“Finally, the wait is just about over – the production code is now 155 – Production Complete. After being a member of the M5/M6Board for almost 5 years, my M6 is becoming a reality.

2010 BMW M6 Coupe (U.S. Spec)
European Delivery (at the BMW Welt on 13 October, 2009)

Normal U.S. Options:
Comfort Access keyless entry
Soft-close automatic doors
Automatic high beams
Head-up Display
iPod and USB adapter
Enhanced Premium Sound
(no satellite radio or heated steering wheel as I live in Hawaii where it’s warm and there is no satellite radio coverage)

Individual Options:
Ontario Gold exterior (a special request paint)
Full Merino Leather with contrasting stitching (dash, seats, etc.)
Bi-Color leather interior (Champagne and Gold Brown)
Champagne alcantara headliner
Champagne velour floor mats (leather trimmed)
Hawaiian Koa wood interior trim (I supplied the veneers to BMW)

This “project” started in July 2005 when I visited BMW M / Individual at Garching unannounced during the European Delivery trip of my 2005 645Ci. At that time there was no Individual program in the U.S. (which they politely explained – and I already knew). I did leave a small sample of Hawaiian Koa wood veneer with them (with my name laser engraved on the back of the wood). I expected the wood to find its way to the trash can in short order.

The next year, on 27 July 2006, I posted mock-ups of a bi-color leather interior (and koa wood trim) on the M6Board. The mock-up picture was made by compositing 2 images from the BMW Individual visualizer (champagne and oxide brown leathers) plus a few other changes.

During a business trip to Berlin in September 2008, I decided to take an extra day and drive to Munich where I had made a prior appointment with the regional manager of BMW M / Individual for North and South America. He and three others were very gracious hosts and showed me paint and leather samples at the M Studio in Garching. I had already emailed my mock-ups to them so they knew what I had in mind before I showed up.

Some of the things I “photoshopped” into my mock-ups were not feasible (or should I say cost effective – most anything can be done for a price). I left with a clear idea of the leather colors to be used but I was completely undecided on the exterior paint. I had too many favorites (Moonstone, Azurite Black, Brilliant White, Diopside Black, etc.) and the dilemma was what would go well with the interior leather. At that time I was exploring a Gold Brown leather dash (which proved to be too expensive as it would have required R&D of a new dash material/color) so the interior/exterior match was a concern at that time.

I was totally surprised during my meeting with BMW when they pulled out the piece of unfinished koa veneer I had left 3 years before. The found it interesting and kept it. After I phoned and emailed them to arrange an appointment, they put 2 and 2 together and pulled the wood out and had it ready to show me with their other materials when I arrived.

After I left, they went to work on the feasibility of what I was looking for. I purchased some raw koa wood veneer when I got back home to Hawaii which I sent to them in October for testing. Just before Christmas 2008, they sent 3 samples of my koa wood back to me to review. Two pieces were flat samples about a half a square foot each mounted on aluminum boards. The third sample was a fully formed trim piece mounted on its aluminum backing (the trim piece that goes below the driver’s arm rest).

Meanwhile they suggested “Ontario Gold Metallic” paint to me. I had not seen that color when I was at Garching, but they sent me a couple of photos of a customer’s Individual 650 that was being produced. I knew I had found the color for my M6. BTW – this color is now more generally available (according to the BMW.com worldwide website) on 6 and 7 series Individuals cars. And no, it does not look like the color shown in the visualizer on bmw.com.

By January 2009 the PowerPoint proposals started to arrive. After a few refinements and revisions, the bad news came in April 2009. I got the price for everything, including the proposed Gold Brown leather dash. It was way over what a working stiff like me can afford, so I considered forgetting the whole thing. After a couple of days, I started working on “Plan B” which was a scaled back set of Individual options that made more sense for me. Once again, my primary contact at BMW M / Individual, who I had been working with these many months, was completely supportive and worked with me to price a more reasonable (for me anyway) set of options which is what I’ve ordered (and is listed above).

In May, I sent more Hawaiian Koa wood veneer to them to be used for the actual production. In July, I pre-qualified for financing and put down a modest (but non-refundable) deposit with BMW of Honolulu. I had been working closely with BMW in Garching but I had kept my local dealership informed as things progressed. They got more involved around April when the retail pricing had made its way through BMW NA and the BMW regional sales office and down to them.

Normally, you would just work with your dealership in the U.S. who will work with their regional sales manager who then works with BMW NA who then works with BMW M / Individual. Since this is the first Individual for my dealership and because it’s more extreme that the standard “Composition” packages offered by the Individual program, the only way to make it happen was for me to get involved as I did. While I’ve enjoyed working with the folks at BMW Individual, I recommend the “normal” procedures for U.S. customers now that the Individual program is gaining traction in America.

I will only have a week for this European Delivery in October (my third ED) as I’m working around my daughter’s school schedule so she can accompany me.

“The light that burns twice as bright, burns half as long” — said to Roy the Nexus 6 android in Blade Runner. (Meaning this will be a quick but fun trip.)

Then I have to wait for 9 to 10 weeks for the M6 to arrive in Hawaii. If I’m lucky, I will get it in time to be a Christmas present to myself. And no, it won’t even be broken in by then as I’m only able to put about 600 miles on the car in Germany and France.

I forgot to mention. BMW told me that they decided that Ontario Gold was just too hard/tricky (whatever) to produce. So they canceled the color. You can’t get it anymore.

They made only four 7 series cars with it (I assume new F-01/F-02 cars). I had assumed that the 650 in the photo they sent to me for color approval in Dec 2008 was a customer car. It was not. It was the test car. They have to paint the color on a real care before they can sell the color in series production. I don’t know what happened to that car. Maybe it has been repainted, your guess is as good as mine. But from what BMW told me, it is not on the streets. It was not sold, etc.

Now here is the funny (almost tragic) part. BMW canceled the color before my car went to production (but after my BMW contact had “sold” the color to me). So she had to cry foul and make sure they did my M6 on Ontario Gold.

So, I have only 1 of 5 Ontario Gold production BMWs that will ever be sold. And the only 6 series (so of course the only M6). I had not expected that the exterior would be as one of a kind as the interior. Bonus!

BMW TV filmed the delivery and interviewed me. They shot film the day before the delivery at the M Studio as a back story (which was meant to recreate my meeting 13 months ago). I had the foresight to wear the same shirt from last year just in case they did this – and they did (ha ha ha).

Since they want to film the redelivery, they won’t be done with the video until at least sometime in Jan 2010. Just ignore me and appreciate the car when it comes out.

BMW handed me a never before made piano black box (with carbon fiber on the top with a silver M logo) which had the 2 sets of keys in it. The box has has my name engraved in it. The key fobs have carbon fiber insets with the M logo on the front and “BMW Individual M6″ and my name engraved on the backs. They have really taken care of me!”

Thanks for the amazing photos Mark!

While the car is days from officially being introduced, several BMW dealerships across the world have received their first units. As you recall, BMW announced that only 100 M6 Competition vehicles will be built.

For those of us that live in the U.S., no official word on whether the vehicle will be available for us as well, but we expect to learn more at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Courtesy of our German blog, BimmerToday.de, we have the first footage of the BMW M6 Competition.

Official Press Release: The BMW M6 Competition Limited Edition is being presented for the first time at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.

The BMW M6 Competition Limited Edition combines the supreme dynamics of a high-performance sports car and the exclusive features of BMW Individual to form a truly fascinating symbiosis. Appropriate modifications of the suspension further enhance the profile of this unique Coupé designed from the start for maximum performance.

New set-up of the springs, dampers and anti-roll bars, together with the body lowered by 12 millimetres/0.47″ at the front and 10 millimetres/0.39″ at the rear, together with a new combination of wheels and tyres, optimise both lateral and longitudinal dynamics to a standard never seen before. The suspension control systems, the control unit masterminding the EDC Electronic Damper Control, wheel track and camber as well as the map controlling the variable M differential lock are all geared precisely to these special modifications of the suspension.

The colour concept featured both outside and within the interior highlights the unique character of this outstanding two-door in a most stylish manner, emphasising the motorsport technology and uncompromising premium quality of the car. BMW Individual matt paintwork in Frozen Grey metallic accentuates the powerful and, at the same time, exclusive presence of this unique Coupé.

The BMW M6 Competition Limited Edition is being built in a production run of just 100 units. The exclusivity of this very special model is further symbolised by a special placard on the roof lining bearing each car’s serial number as a unique achievement in automotive technology.

The interior of the BMW M6 Competition Limited Edition is available in two colour variants. BMW Individual all-leather upholstery in Merino comes either in Black with light-grey contrasted seams or in twin-tone Silverstone/Black with light-grey and black seams forming a special contrast.

Merino leather comes on the seats, the headrests and side panels at the rear, the instrument panel, the trim cover on the driver’s side, the glove box, the armrest, the handbrake lever gaiter, as well as the door and side panels. The door closing handles, in turn, are finished in black nappa leather.

On the twin-tone model the seat centre sections as well as parts of the door and side panels as well as the door closing handles come in black, all further elements are in Silverstone. On both versions footmats with a surrounding bend in Silverstone Merino leather as well as door cutout trim proudly bearing the “M6 Competition” model designation add the final touch to the exclusive ambience of the car.

BMW will also introduce a new color in the M6 line-up, Frozen Gray Mettalic….matte finish. The M6 Competition Edition is limited to only 100 vehicles, all of them carrying a special engraving.

Inside, the few lucky customers can choose between two design variations, the Merino full leather interior with either black or light gray two-tone contrast stiching. Special floor mats with the “M6 Competition” stitched on them will emphasize the limited edition M6 the owner has purchased.

There are also some fine technical tuning, starting with a special suspension which will provide even more momentum, and continuing with revised springs, dampers and stabilizers. The ride has also been lowered by 10 mm upfront and 12mm at the rear.

No pricing is available at this time, but we intend to find out more about the ordering process at the Frankfurt Auto Show.

Update: New photos added, courtesy of Germancarzone

But today, they have outdone themselves by releasing not just one of the best looking modded BMWs I have seen in a very long time, but also the fastest BMW Coupe in the world. G-Power  named it  Hurricane CS and it is based on the BMW M6.

The M6 Hurricane CS uses an upgraded version of the M5 Hurricane’s engine, a twin-supercharged version of the legendary high-rev M V10 that delivers an output of 750 horsepower available between 7,500 and 8,000 rpm, taking the M6 Hurricane CS to a top speed of 370km/h or 231mph. The super-duper engine also develops up to 590 lb-ft(800Nm) of torque at 5,000 rpm.

Hurricane CS runs from 0 to 62mph(100km/h) in 4.4 seconds, to 124mph(200km/h) in 9.6 seconds and to 187mph(300 km/h) in 26 seconds.

To reach this level of performance, engineers needed to install the company’s belt-driven ASA T1-316 superchargers, each providing charge air for one cylinder bank and able to increase the volume of charge air by up to 25%. In order to reduce the overall weight, the entire exhaust system was replaced with one made from titanium that weighs 24 kg or 53lbs less than the factory exhaust. To “lose weight” even further, the new carbon fiber seats in the interior save another 24kg (12kg or 26.5 lbs each seat).

For all this power, you need a set of high performance tires and the French tire maker Michelin provided the Pilot Sport PS2 in sizes 255/35 ZR 19 in front and 305/30 ZR 19 on the rear axle fitted on 21-inch Silverstone Diamond wheels. Now you also need some performance brakes to keep in check all those 750 ponies, so M6 Hurricane CS comes equipped with Carbon-Ceramic brake system with 6-piston calibers and brake discs with 380 mm in diameter. Weight savings: 50% over the standard brakes.

The interior is all about carbon-fiber design elements, from the aforementioned sports seats to clear-coated carbon-fiber panels for the dash, center console and doors. The sporty steering wheel is dressed in Kjerba Nappa leather.

I hope you didn’t expect this beauty to  run cheap, because if you did, you’re in for a surprise. The G-Power Hurricane CS starts $477, 500 or 360,000 euros.

The newest generation 997 Turbo is powered by a flat-six 3.6 liter turbocharged engine outputting 480 horsepower at 6,000 rpm. Now the question is: will the 997 Turbo be able to keep up with the more powerful M6? Are horsepower a decisive factor these days?

Take a look!

[Source: Drivers-Republic via 4RingBlog ]

If you have been a long time reader on our blog, you probably remember the renderings created by Giom, the 2012 BMW M6, 2012 BMW 3 Series or the most recent one, 1 Series Concept.

But today, we’re going to show all of them into a single 3D shot.

And to spoil us even more, Giom is showing us the BMW 1 Series Concept in a blue exterior color.

Thanks Giom!

P.S Here is another interesting rendering by Racer X Design: BMW RZ M6

The original 6er was launched in 1976 with two models: the 630CS and 633CSi.

1984 saw the introduction of the M635CSi, essentially an E24 powered by the powerplant of the BMW M1. Last year,  in honor of the M1’s 30th birthday, BMW decided to reveal the M1 Hommage, a concept that pays tribute to the original M1. The fellows at Racer X Design combined the current 6 Series design with the retro style of the E24 6 Series and incorporating design elements from the recently unveiled M1 Hommage.

BMW M1 Hommage

The BMW RZ-M6 was designed to show how a 6 Series should look like – in their opinion, I might add. As expected and seen in the M1 Hommage Concept as well, the modified body panels have been widen, in this case by 50mm. The kidneys on the BMW RZ-M6 has M1 Hommage written all over them giving the car a weird, but interesting and unique front-end. I already foresee that some BMW fans will be in love with this design, while others, more conservative, will most likely criticize it.

But at least we don’t have to worry, these are just some independent renderings, despite the fact that Racer X Design is actively looking for suckers partners with cash that would help them bring the RZ-M6 into production.

PRESS RELEASE

BMW RZ-M6

Inspired by the earlier generation E24 6 series, the RZ-M6 captures the stylish and aggressive looks of the older generations of BMW’s and puts them in the current 6 series . This is what the current 6 series could look like, by replacing body panels, yet keeping the basic structure intact. The body is 50mm wider to offer wider rubber for better grip.

The current M6 already offers a high level of performance, with upgrades for even more power available worldwide. The RZ-M6 is designed to show how a 6 series should look like to reflect that pedigree. While aggressive, it’s not over the top, keeping the lines of the current M6 structure flowing and factory like. It’s not a boy racer’s car, it’s more mature, more elegant, yet not to be messed with. All this was evident in the older generation BMW’s. This is a tribute to the E24 6 series.

Started as a small indipendent body styling company, Racer X Design has a history of designing and building conversions based on top of existing cars for competitions, togather with designing cars and such conversions for international clients. We are looking for partners who have the same passion for the BMW brand and would like to see the RZ-M6 hit production. For more information go to www.racerxdesign.com

History of the E24 6 series

The early BMW sport coupes had monumental performance and style with the added luxury of design and technology. Showcased at the Geneva Motor Show in March of 1976, the 6 Series E24 sport coupes were the successor to the E9 3.0 CSi coupe. The coupe tradition in the early and mid seventies had been so widely successful, that BMW decided the era of 1965-75 coupes needed a successor. Transferring the tradition and image created by BMW with beautiful models like the 2000 C/CS and the 3.0-3.5 CS/CSi/CSL coupes, the E24 coupe captured this same image and effect. The E24 635 CSi touring car was BMWs entrant in Group A touring car racing from 1983 until the introduction of the BMW M3 in 1986.