I reckon it’s fair to say that, historically, BMW has had more successes than failures, when it comes to styling. Perhaps the duds are the ones that come to mind (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 imposing but 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. Maybe we, as BMW fans, aren’t so open to change, but I’d still be surprised if there are people out there who would look at some of BMW’s latest designs and praise the styling. BMW’s back catalogue is filled with cars that looked great when they were new and look even better now, and even the cars that were perhaps a little unusual when new have aged so well, and BMW fans worldwide have nothing but love for them. And all that preamble is because this issue has a selection of older BMWs that are exactly as I described – cars that have always been loved and cars that have grown to be loved, and there are some gorgeous cars for you to enjoy.
I have to start with this month’s cover car, and this E30 M3 is something else. This is a car that has been universally loved and showered with praise from the day it was launched, and its appeal has only grown over the years. This stunning Diamond black example has not only been refreshed, refurbished and treated to a selection of tasteful upgrades, it’s got a 2.4-litre S14 under the bonnet, making 310 naturally aspirated horsepower, and it’s awesome.
We’ve also got a Z3 M Coupé, a car that raised eyebrows when new with its styling and then promptly singed them off with its fiery performance, and now it is a highly sought-after modern classic. This example, finished in bright Estoril blue and sitting on air suspension over stunning BBS split-rims, is simply stunning. And speaking of highly
sought-after modern classics, we’ve got an E46 M3 in this issue, a car that has never been anything less than utterly desirable. This example has been built to be a CSL beater, and it’s an absolutely sensational machine. And then there’s the E31 850CSi we also have for you this month, a car that went from looking futuristic, to outdated, to painfully
cool over the years, and this Individual example is something truly special. But that’s only scratching the surface of everything you’ll find in this issue, and there’s so much more for you to enjoy.
Next month, we’ve got an awesome S54-swapped E36 M3, and it’s a hardcore build that will blow you away, so don’t miss it! For now, please enjoy everything the May issue of Total BMW has to offer, and I will see you next time.

Elizabeth de Latour
Editor

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