Last year, Bimmerfest 2024 had us basking in glorious sunshine, the kind that makes you believe a convertible is always a good idea. This year? Not so much. The sun, it seems, had other plans. Instead, Raceway Venray served us up a delightful mix of wind, intermittent downpours, and the kind of skies that make you question every life choice that led you to put on your best Air Max 1s. But, as true BMW enthusiasts, we soldiered on and between the showers, Bimmerfest once again delivered a feast for the senses (and a workout for your umbrella if you had one).
Arriving at the legendary oval of Raceway Venray, it’s impossible not to be gobsmacked by the sheer steepness of the banking. It’s like walking across the side of a cliff in sneakers—grippy shoes are absolutely essential unless you fancy falling down in front of a crowd of amused car geeks.
The outer ring of the oval or main circuit, plays host to BMW clubs from across Europe, with MFlight stealing the spotlight. It’s a club dominated by American military personnel stationed in Germany, and they don’t do things by halves. They roll in deep, and almost exclusively in the latest and greatest from BMW’s M Division. Think G82s, G87s, and enough M badges to fill a small parts bin in Munich.
In the inner loop of the oval, the big names set up shop: H&R, GP Products, AC Schnitzer, and Full Car Tuning amongst others all brought their best toys. The crowd favourites? The brand-new G90 M5, and the ever so popular G81 M3 Touring, a car that’s like a German-made unicorn that can haul IKEA wardrobes at 300 km/h.
Let’s start with the M3 Touring by AC Schnitzer, the ACS3 Sport. It now features a reworked exhaust system and a software tune that lifts peak power to a meaty 610bhp. To make sure all that muscle doesn’t turn it into a rear-biased missile, AC Schnitzer has added uprated springs, dampers, and aerodynamic tweaks for more downforce.
Then there’s this Frankenstein creation from Speed-Tec. What started life as a humble F20 1.5-litre BMW is now the stuff of Autobahn nightmares. Nestled under the bonnet is an S55 engine from the M4 GTS, churning out 500hp and 600Nm. Subtle on the outside but a real beast once you put your foot down.
Flying in from across the Channel, Evolve Automotive brought their stealthy, matte-black G90 M5 demo car, sporting their own bespoke 22-inch wheels and a brand-new Eventuri intake that adds both audible drama and a modest 14hp gain. Subtle engineering, loud results just the way we like it.
Over at H&R Spezial Federn, the spotlight was on the G99 M5 Touring by Rennstil, slammed to the tarmac with H&R lowering springs. Out back, Akrapovic exhaust tips peek through a carbon rear diffuser.
And if you thought the G81 M3 Touring hype train had left the station, think again. Marco van Weerd’s example was turning heads at the Guerilla Exhaust stand, but the star of the show? The R44 Performance Touring, rocking chunky meaty tyres wrapped around Vossen wheels that screamed “track day dad” in the best possible way.
Sprinkled across the venue were a few old-school BMW legends, including the green E28 5-series on airride, belonging to Mathijs van der Veen which, rightly so, took home the award for Best Classic. A timeless beauty with a cleaned engine bay, interior to die for and a perfert stance.
BMW’s baby bruiser, the M2, was out in force. Both the new G87 and the first generation F87. The question is, which would you pick? The raw, aggressive lines of the OG? Or the modern tech and muscle of the latest version?
But my personal standout of the weekend? A F80 BMW M3 in Rubystar Red. Yes, that’s a Porsche colour. Pair that with carbon accents and black motorsport-style wheels, and you’ve got yourself a showstopper. If Bimmerfest had a “Streetwell Choice Award”, this would be it. No notes. Just heart eyes.
BMW never gave the E46 M3 a V10, and honestly, they probably had their reasons, emissions, complexity, and a healthy respect for sanity. But for Emad Etemadi of ProCar Specialist, that answer simply wasn’t good enough. He took matters into his own hands and built his own perfect track tool: an E46 M3 powered by the screaming 5.0-litre V10 from the E60 M5.
The result is a machine with 545bhp, a dry weight of just 1500kg, a top speed of 320km/h, and a savage 100–200 km/h sprint in just 6.8 seconds. This isn’t just an engine swap, it’s a no-expense-spared performance masterpiece, equipped with AST Moton 5300 competition suspension, a Radium fuel system, and a VAC Motorsport dry sump kit to keep the motor properly lubricated. Emad has created something truly unhinged yet deeply purposeful: a raw, analog tribute to BMW’s M legacy, infused with motorsport spirit and high-revving lunacy. It’s the M car BMW never built but absolutly should have.
Despite the drizzle and the occasional sprint to shelter, Bimmerfest 2025 once again proved why it’s the ultimate playground for BMW fans across Europe. From fire-breathing tourings to hand-built pocket rockets, it had everything… except maybe sunburn.
See you next year, hopefully with sunscreen instead of raincoats.