Performance BMW Magazine May 2020 Back Issue

The V8 is a dying breed, it’s an old-school engine that feels a little out of place in this ever-changing modern world but it is a treasure that must be cherished and it’s up to people like us to make sure that V8s are properly loved and cared for and never forgotten, which is why in this issue we just so happen to have a V8 buying guide for you. We’ve picked three non-M and three M V8-powered machines, all sexy cars that you’d love to own, covering a wide range of budgets and there’s pretty much something for everyone here, so if you’ve always fancied a V8 but have always made excuses not to buy one it’s time to stop, read our guide, and then go shopping. In terms of features, we’ve got an awful lot of boost for you this month – which is never a bad thing – and we kick things off with our beast of a cover car. This ’90s icon has been endowed with the power of forced induction; with a monster turbo strapped to its S52, this E36 M3 is pushing out a massive 605whp on stock internals and this square-jawed bruiser is an absolutely awesome machine. Sticking with turbos we also bring you an E28 that’s packing a turbocharged S38 under the bonnet for a stunningly subtle retro sleeper package, while the UK F80 M3 we’ve also got looks as stealthy as an M3 can but its S55 has been treated to just about every bolt-on under the sun and it’s making some serious power as a result. Flying the flag for superchargers is an absolutely full-on Z3 M Coupé – we don’t see many of these quirky machines but the ones that appear in these pages are never less than absolutely epic and this one is no exception, thanks to its supercharged S54 making 740whp. Off the back of all this forced induction, we’ve slipped in a tech guide to turbos, and then we’ve got event reports, a wild JDM-styled E46 M3, beautiful Santorini E36 328i, stunning bagged E30 320i and loads more for you to enjoy.