I’ve had the pleasure of owning some prominent marquee brands over the years. But maybe outside of Nissan Z ownership, nothing has had the support of the BMW community. There’s a show with friends almost every weekend. So when Kies announced the Kies Motorsport Auto Show this year in Atlantic City, NJ, I decided to hop in my G80 and check it out.
It was an impressive turnout and a beautiful day, and there were a ton of BMW Individual cars set up, particularly a number of G80/82 M3s and M4s. As the owner of a new BMW, I’m happy to see so many people become involved with the brand. I never saw anything like this during my E92 M3 days. But a part of me was also sad. Each year the number of old BMWs at these shows, particularly the E9X and E46, dwindle. Also, the F30 holds a special place in my heart, and the car has become cheap enough that it’s now on third and forth ownership. Many were in attendance.
The Kies Motorsport Auto Show was typical
Which isn’t a bad thing. It’s always fun to talk with like-minded enthusiasts. But if we all mod the cars the same way, they all look the same. Carbon fiber lips and spoilers. Exhausts that are loud but not always musical. Wraps. If you see a modified BMW in the wild, it stands out, but row after row of tunes and intakes gets repetitive.
So what stood out?
There were a few fun things. I saw my first BMW M4 convertible in the flesh, and I think it’s an improvement over the hard top versions, especially with the top up. Some 50th Anniversary M badges were on display, and they look snazzy.
One mod that might actually be worth it is to go with BMW Individual paint on your ride. These cars always grab attention and stand out.
Elsewhere, I was a fan of a Sao Paulo Yellow X3 M – a great color for that car. A Purple F10 M5 sat alone at a booth, and that’s still one of the best-looking modern M cars made. A lone M2 CS with gold wheels also stood out. And a graphite-wrapped F30 was definitely eye-catching in the sunlight.
BMW Individual Gallery
One option some owners take is to paint the lower body of the G80 the same as the body color. This looks like it should have come from the factory.
The 2022 Kies Motorsport Auto Show was a cool summer event
As a place to visit with friends and meet some vendors, it was fun to be a part of. The ambiance of an old airport next to Atlantic City only added to the vibe. I hope to be back next year!
I use Nikon camera bodies and lenses, a Westcott Ice Light 2, Manfrotto tripod, B + W filters and an iMac Pro to make the art you see here.
Email me at mike@machineswithsouls.com with any questions. Follow along on Instagram @machineswithsouls
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