Ballarat Chatter - BMW Car Club Ballarat

Ballarat Chatter
Magazine of the
BMW Car Club, Ballarat, Inc
Serving Country Victoria
Volume 8 : Edition 1 : September 2015
Happy BMW Motoring
BMW CAR CLUB – BALLARAT
OFFICE BEARERS
Peter Butters
President &
Newsletter Editor
Ray Barber
Secretary &
Club Permit Officer
Max Prentice
Treasurer
Bruce Turner
Vice President
Rob Mullins
Web Master
Graeme Burt
Committee Member
Nonie Robertson
Committee Member
Brian Robertson
Committee Member
The things you need to know …..
The BMW Car Club Ballarat, Inc. is a fully accepted member of BMW Clubs Australia. The opinions
expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the Club or its Management Group.
BMW Car Club Ballarat –
President’s 2015 AGM Annual Report
As President It is my pleasure to report on the past twelve
months of the BMW Car Club Ballarat.
Prentice’s for relocating to Ballarat and thereby denying us
our annual bonfire!
We have enjoyed numerous events and trips. We journeyed
to the Plough Inn at Myrniong for an enjoyable dinner and
evening, we provided some of our BMW vehicles for the
Springfest Display at Lake Wendouree where there was an
amazing array of veteran and vintage vehicles for inspection,
and we also partook of an enjoyable breakfast nearby to
compliment the day. We had our Xmas Function at the
Moorabool Reservoir which has been that venue for now
numerous enjoyable events and just prior to Christmas we
had a good turnout for an evening Dinner Meal at the City
Oval hotel. We had a wet initiation to the New Year with our
twilight run to Queenscliff but were rescued by Brian &
Nonie after relocating to their residence at Ocean Grove.
Late January saw us at Ray & Jo’s Redbank property at
Dunnstown where unfortunately for our hosts the event is so
successful it has become an annual event.
Locally we attended at the Ballarat BMW premises on a
Thursday evening to inspect the new BMW M4 and
gratefully accepted their hospitality.
Mid February saw an enjoyable Twilight Run to Pykes Creek
for yet more refreshment. For organising the very successful
three day Coonawarra event in March we must thank Clem
& Jim Prince for delighting so many, whilst April saw a run to
the Bellarine Peninsular for a great sunny day and mini golf.
We had an enjoyable evening meal at the Royal Mail in early
May followed by the President’s Luncheon at the historic
hotel at Inverleigh mid month, and we thank the BMW
Organisation for providing the gifts which were distributed
at this event. July saw a run to the Little Hard Hills hotel at
Enfield for yet another successful Xmas in July event which
was followed in August by another great run to inspect cars,
how lucky the ladies are ! at the Beeac hotel, and to enjoy
another amazing sized meal, which is becoming another
regular event. At this time however I must chastise the
Thanks to Bruce Turner Federation University are designing
an updated website for us as a student project.
On behalf of our Club I attended the BMW Clubs Australia
annual conference in Melbourne which I found interesting,
and fortunately for me I had a short drive to Melbourne,
unlike the others who flew in from Australia wide.
I would like to thank all the members of the Committee for
their assistance and input, their constructive event ideas and
good will. The Committee meetings are an enjoyable social
event.
Membership is always a concern with respect to numbers,
that is a problem which is universally an issue, and BMW Car
Clubs are not exempt, apart from the Melbourne Car & Bike
clubs which are by far the largest BMW Club Memberships in
Australia. I thank all our members for their involvement, and
particularly those who regularly attend events.
May I wish you all a successful, enjoyable and fulfilling
coming twelve months, and sheer BMW motoring pleasure.
Best wishes to all.
Peter Butters …… President
[email protected]
In This Issue –
Xmas in July – Little Hard Hills hotel Sunday July 19
Run to the Beeac Hotel for Lunch Sat August 15
BMW Ballarat Launch of updated Series 1 Thurs Sept 3
BMW Car Club Ballarat AGM at Royal Mail Friday Sept 4
The BMW John Player Special Story
Upcoming Events
Committee Contact Points
BMW from the NET
XMAS IN JULY – LITTLE HARD HILLS HOTEL
Sunday July 19th
Another most enjoyable Xmas in July function at Enfield.
RUN TO THE BEEAC HOTEL FOR LUNCH
Saturday August 15th
We had yet another most enjoyable run to the Beeac Hotel for an expected amazing meal
based on past experiences, and a very informative and most enjoyable inspection of
Iain’s vehicles of note and the benefit of his motoring and historic vehicle knowledge.
We thank him again for his generosity of time and look forward to future visits.
BALLARAT BMW – Launch of updated Series 1
and Showrooms
Thursday September 3
AGM at the ROYAL MAIL HOTEL
Friday September 4
Office Bearers for the coming year
President
Vice President
Secretary
Peter Butters
Bruce Turner
Ray Barber
Treasurer
Committee Members
Club Permit Officer
Magazine Editor
Max Prentice
Graeme Burt
Brian Robertson
Nonie Robertson
Ray Barber
Peter Butters
The John Player Special Story
IN 1980, established touring car racing ace Allan Grice travelled to Europe in search of a suitable base car
on which to build a Group C racing car which would conform to the rules of the day relating to Australia’s
then-current touring car regulations. These were the days of the Holden A9X and SLR5000, Ford Falcon
and Chevrolet Camaro racing cars complete with guard extensions and quite wild aerodynamic devices
which provided excellent racing and it was Grice’s intention to build a car that would foot it with those cars.
He settled on a BMW E24 635CSi Group 2 racing car, orange and green, which had been damaged in a
racing incident.
Grice was contracted to Craven Mild, a cigarette brand of the day, which had sponsored his very successful
Chevrolet Corvair sports sedan racing car. The damaged BMW was returned to Australia to be rebuilt into a
Group C car and this was duly completed. The car featured a single-cam M30 3.5-litre engine and altered
body work but was largely “as found” with its racing roll cage, suspension and brakes.
Enter John Player Special, another cigarette brand from the same stable and its iconic brand colours of
black with gold highlights. At this stage, the story becomes a little cloudy and I apologise if the version I
have is not quite as it was. Enter also Frank Gardner, Australia’s “other” Grand Prix star and a hard, laconic
and genuine racer of all sorts, be they British touring cars and a veteran of numerous Le Mans entries.
From what I understand, BMW Australia (as it was then) offered to assist the fledgling BMW Group C team
and put Frank Gardner forward as the man to run it. Allan Grice stayed on as the number one driver and the
car was immaculately presented in John Player Special (JPS) colours under the banner “JPS Team BMW”
with additional sponsorship from Recaro, Hertz, Castrol and TAA. The car ran as a successful racing effort
under the auspices of Gardner, Grice, JPS and BMW Australia.
Now, I don’t know the exact detail of what happened between Gardner and Grice but the indications are
that they had a falling out. I have heard it said that Gardner, who was a supremely talented and smooth
driver, couldn’t come to terms with Grice’s driving style which often resulted in the car not finishing races
as well as it was presented at the start, shall we say. I am sure there are commentators more informed than
I, and if I transgress or misrepresent the actual facts, I apologise in advance, but this is how I have heard it.
Gardner and Grice parted company with Gardner retaining management of the team and it has been said
that there was ill-feeling about Gardner having “stolen” the sponsor (JPS). Again, whether or not this is fact
is open to conjecture.
Gardner was left without a driver for a car that was becoming a real force in Group C touring car racing. At
this time (and I know this is right because Jim told me!!) there was talk around that Jim Richards was to
replace Grice. Everyone seemed to know except Jim who took up the challenge and called Gardner to ask if
it was right. Gardner’s response was “Well Young Fella, IF I am looking for a driver, I’ll give you a call”
(or words very close to that effect). What transpired, of course, was that Jim did get that call and went on to
establish arguably one of Australia’s finest racing partnerships that ran for five years.
But what of the cars? This isn’t the place to go into huge detail about the changes made to the racing cars
over the journey. Suffice to say, JPS Team BMW went on to build a number of cars for Jim and his team
mates over the years, to race. Of note was the E21 320i Turbo that raced in both sports Sedan and World
Sportscar Championship races. It featured in the round of the sports car endurance championship at
Sandown in 1984 and from memory, won its class. The car was also successful as a sport sedan, taking Jim
to a number of wins over the years. On its retirement the car was sold locally and is currently resident in the
United States being restored to its original livery and specification before it came to Australia.
The team built a number of E24 635 racing cars too. The original car is now owned by BMWCCV member
Dean How who has spent a long time restoring it and taking it back to its original specification. The car had
a number of famous drivers in its time including the late Denny Hulme, New Zealand’s 1967 World F1
Champion. The car was changed over the years from single-cam M30 to twin-cam M88 engines, a change
that really didn’t do the car any favours as it changed the front / rear balance, making the car quite noseheavy and subsequently hard on its tyres. The car now spends much of its time at the National Motor
Racing Museum at Bathurst but there are many among us who would love to see it out and racing again. The
one that started it all!
The team built a second Group C car, the famous “snorkel car” which had one of the first in-car camera
systems installed for Bathurst and housed in the roof-mounted periscope. That car was later changed to
Group A specification but has now been returned to its original Group C spec by its New Zealand owner,
Peter Sturgeon. There were six 635s built by the team over the years and we know the whereabouts of all of
them.
Of course, mention of the JPS 635s wouldn’t be complete without mention of Jim Richards’ 1985 win in the
Australian Touring Car Championship in the Group A version. Jim was dominant throughout the season and
that car is now owned by Hong Kong-based Adrian Brady who regularly campaigns it in historic racing in
Australia.
The 635 was becoming dated amongst more nimble and higherpowered cars so the switch was made to the ubiquitous E30
M3, the car that has won more races than any other. Again,
JPS Team BMW rose to the challenge building a number of
these very quick cars which resulted in Jim’s second ATCC
win in 1987. Jim now proudly owns that car and it has recently
undergone a comprehensive restoration.
Whether or not Jim can be convinced to race it is a work in progress but having seen the car, I can
understand why Jim is hesitant! It is a stunning piece of work. The team built nine E30 cars over the years,
either from local shells or as fully imported works prepared shells from Germany. Four 325i cars were built
for Group A racing with two being converted to M3 spec with two 325s and a single 323 all accounted for.
In fact, every E30 built by the team is accounted for and that includes the two now resident in the BMW
Group Classic Museum in Munich as Art Cars by Ken Done and Michael Jagamara Nelson which were
originally JPS Team BMW racing cars.
In 1981 BMW Australia embarked on a marketing exercise to recognise and compliment the JPS racing
cars with a range of JPS-liveried and fitted out road cars. The cars were available to special order and were
quite expensive for their time. The cars included ...
E12 ... we know of one example but detail of its owner or whereabouts is not known.
E21 ... a run of 70 323i cars was built by a Gardner-associated company using black, imported 323i Sport
models suitably modified. The cars were individually numbered and we know of probably 20 survivors.
W.D. and H.O. Wills (the JPS importer) provided some down-spec liveried 318 cars for their sales
representatives and it is believed one exists in Perth. Demand was high and many didn’t want to pay
Gardner’s price for the cars. There was a “dealer option” model available in the same livery but without the
dedicated numbering.
E24 ... few cars were built and actual build numbers (as with all the cars, there are no records) are sketchy,
but perhaps four or five?
E28 ... two were built on 528i base models, one for Frank Gardner and one for Jim Richards. Jim speaks
very fondly of his example and while one is thought to be in Sydney, the other is unaccounted for. I did see
one years ago and it was a lovely car.
E30 ... it is thought 30 models were released, again, on 323i base models. By this time, the model had
become somewhat diluted and without the appeal of the earlier ones and without many of the special fittings.
How many exist today? Perhaps 15?
Special equipment included ...
A full Recaro interior featuring dedicated ribbed black fabric to the seat fronts (try and find that now!!)
JPS badging on the steering wheel boss, wheel centre caps and c-pillars Black (Schwartz) paint with a fine
gold pin stripe through the body
BBS-Mahle alloy wheels, silver rims with gold lattice centres
Standard front bib spoiler and optional boot lip spoilers
A 2.7 litre stoker engine upgrade was available on the 3-Series cars at extra cost and many cars came with
the dogleg Getrag gearbox and limited slip diff.
It is unfortunate that no build records are available and much of what we know is hearsay and is always
interesting talking to owners about their cars and the multitude of stories surrounding them. What is fact
that is that there are now very few of the perhaps 120 road cars built remaining. They are iconic, very
collectable, attractive and should be saved.
To this end, BMW Clubs Australia has approved the establishment of a JPS Register so that we can do just
that ... record, save and promote ownership. Sadly, we are not permitted to have a register logo as it does not
comply with BMW AG’s corporate identity guidelines relating to a] tobacco advertising and b] the display
of another company’s logo with the BMW roundel.
If you own, or know someone who does, a JPS, we would love to hear about it and include it in our register.
There is no cost to be a register member and the plan is to document all the cars we can (we already have a
sizeable list of known cars) while keeping owners in touch.
Personally, I have E21 323i number 47, a lovely car I
bought from Queensland just recently. I have been busy
detailing it to the standard I want and can’t wait to get it Clubregistered so I can start enjoying it. There is a possibility it is
one of the rare 2.7 litre models, it has the dogleg and lsd and is
a pleasure to drive. It needs a little work on the interior and that
is well under way.
Owners and those interested in this fabulous run of BMW history are invited to contact me on 0418 730676,
at work 03 9330 0090 or by email, [email protected] with detail of your car or interest so we can
include it on our list.
If I have stepped on any toes or misrepresented the facts relating to the early days of JPS Team BMW, I
apologise in advance. As with the cars, detail is very thin on the ground so I have represented what I know
and have been told as closely as I can.
Funny old world, isn’t it? Tobacco advertising is banned. I’ve got a JPS. I have watched a lifetime of JPS
BMWs and Lotuses, Marlboro McLarens and Holdens, Winfield Nissans and Holdens, Rothmans Porsches
and Escorts ... and never had a cigarette in my mouth! But that’s another story ....
-
Stewart Garmey, BMW Car Club Victoria
Upcoming Events
Diary Dates
Outlined below are some up and coming club events for your diaries.
 Saturday October 3rd 2015 - Bonfire at the Barber’s ‘Redbank’ property at
Dunnstown – time to be advised later.
 Saturday 17th October - Run to Yarraville for lunch at Melbourne Classic Car Hire
and then to the Newport Railway Museum.
 Sunday 22nd November – Annual Christmas function at the Moorabool Reservoir.
 Friday 11th December - Dinner meal at the Provincial Lydiard St North.
 Sunday 3rd January 2016 – Run to the Talbot Market.

MORE DETAILED INFORMATION WILL BE CIRCULATED PRIOR TO THESE EVENTS
*** Date to Reserve – Sunday 22nd November 2015
Our Annual Christmas Pilgrimage to Moorabool Reservoir
Mailing Address : PO Box 4149 Alfredton 3350 WebsiteCommittee
: www.bmwcarclubballarat.org.au
Email Addresses
Committee Contact Points
Peter Butters
[email protected]
Ray Barber
[email protected]
Graeme Burt
[email protected]
Max Prentice [email protected]
Brian Robertson
[email protected]
Bruce Turner
[email protected]
0409 253 139
0427 253 139
0422 405 489
53 364372
0438 522 871
0417 330 808
BMW - from the Net.
BMW on Journey to Transform Signature
'Ultimate Driving Machine'
by Paul A. Eisenstein
Few cars have a more loyal following than the BMW M3. The high-performance version of the 3-Series
sedan gives definition to the Bavarian maker's slogan, "The Ultimate Driving Machine." But what happens if
BMW decides to redefine the M3?
We'll find out later this decade when BMW will take the radical and risky step of switching from a
conventional, twin-turbo V-6 to a new plug-in hybrid powertrain, a plan that senior company officials have
confirmed. It will join an expanding array of battery-based products, including a plug-in version of BMW's
new flagship, the 740e, set to launch next year.
"We have to go that way," said Ludwig Willisch, the CEO of BMW of North America.
The BMW M4 coupe, right, and the M3 sedan are presented at a press preview at the North American
International Auto Show on Jan. 13, 2014 in Detroit. STAN HONDA / AFP - Getty Images
BMW is by no means alone. Mercedes-Benz has announced plans to have 10 plug-in hybrids, or PHEVs, in
its line-up by 2017, along with pure battery-electric vehicles, standard hybrids and even a hydrogen car or
two. Audi, Cadillac, even Bentley, also will be adding "electrified" models.
There are several reasons why, explained Ian Robertson, a senior member of the BMW management board.
Among them, tough new federal fuel economy and emissions standards that will be difficult to meet with
even the most advanced conventional, gas-powered technology.
Meanwhile, California, one of the world's largest markets for luxury vehicles, has set strict new standards
that will require all makers to include so-called Zero-Emissions Vehicles, or ZEVs, to their fleets.
China, in a number of cities including Beijing and Shanghai, has begun restricting new vehicle registrations,
while giving qualifying battery vehicles an exemption.
The 2016 Model A? Automakers Rescue Retired Brands from Scrap Heap
And in Europe, a growing number of cities are considering outright bans on the gas engine or, like London,
exempting zero-emissions vehicles from hefty tolls meant to discourage central city traffic congestion.
Even a couple years ago, the idea of opting for battery power might have seemed absurd, Robertson said
recently in an interview in New York where the latest 7-Series line was being introduced. Now, however,
"We believe hybrid technology is now advanced enough to be an attractive proposition," he said.
Plug-in technology has evolved rapidly since General Motors put the first mainstream model, the Chevrolet
Volt, into production six years ago. Sibling brand Cadillac, for example, will launch a PHEV version of its
new CT6 flagship next year and Caddy officials promise it will match the performance of the twin turbo V-6
that will otherwise power the brand's new flagship sedan, the CT6.
Cars 'made in America' harder to find, Toyota tops list 0:28
But a big sedan is not a compact performance car known for tearing up both street and track. Can a plug-in
hybrid really meet the demands of an M3 buyer?
For more than a century, said Robertson, "the definition of performance was how big an engine and how
many cylinders your car had." No longer. BMW has already begun migrating to smaller, high-tech engines,
such as the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 in the 750i. And with "the next generation, with hybrid technology, the
power-to-engine-size formula will not be relevant anymore."
In fact, proponents suggest that performance fans will be shocked by what a plug-in M3 can deliver. While
the next model is still a work in progress, a senior member of the development team revealed that the target
is to deliver about 75 extra pound-feet of tire-spinning torque out of the battery side of the new powertrain.
And unlike a gas engine that needs to rev up, electric motors create maximum torque the moment they start
to spin.
Financially Speaking, Here Are the Best and Worst States for Driving
Tesla provides a case in point. The P85d version of its Model S battery-electric sedan can launch from 0 to
60 in as little as 2.8 seconds.
BMW promises the next M3 will not only be fast but will allow a driver to switch to electric mode and get
an estimated 20 miles in battery mode alone. And unlike a pure electric vehicle like the Tesla, it will be able
to switch back to gas power when the battery runs down.
There remain technical challenges. For one thing, batteries are bulky, heavy and costly. But BMW's
Robertson notes they're getting lighter, smaller - and less expensive. In 2010, a kilowatt-hour of lithium-ion
batteries cost about $1,000, but by the launch of the next M3, BMW expects that will fall to somewhere
between $200 and $300, said Robertson.
Meanwhile, to offset the added mass, BMW is increasing the use of alternative materials, including highstrength steels and aluminum. The maker turned to carbon-fiber reinforced plastics, or CFRP, for the two
battery-based vehicles sold by its new sub-brand, BMW i, and it is in a partnership setting up the world's
largest carbon fiber production plant in Washington state.
Will traditional buyers accept the new definition of the Ultimate Driving Machine? For BMW, the good
news is that both the i3 and i8 battery models are generating positive reviews and solid sales even at a time
when gasoline is cheap.
The redefinition of BMW doesn't end with battery power. The carmaker also has been pushing to take a lead
in the introduction of autonomous driving systems. The new 7-Series has an emergency crash avoidance
system that will not only brake but steer around a potential collision if the driver doesn't act quickly enough.
It will allow a motorist to take hands off the steering wheel for up to 15 seconds at a time on a well-marked
freeway. And, in Europe, drivers will be able to exit the big sedan, tap a button on the new touchscreen key
fob and the 7-Series will park itself in the garage.
The Bavarian maker's increasing dependence upon technology is certain to shock some traditionalists,
company officials concede, but they are betting that BMW can retain what Robertson calls its unique
performance DNA no matter how high-tech its products become.
Imminent Death To Manuals: Who’s To Blame?
September 5th, 2015 by Vanja Kljaic
It has been reported several times over the past few years that manuals are dead. Yet, the manuals are still
alive and kicking, running everything …
It has been reported several times over the past few years that manuals are dead. Yet, the manuals are still
alive and kicking, running everything from trucks to sedans to high-performance supercars in some cases.
But their death is imminent. No matter what we may do or want, the age of the manual is slowly decaying
and leaving place for highly complicated and intelligent transmissions. Recent years saw a bit of a manual
renaissance, but it’s still just a drop in the bucket of transmission choices.
In 1987, 29.1% of new vehicles sold in the U.S. were coming with a manual transmission, according to the
EPA. By 2010, however, the rate of manual transmission acquisition had fallen to just 3.8%. But, who is to
blame for this? There are several reasons.
1. Engine Development
Fuel efficient engines work perfectly with automatic transmissions. With the advent of new turbocharged
engines, the era of fuel efficient motoring really begun and part of that can be attributed to the automatic
transmission. From eco-friendly driving modes and fuel efficient settings to the smoother power delivery,
the cars now get better fuel economy.
2. CO2 Levels
Most of today’s automatic transmission solutions help save fuel and lower CO2 emissions, therefore, in
most BMW cars picking a fuel saver mode over a sport mode brings best of both worlds: fuel efficiency and
ecologically friendly driving. Want to save fuel? Just pick a setting on the automatic transmission. Want to
achieve better 0-62mph times? Pick the Sport mode and have fun. It’s that easy.
3. Ease of use
Automatic transmissions are definitely best experienced in a busy city driving scenarios and the truth is that
consumers simple love them. From stop-and-go traffic to parking and highway cruising, the auto gearboxes
are also best for less experienced drivers.
4. Fuel Economy
In the early days of automatic transmission, it was evident, in most examples, that manuals yielded better
fuel economy, but newer automatic transmissions have reverted that thinking. Boxes like the ZF eight-speed
are often awarded for their great fuel efficiency and smooth delivery of power, and they have found a home
in many premium cars, including BMWs.
5. Performance
Most, if not all BMW models, are currently faster from 0-62mph in automatic transmission-powered
vehicles leading to easier acceleration, downshifting and cornering twisty roads. Going completely
automatic is not that appealing to many high-performance drivers, but newer cars offer shift paddles on the
steering wheel which gives you the option to shift at your own pace in a semi-automated mode.
6. Playstation Generation
The Y generation. Call us Millenials, call us what you please, but we are spoiled little brats that like to take
the easy way out. We are used to the Playstation controllers and swift shifts of in-game selections, or often,
we don’t know how to virtually drive in any video game without having the gears changed for us. So we can
extrapolate to the real world and see how video games can influence our behavior in the real world.
WORLD PREMIERE: BMW Concept M4 GTS
BMW M4, Concepts | August 14th, 2015 by Nico DeMattia
The Concours d’Elegance at Pebble Beach is one of the most exclusive and exciting automotive events in
the world. People from all over the globe …
The Concours d’Elegance at Pebble Beach is one of the most exclusive and exciting automotive events in
the world. People from all over the globe travel to see some of the magnificent automobiles on the planet.
All of the high-end automakers show off their highest performing and most luxurious cars they have. It’s an
incredible event.
BMW is making a bit of a splash at this year’s show, with the BMW Concept M4 GTS.
The M4 GTS is the pinnacle of BMW performance. It’s the ultimate expression of BMW’s racing
technology for use on the road.
What BMW does to make the M4 GTS is take a standard M4 and fit it with more aerodynamics, more
power, stiffer suspension and all of its most impressive racing technology. This year’s M4 GTS is no
different and could be the most exciting of all.
Despite the M4 GTS’ racing pedigree, it’s very much a legal road car. The purpose of the GTS is to enable
owners to drive it to the race track, do as many laps as desired and then drive it home again. It’s basically a
street legal race car.
The M4 Concept GTS certainly looks the part, with its extremely aggressive aerodynamics, manually
adjustable exposed carbon fiber front splitter and rear wing, Frozen Dark Grey Metallic paint and Acid
Orange accents and wheels. It also has an exposed carbon fiber rear diffuser, which looks excellent housing
the quad exhaust pipes.
Some of the M4 GTS’ new technologies include the water-injection system and OLED taillights. The waterinjection system was first used on BMW’s M4 MotoGP safety car and is used in many race cars today. What
the system does is inject ultra-fine water spray into the plenums of the intake. The water is then vaporized,
which cools the intake air dramatically, thus reducing the compression temperature in the combustion
chamber. This not only reduces the engine’s tendency to knock, but allows higher boost pressure and earlier
ignition timing, giving the M4 GTS a noticeable horsepower and torque bump.
The engineers at BMW’s M Division have also developed a highly-innovative cooling system, comprised of
a main radiator with additional radiators for both high and low-temperature circuits, the transmission and
turbochargers. The turbochargers are cooled by way of an indirect intercooler assisted by an electricallydriven water pump.
OLED taillights also make their way to the BMW Concept M4 GTS. OLEDs (Organic Light-Emitting
Diode) produce full-surface homogenous illumination, as opposed to a standard LEDs single-point light
emission. Their compact design and ability to light individual light modules separately gives BMW an extra
level of flexibility in creating taillights.
The lightweight, forged and polished light-alloy wheels in 666 M styling also feature an Acid Orange
accent. The 9.5 J x 19 (front) and 10.5 J x 20 (rear) wheels are fitted with Michelin Sport Cup 2 tires (265/35
R19 at the front, 285/30 R20 at the rear).
All in all, the BMW Concept M4 GTS is an outstanding looking machine that will deliver exceptional
performance, both on the road and on the track. The water-injection system and OLED taillights give it
genuine racing technology to be used on the road. So if you’re a lucky owner of one of these, very limited,
M4 GTS’, you can truthfully say that you own a race car for the street.
Once again
Until our next Issue - happy BMW Motoring