They really won the 2025 Dream Car Raffle.

And they’re about as real and passionate as BMW enthusiasts come.

Eric and Katrina with Jeff Caldwell (center), the president of the BMW CCA board.

A BMW Story That Started on Two Wheels

Katrina and Eric have been BMW CCA members for just about a year, but their roots go back much further. Eric’s BMW journey began in the saddle of a motorcycle. “I was big into motorcycles my whole life,” he says. “But when I made the transition to BMW, that was the game changer. I understood what M meant after that.”

For Katrina, her first taste of the brand came in 2016, the day she climbed on the back of Eric’s BMW motorcycle and flew through traffic. “That’s how it started,” she laughed. “And all our friends drive BMWs, so it only grew from there.”

The Raffle That Felt ‘Meant to Be’

Many members buy tickets with a sense of hope. Eric bought his with a sense of certainty. He had been browsing the BMW CCA website when he first saw the car: a Ruby Star Neo BMW M3. “I saw it and said, ‘Babe, this has your name written all over it,’” he said. “I just felt like it was meant to be for her.”

So he bought her 10 raffle tickets for her birthday. Katrina didn’t just get tickets. She got new purse, a nice dinner and, apparently, a destiny. “I felt like I knew it was ours,” Eric admitted. “Like I willed it into existence.”

“Wait… Did We Actually Win?”

When the winning call came in, Eric missed it. Then came the long night of disbelief. “I was checking the numbers for two or three hours,” he said. “Probably longer. I kept saying, ‘There’s no way. There’s just no way.’” But the next morning, when the confirmation call came through, the disbelief melted away. “That’s when it hit us. It was real. We won the car.” And for Katrina, who says she has never won anything, this was not a bad way to start.

The Drive to Pick Up the M3

When the couple made the 2 hour, 40 minute drive to pick up their new M3, excitement started building long before they arrived. “We passed the Greer BMW buildings and that’s when my adrenaline spiked,” Katrina said. Eric added, “I was pushing the speed limit just a little bit.” When they finally pulled in, and saw the lights on the vehicles flash, they laughed, thinking the cars were “talking to each other.” That’s when the moment became real.

Seeing Ruby Star Neo in Person

Katrina said she had done the research—Googling the color, trying to find photos in full sunlight, even following an Instagram account that happened to feature a nearly identical M3. But nothing compared to seeing it in person. “My breath was taken away,” she said. “It’s not tutu pink. It’s not loud or flashy. It’s just perfect. Especially for an M3. It’s subtle, powerful, and elegant.”

And once she learned only five M3s were made in Ruby Star Neo, the rarity only added to the magic. “Being a Porsche color too… and then my husband’s M4 CS is also a Porsche color… it felt meant to be again.”

“Real Members Win.” This Is the Proof.

As Katrina and Eric stood beside their two BMWs—one Shark Blue, one Ruby Star Neo—they looked like they were made for a BMW CCA brochure. But they’re not actors. They’re not paid spokespeople. They’re simply members who love the brand, support the club, and took a chance on a raffle that changed their garage forever. “No one believes people actually win,” Katrina said. “But they do. We did. And now I get to drive this car like I stole it.”

From Peach State to Ruby Star Neo… these two couldn’t be bigger ambassadors for the club.

When you support the club, real members really do win.

The post Meet the Members Who Willed Their Dream Car Into Reality appeared first on BimmerLife.

Buy Your 2025 Classic Raffle Tickets

After a spirited road trip from Texas to Virginia, shared by James Clay of BimmerWorld and BMW CCA President Jeff Caldwell, the M3 arrived at the BimmerWorld shop for a refresh. Its mission: to embody the essence of a true driver’s car… authentic, analog, and ready for its next chapter with one very lucky new owner.

Comprehensive Refresh

BimmerWorld’s technicians performed an exhaustive restoration process touching nearly every mechanical system. Close to 100 individual components were replaced, refinished, or inspected, representing over $20,000 in combined parts and labor. This was a methodical refresh to bring the M3 as close as possible to its factory feel.

View the Full Parts List on BimmerWorld

Expert Installation

Every nut, bolt, and gasket was handled by the same BimmerWorld team trusted by professional BMW race programs. More than 70 hours of labor went into the project, from suspension geometry checks to brake system bleeding and cooling-system calibration. Their hands-on approach ensured that every adjustment met BMW’s precise engineering standards.

Factory Feel, Modern Confidence

New Continental tires, including the spare, anchor the car to the road, restoring grip and composure while maintaining OEM-correct sizing and ride quality. This ride comes with the TA-5 wheels AND the six refinished OEM wheels. The cooling system was rebuilt with fresh hoses, thermostats, and fluid, ensuring consistent temperature control even under spirited use. The clutch hydraulics, transmission mounts, and brake lines were likewise restored for smooth, dependable performance.

Built for the Drive

This isn’t a performance build meant to chase lap times; it’s a faithful rejuvenation of an already well-engineered sports sedan. With refreshed mechanicals, renewed confidence, and that unmistakable inline-six soundtrack, this M3 once again feels ready for long drives, weekend backroads, and every moment in between.

Buy Your 2025 Classic Raffle Tickets

Every bolt now carries a trace of BimmerWorld’s craftsmanship. A reflection of both their race-bred precision and their respect for the marque’s heritage. This M3 stands as a tribute to BMW’s analog era, a car built to be driven and preserved through skill, not sentimentality.

Ready to explore the details?

Buy Your 2025 Classic Raffle Tickets

View the Full Parts List on BimmerWorld

Watch Part 1 of the BimmerWorld YouTube series on the M3 Refresh

Watch Part 2 of the BimmerWorld YouTube series on the M3 Refresh

The post Crafted with Care: The Expert Refresh of Our 1998 BMW M3 by BimmerWorld appeared first on BimmerLife.

The wait is almost over. The BMW CCA 2025 Dream Car Raffle is about to launch! One lucky BMW CCA member will win a stunning 2025 BMW M3 Competition xDrive, finished in BMW Individual Ruby Star Neo with an Ivory White Full Merino Leather interior.

During BimmerLife MiX 2025, Doug Payne, owner of Extreme Auto Spa in Greenville, SC, talks about the XPEL protection added to the 2025 Dream Car.

This is not your ordinary M3. Powered by a 3.0L BMW M TwinPower Turbo Inline-6, delivering 503 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque, this machine rockets from 0-60 mph in a blistering 3.4 seconds. With BMW’s intelligent xDrive all-wheel drive, and the option to switch to rear-wheel drive, the M3 Competition is built for wherever your passion leads. Inside, M Carbon Bucket Seats and a tech-forward curved display redefine what it means to drive in comfort and style.

Spec’d with precision and built to thrill, this Ruby Star Neo M3 is an absolute head turner. It didn’t just roll off the production line – it landed, ready to take you light years ahead of the ordinary.

Tickets go on sale this week. At just $25 each, your chance to win this extraordinary M3 – and other incredible prizes – has never been closer. Plus, for every ten tickets you purchase, you’ll earn an exclusive grille badge, created just for 2025 Dream Car Raffle participants.

Learn more about the prizes, the bonus drawings, and how to secure your entry. Your dream ride is almost within reach.

Here are more details about the 2025 BMW CCA Dream Car:

Every Inch, Engineered for Power

The 2025 BMW M3 Competition xDrive is a powerhouse built to thrill. This year’s Grand Prize is equipped with M-specific engineering that blends everyday drivability with pulse-pounding precision.

And remember:

• Ruby Star Neo Exterior: A bold, custom BMW Individual color that demands attention and rewards it with awe.
• Ivory White Full Merino Leather Interior: Soft-touch luxury that perfectly contrasts the aggressive performance beneath the hood.
• M Carbon Bucket Seats: Race-inspired design with everyday comfort. Lightweight, sculpted, and unforgettable.
• Carbon Fiber Trim & Galvanic Controls: Premium finishes that exude precision, elevating the cockpit to a true M driving environment.
• M Compound Brakes with Black Calipers: Serious stopping power, as stylish as it is performance-driven.
• Performance Suspension: Tuned for sharp handling and complete control — whether you’re carving corners or opening it up on the straight.
• Executive Package: Includes luxury upgrades like heated steering wheel, head-up display, and Gesture Control.
• Driving Assistance Professional Package: Advanced safety meets convenience with Active Driving Assistant Pro and Traffic Jam Assist.
• Parking Assistance Package: Make tight spots effortless with a surround view camera, active park distance control, and more.
• M Shadowline Lights: Sleek, smoked detailing that gives your M3 an unmistakable edge.

Every element of this vehicle is designed to elevate your driving experience. The BMW M3 Competition xDrive is a machine that doesn’t compromise – and neither should you.

CTA: Explore the Dream Car Raffle and Read Official Rules

The post BMW CCA 2025 Dream Car Revealed appeared first on BimmerLife.