For long-time enthusiasts, the new direction feels like a loss of ‘soul’ and a departure from the driver-first engineering and distinctive look that initially attracted them to the brand.

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The push for electric vehicles and the need for low drag coefficients impose substantial limits on design possibilities, which some fans feel restricts styling and leads to less visually interesting cars.

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Perceptions of their new designs generally center on their move toward a mass-market, minimalist aesthetic, particularly with the all-electric line, which some feel compromises traditional luxury, quality, and interior space. Concerns include a loss of classic proportions, generic design elements, perceived cost-cutting and cheap elements.

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Sentiments toward their design primarily center on a perceived decline in interior material quality, the use of frustrating haptic touch controls instead of physical buttons, and buggy infotainment software.

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Beyond the exterior, there is criticism of interior changes, such as the increased reliance on touchscreens over physical buttons, which some perceive as a cost-cutting measure and a step backward in usability and material quality. Some reviewers and owners describe the new aesthetic as ‘blocky’ and lacking the previous ‘predatory’ or dynamic character, questioning whether the style will age well.

Well, guess what? These comments are describing Audi, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, and Audi again. If you thought these might be complaints about BMWs, this is proof the keyboard ninjas with the contagious and repetitive vitriol might be critiquing the wrong thing. Instead of new design, maybe it’s our individual inability to evolve with the majority of the automotive landscape. Or maybe it’s that the average or even above-average automotive fan might not have as clear a grasp of how and why design has brought us to this point—and the points ahead of us.

It seems as though there must always be fun activities around BMW Group’s Designworks.

To help connect some dots, BMW invited a handful of fans, friends, media, and automotive professionals first to Designworks in Santa Monica and then to the Petersen Museum rooftop for the presentation of the pre-production iX3. Designworks is BMW Group’s design and innovation hub for creative design. The event also celebrated the 50^th anniversary of the BMW Group in the U.S. as well as the 30th anniversary of Designworks being wholly owned by BMW Group.

Johannes Lampela shares some Designworks insight with the guests.

It wasn’t just a tour; it was an education, and honestly, an education the naysayers who blindly cast dispersion on anything new should hear. This doesn’t mean everybody should like every design—it doesn’t work that way. It means that when you understand how and why decisions are made and results arrive, it starts to make more sense.

CEO Julia De Bono introduces the day to the gathered guests at Designworks.

We met and heard from Designworks CEO Julia De Bono and Senior Vice President of BMW Group Design Adrian van Hooydonk. We also heard from and had the opportunity to speak with the four Los Angeles Studio discipline leads: Hussein Al Attar, Director, Automotive Design; Matthew Potter, Director, Interactive Design; Paul Ferraiolo, Director, Strategy and Partnering; and Johannes Lampela, Director, Industrial Design.

Using one of the AI tools, I blended an E36 with a boombox and selected my level of influence and that’s what it generated. (Thanks, Jessica, for the tutorial!)

We learned how artificial intelligence was incorporated—and even got to try our hand at some of the same processes. They shared how Designworks’ non-automotive clients (industrial, aeronautical, railways, etc.) contribute to them understanding consumer behavior and how design can create constant interaction with the outside world.

This model sits front and center as one enters what might be a forbidden sanctum when Designworks isn’t hosting events like this.

We’ve heard criticism from fans saying BMW is catering to the Chinese market more than the U.S. market. The team at Designworks pointed out how they study the differences of each market. And while there is a studio in Shanghai, Designworks Santa Monica brings the U.S. to Munich to create models like the X5; born in California for the world. The iX3 shares much of that evolution.

Other cars with origins or complete designs emanating from Designworks Santa Monica include the E46, most of the X line, the E85 Z4 roadster, the G30 5-series, the i3, the GINA Light Visionary concept, and more. Van Hooydonk added that “California is the most competitive market maybe in the world,” implying that if they can create successful designs in California, success should follow.

Bisi Ezerioha and his wife Jessica chat with RJ de Vera during a break.

Bisi Ezerioha, CEO and Chief Engineer of Bisioto Engineering, attended both portions of the day, making his first visit to Designworks. “I did not know what to expect.  Something technical?  Aesthetic-based?” Ezerioha recalls. “By the end of the evening, I had a new-found respect for the BMW brand, especially around its profound dedication to design, tech and its strong racing pedigree. Designworks and their processes are very unique. Like us, the team blazes the path least traveled…with a flair for being first in industry.”

Moby X is one of Bisimoto’s cars that he designed and built that was recently at SEMA.

Ezerioha had just wrapped up a busy SEMA week during which he had seven of his builds on display. He has worked for major OE manufacturers and built both gas and electric cars, including an all-electric Porsche 935 K3 and his latest, Moby X, paying homage to the 1978 Moby Dick Le Mans race car. He knows a thing or two about recognizing the past with current design.

RJ de Vera captures some of the magic at Designworks.

Another guest at the events also spent some time at SEMA, RJ de Vera, considered one of the OGs in the tuner culture, a former consultant for the first Fast and the Furious movie, and now Vice President of Marketing for SEMA. This was also his first time at Designworks. “It was really intriguing and inspiring to see the approach and mindset of the Designworks organization, de Vera says. “Creativity is one area in the business world that is very difficult to maintain and Designworks has an approach that has allowed them to continually evolve and push out award winning designs. Kudos to their leadership and the ecosystem they’ve developed and honed. Their success is proof that it’s an approach that works.”

SEMA’s VP of Marketing, RJ de Vera arrived in his beautiful ALPINA B6,

While de Vera honed his early automotive passion around Japanese brands, he’s covered all the bases, most recently with an Aston Martin and now a spectacular ALPINA B6 with Volk Racing wheels.

We’re not sure this nearby parking row always looks like this, but it looked pretty cool for a BMW fan during the event.

Greg Lennox can also be considered a BMW fan, but perhaps not as much a fan of where he’s seen the design go lately. “My first BMW driving experience was a 1600 in 1978,” Lennox shares. “American car owners couldn’t understand why anyone would want one of these odd little cars. But it was the ‘ultimate’ driving experience that made BMW special.  I bought a new 1979 E21 320i, and I thought the exterior was aggressive and the interior was ‘driver oriented’ in a way that fit the car’s driving personality.

“Recently, I’ve felt BMW has lost its way in terms of both design and driving experience,” Lennox continues. “Maybe it’s been trying too hard to be all things to all people with limited resources.  Sticking to the question of design…BMW has always been a relatively small automobile manufacturer with a niche market.   To me, this requires focus to carve out and protect that market niche.  As BMW brought in new design chiefs, the new team worked too hard to make their design mark without careful regard for the design language of BMW—which must always speak to the core value of ‘Ultimate Driving Machine,’ as we say in the U.S. market.”

Models were everywhere in the Designworks studio.

Lennox continues to be passionate about the brand, including being a constant in many local and regional driving events with his 2002 Turbo and 2002 Tii, as well as a more modern model, too.  “I see the ridiculously oversized and functionally obsolete kidney grilles on recent designs, including my iX, are a great example of losing one’s way in design,” Lennox adds. “Drastic changes from generation to generation of 3-series car details—like rooflines and headlight and taillights—are another.”

You don’t own cars across such a wide span of years and technology without still being open minded. “The Designworks presentation was actually quite helpful to me, as I understood how BMW approaches design for its global markets,” Lennox recalls. “The notion of design competition between four global design centers sounds great until you consider the likely result—a lack of consistent design language and purpose.  I think we see this clearly in the current product range. I was, though, intrigued by the idea of tapping into the creative juices of the Westside, while taking on non-automotive industrial design contracts as a way to connect to the emerging West Coast culture.”  

Tom Plucinsky gives some unique background on the E92 car, including that it’s his favorite in the 50 Years of 3-Series Racing exhibit at the Petersen Museum.

After the time at Designworks, guests ventured across town to the Petersen Museum. Early arrivals got to visit the Vault and the “50 Years of BMW 3-Series Racing” exhibit with a special bonus—a tour of it by Tom Plucinsky, Head of BMW Classic NA. The 25 or so attendees who heard Plucinsky provide unique stories around the examples of seven generations of BMW 3-Series racecars also got to see the GTR street car during its last day in the exhibit; it left the following morning to head back to Germany.

Lisa Hong’s 1967 1600 provided a good balance as the newest Neue Klasse, the iX3, was positioned across the patio.

As everyone made their way up to the third floor and out onto the patio, they were greeted by two BMWs spanning more than 50 years: the 1967 1600 “Derby” owned by Lisa Hong and then the pre-production model of the iX3. Both caught plenty of attention as guests swarmed both cars before the Shape of Icons panel, set adjacent to the first modern Neue Klasse example, the iX3.

The Shape of Icons panel was a highlight for many for the night.

Adrian van Hooydonk tied the two together well. “The 2002 was different than what everyone had seen at the time,” he says. “And that helped it succeed,” implying that what many see as striking differences with the iX3 may very well be what will propel it to similar success as the 2002 enjoyed.

The iX3 definitely turned heads all night, as it did here with Bisi Ezerioha and his wife, Jessica.

Ezerioha also attended the events at the Petersen and was impressed with the iX3. “It’s an absolutely gorgeous automobile, chock full of useable tech,” he raves. “They hit the nail on the head with its design and appeal. I would love to participate in a classic and modern day build set with emphasis on modern tech, while paying homage to the past.  An electric E21 track car, and a new IX3 would be my go to!”

The crowd was certainly attentive during the Shape of Icons panel, also eagerly awaiting their chances to explore the iX3.

The evening event had many more attendees than the mid-Tuesday Designworks event. Hailey Magoon, automotive photographer, brand ambassador, and staple in the Southern California car community, stopped by and saw the iX3 for the first time. “It was really interesting listening to Adrian van Hooydonk speak about how design turns objects into icons and ideas into experiences,” Magoon explains. “I thought it was really an exciting conversation.  As a bigger fan of classic car design over modern design, it was nice to see some references from the classic BMW 2002 in the design of the iX3.”

Hailey Magoon stopped by the event at the Petersen, but just two weeks prior, she had one of her classics out at RADwood LA.

She isn’t kidding about the passion for classic cars. Her newest car is a 2011 Camaro, but she recently brought her 1995 Nissan 240sx to RADwood Los Angeles and also has a 1992 Chevy Blazer, a 1971 Chevelle, and a 1969 Camaro.

The grilles on the iX3 are definitely more reminiscent of the 2002 than the more recent iX.

Lennox also attended the evening activities but was not entirely sold on the direction of the Neue Klasse. “The iX3 looked like what automotive journalists once referred to as an ‘automotive appliance—a derisive compliment of sorts. It looks like an efficient package which will prove to be functional and reliable without being engaging…in other words, not the Ultimate Driving Machine,” Lennox fears.  “The interior, and especially the ‘screen’ driver interface, look rather sterile, and definitely not as driver-oriented as my 1979 320i. The front end does do its job as an artistic homage to the iconic 2002 but without any functional meaning. At least they got the memo on hideous, equally non-functional oversized grilles on current models.”

It was still getting attention even as the event had mostly wound down.

De Vera recognized the design cues from the 1600/2002, as well. “I’m excited with the new design language that BMW is rolling out with the iX3 both on the outside and inside. The Neue Klasse exterior design language that takes some cues from the beloved 2002 looks fantastic. I have a feeling that BMW enthusiasts will gravitate toward it. The new interior design also feels fresh, engaging, and well-sorted. I can’t wait to see what the aftermarket does with the iX3 as a platform to customize.”

Product Manager Nick Gerstner talks with Kim Java about the iX3.

Product Manager Nick Gerstner emphasized that this is the first of many Neue Klasse models to come. “This is one of the most exciting times to be at BMW. This is the first of 40 Neue Klasse models to come over the next two years,” he says. “This specific vehicle has an estimated 400 miles of range and charges 175 miles of additional range in 10 minutes. You can expect to see this one on dealer lots by mid 2026 at a price point around $60,000. The whole package really brings this car together, not only the new design language that shows the future for BMW, but also the technology integration, space and roominess, and it drives great.”

Ezerioha was not the only one capturing photos of the iX3 all night.

Gerstner wasn’t going to forget the question a lot of us had. “The core of the brand is still the ultimate driving machine and that’s where the heart of joy comes in. It is the actual control module that is integrated into the vehicle that controls all of the driving dynamics, stability control, power distribution, everything. The car anticipates what you want to do; sporty when you want it to, smooth and comfortable when you want it to be.”

The iX3 will slot in just below the current iX.

He also acknowledged that any new product or design will have opinions on both sides. We know we can’t build a 2002 again and we hear the same frustration from fans of most brands. Based on what we heard about how the Neue Klasse has been designed and developed, it looks as though it is indeed an exciting time for BMW and BMW fans.

The post A Visit to BMW Group’s Designworks Sheds Light on the iX3 appeared first on BimmerLife.

Many of the 420 registered cars were BMWs.

Last month, the historic Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, CA hosted its third of the eight RADwood LA events. We’ll call it an event because it’s much more than a car show. It was fitting that this year’s event was held a week before Halloween, but pumpkins or not, costumes are always de rigeur at RADwood. For the younger set, that requires some “ChatGPT, show me some Eighties and Nineties clothing,” followed by scouring thrift shops. For others, it simply requires reaching into their closets and wishing those neon parachute pants still fit.

The 3-series is the most popular model/nameplate at RADwood.

This year, the RADwood team capped entrants at 420 cars. I might have been biased, but to my eye it sure looked like 97 percent of those were BMWs. BMWs were ubiquitous for Eighties prep; it’s not surprising it was the most represented marque, with the 3-Series being the most predominant nameplate. And with two decades of automotive representation, that covers a lot of BMW chassis from the E21 to all the way up to the E46 and even the E39.

The entry queue for the RADwood Royalty section provided constant oohs and ahhs.

For the uninitiated, if you’re a spectator, you simply park your car in the designated lot and pay your $20 entry ($25 at the gate if you dawdled getting them ahead of time). If you’re arriving in one of the 420 cars for display in either the RADwood Royalty or general entry, the queue was long. The morning juxtaposition of arriving cars likely gave multiple onlookers whiplash. It was a stream of awesome. A Pontiac Fiero followed by a Lincoln Mark VII ahead of a Toyota HiLux import a car length ahead of an E36 sedan. That was overshadowed by a lifted 1985 Dodge Ram truck lit up by the pop-up lights on a 928 trailed by a 500SL and then a laminate-wood paneled Country Squire wagon showing its brake lights to a Testarossa.

The RADwood team did a great job arranging cars inside the Royalty section.

The Royalty section was inside an old warehouse while the general entries parked outside. The retired SS Lane Victory cargo ship loomed behind some of those rows and many vendors, making for a picturesque and historic backdrop. That ship saw time in World War II, the Korean War (including bringing thousands of evacuated Korean civilians and U.S. troops out of Korea), and the Vietnam War, its wartime activities turning to museum ship in 1990—which also makes its arrival Radwood-era appropriate.

The SS Lane Victory towers above a portion of the event.

Food trucks, a fantastic DJ (we hear you, DJ dpfonix!), rows and rows of cars, trucks, and motorcycles, fantastic period attire, and active vendors and sponsors provided plenty of activities and eye candy for the whole family. In fact, one such vendor, XPEL, spent the day transforming the M Coupe of Jeff Siojo into a tribute to the Calder art car. Crowds gathered throughout the entire day to to see the process using their Color PPF.

Jeff Siojo’s M Coupe started the day in its solid red only. After four hours with the XPEL and PFS team and some Color PPF, it became a Calder Art Car tribute.

There were many other amazing sponsors and vendors but special mention should go to the Petersen Museum. The Petersen hosted an early RADwood LA and is currently featuring the Totally Awesome exhibit, replete with an actual BMW art car. So it was fitting that as one entered the warehouse, the first thing to see was the Petersen booth with four mic-drop cars from the museum: a Porsche 959, a Bugatti EB110, a Honda NSX-R, and the aforementioned Batmobile. Each car was responsible for many jaws dropping and many camera shutters clicking.

The Petersen Museum brought out some RAD royalty fer sure

There were countless RADwood veterans who made their annual pilgrimage the LA-edition of the show. Matt Rose and his girlfriend, Joelle Nottke, are repeat attendees. “We had an absolute blast!” exclaims Rose.  “That was our second time at the San Pedro location for the show and I don’t think we’ll ever miss one in the future.  Joelle and I love the 80s and 90s time period, from the cars to the music and the fashion from that era. RADwood is the perfect event for those to blend together.  We can’t wait for next year!”

Underneath the hood of Matt Rose’s E36 lurks an S52.

They arrived in their own example from that era, too. “We brought my 1995 325i convertible E36 with an S52 swap,” Rose continues. “I’ve had it for eleven years; it’s my first car! The highlight of the event was getting to see so many of our friends from all around SoCal. The Radwood community is second to none!”

Denis Lavrov and Jeff Siojo apply the XPEL Color PPF to Siojo’s M Coupe.

There were probably just as many first-timers, too. Jeff Siojo had his car at the XPEL booth for the Calder art car treatment and spent a good amount of time helping with the installation, but still managed to get out and enjoy the show a bit. “There were certainly a lot of cars there that I had not seen before,” he says. “The event was definitely colorful, vibrant with both colors and energy. For me it was great because I got to talk to a lot of people who came up to the XPEL booth probably to watch what was going on with the car. It felt special to be part of something that big.  It’s one thing to have a booth car, but to be featured and active like that is pretty crazy.

“I’d have to say the new Calder art car livery is definitely rad and the colors, even though the actual car was from the seventies, fits the colorful vibe of the event,” Siojo adds. “I’ll keep it on for a few months at least. I already want to add a few things that we just didn’t get to in that relatively short time.  It’s a 1999 and I’ve owned it since 2017.  I like changing my wheels and other touches, but I know a lot of my friends did not expect this much a departure for me, but also for how quickly the car went from rad to…well, I think radder!”

The Batmobile, provided by the Petersen Museum, saw a lot of (foot) traffic all day.

Not taking anything away from Siojo’s “new” art car, the Batmobile ranked as a top part of the day for many attendees, new and returning, young and old.  One of those counting that as a highlight was RADwood co-founder Art Cervantes. “Having the ‘real’ Batmobile at the core of the show was amazing,” Cervantes says. “Big thanks to the Petersen for bringing that out and supporting the Rad-era! Overall, it seemed that there was even more variety and an even higher quality of cars than in some years past. We’ve done 57 RADwood events and now eight Los Angeles shows. This one was genuinely my favorite so far. We had a lot of great entrants, but we were also able to curate the show well.”

Somehow, Art Cervantes found time to clean his beautiful E30 all while running the event!

Cervantes is not just a rad-era fan; he’s a BMW fan, too, and brought his 1987 325iS. “I bought it stock in May of 2020 from a friend who had it at Radwood back in 2017,” he explains. “Since then, I’ve completely resto-modded the car mechanically and added some aesthetic touches. Some of those highlights include an engine swap to a Honda K24 that currently puts down 235whp at 7750rpm.”

This little Honda K24 is probably not stock in Art Cervantes’ 325iS.

“RADwood continues to grow, from an awareness standpoint, especially with ‘automotive-adjacent’ RADwood Era enthusiasts,” he continues. “These are folks who are into the lifestyle element and may be somewhat interested in cars, but not as hardcore as dedicated car people. This draws more people in and in some cases, leads to vehicle purchases, too! The key, though, is that RADwood caters to a broader audience drawn to the retro theme of the period versus just the cars. And nostalgia, in the words of the late Rick James, is a hell of a drug! And we have some epic things coming in 2026, including expanding ‘vehicles in motion’ at our shows!”

The early set-up at the XPEL booth before the M Coupe’s transformation began.

That energy is definitely growing. Last year, XPEL’s Senior Marketing Manager, Jacques Joubert, attended to get a feel for the event. This year, XPEL had quite the presence.  “XPEL is the official protection partner for Hagerty, so collaborating for RADwood made perfect sense,” Joubert says. “RADwood stood out as a key opportunity for us to connect with passionate automotive enthusiasts in a uniquely nostalgic and engaging setting. The event allows our brand to blend technical innovation with a genuine sense of fun and community.”

There was constant activity around the M Coupe all day.

Joubert was born in the middle of the Rad-era and is still drawn to many aspect of it. “I grew up surrounded by Eighties and Nineties sports cars,” he adds. “My father is a passionate car enthusiast. Some of my earliest memories are of his turbocharged 700 horsepower Honda CRX which he raced in quarter-mile and half-mile events. To me, that era produced some of the most iconic driver’s cars ever made. Seeing so many of them together at one event is a reminder of why so many enthusiasts, myself included, remain inspired by that period.”

The festival environment of RADwood provides a fantastic experience for attendees but also vendors and supporters. The attendees actively engage with them. “Most XPEL events focus on engaging with new vehicle owners who want immediate protection for their investment,” Joubert continues. “RADwood, however, offers a different kind of value.  It’s about passion and preservation. It gives us an opportunity to educate long-time enthusiasts on how our protection solutions can help maintain the look and integrity of iconic vehicles, not just new vehicle models. We’re very excited to participate in the next RADwood event at COTA in Austin, Texas, later this month. We’ll have another exciting live demonstration and are looking forward to connecting with local enthusiasts. It’s especially meaningful since XPEL’s headquarters are right nearby in San Antonio, so it will feel like a homecoming for the team.”

RADwood is more than just cars; its the celebration of the era.

For some, RADwood is an excuse to find that next car. There were a number of people (I may or may not have been one of those…) who leave the previous show wondering what attire—or even car—we need to acquire before the next one. It’s a unique experience that levels the playing field and allows a very used Eagle Vision to get as much applause as a Porsche 911, regardless of which cassette tapes are scattered on the passenger seat.

The post Like, Totally, RADwood Is Tubular! appeared first on BimmerLife.

The Petersen Museum seen from Wilshire Blvd, showing off its 2015 redesign.

The Petersen Museum, with its multiple floors of countless temporary and permanent exhibits, is like this daily, but the addition of more than 200 BMWs rolling up the circular ramps to the rooftop parking decks added even more fantastic distractions for everyone. Officially entitled, BMWs and Bretzels, this all-BMW Cruise-in, was much more than a typical Cars & Coffee.

Bill Auberlen and Tom Plucinsky share the stage on the parking deck during BMWs and Bretzels.

Thanks to the support from BMW NA, the deck also had a stage for a unique chat with racecar driver Bill Auberlen facilitated by BMW’s Tom Plucinky, Head of BMW Classic.  The morning attendees came from a broad range of awareness of various aspects of the BMW community. While the seats were full from the get-go for Auberlen and Plucinsky, as their stories carried over the parking decks, more and more guests gathered, hearing racing stories covering more than 30 years in only the way Auberlen can tell them.

BMW CCA Executive Director Frank Patek, Executive Vice President Brian Thomason, Pacific Region Vice President James Crivellone, and BMW NA’s Tom Plucinsky welcome Eddy Funahashi to the stage to receive his Friend of the Club award.

The BMW Car Club of America leadership then took the stage to present longtime volunteer and past almost-every-position Eddy Funahashi with the Friend of the Club honor. Funahashi has been a fixture at virtually any BMW CCA event, meeting, or even thought, so it was no surprise he made the trek from the Central Valley for this event. The surprise, though, was his, saying later, “It seems everyone except me knew this was coming!”

If there are BMW fans, there will be the BMW Car Club of America.

Another Central Valley BMW CCA member, Wayne Wundram, enjoyed the day at the Petersen. “This sure was a great event for the BMW crowd,” says Wundram, no stranger to popular BMW events. He helped found and still manages much of Legends of the Autobahn. “It was great to see presence with Frank Patek and Jason Kazian from the national offices in Greer, South Carolina, plus more volunteers, too,” he continues. “There had to be at least 100 cars in the official display and many more all around. I loved that one-on one talk led by Tom Plucinsky from BMW NA with Bill Auberlen about Bill’s racing history.  And it was great to see Eddy honored with the Friend of the CCA award. Then Tom led a tour through the Peterson museum vault and we got a history lesson about BMW racing with the 3 series cars from 1977 to date.”

The cars rolled in for 90 minutes prior to the official 9:00am start time.

Frank Patek agreed. “The Club was delighted to partake in this celebration of BMW NA’s Motorsport history in the midst of our joint year-long effort to honor the 50 Years of the 3-Series,” he says. “It was great to catch up with so many long time CCA members and we are proud to have welcomed a number of new members who joined us today!”

You know you’re in a powerful exhibit when Bill Auberlen is taking pictures of the cars he used to race.

That 50 Years of 3-Series Racing exhibit in the Vault was yet another example of the many things to see at the Petersen. It’s not a large exhibit with ten cars, but each of those cars, especially the eight race cars covering all generations of the 3-Series (and the 4-Series!) sure was impactful.  The racecars were unique, but how many people have seen an E46 M3 GTR street car?  Adjacent to the racecar?  Surrounding a P60 engine freshly pried from its actual crate?  With one of the people responsible for getting those cars in the exhibit? With the winningest driver in American Sportscar history talking about his experience in them? Yeah, that kind of Disneyland. Or Petersenland.

The GTR face-off in the exhibit always warrants some time, especially when a tour is being hosted by Tom Plucinsky.

Back up on the parking deck next to the BMW CCA booth, Avants and Hagerty / Radwood also saw great energy from the attendees.  Art Cervantes, Director of Radwood, knows a bit about cool car gatherings. “We [Hagerty / Radwood] were stoked to be at the BMW Cruise-In and support the RADwood Era and beyond,” Cervantes says. “Vehicles of the 80s and 90s are the fastest growing collector car segment—just check out those Monterey Car Week auction results!—and unbeknownst to many RADwood fanatics, Hagerty insures the RADwood Era! Also, BMW’s are the number one brand by volume at RADwood events and the 3-series is also the most popular nameplate of all, followed by the Porsche 911. There is strong nostalgia in the automotive space for BMW’s Motorsport heritage of the RADwood Era including BTCC, DTM, and F1, so it was even more appropriate to have this event while they had the exhibit downstairs.”

Two people who know a thing or two about old(er) BMWs–Director of Radwood Art Cervantes and BMW USA Head, BMW Classic Tom Plucinsky, hanging around some E36 royalty at the Radwood booth.

Cervantes drove his own rad M Coupe to the event but still had the chance to look around a bit. “My personal favorite car I saw was the immaculate, one of eight agate green E24 M6 with green plaid interior. And also shout out to the owner who took an E30 M3 race car and completely restored it back to street use! Seeing these cars seems like a perfect tune-up for the upcoming Radwood LA October 25^th at the Port of Los Angeles. We’re expecting more than 400 cars including a selection of iconic vehicles from The Petersen to be announced soon!”

The Frank Stella M1 art car looks right at home in the Totally Awesome exhibit.

That selection might come from some of the other exhibits at the Petersen, too. BMWs are also currently on display in at least the popular “Totally Awesome” exhibit to the Wedge Revolution, and the Alternating Currents exhibit. This added to the many opportunities attendees had this fine Sunday morning.

The Totally Awesome exhibit checked a lot of boxes for a lot of people.

BMW CCA Pacific Region Vice President James Crivellone came down from Washington state for the event and felt that same energy. “Sunday at the Petersen Museum…let’s see, McLaren F1…CHECK. Gordon Murray S1 LM…CHECK. BMW Turbo Concept…CHECK. And 300-plus BMW enthusiasts taking over the top two floors of the parking garage…also CHECK.”

This E24 was at the top of a lot of people’s lists for favorite car!

Crivellone owns a wide range of BMWs, so while a gathering of different cars is not new, this was still extremely rewarding. “What a wonderful day filled with a plethora of BMWs, from 2002s to F90 M5CSs,” he adds. “But the icing on the cake for me was hearing Bill Auberlen talk about his time racing for BMW, from F1 GTRs, M3s, M4s, M2s, and the V12 LMR.  The stories he told were fantastic to hear! Oh, and the pretzels at this BMWs and Bretzels were excellent, too!

The newest car in the 50 Years of 3-Series Racing exhibit is actually the 4-Series from the BMW Performance Center. Bill Auberlen describes how it is similar to the car he races this season.

For many of the BMW CCA members and attendees, this was the first visit to the Petersen. For others, they had been to this event previous years. While the museum does a great job of rotating exhibits and even cars within exhibits, hosting events like this creates even more reasons to visit.

Everywhere you turned there were cool BMWs!

Petersen Museum Director of Marketing Dan Pilling was seen smiling throughout the active morning. “This is an annual event for us, usually around the time of Oktoberfest,” he explains. “We are incredibly grateful for the partnership with BMW NA and the BMW CCA. They were essential to the success of the event. We strive to host a great event itself, but it was clear some folks did come because of the great BMW representation really on every floor of the museum. The guests had added reason to attend.”

Eliv Solis’ E30 is a show-stopper wherever it’s seen.

In his role, Pilling sure knows unique cars, but he still enjoyed the mix of cars guests brought. “It was just such a great selection of BMWs from all sorts of eras,” he continues “I compliment the guests that there were so many wonderful BMWs. I did see a second Isetta…we brought out ours on the ramp and then it wasn’t the only one there! There should be an award for that driver for taking that other one through LA traffic!  I was impressed there were three Z8s including one ALPINA example. It’s great to see that those are being driven and not locked up in a collection. Same thing for the 2002s that came out in force, too.”

An E9 races to the Petersen for the event.

“I did get educated a bit, too,” he admits. “Tom pointed out two Bavarias, one slightly modified and one seemingly completely original. I have to say I was not aware of the model. Those were fantastic, as was the E9 ALPINA that rolled up, too. Another highlight of this year’s event had to be the one-on-one chat with Tom and Bill Auberlen. That was a great added touch and really gave the guests yet another benefit for the day.”

BMWs of all eras were well-represented at the event.

Pilling joked about the mythical award for braving traffic, but the event did have actual awards. “We have four awards, including a Kids Award,” he says. “They awarded the red E30 M3 with the roll cage. It’s exciting to see them—mostly under twelve years old probably—get enthusiastic about cars. This next generation still has a love for cars! We also present the Petersen Perfection award, a People’s Choice Award, and then Best of Show which went to an incredible taiga green 2002.”

The Wheeler’s award winning taiga green 2002 was capturing attention even as it rolled in.

The Wheelers—Steve, Suzanne, Grant, and Grant’s girlfriend Kayla—drove that 1975 2002 more than 50 miles to get to BMWs and Bretzels. “Winning felt really good!” Steve Wheeler says. “We spent about four hours detailing the car on Saturday. I didn’t even know it was judged until we arrived. I was really surprised to win, but people do like that car. We always get compliments.”

“When we heard about this event though the BMW CCA, we knew we should make the trek,” he adds. “Grant, Suzanne, and I visited the museum a few months ago and did the whole tour including the vault, which was really cool, but we knew there’d still be a lot to see. The F1 exhibit is excellent and the Ken Block exhibit is impressive. Yesterday Suzanne and I did see the 80s exhibit. Both of us grew up in the 80s so we could relate. And Grant and Kayla did go into the museum yesterday, too.”

“We really like these unique benefits from the BMW CCA,” Wheeler continues. “We got involved with the Club for the Lyon Air Museum show a few years ago and have renewed every year since. It’s nice to be part of something we’re passionate about. We’ve had BMWs for 25 years now. The 2002 is our 13th. I don’t think we’ll ever leave the brand. I enjoy reading Roundel and BimmerLife. I’m in the save-printed-copy club!

We heard a lot of “Are you still here? I thought you were leaving already!” and “Yep, we’ll be back to see even more at the museum!” With the hundreds of cars covering more than 65 years of BMWs on the parking decks, people can be excused for not getting to all that the museum has to offer.  While the museum will still be there, some of the exhibits won’t be. Time to head back to this automotive Disneyland and see even more of what they have to offer.

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The variety of the day was represented well at the BMW CCA and BMW Performance Center compound in the middle of Bimmer Invasion in front of the Vintage Vault.

It would be hard not to check all those boxes with more than 1,300 show cars and more than 10,000 attendees. In 2024, the only complaint heard was that the temperature at Irwindale Speedway (rest in peace…) hit 108. This year, the event invaded the Pomona Fairplex and five of its exhibit halls. This provided five air-conditioned respites from the summer temps outside and also a way for the Bimmer Invasion to lend some focus to themed areas around the Invasion-customized fairgrounds.

Bimmer Invasion wasn’t just held at the Pomona Fairplex; it took it over, replete with its own signage throughout the facility.

Apologies up front—not everything will be covered here. I arrived early,was there more than twelve hours, and still didn’t get to everything. I was not alone; most of the people with whom I spoke there and the weeks that have followed all admit to not seeing everything.

The Ultimate Hall saw non-stop activity all day.

Many of the highlights were found in the aptly named Ultimate Hall. It was the largest and housed the VIP area, hundreds of cars, more than 20 of the vendors/sponsors, food stands, and the popular Taste the Rainbow exhibit. It was incredible to see so many colorful cars, many of which were sporting individually ordered paint some had never seen before.

The halls were excellent but they could not contain all the great cars and vendors. Outside was just as active.

Another hall was home to the 50 years of 3-Series. The Bimmer Invasion team has a wide range of BMW appreciation, so they were certainly keen to the relevance 2025 has in BMW history.  There were also many examples of those seven chassis throughout the fairgrounds (but the consolidated focus—and the air conditioning—made the hall a cool place to see them).

The only thing more surprising than how many amazing F8X and G8X were in this hall was that there were still hundreds more throughout the event, too.

The F8X x G8X hall was cleverly aligned with all the F cars facing off against the G cars like a small battlefield. The variety in there was incredible, especially when we consider that each generation included M2s, M3s, M4s, and M4 convertibles (ahhh, the oft-forgotten F83 and G83s). The exhibit had everything including unique wraps, wide-bodied cars, engine mods, interior touches, and more.

The M1 made an appearance at Industry Night hosted by CSF Cooling two days before Bimmer Invasion.

M-cars were found at every turn in every hall, but the M Division hall specifically curated M-cars from every generation.  There might have been a few missing, but royalty like the M1 made an appearance two days earlier at the Bimmer Invasion Industry Night event.

The Vintage Vault included cars spanning more than 30 years.

One of the misperceptions of Bimmer Invasion was that it was only about the “newer” cars. First, ask ten people how they define “newer” cars and see how back in the chassis lineage the responses will take you. Second, no, it’s not. To emphasize that, this year included the Vintage Vault. This hall included mostly cars older than the E46-era cars. There might have been one E46 and an E39, but the majority were built before most of the attendees were born.

There isn’t an age restriction for the car community.

Pause for a minute for bonus commentary on the naïve theory that the younger generations don’t like cars. Bimmer Invasion followed Monterey Car Week by a few weeks and the concern out of Car Week was “all the kids there,” probably from the same mouths complaining that kids don’t like cars. Hmmm. Now we get to Bimmer Invasion and, while this is anecdotal, the average age wasn’t much more than 30—and that’s with me bringing that average way up. The car community is strong. People of all ages are interested in cars, especially in this time where technology is taking the industry in countless directions (power efficiency, electrification, 3D printing, etc.) and leveling the playing field for who can find information and resources.

Back to our regularly scheduled programming…with the Vintage Vault. Some of the cars were owned and built by owners half the age of other owners in there. Some cars were bone stock. Others were modified almost beyond recognition. Some cars were owned since new and some cars were owned since Tuesday. Some people probably strolled in there first because word quickly got around that the Vintage Vault had the best air conditioning. But word also quickly got around that it was a favorite of the exhibit halls.  A common refrain was, “I’ve never seen one of these” or “I’ve never seen one of these this clean.”

Earlier model cars were represented by the venerable E9 examples to the many 2002s brought by Reyn Speed Shop and Manofied Cars, to Riley Koidahl’s Neue Klasse 2000Ti and Rial Barnett’s actual historic Trans Am B-Sedan. But if you wanted other similar models, or really any other pre-2000 chassis, that was the hall for you.

Rial Barnett rolls into the Vintage Vault.

The owners in the hall were equally as impressed with the overall event. Rial Barnett, founder of the popular B-Sedan brand, arrived with curiosity and left with more enthusiasm (and an award!). “What impressed me—blew me away, actually—had to do with nothing that was parked near me,” Barnett says. “It had to do with the hundreds of cars that are all new and the directed passion that each attendee had for their car. It was more than impressive; it was off the charts.” I might not buy most of those wheels, but I loved seeing that amount of effort going into a modern car, seeing younger car enthusiasts putting that amount of effort into their car. It was inspiring and quite frankly kind of a relief. All you hear is that kids don’t want to drive cars anymore and it’s all about Uber and Lyft and Waymo but there was a lot of high-level attention to detail.”

Rial Barnett was impressed with the attention to detail he saw throughout the other halls at Invasion. Here’s an example from Adro.

“It was really cool to walk around and take a look at everything,” he continues. “The equivalent to all levels of research I put into my car to make mine as accurate as possible to 1971, they were putting the same into their cars just using a different scope. That exhaust or those wheels or the stance, or the suspension or the lip or spoiler. I know they’re waking up in the middle of the night with the idea and researching it all day to see if it’s possible. And all of that is happening in real time as opposed to me looking at black and white photos at Riverside for hints at how my car looked in period for my car’s inspiration.”

Rial Barnett continues to keep the spirit alive, winning Best Classic BMW.

“It was really great to receive the award for best classic car,” he adds. It was a total surprise to receive that award. I was just there to participate; I didn’t see that coming.  I was there to support the Vintage Vault and community. There were some really cool cars in the Vault. It never occurred to me that I’d be a contender let alone win.”

Smiles abounded at Invasion, including one from BBS’ Jesse Hemans, seen here talking with Ryan Edge.

The event seemed well-prepared and well-run, too. Credit certainly goes to the Bimmer Invasion team, led by Corey Amirault (Managing Partner), Kenneth Fong (Co-founder), and Miguel Torres (Co-founder). Amirault was certainly busy that day but summarized it for us. “Invasion of Los Angeles delivered our most curated experience yet,” he says. “On a perfect day at the Pomona Fairplex, more than 10,000 enthusiasts explored five themed halls, 1300+ show cars and 90+ premier vendors. From ‘Taste the Rainbow’ and the Vintage Vault to a show-stopping appearance by Samantha Tan and our ‘50 Years of 3 Series’ tribute, the community’s passion was undeniable.”

Bimmer Invasion included Industry Night Thursday night and a rally on Sunday. Here’s Alex Fresh arriving Thursday Night.

There was a little buzz around the event when people heard Samantha Tan would be there. She is the only BMW Global Ambassador and this year has already raced in many of the IMSA VP Racing Challenge in her team’s M4 GT3 and then also raced in the Road to LeMans and the 24 Hours of Nurburgring, among others. We had visions of doing an interview and photos there but there was always a long line of fans young and old waiting to meet or see her, but she enjoyed it.

Seeing Samantha Tan’s 1M parked outside the Ultimate Hall hinted that she was just inside with her race cars.

“Bimmer Invasion LA was an incredible event,” she exclaims. “Going in, I thought it would just be a cool BMW car show, but it turned out to be one of the biggest BMW gatherings I’ve ever attended. The scale and energy completely exceeded my expectations. Even though I didn’t get the chance to explore the entire show since we had our STR booth, I still met so many new and longtime fans, which was a highlight for me.”

Joining or renewing your BMW CCA membership netted you gifts from XPEL, Keeping Up With the Bavarians, LIQUI MOLY, and as we see here with Samantha Tan, a collector pin from Leen Customs. (Thank you to Samantha and Kim (on the right!) for renewing/joining!)

“The variety on display was impressive, from modern-day BMWs to vintage classics, with something for every kind of enthusiast,” she adds. “My personal favorite was the ‘Taste the Rainbow’ exhibition. Seeing so many unique paint finishes, some I’d never come across before, gave me real inspiration for my next spec.”

Wherever Samantha Tan went, she stopped to meet fans and take photos.

“What stood out the most, though, was the culture. It was refreshing to see such a strong turnout from female enthusiasts. Meeting my longtime social media friend Carissa from Bimmergirls, as well as my new friend Keely, was a special reminder that the work we’ve done to make the community more inclusive is making an impact. And of course, it was great to hang out with BMW CCA again! I even renewed my membership on the spot and picked up a Leen Customs pin of an M1 with my racing number, 38. I’m already looking forward to the next one. Huge thanks to Corey and the whole team for having us there!”

Paul Seto talks about the cars BMW NA contributed to the BMW CCA presence.

Tan was not the only one stopping by the BMW CCA booth. The club that’s synonymous with BMW and BMW enthusiasm had a large presence adjacent to the main stage with 12 cars surrounding it and the BMW Performance Center. Reaffirming the alignment with BMW NA, the club had multiple cars on display loaned from BMW for the event.

Yep, you can drive this car in programs at the BMW Performance Center!

Paul  Seto, BMW CCA M Chapter representative and National Capital Chapter president, flew in from DC for the event. “Invasion is easily one of the best BMW shows I’ve attended in quite a while,” Seto says. “I loved the five different exhibit halls filled with enthusiast’s cars, some of which were nicely modded and others which were over the top (but still cool to look at). It showed that car culture isn’t dying especially when the average age of this show is probably in their 30s. Looking forward to next year’s Invasion and the passion that follows.”

BMW CCA awarded CSF and Ravi Dolwani as an Outstanding BMW CCA Supporter for the Pacific Region. Presenting the award are Paul Seto (National Capital and M Chapters), Lisa Goehring (San Diego and M Chapter), Jeff Cowan (Golden Gate Chapter), and James Crivellone (Pacific Region VP).

The BMW CCA booth also included representatives from the San Diego Chapter, the Golden Gate Chapter, the LA Chapter, and the X Chapter. But it wasn’t just the X Chapter there; BMW NA supported the event with the actual Team BMW X5 participating in next month’s Rebelle Rally.

Next stop of the Team BMW USA X5…the 2025 Rebelle Rally!

Valerie Caprigno, X Chapter President, also made the trek from the east coast, and loved the event. “We took a gamble bringing a dirty X vehicle to this show, but it paid off in spades,” Caprigno says. “We are so thankful to BMW USA for supporting us in displaying the Team BMW 2025 Rebelle Rally entry at this year’s Bimmer Invasion of Los Angeles and to Rebecca Donaghe, Team BMW driver, for taking time out of a busy training and preparation period prior to next month’s rally.”

Rebecca Donaghe cheers after joining the BMW CCA…or it might have been after winning Best SUV at Bimmer Invasion!

“Invasion’s motto is ‘Every Build Has a Story’ and Rebecca was busy telling the Rebelle story all day,” Caprigno adds. “It didn’t hurt that Rebecca, team navigator Rebecca Dalski (@b_dalski) and the X5 were just back from a week of training in the Utah desert and the X5 was still covered in dirt as proof of the hard work Team 205 has been putting in to prepare for this intense competition. From rolling in bright and early at 8:00am until the event wrapped up at 7:00pm, event attendees could be seen stopping in their tracks to snap photos, chatting with Rebecca and checking out the eye-catching X5 (wrapped in recently launched XPEL Color PPF in Monza Red). The final nod, during Invasion’s award ceremony, confirmed our gamble when Rebecca and the X5 were honored with the ‘BEST SUV of the Show’ award. The positive reception for the Rebelle X5 is just further proof of the community the Bimmer Invasion team has built – it’s not about one model or one type of modification, it’s truly about bringing the BMW community together across all differences with BMW as the common thread. Every BMW has a place in our community from the fully stock daily driver, to the highly modified garage princess show car.”

Bimmer Invasion really was impressive. There was something for everyone at Invasion LA 2025 and it’s bound to continue to deliver each year. Stay tuned for Invasion as it visits Florida again early in 2026!

Bonus gallery below…

The post Bimmer Invasion LA 2025 Was Even Cooler appeared first on BimmerLife.

Early morning calm greets Legends of the Autobahn registrants as they prep their cars.

Monterey Car Week 2025 continues to receive more than its fair share of comments about its eminent demise. Too many people. Too many automotive shenanigans.  Too many fanboys (and girls) running into streets to get “the first” photos of “that car.” Too much traffic. And the comment leading in hyperbole: every event is overrun.

Southern California residents Dawson Graf, Sam Keys and friends made the road trip to Legends of the Autobahn.

Hence the calls for gatekeeping Legends of the Autobahn. If you’re looking for events that hold true to what some consider the old school Car Week vibes, Legends of the Autobahn is a leader in those effort. Concorso, The Quail, and Pebble Beach are high on that list, too, but Legends entry ticket—costing zero for spectators—reaffirms its place among these other stalwarts.

Crowds, but not crowded. Cars and sponsors, like Legends’ presenting sponsor, Continental, saw throngs of attendees all day.

Was Legends crowded? Pleasantly so. As in, it was securely in the “active” level, well short of shoulder-to-shoulder. This year saw record number of cars, sponsors, and people. Yet at no point were there cars doing donuts on the finely manicured fairways of the host Pacific Grove Golf Links. At no point were the surrounding roads teeming with high-rev pulls. And the only time an intersection was blocked was when a family of five deer appeared equally as intrigued by all the automotive eye candy.

CMS Motorsports revealed their amazing, new restomod at Legends

That eye candy included cars from members of the Audi Club of North America, the Mercedes Benz Club of America, and the BMW Car Club of America.  More than 300 registered cars spanned hundreds of yards and multiple fairways. The fickle weather near the coast ran from cool to moderate, even with precipitation ranging from “that’s just mist,” to “OK, roll up the windows,” to “do you have any extra towels, please?”

It’s rarely been called a Legend, but this Trabant captured some attention near the Audi Club’s cars.

The Audi Club had a number of great cars, including older NSU/Auto Union examples and others crossing into other aspects of the Volkswagen Automotive Group. The Mercedes-Benz Club saw a record number of cars wearing the three-pointed star. BMW CCA members brought cars that spanned more than 65 years of BMW metal.

Representing the oldest cars on display this year, the BMW 600 and 700 were positioned in the middle of the BMW section, adjacent to an M1 and surrounded by judged and display cars, in addition to the many vendors and sponsors.  Two of the finest emcees anywhere, Kenn Sparks and Eddy Funahashi, certainly got their daily steps count in as they visited with the vendors, sponsors, and what seemed like every aspect of the show. They learned and shared unique insight about many of the cars on site, sharing their discoveries and knowledge throughout the event.

Kenn Sparks interviews Matt Russell with Erik Ploss and Carina Bovensiepen of ALPINA.

One of the highlights was the ALPINA corral, with thirteen ALPINA cars representing most of the 60 years of the specialty manufacturer’s history. Some of the cars were local but some had been driven thousands of miles to get to Pacific Grove. It wasn’t just the cars that commanded interest. The event drew Bovensiepen founding family members and others from ALPINA in Germany and the US.

Another highlight had to be five BMW E36 M3 Lightweight examples lined up next to each other, joined by two E36 M3 GTs. That’s more Lightweights and GTs than most US-resident fans see in a lifetime and here they were all lined up for everyone to enjoy. The Lightweight was a 1995-only model made exclusively for the US market. There were only 126 units 30 years ago, leaving Legends attendees feeling fortunate to witness five parked in a row.

Conversely, the M3 GT was made only for the European market—Germany, to be exact.  Some of the 356 units made their way to other countries but it’s only been recently since a scattered few of these 1995 and 1996 model year cars have shown up in the US.  It took a bit to get any E36 M3s to the US. This 30 year anniversary of its arrival was emphatically punctuated with these two unique examples at the top of the E36 M3 hierarchy.

What’s rarer, two of 356 GTs that were never imported to the US, or those five LTWs of the 126 that were only in the US?

Thirty years is certainly something to celebrate, but 2025 also marked the 50 year anniversary of the 3-series. Appropriately, the judged and display cars represented fine examples of each generation: E21, E30, E36, E46, E9X, F-series, and G-series. Some of these were as close to stock as you could imagine, especially for the older chasses. Others were modified with anything from new wheel choices to compete transmission and engine swaps.

While the seven generations of the 3-series brought us up to the current year, BMW North America once again brought out examples that pull us forward into future years. A trio of beautiful new cars—and in one case, newer than new—caught the attention of everyone who walked past. It might have been the bold colors, but it might have been the selection, too.

The three cars BMW NA brought to Legends were definitely attention getters.

Even though the G99 M5 Touring has been released, the example here in Sepia Brown popped. Similarly, the Riviera Blue G82 M4 CS with gold wheels stood out. And making its North American debut, the Velvet Blue G87 M2 CS had crowds around it all day.

Many of the owners of the more than 100 judged cars spent considerable time before and during the event’s early hours to get their cars ready for judging. Special BMW classes included Preservation, Tuner, M Class Early and Late, E9/Coupe Class, and 2002 class. There were also classes for Clean, Super Clean, and Concours.

Legends of the Autobahn checks many boxes for Monterey Car Week activities.  It remains one of the many great events during the week for owners and fans alike. It’s structured, but not awkward, with simple ingress, flow, and egress. While it’s not a rev-fest for the latest supercars, there are definitely super cars there representing many manufacturers. So this might have spoiled it, but if you’re looking for that old-school, traditional Monterey Car Week feel, you’ll be very comfortable at Legends of the Autobahn.

The post Legends of the Autobahn Was Fantastic. Again. appeared first on BimmerLife.

Same but different? The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach and the TireRack.com Monterey SportsCar Championship (let’s call them “Long Beach” and “Laguna Seca” going forward here) both have eleven turns and are both early stops along the thirteen event IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Championship season. And that’s about where the similarities end.

Laguna Seca is a full-time race track (and camp ground!) with plenty of run-off space.

After attending both races in the same month earlier this calendar year, I was amazed at how different (yet both awesome!) the events were considering there were, at least from a sportscar racing perspective, mostly the same drivers in the same cars for the same race teams. There isn’t a right or wrong, a better or worse. It’s similar to when your friend presents two cars and asks “which one would you want?” and the answer is a clear…“yes.”

Long Beach, with its temporary walls winding around existing landmarks, creates a narrow course without much room for error. (Justin Rothberg here had very few errors in a two-win weekend.)

Right off the bat, let’s look at attendance. Long Beach has been setting records in recent years and eclipsed 200,000 attendees this year. It might have to do with location, too. Laguna Seca doesn’t come close to that, but Long Beach’s track literally winds its way through city streets and includes both IMSA and IndyCar, among others.

The track in Long Beach is surrounded by fourteen packed grandstands and countless other places to catch the cars whizzing by.

To get to Laguna Seca, it takes specific effort and while you can get back to your hotel or home easily, lodging doesn’t loom over the track as it can in Long Beach. Yet for a unique twist at Laguna Seca, the race also encircles an active campground.

The tents on the surrounding hills remind attendees that Laguna Seca is an active campground.

Long Beach is an event that has racing.  Laguna Seca is a track you visit to watch racing. Long Beach has a central exhibit hall that does triple duty as a large vendor hall, an air-conditioned respite from the usual high temps, and the actual paddock for the GT America cars.

At Laguna Seca, you do have as many amenities and resources as you’ll need. And ease of access is relatively simple.

Laguna Seca has a few places to buy food.  Long Beach has few places where you can’t buy food. Long Beach wraps up its evenings first with the Super Drift Challenge and concerts well into the evening. Lagnua Seca usually goes quiet by 7:00pm, allowing the neighbors who have built their homes by the track some respite from the sounds of race cars.

Super Drift is incredibly popular as the sun sets Friday and Saturday evenings.

Both environments provide extraordinary access to the cars, teams, and drivers.  At both races, if you are in the paddock, look both ways or else you might get much closer to the cars than planned. BMW CCA local chapters at both tracks coordinate with the teams—usually Turner Motorsport, RLL, and Paul Miller Racing—for Meet and Greet events where the team owners, managers, drivers, and strategists share (some of) their secrets for and about the racing that weekend. You’re actually surrounding the racecar as the team scrambles to get it ready the forthcoming race, sometimes merely minutes following the gathering. If you seem too interested, they might hand you a tool and put you to work.

In addition to the IMSA racing, which includes GTP and GTD racing at both events, both weekends incorporate other racing groups or organizations. At Long Beach, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship is sort of second fiddle (yet a large fiddle!) to the aforementioned Indy racing. There’s also an Historic Formula Exhibition, GT America races, Stadium Super Trucks (replete with ramps brought out onto the track mid day!), and Super Drift.

At Laguna Seca, in addition to IMSA’s Weathertech Sportscar Championship, you can watch IMSA’s Michelin Pilot Challenge and Mustang Challenge, and the Lamborghini Super Trofeo.  Both events provide great visibility to more types of racing to the fans of the other types. But if that wasn’t enough to sway you, Laguna Seca’s event hosted BMW parade laps around the track on Saturday, too. Come for one race, leave loving more racing.

Sure, it might not have been pushing the limits, but a parade lap on race weekend at Laguna Seca seems to bring out plenty of smiles.

As for track and racing comparisons, the best folks to provide that input are the ones racing.  “Long Beach is a really short race. There’s not a lot of driving, but it’s really intense, lined with walls with zero room for error,” BMW Factory and Turner Motorsports driver Robby Foley says. “The surface is unique with some pavement and some other concrete areas, but it does have a lot of grip. Our environment is tough. There isn’t a lot of space in the paddock or the pits. But it’s a really special event. I look forward to it every year.  You feel the heritage and passion from everyone there. You can also tell it’s a party for the fans, right there on the water. It’s special to be a part of it.”

Patrick Gallagher and Robby Foley pause (and maybe pose) during the Fan Walk at Long Beach during this year’s 50th Anniversary.

As special as Long Beach is to Foley, Laguna Seca has also captured a good part of his heart. “This is the first place I really drove,” Foley explains. “I did a racing school here when I was fourteen and have had a lot of success here with our Turner team. It’s also a beautiful place. I like the area in general. The track walk is incredible, giving us a chance to see some incredible views. TV does not do it all justice. It’s amazing to look at and a lot of tracks don’t have that surrounding beauty.

“There’s a lot of elevation change at Laguna Seca, especially compared to the completely flat Long Beach course,” he continues. “The Corkscrew is technical, but the rest of the course is not as much. You do have to be precise with where you place the car entering the Corkscrew; being off by a couple of feet at the top will really affect how you end at the bottom. Laguna is a little smoother with longer and definitely more open corners. At Long Beach, corners are more rushed but slower. There, they’re all second gear corners except the hairpin but most at Laguna Seca are third and fourth gear corners.”

Always nestled around the racecars, Will Turner and the Turner team host Meet and Greets at both Long Beach (seen here) and Laguna Seca.

Nothing ever wrong will Foley’s input, but we figured we’d get some input from the team principal Will Turner. His team has raced at Long Beach for more than ten years but he has personally raced—and won—at Laguna Seca. “There’s a very different feeling with these two tracks,” Turner says. “For me, you get a quality track at Laguna Seca and then amazing energy from fans at Long Beach. From a track perspective, the traditional course at Laguna Seca is more forgiving. Over the years, they have modified the track with gravel traps or at least room you need for run off. With Long Beach being a street course, there isn’t room for error. Long Beach at 100 minutes is a lot shorter. This usually means pit as soon as you can. At Laguna Seca, tire degradation has historically been the issue.”

Even while focusing on racing, it is difficult for the teams to not recognize the atmosphere at a race. “Long Beach seems to be all about the fans. They’re everywhere and we get motivated by their energy. The grandstands are full all around the track. With Laguna Seca, it’s almost like a secret. There isn’t really a centralization of fans at Laguna Seca. But, there is simply more room in the paddock for us and the fans up north. Fans can get closer to the cars and there is a little more flexibility in the schedule. The Meet and Greet events with the BMW CCA are great at both races. Those are a little smaller lately, especially at Laguna Seca, but we’re always excited to talk with members and fans.

“Between the two tracks, there couldn’t be any greater differences but both are so fantastic!” Turner summarizes.

The post A Tale of Two Tracks appeared first on BimmerLife.

The E30M3 and E36M3 welcoming committee lets you know you’re in the right place.

While the ALPINA exhibit opening was christened with many ALPINA and BMW team members present, a handful of us got to see the new Petersen exhibit with a very special personal tour from Tom Plucinsky, Head, BMW Group Classic USA.

Guests had a bonus unique experience walking the exhibit with Tom Plucinsky, Head, BMW Classic Group USA.

How often do you get to see a BMW E46 M3 GTR street car? Or an M4 DTM car?  Or the E36 M3 GT that won its class at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona? In one room.  All seven generations of the BMW 3 series are represented in racing guise plus three streetcar examples. The exhibit is now open in the Petersen’s vaunted Vault. There will be some rotation—that elusive unicorn E46 M3 GTR streetcar departs around the mid-point—so you might want to even plan to make some repeat visits.  In fact, there are other current exhibits at the Petersen that include BMWs, too, so all the more reason to walk through the many museum floors.

An E21 streetcar greets you at the entrance to the exhibit.

For the opening, we were greeted by an E21 streetcar, seemingly fresh off the factory floor. Inside, the E21 was represented by a 1978 320i Group B with its M12/7 2.0 liter inline-4 producing 340 horsepower.

This isn’t your standard E21; its fiberglass body was shaped in the Pininfarina wind tunnel.

Fast forward 12 years and we see the E30 M3 represented by a 1990 Group A DTM example with its S14 2.5 liter inline-4 generating 370 horsepower.

What exhibit would be complete without the E30 M3?

The six cylinder engines arrived next, represented here by a 1995 E36 M3 GT with its 3.4 liter S50. This 425 horsepower thirty-year-old car won its class at the 1997 Rolex 24 of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1997 and 1998.

This specific example won at Daytona and Sebring in 1997.

Two E46 M3 GTRs stare each other down looking over a P60 4.0 liter V-8 resting comfortably in its own crate. This rare sight includes one of the three street GTRs and the unique Stars and Stripes liveried racecar. The streetcar boasted 350 horsepower while the racecar eclipsed 500.

The E46 M3 GTR racecar and streetcar in the same room makes this a unique exhibit already.

The E92 M3 GT continued using V-8 power, now with the P65. This example has been seen at a number of historic events but in 2011, it swept all three American LeMans Series Championships.

This car could give current cars a run for their money today.

With the next generation, BMW gave the 3-Series cars four doors and created the 4-Series to carry the (mostly) two-door torch forward.  BMW M Motorsport chose the more aerodynamic 4-Series for its racing platform. Most of us in the U.S. are familiar with the shape of the M4 in street or race form. In this exhibit, the M4 is represented by the 2020 M4 DTM raced in Europe. Instead of its 3.0-liter twin turbo inline-6 engine, the DTM car used the P48 turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 producing 630 horsepower.

This isn’t your typical M4. The DTM examples actually ran an inline-4 engine!

The seventh generation of the 3-series is represented in this exhibit with a 2024 G82 M4 GT4. Since most of the GT4 cars are busy with race season, the example we see in the exhibit is on loan from the BMW Performance Center. Unlike most of the other cars in the exhibit, you can actually get behind the wheel of this one; it’s used as part of some of the programs at the Performance Centers. Not bad, especially considering the GT4 produces 550 horsepower from its S58 turbocharged 3.0 liter inline-6.

This is unique in the exhibit; you can actually drive this actual car at the BMW Performance Centers.

Seeing the cars all grouped in one room is special, but to hear the history and stories of each car from Plucinsky—responsible for restoring most of them and curating the exhibit—raised the bar considerably. “We approached the Petersen about doing a 50-year BMW exhibit for the 3-Series,” Plucinsky says. “We each threw around some ideas and they wanted to do one that focused on racing and we were all for it. We had space for ten cars. This fit perfectly for our seven generations and a few street cars. It’s special having the GTR here. It’s one of three and a multi-generational car so many people know. If you played Need for Speed Hot Pursuit, that was the car you started with. So many people know it but so few have seen it in person.”

Bianca Buda didn’t want to miss capturing the E46 M3 GTR streetcar.

While this exhibit is based here in the U.S., the cars represent international racing history. “We didn’t want to just show cars people have already seen in the U.S.,” Plucinsky continues. “We wanted to show a broader range of cars—some factory owned and some privately owned. It’s great to have the E21 and M4 DTM cars here. So many BMW fans have never seen these in person.  That DTM car never raced here but is a really trick piece of technology and unique looking car.”

Tom Plucinsky getting ready to hit the track at the Rolex Reunion in the E92 M3 GT.

It’s difficult for Plucinsky to pick a favorite among the exhibit cars. “My favorite? I have a soft spot for all of our race cars,” he says. “But I’d say I have a really soft spot for the GTR racecar because I was a part of that restoration for that. A lot of my hard work and labor went into that. But for a car I’d drive, it would be the E92 M3 GT.” He owns an E92 M3, but with this GT, it goes further. “I enjoy driving that one but it also has extra history for me because I was responsible for the PR when it raced, so I knew the car from day one, from its birth. I was there when it won Sebring, won the Championship.  It’s the gem of the group for me. Those cars mean a lot for me.”

Guests this past weekend got to see some of the cars with the hood off, but there were also engines in their crates for all to see.

There is certainly something for everyone in this concise yet comprehensive exhibit. “We wanted a way to represent 50 years of the 3-Series in a different way than will be done at concours events around the country and world,” Plucinsky added. “The Petersen has a diverse group of people through its doors so having a car from each generation is important. Some will gravitate to one model while others will appreciate another. The exhibit itself is great, too; I love what they’ve done with the graphics on the wall, how they show some of the cars in action with others that we weren’t able to include here.”

Bill Auberlen’s name is one of the ones that adorns the side of the E46 M3 GTR.

As you walk through the exhibit, you might see Bill Auberlen’s name on a few of them. The winningest driver in American Sportscar racing has indeed won many of his races driving some of these actual cars. He is currently racing this season in World Challenge in SRO with the Random Vandals team in GT3 Pro. He’s getting ready for his next race at VIR but is planning on making it to this exhibit as soon as his schedule allows.

Yep, it’s an M4, and an amazing one.

“I started with BMW with the E36 but the E36 four-door was kind of my deal,” Auberlen says. “I’ve been through every one of those cars but earlier this year was the first time I drove that modern M4 DTM car at the Brian Redman Targa 66 event at Homestead. It is pure exhilaration!  I was awestruck at its capabilities. That DTM has a tiny four cylinder with big power—it’s insane and the downforce is mega!”

The E92 M3 GT remains one of Auberlen’s favorite BMW racecars.

That’s not the only car that receives his accolades. “On the other end of the spectrum is the E92 M3 GT,” he adds. “It’s perfect balance, my all-time favorite. I contend that if we brought that car out today with just a few updates, it could still run right up front. It did lap times back then that are exactly the same times that cars are running at Sebring today. Cars have gotten heavier with electronics, ABS, and more, so that E92 was a very lightweight car. Its balance and center of gravity and weight distribution were amazing with the transmission in the back and engine tucked way down. When you drove that car, it had huge grip, but as the tires wore, you would not notice any balance shift. It stayed perfect every race. I drove that car at Homestead, too, and still could not believe how good that car drives.”

The E92 M3 GT remains a fan favorite.

That must have been a fantastic weekend at Homestead because Auberlen drove a lot of racecars! “I drove the M6 GTLM, the M8 GTLM, the Z4 GTLM, the E92 M3, the E46 M3 GTR and the M4 DTM over that weekend,” he recalls. “You can certainly feel the difference in every aspect of these cars with some normally aspirated, some with turbos, some with tiny engines and others with larger ones, some with more aero and others with more power. Tom [Plucinsky] has maintained these cars so well, we could bring all the modern drivers in and plug them right into these.”

The M4 DTM pays hommage to the TurboMeister Hommage.

As much as Auberlen might have had a favorite car he raced in competition, the DTM might have captured his attention. “It’s almost like a prototype with that teeny four cylinder you almost cannot see under the plenum. You can shift into third with no traction control and light up the wheels down the straight away,” he exclaims. “Makes me wish I would have raced those in Europe!”

Each car in the exhibit captured plenty of attention.

While Auberlen is still looking forward to seeing his old cars and more in this exhibit, our small group being toured by Plucinsky certainly enjoyed it. Kartik Chandar brought his son Vikram and left enthralled. “It’s an amazing, amazing collection,” the older Chandar says. “If you’re a motorsport enthusiast or a racing enthusiast or a BMW enthusiast, everything you would want to see if right here.  I am huge 3-Series fan myself, starting with the E30 M3 for me, so it’s incredible to see them all here like this.”

The E30 M3 was the first introduction to BMW for many fans.

He’s not kidding about being a 3-Series fan; Chandar has an E30 M3, an E36 M3, and E46 M3 and an E92. “These cars are great, but hearing the stories from Tom made it even better,” Chandar adds. “Seeing the GTR [street car] here is a highlight. You just don’t get to see that. Same with the DTM car. I have a soft spot for the E30 M3, as that was the first one I acquired, but I really love that DTM car. I wish it came to the US. It’s like Formula 1 technology in a touring car.”

Kartik Chandar and his son Vikram listen intently to Tom Plucinsky.

His son was still beaming as the afternoon wound down. “This was a super fun day,” Vikram says. “I liked the E30 M3 most but it was really cool when I got to sit in the E92 M3! I’m glad I brought my dad to this!”

Bianca Buda is ready to hit the track!

Bianca Buda and her boyfriend, Taylor Mabra, also attended and enjojyed the bonus benefits of Plucinsky’s tour. “We’re both BMW enthusiasts and own four of them between us—a 325 E30, a 330i E46, a Z4, and an F30 320i,” they say concurrently. “This collection is one of a kind. We’ve been to the Petersen a few times but never down here to the Vault. This was definitely a great experience. These cars are so different and unique in their own ways. Can’t go wrong with BMWs!”

The post Petersen Automotive Museum Celebrates 50 Years of the BMW 3 Series in Motorsports appeared first on BimmerLife.

This E3 3.0S greets you as you enter.

You might have heard, the BMW CCA Foundation has done this before—hosted a grand opening weekend with a wonderful evening event and then an open house party environment the next day. It’s become an annual tradition for hundreds of enthusiasts, many of whom align this pilgrimage with Saturday’s Vintage event. Indeed, it happened again, with some visiting from across the country and some from across the pond.

Folks came from hundreds and thousands of miles away for the Grand Opening and The Vintage. Here’s Bill Wade back in the saddle of his E30 M3 that he brought to both!

But this time might have been a little different.  More energy. More anticipation. More unique cars. It was a common refrain when friends approached each other. You could see the heads nodding and knew they were repeating the same, “You know, I think this is the best one yet,” affirmation you just said yourself. After the eight incredible major exhibitions, it’s hard to believe there would be one that could top them all. Yet that’s what they might have with the ALPINA exhibit.

Mike Bevels and the foreground’s Z1 owner, Dirk de Groen, chaperoned by Bevels’ daughter Avery, point to many of their favorite cars.

Even before the comments flowed, you could see the passion and often astonishment in attendees’ expressions as they poured into The Ultimate Driving Museum winding their way through the 25 cars with the same eagerness of children launching into their Easter egg hunts.

There is eye candy at every turn.

Sure the past exhibits have been tremendously successful and rewarding. Yet perhaps never before had one exhibit covered so much ground, therefore resonating with so many. If older cars are your cup of tea, the exhibit has cars from as far back as the 1960s. If you like race cars, there are many with pedigrees ranging from regional to international. If you like cars never before seen in the US, that box is checked, too. Coupes? Yep.  Sedans? Yes. Convertibles?  Of course. Wagons (er, tourings)?  Front and center.  Roadsters? There’s a trio. If you’re more of a modern car fan, there are cars as modern as, well, almost yesterday.

Jan Chasak, Nathalie Bauters, Todd Hill, and Tom Plucinsky surround the seven millionth BMW produced at the Spartanburg BMW factory.

“Yesterday” might be hyperbole, but the just-completed seven millionth BMW made in the Spartanburg factory is an ALPINA XB7. And appropriately, it was shared with the guests first Friday night and then through the open house. If you’re quick, you can see it in The Ultimate Driving Museum for at least the next two weeks.

Robert Tran’s rare E36 B8 4.6 Touring stood out–and above–even this incredible array of cars.

That aforementioned Touring is an ALPINA E36 B8 4.6 Touring, one of 27 made. It’s owned by Robert Tran, now a Tennessee resident who drove his ALPINA E39 Touring to the event.  “I have been a fan of ALPINA since my first car, a 1998 BMW 328i back in 2004,” Tran explains. “They were always the forbidden fruit, but after becoming an ALPINA owner and member of the community in 2020, my admiration only grew. Seeing the exhibit of these grail cars, the level of engagement from ALPINA, and having my ALPINA in the center of the exhibit was overwhelming to say the least.”

The gathering outside the gathering counted 23 more ALPINA cars.

“In my search for like-minded enthusiasts, I’ve been able to connect with and share my passion for keeping these cars on the road and bringing more of them into the US, Tran continues. “Those efforts led to rallying other ALPINA enthusiasts in the region. It was amazing to see 23 ALPINA cars come in for the grand opening! I had accidently created the largest ALPINA gathering outside of Europe and Japan! The furthest driven car was a 2003 B10 V8S Touring (E39) from Calgary, Canada. The oldest car was the earliest known example of an ALPINA modified 1967 BMW 1600 in the US that was featured in the December 1967 issue of Car and Driver.”

This was three more E39 ALPINA Tourings than this writer had seen before.

“One of the older gentlemen who attended the opening in a 2019 B7 (G12) commented that it was a once in a lifetime experience and that he was so glad to have been part of the exhibit opening and gathering in the time he had left.”

This line-up captured a lot of attention throughout the Open House Friday.

The line-up of the 23 ALPINA cars outside during Friday’s open house certainly complemented the 25 cars inside the museum. With hundreds of cars on the lawn, the ALPINA cars outside captured much of the attention. Some had never seen an E39 ALPINA Touring, yet there were three lined up next to each other.

The walls were often as intriguing as the cars.

Board Vice President and Trustee Lance White echoed much of that enthusiasm seen throughout the weekend. “The cars are amazing, definitely the most ALPINA cars I had ever seen before,” White describes. “But beyond the cars, I was so impressed with all the ancillary things in the exhibit. My favorite wall has that fantastic display of one enthusiast’s own ALPINA steering wheel collection, then four ALPINA wheels and even a pair of ALPINA seats! That wall—all the walls—tell stories. Then when the ALPINA team shared the video about the company’s history, it really presented a feel for the culture of the company that I did not know before. It really personalized it and touched my heart.  This is the museum’s best exhibit yet.”

That’s high praise especially considering that while White has had at least one car in each of the previous eight exhibits, he does not have one in this exhibit. (We want to be clear that this does not imply a correlation and certainly not a causal relationship, but perhaps just merely…coincidental!)

ALPINA’s racing heritage is also on display in this exhibit.

Another Foundation Trustee, Peter Gleeson, was equally impressed. “I’ve always appreciated ALPINA and its racing heritage,” he says. “It’s great to see it all come together in this first ever ALPINA-centric museum exhibition. I strongly suggest any automotive enthusiast—BMW or not—get to this exhibit and see these incredible cars and memorabilia. We’ve known there’s fantastic passion in the BMW CCA community for these ALPINA cars. I was really moved to see this community’s response to this event and exhibit.  It’s really going to be exciting.”

BMW Classic NA’s Tom Plucinsky and ALPINA’s Director of Sales Erik Ploss enjoy the exhibit and grand opening.

He’s spot on about that enthusiasm from the BMW CCA community.  Jeff Caldwell, BMW CCA President, also made the journey for the grand opening weekend. “BMW CCA is very proud to support the Foundation and their mission bringing us this wonderful exhibit at The Ultimate Driving Museum,” Caldwell exclaims. “It is a wonderful opportunity for our members and the community to enjoy these member-owned (and ALPINA and BMW owned) examples here. The ALPINA history is incredible.  It’s great to see that 60 year legacy represented here in so many ways.”

Even for Carina Bovensiepen, an ALPINA Z1 is not a common sight.

One way it was represented was with a founding family member present. Carina Bovensiepen, third generation of family leadership and activity with the company, she attended and spoke at the events with colleague Erik Ploss, Director of Sales. It was excellent to see that support from ALPINA, but it sure seemed like it was great for her as well. “This is such a great exhibit and the grand opening was wonderful,” she says. “There are so many passionate owners and community members. It was really nice to see all of it. I have really enjoyed sharing that history and passion with the members but also seeing their enthusiasm for ALPINA.”

ALPINA’s Matt Russell facilitates an engaging and informative panel with ALPINA’s Carina Bovensiepen and Erik Ploss.

Erik Ploss was also impressed. “I really recommend to visit this exhibit,” Ploss says. “It’s a great collection and presentation of ALPINA vehicles. It was a great experience to talk with the owners and meet so many people interested in ALPINA cars old and new.”

We’re not saying Jan Chasak had a favorite car at the exhibition, but he didn’t dislike this E30!

Many of the exhibition car owners participated in a special behind the scenes tour of the SVO at the Spartanburg factory across the highway.  Jan Chasak, Manufacturing Engineer, Todd Hill, Production Supervisor, along with Matt Russell, ALPINA Regional Representative, led the tours and were on hand throughout the weekend providing fantastic insight into the ALPINA cars made right in Spartanburg. They even brought the entire team over to the exhibit to show how much passion there is in the community for the very cars they make there in the factory.

Who works on your ALPINA XB7s? This cool crew who came over from the factory to see what all the fun was about! (Thank you, team!)

Even with more than 130 people at the grand opening evening event Thursday night and more than 600 guests at the open house Friday, countless more exclaimed how much they wish they had been able to attend.  Social media reactions like “How did I not know about this?” and “I need to get to this soon!” poured in from all over the country. Fortunately, this exhibit will be at The Ultimate Driving Museum all the way through January 16, 2026.  But I wouldn’t delay; you might want a couple of visits to soak it all up, especially with the BMW Performance Center next door and the BMW factory across the highway. When you do arrive, you’ll also be greeted by the nicest and best staff around!

The post ALPINA Exhibition Opens to Record Numbers at The Ultimate Driving Museum appeared first on BimmerLife.

When you ask yourself what draws you to BMWs, the answers were most likely found at the 2025 BimmerLife MiX Enthusiast Weekend presented by Continental Tire. Do you like the classics?  Or maybe the newer cars? Have you bitten the BMW SAV bug (or did it bite you)? Do you like getting behind the wheel and covering some miles? Or is a car show more your vibe? Do you crave BMW memorabilia? Interested in track activities—in your own car or BMW’s? Do you want to cut through the social media rumors and ask your questions to BMW executives directly?

BMW X vehicles look out onto the skid pad at the BMW Performance Center.

The MiX Enthusiast Weekend clearly provided something for every one of the more than 250 attendees at this year’s event. But for all the opportunities abounding throughout the extended weekend, it might have been the flexibility the program provided that made it such a great event. MiX celebrates BMW’s M cars, i-cars, and X vehicles (while all BMWs are welcome). Yet those initials come together to provide a legitimate mix of club member interests and BMW enthusiasts nationwide. Appropriately, the weekend was not overly structured, even allowing many members to make spontaneous decisions about what they were doing next.

BMW i-cars were not as prevalent as M and X vehicles, but they haven’t been around quite as long either.

Wednesday and Thursday were mostly travel days for many. More than two-thirds of the attendees came from outside the fine host-state of South Carolina. Some of them came via caravans from their hometowns, often growing in size (the caravans, not them, or their hometowns) as they met more attendees in pre-arranged gathering spots. Those ardent travelers enjoyed a MiX Weekend kick-off dinner Thursday evening. Most then headed to the host-hotel, the Greenville Marriott, where the parking lot soon resembled either a quality BMW dealership or a fantastic car meet.

The host-Marriott hotel recognized the number of BMW CCA members staying there.

The MiX Enthusiast Weekend was officially underway Friday but the day was more ripe with opportunities rather then fixed “must be here now” activities.  There was the M Club Day at the BMW Performance Center that began at 10 a.m. and provided programming there until about 5 p.m. Thirty-two attendees spent the day driving BMW M2s, M3s, M4s, and M5s through a variety of courses and programs supported by the excellent instructors at the Performance Center.

M2s, M3s, M4s, and M5s provided members plenty of fun at the Performance Center.

Other than that, you could stop by the BMW CCA headquarters and register for the weekend (picking up your name badge and event t-shirt) and maybe check out the BMW CCA lifestyle shop. Concurrently, Griot’s Garage again provided the Car Wash Corral, replete with many car washing resources that so many rain-soiled BMWs needed after their drives.

The Griot’s Garage Car Wash Corral was popular all weekend.

The Test Drive Experience was also based at the headquarters but was “open” from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Even attendees who stopped by the headquarters not intending to participate soon changed their plans once they saw that line-up.  Members could hop behind the wheel of an G90 M5 sedan, a new frozen X3 M50, a G87 M2, an F74 228 xDrive (did you know that chassis code?) a G70 i7 M70, and—wait for it—a G99 M5 Touring.

If you hear that the G99 is “too heavy,” after the test drives, now there are plenty of BMW CCA members who can confirm it is not.

They were all out on road consistently, but the G99 Touring was certainly one with a good wait list. One benefit being a club member provides is the trust to just hop in these cars and go for the drive—unchaperoned.  Yep, just sign up, get in, go drive, and return.  Happily, everyone did return, but we also know many in the M5 Touring were tempted to just keep right on driving.

Not only do you get to test drive these cars, but you’re unchaperoned.

The host Sandlapper chapter arranged a morning drive and the even provided some social activities at a facility featuring axe throwing, driving simulators, and more.

Saturday started with the Griot’s Garage’s Caffeine and Gasoline car meet and breakfast.  Griot’s was front and center with its wide range of resources with Thunder Bunny Racing posted up in front of the headquarters building. Next to Thunder Bunny was a very difficult to miss M3 Competition, but not just any M3.  This was the reveal party for the 2025 BMW CCA Dream Car, an M3 Competition xDrive in a bold Ruby Star Neo. BMW CCA Marketing Director Jason Kazian introduced the car and before he was finished, the first raffle tickets were already secured by eager attendees.

A crowd quickly gathered when Jason Kazian announced why that amazing Ruby Star Neo M3 Competition xDrive was front and center as the 2025 Dream Car Raffle Grand Prize!

Other sponsors and attendees on the lawn during the car show were Street Survival, Amica, the BMW CCA Foundation and Ultimate Driving Museum, and Extreme Auto Spa. The Foundation hosted its annual Paint Your Bimmer activity for kids and saw some very creative and colorful painted models before the morning wrapped.

There were some creative works in the Paint Your Bimmer program provided by the BMW CCA Foundation.

Extreme Auto Spa also captured attention with the beautiful carbon-fiber-adorned (including the roof!) E46 M3 owned by Esteban Valentin, M Chapter President.  Valentin and Christine Lisa drove up from Florida to attend their fifth consecutive MiX event (yep, that’s every one of them!).  After that often-wet drive, Esteban then brought his car to Extreme Auto Spa for his car’s annual maintenance before showing it off at their booth Saturday.  Maybe it was Valentin’s M3 or maybe it was Extreme’s reputation in the area, but there was always a line of members at the booth talking to them about their many XPEL solutions.

Esteban Valentin appreciates what Extreme Auto Spa has done for his E46 M3 that he found himself instinctively helping out in their booth.

“For me, whenever I get a new car, I first make sure the paint is okay, and then bring it to Extreme to get paint correction and then have them install XPEL’s Ultimate Plus Paint Protection Film and apply XPEL’s Fusion Plus Ceramic Coating,” Valentin explains. “I love driving my cars, so protecting them is important, especially on drives like these long drives from my Florida home. Coming up to this event annualy is a perfect excuse to bring the car to Doug at Extreme for the annual maintenance the car gets as part of the program.”

Don’t worry, the XPEL hat won’t scratch the Ruby Star Neo paint–it’s protected by XPEL Ultimate Plus PPF.

It wasn’t just Valentin’s car making an impact adjacent to the Extreme booth. That Ruby Star Neo M3 received the Extreme Auto Spa XPEL PPF and Ceramic Coating treatment, too.  “We were pleased we had the opportunity to provide the protection solution for this year’s Dream Car Raffle Grand Prize,” Extreme Auto Spa owner Doug Payne says. “A car this nice should be driven, but with a paint that unique, it’s great that it’s protected with XPEL PPF. One of the great features is that the film is self-healing. Many of the light scratches so many of our cars acquire in day-to-day driving (or parking, or washing) not only won’t reach the paint, but will self-heal in the film, too.”

One of the few times the 2025 Dream Car Raffle Grand Prize wasn’t surrounded by people.

Payne participated with Kazian in announcing the M3 Dream Car Grand Prize and even announced another prize. “Extreme Auto Spa enjoys participating in BMW CCA events like this and to further support the event, we’re thrilled to give away a complete automotive tint solution—up to a $1,200 value,” Payne adds. “We provide the range of XPEL window tint, but with this, the winner can jump right to the top-of-the-line XPEL Prime XR Plus. With the heat out here in South Carolina, that’s important because even the lightest in that line, the 70% shade, rejects 99% of UV rays and 92% of infrared heat with any darker shade blocking 96% of IR heat. That’s going to help save a lot of these amazing interiors we see out here at this car meet, not to mention what it can do to help the drivers!”

No wonder Esteban Valentin’s M3 looked so clean!

Payne wasn’t just happy to present his own wares. “I love participating in this event,” he continues. “It’s great seeing all these cars the members display out here. There always seems to be some cool cars we haven’t seen before. We also usually meet or see client again.  We partner with the Performance Center and protect their vehicle deliveries and often have those owners approach us here to say hello again.  This is a great community and we’re pleased to be a part of it!”

The days’ agendas provided many opportunities and flexibility.

As the Caffeine and Gasoline event wrapped up around 11:00 a.m., another Performance Center event—a Taste of M & X Driving Event—began and extended to 2:00pm. Attendees there got to experience a number of different activities in M2s, M3s, and X5s. Part of the Taste of M & X included driving multiple BMW M and X vehicles, including some on timed course runs. Griffin Dobbs, 18 year old Sandlapper Chapter member, said he really enjoyed the experience. “It was something for sure. I loved driving the different types of cars and seeing what they can really do,” he said. “Driving the M2 on the timed course was my favorite because it actually gave you a goal.” Griffin reported that he finished the course in 19.7 seconds, with the winning time being achieved by Robert Hopkins, regional governor for the M Chapter and also member of the X and National Capital Chapters, with a 19.04 second time.

For those still at the headquarters facility, the test drives continued form 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. There was also a rally-style “Poker Run” in the afternoon, follwed by the Saturday night dinner.

Andrew Liu and Valerie Caprigno co-hosted the trivia game.

The dinner was action packed.  Before and during dinner, the BMW CCA Foundation’s MiX silent auction tables were crowded with members bidding on some of the fantastic memorabilia, including signed race posters, classic BMW ads, die cast models, and more. Andrew Liu and Valerie Caprigno hosted a fantastic trivia game with questions ranging from detailed BMW information to fun movie facts. After all those questions, there were no questions about the competitive energy the members brought to the party!

While the energy was on full display during the trivia game, there was definitely some leftover for the fireside chat that followed. This was a fantastic treat for everyone—the opportunity to ask direct questions to two of BMW North America’s leaders. Tom Plucinsky, Head BMW Group Classic USA, and Jay Hanson, BMW Product and Technology Spokesperson, seated in two comfy chairs in front of the dinner audience.  They were peppered with questions about the future of BMW driving dynamics, the new VDX driving experience recently showcased at Auto Shanghai, the future of hydrogen and diesel in BMWs, the accessibility of BMW Classic parts, bringing more touring wagons to the U.S., and more.

BMW didn’t just “provide” two great executives for the fireside chat; they provided a fantastic line-up of 3-series cars to celebrate 50 years of the 3-series! All seven generations of the iconic 3 Series were represented.

Hearing from these BMW leaders (and great people, too!) was a unique treat, especially when most people’s access to many of those answers is limited to scrolling through social media opinions. Asking the head of BMW Classic USA the future of classic parts tends to be a bit more reliable than the grumpy E30 owner stating on Instagram that BMW doesn’t care (hint: BMW cares).

Mark Arnold and his kiddos, Nina and James, enjoy the Saturday night dinner.

Sunday was a travel day for many, but for some, it was off to the Michelin skid pad for a fun day of pushing the limits of their own cars. The Ultimate Skid Pad Experience had sessions in the morning and afternoon, presenting a different experience from the Performance Center’s skid pad sessions that use BMW’s cars.  Overlapping those sessions, the X Chapter hosted a scenic drive, continuing the theme of many opportunities throughout the flexible weekend.

Doug Verner brought his kids down for this year’s event and participated in the Performace Center and the Ultimate Skid Pad events.

Even fickle and sometimes damp weather didn’t faze the 250-plus members and family who attended this fifth annual BimmerLife MiX Enthusiast Weekend presented by Continental.  Many old friendships were rekindled while many new ones were formed.  It was great to see so many unique cars and with more than 150 of them coming from out of town. Even for the locals, this was very different from a usual weekend car meet.

The post Mixing It Up at the BimmerLife MiX Enthusiast Weekend! appeared first on BimmerLife.

As August and summer were winding down, Paul Lefevre and his Son of Cobra brand collaborated with photographer Jake Caminero and Rally Events to celebrate how Son of Cobra is winding up. Many of you create resto-mods. Son of Cobra is creating a market, a new, or renewed way of appreciating and enjoying venerable, classic BMW models.

Attendees got to see Son of Cobra works in various stages of starting and completion.

The Shape of Light, brought to us by Rally Events, was a relatively intimate soiree with pre-event reservations limiting attendance to 120 guests. The highlights included four Son of Cobra cars on display in various stages, but it certainly didn’t hurt to have pies donated by Julian Pie Company (more on this in a moment), beverages from June Shine and Easy Rider and Caminero’s photos on display, chronicling much of the Son of Cobra growth and success.

Paul Lefevre (Son of Cobra) proudly displays awards from the 2021 SoCal Vintage.

Lefevre’s first build burst on to the scene years ago, breaking up the Covid doldrums by claiming awards at Legends of the Autobahn twice, at the CSF show in Southern California, the B-Sedan Gold Helmet for Keeping the Spirit Alive, and Best of Show at SoCal Vintage. Its carbon fiber body and S14 engine punctuated a precision build that summoned crowds wherever it appeared.

And now it appears with its successors and hints at what’s next. As guests enter the event, held at the Son of Cobra studio and complex, they first encounter a carbon-fiber bodied 2002, days away from going to paint. They are also greeted with pizza, drinks, and pie and as they make their way down the alleyway, they see Lefevre’s “daily driver” up ahead.

The first studio in the complex showed off this example days ahead of it going to paint.

“This one is intended to remain more period-correct and serves as my test mule to a certain extent,” Lefevre explains. “It’s still carbon fiber, but not exposed, except for the hood and trunk which are exposed fiberglass. This is pretty much my daily driver. But also when I want to test something, I try it out on this car.”

The exterior of Lefevre’s daily is amazing, but that fiberglass dashboard always captures attention, too.

Just inside from the daily were two more examples of how quickly and certainly the Son of Cobra brand has continued to mature. The highlight of the show, the Bristol Gray commission, stands proudly, just weeks away from going home with its new owner. As though ushering in the next evolution with Son of Cobra, the Bristol Gray 2002 Tii pointed toward a BMW E9.

Son of Cobra Car number 2 points the way to more future projects.

“For me, this is the first event I did like this,” explains Lefevre. “I wasn’t really sure what would happen. At the beginning, people were starting to come in, lots of people. I started talking with friends and then went outside again and saw the crowd. I remember thinking, “whoa, there is a lot of people here! It was great meeting new people and seeing industry people from surf industry and car industry.”

Lefevre enjoyed talking to the guests so much, day had very much turned into night before things completely wrapped up.

Lefevre’s own car is sort if a rolling beta test. “It’s carbon fiber throughout except the exposed fiberglass hood, trunk, and dashboard,” Lefevre describes. “This car is intended to be more of a period correct build with no exposed carbon fiber, more like a prototype car or test mule.”

That must be a fun test mule; it’s Lefevre’s daily driver.

His first build was entirely carbon fiber boasting a 2.3 liter S14 producing 210 horsepower at the wheel. Lefevre knows the market for those cars is limited, so he has plans for a little more—but just a little—diversity in the offerings, and it’s already making an impact.  “I feel like the whole brand is coming up,” Lefevre says. “I know it is a niche market and pretty much a big risk to project myself as a builder for the 2002 chassis. I know I’m not alone, but compared to the 356 or 911, there are not too many doing this with the 2002. I really want to push as hard as I can to offer the best of the best.  I’m not looking to have the most powerful car or the nicest car. For me, it’s important to keep the original feel of the car, keep it more balanced than fast. I focus on the weight and trying to remain true to the original feel. My investment in all this time and work is showing a really exciting future.”

Some of his builds will include the S14, but what he does with the M10 seems pretty good, too!

That future is exciting for us, too, and it was on display at this Shape of Light event.  That first example we saw as we entered in its fantastic, exposed carbon fiber is officially the third Son of Cobra car. This one has already been commissioned as well, so don’t let its beauty and forthcoming 2.5 liter S14 producing 250 horsepower at the wheel make you reach for your own wallet just yet. This top of the line Son of Cobra option should be completed in early 2025.

He’s not focusing on parts, but he’s made some nice ones.

We met the daily driver with the exposed fiberglass hood and trunk. There are a few lucky 02 owners in SoCal with carbon fiber and fiber glass Son of Cobra parts, but Lefevre doesn’t see that as the core focus for Son of Cobra. “Right now, I am still doing some parts, but I am concentrating on commissions now,” he says. “It takes about ten to twelve months for a car, so I’m anticipating building two per year.”

The E9 is still very much in development but also is still very much impressive.

Most of the 120 guests present would admit they did at least a lap or two round the E9 in Lefevre’s studio. It sure looks enticing but is still very much in development, too. “The E9 is sort of a little teaser,” admits Lefevre. “We still have a lot to do on the chassis and work on reinforcements and development of the brakes.  The powertrain will be an S38 so that will take some work, too. This one is being built for the business, not as a commissioned unit. The goal is to have it ready for SEMA in 2025.

Dave Smothers followed Lefevre’s suggestions for his commissioned build and we’re pretty sure he’s going to like it.

The Bristol Gray 2002 Tii in the adjacent room served as another tease to all but one of the attendees. We can’t have that one either because it’s already spoken for, but we did get to meet the thrilled owner and we got to eat his pies.  By the time you’re reading this, Dave Smothers, owner of Julian Pies, will have taken delivery of the official Number Two Son of Cobra car. This example kept the M10 engine, now at 2.3 liters and producing 180 horsepower at the wheel and 210 crank horsepower. It still retains the actual original block from the car.

Classic BMWs and Julian Pies are always a good combination, but this combo shows company owner Smothers’ commissioned 02 as well.

SoCal Vintage attendees might recognize these names—both Son of Cobra and Julian Pies—as they are staples at the annual November namesake event. “I had seen Paul win Best of Class at SoCal Vintage with his Florida Green 2002,” Smothers recalls. “We started emailing and it led to me commissioning this car in Bristol Gray. Once I saw Paul’s work, that just sold me. I’ve never commissioned a build before, but the timing worked out.”

Photographer Finn Rodriguez went for the phone pic for this cool combination shot of the Bristol Gray 02 and the E9.

The Bristol Gray is more than just a pretty color for Smothers. “I now have three BMW classics all in Bristol Gray,” he explains. “My first one was a 2000CS and through that car, I got to know the folks at La Jolla Independent quite well. Then I spotted a Bristol Gray 1800Ti on Bring a Trailer about three years ago and was fortunate to get that one.”

Smothers’ new car looks great at any angle.

And now the Son of Cobra Tii completes the Bristol Gray trio in grand fashion. While we were enjoying the pies from his Julian Pies company, he was beaming at his new car, already thinking of how he’ll enjoy it. “I live about three miles out of town (outside San Diego) toward Lake Cuyamaca,” Smothers says. “Those roads up by Mt. Laguna and Banner Grade are great driving roads. I take out the other cars, including my Lotus Evora GT and a Z4 M Coupe. I love to get out and drive.”

At the Son of Cobra shop, it is literally carbon fiber on top of carbon fiber.

Another guest beaming at the cars at the event was Robert Mosca, and he was also looking at the cars like a proud parent for different reasons. He works with Lefevre as a coach builder and with composites and admired the work so much, he sought to be a part of it. “Paul Lefevre is redefining the diluted meaning of bespoke restomods through craftsmanship and dedication,” Mosca says. “Every aspect of Son of Cobra is Paul. It’s as if his two hands are printers for his ideas and visions.  Having the opportunity to bring these cars to life alongside Paul has been a special and fulfilling experience.  Son of Cobra cars are an example to the rest of the world of what bespoke automobile product is. Truly one of a kind and impossible to imitate.”

Lefevre turned to Kooglewerks for support to develop the wheels.

While it might be difficult for others to imitate, Lefevre intends to continue making more of his bespoke restomods. His commissioned builds will be led by one of three powertrains: a carbureted power plant, a 2.3 liter M10, and then the S14 at either 2.3 or 2.5 liters. Outside of some one-off options, most of the rest of the cars will remain consistent. “The suspension will stay the same, the body will be the same, and they’ll use the same bigger brakes and steering set-up,” Lefevre adds. “I’m going to target 1800 pounds, depending on the power plants. The wheels have been developed with Forrest from Kooglewerks and will be a squared 15×8 set-up unless you’re getting the S14 and then we’ll go with 15×10 in the rear.”

It’s going to continue to be exciting to see what’s next for Son of Cobra (seen here rolling into SoCal Vintage 2023).

From the time people first saw the Florida Green winner Lefevre brought out to events, they’ve been asking what’s next. As Lefevre showed at the Shape of Light event, there’s a lot next. While Smothers has the actual Next One, we can already see more in the works those look equally as intriguing.

Bonus gallery of pics follows here:

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