BMW X5 V12 Le Mans: The Ultimate Spassmobil

The BMW X5 V12 Le Mans is one of those rare, wonderful moments when a carmaker momentarily forgets about accountants, regulations, and common sense, and instead asks a far more entertaining question: “What if we shoved a Le Mans–winning racing engine into an SUV?” When I saw the X5 Le Mans during my last visit to the Pace Museum by JP Performance in Dortmund, it felt almost unreal to be standing in front of something so unapologetically absurd.

Built around the turn of the millennium, the E53 X5 V12 Le Mans, was never intended as a production model. It was a one-off experiment, a celebratory engineering flex created after BMW’s 1999 victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the V12 LMR prototype. To mark the occasion, a handful of BMW’s most mischievous engineers decided to repurpose the heart of the race-winner: a 6.0-litre naturally aspirated V12. But unlike the race car, which had to breathe through air restrictors, this engine was allowed to inhale freely. The result was more than 700 horsepower in an era when supercars were still struggling to reach that number.

That colossal engine sat inside the shell of the first-generation X5, but this was no ordinary family hauler. The suspension was heavily reworked, the interior stripped down and fitted with a roll cage, and the hood reshaped in carbon fibre to clear the V12’s intake system. It retained a six-speed manual gearbox and rear-wheel-drive, making it perhaps the most spectacularly overpowered manual SUV ever created.

Gallery: Ultrace Düsseldorf Germany 2026

If you haven’t heard of Ultrace, you might be living under a rock. The event has become the place in Europe to see the best of the best. Yet calling it just a car event doesn’t do it justice. Ultrace has grown into a full‑blown automotive experience, complete with art installations and even a nighttime program with DJs.

This year marked a big shift. For the first time, Ultrace stepped outside its birthplace in Poland. The team decided it was time for a new adventure, and they landed in Düsseldorf, Germany. That meant no more nine‑hour drive for me. Instead, I only had to travel 1.5 hours to reach the venue: Areal Böhler.

Gallery: Risenation Hall of Fame 2026

Risenation marks the unofficial start for my show season. It’s always the first taste of what the rest of the year might bring. This year was no different. Bag packed, snacks secured, I punched Mechelen, Belgium into Google Maps, fired up the car, and set off. Two and a half hours later, the Nekkerhal appeared like a giant half tube with holes in it. If you have ever been there you know what I mean.

Before I even think about taking the camera out, I make a few reconnaissance laps. This year, however, the organisers decided to funnel everyone through a vendor corridor at the entrance. Great for anyone selling stickers, detailing sprays, or T‑shirts you don’t need… but less great if you simply wanted to get on with the show. Still, minor grumble aside, the rest was brilliant. Familiar faces, new conversations, and cars that made you stop mid‑stride, this show had the full package.

Track‑Ready BMW E36 With M4 S55 Power

Walking through the Tuning Experience hall at the Essen Motor Show, you expect to see wild builds, but every now and then something stops you dead in your tracks. Did you catch my take on this year’s event? If not, you can still check it out on the Turnpike Global site.

Among the wild show cars and slammed stances sat a machine that looked like it had been teleported straight from the Nürburgring paddock: a 1996 BMW E36, reborn with the heart of an M4 and the soul of a race car.

This isn’t just an engine swap; it’s a complete transformation. Under the bonnet lies BMW’s S55B30 straight-six from the F82 M4, paired with its seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Team Schirmer’s fingerprints are everywhere: engine mounts, transmission crossmember, and a rear axle housing a Drexler limited-slip differential with 45% lock and dedicated cooling. The numbers speak for themselves: 431 horsepower pushing just 1,270 kilograms. That’s serious firepower.

BMW E46 M3: Phoenix Rising

Few cars distil the joy of driving quite like the BMW E46 M3, and seeing this Phoenix Yellow example in the metal at the Essen Motor Show only reinforced its legend. Surrounded by wild show cars and modern exotica, it stood out by doing something far more difficult: being tasteful. This is OEM+ philosophy executed with restraint, confidence and a deep understanding of what made the E46 so special in the first place.

Under the bonnet sits BMW’s revered S54 straight-six, producing 333hp and mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. It remains one of the greatest naturally aspirated engines ever fitted to a road car, delivering its performance with razor-sharp throttle response and a spine-tingling soundtrack that modern turbo units can only dream of replicating. This is the beating heart of the car, and it needs no reinvention.

The stance has been subtly modernised with an Airlift Performance air suspension system using 3P management. Crucially, it’s set up with predefined pressure limits rather than extreme lowering, preserving drivability and protecting the chassis. Beneath the skin, Powerflex bushings and adjustable rear arms sharpen the handling, while a Supersprint stainless steel race system with twin 80mm tips ensures the car sounds every bit as serious as it looks.

The first BMW Art Car by Alexander Calder

Yes I know, yet another BMW, but you don’t often get the chance to see BMW’s legendary Art Cars all in one place. But lo and behold, The Louwman Museum in The Hague pulled off the impossible. Nine of these automotive icons, side by side, including the one that started it all: Alexander Calder’s BMW 3.0 CSL.

Imagine this: it’s 1975. Disco is booming, flared trousers are a thing, and BMW is about to do something completely bonkers. They hand over one of their most powerful race cars at the time, the BMW 3.0 CSL, to an artist. And not just any artist but Alexander Calder, the man who made mobiles dance in the wind and colors explode like fireworks.

Hervé Poulain, a French auctioneer with a passion for motorsport and modern art brought the artist and BMW together. Now, Calder didn’t just slap a few stripes on the bonnet and call it a day. No, he turned the car into a rolling canvas. Bright reds, yellows, blues, his signature palette, flowed over the bodywork like a rainbow on steroids. It was bold. It was brash. It was beautiful. And it was fast.

From a Humble BMW ’02 to a Bavarian Rocket

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Another BMW ’02?” But hold your horses, because this one isn’t just another ’02 with patina and a roundel. No, this is a masterclass in contrast. From a 1502 with more patina than paint, to a fully restored, OEM+ styled machine that looks like it rolled straight out of a Bavarian fever dream.

The owner? He’s not just a fan, he’s a full-blown BMW whisperer. Paul Gebbink restores classic Bimmers in his spare time. But pop the bonnet, and it becomes immediately clear: this one’s gone several steps beyond your average Sunday project.

Respect your elders: The BMW 1502

One of my favorite cars at the recent Retrospective by Revworks event was this BMW 1502. It had that little something that grabbed me. The owner bought this car two years ago. It was not the kind you’d find in a showroom with a smug salesman and a cappuccino machine. No, this one came with rust, questionable welds, and the faint smell of regret. Naturally, the owner loved it as car lovers do.

Since then, it’s been through more metalwork than a Viking sword. Everything’s been re-welded that needed it. Other improvements include a new set axles that have been swapped out for those from a turbo model. Because the ones the car came with were beyond repair.

Sourcing parts for this thing is like trying to find a polite cyclist in Amsterdam: technically possible, but wildly unlikely. Every bolt, bracket, and miscellaneous parts has been a battle. But the owner persevered. Stabilizers have been added, a roll cage now snakes through the cabin, and strut bars brace the chassis like it’s preparing for that final race of the season.