The M is to BMW what the Ghia, or Zetec is to Ford these days. It's simply a trim level.
Agreed, M badges should only be on cars with a Motorsport chassis number.
The M is to BMW what the Ghia, or Zetec is to Ford these days. It's simply a trim level.
Sad but true
Ford have their 'ST' designation for their high performance models these days.
Must admit though it does look better with the H and the I missing, LOL.
Although the car is new, a check at Center Gravity showed it had been delivered a little way off factory settings so here it is getting put right; with tyres at £350 a corner it makes no sense not to though rear wheel steer complicates matters slightly.
It's becoming more an aspirational badge like the Audi S-line where they stiffen the suspension and change the seats. Which is why you see loads of M and M Power badged cars on the road these days, that have never been near the M Division. Still it sells cars.
Good choice of colour too Ingenioren, Estoril is one of my favourites, assuming it is that colour.
I don't believe the gearbox is any different in M Sport models. I've got the 8 speed sport auto in my non M Sport BMW
Looks in great condition. Welcome to the R107 club
Thanks Jon, lets hope so. Nice thing is the wife is actually quite taken with it, which always helps
One of these two when the weather is warm/dry enough ...... just to add that the KA has gone (so has it's owner .. the wife) and so has my Impreza that's parked outside .... the rest is still here :)
Mine is in for a full spa treatment at the moment with wings, sill, seals and a full repaint !
This is now my car, as it was, racing in 1968. I bought it in 2009 from the guy you can see driving.
This was it just after I picked it up from the docks, 40 years in a damp detroit garage had taken there toll. You can just see my son behind the wheel. He's a lot taller now!!
And this is it now, well actually it's moved on a fair bit since this was taken. It has all the suspension, steering and brakes fitted so I can roll it in and out of the garage. All I need to do now is wiring loom, plumb the brakes, fuel lines and tank, fit the race seat, harness, lights, instruments, fire extinguisher, rollover bar...... hmm bit more than a weekends work then!!
Nissan Qashqai for the boring stuff and a slightly more involving Renault Sport Clio 182 for a more spirited drive.
Spot on, there are a few series 2's skidding around race circuits in historic racing but not many series 1's (only one other that I know of, currently in the USA). I hope Lord March knows a thing or 2 about Ginetta's... or maybe I'm just dreaming ;-)
Strangely enough, at the 'M' day BMW had at Goodwood on Thursday, I was commenting on the Gran Coupe M6 'Liquid Metal Silver' colour (a 4500 option !) and was told mine is the only Estoril GC in the UK, as was a special order for the dealer principal, as it is now a shade darker, 'San Marino' or 'Deepsea blue'.
Of all the various cars I have owned, never received so many compliments on the colour combo !
That looks really straight and clean, well done.
Just putting the finishing touches to my other half's 380 SL this week, should be back on the road this weekend.
Lovely cruisers, very well built, just watch out for the dreaded rust, get into the habit of washing underneath and in around the wheel arches regularly, cars of this era are full of dirt traps that retain crud from the road, which then does a great job of trapping moisture and accelerating corrosion.
Thank you. Yes first impressions are of a very straight car. I had a poke around the bulkhead area at the weekend and its in very good order, also started cleaning the wheel arches removing wheels and arch liners and all good so far. It's had a bit of paint but done well and panels appear original but I'm no expert and with only 2 owners its clearly been a cherished 2nd car for both. Needs a big service and fluids all changed which a mate of mine that owns a garage will do soon. Interior is excellent too, so yes very pleased over all. Just wish it was a dark blue or grey or black, but would rather have champagne over rust!!
Make sure your mate drains the PAS fluid as part of that work, most of these cars also have a replaceable power steering filter in the reservoir, well worth changing.
Pay close attention also to the condition of the steering damper, the amount of play in the steering box and the front subframe bushes, when all these things are tip top the cars drive surprisingly well.
Just give it a wash man, please!
Lovely car & love the de-badging, although I'd people don't hear the noise through the quads then they are either deaf or you aren't trying!
Even on start up they are a beast...my neighbour has one & leaves for work at 6am, I no longer need an alarm clock :)
It's by far the best track event, only did an evening session yesterday but our group of 16 were the only people there.
I did have issue with my JPLM which had major understeer and kept randomly triggering the kill switch on every lap which really didn't help my times, was 3 secs a lap down on last year. Didn't get on with that instructor either.
It's amazing how differently the atoms handled from last time too, so twitchy and really hard to catch a slide.
Overall I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the event.
Can't seem to get a picture in but I'm driving a 135i at the minute and absolutely loving it
Since a few months I got myself a new old car!
I had been looking for this special and rare beast for a few years.
It's one of the 100 Daimler Century V12 6.0 litres ever built.
Grey, full options, quite fast and thirsty...
But a great drive!