Gallery: Bimmerfest BMW Enthusiast’s Paradise

Bimmerfest is perhaps the largest car event in Europe exclusively for BMWs. It’s a permanent fixture on my calendar every year. This year was no exception, as I headed to Raceway Venray, Europe’s fastest 1/2 mile oval circuit, armed with an empty memory card and a fully charged camera. The unique location, while thrilling, does demand a pair of good running shoes since you spend half the time standing on the banked track.

As always, certain paddocks were reserved for specific themes. This year featured areas dedicated to Alpina, classics, and a top 10 selected by Z-Performance wheels. Additionally, there’s always space for various BMW clubs, with MFlight likely being the largest. Most members of this club hail from America but are stationed at a US base just across the border in Germany.

A standout car for me was the Twin Turbo V12 E36, which I’ve already posted separately. Another highlight was the E23 7 Series at the H&R booth, complete with a humorous “Arg Teuer” sticker mimicking the Tag Heuer logo. As you can tell, I have a soft spot for the older models. Yet, the M3 Touring, one of BMW’s newer models, also caught my eye and, yes, even with those large kidney grilles.

A Vision in Mint Green: BMW M3 G81 Touring

If you could choose, which BMW Individual color would you order for your new BMW?

JP Kraemer had a clear vision for his BMW M3 G81 Touring, and he opted for a striking mint green. On his YouTube channel, you can follow the journey from the grand unveiling at BMW Welt to the present day. If have seen all the videos but this was my first encounter with the car in the flesh.

The car was parked right in front of JP Performance’s headquarters in Dortmund, about a two-hour drive from where I live. I was visiting the Pace Museum, also founded by JP Kraemer, but more on that later. After my museum visit, I decided to check out the Big Boost Burger restaurant, situated just across from the headquarters. And there it was, the BMW M3 Touring, demanding attention.

Perhaps the most extraordinary feature isn’t even the mint green exterior but rather the entirely purple interior. This bespoke upholstery job was executed by Zettl, a company renowned for its expertise in re-upholstering car interiors to such a high standard that major automakers seek them out for custom interiors.

BMW 5 Series Touring E34 Wide Body

With the arrival of the new BMW M5 Touring, BMW is poised to break sales records once again. But did you know that BMW introduced an M5 Touring as early as 1992? Based on the E34 platform, BMW launched it with the tagline, “A superlative sports car, packed in sporty but never showy bodywork.” This was certainly true, as there was little on the exterior to indicate it was a true M car, aside from the logos.

While the car spotted at the Royal Fitment event wasn’t an M5, it certainly flaunted showy bodywork. Royal Fitment is all about stance, and for many stance builds, it’s more about style points than what’s under the hood. This BMW earned its style points in spades.

Based on a 518i, this showstopper was transformed by its owner, Niels Popma, in his own garage. The overfenders, supplied by Cliq Tuning, fit perfectly over the 18″ AC Schnitzer wheels (11j in the front and 12.25j in rear) thanks to a custom Mapet Tuning air ride system.

BMW M3 Touring but make it CSL by Evolve

The most exciting new car in recent years has got to be the G81 BMW M3 Touring. A car that enthusiasts have been clamoring for finally became a reality in 2022 and has been a big hit for BMW ever since. If Instagram is to be believed, they’re flying off the shelves like hotcakes. One of the customers who got their hands on it last year was Evolve Automotive from England.

Now, as is customary with Evolve, they’re not leaving anything stock. Their plan is to turn it into a BMW M3 Touring CSL version. It’s not just about looks; they’re incorporating genuine CSL components. You can follow the build on Evolve’s own YouTube channel.