Often Imitated, Never Replicated
Recently, we’ve spoken a bit about what you and your BMW need to participate in track days and competitive racing from a top-down approach. However, building cars isn’t a cut-and-dry formula. There are nearly infinite avenues to explore, especially when you have a specific build direction in mind and no limits imposed by a sanctioning body. Today, we’re focused on the creative side of BMW-building that sets your project apart from anyone else’s. Here’s a bit of inspirational content we hope gives you the motivation to go out and do your own thing.
Building your BMW is a lot like writing. You can get ‘a result’ by looking at the genres and stories that are currently popular, imitating that style, and putting words on a page, but you do so at the sacrifice of your personality’s contribution to your story. Anyone can copy a build to produce a similar or even identical car, but it isn’t exactly something that will give them the same kind of pride a true creative would experience.
That’s not to say that you have to write your own story from nothing. Nearly every story ever written takes inspiration from somewhere. Homer was inspired by the pantheon of gods and their stories, written by Greek theologians about the stars and planets, anthropomorphizing them for entertainment’s sake. Modern racing teams are inspired by nature, organic designs, physics, and of course, the cars that have cemented themselves in their minds during their formative years.
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For your build, whether it is a dedicated track car, OEM-Plus street car, or something else entirely, you should know when to insert yourself creatively. So you know you want to lower your BMW, fit more aggressive wheels and tires, build an exhaust system, and possibly sprinkle some carbon fiber elements through the whole car? Do it your way. Don’t just say ‘well, these are the best coilovers and most popular wheels, that’s what I’ll buy.’ If you know that you need camber/caster adjustment, a set of coilovers that doesn’t include that ability is probably off the table.
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Don’t be afraid to take risks, either. Your wheel choice, especially on cars that spend most of their time on the street, is a big statement. It shows your personality, your interests, and your inspiration quite clearly to those who see your car. If your style is a set of BBS RS wheels, go for it, but know that a more creative risk could equally appeal to you. Be bold. If you want to go with what everyone knows will work, that’s fine, but you won’t feel the same reward as someone who went above and beyond to find some rare, vintage, set of faces and has them custom built to exact specs for a truly unique look.
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It can be the little details, too, that set your BMW apart. Whether you need a minimalist, track-inspired interior or a plush living space, settling for what you can find on the shelves might not be your best bet. Even custom interiors lately have become somewhat uniform. Quilted leather, paint-matched roll cages, and Recaro bucket seats are the new normal. If you can dare to be a little different, try to step outside the box. Bare aluminum, bead-rolled and styled to a unique design, offers an industrial approach that can have a similar feel to the luxury/sport style that has become popular but offers a fresh take on interior design. At the least, delete panels that help focus the eye on your wheel, seats, and harnesses are a wonderful start.
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Even cable management and fluid lines can be a statement in your build. A ‘get it done’ approach can be effective, but you may find that something beautiful can also be functional. AN fittings, braided hoses, tucked wiring, and overall cleanliness speaks volumes about your build and can tie it together as well as a proper set of wheels can.
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Of course, all of this takes time. It takes creative effort, trial and error, and substantial risks on your part as a builder to break away from what has been done. Anyone can copy a formula and make it work. A truly dedicated enthusiast will take inspiration, rather than direction, and make something entirely their own. So don’t just copy your neighbor’s homework! Take inspiration, understand what you like and dislike about other builds, and set out to develop something unique to you. Your BMW can always be an Individual BMW. All it takes is your personality and ambition to be realized.
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