Total BMW Magazine

27/02/2026

Building an E30 M3 is sacred territory, which makes this Group A–inspired example so compelling. Designed for both road and circuit use, it channels touring car DNA through carefully chosen, period-correct upgrades rather than modern excess. Engine, suspension and braking improvements sharpen the car without erasing its character.

Weight reduction and geometry tweaks give it a focused edge while keeping it usable outside the track. This isn’t a tribute built for posing — it’s a respectful evolution of one of BMW’s greatest icons.

Road and track — is this the perfect E30 M3 balance?

Tech Spec: Group A E30 M3
Engine: 2.3-litre four-cylinder S14B23, Group N engine mounts, Sport Evo 48mm throttle bodies, exhaust manifold and flywheel, DTM carbon fibre intake with 18cm primaries and carbon fibre snorkel, re-honed and balanced block, JE racing pistons, Schrick 284/276 cams, Siemens Deka 630cc injectors, Group A gasket set, Spal electric fan, Mishimoto alloy radiator, larger oil cooler, baffled sump, modified crankcase ventilation, custom twin stainless race exhaust with crossover and cat delete, Emerald K6 ECU with twin map switching

Transmission: Getrag 265 five-speed manual gearbox, fully rebuilt, C3 competition clutch and slave cylinder, Group A selector and alloy gear stick, Group N transmission mounts, Group A oil sensor, balanced propshaft, fully rebuilt diff with 4.27 final drive ratio and 25% lock-up, finned differential case, gearbox oil temperature sensor

Chassis: 8×17” (front and rear) Compomotive TH wheels with 225/45 (front and rear) Toyo R888R tyres, powder coated front crossmember, Vorshlag fully adjustable race camber/caster plates, 2.5” coil-over spring perch with single-row race bearings, Leda fully adjustable shortened front struts, Eibach 2.5×7” 500lb coil springs, Eibach 2.5” 40lb helper springs, Zone Motorsport eccentric rear wishbone racing bushes, H&R anti-roll bar with race mount, Sport Evo aluminium front wishbones, Powerflex bushes, power steering deleted and replaced with manual quick rack, powder coated rear subframe, GAZ fully adjustable shortened rear shocks, Eibach 2.5×10” 250lb coil springs, Eibach 2.5” 40lb helper springs, H&R anti-roll bar, alloy race mounts and Powerflex bushes, Brembo four-pot calipers and vented discs with aluminium bell housings (front), Moseley Motorsport-supplied callipers and discs (rear), braided hoses

Exterior: Shell media blasted to bare metal, fully seam welded, painted original Alpine white III, Warsteiner livery, Sport Evo arches, thin-slat front grille and bonnet rubber seals, fibreglass bonnet with twin pin quick release, ABS front bumper with twin pin quick release, Group A carbon fibre front splitter, cold air intakes for brakes, door mirrors (driver’s side feeding cold air to driver) and single-wiper conversion, Bosch high-output headlights and main beam, FIA-approved towing eye, engine cutout, plumbed-in fire extinguisher switch, ABS rear bumper and boot lid with twin pin quick release, Group A rear spoiler with adjustable Gurney flap, Armourfend on stone chip-vulnerable areas

Interior: Group A roll-cage incorporating front and rear suspension mounting points and differential, Ramsport heated windscreen, custom-built lightweight loom, Perspex windows with slider kit on driver’s door, flocked dash, Group A instrument panel with 8000rpm tacho, engine oil temperature, gearbox oil temperature, differential oil temperature, engine water temperature, engine oil pressure and fuel gauges, plumbed-in fire extinguisher switch, ignition switch, push-start, Spa digital speedometer, Group A gear selector, Fire Sense 5kg plumbed-in fire extinguisher for both driver and engine bay, Odyssey Extreme Racing 25 battery and aluminium mounting bracket, FIA battery isolator, Sparco Pro 2000 FIA-approved seat with steel side mounts, Sabelt six-point 2” harness and stress plates, OMP Corsica 330mm suede steering wheel and alloy hub, Longacre wide-angle race rear-view mirror, original door cards and rear panels, FIA-approved foam-filled fuel cell in spare wheel well with rollover valve, Group A rear-mounted aero filler cap with fast-fill alloy tube, Facet competition fuel pump with alloy filter bracket and swirl pot

27/02/2026

1JZ BMW E36 M3 – The Reborn Identity

When the original S52 let go, Palmer Sanderson didn’t rebuild it — he rethought everything. This E36 M3 now runs a turbocharged Toyota 1JZ-GTE, chosen for one reason: reliability under abuse. Built as a drift car first and foremost, the swap was engineered to be simple, serviceable and brutally effective at the track.

Inside, it’s stripped, caged and purposeful, with Bride seats, a deep-dish Key’s wheel and just enough audio to keep old-school hip-hop alive between runs. It’s not built to please purists — it’s built to slide, lap after lap.

Sacrilege or the perfect drift engine swap?

TECH SPEC
Engine and Transmission: 2.5-litre straight-six turbo 1JZ-GTE, Koyorad track M3 radiator, Koyorad oil cooler, Earl’s oil thermostat, Hexa Garage custom 3” V-band exhaust, Odyssey Fab turbo elbow, Aeromotive FPR, Deatschwerks DW300 fuel pump, Driftmotion CT15B large billet wheel turbo with ceramic coating, GReddy front-mount intercooler, custom intake for J-pipe delete, ARC blow-off valve, carbon-Kevlar engine cover, Driftmotion power-steering delete kit, AN turbo lines and fittings, drive-by-wire delete kit and oil filter relocation kit, Spal 16” high-CFM fan, Xcessive engine mounts. Five-speed manual gearbox, South Bend Clutch six-paddle Stage 2 drag/drift clutch, Collins flywheel, Collins transmission adapter plate, OEM BMW short-shift, polyurethane shift and transmission bushes

Chassis: 9×18” ET-15 (front) and 10.5×18” ET0 (rear) Work VS-KF wheels with polished lips and centres, 225/35 (front) and 255/35 (rear) Federal SS595 tyres, Feal 441 coilovers, Swift springs, E46 LCAs, Nerptech offset trailing arm bushes, SLR angle kit, SLR castor adjusters, SPC camber arms, Whiteline adjustable front anti-roll bar, Ground Control blade-type adjustable rear anti-roll bar, custom ARB end links, strut tower and trailing arm reinforcement plates, OEM X-brace, Active Autowerke diff brace, Street Faction front and rear bash bars, Chase Bays brake booster delete, Wilwood brake bias valve, StopTech pads, Brembo discs, stainless brake lines, Nerptech handbrake extension

Exterior: Formula Red, Felony Form wings, AC Schnitzer roof spoiler, custom rear spoiler, Trackspec bonnet vents, D-Magic livery design, eBay winglets, LED lighting including headlights and Depo rear lights, Bluetooth LED wheel-well lighting

Interior: Key’s Racing 350mm deep-dish steering wheel, Bride Zeta III L sparkle-back driver seat, Bride Brix passenger seat, Tomei tall shifter, A’PEXi ERO Flasher strobe kit, Defi Advance ZD multi-display, Defi boost gauge, Innovate SCG-1 wideband and boost controller, Alpine CDA-117 head unit, Alpine PDX-600.1 amp, Polk component speakers, dual Pioneer 8” DVC subwoofers

27/02/2026

Turning an E46 M3 into a four-door sleeper was always going to raise eyebrows. Adding 500whp ensures it can’t be ignored. The turbocharged S54 delivers brutal performance backed by the practicality of a saloon shell.

Subtle exterior, savage drivetrain.

Is this the ultimate sleeper spec?

Tech Spec:
Engine: 3.2-litre straight-six S54B32; OEM BMW WPC-treated rod bearings; SPA T4 turbo manifold; BorgWarner S366 SXE 1.0 A/R turbo; 3” cat-less downpipe; 3” intercooler; 3” cold-side piping; 2.5” hot-side piping; 4” turbo cold air intake behind passenger side fog light; Tial 50mm BOV and 44mm wastegate; custom aluminum S54 intake manifold; all stainless steel black PTFE oil lines and AN fittings; custom wastegate; 3” downpipe; Status Gruppe 3” section 2; Eisenmann Sport rear silencer; custom oil scavenge pump solution; Innovate LC-2 wideband sensor and controller; Tuned by Hassan @ HTE Performance.

Power and torque: 530whp and 430lb ft wtq @ 11.5 psi.

Transmission: Getrag 420G six-speed manual gearbox; DKM Twin-Disc Clutch system; M3 3.62 differential with L*D.

Chassis: 8×19” (front) and 9.5×19” (rear) Style 163M wheels with 225/35 (front) and 255/30 (rear) Continental Extreme tires; DGR coilovers with adjustable shocks and adjustable camber/caster mounting plates; BMW M Performance Carbon Fiber Strut Brace; E46 M3 lower front control arms; E46 M3 rear trailing arms; SPC adjustable rear control arms for camber; AKG Rear Subframe Reinforcement Plate Kit; poly front control arm bush set and differential mount bush set; aluminum rear trailing arm bushes; poly rear subframe bush set and spherical RTAB; front control arm bushes and engine mounts; Turner Motorsport front and rear anti-roll bars; CSL blue tag quick-ratio steering rack; CSL MK60 ABS/DSC Motorsport system; Porsche Brembo 996 911 calipers with CSL rotors and stainless steel lines (front and rear).

Exterior: Full respray in Imola red 405/2; custom front M3 Saloon front arches; OEM M3 bonnet; OEM M3 Euro front bumper with carbon-Kevlar reinforcement bar; G5-BRT OEM M3 bi-xenon headlight retrofit; European infrared Climate Comfort windscreen; 2M Autowerks custom 1×1 weave carbon fiber roof; OEM M3 side skirts; cut-out and weld-in M3 rear quarter panels; cut-out and weld-in M3 rear boot floor to run a full M3 exhaust; weld-in proper mounting points for M3 lower underside V-brace; OEM M3 rear bumper with carbon-Kevlar reinforcement bar; Seibon CSL boot lid.

Interior: Complete interior refinished in OEM BMW Anthracite M Texture Alcantara and black Nappa leather F2AT; E46 M3 front seats on manual seat bases with custom-retrofitted width adjustable side bolster and lumbar system; rear saloon seats custom reupholstered to match OEM M3 rear seats with integrated arches and M texture cloth; door panels reupholstered in F2AT M texture cloth; Alcantara slicktop (non-sunroof) suede headlining; M3 CSL Alcantara steering wheel with functional M track mode button. OEM M3 illuminated gear k**b and leather gaiter with Alcantara handbrake gaiter; custom OLED display integrated into M3 cluster in former SMG LCD section with boost and AFR display; custom GFB G-Force III electronic boost controller mounted in dashboard center vent; rare/Euro-only/retrofitted parts including electric rear sunshade; rear door sun shades; BMW 2kg halon fire extinguisher (no USA cars came with this); warning triangle and first aid kit (no USA cars came with this); electric folding mirrors (no USA cars came with this); PDC; auto-dimming heated side mirror glass (E90 retrofit); TPMS; retractable headlight washers.

27/02/2026

The BMW E38 7 Series was built to isolate its occupants from the road — this one takes a very different approach. Retaining the factory V12, it’s been enhanced with subtle performance upgrades that sharpen response while preserving the car’s flagship character. It’s fast, smooth and unapologetically excessive.

Suspension and braking upgrades help manage the size and weight, while the exterior remains close to original specification. It’s luxury tuning done quietly, for those who prefer understatement over spectacle.

Is a modified luxury barge the ultimate sleeper?

Tech Spec:
Engine and transmission: 5.4-litre V12 M73B54; Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph engine cover; cold air induction system; custom exhaust system; custom tune. Rebuilt ZF five-speed automatic gearbox.

Chassis: 11.5×19” (front) and 13×19” (rear) Heritage Ebisu three-piece split-rims; 5” (front) and 7” (rear) lips; 265/35 (front) and 305/35 (rear) tyres; AirREX bags and struts; Air Lift Performance 3P management; OEM BBK.

Exterior: Full repaint in BMW Schwarz 2 (668); custom steel wide-body; corner flags; custom Lightwerkz demon-eye headlights.

Interior: Extended leather; starlight headlining; Pappel Natur 0200 wood trim; custom E46 SMG steering wheel; custom boot install; E65 headrests front and rear; European-spec picnic tables and armrest; OEM swivel tables; OEM B-pillar phone and newspaper holder; center console phone; E65 fridge; headrest monitors.

06/02/2026

😍Such a cool car!
Who else loves an inconic Group A livery? What's your favourite race car livery - drop a photo in the comments! 👇

29/01/2026

Under the understated shell of this E60 lies a monster. A fully built 2JZ swap delivers around 800hp, turning BMW’s executive saloon into a genuine supercar-slayer.

Custom mounts, drivetrain upgrades and bespoke mapping make the swap work seamlessly.

Is the 2JZ still the ultimate swap engine? Let us know if you think there's a better engine swap in the comments 👇

TECH SPEC:
Engine: Fully forged 3.0-litre straight-six 2JZ, Arias pistons, Manley H Tuff rods, ARP bolts, uprated wrist pins, race bearings, ARP main studs, all machine work bored, honed, skimmed and polished, crank and rods balanced, GSC beehive valve spring kit with titanium retainers, Kelford D 272/278 cams, GTE head gasket, ARP head bolts, ATI crank damper, Gates racing blue belt, Fidanza cam pulleys, Mechman 170 amp alternator, Bosch inlet air temp sensor, Focus/Fiesta cam and crank sensors, R35 GT-R coil packs, Bosch 1000cc injectors, twin-feed fuel rail, billet 90mm TB, 2JZ TPS, Otaku inlet manifold, custom intercooler piping, Turbosmart OPR 40 feed to turbo, Turbosmart 44mm external wastegate, Turbosmart 1200 fuel reg, K&N air filter, Pulsar BorgWarner S369 SXE turbo, Walton Motorsport custom equal-length exhaust manifold with T4 twin-scroll single gate, Walton Motorsport custom downpipe, 3.5” turbo-back stainless exhaust with single rear silencer and downturned tip, Bosch wideband knock sensors, LDperformance wideband lambda sensor and exhaust gas temp gauge, MAC three-port boost solenoid, twin Bosch 044 fuel pumps and swirl pot mounted in boot, Teflon an-6 fuel lines throughout, 200SX triple-core aluminium radiator, 2×12” Spal fans, Supra triple-core intercooler, silicone boost and radiator hoses, Link G4+ Storm ECU, Link custom wiring loom and 4 bar map sensor

Power & Torque: 800hp and 630lb ft

Transmission: E60 530d ZF GS6-53DZ six-speed manual gearbox, PMC gearbox conversion kit and twin-paddle clutch, modified M5 propshaft, M5 L*D rear diff, driveshafts and hubs

Chassis: 8.5×19” (front) and 9.5×19” (rear) Style 172 wheels with 245/35 (front) and 275/30 (rear) tyres, Bilstein B8 dampers, 50/60mm lowering springs (front/rear), adjustable front and rear anti-roll bar drop links, Powerflex poly bushes, PSB poly rear lower bushes in arms, E60 M5 brakes

Exterior: Stock M Sport styling

Interior: B2D short-shift, digital vent gauge, A-pillar gauges for boost, water temperature and oil pressure, Link 10” tablet display

20/01/2026

🚗Feature Car of the Day - This E30 ditches combustion entirely. A Tesla electric drivetrain replaces the original engine, transforming the classic BMW into a silent, torque-rich restomod.

Custom battery packaging and bespoke electronics integration make the conversion usable on the road without losing the E30’s balance.

What are you thoughts: Future-proof classic or total sacrilege?
What car would you EV-swap?

Tech Spec:
“Engine” & Transmission: Tesla Model S 85 large drive unit with open-source logic board controller by Damien Maguire, fully programmable with regen braking, dual 400V DC Chevy Volt lithium battery packs for 32kwh/approx. 100 miles of range, Chevy Volt DC/DC converter, Davies Craig electric water pump for motor, batteries and charger cooling, Chase Bays brake booster delete kit. Single-gear 9:1 transaxle, Quaife ATB differential

Power: Approx. 410whp

Chassis: 8.5×17” ET20 (front and rear) APEX ARC-8 wheels with 235/40 (front) and 255/40 (rear) tyres, Koni Yellow adjustable shocks, Ireland Engineering coilover sleeves with 350lb (front) and 1000lb (rear) springs, Ground Control camber plates, Ireland Engineering 25mm front anti-roll bar, Condor Speed Shop bushes, power steering pump delete kit with Z3 1.9 steering rack

Exterior: Matt white wrap, M Tech 2 kit, J1772 and Chademo DC fast charging ports located behind flip-up grille with custom-designed hinge system, black kidney grilles, smoked headlights, indicators, repeaters and rear lights

Interior: M-Rain seats, doorcards and gaiters by NineStitch NYC with fabric by ASC Fabrics, flocked dash, custom-designed forward-neutral-reverse switch gear selector, red cloth door pulls, Bavarian Restoration custom gauge cluster with amps x100 tachometer and battery charge gauge

22/11/2025

15% off pressure washers this week thanks to our friends at Fast Car!

💥 GEAR DEAL – PRE–BLACK FRIDAY 💥
⏳ Limited time! Pre–Black Friday exclusive discount. Get 15% off all Core and Excellent machines when you visit the link below. Offer ends 27/11/2025.

👉 Grab your Nilfisk Excellent pressure washer here: https://bittyhub.com/nilfisk160
Enter code 'FC15' at the checkout for 15% off pressure washers!

Why do you want one? Check out our latest video as we prepare a Mk3 Ford Es**rt Cabriolet for winter storage using the Nilfisk Excellent 160 machine to see why!

🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube Sunday at 6pm!

Tag a mate who always “forgets” to prep their car for winter…

19/09/2025

This 335i has lived through Liberty Walk, Pandem widebody, show days and street duty — now packing 400bhp and serious presence. A proper show + go build with deep roots.
Full build story is live in Gtechniq Build Masters on the Fast Car YouTube channel - search , and don't forget to subscribe!

14/09/2025

Well this could get interesting...👀🍿

6PM TONIGHT - Chris Harris on 'MODIFIED' Cars!

Our exclsive interview with Chris Harris on Cars premieris live on YouTube tonight at 6pm (GMT).

We dive into his world of modified cars, get Chris' unfiltered thoughts on Verstappen, and what really went down behind the scenes at Top Gear .

If you love high-performance machines, wild builds, and straight-up car talk, this one’s for you. From drift cars to F1 legends, Chris keeps it real and delivers the car content we’ve all been waiting for, he even says that the Mk7 Golf GTi is PEAK car and that he was a fan of the Max Power and Fast Car era!

Link in comments!

13/09/2025

Any BMWs attending INTAKE show next weekend?

Drop a pic of the car you're taking in the comments 👇