I can’t say with any surety whether this second BMW M Festival is more thrilling than the first because they’re both were pretty extraordinary in their own right with their own main attractions. I know I was in M Heaven, both times, surrounded by numerous new BMW M and M Performance models as well as restored classics.
Markus Flasch, CEO of BMW M GmbH addressed us at the opening presentation immediately after just landing. He said “I am thrilled to be in Johannesburg for the second BMW M Festival to be held in this country and I am impressed with South Africa’s appetite for high-performance products. Our brand is defined by its heritage. When I see the most successful racing 5 Series in the history of the company, I can understand where South Africans’ love of M stems from.”
Everyone I know is utterly excited for the Fest and is wanting to know what's special this year. So here it is, this year’s main attractions include:
X5 M Competition and X6 M Competition
BMW SA wanted to give South Africans something beyond exceptional to see this year and have organized the new X5 M and the new X6 M in Competition spec to be on display at the Festival ahead of its world debut at the LA Auto Show in November. The two models on display are fresh off the production line from the Spartanburg plant in the USA.
These 2 X models are said to be not only the fastest BMW SUVs but also the ones with the most powerful production engine, being the 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged unit putting out 441kW and 750Nm, which has been taken from the M8 Competition and calibrated for SUVs. 0 to 100 km/h happens in a mere 3.9 seconds!
Since the production of these vehicles will only begin this December, we can expect to see the two Competition models again in the second quarter of 2020 when they will be launched locally.
Related: New vs old BMW X5: Top 4 differences
BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe
The new 8 Series has been all the buzz and you’ll get to see these beauties in all their variants around the show. BMW SA has now added a third model to join the 8 Series line-up. Standing alongside the BMW 8 Series Coupe and BMW 8 Series Convertible is now the 8 Series Gran Coupe.
The new BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe is the only model in its segment derived directly from a two-door sports car. Its resultant dynamic potential, plus a longer wheelbase and model-specific chassis tuning, were meant to create an unmistakable balance between sports performance and ride comfort. The 4-door model with frameless doors and an exclusive large panoramic glass roof caters for high levels of everyday practicality and mile-covering ability.
Three variants will be available in the Gran Coupe range: the 840i, an 840d and the 850i.
BMW 840i Gran Coupe:
- Six-cylinder in-line petrol engine, eight-speed Steptronic transmission.
- Capacity: 2,998 cc
- Output: 250 kW at 5,000 – 6,500 rpm
- Max. torque: 500 Nm at 1,600 – 4,500 rpm
- Acceleration 0 – 100 km/h: 5.2 seconds
- Top speed: 250 km/h
- Fuel consumption combined: 7.5 – 7.4 l/100 km
- CO2 emissions combined: 170 – 168 g/km, exhaust standard: EU6d‑TEMP
BMW M850i xDrive Gran Coupe:
- V8 petrol engine, eight-speed Steptronic transmission, BMW xDrive
- Capacity: 4,395 cc
- Output: 390 kW at 5,500 – 6,000 rpm
- Max. torque: 750 Nm at 1,800 – 4,600 rpm
- Acceleration 0 – 100 km/h: 3.9 seconds
- Top speed: 250 km/h
- Fuel consumption combined: 10.0 – 9.9 l/100 km
- CO2 emissions combined: 229 – 226 g/km, exhaust standard: EU6d‑TEMP
BMW 840d xDrive Gran Coupe:
- Six-cylinder in-line diesel engine, eight-speed Steptronic transmission, BMW xDrive
- Capacity: 2,993 cc
- Output: 235 kW at 4,400 rpm
- Max. torque: 680 Nm at 1,750 – 2,250 rpm
- Acceleration 0 – 100 km/h: 5.1 seconds
- Top speed: 250 km/h
- Fuel consumption combined: 6.3 – 6.2 l/100 km
- CO2 emissions combined: 166 – 162 g/km, exhaust standard: EU6d‑TEMP
Related: First Drive - BMW 8 Series
Lo and Behold! The M8 Competition Gran Coupe is also at the Fest:
New BMW 1 Series
The new third-generation 1 Series makes its appearance at the Fest in M135i xDrive and 118i guise. Sporting an entirely new design inside and out and let’s not forget the new larger BMW kidney grille, the new 1 Series is turning many heads and drawing in new audiences.
BMW’s new 1 Series also showcases the debut appearance of BMW’s cutting-edge new front-wheel-drive architecture. The car has cutting-edge chassis systems and innovative technologies, plus the integration of all key driving dynamics components and control systems, imbue the BMW 1 Series with an increase in agility that drivers of cars with both the new front-wheel-drive configuration and BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive will clearly recognise.
Its ergonomic design makes it a lot roomier inside than its predecessor, especially in the rear compartment. Getting in is easier and knee room for the rear passengers has increased by 33 millimetres. The rear offers a full 19 millimetres of extra headroom if the outward-opening sliding panoramic sunroof is specified. Rear passengers also enjoy 13 millimetres more elbow room, while the driver and front passenger can look forward to an extra 42 millimetres in this respect.
The load compartment capacity of 380 litres has also increased by 20 litres from its predecessor. The folding rear seat bench increases this to 1,200 litres. In addition, the minimum width of the boot has increased by 67 millimetres. And electric tailgate operation is offered on the BMW 1 Series for the first time.
Petrol and diesel engines will be available.
Related: Stuart Johnston covers the 1 Series and some more models from the BMW M Festival here.
Fully restored BMW 530 MLE
After a year of painstaking work, BMW South Africa unveiled its latest restoration project – the track-inspired BMW 530 MLE, which will also be on display this weekend.
When BMW South Africa wanted to go racing in the mid-1970s, the company sought out the famous racing driver and Head of BMW Motorsport Jochen Neerpasch. Shortly thereafter, two of the first-generation BMW 5 Series (E12) race cars were prepared to compete in the flagship Modified Production Series in South Africa.
The BMW 530 MLE was the most successful racing BMW 5 Series in history when it was retired in 1985.
After their retirement in 1985, one of these cars succumbed to the pressures of high-performance motoring and was written off.
After years of searching, in 2018 BMW SA acquired one of the only BMW 530 MLEs known to have endured beyond its 70s heyday. Car number 100 came with a particular pedigree – it was owned by race driver and the racing 530 MLE’s team manager Peter Kaye-Eddie, and its engine and chassis numbers are a matching set.
Now, the race-winning BMW 530 MLE, the only remaining version of this car in the world, and its restored road-going sibling have been reunited at the 2019 BMW M Festival.
BMW M4 DTM
South African born BMW works driver, Sheldon van der Linde, will also make a special appearance at the event and offer visitors hot laps in his Shell BMW M4 DTM car around the circuit. At the media day, I had the chance to sit with Sheldon for a lap around Kyalami. It was damn insane! One of thee most thrilling drives I have ever experienced in my life! It sounds so aggressive, and while it looks a little less emo than the one I saw at the first Fest, but this car is just something else. Even the fanciest of words can't describe what I experienced, which is one of those once-in-a-lifetime things. All I can say is grab this chance at the Fest. But, this chance is only open to people under 1.8m tall and who weigh less than 90kgs... sorry, it is a racecar after all.
Related: Stuart Johnston covers some more models from the BMW M Festival here. (to add link)
What’s to do there this weekend?
At this year’s 2019 BMW M Festival, you will have the opportunity to book test drives with any of the 66 cars available and/or book a hot lap with a professional driver (limited to the first 4000 people).
If you’re in the market for a new car, you can walk through one of the largest BMW pop-up showrooms where over 200 BMW’s - listed with attractive finance offers – will be on display and ready to purchase.
There are 25 decadent food trucks waiting to serve you, along with live music by some of South Africa's renowned DJs and artists. There’s also a children’s play area (M-kids area), and you can grab some of the season’s latest items at the BMW Lifestyle merchandise shop.
