A tribute to BMW Tourings

[Mockngbrd]

http://garage36.blogspot.com/2011/09/tribu...1-all-them.html

 

A tribute to BMW Tourings, Part 1. All them wagons.

 

No lying here, i'm a huge fan of wagons. I've always wanted to do a compilation of some cool BMW wagons (stock? lol!), so here goes. But before i begin, let me state for the record that i do not own any of these images. I just hope it is okay to share them. First up, above, in a lovely shade on tangerine, is a 2002 Alpina Touring. The 2002 Touring was probably the first ever BMW Touring but it wasn't a full on station wagon, rather it was a 3door hatch.

If your taste is more OEM+, all the way from Bangkok, is a Touring all decked out, "Turbo" style.

Some oddities appeared along the way, like this E23 Kombi. It wasn't called a "Touring", but it sure was a station wagon.

Alpina even had a go at it. Although i have no other information on this big blue load lugger. Most likely, as with all Alpinas, a bigger engine, oodles of torque and lots of leather inside.

Moving up the cool scale, we have the E28 Tourings, still not as common as the E30 Tourings but some owners have taken the initiative to liven things up abit.

Like this E28 sitting low and slow on fat AC Schnitzer wheels.

Finally, we have the E30 Touring, probably one of the best looking Tourings ever. Looking swell on it's own or if you prefer, slap on a set of Alpina or BBS alloys, drop the ride height a tad and you are set to go.

There was even an odd looking 2-door touring. But again, information on this is hard to come by, so just some pictures.

Funny looking no? It even had the rear hatch off a Mk1 Golf.

Looks good even on E36 Sunflower wheels.

BMW never made an E30 M3 Touring, but that didn't stop talented owners from trying and creating their own. Awesome.

Dori-dori action on a touring. End of Part 1.

In the next part, i'll put together more modern machinery. A tribute to BMW Tourings, Part 1. All them wagons.

 

No lying here, i'm a huge fan of wagons. I've always wanted to do a compilation of some cool BMW wagons (stock? lol!), so here goes. But before i begin, let me state for the record that i do not own any of these images. I just hope it is okay to share them. First up, above, in a lovely shade on tangerine, is a 2002 Alpina Touring. The 2002 Touring was probably the first ever BMW Touring but it wasn't a full on station wagon, rather it was a 3door hatch.

If your taste is more OEM+, all the way from Bangkok, is a Touring all decked out, "Turbo" style.

Some oddities appeared along the way, like this E23 Kombi. It wasn't called a "Touring", but it sure was a station wagon.

Alpina even had a go at it. Although i have no other information on this big blue load lugger. Most likely, as with all Alpinas, a bigger engine, oodles of torque and lots of leather inside.

Moving up the cool scale, we have the E28 Tourings, still not as common as the E30 Tourings but some owners have taken the initiative to liven things up abit.

Like this E28 sitting low and slow on fat AC Schnitzer wheels.

 

[Mockngbrd]

Finally, we have the E30 Touring, probably one of the best looking Tourings ever. Looking swell on it's own or if you prefer, slap on a set of Alpina or BBS alloys, drop the ride height a tad and you are set to go.

There was even an odd looking 2-door touring. But again, information on this is hard to come by, so just some pictures.

Funny looking no? It even had the rear hatch off a Mk1 Golf.

Looks good even on E36 Sunflower wheels.

BMW never made an E30 M3 Touring, but that didn't stop talented owners from trying and creating their own. Awesome.

Dori-dori action on a touring. End of Part 1.

[KARTer]

Volvo raced their wagons in BTCC with some success many years ago. Some say the extra weight at the rear helps create more grip at the rear wheels.....

Edited September 27, 2011 by KARTer

[Ara84]

I remember those days of the BTCC.

[Hamburger]

brings back the memory of my E30.......

[Jetabout777]

I love combis. Thanks for the pictures and information. I look forward to more.

[Mockngbrd]

Part 2!!!

 

A tribute to BMW Tourings, Part 2. Rocking the 80s & early 90s.

 

Moving on towards more modern machinery, we find ourselves towards to tailend of the 80s. Well, mostly 90s anyway. But to start off, the magnificent E34 (magnificent because i have one, though in sedan form).

What better way to represent the E34 Tourings then with a bonafide ///M-Wagon. Yessir, ladies and gentlemen, a station wagon with a 3.8litre M-division S38 engine that'll power you, your family and the dogs up to 100km/h in just below 6 seconds. Back in the early 90s, this was plenty of quick.

If you'd prefer Alpina, here's a lovely white specimen from Bangkok.

Even in non-M form, it still looks good.

The E36 generation of the 3 series has plenty of fans and with so many aftermarket parts available, customized examples can be found easily.

From cleaner OEM+ or Alpina styling...

...to more "dedicated" builds.

This next "Wagon" needs no introduction.

Although never officially christened a "Touring" or "Wagon", the awkward rear hatch design shouted "Shooting Brake" to car-enthusiasts around the World.

With an M3 engine under the bonnet producing awesome firepower, twitchy tail-happy handling, massive flared wheelarches AND a wagon-esqe rear hatch. Cult classic status was imminent.

Some call it the clown shoe, but if just those looks alone are not enough to convince you of it's badassery, watch the video below.

I go to bed at night dreaming one day of owning my very own Z3 M-Coupe.

And with dreams of a Z3 M-Coupe, i shall end Part 2. In part 3, i'll be bringing up the "tail-end" (Geddit?) of the 90s.

[VellfireS]

Okay.. I admit.. I did not know 3 Series had a Tourer..

[Mockngbrd]

A tribute to BMW Tourings, Part 3. The Naughty Nighties.

 

 

As we head towards the new era our present day BMW-styling, we take a step back to the days before someone with the last name "Bangle" started Bangling up the BMWs we love. The last pages of a chapter on classic BMW design.

 

 

The E39 5 series is still regarded as one of the best generation of 5's. Classic BMW looks and a great lineup of purring engines made it a cult favourite today.

 

 

BMW never officially released a Touring M5 for this generation, but there is a lone still-born prototype sitting in the depths of the M-factory.

Even the fuzz liked it.

 

Rounding off the 90s, the E46 represents what many consider, one of the most everlasting designs ever to leave the factory.

 

 

Take an E36, round of the edges and give it a sprinkling of 90s modernity and flair, you'll end up with the E46.

 

 

It even looks good in relatively stock form. This one wearing some tasty M-sport bits but otherwise, all original BMW.

 

 

Another hot favourite amongst the aftermarket crowd, any style you like, you'll be able to spot it on an E46.

 

 

Similarly with the E39 Touring, BMW never made an M3 version. With another lonely single prototype sharing space with her bigger E39 M Touring sibling. And with the end of the E46s, also came the end of the evergreen BMW styling we have come to appreciate. In Part 4, i'll bring us up to date with our present day Ultimate Touring Machines.

[Mockngbrd]

A tribute to BMW Tourings, Part 4. Enjoy Wagoning!

 

Since one of my previous articles started with an M5 wagon, i think it's only fitting to begin this one with the E61 M5. It also marked the first Touring penned by "The Bangle". Opinions on the design of the E60 sedan was sketchy if you asked me, but on a Touring body, the awkward rear boot treatment of the sedan was non-present and gave a much better balance and flow to the design.

While the previous E39 generation Tourings had to miss out on a Monster wagon, BMW somehow saw it fit drop their firebreathing V10 into a touring for it's successor.

Needless to say, wagon-fans rejoiced. Or rather, wagon-fans with deep pockets rejoiced. Nevertheless, the E61 M5 Touring is one hell of a machine.

Even if said generation of Touring wasn't from the M-Division, plenty of aftermarket parts meant plenty of customized examples.

[Mockngbrd]

 

The E90 3 series came along to replace the gracefully ageing E46, and again, critics of Bangle's design all went into a fit. After the initial hoo-haa settled, Bangle's "Flame Surfacing" proved BMW design was again, ahead of it's time, with rivals quickly slicing up the sides of their latest cars with mixed concave/convex surfaces reminiscent of Bangle's work.

Again, in Touring form, the 3' looked all the more better.

It also came out at a time when white became the "IT" color for tuned cars as shown above. Almost every tuner had a white car.

Looks awesome in red though.

BMW again did not make an M-car for the Touring so talented owners/garage builders and mechanics got to work again. Creating their very own M3 Touring.

It remains to be seen what the new incoming 3 Series will look like, but i'm pretty sure there will be a lovely wagon in the future.

Forging ahead now, is the latest BMW Touring, the F11.

Being a relatively new offering, tuned examples are only starting to trickle out. Some sexy ones are represented here. My favourite are from the land of JDM, Dort's and Studie's.

Sadly, the official word is that there will not be an M-Touring this time round as projected sales do not merit the costs of development. Sad news indeed. But as previous generations of BMW Touring owners show, what M-Division cannot or will not do, they are up to the challenge. And with that, i end my 4-part Touring tribute! Here's to Happy Wagoning!!!

[Anokewee]

Great posts! Thanks!

 

Such lovely cars, E30, E36, E34, E39 are my favourites. I like them in all forms seriously. If only these cars comes cheao in spore... :-(

[Anokewee]

Mocking bird you still driving ur E36 coupe? How's owning an car this age in spore? Still easy/ok to maintain?

I am toying around with the idea of getting a E36 sedan.. but i am a practical guy if its too leceh i will not go into it.

[Mockngbrd]

Mocking bird you still driving ur E36 coupe? How's owning an car this age in spore? Still easy/ok to maintain?

I am toying around with the idea of getting a E36 sedan.. but i am a practical guy if its too leceh i will not go into it.

yes i still have the coupe but i'm not really driving it. My GF drives it. Is it easy/ok to maintain? Initially, no. As quite a bit of work and quite a few visits to the workshops during the first few years. But now after everything sorted, yes, just some preventive maintenance and regular servicing.

 

It's a good car and drives very nicely. If i had the $$$, i'd plonk for another E36 Sedan. But i don't have the $$$$$$. But if u just intend to buy one and drive daily without much thought, then prob not a good idea. If you like to get to know your mechanic well, then ok.