Innehållsförteckning för May 2024 från TOTAL BMW

I reckon it's fair to say that, historically,BMW has had more successes than failures, when it comes to styling. Perhapsthe duds are the ones that cometomind (E46 Compact, E65 7 Series,and 5 Series GT are three that pop into my head) more immediately, but only because they stand out so much. But even these still have their fans and have some redeeming features. These days, though, BMW seems to be missing the mark more and more frequently when it comes to design. The new Five, for example, is fussy and awkward,with a lot of weird lines and angles. The latest Seven is certainly imposingbut so incredibly colour-sensitive. And while I've finally warmed to the 4 Series’ and G8x M cars'massive grille, I still don't love it. Maybewe, as BMW fans,aren'tsoopen…

MStyle F32 4 Series Upgrades MStyle is pleased to announce it now has various upgrades for the F32 4 Series. Thereare various styling options, from aSport-look kit to an M-look kit, and individual items for these packages arealso available. In addition to that, MStyle offers Eibach Sportline springs, delivering anicedrop, and GTS-style rear lights, as pictured, which will instantly transform your F32’srear end. The extensive MStyle catalogue also includes abackbox delete, dual carbon tips, as seen in the picture, as well as an MTC de-cat, stage 1 remap and dyno run, plus a Pipercross panel filter. Fitting and painting, whererequired, areavailable at MStyle'sRomfordtuning centre. Price: Sport-look kit £879, M-look kit £960, Eibach Sportline springs from £254.83, GTS-style rear lights £450, back box delete £395, MTC de-cat £249, Pipercross panel filter…

E30 M3 If certain cars deserve their owners, and vice versa, then David Kavanagh (@hesnotthemessiah) and his E30 M3 absolutely deserve each other. A car like the E30 M3 needs an owner who will enjoy and use it but also care for it and look after it with the passion and commitment it deserves. And, over 18 years of ownership, David has done all that with and for his E30 M3 and so much more. “I think I have been interested in BMWs as long as I can remember,” he muses. “I am an engineer by trade, and BMWs have always been special to me. Loads of fun to drive, mostly rear-wheel drive. The way they look – I would argue they are some of the most iconic shapes, even…

V8 DRIFT E36 Modified E36s seem a lot like buses. Fans of the third-gen Three tell us they'd love to see more of them in the mag, and suddenly it feels like every issue brings with it some new flavour of modded E36. Case in point, Scott Robinson's (@m3touring) example, except this might well be the most unconventional E36 we've featured in a while. And that's not because it's a liveried-up drift missile, because that almost feels like the default setting for most modded E36s these days. No, rather it's to do with Scott's choice of propulsion for his E36, because this 3 Series is serving up a bit of Asian fusion, with some Japanese muscle nestling in its engine bay, and it makes for a seriously spicy sideways machine.…

E21 320iS Few people knew how rare Fthis little coupé is. At a glance, the car simply looks like a typical E21 320i from the early ’80s, a model not embraced by some BMW aficionados today. However, the 320iS, officially called the 320i with Sport Package, is a limitedproduction model of which only some 2500 cars were produced. But the chances of finding one as mint as Greg Sauve's summer driver will be very slim. 320i models were driven hard by some and modified or simply year-round transportation enduring Canadian winters and hot, dry summers. The optional Sport Package was introduced in 1981 for North America and Canada and provided some unique features compared to other 320i models. To keep the cost and weight down, factory air conditioning was deleted.…

René Stam's S65 V8 E36/7 Z3 Roadster While Readers’ Cars submissions normally land in our inbox, we spotted this car on a forum, and it was too awesome a machine for us to not give it some page space here in Total BMW. What you're looking at is a Z3 Roadster that has been transformed into a snarling, V8-powered beast, and it's the creation of Dutch enthusiast René Stam. Built over four years from 2015 to 2019, René’s Z3 is an absolutely awesome machine, and the amount of work that's gone into it is astonishing. The engine is from a 2009 E92 M3 that had covered just under 53,000 miles, while the six-speed manual gearbox is from a 2010 car that had just over 21k miles on the clock. Naturally,…

Z3 M COUPÉ These days, we have become somewhat accustomed to BMW making some questionable design choices. But back in the day, when Bavarian machinery was much easier on the eye, on the rare occasions that BMW did make something a little out of the ordinary, everyone sat up and took notice. And one of the best examples of this is the E36/8 Z3 M Coupé In the UK, it was affectionately nicknamed the ‘breadvan’ while our American cousins took to calling it the clown shoe, but whether it's baked goods or funny people with oversized footwear that come to mind, the simple fact is that the Z3 Coupé is definitely not a conventional BMW in any way, shape or form. When it launched, the weirdestlooking BMW on sale at…

E46 M3 When it comes to the E46 M3, we are of the same general opinion as pretty much everyone else – that it's awesome. The ultimate form of the E46 has created an incredible legacy for itself and is such a highly revered car, even after so many years. And we never tire of seeing them and featuring them in the magazine. Whether it's an immaculate example with just a few individual touches or something a little more full-on, we'd struggle to find an E46 M3 we don't like, and we like Jack Cavanagh's (@stjarnagloss) very much indeed because it's been built to be the best E46 M3 it can be. Detailing enthusiasts will recognise Jack's Insta account as he's the Brand Director for car care company Stjärnagloss, as…

E31 850CSi Over the years, BMW has produced several low-volume machines, mainly with an M in their name, and while the 850CSi definitely falls into that category, it's not the rarest of the rare. In a four-year production run, 1510 examples were produced, but just over 10% of those were righthand drive, making those models a rarity among M's greats. And despite not bearing an M logo in its name, the 850CSi was very much an M product. It has an M engine, indicated by the S in its S70 designation, and the first three letters of each CSi's chassis number started with WBS, as per all M cars. While M had very much wanted to produce a full-on M8, the BMW board canned the model due to it being…

F80 M3 Saloon Packing potent performance, meaty styling and an impressive kit list – especially in Competition Pack guise – the F80 M3 Saloon is one of the best-value BMWs you can buy at the moment. And with supply close to exceeding demand, you can expect to negotiate a decent discount, too. Just make sure you stick to unmodified cars boasting a pristine provenance and no more than three owners. Launched in 2014, BMW's fifthgeneration F80 M3 was the first of its kind to feature turbo power, with a 431hp 3.0-litre S55B30T0 twin-turbo powerplant wedged under the bonnet. Buyers could choose between a six-speed manual version and a more contemporary sevenspeed M DCT model, with the vast majority opting for the latter. In a bid to save weight and increase…

New Z4 M40i Handschalter BMW has announced the Z4 Handschalter (Manual Switch), with the range-topping M40i model available for the first time with a six-speed manual gearbox. The Handschalter Pack brings retuned chassis technology,new wheels, and exclusive design features for both the exterior and interior. Under the bonnet sits the B58 twin-scroll turbo straight-six making 340hp from 5000-6500rpm and 369lb ft of torque from 1600-4500rpm. The six-speed manual gearbox has been developed exclusively for the Z4 M40i. It is a BMW modular transmission incorporating M-specific components for the gear set and shafts that has been modified for the straightsix engine'soutput. The outer shift mechanism, comprising the shift lever,its guide and the connection to the transmission, has likewise been custom-made for the Z4 M40i Handschalter Pack. With the manual gearbox, the…

FIRST DRIVE On paper,the idea of creating a sporty luxury limousine seems abit daft. After all, nobody buys a massive saloon such as the 7 Series to hoon around racetracks at outrageous speed, right? It's all about driving smoothly and silently to keep your passengers blissfully unaware of the world outside so they can go about their business deals in peace. That's the raison d'être of the i7, which marries that concept to its natural powertrain: the electric motor. Silent and efficient, it's perfect for a luxury saloon. Yet electric motors can also be immensely powerful and provide masses of torque, and it seems car makers are keen to make use of this wherever possible. Hence, the i7 M70 xDrive, which takes the existing i7 and turns it up to…

At just over 50% of the national average wage, £20,000 is no longer considered a big budget by some BMW buyers. But that doesn't mean it can't buy some pretty serious machinery. And if you're seeking value for money as well, then saloon models sometimes offer the richest pickings –especially if you steer clear of the most desirable M cars. This month, we've put three of the finest current UK saloon buys under the microscope, including a contemporary hybrid, a highperformance diesel and a luxury Grand Tourer. So whatever your personal preferences, there should be at least one £20,000 BMW saloon here that tickles your fancy. F30 335d xDrive M Sport Saloon (2013-2019) Potent, practical and parsimonious, the F30 335d xDrive M Sport is one of the best used BMWs…

The saloon has never been a staple of the M3 range. There was always a two-door, and there was always a convertible, but if you wanted four doors on your mid-size M machine, there was a point where the E36 was your only choice, with the saloon skipping the E30 and E46 generations. It wasn't until the E90 M3 came along that BMW decided to make it a permanent addition to the lineup, and there was much rejoicing. For many, the extra practicality offered by the saloon suddenly made the M3 a viable option for their lifestyle needs, and it also gave them a fast four-door option that wasn't the much larger M5. And while we personally prefer M3 Coupés up to the E92, the subsequent two generations just look…