong. Editor in Chief Stephen Briers commented; “BMW has been voted the most reliable car manufacturer in the UK by Fleet News leasing companies for an incredible seventh consecutive time, backing up its similar success in the fleet-voted Fleet News manufacturer of the year award.”

Expansion of seven new UK eDrive Zones Adding to its success, a further seven eDrive Zones have been rolled out in the UK, taking the total number to 138 across Europe. Aberdeen, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Coventry, Oxford and Sheffield have all been added. BMW eDrive Zones automate the process of switching to electric-only power when a BMW plug-in hybrid vehicle enters a defined area of these cities. The service, unique in the worldwide automotive industry, also automatically ensures that the electric power is conserved for use during the part of the journey within the low emission zone, if the journey destination is entered into the vehicle’s navigation system. This new technology ensures BMW plug-in hybrid models offer consumers the best of both worlds: electric-only driving in the city, where it makes the most difference, and a highly efficient internal combustion engine to cover longer distances.

BMW victorious at Scottish Car of the Year Awards 2021 BMW’s 4 Series Coupé has been crowned Executive Car of the Year at the 2021 Scottish Car of the Year Awards. Voted for by members of the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers, the 4 Series Coupé finished at the top of its category after the judges compared notes and awarded the best models they have driven in 2021, stating that the 4 Series delivers both stunning performance and supreme handling capabilities, with a sleek and distinctive new exterior design, high quality interior, upgraded driver assistance technologies and even greater efficiencies with the introduction of mild-hybrid technology.

50th Anniversary News from BMW M May 24th 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the foundation of BMW M. And to help celebrate this milestone, BMW UK will introduce a wide selection of BMW M High Performance and BMW M Performance models from March 2022 in some of the most popular BMW Individual paint finishes. These include Dakar Yellow, Fire Orange, Daytona Violet, Macao Blue, Imola Red and Frozen Marina Bay Blue. These exclusive vehicles will feature the classic BMW Motorsport logo, which will replace the standard BMW emblem on the front, rear and wheel centres. BMW M is also launching an M3 Touring in 2022. In addition, BMW M has announced that a spectacular model based on the M4 and rumoured to be a CSL model will also be launched next year, as well as the successor to the M2.

Top Gear has crowned the fully electric BMW i4 as its Saloon of the Year www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

motorsportnews Roving reporters Jeff Heywood & Paul Kelly

BMW Motorsport’s M8 GTE makes its final bow at Road Atlanta After two Rolex 24 Hour victories at Daytona and five IMSA series class wins, the farewell race of the M8 GTE added the 26th podium finish and a pole position to the car’s history books. At the Petit Le Mans 10H, the final race of the season in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at Road Atlanta in November, Jesse Krohn put the #24 M8 GTE on pole position in class and led the field into the last race of the GTLM era. The race proved to be tougher than qualifying, but shortly before the end of the ten hours, Krohn and his BMW Team RLL colleagues John Edwards and Augusto Farfus took over P3 and could step on the GTLM podium one final time. The #25 M8 GTE sister car had to retire due to a race incident. After the dominant performance by Krohn in qualifying, both GTEs struggled to match the pace of the Corvettes and Porsches. It was always a stickler for the team having to run restrictors to limit power from BMW’s twin turbo V8 engine. The GTE drivers kept fighting until the end of the race and were awarded with a late promotion to P3 in the race, finishing the race in third place behind a pair of Porsche 911 RSRs. Farfus had the honour of finishing the last stint of the last race for the M8 GTE.

A blurry Bibendum waves goodbye to BMWs M8 GTE. The big coupe raced for the final time in the Petit Le Mans 10H Race at Road Atlanta. The #24 M8 GTE is seen here trying to stay ahead of a Porsche 911 RSR in the race and would eventually finish third. The M8 GTE has been made obsolete by a change in racing categories from the current GTLM to GTD Pro in 2022

After the farewell of the M8 GTE, BMW Team RLL now sets sights towards its future in GTD Pro with the M4 GT3 in 2022 and in the LMDh class with the BMW M LMDh in 2023.

Jesse Krohne, Augusto Farfus and John Edwards celebrate their third place finish in the Petit le Mans 10H Race at Road Atlanta as well as the M8 GTE’s final ever race

BMW M2 Cup set for 2022 After the successful premiere of the BMW M2 Cup in 2021, the one-make cup has now announced its race calendar for the coming season. It once again features twelve races over six weekends as part of the support programme for the DTM. “For us, the debut season of the BMW M2 Cup was a big success”, said Thomas Felbermair, Vice President Sales and Marketing BMW M GmbH. “The feedback of the drivers was entirely positive. The BMW M2 CS Racing has racing DNA that is typical for BMW M. I’m really looking forward to the 2022 season and hope for another thrilling title battle.”

14 BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

After a successful first season of racing, the BMW M2 Cup sees it supporting the DTM once again in 2022 featuring twelve rounds at six races

www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

BMW CAR CLUB AWARDS EVENING

BMW CAR CLUB AWARDS EVENING Saturday

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The BMW Car Club Racing Championship annual awards evening returns to

Sedgebrook Hall to celebrate the 2021 season.

This year, members of the BMW Car Club are invited, to make an even bigger

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6:30pm

Dress:

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Accommodation: £60 for single or £70 for double occupancy

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Saturday 29th January 2022

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annual awards evening returns to Sedgebrook Hall to celebrate the 2021 season. This year, members of the BMW Car Club

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Mons Classic, Belgium © Chippy

30th September – 2nd October 2022

Join fellow classic car enthusiasts for the inaugural ‘Mons Classic’ event open to all marques of classic cars. © Espace Chimay

This three-day tour has been developed in conjunction with the Wallonia Tourist board and it starts in the ‘Grand Place’ of Mons, where special access has been granted to park our cars. You will have a two-night stay in the four-star Martin’s Dream boutique hotel situated just off the main square. The first night is free to explore the town with its bars and restaurants located around the square.

The following day a road run is planned around the countryside of Wallonia. This evening a traditional Belgian dinner is planned at a local restaurant on the Grand-Place to sample the typical dishes of Mons. On the final morning a coffee stop is included at a fascinating car museum before your route back to the Eurotunnel. What’s included:

Price:

Return Eurotunnel crossing Two nights’ accommodation on a B&B basis Road run rally - including entry to Hitler’s bunker Dinner on Saturday evening Entry to car collection and coffee

A BTA No .W597X

£399 per person based on two in a car sharing a room.

To book: call Motorsport Travel Destinations on 01707 329 988 www.traveldestinations.co.uk

The Ultimate Belgian Getaway

BMW Car Club GB Ireland Tour

4th – 8th September 2022 | Killarney, County Kerry Join fellow BMW owners in exploring some of Ireland’s most dramatic scenery on this relaxed driving holiday. The combination of rugged coastlines, imposing mountains and picturesque villages make this area perfect for exploring in your car. When you are not out enjoying the pre-planned circular daydrives, you will be able to relax at the 5-star Hotel Dunloe & Gardens, which will host us for four nights. What is included: • Return cruise ferry crossings from Holyhead – Dublin with Stena Line (other routes are also available) • 4 nights at the 5-star Hotel Dunloe & Gardens in Killarney, in a double or twin garden room. • Breakfast at the hotel each morning • Sunday evening welcome barbecue in the hotel’s gardens • Wednesday night tour dinner • Use of the hotel’s facilities including swimming pool, gymnasium, horse stables, fishing & indoor tennis courts • Suggested driving routes, route plans & rally boards

Tour Price: £879.00 per person (based on 2 people in a car sharing a double or twin room) non-refundable deposit of £200.00 per person A will be required at the time of booking This exclusive tour will be limited to 25 cars.

Please call Travel Destinations on 01707 329988 to reserve your place.

A BTA No .W597X

products Machine Mart New Products! Machine Mart are constantly adding to their extensive range of tools and machinery and as we head into the New Year, we are happy to showcase some of the latest additions to our product range. The Clarke CCO14D Abrasive Cut-Off Saw includes a 14”/355mm cutting disc and a powerful 2200W 230V motor. A quick clamp helps to securely hold the material that is being cut whilst the unit has a spindle lock for fast and easy replacement of the cutting disc. It is able to slice quickly and cleanly through ferrous metal bar and tube, while also featuring a quick release vice assembly. It is adjustable from 0-45° for angled cutting with a carry handle for on-site handling. Visit www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-cco14d-14355mm-abrasive-cut-off-saw-220 for more information.

Clarke generators are a huge part of Machine Mart’s core range and we have recently added three new inverter generators. Starting at £238.80, these new models are all Euro 5 emissions standard compliant. They are powerful, lightweight and run quietly with anti-vibration feet to further reduce noise. The smaller IG950D model offers a continuous output of 800W maximum whilst the IG2000D, the largest of the three, has 1800W maximum continuous output with a fuel tank capacity of 4.5-litres compared to 2-litres in the IG950D and the middle IG1200C. Find out more information here www.machinemart.co.uk/c/petroldriven-suitcase-type-generators

The Clarke CAX10TPB Axle Stand offers a 10 tonne capacity and is suitable for commercial vehicles. It has heavy duty welded steel construction, with pin and chain load support, for increased strength and safety. The stand features a wide U-shaped saddle for even load distribution. This model comes with five handy height positions, with a minimum height of 450mm and a max height of 750mm. Available for £130.80 here www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarkecax10tpb-10-tonne-axle-stand-individual

With 350mm puncture proof tyres and a large 85 litre capacity, the Clarke WB85P is ideal for use on building sites. It has a strong tubular frame and durable steel construction. High quality handle grips are also featured. Visit www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-wb85p-contractor-85l-wheelbarrowwith-p for more information

Machine Mart is Britain’s biggest specialist supplier of Tools and Machinery. Established in 1981 with a growing network of 65 superstores nationwide with 1000s of tools and machinery on display. Products can be purchased with confidence and ease instore, online at www.machinemart.co.uk or via telesales on 0115 956 5555. Our experienced store and telesales teams are here to provide helpful, friendly advice to our customers, ensuring that they purchase the right tool for the job – every time.

18 BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

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An exciting new range of official 2022 BMW calendars and notebooks are now on sale. BMW Car Club members can enjoy a 10% discount. Produced by our official license partner, Allan & Bertram, with exclusive access to the BMW image library, shop the range at www. amazon.co.uk/allanandbertram and enter code KAL4U22A at checkout. Start planning for better days ahead with the striking new range of BMW and MINI branded calendars.

M-Style Pipercross V1 Carbon Induction Kit for BMW F40 M-Style now offers the latest in the V1 range of airboxes, the kit for the BMW F40. Leading filter manufacturer Pipercross has teamed up with Arma Speed, a firm well versed in carbon fibre product development, to produce this range of direct replacements performance air induction kits. Each air box has been specially designed to fit within the space vacated by the factory unit, thus ensuring a straightforward installation process. Compared to other well-known cotton filters, the Pipercross filter element can be used for a far longer period before cleaning is required. It has also been shown to improve fuel economy, power and torque outputs and comes with a lifetime warranty for road use. The low maintenance and long lifespan aspects of a Pipercross filter are the result of the multi-layer foam that is used in all of the company’s filters. The outer core is a coarse foam designed to trap larger particles, the middle core is medium foam designed to trap most particles and the inner core is fine foam which will trap the remainder of the particles. This design ensures an exceptional level of engine protection under all conditions. Complete induction kit: £1,050.00 inc. VAT. This induction kit comes with all the required fitting components and is suitable for DIY fitting. However, M-Style can, if required, offer a fitting service at its specialist workshop at £80.00 inc. VAT. For further details e-mail info@mstyle.co.uk or call 0208 598 9115.

Exclusive M-Style BMW M135i (F40) CT Carbon Fibre Kit M-Style’s demo F40 M135i has been put to exceptional use having been 3D scanned as a basis for the CT Carbon Fibre Kit which will shortly be available from M-Style. 3D scanning from an actual vehicle ensures the best possible fit of the PRE-PREG DRY Carbon Fibre Parts. The kit comprises four components: • Three-piece front splitter • Side skirts • Roof spoiler • Rear diffuser Each component is available separately at £699 each (inc. VAT) or as a complete kit at £2499 (inc. VAT). The M-Style CT M135i F40 kit is due for release around the end of 2021 and demand is certain to be high. Thus M-Style is accepting deposits for orders from the first production batch. The deposit for the full kit is £500 and the deposits for individual elements are £150 per item. For further details e-mail info@mstyle.co.uk or call 0208 598 9115. www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

Life Feature – BMW E12 530 MLE

LIFE

The Holy M Grail… Words Jeff Heywood & Ian Bergin – Photos Patryk Bargielski Many petrolheads and some BMW M aficionados are convinced that the legendary M1 is BMW’s first M car. They argue that the 70s supercar is the first BMW to be fitted with an M engine and, afterall, was given the moniker M1. They may have a point. A handful of others argue that the first BMW Motorsport car was the E12 M535i, while a few more throw the E9 3.0 CSL’s hat into the ring, saying the original shark-nose coupé should have that honour. All would be wrong. The accolade is actually reserved for the South African-built BMW 530 MLE (Motorsport Limited Edition). Such a thing is now a very, very rare car… but there is one here in the UK, owned by a lovely chap who just happens to be a Club member. 20 BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

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ord Motorsport, run by Jochen Neerpasch and his right-hand man Martin Braungart, dominated touring car racing in the late sixties and the early seventies with its hot, lightweight Capris and Escorts. BMW had tried everything to beat Ford, but it had enjoyed only limited success. In desperation it turned to Neerpasch and Braungart for help. As the history books state, in May 1972, both Jochen Neerpasch and his assistant Martin Braungart were lured away from Ford by BMW to set up BMW Motorsport, taking Hans-Joachim “Strietzel” Stuck with them too. And the new team made an immediate impression. The E9 CS was a terrific racing machine, it just needed a

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few tweaks for it to become dominant in the European Touring Car Championship (ETCC). Aerodynamic improvements and, most noticeably, weight reduction were needed, as a result the CSL ‘Batmobile’ was born. Neerpasch and his crew’s input was quickly felt, Toine Hezemans won the ETCC title in 1973. BMW Motorsport would go on to dominate touring car racing with the E9 CSL throughout the rest of the 1970s, securing the ETCC title six times in total before the turn of the decade. In the mid-‘70s, BMW South Africa wanted to go racing too, specifically in the country’s Star Modified Production Racing Series, which was effectively run to Group 2 regulations. There was only one problem, it needed a competitive

four-door car. This ruled out the E9 CSL and no four-door BMW race cars existed at the time. To contest the 1976 series and to try and cash-in on some motorsport success, BMW South Africa wanted to run a pair of E12 5 Series models. A call was put through to Jochen Neerpasch in Germany and, after much discussion, the wheels were put in motion for a couple of E12-based competition cars to be ready in time for the season opener at Kyalami. The specification for each 530 MLE was formulated back at BMW Motorsport in Germany. Neerpasch handed much of the initial development work to Schnitzer, with input from BMW factory and F1 driver, Gunnar Nilsson, who proved to be invaluable as he lapped Kyalami in a

BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

Life Feature – BMW E12 530 MLE

The 530 MLE in BMW Motorsport livery with BIC and Castrol sponsorship. Both Eddie Keizan and Alain Lavoipierre drove cars in this livery for one of the race seasons. Lavoipierre is at the wheel of this car

blistering 1 minute 39 seconds, despite an engine misfire! The race MLEs were piloted by Eddie Keizan and Alain Lavoipierre, and both motorsport machines were immediately successful. Keizan was the quicker of the two drivers, winning 15 out of 15 races entered in the first season. The pair dominated the series for the next three years, with Keizan picking up three titles and the car remained competitive until the 530 MLE was finally retired in 1979. The 530 MLE was the most successful racing BMW 5 Series in history, an accolade it still holds to this day. While the race cars were very cool, today we’re looking at one of the rare road cars that BMW South Africa needed to build so that it could go racing in the first place. In order to meet the homologation requirements of the Modified Production rulebook, a minimum of 100 road cars needed to be built. In the end, 110 examples of the homologated Type 1 BMW 530 MLE were produced and sold exclusively to South African customers in 1976, two years before the iconic M1 was launched. Demand was such that the 100 required for homologation were quickly snapped up. Not because the MLE was cheap. No, it cost R10,600 at the time, which is approximately £6,563…with only a radio thrown in as a no cost optional extra! Due to sanctions during apartheid, the South African public were starved of performance cars, hence the reason why so many ‘SA special’ cars – especially BMWs – exist. Think 333i, M745i and 325iS. Although the road-going 530 MLE didn’t feature a full race engine, many competition-spec parts did find their way onto the car, making it the first true BMW M car for public consumption, if only in

22 BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

one market. And to rubber stamp their provenance and quieten down those who still disbelieve that this is M car genesis, these were the first BMWs that were given an M designation on their VIN plates, see the photo overleaf. Handbuilt at BMW’s huge manufacturing facility at Rosslyn, Pretoria, E12 525 shells were pulled off the production line to be totally transformed from well-respected sports saloons into true racing cars. To shed precious kilos, the body was fabricated from lighter gauge steel and aluminium, with thinner glass fitted. Plus, holes were literally drilled everywhere; in the floorpan under the seats, through the parcel shelf, through the c-pillars and rear seat panel, the bootlid, doors and bonnet inner skins. Even the clutch pedal and boot hinges didn’t escape the weight-saving drill. Sound deadening was also removed all in the name of weight-saving. The battery was relocated to the boot for better weight distribution and BMW South Africa even went as far as constructing the rear bench seat, which the rules said must be kept in place, from foam without any springs for support. The kerb weight of the car tumbled to 1233kg. To put that into some sort of context, a 528i of the same era weighed 1385kg, that’s a 152kg saving. As all of this work was laboriously done by hand and it means no two cars are exactly alike. The 110 Type 1 homologation road cars were all painted Chamonix White with the famous BMW Motorsport tricolour striping. Exclusive to the 530 MLE was a special front air dam, a substantial boot spoiler and hand-cast arch extenders, all constructed from fibreglass. The cars were all fitted with Scheel sport seats trimmed in blue velour cloth and featured matching blue vinyl door

panels. The package also included an Itavolanti steering wheel and wooden shift knob denoting the 5-speed transmission’s dogleg first gear. Electric windows, power steering and airconditioning? Not a chance. This is a true stripped out homologation special. Unique BBS Mahle 14” wheels were created as one-offs for the 530 MLE, wrapped in 195/70R14 tyres. Interestingly, the 530 MLE never came with an M badge as such, and this adds to the conspiracy theorists’ argument that the MLE isn’t a true M car, but one only has to look at the VIN to know that the MLE is the real deal. At its core, the 530 MLE used the same 3.0L M30 engine found in the previous generation E9 and E3 vehicles. In the case of the MLE’s motor, however, it was tweaked by BMW engine guru Paul Rosche with input from Schnitzer Motorsport. The work followed conventional tuning ideas, using a hotter cam and high compression Mahle pistons, fed by twin down-draught Zenith INAT carbs. The result was a conservative 197hp and 227Nm, sent through a Getrag close-ratio five-speed dogleg gearbox and ultimately to the rear wheels via a Borg-Warner limited-slip differential with a 3.45 final drive. Some cars also had oil coolers specified in their build, as well. In testing, this homologation special could sprint from 0-60mph in 8.5 seconds before reaching a top speed of 129mph. Subsequently, the suspension and braking systems were upgraded too. Bilstein shocks with firmer springs featured at all four corners, along with ventilated discs up front and solid discs in the rear. The success of the 530 MLE was a great example of the mantra: what wins

Eddie Keizan in the 1977 Championship-winning 530 MLE, now sporting sponsorship from Finnish electronics company Salora and Castrol. Keizan and the 530 MLE dominated the South African Modified Production Racing Series for three years

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The BMW South Africa 530 MLE that hit the headlines over the past 12 months has been fully rebuilt and restored, but is it 100% period correct?

on Sunday sells on Monday. It paved the way for BMW South Africa as a sporty brand and a serious motorsport contender in the country. Both on track and off, the BMW 530 MLE was a very special car, made even more so by it being a race-winning machine. In fact, due to the MLE’s popularity, a further 117 Type 2 examples were built in 1977 after the initial homologation run of 110 white cars, but these were manufactured on the production line and weren’t given the lightweight treatment. They also came in different colours and featured more creature comforts commonly found on the standard E12 525 and 528 models. The later cars are viewed as watered-down versions of the real thing, and therefore are far less sought after by collectors. One must be careful when making a purchase though, as interest rises in the E12 and E28 5ers, unscrupulous shops are taking these second-phase MLEs and trying to disguise them as original Type 1 cars, which now command serious money.

Ian Bergin’s stunning E12 530 MLE Finding the 530 MLE came almost by accident. It’s the first Covid lockdown and Ian’s bored. He already has a stunning E28 M535i being fully restored by Matt Summerfield at Body Motorworks, Chesterfield, which will be powered by a Hack Engineering-built high-compression 3.7-litre M30 engine running on throttle bodies. But that’s for another day. Anyway, back to the MLE. In a state of ennui, Ian was scouring the internet looking for another project. He fancied another BMW www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

How Ian first saw the car in the mystery man’s collection in South Africa, on its gold wheels…

5er, possibly an E12 or even another E28. He saw a promising E12 M535i and was planning to go and look at the car before realising that, with the car and owner residing in Holland, it was impossible because of the travel ban. So, it was back to searching the World Wide Web, as well as putting feelers out to friends and contacts. A week or two later he was alerted to a very nice black E28 M5 for sale in South Africa, part of a private car collection. After making contact with the seller, he received plenty of info and photos of the M5. The car quickly sold, so the seller asked Ian if he’d be interested in a 2002 Turbo and sent some pics over of the car. In one of the photos Ian noticed another vehicle in the background; it was an E12 with motorsport stripes and what looked like wide, gold BBS wheels. Ian originally thought it was an E12 M535i, “is that car available?” came Ian’s response. Unfortunately for Ian, the reply was negatoré, the E12 was owned by the same collector who remains nameless and has literally hundreds of cars and bikes in

Welcome to the UK. The 530 MLE swaps warm and arid conditions for the rain and damp of the UK. It soon went off to Macchina Motorsport for some fettling

his collection, some of which can be seen in one of the photos, and he wasn’t in the mood to let the car go. What Ian did learn was that the car was, in fact, an ultrarare 530 MLE and not an M535i, number 23/110 to be precise, with just 66,187kms on the clock. Or 41,000 miles in pounds shillings and pence. He discovered that the current owner had owned the car since 2011 after purchasing the MLE from South African racing driver Ulrich Sanne. Since he purchased the car, he had only added 60kms to the odometer. Sanne had owned the MLE since the mid-90s, unfortunately the history goes cold before Sanne’s ownership, which is a shame. The car obviously had the credentials to be a stunner, so Ian decided to keep in touch, chatting with the owner on a regular basis over the next couple of months. He BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

Life Feature – BMW E12 530 MLE

The mechanical wizard that is Ben from Macchina Motorsport got stuck into a large list of jobs that needed doing on the MLE. This included the fitment of a stunning set of triple 45 Weber carburettors, which look amazing and sound glorious. Here, Ben and engineering whizz Gemma fettle the MLE’s M30 engine…

kept chipping and chipping away until the owner finally crumbled and agreed that he’d sell the car to Ian. Obviously, Ian could only view the car via the internet on videos and photos, which there were copious amounts of. The guy was a wellknown collector with a reputation for being a straight and honest businessman, so Ian took his word about the car’s condition, agreed the financials and became the owner in May 2020. In October 2020 a container ship finally sailed into London Gateway with Ian’s MLE onboard after an anxious five-month wait. The MLE was removed from the container and Ian’s first thoughts were very positive. The car was as good as described, very original, including the original paint from 1976. On opening up the car, Ian couldn’t believe how immaculate the interior was, it was like new. The blue velour that the seats are trimmed in is unmarked and looks amazing. Of course the fabric is now NLA, as are many parts on the MLE. Some were unique to the MLE too, making them doubly rare. Ian hasn’t had to do anything to the interior except give it a good valeting. The paintwork also received very little attention, apart from a quick mopping by a detailer before a set of period correct BMW M tricolour stripes were applied. The stripe kit was supplied by Luis Malhou, the man responsible for project managing the complete restoration of 530 MLE #100 for BMW South Africa in 2019, which is well documented online. In our conversation, Ian tells me that after showing his mum a photo of the MLE she said that they once owned an E12 BMW. Ian said it was the first family car he

24 BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

Ben’s list included replacing nearly every suspension component and bush before one of the final tasks, replace the 14” gold BBS wheels with a set of 15” BBS-Mahle wheels

can recall as a kid. It was a Topasbraun car but she named it ‘the orange car’ to annoy Ian’s father. Once the dust had settled on the car’s arrival in the UK and Ian had the opportunity to give the car a good once-over, he took the MLE over to Ben Rushworth at Macchina Motorsport, based in North London. Between them, they filled a white board with a list of jobs to do. Ben worked methodically through the list, replacing 90% of the suspension, including all new track rod ends, adjustable camber and caster top mounts, beefier and adjustable anti-roll bars, tension rods, subframe mount and a new diff bush. Plus new bushes were fitted to the trailing arms for camber and

toe adjustment. The trailing arms were sent off for powder coating, they came back looking like new. Next on the list was new Bilstein dampers and H&R springs, the MLE now handling much better than a 45-year-old BMW E12 should do thanks to all the new suspension components and bushes. Ian and Ben are looking at the front springs again, though. They’d like to lower the nose by about an inch or so. Once Ben was happy with the suspension work he moved onto the brakes, fitting EBC discs and matching fast road pads all-round with new braided lines fabricated in-house at Macchina Motorsport. The original four-pot calipers were rebuilt, too. Ian says Ben was pulling his hair out trying to get a solid, firm brake pedal, as each caliper has four bleed nipples and the car has a complex twinservo setup. Ben then turned his attention to the wheels. The original, period 14” gold BBS wheels were removed and stored safely, being replaced with a set of silver 15” BBS Mahle wheels, which look superb, setting off the car to a tee. The wheels are originally from a Lotus Esprit S1, as seen in the Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me. The wheels are shod with semi-slick trackday tyres from MRF, whose stickiness tames the MLE’s back-end to some extent, seeing as there is 200hp+ running through them. Once the car was driving and stopping as it should, Ben then turned his attention to the MLE’s M30 engine. The bottom end was fine so he pulled the head, ported and polished it where it was needed and gave it a general clean up. A 288° Dbilas camshaft was installed by Ben that gives 11mm of lift. He then set about fitting one of Ian’s ‘smiley buys.‘ You know when you purchase something and, when you have it in hand or you are thinking about it, you have a smile on your face? Well that’s a smiley buy and Ian had sourced nothing less than a set of triple 45 Webers to feed the M30 with lots of golden go-juice. To make sure that plenty of Shell’s finest was reaching the Webers, Ben replaced the MLE’s mechanical fuel pump with an

If you see this front end looming large in your rear view mirror I would move over. With the advantage of low weight and that gutsy M30 fed by triple webers giving over 200 horsepower, Ian’s 530 MLE is no slouch www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

Now virtually finished, Ian’s 530 MLE looks amazing, and being totally original, including the paint, makes it all the rarer…

electronic one and the distributor was also changed to an electronic 1-2-3 Bluetooth distributor for tunability. The MLE was then taken to Northampton Motorsport where the Webers were set up to iron out any problems before a power run was performed on the rolling road. The results were very positive. Initially, the car was making an honest 200hp… at the wheels! With a promise of more to come. Read on… Ian admits that he was concerned the car might be finished in too much of a rush, because the London Classic Car Show was looming large on the horizon, and one or two niggles still needed to be ironed out. Ian had agreed that the MLE would be ready to make its public debut on the BMW Car Club’s stand at the event. With the show getting ever closer, Ian agreed to take the car off Ben’s hands,

All the proof that is needed that the 530 MLE was the first BMW M car, the MLE’s VIN plate. Under the heading type sits a large M after the number 530…

agreeing to bring the car back so the remaining work could be completed. Even so, the car drove, tracked and braked wonderfully well and Ian was already starting to fall in love with the MLE. It was prepped and duly took its place on the stand at Syon Park back in June of this

I’ve always been a huge fan of the E12’s simple three-box design and crisp lines. It was drawn by a team headed by Paul Bracq and assisted by Marcello Gandini of Bertone, who also penned the achingly pretty Lamborghini Miura, Countach and Diablo. Not a bad design team then! The slightly larger wheels and Motorsport tricolour striping help give Ian’s MLE a more race car look, whilst still keeping those wonderful lines. Ian and Ben at Macchina Motorsport will be looking at changing the springs over the winter to just drop the front down an inch or more so that the wheel sits better in the wheelarch www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

year, receiving a huge amount of plaudits from both the public and one or two wellknown motoring celebrities. Since the London Classic show, it has been back in Ben’s workshop to complete the necessary work and, other than that, Ian has gone about the business of enjoying his car. Chatting to him he seems quite taken with just how well the MLE rides, “it’s very compliant, it is quite forgiving without being too stiff or a complete boat. Let’s not forget this is a 45-year-old car, with a chassis to boot, but it is very enjoyable to punt around. The Webers give the car a lovely, throaty roar and the MLE cruises along at a fair canter.” Although with 200-ish horsepower pulling it along, it isn’t what Ian would describe as fast, “it’s nippy enough and smooth to drive with a lovely, involving analogue feel that you just don’t get in modern cars with flappy paddles, electric assistance behind everything and enough ECUs to power a Mars-bound rocket.” Ian has another project on the go for the MLE, which will (touch wood) come to fruition in the winter. When the car was on the dyno, there was a bit of stand-off during the power runs. Basically, back pressure caused by too much air, fuel and exhaust gases trying to exit through the M30’s stock exhaust manifold. BMW obviously didn’t pay a lot of attention to the car’s exhaust system and manifold because all six outlet pipes on the manifold run into one exhaust outlet, causing huge back pressure. In fact, the whole system is quite restrictive, so he has agreed with BTB Exhausts BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

Life Feature – BMW E12 530 MLE

Rare bird…

to build an equal length, large primary exhaust manifold and side-exit system for the MLE. There is no off the shelf performance exhaust manifolds for RHD E12 (or E28), so Joe Ellis, MD at BTB Exhausts, is keen to fill this gap in the market. Ellis agrees that it makes sense to use the 530 MLE as a proving ground as the car was recently dyno’d with the restrictive stock exhaust, so there is a solid baseline to work with. Ian is being conservative, and is hoping that they will see a 15hp increase, maybe 20. Whereas, I think with the amount of back pressure that will be released by a full straight-through system and manifold on a three-litre engine will liberate an extra 20-25hp. Optimistic? Maybe, but with a bit of breathing plus the headwork Ben has done, all fed by triple 45s, the exhaust and manifold should allow all those gases to flow smoothly and see a quite dramatic rise. So, we have to ask the question: just how rare is Ian’s MLE? The answer would be very, very, very rare. As far as we know, it is the only example in

26 BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

Europe, and only seven are known to exist worldwide. A couple of chaps in South Africa have a couple each, BMW South Africa own their recently-restored example, which has some parts from a Type 2 car used in its restoration. There’s one in Australia, and Ian’s MLE is the real deal, so that means there’s only one more car in existence that’s unaccounted for. Now that is what anyone would call ridiculously rare! I would like to thank Ben Rushworth and Adam from Macchina Motorsport for the work, care and attention given to the 530 MLE. Macchina Motorsport has done an incredible job. I would also like to thank Joe Ellis from BTB Exhausts. Joe has a vision to help the wider E12 and E28 community of owners truly looking for a RHD M30 performance manifold and exhaust. I would also like to thank you Jeff, plus Pat Tremain and the BMW Car Club for featuring my 530 MLE and finally Patryk Bargielski (@patryk.ldn) for taking the pictures – Ian Bergin

I first came into contact with Ian in early 2020 during the first lockdown, he was looking to buy an E12 M535i. There was a car up for sale on the Register and we had some information to share on it. We kept in touch for a while, then it all went quiet. I contacted him to see if he had been successful in buying the car. It turned out he had passed on it, but sent me some photos of a 530 MLE which he was trying to purchase. I was aware that these cars existed, but had never seen one. As a result of our chat, I did some research. I was a little sceptical at first about the car, but once Ian sent me all the photos and copies of the documentation, the penny quickly dropped that this was an extremely rare motor vehicle and Ian kindly kept me up to date with his progress. I didn’t know how different the MLEs were to the M535i, which they predated by some years. The car eventually arrived in the UK and Ian and his team got to work on his to-do list. With Ian’s enthusiasm and a Herculean effort, it meant that he and the team were able to ready the car for its first full public appearance at the London Classic Car show earlier this year and the rest is now history . My thanks must go to Ian. That the UK now has the only 530 MLE in Europe (that we are aware of), makes it one of the rarest BMWs of all. Pat Tremain E12 5 Series Register Officer

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Feature

Creating the Ultimate Garage: Tools H Words: Will Beaumont

ygge, the Danish concept of cosiness and content and how to get it, has been a hot topic over the past few years. It’s not just about thick socks and a chunky cardie, to be truly comfortable Danish-style you also need the correct environment and only perform simple tasks. I don’t think you can find true hygge in a garage. No, the satisfaction of completing all the jobs you’ve set out to do on your car is a different sensation. There isn’t a word that sums up the smugness of fixing your car and not having to spend a penny, no term for the pure joy and the warm feeling that floods your body when you have the exact right tool for a job. There’s no single phrase to describe the feeling of finding an opportunity to use your favourite tool, that simple spanner that just suits you perfectly. There is no garage-based hygge, no word for the yen like state of mind for being content and at one with your garage and tools. To get anywhere close to these sensations, let alone find a term to encapsulate them, you’ve got to populate your garage with some kit. If you’re starting from scratch, what do you need? The most obvious thing is to buy a tool kit. Something like the Clarke 199-piece toolbox and tools, £95.98 from Machine Mart. And although that will undoubtedly be useful, it will not be the equipment you need for, perhaps, the most basic garage task: lifting the car up and taking the wheels off.

28 BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

That job will require, at the very basic level, a jack. But a jack alone is not so wise. You don’t want to be working on a car suspended by just a jack, it’s unsafe. You need axle stands and, preferably, something to chock whatever wheels are still on the ground, if any. The guys over at Machine Mart have a tidy solution to this, a Clarke trolley jack, a pair of axle stands and two chocks all packaged in a neat box for £65.99. You do need to check if such equipment is suitable, though, is it sturdy enough? If you’ve got a big SUV, an X5 or even X7, cars that weigh in at over two tonnes, you might get close to the recommended limit for some kit. The jack in the Clarke package can lift two tonnes and the axle stands can support one tonne each. As the jack will only ever lift two wheels off the ground, so approximately half the car’s weight at any one time and the stands will support one corner each, they’ll be suitable for most BMWs. It’s not the only research you

need to do, you’ll need to check to see if the jack will fit under your car. If you’ve got something especially sporty or you’ve lowered your car, many standard jacks might be a squeeze. Low profile jacks are available, but if you have tarmac skimming bumpers and sills, you might need to get creative with ramps, stands, blocks of wood so you can drive your car onto something higher before you can get a substantial enough jack underneath and get the wheels off the ground. A more simple, but more costly option

www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

Feature

to all of that is a hydraulic lift or ramp. Tim Penhaligon, from ARM / Mapfreaks: Motorsport & Tuning Specialists who know their way around BMWs and can provide fully approved servicing options too, knows the luxury of proper lifting equipment, “It’s always easier to work on a car on a ramp than it is working on the floor.” With your car floating above the ground, you might think now’s the time to unfurl the toolbox, lock-and-load a socket onto a ratchet and get to work. But hold on. Can you actually see what you’re doing? With lights on the ceiling, the underside of your car will be dark and dingy. Even in the wheel arches and under the bonnet you won’t be able to perform any of the intricate jobs as there won’t be much light. At the very least, you’ll need a torch. Ideally something bright with a hook or a magnet, or both, so you can position it wherever you need. The Clarke RWL36Li from Machine Mart looks like it covers all of those bases. A torch is great for small detail jobs. You can get it into the same area that you’re working on so you don’t cast a shadow where your hands are working. But some big floodlight-style lamps, that can light up the entire underside of a car, are great for seeing a bigger picture. Now it’s time to break out the tools. Finally. But I hate to break this to you, you’re never going to have everything you need. Even if, rather than opting for the 199-piece toolset you go for Machine Mart’s bigger £430.80 Clarke tool chest and tools package. You see, the rules of the universe state that, there will be one piece of equipment that you need to finish a job, but you won’t have it. Even the best-equipped workshops will require one

www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

more item to be complete… until the next job, when there’ll be just one more piece of kit. It’s never-ending. Still, to try and avoid that frustrating situation – is it really that frustrating, though, who’s not looking for an excuse to buy some more tools? – Tim tells us what he thinks is invaluable: “Air tools that make light of bolts which have been exposed to the elements for many years. A good impact driver. I think you’d have more chance of freeing a stubborn bolt with an air tool rather than an electric one. But some of the newer Milwaukee or Dewalt tools, some of their battery tools are really great. They’re really good quality.” Of course, to run air tools you need a compressor. That might seem a bit overkill just for an impact wrench when you can get a decent battery-powered one that doesn’t have an awkward hose

hanging from it. But a windy gun isn’t all that compressed air is good for, as Tim explains. “We’ve got a compressor for the body shop as well. It is definitely a requirement. I don’t know a garage that hasn’t got a compressor.” Topping up tyres, cleaning out nooks and crannies, feeding a sand or media blaster, spraying oil and wax into hidden rust-prone spots; an air compressor is endlessly useful. The advice is to buy the biggest one you have space and money for, you won’t regret it. Machine Mart can supply units with an eight-litre tank for £119.98 to big 270-litre industrial compressors for £2649, and everything in between. Tim’s next recommendation is for peeps with anything other than a proper old classic: “A diagnostic tool is a really handy thing to have. If you’re working with fault codes or if you have an engine

BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

Feature management light on, any good code reader, like a Snap-On or a Delphi tool or something that can bring up a fault code with a description, that’s really helpful. It can save you loads of time, rather than taking parts off, testing them. You can get direct, straight to it.” It’s a hot topic, code readers and diagnostic tools. There’s a lot of information out there, some incorrect and some useful warnings about the incompatibility of certain equipment with BMWs. There’s too much information to fit into this feature, so it’s a topic that we’ll cover in detail in a future issue. If you have any experience or insight into diagnostic tools for BMWs of any age, please get in touch with us, we’d love to hear from you. Details of how to contact the club office are at the front of the magazine. The one problem when collecting lots of tools, no matter how useful they all are, is where to put them. Your kit will quickly outgrow your first toolbox, the draws of a tool chest will be full in no time. The result, eyeing up fitted cabinets and generating aspirations of decking out your garage to make it look like it’s the Mercedes F1 workshop. Such a facility is the dream. Modular storage packages from Clarke or Sealey, that include tall cabinets, workshop draws, built-in bins and tool racks, have that same high-tech look you might see in a professional race workshop. You can buy cabinets and items individually, or there are packages to cover walls or fit into corners, all from, you guessed it, Machine Mart. One element that isn’t included in these setups is a bench vice. Being able to grip and hold an item as securely as you can in a proper vice is invaluable, so try and incorporate one into your workshop, whether it’s on a modular unit or a more basic bench. While many of us love the idea of

30 BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

endless tools and even more excuses to buy kit, neat-looking storage or ambitious specialist equipment, just as many of you might think it sounds like a total hassle. Perhaps you’re best to save all that space and, depending on your addiction to new kit, maybe even save yourself some money and send your car to be worked on by a specialist. Tim, our BMW specialist representative, agrees with that sentiment. Of course he does, so he should. “We’ve got loads of specialist tools that, unless you’re in the tuning business or mechanic business, you might not have. You’ve got to have the right tools to do a job. But experience and a high level of knowledge, that’s more important than specialist tools. For example, Joe Geach [ARM / Mapfreaks’s senior mechanic] could tell you what bolt goes where on an E30. You literally hold up a bolt or a screw, he’ll tell you where it belongs. That, that is why you would choose to come and see us rather than go to someone else.” When it comes to newer cars, ones quite a bit newer than E30s, you might have to resort to a specialist whether you want to or not. Fixing certain elements or even servicing your car is difficult without the right computers, and it might never be an option for DIYers. “We genuinely think that, unless there’s going to be an aftermarket tool that comes out that is compatible with the F models and the G

models, we do think that even general garages and repair shops are going to struggle with the maintenance of these newer, more technological cars.” It isn’t just current BMWs that you’ll need a computer to, say, just fit a new part. “Take an E46 or something. We had an E46 M3 in last week that needed plugging in so we could program a new ABS unit. Fortunately, we have that facility to be able to get a lot closer to main dealer levels.” The latest cars don’t just require bigger, more complex computers to read them, they also need a way for them to keep in contact with the fatherland. “We use the BMW system that main dealers use. It’s obviously a very specialist tool. And it’s not so much the cost of it, you have to be allowed to register for that system as it’s basically connected to BMW’s server. I think it’s monitored live by somebody in Germany. It allows us to access service functions for the newer models. It allows us to get the car into service mode, recall the service history, activate elements of the car’s electronics like the handbrake, or code in new modules, get software updates, that sort of thing.” Needless to say, our cars were built and designed to be worked on by main dealers, those with the correct tools. Even the old ones. But rather than special jigs to help dismantle cylinder heads, spanners to hold diff pinions or even archaic computers to reset service lights, we’re at a point where Munich is keeping a wary eye on its cars. In the future, when F and G models are older, it still might not be so easy to persuade BMW to allow some amateurs in their garages, no matter how beautifully fitted out they might be, to have free rein on their own cars. But solutions were invented to overcome the bespoke service devices of old, so fingers crossed that, in a decade’s time, an at-home fix is created for the current cars. However, no matter what happens, we’ll still have grand ambitions to create the perfect garage, we’ll still keep buying the latest gadgets and all the best kit. All in the pursuit of pure garage hygge, or whatever we’re going to call it. www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

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Feature

The Green Agenda

Words: Will Beaumont Images: Jordan Butters & AC Schnitzer

Back in the 90s and early 2000s, tuning firms had a pretty easy job when it came to upping the visual ante of the cars they tweaked. Most standard cars were sober affairs, styled with subtlety and restraint in mind.

ook at the E36 and E39 for example. You and I could spot the difference between an M3 and M5 from a cooking model in M Sport trim, but the extra exhaust pipes or more aerodynamic mirrors don’t register on most people’s radar. To the general public, they all look like regular saloon cars. Throw some big wheels, a jutting front splitter, a massive wing and some wide arches at a 90s car, at a 90s BMW, and you start to make a big impact. Today, however, it’s not so easy to make waves. Not when there are cars like the Honda Civic Type R with so many body add-ons it looks like a Transformer part way through its metamorphosis. Or

32 BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

even the new M3 and M4 that don’t just ooze menace, they shout about their aggression louder than a drunk hooligan does late at night in a kebab shop. The M3 is an anomaly in the BMW range, it looks distinctly different from the non-M 3 Series. For most other models, it’s business as usual. A 116d M Sport and an M135i xDrive could only be separated in a line-up if you got a long hard look at each of them. The difference now is, though, both have the big wheels, spoilers, dark trim, prominent splitters and all the other paraphernalia of a performance car. The sort of parts stolen from aftermarket tuners. Who, admittedly, stole them from race cars.

At least modern turbocharged engines can be tuned more easily. No matter how well developed a tuner’s power increase might be, there’s not the need to break an engine apart to squeeze in long-stroke cranks, high-lifts cams and enlarge intake ports. Now that’s got to be some consolation to losing the impact a welljudged spoiler can make. Sadly, there’s no solace in the relative simplicity of turbo tuning for AC Schnitzer, not when it came to working on the F40 M135i xDrive. Because of the car’s Aisin eight-speed automatic gearbox is already close to its limits, the legendary Aachenbased tuners could only add 20-or-so bhp to the M135i’s 302bhp output. www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

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BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

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Not enough to justify the price AC Schnitzer needs to charge to cover the necessary development and testing costs that a diligent aftermarket tuner needs to perform to ensure its modifications are suitable. Needless to say, AC Schnitzer has a tough battle to make its mark on a car that already comes with many of the aftermarket hallmarks, and one they can’t add any power to. What has been changed, then? First, there are new flowformed wheels (£4406.08). 20-inch in diameter, rather than the car’s standard 19-inch rims, and available in all black or black with a diamond-cut face. The rear spoiler’s impact is enhanced by a central insert (£313.41), while at the front is a slim but pronounced splitter (£830.85). The interior gets a light makeover with some of AC Schnitzer’s black anodised aluminium gear change paddles (£295.05) and stainless steel pedals and footrest (413.95). AC Schnitzer might not have wound up the boost on the M135i’s 2-litre fourcylinder turbocharged engine, but there could be a small power increase from the stainless steel exhaust system (£1735.73) that it offers. The system also comes with carbonfibre tips and a factory-style valve so that the car can be made louder in Sport mode. And finally, the biggest change to the

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car, a set of height, bump and rebound adjustable AC Schnitzer RS coilovers (£2456.79 including alignment). Although you can tinker with them yourself, the suspension comes tuned to AC Schnitzer’s approved and developed settings. Sometimes Rossiter’s, AC Schnitzer’s UK importer and partner, make adjustments for UK roads, but the ACS1 35i has been left unchanged from the German configuration. All-in, with labour and painting where necessary, the full conversion from M135i xDrive to ACS1 35i costs £11,583.51. Including the price of the basic car (£38,440), that makes it a 50 grand car. Or, right in the region of the 400bhp Mercedes-AMG A45 and Audi RS3. You notice the ACS1’s new suspension as soon as you start trundling around, even before you’ve let the car warm up. It makes it a much more immediate experience than the regular

car, and the steering feels more crisp and precise. Even at slow speeds, this energy instils a much more carefree and fun attitude to the car. You want to make the most of each corner and bend, impatient that the engine hasn’t fully warmed through. It encourages you to drive and enjoy driving in a way the very straightlaced standard M135i xDrive never does. The ride is different, as you would expect. The more up-for-it AC Schnitzer attitude has elbowed out a degree of comfort. But it’s far more settled than the combination of bigger wheels and coilovers would suggest. It’s as if the springs and dampers have been developed to compensate for the thinner smear of rubber the car now sits on. I am sure that’s exactly what’s happened. Once the engine is up to temperature, you feel like you can responsibly start messing with Sport mode and, importantly, making the most of what it www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

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offers. More noise is the most obvious feature of this setting, thanks especially to the new exhaust system. A growl from the tips mumbles away behind you when you press the accelerator, and there’s the now obligatory performance car pop and crackle when you back off the accelerator. The sounds are pleasant, even welcome, but a throaty burble and some overrun fireworks can’t perform miracles, the M135i’s engine, a pretty dull unit, still lacks any real character. It’s a reasonably effective motor, yes. The car is responsive, the new suspension’s attack-ready persona amplifies that. And there lies the problem. Before, in the business-like M135i, the so-so engine is matched by a nonchalant fuss-free character. Now, in this car, where there’s a tantalising energy created by the AC Schnitzer suspension, the turbo four is out of place, like it’s wearing a suit to a beach party. The gearbox doesn’t help, either. The eight-speed automatic is the weakest part of the M135i xDrive package, and nothing has changed here. Upshifts seem timid and blurred, so there’s no satisfying surge as you accelerate up the ratios. But that’s nothing compared to the downshifts. Pulling the left paddle results in changes so slow you become confused. With no obvious gear indicator on the dash, a plethora of eight ratios to be in and no www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

idea when a lower gear will be engaged, it’s extremely easy to lose track of what’s going on and become muddled. Absolutely not what you want as you’re braking hard for an exciting-looking 90left, that’s for sure. The Aisin eight-speeder is not in the same league as the ZF automatic transmission that you’ll find in many longitudinal-engined cars, many BMWs too. Maybe it’s unfair to compare the two,

there’s a lot less space under the F40’s bonnet than down the transmission tunnel of a 3 or 5 Series. Yet, the ZF unit is the industry standard now, it’s so ubiquitous that it has become the gearbox we compare all other transmissions to. The M135i’s auto absolutely cannot compete. If a torque-converter auto isn’t up to the job, BMW should have fitted a dual-clutch transmission, like the ones that work so well in the M135i’s competitors. Or, even a manual gearbox. Knowing that it was the gearbox that restricted AC Schnitzer from going to town on the car’s engine and, perhaps, liberating some charisma along with a chunk more power makes the transmission’s ineptitude even more galling. Do AC Schnitzer’s paddles make any difference to the gear change experience? A tiny one, yes. They’re big and functional and feel like they’ve been nabbed from a WRC car so each pull feels more purposeful. However, the sharp corners of the sheet aluminium aren’t as tactile as other more sculpted billet aftermarket paddles. Frustrating as the gearbox is, and with no real way to finesse your way around its foibles because such things aren’t possible in modern autos, the drivetrain doesn’t actually ruin the car. The ACS1 is a lively hot hatch, with the fight and determination that’s so prevalent in this genre. Fast corners, where you don’t ask for too many down changes from the gearbox, can be attacked with the responsive, precise steering and then dismissed in a decidedly rear-biased four-wheel drive manner. As soon as you get on the throttle, you have to take the steering lock off, let all four wheels slingshot you around the last part of the

BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

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bend. The wheels aren’t spinning, there is no slide, you don’t need to correct anything, but the g-forces and the fourwheel drive system work in conjunction to get you sailing around each bend with grace. Tighter corners aren’t quite so dignified, but that doesn’t mean they’re any less satisfying. Not always, anyway. The ACS1 is so darty that you can provoke it into oversteer as you turn in. And it only ever feels fun because the chassis’s control over the car means it’ll never get out of hand, the immediate steering makes it a cinch to correct plus the four-wheel drive system is there to help, too. Exciting, adjustable and controllable, it really does tick a lot of boxes this little hatch. On inconsistent roads, ones that are wet, dry, muddy and icy in the space of just a few metres, the small AC Schnitzer can also be a little inconsistent. At the fringes of the tyre’s capabilities, you can’t quite anticipate whether it’ll break into that small corner entry slide or if the front might push on. That is, of course, a symptom of the weather rather than a full critique of the car. However, there are certain cars, some cars within BMW’s line-up, that can overcome such maladies and deliver the same result over and over. The standard M135i is not a car that can iron out the complications of an unpredictable road, so it’s not an attribute that has been lost in the conversion to an ASC1, but it is a characteristic that you might expect of an all-wheel drive and, therefore, an all-weather performance car. AC Schnitzer’s work has successfully made the M135i a more lively and exciting

36 BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

car. The results are far more enjoyable than the total parts would have you believe, especially as the engine and gearbox have remained unaltered. Would I have preferred it if AC Schnitzer had made the M135i a truly dependable companion on our filthy UK backroads? Yes, but only if

the bubbling undercurrent of fun that’s been injected into this car remained so strong. That joyous side, the sort the M135i yearns for from the factory, elevates this car into one that’s far better equipped to do battle in the highly competitive world of modern hot hatches.

www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

Feature Members of the BMW Car Club and Bristol Owners Club 1966 concours. Featured in Bulletin no. 76.

Celebrating 70 Years of BMW Car Club GB Throughout 2022 the BMW Car Club is celebrating its 70th anniversary, and we want you to get involved.

f you have any favourite memories or images of past Club events, or activities that you have enjoyed over the years, please email them to officeadmin@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk to be featured on these pages. You may wish to share some images from your favourite National Festival, or some words about the most memorable pub meet you have attended. Or maybe you like to put togther a few words to describe what you enjoy most about being a member of the BMW Car Club. This issue, we’d like to share with you some history of the Club and how it all started. It’s quite incredible to think that when the Club was formed, the country welcomed its new Queen, a brand new Ford Consul would set you back £717, and BMW released the 501, their first model to be manufactured and sold after the Second World War. We’ll now hand you over to a piece written by Peter Rust, the Club’s Vice President, which was featured in the 50th anniversary edition of Straight Six in 2002.

Founder of the BMW Car Club, the late R.J.T Hewitt (left)

38 BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

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No Baddies in Sight

By Tom Malcolm Images: Classic & Sports Car, Tom Malcolm

y wife and I were on holiday in North Yorkshire when a familiar ping had me reaching for my phone to read an incoming email. The message was from Club chairman Martyn Goodwin, asking if any member owning a blue Z3 would be willing to help out Classic & Sports Car magazine. They were planning a photo shoot for a feature on iconic James Bond cars and needed to borrow a Z3 to complete the trio of BMW cars that featured in the film GoldenEye. The

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Bondistas among you will recall that Pierce Brosnan was in the lead role in that particular film. But Martyn’s message went on to explain that not just any blue Z3 would do. To be faithful to the car in the film, it would have to be the same Atlanta Blue colour, have the beige leather interior and feature the four-cylinder 1.9-litre engine under the bonnet. “That’s my car Martyn’s describing” I told my wife. Within a few minutes a response was on its way saying that I was willing to make my car available.

I didn’t have long to wait for a response. Next morning, bright and early, Martyn called me thanking me for replying so promptly. He saw from the photos I had sent him that my car, built in January 1997 and with only 56,000 miles on the clock, was a sparkling example of the Z3 and wouldn’t disappoint the magazine editor. “I’ll forward your details to the magazine and you’ll hear from them shortly” Martyn explained. Next thing I knew I was being contacted by Ben Barry, a hugelywww.bmwcarclubgb.uk

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experienced automotive freelance writer who explained that he had been commissioned to write the feature and checked the date for the shoot was okay with me. It was. In return for making my car available, I would be reimbursed for my fuel and Dartford Crossing costs. Plus, I would have the thrill of seeing it in the pages of the magazine. Now I have to declare at this point that I had a fair idea of how the day would work. Before retiring I worked in the public relations department of Ford www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

Motor Company for over 25 years and also Vauxhall and Opel. During that time I had been involved in many a photoshoot, both on behalf of my employers and also accompanying our cars on shoots being conducted by magazines and TV shows. To the uninitiated they seem extremely glamorous, but to those who worked on them regularly they were hard work. Leaving aside the challenges of organising the event – location, photographers, cars, support team, special rigs, etc. Inevitably there

were never enough hours in the day to complete everything that needed to be shot and this pressure took the stress up to another level. But strangely, all the drama faded away whenever we saw the end result of our efforts. On this occasion however I had it easy. All I had to do was turn up and have someone photograph my car. What was there to stress about? How about making sure the car ran perfectly? Needless to say, it was and has never let me down in four years of ownership. It would be spotlessly clean BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

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when it left my garage but would it be good enough to photograph when I arrived at the shoot location, especially if it rained? And, God forbid, would it be unscathed after running the gauntlet of the M25 dodgem course? Aah, the stress! Wind forwards a couple of weeks and I’m pulling up alongside the security lodge at the entrance to the Dunsfold aerodrome just outside Guildford. If that name sounds familiar, it is probably because you recognise it as the home of BBC’s Top Gear programme for a number of years. The C&SC editorial team had booked it for the day’s photo fest, the privacy it afforded being invaluable to a successful outcome. The period leading up to the shoot day had been wet and overcast, exactly what the C&SC folks would not want. They needn’t have worried. The fates had been kind and the weather was warm and dry for the duration of our

42 BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

stay at Dunsfold. My car had survived its excursion along the M25, a wrong slot in Guildford and the country lanes leading up to the aerodrome. As always, it ran just beautifully. The very helpful security guard directed me to the part of the aerodrome being used by C&SC, which just happened to be the main runway. What a sensation that was driving down a runway, especially one which had become so familiar thanks to the antics of the Top Gear team. Making the situation even more surreal was the sight of several huge aircraft parked up, for good, on a former taxiway but completely accessible to us and our cars. This was when I met writer Ben for the first time, not far from where a second C&SC team was working with an official Aston Martin DB5 recreation of the James Bond car. Not cheap at over £3 million should you wish for one. All gadgets included, apparently. I didn’t ask for the Aston Martin department’s phone number. But the car did look and sound glorious. Ben introduced me to the magazine’s chief photographer, John Bradshaw, who would be working with our cars today. For John and I it was a chance to say hello again, as we had met on many motor industry occasions during my working years. Back then he was a respected snapper for Autocar and What Car? magazines. Ben explained that the James Bond feature the magazine was working on would be a 27-page whopper. And they had just four weeks from today to turn it all around before that issue was due in the shops. Sadly, not all of the 27 pages were to be devoted to either my car or BMW. In addition to the Aston Martin DB5, a couple of Lotus Esprits

had also been working hard in front of the cameras that day at Dunsfold. But I was delighted to learn that for the BMW element of the James Bond coverage my car would be joining an absolutely stunning E38 750iL belonging to serial BMW collectors, father and son, Tav Sing and Gurdave Rehsi. This car, complete with every option you could possibly imagine, had only been in their ownership for a few weeks. It’s difficult to find enough superlatives to describe their 750iL. I suppose the best compliment – and www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

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I heard this from a few people that day, myself included – is “I would love one like that”. Mind you, I wouldn’t be too keen on the £160 needed to fill the fuel tank with super unleaded. Last but very much not least was BMW UK’s very own Z8 wearing its distinctive 25 BMW number plate. Such a regal looking car, resplendent in its silver coachwork with beautiful black and red leather interior. How refreshing of BMW to loan the car out for a job like this. Not all manufacturers who have heritage vehicle fleets are willing to do the same. www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

If you’ve never been on a photo shoot like this you would be amazed – exhausted even – by the amount of preparation and care which goes into each shot. By my own reckoning, for every photograph which appeared in the magazine, John must have taken at least 20-30 which didn’t make the cut. His skills didn’t only relate to his prowess behind the lens. As expected, my own car had gathered some dust, dirt and dead insect marks on my journey around the M25. I had gone prepared with a stash of cleaning materials tucked away

in the boot. But before I could reach them John had already gathered up his own cleaning cloths and had the Z3 spotless once more. After some individual work with each car, carefully photographing the exteriors and interiors, John had the three cars line up together in arrowhead formation for what were called tracking shots. This is where he photographs the cars as they drive around the circuit from another moving vehicle. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? But when you are virtually door handle to door handle, even at 20mph, it really is quite nerve-wracking. It’s not good form to bump into someone else’s car, particularly one as original, gorgeous and loved as Tav and Gurdave’s 7 Series or £250,000-worth of BMW Z8. The other possible challenge to overcome was avoiding driving over the photographer should he fall out of the tracking car during our laps. To take the photographs, John was lying face BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

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down inside the load compartment of a Ford Mondeo estate being driven by his editor Alistair Clements. Somehow John managed to holler instructions to us drivers, hold the camera, frame the shot, focus, and click the shutter button… all without falling out of the Mondeo! I am pleased. No, relieved to say no photographers were harmed in the taking of these photos. Then Ben took each of the three cars in turn to gain his own driving impressions while John took more photographs as they were driven around the aerodrome. I had handed Ben my keys and seen him drive off in the Z3 before it dawned on me that the only other person to have driven my car during my ownership was my wife. And here I was passing it over to a complete stranger. When he came back, Ben was very complimentary about my

44 BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

roadster which pleased me no end. The culmination of the day was when John took a static group photograph of our BMW star cars and, I have to say, it is my favourite one. By a combination of careful positioning, a fine eye for detail and clever use of filters, C&SC’s chief photographer created what is my favourite photograph of the day. A stunner. After some four hours of fascinating action, the magazine had all the BMW photographs it needed and it was time for me and the Z3 to hit the road and head home. Four weeks later the Greatest Bond Cars issue of Classic & Sports Car was on the newsstands and I cannot begin to explain the excitement I felt when I turned the pages of the copies I purchased. One to read and one to keep with the car’s history file. And there they were: my Z3,

Tav and Gurdave’s 750iL and the Z8 in all their glory in the pages of the magazine. They looked terrific and Ben had done an equally thrilling job with the words. Social media messages from me to family and friends up and down the country resulted in even more copies of the magazine being sold. My day at Dunsfold had been a fascinating experience, blessed with good weather and an opportunity to really appreciate once again the amount of hard work and skill that goes into producing a magazine feature. The C&SC team members were really grateful to us owners for helping them out and, to show their appreciation for the help given by our club, you will find a web link to their BMW feature alongside my story here in Straight Six. Enjoy it. You never know, next time it could be your car being featured. You can find the full feature, along with extra images, in the October 2021 issue of Classic & Sports Car magazine, or view the article online at www. classicandsportscar.com/features/bondsbmws-z3-z8-and-750il-track www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

Insurance solutions for BMW Car Club members. At Footman James we understand that every classic vehicle owner is different and with FJ+ enthusiasts can build their policy from a range of cover options including breakdown, agreed value, salvage retention and spare parts. Whether you prefer to transact on the phone or online, FJ has you covered, including access to our online document portal, allowing you access to your policy documents digitally at all times. Call our friendly UK team on

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or visit footmanjames.co.uk All cover is subject to insurers terms and conditions, which are available upon request. Footman James is a trading name of Towergate Underwriting Group Limited. Registered in Eng;land No. 4043759. Registered address: 2 Minster Court, Mincing Lane, London, EC3R 7PD. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. FP.ADGE.2192.05.21

BMW E30 M3 ENHANCED AND EVOLVED BY REDUX

It’s Alive! Words Jeff Heywood – Photos Redux

No, not Frankenstein’s monster, but this amazing restomod of BMW’s E30 M3, which has been enhanced and evolved by UK-based Redux. Only 30 of these cars will be built in total, and each one costs £330,000…plus a donor E30 M3, which is a fair lump of the folding stuff to begin with. So is it worth it? Well here are some of the big numbers that go some way in explaining the price…

edux founder Simon Lord, started with a simple question: if BMW had built an enhanced version of the E30 M3 after the Sport Evo model, how would that model have panned out? His immediate answer was an E30 M3 CSL, Coupé Sport Leichtbau (lightweight). Therefore, he started compiling a list of the components for his dream specification, a lightweight E30 M3. And it’s been a long and, at times, torturous journey. Redux partnered

46 BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

with restoration and modification specialists Retropower, which ensured the build quality was of the highest order. Renowned for creating Gordon Murray’s bespoke Escort Mk1, Retropower’s obsessive attention to detail is evident in every aspect of this M3. Over 4000 hours are needed to complete the strip down of the donor M3 before a bare shell restoration and the extensive upgrades are carried out to both Redux and the customer’s exacting standards; therefore,

one can expect an 18-month build time. It takes over 550 hours to prep the parts, apply the paint and, most importantly, hand-flat with fine sandpaper the panels to produce a flawless, glass-like Midnight Emerald Green finish. 002 is the first road car Redux has built; 001 lives out at the Thermal Club, California, where the owner enjoys the car on the 5.1 miles of track. The paintwork is show quality, the interior is upholstered in the softest of Nappa www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

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leathers and the rest of interior is trimmed in Alcantara, giving a quality feel. Also enhancing the interior are a plethora of billet aluminium parts which all help to lift the interior quality over that of a standard M3. The engine is special, too. This is how it’s created: take the original 2.3 S14 lump, take it out to 2.5-litres, sprinkle on the fairy dust to increase power to 300hp and 278Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a Getrag 265/5 dogleg pattern www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

gearbox, while braking is taken care of by huge AP Racing brakes, sized at 362mm at the front, with six-piston callipers, while at the rear, 315mm discs have four-piston callipers acting upon them. To make 002 handle on-road, Bilstein Group A spec adjustable coil-over dampers are fitted, and 18” Cinel DTM forged aluminium monoblocks, which are exclusive to Redux, are shod with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres. So yes, the car is quite special, and I

haven’t covered all the modifications in detail, like the carbon fibre (pre-preg) panels and trim parts, which took up a huge amount of money in R&D, or how the car drives, but I’m sure plenty of you will have already seen the videos on YouTube from Carfection’s Henry Catchpole and Ollie Marriage from Top Gear, but we’ll be bringing you a full MLife review on the 002 car in February’s Straight Six!

BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

Car Storage Locations

1. Carvault Co.

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Secure car storage, maintenance, servicing, valet and detailing, car transportation

www.carvaultco.com contact@carvaultco.com Ben Willis: 01491 714 055 Instagram: @carvaultco

Located in Sutton Coldfield, covers Little Aston, Birmingham, Litchfield, Solihull and the West Midlands

2. The Classic Motor Hub

www.store-my-car.co.uk info@store-my-car.co.uk Miles Redman: 07863 540 064

Located in the Cotswolds, covers Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire

5. Weaver Car Storage Limited

Bespoke car storage and care facility

www.classicmotorhub.com/storage/

Professional, discreet, secure car storage.

01242 384 092

Located in the South Liverpool area, covers the North West Region. Weaver Car Storage Limited. Weaver Industrial Estate. Blackburne Street Garston Liverpool L19 8JA

car storage map? info@classicmotorhub.com

3. JLF Car Nest

5. 4. 3. 2.

Exceptional storage solutions. Fully insured, secure car storage with the latest car care and maintenance. Special Offer £5 off all package prices for BMW Car Club GB Members Located in Norfolk, covers the South East & East Anglia Regions and all of the UK. www.jlfcarnest.co.uk info@jlfcarnest.co.uk Olly: 07521 568 881 Josh: 07856 952 383

www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

4. Store My Car

www.weavercarstorage.co.uk info@weavercarstorage.co.uk 0151 329 3390 Anthony Weaver: 07534 101 504

BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

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Smooth driving into the New Year with Pirelli

s we enter the New Year, it may not be on your mind which tyres to equip your vehicle with. Winter driving can be a worry for many people and conditions often call for your vehicle to be winter-proofed and prepared for any number of challenges on the roads. In the colder months, the weather conditions often lead to drivers facing journeys made more challenging by rain, snow or ice, and therefore require your vehicle to be in perfect condition. The health of your tyres is just as important and we encourage regular tyre maintenance, particularly as the temperatures drop.

Watch the bars

Cold weather can have an impact on your tyre pressures, meaning it is even more important than usual to check your pressure before setting off on a journey in the winter months. Always refer to your manufacturer’s handbook for recommended pressures. Excessively low or high pressure levels, compared to the value recommended in the vehicle’s handbook, may cause evident irregular

52 BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

wear to the tyre. Drive with peace of mind this winter – don’t let the cold weather and winter conditions win, make sure you are preparing and protecting your car correctly this season.

Prepare your car for winter driving and if you require any further checks or have any concerns, speak to an expert. To find out more on the perfect Pirelli tyres for your vehicle, head to www.pirelli.co.uk to view our product range.

Pirelli Pre-Paid Mastercard Offer BMW Car Club members can benefit from an exclusive offer of a Pirelli pre-paid Mastercard. Available only when purchasing Pirelli tyres from a Pirelli Performance Centres or official BMW dealer, the card’s value depends on the size and quantity of tyres purchased as follows: Rim Size

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Where can you get your tyres fitted? Visit pirelli.co.uk/bmwcarclub for nearest participating dealers. Terms and conditions apply.

www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

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crossword BMW Car Club GB Crossword 1

Winner of last month’s crossword Karen Donohoe

January 2022for Crossword All entrants the January issue’s crossword must be

received into the office by 11th January. 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 December 2021 Crossword Across: 1. Abominable, 8. Lo, 9. Lada, 10. Bond, 12. Buick, 13. AM (Amplitude Modulation), 14. em, 16. LL, 17. Scottish, 20. Yuletide, 21. BM, 22. PO, 23. EU, 24. Grubb, 26. Glas, 27. Lear, 29. TE, 30. Fibreglass Down: 1. Albany, 2. Boom, 3. iL, 4. NAB, 5. Adult dog, 6. Bailie, 7. Elk, 11. December, 15. MOT, 17. SL bulb, 18. Tip, 19. Houses, 23. Eats, 24. GIF (Graphics Interchange Format), 25. BAE, 28. RG

Across 1. (With 12. Across) BMW Car Club Chairman since Summer last year (6) 7. Natural rock or sediment containing valuable minerals, typically metals (3) 8. Lancia model that shared a platform with the Alfa Romeo 164, Fiat Croma and Saab 9000. A Ferrari-engined version was available (5) 11. Initials for German driver who since leaving Formula One in 2013 has been a BMW works driver in DTM, currently with ROWE Racing (1,1) 12. See 1. Across (7) 13. Exclamation of minor pain (4) 15. You may be lucky enough to have one of these in your garage floor (3) 16. To perform again (5) 17. Chemical formula for carbon monoxide (1,1) 18. Not off (2) 19. You may need a precision one of these if you want to enlarge your engine capacity. Homophone for Maserati and Volkswagen models (5) 21. To give someone a sum of money in exchange for goods or service (3) 24. Description for either one of the two front axles in a rear wheel drive vehicle, or conversely the rear axles in a front wheel drive vehicle (4) 25. West Midlands town and home to the most-Westerly Sytner BMW dealership in England (7) 27. Initials for the commonly-used name (given first names Robert William) of 3 time winner of the Indianapolis 500 who sadly died in May 2021 (1,1) 28. A word that might be used to describe the BMW G12 7 Series interior (5) 29. Metric unit e.g. for tyre pressure equivalent to 100 kPa (3) 30. Name of car manufacturers in both the UK (1903-1905) and US (1907-1908) the latter featuring blue-dyed elephant hide seats (6)

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29. Metric unit e.g. for tyre pressure equivalent Across to 100 kPa (3) 1. (With 12. Across) BMW Car Club 30. Name of car manufacturers in both the UK Chairman since Summer last year (6) (1903-1905) and US (1907-1908) the latter 7. Natural rock or sediment containing featuring blue-dyed elephant hide seats (6) valuable minerals, typically metals (3) 8. Lancia model that shared a platform Down with the Alfa Romeo 164, Fiat Croma and 1. What the ‘M’ in BMW M3 etc stands for (10) Saab 9000. A Ferrari-engined version was 2. To forcefully make a point (5) available (5) 3. …: Preface to the BMW Circular Lab 11. Initials for German driver who since communication and experience platform as well Down leaving Formula One in 2013 has been a 1. What the 'M' in BMW M3 etc stands for (10) as its 4 principles for sustainability (2) 2. To forcefully make ain point (5) currently with BMW …: works driver DTM, 3. Preface to the BMW Circular Lab communication and experience 4. Could be National Tactical Officers as well as its 4 principles for sustainability (2) ROWEplatform Racing (1,1) 4. Could be National Tactical Officers Association (1,1,1,1) 12. See (7)and home to the most-Easterly Sytner BMW Association (1,1,1,1) 5. City1. on Across the River Usk dealership in Wales (7) 5. City on the River Usk and home to the most13. Exclamation ofhome minor pain 6. Cathedral city and to one of the(4) two Barretts BMW dealerships in Easterly Sytner BMW dealership in Wales (7) Kent (10) 15. You may forbethelucky enough toSandal haveBMW onedealerships of 9. Postcode more Westerly of the in 6. Cathedral city and home to one of the two Yorkshire (1,1) these in your garage floor (3) 10. SEAT version of the Volkswagen up! and Škoda Ciitigo models, produced Barretts BMW dealerships in Kent (10) since 2011 (1,1,1) 16. ToAperform again (5) 12. young warlock in World of Warcraft. An anagram of how an exhaust 9. Postcode for the more Westerly of the Sandal system is typically mounted! (4) 17. Chemical formula for carbon monoxide 14. Large town in South London and home to the most-easterly Berry BMW BMW dealerships in Yorkshire (1,1) (1,1) dealership (7) 17. How you might feel snuggled in your BMW with the seat heating on!10. (4) SEAT version of the Volkswagen up! and 18. NotEmbargo off (2) 20. enforced by the European Union! (1,1,3) 22. First 3 letters of the surname of Spanish twice-winner of both the F1Škoda Ciitigo models, produced since 2011 19. You may need a precision these championship and the 24 Hours of Leone Mansof (1,1,1) (1,1,1) 23. skewer which is a popular food item in West Africa (4) if you Spicy wantmeat to/ initials enlarge engine capacity.(1,1) 26. Shortform for ouryour favourite vehicle manufacturer 12. A young warlock in World of Warcraft. An 29. Commonly-used initials for the UK's flag carrier airline (1,1) Homophone for Maserati and Volkswagen anagram of how an exhaust system is typically models (5) mounted! (4) 21. To give someone a sum of money in 14. Large town in South London and home to the exchange for goods or service (3) most-easterly Berry BMW dealership (7) 24. Description for either one of the two 17. How you might feel snuggled in your BMW front axles in a rear wheel drive vehicle, or with the seat heating on! (4) conversely the rear axles in a front wheel 20. Embargo enforced by the European Union! drive vehicle (4) (1,1,3) 25. West Midlands town and home to the 22. First 3 letters of the surname of Spanish most-Westerly Sytner BMW dealership in twice-winner of both the F1 championship and England (7) the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1,1,1) 27. Initials for the commonly-used name 23. Spicy meat skewer which is a popular food (given first names Robert William) of 3 time item in West Africa (4) winner of the Indianapolis 500 who sadly 26. Shortform / initials for our favourite vehicle died in May 2021 (1,1) manufacturer (1,1) 28. A word that might be used to describe 29. Commonly-used initials for the UK’s flag the BMW G12 7 Series interior (5) carrier airline (1,1)

CLASSIFIEDS FOR SALE: 1986 BMW E24 635CSI AUTO. This car is in impeccable condition, inside and out, especially underneath which has been protected. New interior carpets front and rear. Old original carpets available. Only three owners from new. The last owner had it from 1988 to 2017 (29 years). I have had it since then. I am very reluctantly selling it because of health reasons. Lots of pictures available upon request. • Much sought after red exterior. • Valuable registration included: IBZ 635 • Cream leather seats. • Original BBS wheels with new Michelin TRX 220/55/vr 390 tyres (including the spare) costing £1,600. • Complete protection underseal. • MOT’d every year. • Average 3,500 miles per year from new. • Serviced by the same BMW specialist mechanic from 1988. • Original radio. • Full tool set. • Itemised repairs parts list by BMW from 2005. OFFERS OVER £27,500. Email: jimmy@conlon.f9.co.uk

54 BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

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regionalnews Central & Thames Tony Skerrett Central Region sponsored by

07879 404648 central@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

Barons Bedford

01234 362 400

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

It was a somewhat difficult 2021 season for BMWCC Central Members, as it wasn’t until June and July before the pandemic restrictions were eased. The first event, held on the 13th June at Delapre Abbey, was a memorable warm and sunny day with an enthusiastic attendance enhanced by the Abbey Tour that went down well. This was followed by the Waterperry House and Gardens Tour on damp June 27th. As the season progressed we branched out to the Cotswold, The Seaside Trip in August and, notably, on the Peak District Tour. The Seaside Trip summed up the summer-heavy showers, with the sun coming to life in the late afternoon. Somehow these days out, in spite of the deluge which invariably accompanied them, were all the same; happy and enjoyable days out.

Evening sunlight at Hunstanton in August 22nd

Refreshments at Hailes Abbey Oxon

Future Events 2022 10th January – Central Regional Meet at the Aviator Hotel, Sywell. 14th February – Notice is given to Central as our AGM is to

be held at Aviator Hotel, Sywell. 7.30pm Nominations for Central Regional Officers are very welcome; in writing please, emails acceptable. 1st May – Delapre Abbey near Northampton including tea in the Orangery and a tour of Abbey. 22nd May – Waterperry Gardens Display. More to follow, of course. Both Peter Collison, Vice Chairman, and myself hope very much all members and friends keep well and wish a belated Happy Christmas and New Year to all the friends of the BMWCC.

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

Rybrook Wolverhampton 01902 457000 rybrookwolverhamptonbmw.co.uk

Happy New Year to you all. I hope you all had a good Christmas and the New Year brings you and your families good times and prosperity. Looking forward to the year ahead, not forgetting it’s the 70th Anniversary of the BMW Car Club and also the 50th anniversary of M, there’s plenty to celebrate over the coming months. Dave Evans – Central West Regional Chairman Recent Events The last of Winter Wheels for 2021 was held at Six Ways Stadium, Worcester and a few members ventured down the M5. Down two junctions, at least. The new location had a hard surface which was a bonus as this meant no more sheep droppings to avoid in the grass fields. There was a great turn out of over 350 cars, from hot rods, American muscle cars, exotica and everything in between. A Peerless GT was getting a lot of attention plus the D type next to it. Brian Elliot www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

regionalnews The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show took place on Friday 12 November to Sunday 14th November. This was a three-day event held at the NEC Birmingham. The Club stand was, as usual, well set up by our Chairman Martyn Goodwin and included a tribute to the Zed models. It also showcased BMW’s latest electric offering, the i4 and iX. The Oulton Park Track Day took place on Friday 12th November, this was the final track day of the year. Several regional members attended either with their track cars or as additional drivers, including Tony Roper who was immediately bitten by the bug and purchased an E46 track car on the day. Welcome to the Central West track day gang Tony.

A short poem by Jackie Croxford sums up the evening nicely: At Edwards farm, oh what a night The company, the food, what a delight Tasty puds and fish and chips The fire pit glowing in our midst The fireworks, well they came next So out we went to clear the decks The whoosh, the bangs, the stars, so bright Until we set the tree alight Fish and Chips Supper in the Old Cow Shed took place on Friday 19th November, a cross between bonfire night and Christmas as we had left it too late to book a venue for a Christmas party. Held in the Cow Shed at our regional member Edward’s farm. It was decked with festive lighting and a charming fire pit, even though it did get a bit smoky at times, plus there was a firework display in the farmyard. A good night was had by all. We would like to thank Edward for his hospitality and to Theresa and Jackie for the sweet treats and the local chippy for supplying the mains.

Behind the cars we bravely went Until the fireworks were all spent Thank you Edward from us all We really did have a ball. Future Events We have nothing planned as yet. Going forward we will be discussing our plans for 2022 at the January pub meet which will go ahead as usual. We will be holding the Regional AGM in the first few months of 2022, so anything anybody would like included please let us know in advance. Monthly Pub Meet Our monthly pub meets will continue throughout the winter months. We gather at around 7.30pm on the second Tuesday of every month at The Three Horseshoes, Alveley, Nr Bridgnorth, Shropshire, WV15 6NB. All are welcome; just turn up and join in, friends and family always welcome. Best wishes, Central West Team

Cheshire & Staffs Steve Cooper Cheshire & Staffs Region sponsored by

Blue Bell

cheshireandstaffs@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

Knights

DISCOUNT OF UP TO 10% IS GIVEN TO MEMBERS WITH VALID MEMBERSHIP CARD *Conditions apply

Cotswold Martyn Goodwin Cotswold Region sponsored by

Cotswold Motor Group www.cotswoldgroup.com Corinthian Way, Cheltenham, GL51 6UP Roman Road, Hereford, HR1 1LN

58 BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

Cheltenham BMW Cheltenham MINI Cheltenham Motorrad Cheltenham Parts Cheltenham Service Hereford

Blue Bell Fourth Avenue, Weston Road, Crewe Cheshire. CW1 6XH. Tel:01270 212525 Knights Bede Road, Radial Park, Stoke on Trent Staffordshire. ST4 4GU Tel:01782 572100

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

www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

regionalnews

gearbox oil in my hair along with a full swear box, too. Hope to catch up with you, if you are a new member please feel free to come along to our meets and events.

Be careful, stay safe and be kind. (It’s free!) Phone 07799 620 381 or email jimfrance1@hotmail.co.uk Regards Jim.

KathyJemfrey Jemfrey Devon DevonKathy

01626 330436 330436 01626 devon@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk devon@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

Devon Region sponsored by

INDEPENDENT BMW & MINI SPECIALISTS

Please note change of pub meeting night. As from 2022if we shall The Sidmouth Car Show has been cancelled, however anyone meet ontothe last Thursday every month, commencing wishes attend, we will beofattending the Crash Box Endwith of our first one Car on 27th January, 7pm for 7.30. Season Show it is at Lady’s Mile Holiday Park, Dawlish, on

Look forward to seeing10am the return members whoand found it Sunday 27th September until of 4.00pm. Come go as difficult to attend on Wednesdays. you please. Happy Newand Year, stay well safe. Take care see you all and soon.

George Champ EastAnglia AngliaGeorge East Champ www.barronsbmw.co.uk East Anglia Region sponsored by Barons Cambridge East Anglia Region sponsored by

& Stansted Barons Cambridge & Barons Stansted Hi everyone,

Cambridge : 01954 784 500 www.group1auto.co.uk/bmw Stansted

Cambridge: Stansted:

: 01279 755 906

01954 784 500 01279 755 906

07514 216660 eastanglia@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk 07514 216660 eastanglia@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

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

• A minimum discount of £500 on approved used cars in stock • 15% discount on parts and accessories 10% off servicing, excludes Linefelt Servicing which applies cars over 4 yrsand old. less I Value always the BMW was atobit ‘sportier’

car but ‘company car’. To say 2020 has been a strange and difficult year would be an Scouring the local magazines and papers I found an interesting understatement, but nonetheless I am EXCEPTIONAL delighted to say we stillSTORAGE SOLUTIONS looking E34 540i sale near Watford. The advert mentioned an have new members joining the Club, so welcome to you the with the Fully insured, secure carall, storage, latest car care andfor maintenance located in Norfolk. Covers all interesting of the UK. previous owner but did not give any more details. A good times will return. In the meantimepackages as I remind you all every Packages start from £35 + vat. Special Offer off all package forWatford arranged. phone call£5was made and prices a trip to month, keep up to date with your respective Facebook pages BMW Car Club GB Members. The car was info@jlfcarnest.co.uk a beautiful Forest Green E34 540i with a and enjoy reading the contributions and think about sharing your www.jlfcarnest.co.uk Call Olly - +44 (0)7521 568 881 Joshparchment - +44 (0) 7856952383 leather interior and filled with ’toys’ such as a remote stories and photos with everyone as well. controlled radio and a car phone, completed with a personalised We have a little glimmer of hope that we will be able to enjoy number plate, A2HKJ. The interior was perfect and the rear at least a have couple eventsaand/or meets and if theNew situation Hope you all of enjoyed Happypub Christmas Year and seats looked almost new. I still remember looking at the massive allows, hence I still to produce a rather small list. I am sure like are looking forward an exciting 2022. V8 engine under the bonnet and thinking to myself that while I meSomething you all miss shows and events. Personally I have found it different this month, something to lift our spirits: could afford to buy the car, if anything ever went wrong with the frustrating that only The reason I have to a get my great photos of the BMWs. shots haveforced been myself taken by new engine I would probably not be able to afford to repair it! The 2002 outBorislava of the garage is the fact it deserves needs to she member (Bobby,) who has also kindlyand agreed that vendor explained to me that the car had a full service history be become taken outour forModified a spin asRegister leaving itChair. unused does it noforward good will I am looking from new but it had never been serviced by a BMW main dealer! whatsoever. I miss meeting members and strangers at events to seeing more inspiring photos in the future. Hopefully these It transpired that the previous registered owner of the car was and don’t mind talking at length about my 2002 even if the same pictures will encourage the rest of us to share photos and stories His Royal Highness, the current King of Jordan, and that the questions cropping up;present. how much is itthere worth, about yourkeep BMWs past and I know areand lotsare of you you person selling the car was his chauffeur who had bought the selling it?who I alsoalready get asked I know of any classic or interesting out there take ifgreat photos. car from the King (although he was a Prince at the time). The BMWs that are for sale, and sometimes the answer is yes so number plate, A2HKJ, which had been added later, stood for keep sending me details if any of you are changing your BMW Abdullah the 2nd, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. for any reason. It is not a substitute for advertising your car My 540i proved to me that large cars could be reliable, properly but sometimes word of mouth can help. and apart from the fuel costs she was surprisingly cheaper to maintain than any of my previous ‘big’ cars. After a few years ownership, in 2007 I began to look for a replacement and finally bought my B10 V8 Alpina which I still own.”

It would be fascinating if you would send me a few lines and photos of your BMW so that I can share these with other members. I am delighted to be able to share the following thanks to Carl Pereira, so don’t be shy, please send your stories and pictures. “After many years of owning small cars I was ‘persuaded’ by Angela, my wife, to buy a bigger, four door car. After a succession of Renault 25s we moved from France to Italy and owned a couple of Alfa Romeo 164s. With each ‘upgrade’ the engines got bigger and/or the number of cylinders increased or often both, with the last 164 having the Busso V6 3 litre engine (a work of art). After years of temperamental French and Italian cars I decided to venture into the world of German cars and in particular BMWs. My father often had Mercedes as a company

Forthcoming events 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.

www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

BMW Car Club Magazine September 2020

www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

regionalnews

Eastern Paul Rice

eastern@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

The Wheel Specialist

Continuing our breakfast meets around the Region, we visited York Marina in November. We had a very good turnout at this new location. Visitors were treated to a great venue with an excellent breakfast menu in a superb setting. Although the weather was on the chilly side, the usual banter around the cars took place. Although some of the less hardy enjoyed chatting in the comfort of the restaurant. The Marina is certainly a location we would like to return to in 2022. www.yorkmarina.co.uk

On Saturday 20th November we visited The Wheel Specialists in Sheffield, a nationwide company with franchises all around the country. The Sheffield branch opened 18 months ago in the midst of the Covid restrictions. Despite these complications, the company is going from strength to strength. The team is able to provide many associated wheel services, including powder coating and diamond cutting. The process starts with the wheels being stripped using a heat process rather than a more traditional chemical one. After this, they are prepared, coated and finished. We were given a guided tour of the premises and informed about each stage of the process in great detail. With the completion of the tour, we had the opportunity to meet and chat to the staff, ask questions, show them our wheels and discuss options. The staff are knowledgeable and enthusiastic about what they do, which shows in the finished products. A big thank you to all at The Wheel Specialist. After the visit, we set off on a scenic drive to The Carding Shed at Holmfirth. The Carding Shed is a popular café and restaurant with a small car museum and renovation service. Located just outside Holmfirth, it is a favourite location for many car enthusiasts. The restaurant serves high quality food, and a large array of very tempting cakes. It’s well worth a visit for both the Carding Shed itself and the great driving roads in and around the Holmfirth area. We look forward to visiting again in the future www.thewheelspecialist.co.uk www.thecardingshed.co.uk Thanks to Richard Rixham for organising the event and the informative write up.

AGM & Breakfast Meet The AGM will be held on Sunday 6th February at the Water Wheel tea rooms, Barn Hill farm, Howden DN14 7JP. We plan to meet up at 10 for a 10:30 start. Drinks and food are available. Your chance to put forward ideas on the way your Region moves forward. www.waterwheeltearoom.co.uk

Breakfast Meet at the Marina

Car of the Month

Rob Thompson and his 530d GT. Rob’s latest addition, a replacement for his Volvo, now makes it two BMWs in the Thompson household, pairing up with his E89 Z4. His GT is a 2010 3ltr diesel auto. Those familiar with this turbocharged diesel know it certainly shifts with power to spare. The 5GT is larger than its saloon brother with added space inside. This GT left the dealership with a long list of BMW extras, including full leather and heated seats front and rear with the addition of DVD players in both front headrests. It also features front, rear and side cameras amongst the long list of standard and extra equipment. One feature I wasn’t aware of is at the back, the car has a boot lid and a large hatchback-style tailgate. For small items, like the shopping, you just need to open the saloon carlike boot lid. For larger items you use the large access tailgate. Very clever. Anyone who knows Rob and his E89 knows it won’t be long before he gets his 5GT up to the same high standards of his Z4. If you would like to have your vehicle included in our Car of the Month feature, please send a good quality picture, details and history, in no more than 300 words (don’t worry if only a few words) to eastern@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

London Anthony Mason London Region sponsored by

london@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

BMW PARK LANE

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 Barons Borehamwood 02089 512 600 www.baronsgroup.co.uk/bmw Another two months since I’ve written to you guys and, by now, all the Christmas festivities will have been and gone. All the presents will have been shuffled into cupboards or possibly eaten

60 BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

or drunk. The London Region meets are going from strength to strength and each time we have new members joining us, and joining the Club. www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

regionalnews As I’m writing this at the end of November, our Christmas meal was planned for 13th December, and I’m sure we had great fun. We tend to have a few prizes from local dealers to hand out and the quiz will have happened. My 1M is currently off having a little brake overhaul in Stevenage, but I will tell you all about that in the 1 Series Register News. This time of year I get my diary from my daughter and I can start planning events and days out. I had planned to go to the Motorist Hub in Sherburn (that’s close to York) on my last trip up north, but unfortunately servicing got in the way of driving it up there. I think the London Region should plan a meet in central London, so if you know of a place just out of the congestion charge area or would like to host us, please get in touch. The last couple of months I’ve been servicing cars more than driving them. Lola, my lovely 4 Series, had a fault with a sensor on the roof. I was able to open the roof, but was then couldn’t close it. Luckily, I was able to contact one of our Club members and squeeze it in for a diagnostic and manual

North East Nick Thomas Happy New Year. Welcome to a year where I hope I will be able to get out on European road trips again. Please. Recent Events

Our November monthly meeting was, again, very well attended. Plus we had a speedy breakfast, a good variety of cars and lots of chat. We also paid a visit to Vertu BMW Teesside at the end

www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

roof close. What with the turn in weather and inclement days I was slightly scared on my way to the garage. Special thanks to Paul at Specialist Cars providing me with the fifth emergency service.

northeast@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

of November. It was good to see the club cars that are in the showroom, plus have a look round the facilities and have a catch up with everyone. Unfortunately the snow meant we couldn’t take any of the demonstrators out for a spin. I did have a good look around a couple of new models that are taking my interest, including the new iX which looked very nice… until I got locked in and couldn’t escape. We also held our AGM in November. We reviewed the year gone by and how the Region is doing generally. The AGM is also where we select the 2022 committee. Unanimously reelected were Nick Thomas (Region Chair), Simon Maskell, Mike Dickinson, Mike Milbourne and Greg Lyons. Keith Bates stood down after a few years service on the committee, and I thank him for his contributions and support. Fiona Bainbridge was elected as a new committee member, welcome! Forthcoming Events Following the AGM I am pleased to announce our 2022 plans: • Sunday 09 Jan – Monthly Meet • Sunday 23 Jan – Royal Navy Museum Hartlepool • Sunday 13 Feb – Monthly Meet • Sunday 27 Feb – Treasure Hunt • Sunday 13 Mar – Monthly Meet • Sunday 27 Mar – Brancepeth Castle • Saturday 09 Apr – BMWCCR at Croft • Sunday 10 Apr – Monthly Meet • Sunday 24 April – Cumbria Run • Saturday 07 May – Pre-SCITP meet • Sunday 08 May – Sports Cars In The Park & Northern Concours • Sunday 22 May – Holy Island • Sunday 12 Jun – Monthly Meet • Sunday 12-Monday 20 Jun – Autofahrt Munich • Sunday 26 Jun – Dent Day • TBD July – Great North Classic Car Show • Sunday 10 Jul – Monthly Meet • TBD Jul - Mercedes Club Witton Castle Show • Sunday 14 Aug – Monthly Meet • Monday 29 Aug – Durham Car Show • Sunday 11 Sep – Monthly Meet • TBD Sep – NECPWA/Beamish Show BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

regionalnews • • • • • • •

Sunday 09 Oct – Monthly Meet Sunday 23 Oct – Kielder Picnic Sunday 13 Nov – Monthly Meet TBD Nov – NE Region AGM Sunday 27 Nov – Dealer Day Sunday 11 Dec – Monthly Meet TBD Dec – Christmas Dinner

Events are subject to last minute changes so keep an eye on the North East Region Facebook Group for the latest information. Information on some events only goes out via email, so check if your details held by the Club are correct, either by logging into the website or phoning the office. Car of the Month The November COTM award was won by Mike Milbourne and his lovely E30 325i Touring. For November only, the Car of the Month award was sponsored by Ron Savege instead of The Polishing Company as usual. All BMWs, Alpinas and Minis 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.

North Wales David Allen By the time you receive the January Straight Six edition, Christmas will be over and I hope everyone enjoyed themselves. 2021 saw the return of some shows and I hope there will be more next year. I wish everyone a very Happy New Year. Forthcoming Events There is not a lot to report at this stage, but by the time you receive this I hope to have organised an opportunity for all the

North West Jeff Heywood News Happy New Year and welcome to January’s North West News. Hopefully our Christmas lunch at the Kilton went without a hitch in December, there’ll be a full report in next month’s Straight Six. As always, take a look at our Forthcoming Events below for some pub meets for you to come along to and enjoy. Here’s hoping you all make the effort to support these meets in 2022.

Trade Recommendations Darren Wood BMW Specialist. Bredbury, Stockport SK6 2QB. Offering BMW repair, servicing and engine tuning etc. Facebook – Darren Wood Ltd – Independent BMW Specialists. www.darrenwood.com / 0161 425 7403. Swades Car Detailing. For car detailing/valeting/alloy wheel refurb. Highly recommended. Give Darryl a call on 07415 945979. Facebook – Swades Car Detailing or visit www.swades.co.uk Independent Vehicles Ltd. BMW & Volvo specialists in Timperley, Altrincham, WA14 1TD - www.independentvehicles.

62 BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

northwales@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

regional members to email any ideas they may have for next year. Instead of an AGM, I will have emailed the North Wales members for feedback and hopefully we can extend the WhatsApp group or set up an email group and this will help if we want to organise meets at short notice and keep everyone updated with forthcoming events. Finally, if anyone has any interesting stories or would like their car featured as Car of the Month, please let me know. 07801 506632 Search for: BMW Car Club GB North West Twitter: @BMWNW northwest@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

co.uk / 0161 969 1551. Facebook – Independent Vehicles Limited Tallys Valeting Services for detailing and valeting. Mobile service, covers most of the North West Region. Give Ian a call on 07397 516149. Facebook – Tallys Valeting Services, or visit www.tallysvaletingservices.co.uk New NW Members – Please Read We’ve signed up quite a few new members during the Covid pandemic, so first of all I’d like to welcome you all to the Club and the NW Region, and secondly we’d love to see you all at the events and meetings we organise. They aren’t a clique, you will be made very welcome so why not come along and share in your passion for BMWs! Forthcoming Events 11th January – Manchester BMW Meet at Sheldon Arms Let’s see a crackin’ turnout for the first Manchester meet of 2022 at the Sheldon. Join us for a shandy and some BMW banter. The meeting starts at 7.30pm and is an informal get-together. All contact details, addresses etc. are in the ClubPubMeets section at the rear of this magazine. Please note, our Manchester BMW Meets are held on the first Tuesday of every month except for the January meet for obvious reasons, hence this meeting being on the 11th January. 23rd January – NW Pub Meet at Kilton Inn, Cheshire Blow away those winter blues and come and join us at our large, bi-monthly NW pub meet at the Kilton. There’s lots going on including a prize quiz, plus we’ll also be handing some www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

regionalnews goodies over to the winner of the Kilton Car of the Month, sponsored by Swades Car Detailing. The meet kicks off at 12 noon; all the contact details, addresses, postcodes etc. are in the ClubPubMeets section at the rear of this magazine. 1st February & 1st March – Manchester BMW Meet at Sheldon Arms 20th February – Imperial War Museum Visit and Lunch at Dukes 92 All I can say is, if you have never visited this wonderfully informative museum before, make sure you book on this trip, plus entry (by ticket) is free! Although you will have to pay for car parking outside the museum. The museum is a fascinating chronicle of war through the ages, from Roman times to the recent war in Afghanistan and how it affects the NW Region and its people. We will then leave early afternoon for the very short drive to Dukes 92 for an (optional) late lunch, hopefully in their private dining room. Don’t worry if you can only make the museum part of this day out. Places are limited due to Covid restrictions, so places are available on a first come first served basis, so in the first instance book with Jeff on northwest@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

20th March – NW AGM and Pub Meet at Kilton Inn, Cheshire The AGM starts at 11.00 followed by our usual pub meet. More details in next month’s Straight Six. Event Reports 21st November – Pub Meet at Kilton Inn, Cheshire We enjoyed another excellent turnout at our November pub meet at the Kilton, even though I knew in advance that quite a few regulars wouldn’t be able to make the meeting. It was lovely to see a handful of classics in attendance, including Les Bush’s gorgeous 2002tii and Keith Bridge’s equally stunning E28 M5. A couple of E36 youngtimers also graced the Kilton’s car park, Peter Whiffen’s lovely Alpina B3 3.2 Touring and Richard Partraining’s Avus Blue M3 Convertible. The NW prize quiz was hotly contested with Steve Nightingale’s B10Lads team taking the win by just one point from the E46Boys team. Les and Wendy Bush’s Bush2002 team secured a well-deserved third place, all receiving prizes courtesy of Region sponsor Darren Wood BMW Specialists. I’d also like to say a big thank you to Les and Wendy Bush for travelling all the way to the meeting from Mid-Derbyshire. The Kilton Inn is serving us well as our new base after over 25 years at the Swan. The food is excellent, the manager and his staff look after us well and the large air conditioned conservatory is always reserved for our meetings, so it would be great to see www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

more of our members attend these meets. You don’t have to eat, you are free to just grab yourself a drink and join in the fun. Kilton Car of the Month – Alpina E36 B3 3.2 Touring The November Kilton CotM was deservedly won by Peter Whiffin’s Alpina B3 3.2 Touring, a rare sight indeed. Finished in BMW Individual Alpina Blau Metallic II with HellGrau (grey) leather upholstery and Burr Walnut trim, the B3 is set off nicely by the standard 17-inch Alpina staggered fit wheels. The B3 was first ordered with Alpina by Sytner Nottingham on 12th June 1997, and first registered on 22nd July 1997. The car was nicely specced, besides the special paint it was equipped with the Switchtronic Autobox, heated front Sports seats, 3.46 LSD, headlamp wash, auto aircon, electric sliding sunroof, Alpina Instruments (oil temperature, oil pressure, diff temp, gear selection), M door mirrors, front centre armrest, white indicator lights etc. Peter is the fifth owner having purchased the car in May 2018. The previous owner had owned the car for almost 18 years. The mileage stood at 97,662 when Peter purchased the car and now stands at 101,216. The B3 has full BMW service history, but Peter likes to carry out his own repairs and servicing, he says: “Since I have owned the B3, I have carried out all the servicing, repairs and improvements to the car. All the problems have been eliminated except the air-con condenser, which I hope to do this winter along with a thorough cooling system clean out. There are always improvements that I would like to make, but my aim has always been to create a very good everyday car and not a concours one, which I could not justify financially. The B3 has been used for two Scottish trips during the past summer without any issues, the Alpina tweaked 3.2-litre straight six engine, with its265hp and 330Nm of torque, provides more than adequate performance and makes the B3 an effortless performer on the motorway. It also excels on the twisty stuff. I purchased the car because I was looking for a car to tinker with during retirement. It was my son who saw the advert for the Alpina. Because of its rarity, allegedly there were only five RHD Touring E36 B3 3.2s ever registered in the UK, so I decided to buy it. It was roadworthy, just, but it did have plenty of obvious issues which I was happy to take on. As always, the real problems only become apparent when you actually own a vehicle. All issues have been E36 related, though. The super-smooth Alpina drivetrain has not been touched, apart from regular oil changes and to fix a small oil leak from the auto ‘box. All suspension, steering, brakes are brand new and are all bedding in nicely with a bit of use. There is still plenty to do, mostly of a cosmetic nature.”

Peter Whiffin is handed his box of detailing goodies by Alfie Messina for his Alpina E36 B3 3.2 Touring being chosen as the Kilton CotM BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

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Scottish Paul Rice

scotland@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

Happy New Year to you all. I hope you all had a nice festive break, and Santa was good to you and your BMW. Firstly, I’d like to introduce myself, Paul Rice as your new Scottish Region Chair. I’ve been part of the BMWCC since 2006, my first meet was the Total BMW photoshoot at Scone Palace, what a meet that was. My first BMW was a 1987 E30 325i Sport. Then I bought the car most of you will know me by, my 2001 E46 M3 in Laguna Seca Blue, which I still have. I’ve been a BMW fanatic and petrolhead since I was 17, I have enjoyed many years in the Club since then and I’m delighted to take on the role of Regional Chair. November Meet and 2021 AGM Back in November we had our monthly meeting at the Kirkintilloch Golf Club, this was our second time at the Club for a meeting and lunch, which was great. Thanks to Rob Kehoe for making the trip

down from Aberdeen. Shame you had to head home as soon as you arrived, we’ll hopefully catch you at another meet this year. We had 15 members attend the lunch and the AGM. As well as voting for the new Chair, we welcomed Kevin Winton and Lisa Alexander onto the committee. We had a good look through the year ahead, planning our usual drive-and-dine type meetings, plus a couple of longer overnight trips. As for Car shows, we’re hoping to attend a couple of new events, yet still attend our old favourites. Keep an eye on the forum and the Scottish Region Facebook pages for all the info you need to get involved. If you’ve never been to one of the monthly meets, they’re a great way to get to know about the Club and meet fellow BMW enthusiasts. By the time you read this we will have hopefully had our January meet at Hollywood Bowl and I look forward to seeing everyone at the next meet at the Riverhouse Restaurant, Stirling on 6th February.

South East Ian Bryant South East Region sponsored by

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The final two meetings of the year were extremely well attended. It has been really encouraging to see these events grow over the last few months and it should put us in a good position when we resume next year. The last Kent Micro Meeting at The George, Trottiscliffe, had 41 cars attend during the morning. There was an amazing selection of member vehicles, my favourite car of the day was an extremely tidy E46 M3 CS. The last Sussex Micro Meeting was hosted at Billy’s on the Road on a cold morning, but again we had 20 member vehicles in attendance. The Micro Meetings will resume in the New Year. We’ve not set a date for when they will recommence, we will monitor the weather and resume around February or March. Please watch the South East Region home page and the WhatsApp group for details. In January we commence planning events, if you have idea of events you would like to attend, please get in touch we are always looking for ideas: • We need to find a decent classic car show or shows to attend as, unfortunately, Michelham Priory has run its course. Any ideas? • Visits to specialists? I am hoping to organise a trip to Lepsons, the alloy wheel refurbishment company • I will talk to Chandlers, our sponsors, about events • I will contact other Regions near us to see if they have events we could attend • Ultimately, I would like some new ideas Keep an eye on the BMW Car Club South East Region homepage. www.bmwcarclubgb.uk/regions/south-east

64 BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

Kent Micro Meeting – The George, Taylors Lane, Trottiscliffe, West Malling, ME19 5DR Sussex Micro Meeting – Billy’s on the Road, Stane Street, Billingshurst, RH14 9AE www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

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Thames Tony Skerrett

thames@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

Happy New Year to you all for 2022 and we all hope to have a more enjoyable year. Although as the 2021 season progressed so did Thames members, who began to venture out. An enjoyable feature of 2021 was the Regional Meetings held at the Littlebury Hotel, generally well attended and always good fun. At the time of writing, we’re not so sure about our proposed Christmas Dinner at the Chequers Inn as prior to December the uptake appeared to be slow. Roy Pugh has bought himself a really nice looking M6; we’re looking forward to a My Car Report from Roy. Future Events for 2022 We will restart the Regional meetings on 31st March 2022 at the Littlebury Hotel, Bicester, generally at 7.30pm until June onwards when they start at 8pm. Hopefully this will allow several members to attend the meetings at the later time of 8pm. 22nd May – Display in the Gardens at Waterperry Gardens.

Brünhilda & Project C.A.R.™ I’ve made good progress on mini-Brünhilda, the final clear coat has been applied and I’ve started assembly of the many parts that go back on to make it look like an E9. The new decals and stickers are on order and should be here in the next few days. Regarding the bigger version, the gents at Competition Classics have been working hard on the rear end of the car by modifying the boot floor and installing the new box. Unfortunately, we’ve run into a slight delay in that the paint shop can’t soda-blast and prime the body until mid-January. All being well, she should be back by the end of that month. I’ll then be installing all the wiring and fuel lines before sending the car off for painting, after which I’ll finally get to assemble the car for what will be the last time for a while, hopefully. Who knows, I might actually have a complete car by Christmas. Visit Brünhilda’s Blog: WWW.NIEKNIJSEN.COM

My Car – E9 Restoration by Niek Nijsen SCALE MODELLING I am still working on the Bismarck, though not much progress has been made. There’s so much PE to add, after spending hours at the bench there’s little to show, or at least that’s how it feels. I’ve decided to display the model in a slightly different setting, for which I’ve ordered a few additional items. More on that in the future when I get to it, for now I’m keeping it a little secret.

Wessex Julian Pickering

Snows BMW snows.co.uk/bmw

wessex@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

Our parts department is open 7 days a week. Portsmouth: Eastern Road, Portsmouth, PO3 5FF 02392 657500 Isle of Wight: Forest Road, Newport, PO30 5QJ 01983 522555

Barons Farnborough 01252 518 185 Happy New Year to all BMWCC members. Although 2021 was an improvement on 2020, I sincerely hope that we can all enjoy a Covid-free year and a full return to normal club activities in 2022. I am just completing my first year in office in the Wessex Region and so far everything we have done, whether it be club nights, driving events or other meetings, had to be considered from the perspective of minimising risk of infections. It would be great to just arrange meetings and socialise normally. The other thing that is strange for me is that, although I have been writing articles in Straight Six since March 2020, initially as the E9X model www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

Barons Hindhead 01428 605 000 rep. and more recently as the Wessex Regional Chair, I have met very few people in person from other Regions or from the Club Management Team. I know that this is primarily because I have only been a member of BMWCC since March 2019 but I would really like to get to know more of you this year. It is still November as I am writing this report and I know that Christmas and New Year will be a distant memory by the time you read it, but reflecting on the past year I would like to express my particular thanks to Eric Thompson and Tim Maltby for all the help and guidance they have given me in the Wessex Region. I BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

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as it does not allow moisture to penetrate. After ten months, working five days a week, repairing and welding panels and paint stripping, I was satisfied with the result. I knew everything was done properly and to my satisfaction. The doors and wings were refitted by Kustom Kolors, who also did a great job painting the car now in Inka Orange. I refurbished all the mechanical parts, including the engine, transmission and rear axle, and this all went like clockwork. The wiring and trim were somewhat more difficult. This was an expensive but most enjoyable project, which I am very proud to have seen through to the finish.” Thank you for the account Trevor. The car is a great credit to your skill and hard work. I recommend that readers should look out for this car at future club events. certainly could not have fulfilled my role without it. Recent Club nights in Bournemouth and Basingstoke have been much quieter recently, as we might expect in the winter months. However, it was excellent to see such a great turnout to our first winter breakfast meeting at the Beachcomber Café at Barton-on-Sea on Sunday 21 November. Over 20 people attended what could only be described as a hearty breakfast and the first photo shows some of the excellent club cars in the nearby car park. The weather was fantastic and many went for a walk along the beach afterwards to offset the food guilt. This month’s Car of the Month is a wonderful BMW 2002, owned and lovingly restored by Trevor Goodman. The car, in its current resplendent form, is shown in the second photo. Trevor has provided the following account of the restoration: “64 years young and due to retire, I decided I needed a project. My intention was to buy a car and restore it. My plan was to do all the mechanical repairs myself and farm out the welding and body work to someone more experienced. The first car that came to mind was a BMW 2002. I had worked on them in the past and understood the mechanical issues. Five viewings later, I eventually settled on one in Southampton. It had been stored for thirteen years but there was no history with it other than the registration document and one past MOT certificate for 1987. The car was in a reasonable state but needed some bodywork repairs. It was silver when I bought it, with a blue roof, but later I found the original colour was Malaga, which is a deep red. I had owned a Ford Anglia in a similar colour, so no way would it stay original. I started to strip the car and made enquiries with restoration companies to sort out the required welding and panel repairs. The prices were really high, so I had a rethink. My welding is pretty good, both arc and mig, so I decided to have a go myself. The main problem was welding such thin metal, but practice and some good advice from a friend gave me confidence. Eventually I replaced floors, inner and outer wings… the list goes on and on. During the restoration project it soon became apparent I would need to build a rotisserie to enable access to the cars underneath areas, which were then stripped back to bare metal and treated as required. The primer I used was Huttons,

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Forthcoming Events At this time, events can be added and cancelled at short notice because of weather conditions and prevailing Covid restrictions. All events will be advertised on the Club website and notifications sent out through our WhatsApp group and Facebook pages. January • Technical Evening – We have invited some of the regular suppliers to our local members to give short presentations describing their services, including some interesting anecdotes. The presentations will be followed by an informal question and answer session. Sir Walter Tyrrell Pub, Brook, Near Cadnam, 5th January, 7pm (diners please come at 6.30pm if possible – less disturbing for presenters!). February • Winter breakfast meeting – Second breakfast meeting, TBA. • Wessex Region AGM – Election of Region officers and Working Group. Open discussion on the 2022 programme. Sir Walter Tyrrell Pub, Brook, Near Cadnam, 26th February, 11.30am. Followed by lunch at 12.30pm.

www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

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Western Nigel Smith

western@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

Western Region Sunday Drive 2021 Images: Ron Parish After a period of Covid and all events and gatherings being cancelled, it was actually really nice to be able to meet up for a drive and a chat with fellow like minded enthusiasts. We all know what we have been through, some more than others. Our Regional pub meets restarted and it was decided that we would get an event in as soon as possible and a drive seemed to be most favorable and quick to organise. Often, I usually take on organising a drive event and it made a change for someone else to offer to organise one instead. Thanks to our regular pub meet members Brian and Cara Penny for organizing the route. Unfortunately, the dates we had in mind didn’t work for everyone at our pub meets, so we just had to go with a day and wait to see what other interest it would gain. October the 10th 2021 was decided and was also advertised on our Facebook page, which gained some additional interest. Our start point was at Clevedon Pier. The weather was dry and the forecast looked like we had a good day ahead of us. As many will remember, the weather in October was great for most of the month. Once we all had arrived, and sorry to those who couldn’t make it, we then started our route at the agreed leaving time, all in line grouped together, walkie talkies handed out, and our convoy started. Being in an X5 I chose to go at the back so as not to block the view for the lower vehicles. From Clevedon we headed north along the coast road towards Portishead and then onto Clifton Suspension Bridge, Ashton Court and onto Chew Valley lake for our first stop, luckily we found just enough space in the car park to get us all parked together. Coffee, bacon baps and cakes went down well with a little stretch of the legs and a natter amongst all. When it was time to set off again, the sun came out. Result. The roofs came down and off we went. On leaving Chew Valley, we headed to Ubley and an interesting little sprint up through the rocks at Burrington Combe and onto our descent at Cheddar Gorge with many people on the side of the road deciding to whip out their phones to take pictures of us. Did we stop? Yes, of course we did, it would have been rude not to. Stopping at Cheddar gorge for pictures is a must for most people with various hobbies and interests, not just us car enthusiasts. Pictures done, some more chatting and we were off again, down into Cheddar and to head back towards Weston super Mare for our pub stop and a roast that we had pre-booked our tables for. Once the drive had come to an end,

www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

and we gathered at the pub, it was actually nice listening to the various comments and conversations. Everyone seemed to have enjoyed the day and wanted to know when our next one was. We are looking at March for another Sunday drive, so don’t miss out.

BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

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registernews 02 Richard Stern Happy New Year. A list of upcoming classic and BMW-related events can be found here: www.bmw2002.co.uk/upcomingevents The onslaught of the motorist doesn’t stop. Not only do we have the new ULEZ charge for driving inside London’s North and South Circular road, but apparently they now want to charge another £3.50-a-day for all cars entering London from outside the M25 to plug the billion-pound defecate that TFL has managed to incur. According to the press, the recently introduced ULEZ charge hasn’t reduced pollution in London. With petrol prices at an all-time high it baffles me why the motorist is constantly paying for just about anything to do with transport and pollution. Energy companies are now pushing prices higher, instead of our constant demand for more, we need to say no. At time of writing, French lorry drivers are blockading their motorways in protest at fuel prices. Incidentally, 90% – yes 90 – of the world’s pollution comes from industry, not our cars. I guess personal transport is an easy target. Make public transport better and then people will use it. Punishment is not the answer if you really do want to reduce car pollution. Is this all to force us to buy new electric cars, which are not as efficient as many people believe. They’re also certainly not the answer for many people who can’t charge their cars at home, never mind the lifespan of an electric car – it certainly won’t be 30plus years like many of our current cars. BMW02 Lover Thailand BMW02 Lover is a small group of Thai enthusiasts with a passion for the BMW 1600 and 2002. Besides driving and meeting up together, the collective also exchange opinions and knowledge about many BMW classic models, not only the E10. From BMW02 Lover: “We admire the history of BMW, we love the design of it. We also respect freedom of thinking, we can be whatever we want, there’s no right or wrong, you are what you think. To our friends, thank you for your passion in BMW classics and also the knowledge and love that we get from you. We feel it. We will spread out those things to others. We hope you visit Thailand. We have many beautiful places, we have smiles and good friendships.”

www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

07770 443373 02register@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

To anyone who wants to visit Thailand, please kindly contact Facebook: BMW02Lover Thailand Or Facebook: Oamsuwan (admin). Thank you for the beautiful shots, Ohm Akapong.

Tail Pipe (from social media sources) Lars Fisk is an artist who builds nothing but spherical sculptures. His creations include a ball-shaped trash can, ballshaped houseboat, ball-shaped tree… you get the idea. They’re cute, but they’re also oddly self-contained. On show at the Dallas Art Fair, courtesy of the Broadway Gallery, is Fisk’s 2002ball that he created around 20 years

ago. Many of his works are handmade, but made to appear seamless and authentic. The BMW 2002, however, did require the assistance of factory professionals, according to this article from last year https://bit.ly/31YgFxJ. It looks to me as if the only OEM part is the BMW logo. The second image is from Fisk’s own webpage www.larsfisk.com, and I assume that’s him standing next to it. You get a better sense of the ball’s scale. Not even a child older than five or six could fit inside, there’s no legroom. But it is a marvel of steel, glass and rubber reduced to scale, including the dashboard and steering wheel. As you can see, some of it does function, the doors open and the rear view mirrors adjusts. I didn’t think to ask if it has a battery onboard so the headlights, wipers and turn signals might work too. BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

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1 Series Anthony Mason It’s been an expensive month (or two) for my 1M. I had planned a trip up north to see my sister, but after cleaning and fettling the little 1M ready for the trip, it pinged up with a request for rear pads. On closer inspection it was decided by the powers that be to do a good job. Discs were required too and although the fronts were still stating 4000 miles they weren’t much better as the discs were pitted and corroded. Much to everyone’s surprise there was a broken road spring that needed replacing, too. When I bought the 1M the rear tyres were replaced, that was three years and 25,000 miles ago, so when the wheels were off I got a fresh set of Michelin Pilot Super Sports ordered and fitted at an eye watering price. So what could have been a simple job has turned into a big and expensive learning curve. The nice thing is that the car is

3 Series Simon Maskell Hello to you all. I will take this opportunity to wish you a Happy New Year and thank you for taking the time to read these words. One of the things I love about being a Register Captain is the interesting emails that you receive from time to time. It was a pleasure, as ever, when serial Alpina owner Chris Tranter dropped me a line recently. I have featured some of Chris’s vehicles before and, yet again, he continues to impress with his back catalogue. Chris had been inspired by Tahir’s Atlantis Blue M3, that featured recently in this section, and was kind enough to share with us his story of rare and unusual BMW paint colours. Take it away Chris. “I’d seen an E30 Convertible Design Edition in Neon Green at what was then Wolverhampton Motor Services and loved the colour, but at that time I could not afford any BMW. When I moved to Luxembourg, I was offered a company car, and it was then I thought of the E30 from a couple of years before. I ordered my Neon Green 325i Limousine (Saloon) in early 1993, and was the first person in Luxembourg to make an Individual E36 and the first E36 to be specified in this colour. In fact, the dealership did not know it was possible, so they had to phone Munich to confirm my request. After the order was confirmed, I had to wait approximately five months for delivery. The day it arrived on the transporter I think every member of staff at the dealership was outside watching with me, they couldn’t believe it. I was thrilled. It was then at the AC Schnitzer concessionaire for another three weeks whilst they transformed it into an ACS3. When it was finished it was gorgeous. I owned this car for 15 years and had many great road trips

70 BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

1series@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

getting a really nice fettling from Paul Travers at Specialist Cars. The funny thing is, when Paul went looking for front brake discs he found there was an international shortage. Normally they can look at the BMW supercomputer and have the parts sent overnight from Germany or elsewhere in the BMW network, but unfortunately there appears to be a worldwide shortage of 2011 brake disks compatible with an E92 M3 or 1M. So it became a waiting game for parts. The good thing was my windows had an annoying clunk when they went up, and there was found to be a fault within the rubberised bump stop so they have been replaced under the extended warranty. The lucky thing is Lola, my 4 Series Convertible, and I have been putting in the miles together, topless mostly.

3series@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

in both Europe and back to the UK in it covering 285kms. It was also featured in Total BMW magazine with my two other E39 ACSs. Unfortunately it got written-off in an accident (not www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

registernews my fault) and the insurance company disagreed with the ACS concessionaire as to its value. So it was stripped down, the shell was sold to Lithuania, and the ACS parts used on an E36 Touring I had bought as a short-term cover until I could decide on my next car, which turned out to be the Alpina B8 4.6 Touring I still own, but that’s another story. I’ve often wondered if my Neon Green Limousine is still surviving today, I had so many good memories with it. Kind regards, Chris.” Chris is clearly a man of taste and thanks again for sharing your experience with us all. Have you any thoughts you would like to share with the Straight Six reading audience? If so, please do contact me at the register email address and you could very well see your car appear in this section of the magazine. That’s it for now, so until next time I wish you well.

3 Series E46 Simon Maskell Can you believe that it is 2022? Well, it is and I wish you a Happy New Year. For me, 2021 had been a year of new adventures and of course new (old) cars. The one I have in mind in particular is my re-acquired 330d Touring automatic. It is a car that I had sold to the North East Region Chair (and Club Director don’t you know!) Nick Thomas. I then bought it back when he decided it was no longer required. As a dyed-in-the-wool E46 man, I feel I know my way around the best BMW model, so I thought I would make a bold statement about this particular car: it may well be the best engine for road use of them all. Now before you start shouting at this page, let me justify this claim. I have been dailying the diesel for a couple of months now, so it is not just a honeymoon style reaction to the arrival of another car. This is why it is the best: torque. It has loads of it and low down the rev range too; this translates to rapid overtakes, without the need to chase the red line. When it gets up and goes, it just keeps going and in the real world, not the online one, this is what makes for a good car. The vehicle in question also benefits from being a Touring, so is super practical and I rather like the aesthetics of its form. I am going to make another claim and that is the automatic is such a good choice for any car, but this one in particular. Now it is 20-year-old technology, so it is not a ZF eight-speed rival and the engine has to be thought of as a performance engine with average fuel consumption, if you want real economy you need a

4 Series Paul Roberts By the time this article is published we will have had Christmas and hopefully will be celebrating a better 2022. I’m also hopeful that 2022 will give us more opportunities to get together and celebrate our BMW ownership. That will be my wish for 2022. On the personal front, my car had its annual MOT recently and passed without any issues. The local dealer did say however that the front tyres were at 4mm, but were wearing a little on the outside edges. Of course, with both mine and almost all BMWs, the rear tyres are a different size to the fronts so I can’t swap them over as the rears have 6mm tread. Anyway, I will wait a little www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

e46register@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

320d. I am only averaging 33mpg, but I am loving every minute of it. I reckon I can probably achieve mid 40s on a run, but I don’t care. The sound that a six-cylinder diesel makes is sublime and in the E46 it is definitely not quiet and that is a huge part of its charm. Think cool tractor-like sound, with a whoosh from the turbo; what’s not to like? In summary, I have a diesel car with (relatively) poor economy, that is noisy, and the gearbox is outdated; and I truly love it. My advice is, while you still can, get one as soon as possible, or you may live to regret it. Barring any major mechanical maladies, this is the beginning of an interesting journey for me and the Touring. In previous articles I have alluded to the fact there could be some interesting developments with the car’s cosmetics, watch this space. That’s it for the moment, if you have any other E46-related content that you would like to see in these hallowed pages, drop me a line at the register link. Until next time, stay safe and remember, you need a 330d.

4series@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

longer and after Christmas perhaps change them. Other than that, I bought some new wiper blades which I will fit shortly and some new mats as the other ones were looking a bit tatty. I’m hopeful of trying another Scenic and Continental trip, possibly to the Peak District in 2022, but given the current Covid situation I will look at this again after Christmas. I’m afraid that’s all to report this time. Please again, any 4 Series owners out there feel free to send me pictures and details of your car so I can include them in the magazine. With best wishes to all for a happy and prosperous 2022. BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

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5 Series E28 Tim Maltby

e28register@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

I must be on a roll, the M5 has also passed its MOT without an advisory in sight. The non-function of the fog lamps, as mentioned in last month’s article, was due to a dodgy switch and soon remedied after raiding my parts box. Again, I was pleasantly surprised how low the emissions were with the CO at 0.56 % (max 3.5) and the HC at 135 ppm (max 1200). Not bad considering the car has covered almost 201k miles. I have now run out of excuses for not making a start on the M535i so guess what my New Year’s resolution is going to be. At least most of the car is under some form of cover, so let’s hope the winter is kind to us all. I don’t know about you but I tend to get most jobs done if I have a deadline to work to. So here we go, the plan is to take the car to Le Mans Classic at the end of June. Residing in what some might call the sunny south, or is that the soft south, I had a shock looking outside this morning to see a modest covering of snow on the 520i. What I can report is that the patterns on the bonnet perfectly match the position of the self-adhesive sound insulation damper pads underneath! Another highlight this month was that the 520 has now exceeded 100k miles. By anybody’s reckoning this is now fully run-in. By the time you read this the 1st of January has probably been and gone, but as I type I am contemplating going up to either Brooklands or to Phoenix Green to start off the New Year. Bicester Scramble on the 16th Jan is pencilled in but at £15 per person I am holding off booking for the moment.

5 Series E34 Manj Sandhu After my detailing adventure a couple of months ago with my dual action (DA) polisher, I was amazed at how beige-looking the white had become over the years, a milky creamy shade of Alpine white was clearly noticeable on close inspection. I estimate that my recent session with the DA was the first machine polish in well over a decade. Probably last done when it was entered into concours competitions many moons ago by the previous owner. However, it was frustrating to see the majority of the car getting a much-needed new lease of life, while the areas that you cannot reach with the DA were left untouched. So I reluctantly pulled the trigger on a mini polisher to reach those tight corners, tough curves and edges. The mini polisher set me back around £100, as I am still penny pinching. See below, it gets worse. I refused to fork out for the cordless version with it being significantly more expensive if you include all the pads and bits, too. That version is probably more suited to the professional detailers out there. I will give it a go with a few days off coming up and will let you know how I get on. This detailing is very addictive once you get started, I can see how it can quickly explode into something much more. I do need to attack the 525iX with the DA very soon. Speaking of the 525iX. There has been a lot of work, well over 15 hours of labour and numerous parts, so where do I start? Let me list the parts first. • BMW M50/M52 cylinder head – part no. 1738 400. Externally sent cylinder head pressure tested and skimmed and extra port for missing temperature sensor hole added. • Engine Part – Number (Nr.) 1 Victor Reinz head gasket • Engine Part – Nr.14 Febi Bilstein M50 head bolts • Engine Part – Nr.2 Exhaust manifold gaskets

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e34register@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

• Engine Part – Nr.24 Febi Bilstein valve stem • Engine Part – Nr.24 BMW N52 exhaust studs • 10 Fluids Litres Coolant • 7 Fluids Litres 5W30 fully synthetic engine oil • Engine Parts – Nr. 6 NGK BKR6EKP spark plugs • Engine Part – Nr 1 Aluminium thermostat housing Now the labour and including external work elements, all with some bullet pointed details. • Coolant leak - Inspection of the engine to work out where the water was going with no visible leaks • Understand the reason behind the misfire when the engine was cold • Remove the very reluctant spark plug on cylinder three. Once removed it revealed a very rusty plug with water evident on top of the piston, suspected cracked head • Strip down all relevant ancillary parts, intake manifold, both exhaust manifolds, fuel rail, etc. Remove cylinder head. As suspected, crack between water jacket and combustion chamber • Strip down the cylinder head of all valves and springs, and replace all valve stem seals. Lap in each valve by hand and rebuild the cylinder head. Clean the block mating surface, place head gasket on block then the cylinder head. Finally, tighten down in three stages. • Replace thermostat housing with aluminium version. Install camshafts and the Vanos unit and timing chains. Install spark plugs. Install cam cover and exhaust manifolds. • Final fit of dress up parts. Bleed cooling system. Road test. • External work - leaky tyre inspected and fixed. www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

registernews • Full Inspection II service • External work - Bosch 413 ECU un-immobilised to find fault on the immobilisation issue on the vehicle, which is the EWS2 system used in the latter years of the E34 run as well as the E36. The immobiliser clamped on fuel and spark but when it came to the ECU battery voltage it wiped itself!. Thorough test procedure to narrow down no spark or fuel- EWS immobiliser issue. • ECU removed, taken to EndTuning, brought back, and refitted. On another note, I went to the NEC Classic Motor Show in November and saw a magnificent E34 M5 for sale at the auction with AC Schnitzer staggered wheels, see pictures. It was nice to be out again. A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to every BMWCC member and a special shout-out for a prosperous 2022 for all the E34s in the UK and around the world.

7 Series Matthew Swanborough Good day discerning BMW 7 Series owners and enthusiasts. On this, the eve of another year, I wish you good health and success for the year ahead and I hope to meet some of you at car meets during the course of 2022. This month, I have a fantastic contribution from Howard Walker, a long-time BMW Club member and former director, sharing his love of the 7 Series. “My first E38 was to be my retirement from cars. It was the year 2000 and we were sitting in a new 3 Series in the retailer at Stockport, when my wife says ‘you can’t swing a cat in here’. Compared to my daily driver, an 3-litre Opel Senator, she was right. She said ‘I want that green one out there.’ So began a two-year love story between me and my E38. Only once did I stray to buy a 2014 730d. More on that later. Over the next 21 years and 525,000 miles, I bought other 7 Series E38 cars, all superb and economical and great to drive. I also test drove most of the other 7s and 8s and some electric cars. Of them all, the E38 was the best built, best to drive, and most comfortable. My current stable, which I am reducing, has two E39s, a 635CSi, a 728 and a 740i. The cars that are staying are one of the 5s and both 7s. Two of these are Japanese imports, the 5 and the 740i. I have bought three cars from Japan over the last four years, too, and all have been superb (apart from the 5 which has done 65K miles). My 740 was first viewed in a barn in Wigan covered in farm dust. Not a mark on it and only 6K miles on the clock. It took me all of two seconds to say ‘yes, it’s mine.’ A decision that cost me £13.5k and another £2k in recommissioning costs. Apart from servicing, and a new satellite navigator that works in the UK, that’s all it has cost in its 52,000km that it has now covered. It goes around corners like an M3 and I have driven it in Europe at www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

7series@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

155 mph for 12 miles on the autobahn with no problems. Many people who have owned or just driven these cars say that they are the best cars ever produced by BMW. I would agree. They have their faults. One of them is that the switch that tells the gearbox which gear it is in often fails, which is possibly why the 728i that I bought two months ago after viewing it online and in the flesh had five owners in the last four years. I did not drive it prior to purchase, and on the way home found it to be hovering between fourth and fifth gear in automatic. When I put it in manual mode, it worked perfectly. So I told BMW to change the switch. They did not believe me, but did it anyway and the gearbox is now perfect. The other problem that I have had on earlier E38s was that the front springs break. After five springs in two years, I complained to BMW customer service, and was told ‘you must expect the odd spring to break after 18 years.’ But BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

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not one that had been replaced only 11 months earlier. I could have a new spring if I took the car to BMW and they inspected it and, if found to be faulty, they would replace it. I went for the cheaper option and did it myself. I now use Alpina springs if I need to. They last 300k miles and are much more comfortable to drive on. I ran three of my 728 cars on LPG with great success, the first one taking me to the Essen car show with two other Club members and back for the cost of £31 in LPG. The last of these expired when two of the spark plugs blew out of the head. My wife cried, as it was her daily driver. I also cried as I had just spent £1100 on a replacement fuel tank. I sold it back to the garage I bought it from 10 years earlier in part exchange for my current E39 525i. It’s too expensive to convert a car to LPG now, so the 740i runs on E5 petrol. Regardless of what BMW says, don’t put E10 in any car with a steel fuel tank. Especially an E38, the tanks rot in this country like no other BMWs’ does. Apart from the odd handbrake release handle breaking, that’s been my great relationship with E38 cars. Will be keeping both until they or I die of old age. More on my F01 7 Series. The 2014 730d that I bought new

8 Series Debbie Blythe Hi everyone. As this edition reaches you in January, I would just like to say I hope you all had an enjoyable Christmas and to wish you a Happy New Year. By now I expect you are fed up with turkey or tofu and have started moving all those crumpled clothes off the treadmill you purchased during lockdown so you can start your new fitness regime again. I am still waiting for Father Christmas to bring mine, I am sure I put the right address on my letter… Santa at the South Pole, right? Anyway, we are now in 2022 and hopefully have a full calendar of events planned during the year, please see below. We may also have another WOTG Sunday meet in either February or March so please keep a lookout on the club website, your emails and also any social media you are linked into. As there is not much going on over the winter, I will have space in the column for anything you would like to send me, including a Car of the Month. All I need is a few good quality photos and some text, anything from just 100 words up to 500 would be good, so get writing. There is a list of possible events and dates in the future events section below, please come back to me if you might be interested in any or if you have some suggestions yourselves, my email is 8series@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

with zero miles needed its first set of front disks changing at 70k miles as they were getting a bit thin. They needed changing again at about 70,400, 71,800, 72,840, and lastly at 74k. I sold the car to my dealership and used the cash to buy my 740i, the best move I ever made apart from marrying my wife. After lots of investigation, I recently discovered why the discs had failed. Up to then the 7 Series cars had brakes with straight bars dividing the two halves of the disks. BMW had experimented with curved separators that sucked air through the disks much more efficiently on M cars, but until this time not on the 7 Series. This modification made the discs handed. If you put them on the wrong side, the first time you used the brakes in a seriously quick stop, or on a really long hill, the brakes heated up and warped the discs. Obviously the guy who was changing my disks was unaware of this. So when I was cruising down the Autobahn on my way to Munich, after the fourth set of discs had been installed, that was the reason why my car swerved across all five lanes of the busy motorway junction. I am lucky to be alive as I was doing 155kph. I sold the car on my return to the UK. So if you have a similar problem, then you know why.” 8series@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

our other E31 owners started arriving. We had a really good turnout of 8 Series again, with 13 E31s and a new G15 850i braving the chilly morning. So a quick name check to thank them all: Gary Jackson, Anton Herbig, Alison and Eugene Finch, Chris and Debbie Goddard, Geoffrey Snushall, Keith and Lee Marsh, Paul Teall, Reggie Corputz, Les Irving and Maggie, Phil Star, Gary and Lynn Webb and Karl and Shirley Pattison. A couple of other members also turned up in their 6 Series, one classic 635i (Jeff and Hilary Leeks) and a modern M6 (Chad Nawalage). The rest of the morning went by fairly quickly with lots of chat between owners; some technical, some not so. We even had a person who was driving by the pub car park in his X5 stop and come in when he saw us as he has always been interested in owning an

Weston on the Green (WOTG) – 24th October 2021 Our last organised event of 2021 saw a meeting at our regular venue, The Chequers Inn, Weston on the Green on a fairly cold Sunday morning in October. Paul and I arrived early at 9.30 to open up the car park and put up the club flag. Shortly afterwards

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registernews E31 so was looking for advice on what to look out for and current prices. I passed him my card, hoping that he may become a club member and join us at future events. At midday the majority of the attendees retired to the pub’s heated marquee for a very enjoyable Sunday roast. If you are interested in joining us at a future event there are some dates below for meetings there next year.

Future Events This list is just some of the events we hope to organise or attend during 2022, please feel free to email with any suggestions you may have, no matter where, we are always up for a trip. Any excuse to get behind the wheel of the 8. 10th April - The Ultimate BMW Meet at British Motor Museum, Gaydon. If you want a place on our E31 stand then email me your car and reg. number ASAP so I can reserve a place

Alpina Simon Alcorn

Words by Norman Burnham Many of us will now have our vehicles off the road, tucked up in the garage and on the trickle charger for the winter. However, some brave souls may well need theirs as the everyday driver, perhaps with winter tyres fitted. Let’s hope for a more positive outlook for 2022 with more events and the reduction of the dreaded Covid virus and the restriction placed on us all. The first is an important announcement for Alpina owners, after some gentle pressure, demand and co-operation I am pleased to announce there will be an owner meeting at Sytner

www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

with the organisers. Tickets will be £10 each and available direct from the British Motor Museum website soon. Late April / Early May – How about a road trip? A few of the group have shown interest in the NC500 (North Coast 500 – Scotland). I am looking into this and hope to have some plans soon, but looking at a 4 to 5 day trip starting near Glasgow, up to Inverness and then back to Ullapool, across to Skye and back to Glasgow. This is provisional and may change. Let me know if you are interested as I may need to limit numbers due to available hotel space. May – South East event – to be confirmed. 12th June – Sunday morning meeting at The Chequers Inn, Weston on the Green, near Bicester. 2nd July – Lichfield Cars in the Park. 3rd July – Possible Caffeine and Machine visit, to be confirmed. 7th August – BMW Car Club national event at Donington Park. 21st August – Sunday morning meeting at The Chequers Inn, Weston on the Green, near Bicester. September – Simply BMW at Beaulieu Motor Museum, date to be confirmed. 23rd October – Sunday morning meeting at The Chequers Inn, Weston on the Green, near Bicester. Also, if you are not on my mailing list and wish to be please email me with your name, car details and location to 8series@ bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

alpina@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

Alpina GB in Nottingham on Sunday 24th April 2022. Many thanks to Gary Lott, the Alpina brand manager, for his efforts in this respect. However, space is limited and there may be the need to restrict numbers. When we have the details of how to apply it will be published. This event has not been held for at least three or four years and is always special to bring together Alpina owners from all over the UK. 29th May 2022 – The French Date. This is a car show for all BMW models, but we were approached two years ago and the organisers invited Alpina owners from the UK. Sadly, it didn’t happen due to restrictions. More information and how to

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registernews obtain tickets see www.bmw.frenchdate.com 23-26 June 2022 – Goodwood Festival of Speed. We await confirmation as to whether Alpina will display again, but this super three-day event is well worth the effort if you have not been before. We normally arrive at 6:30 and get in for a nice early breakfast in the Porsche Restaurant. 26-28 August 2022 – The Classic at Silverstone. This is over the August Bank Holiday and clashes with Car Fest South

E9 Nick Hull I was saddened to learn of the passing of Denis Fernando, who was part of the BMW Car Club Racing scene in the mid to late 1980s. Denis had converted a LHD CSi into a replica CSL and raced successfully until ill health in the 1990s put paid to his exploits on the track. Last month his son, Danny Valentine Fernando-Trick, contacted me to announce that Denis had passed away in March 2020. Due to Covid, the family only recently held a memorial service at Beddington Park in Surrey, which would have marked his 70th birthday. I am sure there are several members who remember his car, seen here in its heyday. Sadly the car was broken for spares some years ago, but what a magnificent beast it was.

i8 Clive Neville Most of my writings for the Straight Six Register section try to give advice or statistics on matters relating to i8s, but occasionally they relate to experiences I have had that might be useful for others to hear about. The last one was the saga of leaving our Z4 without a charged battery and being unable to get into the boot, or at least not easily, to replace the battery. Today’s story is titled, The Parable of the Garage Queen. We all know about these treasured vehicles that never go out. Indeed, you might have one stuck away right now. Read on. This is a true story, unfortunately for me. I am a proud owner of such a garage queen. It is in perfect condition and, over its 25 years on the planet, it has had two owners and has travelled 13,000 miles. I bought it in 2005 when it had 7,000 miles on the clock. I swapped my S54 Z3MC for it directly. I thought it would be the better bet as a long term ownership prospect as it was (is) much better built and designed than the Zed. Heretical I know, but it’s true I’m afraid. Plus the reliability prognosis of this replacement car was off the chart. This was largely contrary to the S54 at the time, which I knew would have to be warranted for evermore if I wasn’t to face a potentially big engine bill. Fifteen years and loads of oil and belt changes later (the oil is so clean you can’t see it on the stick), our pride and joy occasionally takes us on entertaining jaunts out into the countryside. What a car I always say to myself. I think many of us say that about pre-Millennium cars, where there was technology but also a real analogue feel. I felt no different the last time I used it in August 2021 when we went to Caffeine and

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at Laverstoke Park. In 2021, several of us did both and we shall have to decide how we manage this date for 2022. Again, we will try to get as much early notice as possible. Other events with dates and details to be announced, please look in this section for details. Wishing all Club members the very best for 2022 and for your continued support.

e9register@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

2022 sees the 50th anniversary of the launch of the 3.0 CSL in the UK. Back then, BMW GB organised a novel drive back event for British dealers in October 1972. Dealers gathered at a hotel outside Munich to have the opportunity to drive their dealer demonstrator CSLs back to Dover, where they were given a final PDI at BMW UK’s new import centre in the town. Organising a recreation of the event might be a bit too ambitious now, with uncertainties over travel restrictions looking like they may extend long into this year, but we should certainly look for an opportunity to celebrate this anniversary of the CSL City Pack cars next summer at Silverstone Classic or BMW Sommerfest, as part of the Club’s 70th anniversary events. Finally, there are not many decent models of the E9 available but Minichamps have released new ones recently. The first is a 1:43 scale model finished in silver of the 2800CS offered at £59.99, the second is for pre-orders for a 1:18 scale 3.0 CSL in orange or yellow, listed at £124.99. These models are made in small batches, the first sold out quite quickly last year. So it’s worth getting an order in early if you’re interested. We might have just missed the chance for a Christmas present but you could treat yourself to a New Year’s reward instead. Both are available from Diecast Legends www. diecastlegends.com. i8register@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

Machine in Warwickshire. Most of the assembled throng at the cafe also seemed to think so, with many saying that “it’s the best car here.” It even was featured on a vlog later that day, or so I am reliably informed. It was certainly filmed. Having enjoyed the day, we arrived back home having exercised the car reasonably but certainly not over enthusiastically, most of the time not venturing more than half way up the rev counter. Despite this care and attention, we stopped on the drive to an ominous clanking emanating from the engine bay. It was truly horrible. I stopped the engine, thought about it and then after a further minute or so, fired it up again to ensure that I wasn’t hearing things and to record it on the phone. No. Unfortunately, the mayhem was still very much in evidence. We had a big problem. Parked up, I drained the oil and had it analysed. There was nothing obviously harmful in the oil. I also tested the compression on all of the cylinders. These were all well within tolerance. This was slightly encouraging, as was the next time I started the engine, at least to start with. I had to do this to try and locate more specifically the source of the noise. It started perfectly and ran quietly for 15 seconds before the noise started. Almost imperceptibly at first and then louder until after two minutes I had had enough of hearing and recording it. It was definitely a big end. A big end that had failed on an engine that had done very few miles and that had never been abused and which had had frequent changes of Mobil 1. And, it had clearly failed quite catastrophically - in that the oil analysis hadn’t shown any wear elements in it. And, on an engine that is perceived to www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

registernews be bulletproof. And, as renowned as any M engine. So, obviously, the message behind The Parable of the Garage Queen is use it or lose it. Closer engagement with relevant experts (rather than internet fanboys) revealed that, while very uncommon, this is not unknown on this engine. It’s all to do with condensation forming between the bearing shell and the crank journal surface and it embedding when the engine is sat idle for long periods of time. It has nothing to do with the fact that it might be humid in the garage. My garage is as dry as a bone. It’s about leaving the engine alone for too long. And, our engine cried enough after 25 years of effectively not being used. You never know, but your cherished performance BMW might also be a time bomb ready to explode… As with all things semi-exotic, this isn’t going to be cheap to rectify, especially with a new crank likely to be needed. Well into five figures and then add VAT. Luckily, the car has some inherent value, and thus fortunately or unfortunately, it needs to

M Power Anthony Shilson It’s going to be a brief update for January due to work and family commitments. It’s the 50th anniversary of M this year, and as some of you will already know, BMW plan on reintroducing the heritage Motorsport roundel, as well as some of the iconic M colours of the past. Hopefully we will also see the return of some CSL variants. I hope BMW can shed 200kg of unnecessary tech and improve the steering feel of its M cars for the CSL models. The Motorsport roundel will be optional on all M cars built as 2022 model year vehicles, but sadly will also be available for the marketing, sorry, M Sport models too; enabling BMW to milk the old logo for all its worth. The iconic M colours we will see again include Dakar Yellow, Imola Red, Fire Orange and Daytona Violet. The Club sent out an email on 24th November about celebrating both 70 years of BMW and 50 years of M and The Classic at Silverstone in August. I’ve been told by a few members that have been about, what a great weekend The Classic is and I hope to see for myself next year. Having attended the Classic Motor Show at the NEC back in November and seeing what an excellent display the Club office had put on (probably the best car club stand there), I’m very much looking forward to learn of the plans for Silverstone. For those that follow MotoGP, BMW provides M Safety Cars for all three bike classes and has done so for a number of years, since 1999 I believe. New M3 and M4 versions below.

be done and done properly, retaining the original engine of the car so that it can retain its matching numbers. Chucking in a manky second-hand motor (if one was available) would be pure sacrilege even if it would be a lot cheaper. And, this is the second part of the Parable. Before you buy a car, ensure you know who is going to look after it. By and large, BMW owners are lucky in that there is good parts supply and a wide range of dealerships and independents who have the capability and knowledge to undertake full engine rebuilds. You have a choice. With this particular car, the manufacturer and its network no longer recognises it and, when they do, they recoil in horror, while the number of independents who are judged to be fully competent in the UK is limited to a couple of, maybe three, digits. So, think about this saga when you next park up your garage queen for the five months over the winter. It might be more expensive than you think.

essex@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk

It also donates a car for an annual award. MotoGP rider and 2021 champion, Fabio Quartararo, received an M5 CS for being the fastest qualifier over the season for the second year running. Here he is with his prize.

And that’s it for this month. Do you have anything interesting to contribute to this section? Please email me your own M Power mods, fixes, tips or stories to essex@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk Images: BMW M www.bmwcarclubgb.uk

BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

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Modified Borislava Pepelyashka - @bobby_shark_attack Happy new year dear friends. May the New Year bless you with health, wealth and happiness. I wish you a breakdown-free year full of many happy miles in your beloved motors. I’m here to show you some cool modified projects, great photos and tell stories about car shows and meets, but before this let me introduce myself. My name is Bobby, I’m a 34-years-young petrol head girl and classic BMWs are my biggest passion. I currently own two E28s and an E39. My first E28 I bought in 2010. A friend of a friend had to urgently sell it, needing the money to pay for his stables’ rent. It was a case of sell it by the end of the day or scrap it. I couldn’t afford it at the time, but I badly needed to save this car. I’d seen it once years before and knew nothing about it. I met the seller at the hippodrome the same evening and literally dragged the car out of the turf. Surprisingly, it started and I drove it home even though it was not running smoothly at all. It’s a 1983 car with the M30B28 engine and a Hartge exhaust manifold. The original paint is Baltic Blue, but it’s been resprayed in Royal Blue, and has Recaro seats, an electric sunroof, M Tech 1 steering wheel and a spoiler. I was in love. I knew it needed some work but didn’t expect a Fred Flintstone-type of floor. I stripped the car the day after and paid someone to do some welding for me. He did such a bad job, which disappointed me so much I could not trust anyone else to work on my car ever again. I ended up buying a mig welder and taught myself welding during the next few summers in my garage. I welded the floors, changed the sills, found a donor and replaced the headlight panel, the battery bottom plate and the rear panel. Life got tough and the project has frozen, but it will be completed one day as a memory of my beloved grandmother who helped me get my dream car. The idea of a Hartge replica is still stuck in mind and most likely will be implemented one day. Until then, I will continue to collect parts and get ready. In 2013 I was looking to get a new daily. I was driving a Mk3 Golf Wagon, but I crashed it trying to drift in the winter. Honestly, this was the happiest day ever since I hated this car. It was about time I got a RWD car. A friend mentioned an E28 for sale and said it will be displayed at the national BMW show. A couple of weeks after the show I was on a 150-mile journey to get it. It was a 1987 M20B20, Alpine white, cut springs,

78 BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

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E34 seats and just a few patches of rust. I’ve changed the sills, un-slammed it, resprayed what needed a new paint and we lived happily ever after. As a daily-driven motor this car has never let me down, never broken down and the more I drive it the happier I am. I imported it into the UK last summer and, as you could imagine, it was not an easy task for a foreigner to do a restoration in the middle of lockdown in a new country. I rented a bay in an operating workshop in Harrow and set a timeframe of six weeks. I was only meant to fix some underbody rot, but it went out of control… With interior and engine out, and the budget thrown out of the window, I managed to respray half of the car including the engine bay. I replaced all the leaking gaskets and oil rings, installed new suspension, a new clutch etc. and yet there is still a massive to-do list. Oh... I totally forgot to mention this is a rat style car - there is a story behind this decision but I will leave it for another time. As for the E39, as a modern classic this has served me well. Treating the M54 with an engine rebuild this year was a wise decision. Despite the complexity of its double-Vanos and unquenchable thirst for unleaded, it’s quiet and sits comfortably at motorway speeds. In summary, I would like to say that old BMWs are incredible and if you ever wanted to have one, go for it, you will not regret the experience.

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Z3 Register Alan Jones

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Welcome to the January edition of Straight Six. I hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year’s celebrations and hopefully this year we can get back to a normal car show season. If you remember last month I was half way through the replacement of both the sills on my car. I hope that I didn’t worry you, especially over the Christmas period, but I can confirm that, like most good stories, it does have a happy ending. Last month I left you with the sills getting sprayed. I went round to ask for a quote on a Wednesday afternoon, and although I hadn’t used this shop before, I have been passed it a few times. There are always high end expensive cars being repaired there, so I thought he must be at least okay considering the caliber of machinery he worked on. He said that he could do them immediately if I brought them round, so as it was only five minutes from my home, I took them round straight away. Then, on Friday morning, he called me and said that they were done as he was able to do them in-between his other work. With the speed and the standard of his work, to say I was pleased would be an understatement. He doesn’t have a website but it is called the Houghton Body Shop, tel. 01915 849599. Meanwhile I had washed the inner wheel arches and replaced all of the U nuts on them as they were all very rusty. I also replaced the small broken white plastic fixings which were damaged on removal of the plastic inner sill. I also decided to buy some small plastic bags to put the removed bolts into and mark the bags as to where the bolts had come from on the car. This made reattaching the various parts much easier as all I needed to do was to have the correct bag of bolts with me for the part I was refitting. So I started by putting on the newly painted sill and taking great care not to scratch or mark it in any way. I also purchased new bolts to attach the sill from my local dealer as well, so there would be no rusty bolts on the underside of the car. Once the sill was attached, by overcoming the awkward bolts in the rear wheel arch (see last month), the next step is the front wing, which you need to attach now while you still have access to all of the fixing bolts. Also, you need to make sure that the wing is lined up correctly so you have good shut lines with the other panels. Once you are happy with the fitment of the front wing, the inner wheel arches can be installed. As before, on the removal of the inner wheel arches, I jacked the car up and then placed axle stands on the jacking points so both wheels on the same side were off the ground at the same time. This allowed access to replace the plastic liners. This job is a little tricky, you need to get the inner wheel arch liners in the correct place so that the bolt holes line up with the fixing holes. But with a little patience and determination all the bolts went into their correct locations. The final job is to install the plastic trim that sits on top of the sill covering the securing bolts. This is just a matter of pushing the small plastic fixings into the corresponding holes and it just clips into place. There’s also a plastic bolt just to make sure it stays

securely in place. Then it is just a case of taking the axle stands out, lowering the car to the ground and admiring the rust free paintwork. Oh, I nearly forgot, I have to do it all again on the other side!

Concours Dan Wood Concours sponsored by

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

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BMW Car Club Magazine January 2022

SALES SERVICING RESTORATION

Engineering excellence has always been our priority at Classic Heroes. Whether it is a routine annual service or a full scale restoration project we give every car the same level of love and attention as if it was our own. We also provide day to day practical advice on how to keep your BMW in turnkey working order. Whether you need a full scale written report or just some help preparing a budget to cope with the demands of the next few years motoring. We are delighted to offer BMW car club members 40 plus years of experience dealing with every modern classic BMW from E9 CSLʼs to E46 CSLʼs and everything in between.

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Straight Six January 2022

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Registers

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No Baddies in Sight

It’s Alive

Celebrating 70 Years of the BMW Car Club GB

The Green Agenda

MLife: The Holy M Grail

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Thoughts from the Boardroom

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