Bilstein celebrates BMW

We join BMW enthusiasts at the National BMW Festival.

Where else can you see over 1000 BMWs, side by side? It is quite the sight to behold, some of the rarest and most individual models displayed for enthusiasts to see at the National BMW Festival, organised by the BMW Car Club UK.

This is Europe’s largest gathering of BMWs and is a chance to see some of the most uncommon models up close and talk to the owners who obsess over them.

You can see displays of all kinds of BMW at the Show, not just older models. The New Car Village displays for of  the latest models from BMW, Alpina, AC Schnitzer and MINI.

It is the the Car Club displays that steal the show though. In particular Alpina models are well represented at the show.

The great thing about BMW enthusiasts is there is a fantastic mix of purists keeping factory-fresh examples alive for posterity and those who like to personalise their car. This BMW M3 was owned by someone in the latter category and shoe-horned in an E60 M5 V10 engine into it. We’d love to know how this drives.

No club gathering would be complete without a club concours competition. This is always a treat and is where you can see some of the cleanest BMWs trying to outshine each other. We stumbled upon an incredible BMW M1 complete with matching luggage which was almost out favourite of the day. If we were to take one car home from the show however it would be this beautiful 700. The grandfather in a rich history of BMW tin-top touring car racing, the 700 is arguably responsible for the performance orientated coupe BMWs we love today!