In July 2023 I was on assignment for a few projects in Boise, Idaho. I always try to connect with fellow BMW enthusiasts if in a new place! I had some time to spare and fellow enthusiast Petar Nikolic (@petarvnikolic) got me connected to Spencer Adams (@spezadams) and Ben Kissee (@artfoodbmw).
Spencer picked me up in his single owner (originally purchased by his dad) BrillantRot E34 M5, and man what a sight it is! Staying in some crummy hotel in a strange place then coming around the corner to a friend in an M5 is quite the pick me up, I knew we'd have a good time ahead.
We pulled up to the local entertainment district to meet up with Ben for dinner and we got to meet for the first time. Ben pulled the E30 right next to the M5, the three of us standing there gawking over these machines somewhat nostalgically. Excited to cruise them together and get some great images. We headed off to dinner to get to know each other and catch up on our BMW pursuits and community network.
The photoshoot was a bit impromptu, we didn't have a location determined and so I asked Ben to get us to the nearest wide open space for some clean highlights and a west facing shot for sunset. Sure as shit we found the perfect spot within about 15 minutes. A road closed for construction where no one would bother us, facing the right direction, a farm field backdrop that spoke to Boise, and with just enough time.
Ben even let me drive the E30 over from dinner and it was awesome to feel the familiar M60B40 in a small package. The E30 felt tight and solid, much better than I had expected, and as my first E30 driving experience more stable and similar to the E34 than I anticipated. Revving the hot rod's V8 out to 7k, with 250ish whp in a 2800lb car brings nothing but smiles and surprise from onlookers.
Ben built the car himself at home. It seems for many people, their dads got them into the BMW habit. Ben's starts with his dad's 1998 E38 740il. After buying the E30 and going down the forum rabbit hole, seeing the M60 in the little E30 just looked right. As we love with the M60, one popped up on Criagslist for $100 and the build snowballed from there. By using readily available parts from the BMW parts bin, including the familiar heart shared by his dad's old 7er, Ben built a fantastic sounding, well balanced, reliable driver. Perfect for daily duty, canyon carving, and autoX.
Spencer's Brillantrot M5 had been a very early production #025 North American dealer demo car. After a few thousand miles of duty it ended up for sale atSterling BMW in Newport. Since it was never privately titled, Spencer's dad became its first legal owner. Spencer's dad had an affinity for big coupés, starting with a grey market E9 3.0CSI, followed by an E24 635CSI (also grey market import). With the arrival of Spencer and his twin sister, Mom said it was time for a family sedan, and what could be better than the E34 M5?
The car spent the majority of its life in SoCal, a regular at the original Cars & Coffee Irvine, which the car still dons the member sticker to. Spencer learned to drive stick on the car and from that point on would bring it out for shows. About ten years ago the car received some modern performance love with full Bilstein suspension, Ground Control camber plates for more adjustability, Brembo brakes, a dyno tune, and a square wheel setup. It now shares the garage with an Imola Red E39 M5, and F87 M2.
The immaculate E34 in literally Brilliant Red has so much road presence, we may as well have been in a Rolls pulling up to dinner. The S38 feels strong as ever, makes a fantastic smooth noise, and of course wants to live up in the revs. The interior design and ergonomics are an all time favorite. Here with an incredible M Rain interior, red M Motorsport belts, and impeccable maintenance. The car doesn't feel fast by today's standards but extremely communicative, balanced, and special. It really wants to be driven hard and would be great on GT drives and in the canyons.
This impromptu opportunity turned into the perfect beginning for Achtung! I had been thinking about the concept and branding for years, I knew I wanted to get it off the ground soon, and here the perfect opportunity fell into my lap. More than that, it proved the concept. The classic BMW community is thriving without a place for everyone to connect, and without proper documentation. Well not anymore, Achtung! Clubsport is the new home for the classic BMW driving enthusiast and our stories and I'll be in your town soon enough to document the builds, shops, and events that we love. This is only the beginning. - Cole
