3 comments about BMW M-Series and Performance Specials (Sports Car Color History).

1. This is the best book about performance BMW I have come across. It features history, facts and pictures about M1, M3, M5, M635 CSi, M6 and 850 CSi.

   What suprised me the most was the in depth information and nice pics about Alpina, featuring the B10 BiTurbo, B12, B8 4,6 (3 series with 333 HP V8) and early B7 Turbo models.

   Info about ALL Alpina models and M models! Also mentioning some Hartge models, AC Schnitzer CLS II and CLS III.

   As I said earlier, the definite book regarding M models, Alpina and other top-notch tuners.




2. J. Cohen's writing is several cuts above the usual hack quality found in car books. Alas, he is awfully focused on Alpina, Hartge, etc., and skimps on info on the M models that are presumably the subject of the book! More detail on what, for instance, makes an E34 M5 different and special, or what are all the mods made to the E30 M3 that make it such a big deal, and how did it do in racing? None of this is addressed; rather, he spills a lot of ink on detailing every nuance of every Alpina product made in the last 30 years. If he wanted to write a history of Alpina, that's fine, but the cover, title, and description of the book leads one to believe that its principal focus is M and the products thereof.

   Nonetheless, the book is still several cuts above MBI's usually atrocious quality standards, and makes for an interesting evening of reading.




3. This is a very good book. Goes into great detail on BMW's history of performance special cars, how this came about, and where Alpina and Schnitzer and even Hartge fit into this. However, there is clearly a slant towards Alpina. The author does state however that Alpina has more of an "in" with BMW than the other tuners and therefore is a bit more respected. There is great detail on engine specs, displacement, special models, and even production numbers for each model. He details the evolution of the 2002, then goes through the 3, 5, 6, and 8 series. There is a section on the M1 also. Whenever possible, the author seems to mention whether any of a certain type of car were ever imported into the U.S. or not. He includes a description of the U.S. grey market in the 80s in the beginning of the book. The pictures in the book are fantastic and almost all are in full color. This book is worth every penny of the meager asking price. Thumbs up!

2 comments about BMW Z3, M Coupe & Roadster 1996-2002 Gold Portfolio.

1. For those that have been following the Z3, this book does not provide anything new if you have subscriptions to some of the more popular car magazines. Every page is a copy of an article on this or that magazine. The book only serves to reinforce the already common knowledge (for most of us anyways) that this car: drives like a roadster, looks like a roadster, it is a roadster!! I only give it two stars because I was expecting a book with all the nitty-gritty information (IE. options available each year, engine introduction dates, etc).



2. I was hoping for an inside look into the M Roadster but instead I found a book full of magazine clippings. Sure, they took the time to collect some articles written by magazines reviewing the car over the 6 years it was in production. But nothing to make the book worth $20+. I agree with the author of the other review "Common Knowledge". I wouldn't waste your money on it...sure felt like a waste to me.

No comments about BMW Z3 & Z3M Road Test.

No comments about BMW 5-series 6-cyl Petrol: 96 to 03 (Haynes Service and Repair Manuals).

No comments about BMW 320, 320I 323I OWNERS WORKSHOP MANUAL OCT 1977 TO 1985.

No comments about Clymer Bmw: R850 & R1100 : 1993-1998.

No comments about BMW Alpina 1967-87 Performance Portfolio.

No comments about Chilton's Repair and Tune-Up Guide Bmw 1970-82: 1600, 2000, 2002, 2002Tii, 2500, 2800, 2800Cs, Bavaria, 3000Cs, 3.0Cs, 3.0S, 3.0Si, 320I, 528E, 528I, (Chilton's Repair Manual (Model Specific)).

No comments about "Cycle World" on BMW, 1974-80 (Brooklands Road Tests).

No comments about "Cycle World" on BMW, 1981-86 (Brooklands Road Tests).