New BMW Art Car… The 8 by Jeff Koons

Here goes BMW with yet another art car, bringing this tradition into its 7th decade. This time celebrated sculptor Jeff Koons has a go...

The 8 X JEFF KOONS

www.jeffkoons.com

1988 E30 318i Project - Check List:

 I will update this and cross things off as progress is made:

• Straighten steering wheel.
• Speedometer / Odometer inop.
• Temperature gauge inop. [THIS POST]
• Washer-jets / pump.
• No hot air from heater-blower. [THIS POST]
• Central locking malfunction.
• Instrument lights flicker / dimmer function inop.
• Clock inop. [THIS POST]

ENGINE:

• Rough idle / stalling when cold. [THIS POST]
• Exhaust too loud. [THIS POST]
• Clutch slave-cylinder leaking.

BODYWORK:

• Paint NSF wing.
• Repair rear valance.
• Touch up valance corners.
• Panel above rear lights.
• OSR wheel arch.

Late '90s BMW Crossover Concepts...

 A couple of interesting concepts here from the 1990s that you might not expect from BMW, but showing once again that they were well abreast of current trends and design cues that would become prevalent towards the end of that decade. 

The first, below, is this strange high-roofline runabout / city-car that seems to be a mix of Fiat's controversial Multipla and the bubble Nissan Micra that both came along soon after. This concept also pre-dates the BMW MINI (and the 1-Series) that arrived at the turn of the millennium and was perhaps the fore-concept of BMW's small car range after becoming aware of buyers desires for high-end hatch-backs following Audi's A3. Either way, it shows BMW were having a go at that small-car big-interior vibe that has now become the basic staple of small car design.

The next, below, is a compact, convertible, sports-car, SUV. Yes, BMW are covering a lot of bases with their concepts around this time and maybe, with this beast, trying to wrap too many trendy cars into one package. The high-clearance quasi-off-road look makes sense with the success of the then recently released X5, but in my opinion giving a taste of what would come along many years later, with a plethora of smaller, sportier SUVs like the X1, X3 and of course the X4 and X6 grand lifted coupes. Interestingly, this concept has integrated 'wrap-around' wheel-arches like the odd Chrysler PT Prowler retro sports-car from the late 90s, though without the open-wheel stance. Was this to pass certain road-laws but still give the high-clearance look of a 4x4? Perhaps these were removable if you were throwing knobbly-tyres on and going off-road?? I guess we will never know.

Awesome 2002 Ti race-car artwork by Lebor

Posted on r/BMW by u/Lebor

BMW BTCC 60th Anniversary Poster - E90 320Si, RAC team Colin Turkington - 'Stencil Art'

2002Ti, Works team 1965 - 'Pop Art'
E9 3.0 CSL Alpina, Works team 1973 - 'Collage Art'
E30 M3, Mobil team Frank Sytner - 'Tech Noir'
E36 318i, FINA team Steve Soper - 'Memphis Design'
E90 320Si, RAC team Colin Turkington - 'Stencil Art'

Era: 2009
Car: E90 320Si
Driver: Colin Turkington
Team: RAC Racing
Style: Stencil Art
Artist: Katie Edwards
Resolution: 1191 x 1684

What is Stencil art? - Stencil Art Wiki here.

These are a bit out of date, but I think they're great and I've been after some higher resolution versions for a while. BMW UK had them designed in 2015 to mark 60 years of competing in the BTCC, Super Touring and World Touring Car series, with the posters evoking a popular art style from each decade. Here, post-millenil Stencil art and Colin Turkington's 320Si.

BMW BTCC 60th Anniversary Poster - E36 318i, FINA team Steve Soper - 'Memphis Design' - [1191x1684]

2002Ti, Works team 1965 - 'Pop Art'
E9 3.0 CSL Alpina, Works team 1973 - 'Collage Art'
E30 M3, Mobil team Frank Sytner - 'Tech Noir'
E36 318i, FINA team Steve Soper - 'Memphis Design'
E90 320Si, RAC team Colin Turkington - 'Stencil Art'

Era: 1993
Car: E36 318i SE
Driver: Steve Soper
Team: FINA Racing
Style: Memphis Design
Artist: Yukai Du

What is Memphis design? - Memphis design Wiki here.

These are a bit out of date, but I think they're great and I've been after some higher resolution versions for a while. BMW UK had them designed in 2015 to mark 60 years of competing in the BTCC, Super Touring and World Touring Car series, with the posters evoking a popular art style from each decade. Here, Memphis design from the 1990s and Steve Soper's almighty FINA 318i.

BMW BTCC 60th Anniversary Poster - E30 M3 DTM, Frank Sytner 1988 - 'Tech Noir'

2002Ti, Works team 1965 - 'Pop Art'
E9 3.0 CSL Alpina, Works team 1973 - 'Collage Art'
E30 M3, Mobil team Frank Sytner - 'Tech Noir'
E36 318i, FINA team Steve Soper - 'Memphis Design'
E90 320Si, RAC team Colin Turkington - 'Stencil Art'

Era: 1988
Car: E30 M3 DTM
Driver: Frank Sytner
Team: Mobil Racing
Style: Tech Noir
Artist: Van Orton
Resolution: 1191 x 1684

What is Tech Noir? - Tech Noir Wiki here.

These are a bit out of date, but I think they're great and I've been after some higher resolution versions for a while. BMW UK had them designed in 2015 to mark 60 years of competing in the BTCC, Super Touring and World Touring Car series, with the posters evoking a popular art style from each decade. Here, 1980s Tech Noir design and the awesome E30 M3 DTM.

BMW BTCC 60th Anniversary Poster - 3.0 CSL Alpina - 'Collage Art'

2002Ti, Works team 1965 - 'Pop Art'
E9 3.0 CSL Alpina, Works team 1973 - 'Collage Art'
E30 M3, Mobil team Frank Sytner - 'Tech Noir'
E36 318i, FINA team Steve Soper - 'Memphis Design'
E90 320Si, RAC team Colin Turkington - 'Stencil Art'

Era: 1973
Car: E9 3.0 CSL Alpina
Team: BMW Works
Style: Collage Art
Artist: Martin O'Neill
Resolution: 1191 x 1684

What is Collage art? - Collage Art Wiki here.

These are a bit out of date, but I think they're great and I've been after some higher resolution versions for a while. BMW UK had them designed in 2015 to mark 60 years of competing in the BTCC, Super Touring and World Touring Car series, with the posters evoking a popular art style from each decade. Here, Collage art from the 1970s and the 3.0 CSL.

BMW BTCC 60th Anniversary Poster - 2002Ti Works Touring Car 1965 - 'Pop Art'

2002Ti, Works team 1965 - 'Pop Art'
E9 3.0 CSL Alpina, Works team 1973 - 'Collage Art'
E30 M3, Mobil team Frank Sytner - 'Tech Noir'
E36 318i, FINA team Steve Soper - 'Memphis Design'
E90 320Si, RAC team Colin Turkington - 'Stencil Art'

Era: 1965
Car: 2002 Ti Works Touring Car
Team: Factory
Style: Pop Art
Artist: Garry Walton
Resolution: 1191 x 1684

What is Pop Art? - Pop Art Wiki here.

These are a bit out of date, but I think they're great and I've been after some higher resolution versions for a while. BMW UK had them designed in 2015 to mark 60 years of competing in the BTCC, Super Touring and World Touring Car series, with the posters evoking a popular art style from each decade. Here, Pop Art from the 1960s and the works 2002 Ti.

My F10 530d: Removing the Police roof antenna...

After 3 years driving around with the Police aerial base on the roof of my F10, I decided to finally get rid of it.

I was able to access it by removing the third brake-light and bending the roof-lining down at the back.  This revealed the underside of the aerial base, which was held in place by a 15mm nut. I had thought the entire roof-lining would need to come down, but got away without doinh that so it is worth noting that this is an easy way to access the underneath of the 'shark-fin' roof antenna.

I had expected the base to be a 'stick-on' type, with a layer of adhesive underneath like a badge, but found this baby had been stuck down with a liberal amount of strong silicone-based sealant. A bit overkill considering the size and weight of the aerial-base, but I guess unmarked Police cars must still get a bit of vandalism... Sadly, the plastic top broke off so I was left with a snapped base and a hole in the roof of my car, meaning my chances of turning back were out of the question and I would have to see the removal through come what may.

So, like I say, I wish I had left the aerial-base on for the time being! As if the high-spot round the hole created by tightening the nut wasn't bad enough, even the gentlest of prising has left marks in the paint / lacquer... nightmare. But, alas, here we are so the question is what to do about it now?

A full paint repair would involve removing the raised rim from the hole, bridging from underneath with fibreglass-mat and P40 fibreglass-filler, keying a small circular area around the damage, smoothing off from above with body-filler and then somehow priming, painting and lacquering the affected area in sympathy with the rest of the roof... Whoa, this has created quite a lot of work here. For the time being a square of PVC-tape will have to do! Watch this space as the weather improves!

BMW Response Vehicle Owner's Manual

I can't imagine many people have this in their book-pack. BMW supply cars directly to UK Police constabularies, so this is their in-house user manual for controlling the lights and sirens no less. It shows even the switch-gear being factory fitted with buttons to match the BMW fascia, though I am not sure what level of spec mine had. I guess this is another easter-egg gift that comes with owning an ex-Police car, along with tons of extra wiring and air-con that stinks of sweat...

If I had the money...

Classic & Sports Car Magazine is full of things you'd give your right arm for, but this ex Spa prepared E12 530i touring car caught my eye. I've been hankering after an E12 for a good while now, but the engine swap / new turbo on my E60 means I don't have the 45k odd Euros lying around. Shame, as it has the M1 developed straight-six engine (M30) that made it into the M535i and would sure give a modern M5 a run for its money...

If you fancy it yourself and have deep pockets, here is the link to it on French auto-salon HistoricCars.fr - http://www.historiccars.fr/bmw-530-juma-bastos-24h-spa-francorchamp-1981.html.

BMWs at Tatton Hall Classic Car Show 2012

For the full story on Tatton Hall Classic Car show 2012 and over 120 pics go here: Tatton Hall Park Classic Car Show 2012 [on my other blog: http://retrorunabouts.blogspot.co.uk/]

The BMW UK Owners Club had a mighty big stand celebrating the Queen's silver Jubilee, with all manner of classic M cars and the brand new M6.

Alpina B5 Turbo E28 5-series was superbad and superclean in black.

 AC Schnitzer sorted E46 M3.

E30 M3, a genuine left-hand-drive article.

Tidy E30 325i with Alpina wheels parked up amongst the Ford RS owners club.

Some of the best BMWs were away from the OC stands, including this pristine green 2002 I found tucked away behind a load of Volkswagens.

The condition of even the finest chrome work is absolutely concourse, the paint and wheels original.

 It could be said that the 2002 has seen better days, but the owners proudly display a picture of them driving the car from new in the early '70s and it looks in a shabbier state then.

 Grilles and bumper chrome work all look exactly as if they've just rolled out of the Black Forest.

A little stand previously hidden by the busy food stalls revealed a couple of sweet 635 CSi...

 ...and this luminous yellow 3.0 CSL 'Batmobile' race car, which was one of my favourite cars of the show.

I was being optimistic by hoping to see a standard 3.0 CSL at the show and was not disappointed because thats what this is. The car started life as a regular CSL before being bought as a wreck by the current owners and rebuilt to exact 'Batmobile' spec.

The level of detail to the aero-body is so good that the car can't really be called a replica - it's more of an upgrade.

415 wide rear tyres - like a Lamborghini Countach or Bugatti Veyron.