Now, that it’s modified, we might think it lost its appeal. In my opinion, it’s exactly the opposite. I can’t say I like the strongly modified classic cars, but when the mods are made within the acceptable limits, I totally love them!

And this 320i retained that original beauty, while gaining a sporty stance. Let’s spot the new features. There’s a new, superb Sepang Bronze body paint, which can be also found on the center of the Ronal Racing rims.

There’s been installed a universal Air Lift suspension kit, with digital management. A new, custom subframe has been built to help the wheels fit perfectly under the arches.
Onboard, an Italvolanti wooden steering wheel was installed and, though not perfectly matched with the suede-textured RSKT1 shift knob, it adds class to the whole interior. However, they both have brown elements that resemble the body color.

The engine isn’t modified at all. It’s the same 2 liter M10 carburetor engine, producing 123 hp. Though the original model had four front lights, this item only has two. Which, from my point of view, is better, because it leaves the aspect simple. Anyone who drove a carburetor engine knows that unique acceleration feeling, so I don’t think the owner will ever make any conversion.

However, an engine swap shouldn’t be impossible, since the BMW Motorsport specialists fitted a Formula 2 engine, back in the days when replacing an engine didn’t take so many calculations and simulations as now: late 70’s. It only took 12 weeks, a big engine and an E21 BMW 320i.

The post E21 BMW 320i looks neat, yet aggressive appeared first on BMW Car Tuning BLOG - BMW Car Modifications and Customization.

And it’s exactly our kind of car: not too flashy, but definitely a good looking car! It’s modified as much as it should, maintaining most of the original parts and adding a few extras that fit flawlessly. And it’s done exactly in time to enjoy the summer sun passing through its sunroof.

The car is owned by Blaz Tomanzin, an enthusiast car lover from Slovenia. He restored it carefully, to bring back its original aspect from 1973. The whole process of bringing the model to life took one year. It was filled with joy, but the biggest reward is now, that everything is in its place. And what a reward!

The color Blaz chose is the original Baltic Blue. The legendary 635 CSI looks astonishing painted like this, but the color looks equally good on this 2002. Just like the car, it’s not ostentatious at all and it’s as original as the car’s condition.

Onboard, the combination of leather and fabric looks spectacular and, same time, keeps the original aspect. Adding a wooden steering wheel and gearstick knob brings the whole atmosphere in the luxury side. That’s the best thing to do: make it simple, yet exquisite.

To make the 15 inch polished BBS rims look perfect, Blaz replaced the original suspension with a new kit, which has been tuned to achieve the perfect balance between the aggressive stance and the best performance.

This is, without any doubt, the best 2002 I’ve ever seen!

The post BMW 2002 looks as original as it can be appeared first on BMW Car Tuning BLOG - BMW Car Modifications and Customization.

This particular item had been assembled in 1971, meaning it left the factory’s production line at the middle of the ’02 Series production period. Nick, the actual owner, found it on the internet, searching specifically for this model.

It’s pretty difficult to find one in Australia, giving the fact that it should be a right-hand drive car. But he was lucky enough to find one in his neighborhood. He made an appointment and went to see it the same day.

Well, the condition wasn’t the one expected by him. Still, he was wise enough to see the beauty beneath the cracked paint and, refusing to let it die, he decided to buy it. The two good things were that the car ran smoothly and it was registered. And it’s a well-known thing that in Australia it’s pretty hard to register a car, especially an “unusual” one.

The second day, he came back to take the car and all the way back home he tried to adapt his style to the old-fashioned BMW 2002: no disc brakes, no servo assistance, no fuel injection. It’s a slightly different technique of driving, if you’re not used to this kind of cars.

A week after, he started rebuild it to match his taste. But first, he started to buy the maintenance parts. However, he found hard to refuse the BBS RS rims and the Recaro RS seats, therefore buying them from the beginning.

Because Nick was confident he could paint the car by himself, even without a proper equipment, he started taking off the old paint, applied a primer and then a white paint. The result is impressive for a back yard paint job, but it took 3 months to achieve it.

Then, he perfectly fitted an aftermarket air suspension kit, with a little luck and a lot of measurements. Onboard, some elements, like the carpet and the seals needed either to be replaced, or rejuvenated.

He didn’t do anything to the original engine. Yet. Because his plan is to replace the original engine with an E30 one, which seems to be pretty difficult, because of the right-hand drive.
What’s the conclusion? Another BMW 2002 has been saved, thanks to a BMW enthusiast!

Source: stanceworks.com

The post BMW 2002 receives a second life appeared first on BMW Car Tuning BLOG - BMW Car Modifications and Customization.

The car had been assembled with only one year before BMW ceased the production of the E12 generation. The interesting fact is that the M 535i has been assambled only in the last two years of the production life, therefore finding an item, not to mention finding it in flawlessly condition, is pretty hard. So, why not building one from a 528i?

This was the case here: instead of searching a very rare 535i, Ron Perry found a 528i in poor condition, but with only 49.000 miles shown on the odometer. And once he had found it, why keeping it original, when he could modify it to enhance its charisma?

To bring it in such a beautiful form, he took off every single piece from the body and restored it to the factory condition. The bodywork was completely cleaned, and painted in the identical shade of silver as the original model.

Then, all the parts have been assembled to perfectly match the quality, shine and function as back in 1980. Getting onboard, other surprises are waiting for the driver (or, should I say racer): an inspired mix of original and new elements creates a unique atmosphere. The blue color of the door trim, upholstery and carpet resembles to the original color scheme, while the dashboard, wrapped in black suede and the two front seats give an even sportier feeling.

“La piece de resistance” is the Alpina steering wheel, which completes the exquisite aspect of the interior. An extra touch of elegance is offered by the wooden gear stick knob, which perfectly matches the doors wooden elements.

Under the hood, there’s a big surprise. Willing to transform the 528i into a powerful M535i, the Vintage Motorsport Group team started to modify the 181 hp and 235 Nm M30 engine. The aim was to equal the 210 hp and 310 Nm of the M90 unit, which equipped the original top-model. Now, the 528i became a beautiful 535i, who’s dynamic performance are in par with its looks.

Finally, the jewel has been lowered even more, using Air Lift Performance struts, but can go back to the original ground clearance anytime, to maintain the original model’s ride quality. More, new H&R sway bars ensure a boost in the fast corners’ performance, while the polished 17 inches BBS rims are wide enough to keep the grip at high levels.

Source: stanceworks.com

The post A fascinating piece of history: BMW 535i by Vintage Motorsport Group appeared first on BMW Car Tuning BLOG - BMW Car Modifications and Customization.

As the auto online magazine describes it, the BMW E9 3.0 CSI “is simple by any measure, but its retained elegance is what solidifies the car`s impact.” This means that in order to reach perfectness, Heine`s E9 had to undergo some serious changes, carried out in stages.

And the pure monochromatic black-and-chrome look of the car, along with the standout 17-inch BBS RS alloy wheels make the E9 a genuine and a-one-of-a-kind model. The next thing Heine did, was installing other cool aftermarket parts, like the famous H&R coil-overs, which added it a certain sporty feel, especially since the model had recently participated on a road rally.

Moving inside, the same attention to details was carefully observed by Heine`s interviewer. He couldn’t miss out the black Nardi steering wheel and Alpina shift knob, perfectly complementing the wood trim interior. The black leather seat and door cards are also matching the exterior deep black.

And the result is this perfect symphony and the exquisite set of photographs that can be admired below.

The post H&R Factory: Christian Heine Shares Its Passion for the BMW E9 3.0 CSI appeared first on BMW Car Tuning BLOG - BMW Car Modifications and Customization.