Magazine of the National Capital Chapter BMW Car Club of America March/April 2020

We’ve Gone Green

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 2

THE STEERING COLUMN 3

CALENDAR OF EVENTS 4

COMING EVENTS 4

NEW MEMBERS LIST 35

6 Join Us at the May HPDE at Summit Point’s Jefferson CircuitBY FRASER DACHILLE

7 2019’s Penultimate DIY Event for Ultimate Driving Machines at BMW of SterlingBY ANEEK ROY

10 2019 Tours Recap and 2020 Preliminary Tour ScheduleBY ROBERT HOPKINS

12 November DIY at Bimmer WerksBY MARC CADEN

15 Driving Through A Looking GlassAnd Other Strange SightsBY JAMES CHEW

19 December DIY at Craftsman Auto CareBY MARC CADEN

22Meet the BMW CCA Raffle Grand Prize Winner: NCC’s Ben WibisonoBY JACK RAYMOND

25 Advantages of a Custom-Installed Radar DetectorBY MARK MILLER

26 2020 BMW X2 M35: The BMW GTIBY JAMES CHEW

31 The Habits of Highly Effective Autocrossers: Habit NineBY JACK RAYMOND

Cover: der Bayerisches of past and presentshow the evolution of the 1970’s black andwhite newsletter to the online magazine in2020. Photo: i8 photo by BMW AG.

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Magazine of the National Capital Chapter BMW Car Club of America

March | April 2020

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A D V E R T I S E R S

BMW of Silver Spring C2

BMW of Sterling C4

BMW of Towson/Bel Air/Rockville C3

Fairfax Service Center 36

GeorgeCo Motorsports 36

J&F Motors, Ltd. 36

London Auto Services, Ltd. 2

Matt Curry’s Craftsman Auto Care 11

OG Racing 11

Radial Tire 24

Road Race Technologies 9

Tier Car Care 36

VOLUME 50 | NUMBER 2

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National Capital Chapter BMW Car Club of America

Chapter Officers (Please call 7:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m.)PresidentPaul Seto . . . . . . . . . . . . . president@nccbmwcca.org 301.908.1928Vice PresidentJames Laws . . . . . . . . . vice-president@nccbmwcca.org 240.424.5380TreasurerJohn Walker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . treasurer@nccbmwcca.org SecretaryRobert Hopkins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . secretary@nccbmwcca.org Membership ChairJames Laws . . . . . . . . . . membership@nccbmwcca.org 240.424.5380Social ChairPaul Seto . . . . . . . . . . . social-chair@nccbmwcca.org 301.908.1928DSSC ChairmanGordon Kimpel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . gmkimpel@gmail.comHPDE CoordinatorScott Reiman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . skreiman@hotmail.comConcours ChairJohn McWilliams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . concours-chair@nccbmwcca.orgDIY ChairChris Wootten . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . diy-chair@nccbmwcca.orgWebmasterSteven Schlossman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . webmaster@nccbmwcca.orgAutocross Co-ChairmenFraser Dachille . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . axchair@nccautocross.comChuck Pompei . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . axchair@nccautocross.comBaltimore ActivitiesBilly Dixon . . . . . . . . . billy.dixon@nccbmwcca.org 410.802.0188

der Bayerische StaffEditorJack Raymond. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . db-editor@nccbmwcca.orgProduction/Layout Raine Mantysalo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . db-production@nccbmwcca.orgContributing WritersMarc Caden, James Chew, Fraser Dachille, Robert Hopkins, Mark Miller, Jack Raymond, Aneek Roy Club AddressNCC BMW CCA, P.O. Box 685, Arlington, VA 22216National Membership Toll-Free Number800.878.9292der Bayerische is the official publication of the National Capital Chapter of the BMW Car Club of America, Inc., and is not in any way connected with theBayerische Motoren Werke AG or BMW of North America, Inc. It is provided byand for the Club membership only. The Club assumes no liability for any of theinformation, opinions or suggestions contained herein. No factory approval isimplied unless specifically stated. Modifications within the warranty period of avehicle may void the warranty. All articles to be considered for publishing mustbe received by the 14th of odd-numbered months (January, March, …) and are subject to editing. Please send all submissions to the dB editors at db-editor@nccbmwcca.org. Send all photos and all links to photos to the Production Manager at db-production@nccbmwcca.org. For placement of commercial advertisements contact the Advertising Manager at db-advertising@nccbmwcca.org. Contents may not be reproduced without permission in writing except by the BMW CCA and its Chapters.© 2020 NCC BMW CCA

President’sMessage

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Please make sure we have your correct email address. It can be checked and updated at the

www.bmwcca.org website.

We told you 'Change is Coming!' and here it is! Welcome to the first online-only version of der Bayerische! Earlier this year, this chapter made the announcement that wewill no longer print the newsletter. While many of you were disappointed, the decisionwasn't easy. We know there are many who prefer a hard copy of their favorite club'sprized publication, but financially it's a no-brainer. For years, the dB lost several thousand dollars per issue; combined with high production costs and rapidly decliningadvertising revenue, we felt we had no other choice. Some people were even willing toput up their own money to see a print edition sustained, although we never came closeto having enough backers. However, don't worry, we promise that the online version ofder Bayerische will still have the same incredible content and the dB staff will continueto produce the best BMW CCA chapter magazine in the country. Our writers and photographers will continue to cover the action with a passion that makes you feel as ifyou were at the event yourself. Other than the delivery method, the dB lives on! Will itrequire you to do a few things differently? Sure, but we're convinced our members willstill love the magazine in its new form. From what we can tell, it looks like most of youwill actually prefer the online version.

Moving along with more change, hopefully you've seen the improvements we madeto our NCC website. In fact, it's a total revamp with brand new pictures, video, and content throughout. Thanks to Steven Schlossman, Doug Verner, and all our programleads for pulling together this great new tool! It's a lot more user-friendly and makes it easier to find the information you're looking for, and it will continue to evolve over time.

Finally, since we're so close to starting the 'car season', you'll notice that our calendar of events is already filling up for the first half of the year. We are well on ourway to another 100+ event-day year. In fact, our autocross and track dates are all firm, so sign up early to guarantee your spot. Also, for those fresh to BMW CCA, we have our New Member Reception coming up in early May at BMW of Sterling. There will be several events going on that day, starting with our DIY program and Cars & Coffee. It will be an awesome day to see what we do, see some awesome cars, meet other members, and get involved with your club!

TheSteeringColumn

March I April 3

Over the past several issues, it’s been my pleasureand privilege to contribute a series of articles entitled “The Seven Habits of Highly EffectiveAutocrossers”. The genesis of the seriesoccurred several years ago. I had volunteered tocoach at a local autocross. The students wereprimarily novice drivers who were struggling abit. I got in the car, offered a tip or two, and offwe went. As usual, I provided guidance duringthe run, both verbal (Left! Right! Looking ahead,looking ahead… Easy… Enter wide, exit tight…Gas, gas, gas!) and via hand gestures. After therun, the expression on the students’ faces conveyed that light-bulb moment. They got it,and it began to transform not only their driving,but their enjoyment of the sport. Their epiphanywas my epiphany. I had been seeking a way toshare my enthusiasm and passion for motor-sports, and it looked like I had found it. Fromthat time, I started jotting down my ideas on whatI had learned about driving autocross and track

day events, hoping that some day I would have the chance to share them in written form. My inspiration for the title of the series wasStephen Covey’s book, “The Seven Habits ofHighly Effective People”, one of the three mostinfluential books I’ve ever read.

So, what did Mr. Covey have to say? He divided his advice into three parts: personalhabits, interpersonal habits, and an overall,encompassing habit. Here’s what he had to say,in a nutshell.

The “Personal Habits” included beginningwith the end in mind (setting goals), putting firstthings first (prioritizing), and being proactive(taking the initiative).

The “Interpersonal Habits” included seekingfirst to understand, then to be understood. In anyinteraction, strive to understand the other person’s point of view before trying to get them tounderstand yours. People will be more open totrying to understand you when they see that you

understand them. A corollary is to assume goodintentions on the other party’s behalf (unless anduntil proven otherwise). Next, Covey described“thinking win-win”. Find solutions that benefiteveryone, not just yourself. Adopt the perspec-tive that life is not a zero-sum game. His inter-personal habits concluded with the advice to“synergize”. The group benefits when eachmember of the team contributes based on theirstrengths. That’s why the whole is greater thanthe sum of the parts.

The seventh, encompassing habit was to“sharpen the saw”. Exercise your body and yourmind. Learn continuously. Grow incrementally.

A final thought: Be part of something biggerthan yourself.

Thank you for allowing me to share.

v/r,Jack RaymondEditor

Welcome to the new BMW Car Club of America National Capital Chapter fulfillment clothing store. Here you can show your support for the BMW Car Club of America National Chapter. You can special order Ladies’ and Men’s clothing with our logo applied to the garment. Thank you for visiting our store! Happy shopping!

The new Car Club Store is herewith a new look, new merchandiseand improved ordering process.

AccessoriesLadies’

- Jackets- Polos/Knits- Woven

Men’s- Jackets- Polos/Knits- Woven

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C O M I N G E V E N T S

March NCC Board Meeting & SocialVicino Restaurante Italiano, 959 Sligo Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910Wednesday, March 11, 2020, 7pmSee https://www.nccbmwcca.org/events/list/

Autocross Novice School @ Regency Furniture Stadium Waldorf, MD 20602Saturday, March 14, 2020Sign up at http://ncc.motorsportreg.com

Ladies’ DIY @ Craftsman Auto Care2733 Merrilee Dr, Fairfax, VA 22031Sunday, March 22, 2020Sign up at http://ncc.motorsportreg.com

Dust off TourSunday, March 22, 2020See https://www.nccbmwcca.org/driving-events/driving-tours/

Autocross Points Event #1 @ Regency Furniture StadiumWaldorf, MD 20602Saturday, March 28, 2020Sign up at http://ncc.motorsportreg.com

Autocross Test ‘n Tune @ Regency Furniture Stadium Waldorf, MD 20602Saturday, April 4, 2020Sign up at http://ncc.motorsportreg.com

March11 March Board Meeting/Social - Vicino Restaurante Italiano,

Silver Spring, MD14 Autocross Novice School @ Regency Furniture Stadium, Waldorf, MD22 Ladies DIY @ Craftsman Auto Care, Merrifield, VA22 Dust Off Tour28 Autocross Points Event #1 @ Regency Furniture Stadium, Waldorf, MD

April4 Autocross Test 'n Tune @ Regency Furniture Stadium, Waldorf, MD8 April Board Meeting/Social - Vicino Restaurante Italiano,

Silver Spring, MD11 DIY @ Proctor’s Foreign Auto Service, New Carrollton, MD26 North of the Border Tour

May1-3 HPDE @ Summit Point Motorsports Park - Jefferson Circuit2 DIY @ Benchmark Motors, Columbia, MD3 Deutsche Marque Concours9 DIY @ BMW of Sterling, Sterling, VA9 New Member Reception, Open House, Cars & Coffee

@ BMW of Sterling, Sterling, VA13 May Board Meeting/Social - Vicino Restaurante Italiano,

Silver Spring, MD16 XUV Tour30 Autocross Points Event #2 @ Regency Furniture Stadium, Waldorf, MD

June6 Drive and Vine Tour6 13th Annual Golf Outing, Raspberry Falls Golf Club, Leesburg, VA10 June Board Meeting/Social - Vicino Restaurante Italiano,

Silver Spring, MD13 Autocross Points Event #3 @ Regency Furniture Stadium,

Waldorf, MD26-28 HPDE @ Summit Point Motorsports park - Shenandoah Circuit

July8 July Board Meeting/Social - Vicino Restaurante Italiano,

Silver Spring, MD25 Creamery Tour

August8 Autocross Points Event #4 @ Regency Furniture Stadium,

Waldorf, MD12 August Board Meeting/Social - Vicino Restaurante Italiano,

Silver Spring, MD21-23 IMSA Weekend at VIR

September9 September Board Meeting/Social - Vicino Restaurante Italiano,

Silver Spring, MD12 Autocross Points Event #5 @ Regency Furniture Stadium,

Waldorf, MD12-13 Eastern Shore Tour15-19 BMW CCA Annual Event (formerly known as Oktoberfest)

in Palm Springs, CA26-27 Bimmerworld / Back of the Dragon Tour

October14 October Board Meeting/Social - Vicino Restaurante Italiano,

Silver Spring, MD16-18 HPDE @ Summit Point Motorsports park - Main Circuit17 Autocross Points Event #6 @ Regency Furniture Stadium,

Waldorf, MD

November1 Pre-Y2K Fall Leaves Tour11 November Board Meeting/Social - Vicino Restaurante Italiano,

14 Pie Run XXV

December12 December Board Meeting/Social - Vicino Restaurante Italiano,

Silver Spring, MD12 Christmas Light Tour

C A L E N D A R O F E V E N T S

March I April 5

C O M I N G E V E N T S

The new 2020 NCC Wall Calendar is here! It is filled with awide variety of pictures covering many of this year’s events. It is a must-have for every club member and makes a great giftfor all BMW enthusiasts! Order yours today.

The price is only$25.00 (plus $10 forshipping and handlingif applicable). Order afew, use them as giftsand share themamong your BMWfriends.

Future event dates are listed as known at the time of printing.

Get Your 2020 NCC BMW CCA Calendar Now!

Order at http://msreg.com/2020NCCcalendar

April NCC Board Meeting & SocialVicino Restaurante Italiano, 959 Sligo Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910Wednesday, April 8, 2020, 7pmSee https://www.nccbmwcca.org/events/list/

DIY @ Proctor’s Foreign Auto Service7594 Annapolis Rd, New Carrollton, MD 20784Saturday, April 11, 2020Sign up at http://ncc.motorsportreg.com

North of the Border TourSunday, April 26, 2020See https://www.nccbmwcca.org/driving-events/driving-tours/

HPDE @ Summit Point Motorsports ParkSummit Point, WV - Jefferson CircuitMay 1-3, 2020Sign up at http://ncc.motorsportreg.com

DIY @ Benchmark Motors9033-C, Red Branch Rd, Columbia, MD 21045Saturday, May 2, 2020Sign up at http://ncc.motorsportreg.com

Deutsche Marque Concours Nottoway Park, 9601 Courthouse Rd, Vienna, VA 22181Sunday, May 3, 2020See https://www.nccbmwcca.org/event/deutsche-marque-concours/

DIY @ BMW of Sterling21710 Auto World Circle, Sterling, VA 20166Saturday, May 9, 2020Sign up at http://ncc.motorsportreg.com

New Member Reception, Cars & Coffee @ BMW of Sterling21710 Auto World Circle, Sterling, VA 20166Saturday, May 9, 2020See https://www.nccbmwcca.org/event/spring-2020-new-member-reception-open-house/

May NCC Board Meeting & SocialVicino Restaurante Italiano 959 Sligo Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910Wednesday, May 13, 2020, 7pmSee https://www.nccbmwcca.org/events/list/

XUV TourSaturday, May 16, 2020See https://www.nccbmwcca.org/driving-events/driving-tours/

Autocross Points Event #2 @ Regency Furniture StadiumWaldorf, MD 20602Saturday, May 30, 2020Sign up at http://ncc.motorsportreg.com

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You (yes, you) are cordiallyinvited to come drive with us(or spectate, if you prefer) at

NCC’s HPDE event on Summit PointRaceway’s Jefferson Circuit, May 1-3,2020. Sign up at ncc.motorsportreg.com.

For those unfamiliar with the NCC HPDE program, HPDEstands for "High-Performance DriverEducation". NCC runs three (3)HPDE events a year, all held atSummit Point Motorsports Park inWest Virginia (about 90 Miles from Baltimore, 70 Miles fromWashington, D.C.). HPDE, alsoknown colloquially as “track day”, isnot racing. HPDE is an opportunityfor you to learn how your carbehaves, and how to manage it, in acontrolled environment, at speed,with a qualified instructor accompa-nying you in your car.

What can you expect? Eachday you will have four (4) sessionson track with an instructor in yourvehicle. One (1) of the sessionseach day will be an exercise toimprove your skills as a driver andcan include "no brakes" (driving thetrack without using your brakes),

Join Us at the May HPDE at Summit Point’s Jefferson Circuit

"off line" (driving the track off of theoptimal position / line), or "pass-ing" (where we work on passing asmany vehicles during a lap as possible, one at a time). In additionto the time on track, classroominstruction is also provided. Wehave three goals at HPDE: have fun,be safe, and learn something duringthe weekend.

Why should you attend? TheJefferson is a great track for first-timers to learn on as well as an excellent track for experienced drivers to continue to build their skills.

The Jefferson Circuit openedin 1996 as a 1.1-mile track thatcould be driven clockwise or counterclockwise. The track wasexpanded to 1.7 miles in 2014 andcan now be driven using either thenew full / extended layout or the original ‘short’ course. TheJefferson features challenges thatreward smooth driving inputs; itoffers students a chance to see anumber of varying track elements inone weekend: elevation changes,increasing-radius corners, decreas-ing-radius corners and blind

apexes. The track now includes askid pad and a total of 14 turns; thefull length, 14-turn version of theJefferson is driven counterclock-wise during NCC’s HPDE. We willbe driving the Jefferson in its full /extended format all weekend. TheJefferson Circuit is more intimate interms of facilities and grid area thanSummit Point Raceway’s other twotracks, but it offers a variety of trackelements in a single course.

This is an excellent event forexperienced drivers to “knock therust off” and a great track for first-timers as well. This is our firstevent of the year, and our only eventon the Jefferson Circuit this year.

As an added bonus, the clubhas secured a block of hotel roomsat the Holiday Inn Express, 142 Fox Ridge Lane, Winchester,VA. 22601, 540-667-7050 at therate of $72/night (which includes a breakfast at the hotel). NOTE: thisMay 1-3 HPDE is the same week-end as the local Apple BlossomFestival. We expect that the hotelwill become sold out, so make yourhotel reservation early.

(Above) You don't need a race car to bring it to the track, daily drivers willwork just fine. (Below) Even for experienced racers, Jefferson offers achance to hone skills.

By Fraser Dachille

In the November 2019 issue ofRoundel, editor-in-chief SatchCarlson wrote:

“November, the penultimatemonth, gives smarty-pants writersthe opportunity to use the wordpenultimate, having missed theopportunity in October to use ante-penultimate. (Only an unrepentantpedant would proceed backwardsfrom there.) It is also the some-times alarming preamble to winter -try telling my friends in the SnowBelt that autumn runs through mostof December.”

I haven’t yet attained smarty-pants writer status, but I did havethe opportunity to attend NCC’s second to last – that is, penultimate– DIY event of 2019 as a helper.The event took place on a cool,sunny, and fortunately snow-freeNovember Saturday at BMW ofSterling. A longtime NCC sponsor,BMW of Sterling is one of thenewest and most modern BMWautomobile dealerships in theWashington, D.C. to Baltimoreregion. It’s also on the very shortlist of U.S. dealerships that sell andservice all three of BMW’s carbrands: BMW, Mini, and Rolls-Royce. The parent company, Sterling

2019’s Penultimate DIY Event for

Ultimate Driving Machines at BMW of SterlingMotorcars, owns franchises forLamborghini and McLaren as well.

The BMW of Sterling servicefacility is noteworthy not only for itssize (over 50 bays) but also for itscleanliness and attention to detail.Because the service department is open on Saturdays, DIY eventparticipants shared the facility withthe dealership's technicians whowere working on customers' cars.

Thanks to expert preparation andplanning by NCC DIY chair ChrisWooten and BMW of Sterling PartsManager Tony Henry, there was noworry of any conflicts between thetwo. The German idiom wie amSchnürchen laufen, meaning “torun like clockwork”, definitelyapplied here.

NCC members never disap-point with the wide variety of car

models they bring to DIY events,and this one was no exception.Representing the current generationof BMW automobiles, SridharKowdley replaced the six sparkplugs on his 2015 M235i. On theother side of the vehicle age spec-trum, and going back several generations, one could hardly askfor a better example of the M235i’s spiritual ancestor thanJohn Hewes’ 1972 2002tii, onwhich John changed the vital fluids.Sandwiched between Sridhar’s andJohn’s cars in terms of vintage wasCliff Brody’s 1995 325i Coupe,whose electrical system received a thorough inspection. Cars frommanufacturers other than BMW arealways welcome at NCC DIY events,as member Celine Anand came to appreciate. Celine changed theengine oil and filter on her 2016Buick Encore.

Several other successful projects were performed at theevent. Not surprisingly, mainte-nance operations involving a car’svital fluids were quite common.Joining John Hewes and Celine insuch endeavors were NCC M ClubDay chairman Doug Verner, whochanged the engine oil and brake

(Top) BMW of Sterling provided ten bays in its spacious and immaculatelyclean service area for DIY participants to use. (Above) A friendly BMW ofSterling technician helps Terence Seawright to remove a wheel.

March I April 7

By Aneek Roy

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fluid in his X6; Wayne Zhang,replacing the transmission fluid inhis 1999 528i; and JamesChurbuck, taking care of multiplefluid changes for his 2007 Z4Coupe.

Among other projects, DIYregular John Francis replacedthrust-arm bushings on his 2008M3 sedan. Brian LoVecchioswapped the oil cooler on his 2011335is coupe. John Key replaced thebrake pads, rotors, and lines on hissuper clean 2010 535i M-Sport.Terence Seawright’s 2011 328ireceived new brake pads as well asa new battery. Bob Hollander gothis 2011 Z4 ready for winter with anunderbody inspection and enginedegreasing. By the same token,

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Kelvin Hao did a new “roadyinspection” on his 2001 MRoadster. And Louis Mezo dutifullyperformed work on the front suspension components, ASCthrottle actuator, and rear brakes ofhis 1998 528i.

One of the best aspects of anNCC DIY event is that several mem-bers come to lend DIY participantsa helping hand, literally and figura-tively. As a helper myself, I canvouch for the fact that a DIY event isjust as valuable for those helping asfor the participants engaged in theprimary DIY work, as it represents

educational experience like noother when it comes to learningabout the internal workings of BMWautomobiles. Additional memberswho attended as helpers includedDIY co-chair Mary Snyder,Jagadesh Yellapu, Matt Ytzen, GeoffYoung, and Kevin Kuo. Kevin verygraciously brought a laptop com-puter equipped with BMWIntegrated Service TechnicalApplication (ISTA), which is usedfor diagnostics and reprogrammingon BMW and MINI vehicles.Having access to ISTA really paidoff for member Mindi Villaroman,whose 2008 335i convertiblerequired repairs not of the DIY variety to its Dynamic StabilityControl system. Thanks to Kevin’sassistance with diagnostics usingISTA, Mindi was able to coordinatethe appropriate jobs in a future visitto BMW of Sterling’s Servicedepartment.

Of course, as NCC PresidentPaul Seto and Vice-PresidentJames Laws (both of whom stoppedby to visit) regularly point out, anevent like this simply would not becomplete without ample food foreveryone. Fortunately, both theNCC DIY Committee and BMW ofSterling delivered wholeheartedlyon that measure. Participants were

(Above) BMW of Sterling Parts Director Tony Henry and NCC DIY Co-Chair Mary Snyder.

(Above) Brian LoVecchio (L) and Doug Verner (R) discuss work on Brian’s2011 335is. (Below) Our DIY host facility, BMW of Sterling.

March I April 9

2 0 1 9 ’ S P E N U L T I M A T E D I Y E V E N T F O R U L T I M A T E D R I V I N G M A C H I N E S A T B M W O F S T E R L I N G

NCC events - along with delicioussandwich wraps for lunch.

A big thank you goes out toBMW of Sterling for supporting ourclub over the years, and for makingthe penultimate DIY event of 2019

treated to a customary serving ofdonuts and coffee upon arrival earlyin the morning – which memberand dB contributor Marc Caden hasdescribed as the “Homer Simpsonstyle” breakfast of champions at

one (or more!) as a participant or asa helper, and experience for yourselfthis unique program that makesNCC the ultimate standard bearerfor all BMW Car Club of Americachapters nationwide.

second to none in every respectother than its relative position onthe events calendar!

Now that 2020 has arrived, DIYevents for the new year are alreadyplanned. We hope you sign up for

(Above from Left) Sridhar Kowdley changes the spark plugs on his 2015 M235i. John Hewes positions his 1972 2002tii on a lift.

Thanks to those who attended tours in 2019! We had a great season withover 200 cars participating. Folks enjoyed visits to Black AnkleVineyards, Catoctin Mountain Orchard, Gettysburg, Mason Dixon

Distillery, Monticello, Route 250 in West Virginia, Three Notch’d BrewingCompany, and more. For the 2020 season we have 10 tours planned so farincluding a pre-Y2K and SAV focused tours. If checking out interesting attrac-tions and enjoying unique cuisine sounds like fun, why not join an NCC tour,escape the city, and exercise your ultimate driving machine? The cost is typically $10 per car, so bring the whole family. Check nccbmwcca.org/driving-events/driving-tours/ or Motorsportreg for more information and to sign up.

2019 Tours Recap and 2020 Preliminary Tour Schedule

2020 Preliminary Tour ScheduleDust off Tour ....................................................... March 22North of the Border Tour .................................... April 26XUV Tour ............................................................ May 16Drive and Vine Tour ........................................... June 6Creamery Tour ................................................... July 25Eastern Shore Tour ............................................ September 12-13Bimmerworld/Back of the Dragon Tour ............ September 26-27Pre-Y2K Fall Leaves Tour ................................. November 1Pie Run XXV ..................................................... November 14Christmas Light Tour ........................................ December 12

By Robert Hopkins

(Top Right) Our famous pie run ends up at our favorite pie place. (Above) People and cars and food and drink, who could ask for anythingmore? (Below) Lined up and ready to go.

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March I April 11

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Do you remember when yourBMW had headlights with alens made out of real glass?

Perhaps many of you don't becauseBMW hasn't manufactured a vehiclethat used a proper glass lens inalmost thirty years. Instead, nearlyevery vehicle manufacturer usesplastic (polycarbonate) headlightlenses, because they are light-weight, easy to shape, and inexpen-sive to manufacture. However, youhave probably also noticed that overtime many of these plastic lensesbecome hazy and yellow. This condition results in reduced nightvisibility and diminished vehicleappearance.

The yellow haze that appearson plastic headlight lenses is oftenthe result of multiple culprits, suchas UV rays, road debris, salt, andacid rain. In many instances, theyellowish haze can be removed bysimply using a headlight restorationkit. These do-it-yourself kits restorethe damaged surface of the lens andimprove overall clarity. These kits

typically involve using either differ-ent grains of sand paper and/or acordless drill to polish the surfaceof your headlights. I have done thison several of my own vehicles withvarying degrees of success. Thesekits are fairly inexpensive and canbe done in an hour or two. Two recommended headlight repair kitsare the 3M Headlight RestorationSystem (Amazon @ $15.50) andthe Mother's NuLens Renewal Kit(Amazon @ $19.96).

Sometimes, however, the plasticheadlight lenses are simply too fargone to restore and need to bereplaced. Such was the case withthe headlight lenses on my 2002E46 325xiT station wagon. Thecorners of the lenses had startedflaking away and could not berestored. Luckily, with the E46 3Series, the lenses can be replacedseparately from the entire headlightassembly. So while buying a pair ofOE halogen headlight assemblieswould have cost me approximately$900.00 ($450 each), I was able to

November DIY at

Bimmer Werks

(Top) Bimmer Werks is located in Beltsville, Maryland not far from theUniversity of Maryland's main campus. (Above) DIY Chair Chris Woottenfound time to do some work on his 318ti.

By Marc Caden

March I April 13

purchase a pair of new headlightlenses from FCP Euro for just $100.And the process to replace them onan E46 couldn't be much simpler - itinvolves undoing a series of retain-ing clips around the lens andremoving the lower trim piece justbelow the headlight. After that thelens comes free, and installing thenew lens is done by reversing thesame procedure. At our NovemberDIY, I was able to replace both of myheadlight lenses on my E46 wagon

and the end result was truly amaz-ing. The front of my car end looksfresher and the headlights have amuch improved light output at night.The whole process took me lessthan one hour; a headlight lensreplacement or restoration is a per-fect project for an upcoming DIYevent. One word of caution, howev-er, check your BMW model to seewhether your headlight lens is thereplaceable type. Some lenses areeither not intended to be replaced or

may require more involved tech-niques for removal, such as cuttingout or baking off the lens using heat.

Our November DIY event washeld at Bimmer Werks (www.bimmer-werks.shop) located in Beltsville,Maryland, not very far from theUniversity of Maryland campus.Having been in the BMW communi-ty for a while, I sometimes feel like Ihave heard of or visited virtuallyevery shop in the area that special-izes on our cars, but Bimmer Werks

was new to me and it was like find-ing a hidden gem. The owner, AmrAlkhateeb, opened the businessabout 5 years ago and this was hisfirst time hosting a DIY event. Amrhas over 25 years of experience thatincludes stints working at PassportBMW (on the Fast Track program)and later working at BMW of a SilverSpring as a Master Technician. Thefacility itself is impressive; Amr ispersonally responsible for incorpo-rating most of the custom details.

N O V E M B E R D I Y A T B I M M E R W E R K S

(Above from Left) Eddie Henry drains the automatic transmission fluid in his Z4 Roadster; Marc Caden's new headlight lenses are a clear improvement;Amr gives Jugadesh Yellapu some tips on replacing his front rotors.

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For example, he painted motor-sports striping on the walls, built acustom office and customer waitingarea, installed epoxy flooring, andmore. In the waiting area, Amr hasdisplayed his personal collection ofBMW memorabilia including manydie cast Art Cars. He even mounteda rare vintage slot car track, a treasure from his childhood, on theceiling. There are many personaltouches at Bimmer Werks that reallyset it apart and showcase the shop’scommitment to providing qualityservice. It was readily apparent thatAmr has amazing attention to detail,as rarely was a spilled fluid left onthe floor for more than few secondsbefore he strolled by and wiped it up.

While Bimmer Werks can han-dle all of your BMW's routine main-tenance, they also offer specializedservices such as transmissionreplacement/rebuilding, alignments,tire mounting/balance, enginerepair/replacement, and more. Amrsaid they also do interior work, andhe showed me a custom two-toneinterior recently installed in an E39M5 that was truly transformative. All of the work performed at Bimmer

N O V E M B E R D I Y A T B I M M E R W E R K S

Werks is done by a Certified MasterTechnician; they set out to offer thequality expected from a dealership,but delivered on a smaller scale andin a more personal environment.They also provide shuttle service tothe nearby Greenbelt Metro Station,and all BMW CCA members receive

a ten percent discount. Many successful tasks were

completed by an industrious groupof DIY participants. Eddie Henryreplaced the automatic transmis-sion fluid and filter on his 2004BMW Z4 Roadster. First time DIYerJagadesh Yellapu replaced the front

rotors and brake pads on his 2012328i. DIY regular Joe Concaughtook on one of the larger projects byreplacing his water pump, thermo-stat, pulleys, belts, and coolant onhis 2005 330cic. John Francisreplaced the intermediate rear brakelines and engine oil/filter on his1991 M5. Brad Amador attendedthe event as a helper, but also didsome under body panel adjust-ments on his 328i.

Bimmer Werks supplied awonderful barbecue lunch for all ofour DIY participants and many oftheir loyal customers who hadstopped by to visit in the afternoon.DIY Chair Chris Wootten did a greatjob making sure that everyonestayed on task so that each partici-pant could receive at least twohours of lift time in a service bay.Many thanks go out to Amr andBimmer Werks for hosting their firstDIY event. We look forward to see-ing you at an upcoming event.

(Above) DIY Chair Chris Wootten gives everyone some safety instructionsat the morning meeting. (Below) An i8 lurks behind Marlon Spencer,James Laws, Clarke Thomason, and Chris Wootten.

Driving Through A Looking GlassAnd Other Strange Sights

March I April 15

By James Chew

These medieval Celtic views are a common sight in the Irish countryside.

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The typical goals for familyvacations are entertainment,adventure, and relaxation.

Unfortunately, these goals are rarelyachieved because the popularplaces most families select for theirvacations are expensive and crowdedand, because of today’s socialmedia and 24-hour entertainment,too well-known. The best familyvacations are the ones in whicheverything is truly new and interest-ing. For that reason, we selectedIreland for our summer family vacation.

The northern part of Ireland isvery much a place less traveled. It’sa traditional farming community; it’sthe location that was hit the hardestby the infamous Irish potato famine.It’s NOT Northern Ireland – which ispart of the UK Commonwealth.Ireland is an independent countryand is part of the EU. Simply put,“euros’ is the currency for Ireland,“pounds” are the currency forNorthern Ireland. The children weremost interested in seeing the northernmost part of Ireland, MalinHead, which was featured in the latestStar Wars movie, “The Last Jedi”.

Arriving at the rental car facilityat Dublin airport, “car guy” instinctsand sensibilities are immediatelychallenged with the shock of seeingnothing but right-hand-drive vehi-cles. And while a right hand driveBMW 1 Series with manual trans-mission may seem tempting, whenone sees that the left side andbumpers of most of the rental vehi-cles are significantly scratched andscraped, you quickly snap back toreality. If you need further convinc-ing that being a first-time right handdriver may be a bit more challeng-ing than you realize, the hard-sellfor vehicle insurance by the rentalcar agent should be the final bit ofevidence. Even after telling theagent that your insurance AND yourcredit card company cover thesepolicies, they will still ask for a“convenience fee” for allowing youto use your own insurance OR placea 5,000 euro hold on your credit

card for any damage incurred during the rental period.

This is probably the only timeyou will need to take the pre-rentalinspection of your vehicle very seriously. In additional to the inspec-tion form, use your smartphone to

take exterior AND interior (they areNOT clean) pictures and have asupervisor SIGN and DATE that pre-inspection form prior to leaving.And one other trick these rental caragencies will pull – they add a significant fuel charge to your bill,

which will be credited back to youraccount if you return the vehiclewith a fuel tank of gas. One lastthing, when you are told that thatyour vehicle uses the “black pump”,that means diesel. If told to use the“green pump”, that means petrol.(That’s “gasoline” to us Americans.)

Dublin itself is a wonderfulcity. Home to Trinity College and to the Bank of Ireland, it hasyoung, upscale feel. Culturally, it’s a wonderful place. Handel’sMessiah was first performed inDublin at the New Music Hall inFishamble Street at noon on April13th 1742. There is now an annualopen air concert to mark theanniversary.

Jonathan Swift was the Dean ofSt. Patrick’s Cathedral. Bram Stokerwas born in a suburb Dublin. U2fans can walk the same streets usedby Bono, the Edge, Adam, andLarry. And, of course, there’s theGuinness brewery where one canenjoy a “free” pint of Guinness following the 22-euro brewery tour.

Dublin is also the location ofthe Easter Rising (also known as theEaster Rebellion). In fact, some ofthe buildings still have damagefrom that battle, most notably theGeneral Post Office.

As with every large city, Dublinis quite “walk able”. For first-timeright-hand drivers, that’s a goodthing. We found the Dublin taxi and bus drivers to be impatient and unsympathetic. If you’ve never driven a right-hand drive car, beadvised that your driving instinctswill fail you. Your instincts willmake you want to stay on the rightafter right turns and make wide leftturns when turning left. It is best totry this new experience on the free-ways. On the freeways, the onlything you’ll need to remember isthat you pass on the right and thatmost of the exits are to your left.

Exiting the freeway to CountyDonegal, the size of the roads toldus that we were no longer in a majormetropolitan area. The roads werebarely wide enough for two lanes of

(Above) Yes, we tested that theory often.

(Below) A constant reminder from our rental car.

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D R I V I N G T H R O U G H A L O O K I N G G L A S S A N D O T H E R S T R A N G E S I G H T S

traffic, with many of them only onelane wide. And the reasons for therental vehicle scratches and dentsbecame quite apparent. These narrow roads are lined with tallgrasses and with scrubs. Sectionsthat appear to be lined with severeovergrowth are actually greenerycovering thick stone walls or barbedwire fences. Driving the curvy

(Above) Yes, this look takes some getting used to!

(Above) We quickly learned why the 1 Series was a common sight.

(Below) Yes, diesel-powered vehicles were a common sight.

(Above) The Irish appreciate the advantages of a 5-door hatchback.

mountain roads presented a specialchallenge. When encountering on-coming traffic on the single-laneroads, one vehicle would need toback up.

Single-lane roads were notexclusive to the country. When

entering the many quaint villages,the locals would parallel park onboth sides of the road, leavingenough room for a single lane. Andthere was neither rhyme nor reasonas to which direction they parked.No matter the direction they weretraveling, if there was a largeenough space on either side of theroad, that’s where they parked.

The locals had a different perspective on their roads. Wewere told of the significant roadimprovement projects performed tosupport the 2018 Irish Open, whichwas held at the Ballyliffin Golf Clubin County Donegal. Based on the

obvious why the makers of StarWars selected the cliffs of MalinHead as the location for LukeSkywalker’s self-imposed exile.

While interest in visiting MalinHead has increased because of“Star Wars”, it’s better known as thebest location in Ireland to see theNorthern Lights. Be forewarned –the best viewing is from Novemberto February, which are the coldestmonths for that region.

As we drove the north Irelandroads, we were mindful of the YogiBerra quote, ““You can observe a lot

just by watching.” This area is awonderful mixture of the old and thenew. We saw people harvesting,cutting, and drying peat, to beburned in fireplaces and stovesduring the winter months. We sawstrange hay harvesting machines

Ireland is aptly nicknamed theEmerald Isle. The landscapes rangefrom wonderfully lush and greenrolling hills, some with outlinedwith perfect squares where herds ofsheep and cattle roam, to the mysti-cal rocky cliffs and shoreline. It’s

number of golfers who were at thesame hotel where we stayed(McGrory’s), Ballyliffin must bewonderful course. That being said,observing their outfits, I will forevertake their critique of the tackiness ofracing suits with a grain of salt.

What makes driving CountyDonegal even more hazardous are the beautiful landscapes. Until I visited Ireland, I thought our country’s Pacific Northwest was the prettiest, greenest place inthe world. I stand corrected. Yes,Seattle is the Emerald city. But

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that rolled the cut hay into largerolls, than wrap those rolls in blackplastic.

We did see a number ofBMWs, mostly 3 Series. And wesaw a VW pickup truck.

Because of the lack of familiarwestern global conglomeratebrands (there was not a McDonaldsin every village) many would saythat north Ireland is not the idealtourist location. We would arguedifferently. The ability to do some-thing different, from driving on the“wrong” side of the road, then chatting with the locals, then beingwelcomed in to the cozy Village Pubduring meal time, means that this type of location tends to bringfamilies together and helps restorefaith in the human race.

For our next trip to this region,we’ll be confident enough in ourright-hand-driving skills to rent a BMW.

(Top) Squint and you might seeLuke Skywalker. (Above) Believeor not, we were told that all thecountry roads were recentlyimproved! (Left) No, you’re notseeing things.

Ihave always enjoyed displaying our club's specialty license plates on mycars. If you haven't seen them before, they show the BMW CCA logo inaddition to a special tag number which includes the letters "BMW" followed

by a series of numbers. WheneverI see a BMW with our club special-ty tag out on the road it puts a smileon my face and is usually followedby either a wave or some acknowl-edgement from me to the otherdriver or vice versa.

Unfortunately, our club's specialty tags are only available to Maryland residents. This isbecause Virginia has very strictrequirements for creating specialtylicense plates that include therequest being introduced by a statelegislator, then passed as a bill inthe General Assembly, and ulti-mately signed into law by theGovernor. Virginia's bureaucraticprocess appears unnecessarily complex and if you really want club tags itmight just be easier for you to move to Maryland (I kid of course - I am not

December DIY at Craftsman Auto Care

really trying to play favorites among neighboring states in the DMV area). On the flip side, if you have political connections in Virginia (is Ralph Northama club member?) I would encourage you to try to navigate this process on

behalf of our club. At our December DIY at

Craftsman Auto Care in Alexandria,I noticed that one of our club members who I won't embarrassspecifically by name -- Paul Seto --had an M3 wearing an updated version of our club specialty tag.The change is very slight, but itmakes the tag even more attractive.The BMW CCA logo is now stripedwith the traditional "M" motorsportstricolor scheme. It looks verysporty and if you don't have onealready, I would encourage you toconsider getting a BMW CCA specialty tag for your vehicle.Applications for the updated club

license plate are available on our website: https://www.nccbmwcca.org/ncc-bmw-md-tags-process/

(Top) It is always good to have an extra pair of helping hands - here helperWayne Zhang is assisting DIY participant Jugadesh Yellapu. (Above) DIY Chair Chris Wootten with Vice President James Laws.

By Marc Caden

March I April 19

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D E C E M B E R D I Y A T C R A F T S M A N A U T O C A R E

Craftsman Auto Care and itsowner Matt Curry are longtime sponsors of chapter activities including both the DIY and HPDEprograms. Matt is a dedicated carenthusiast, racer, HPDE instructor,and he even sponsors his own Cars

& Coffee events with prizes. His formula for success includes havinghighly skilled and trusted techni-cians who can handle anything fromroutine maintenance to track day orautocross prep.

Although our December DIY

event was at the Alexandria shop,Craftsman Auto Care has three otherVirginia locations in Chantilly,Merrifield, and Fairfax. Every vehicleserviced at Craftsman gets a digitalinspection, resulting in the ownerreceiving pictures of their car sent

electronically either by text messageor email. They also provide a three-year/36,000 mile nationwide warranty on all parts and labor. TheAlexandria facility has six lifts, analignment bay, and eight technicians.Craftsman offers free shuttle service

(Above) Chris Wootten greets a group of eager DIY participants.

(Below) Craftsman Auto Care has four facilities in Alexandria, Merrifield, Chantilly, and Fairfax.

(Below from Left)

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D E C E M B E R D I Y A T C R A F T S M A N A U T O C A R E

(Above from Left) James Laws positions a transmission jack under his car to replace the transmission mounts; Keven Kuo gets ready to bleed the brakeson his 335i.

(Below from Left) Our club has a brake bleeder that can be loaned to DIY participants; President Paul Seto swaps a set of winter wheels/tires onto his M3.

to both the Franconia and Springfieldmetro stops and can drop you offeither at your home or work if youlive nearby. All BMW CCA membersreceive a five percent discount onparts and labor. Hours of operationare 7 AM - 7 PM on Monday throughFriday and 8 AM - 4 PM on Saturday.

Shop Manager Drew Rodgersand DIY Coordinator Chris Woottengave everyone some brief safetyinstructions before people got busy

on their projects. James Austinreplaced the engine oil and differen-tial fluid on his 2011 328xi Touring.Jagadesh Yellapu did an oil changeand replaced the engine air filter onhis 2012 328i. Chapter PresidentPaul Seto swapped some winterwheels/snow tires onto his M3. Ray Jenkins replaced the wheel sensors on his 1997 BMW 740i. DIYregular Chris Parente did an oilchange and underbody inspection on

his 2016 X5. Tom Mercer replacedfuel lines on his beloved 1995 525i -which was also the oldest car inattendance.

The DIY Committee provided atraditional coffee and doughnutbreakfast followed by a pizza lunch inthe afternoon. Special thanks goesout to Wayne Zhang who signed upas a helper and provided an extra setof helpful hands to several attendees.And, many thanks to Matt Curry and

Craftsman Auto Care for continuingto support our club and the DIY program. We hope to see you at anupcoming event.

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NCC member Ben Wibisonowas the lucky winner of the 2019 BMW CCA raffle’s

grand prize: a 50th AnniversaryM4 Competition Package. dB hadthe good fortune of interviewingBen about his recent good fortune.

dB: Tell our readership a littleabout yourself. How long haveyou been a member of BMWClub?

Ben: (As far I remember) I joinedthe Club in 2014 (even though forsome reason the record shows2016). When I first joined, I hadone specific purpose: that was tobe able to contact another mem-ber to buy his car, which is the carthat I am driving now (before winning the M4). I decided to continue the membership since then, maybe because I enjoy reading the magazinesthat come with the membership.

dB: What BMW Club activities doyou participate in? Any favorites?

Ben: I have not had a chance toparticipate in Club activities.However, I read about Gymkhanas,and I think it would be a fun andinteresting activities to do. HDPEis another thing I would like to doagain. I attended an HDPE event inthe past with my friend in thePorsche Club. At that time I drovea 1999 BMW 328i. The Porschefolks always made fun that my carhad 2 too many doors. AttendingBMW Performance Driving Schoolis another thing on my bucket list.

dB: What do you like best and leastabout BMW Club?

Ben: I talked to many folks at the BMW Club in South Carolina related tothis winning. They are the most helpful and nicest people I’ve ever known.

(Below) Now that’s a Grand Prize indeed. (Above) My wife and I both love it.

Meet the BMW CCA Raffle Grand Prize Winner:NCC’s Ben WibisonoBy Jack Raymond | Photos by Ben Wibisono

I believe that when an organization isrun by wonderful people, it will bereflected in the quality, products andservices to its members.

dB: What do you do for a living?

Ben: I am a power systems engineer.

dB: What were your first thoughtsupon hearing that you’d won theGrand Prize in the BMW CCA raffle?

Ben: I got this call in late Octoberfrom a number that I did not recog-nize. I usually ignore those calls.Then I received a follow up emailfrom BMW CCA, saying that theywere reaching out to discuss aboutthe recent raffle drawing that was heldin Evans, GA. My first though was,that’s cool, I might have won a $1000American Express Gift Card, which was the gift that I targeted. Never wonany raffle or lottery, I would not expect to win anything substantial whenentering this raffle. Then I listened to the voicemail that they left me. Thevoicemail message was the same as the message on the email, there was noexcitement on the tone of the message. So at that point I did not suspectthat I won anything big. So I gave them a call back, and they told me that Ihad won the grand prize. My question was: ‘Did you mean the M4?’ Andthey confirmed – yes. They told me to check the BMW CCA website to seethe winners’ list, which I thought was updated as soon as they got me on thephone. I saw my name there on the top of the list. I believed it when I sawmy name there. It was such a memorable day for me – such a blessing towin the grand prize. I told my wife that I won a grand prize, she did notbelieve me until she saw my name on the BMW CCA website. I think shestill did not believe it was real until we picked up the car few days ago.

dB: What are the exterior and interior colors of the car?

Ben: Exterior: San Marino blue metallic. Interior: Sonoma beige merinoleather. It also has San Marino blue metallic trim on the inside and on thesteering wheel.

dB: Now that you’ve had a chance to drive the car, what are your impres-sions? (Handling, cornering, steering response, power, braking? Creaturecomforts? Quality of interior?)

Ben: I’ve owned 3 BMWs, including this M4. I enjoy driving all of them.Even though the interior and consoles are progressively becomingmore modern, I still find that there is consistency in the design andplacement of important controls, which makes transitioning to thenew models a breeze. All the BMWs I’ve owned are very good incornering and handling. But I must say that this M4 is the best ofall. The M4 is ten times more fun to drive. My kids think that thiscar is very fast; they really enjoy their new ride.

dB: Have you owned other BMWsbefore this one? If so, what models &years? How does this M4 compare?

Ben: My first one was a 1999 BMW328i with manual transmission. I sold that one to my friends. Theirson, who is my godson, drives thatcar now as his first car.

The second one is a 2006 BMW330i with automatic transmission.This one will be shipped out to mysister and her family in California tomake room in the garage for the new M4.

So technically, all the BMWs thatI’ve ever had are still within the family.The M4, being a sport car, is definitely different than the others. It has more power that the other twoBMWs combined!

dB: What are your plans for the car? Will we see you at autocross or trackday? Cars & Coffee? Social events?

Ben: Yes – I will bring the car to CCA events so other members can sharethe joy of owning this piece of engineering beauty.

dB: Will you be using the car as a daily driver or mostly for special occasions?

Ben: The car will be used as a family car. To take kids to school, take mywife on a date, do groceries, run errands, weekend trips, and other dailyactivities.

dB: Anything else you want to share with our readership about yourself orthe car?

Ben: I also want to thank the folks at BMW of Towson that took good care ofthe car and provided a great experience during its delivery.

M E E T T H E B M W C C A R A F F L E G R A N D P R I Z E W I N N E R

(Above) The kids both love it too. I can already imagine them askingto borrow the keys to the car.

March I April 23

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March I April 25

These days, it seems more andmore municipalities are usingradar and LIDAR (Light

Detection and Ranging, what mostdrivers refer to as speed trap “laser”)to issue speeding tickets to people.The reality here is that speeding tickets are all about revenue for thatdistrict. If it were an effective measurefor controlling average speed, thenyou wouldn’t feel like you were goingto get run over on I-95 when you arealready going 10mph over the speedlimit. There, I said it.

So, how does a person effective-ly guard against radar and laser(LIDAR) based speed traps? Well, fordecades we did it with a portabledetector that we placed on our dash.Unfortunately, they are of no valuewhen it comes to laser-based radar.Let me explain. When a traditionalradar gun is being used, the radarwaves travel way past the vehiclesbeing targeted and your radar detectorpicks it up, giving you an opportunityto slow down. With laser, everythingis different. It is a narrow beam oflight that is only 21” wide at 1000’ andit reflects back off the car that was targeted. What that means to you isyour portable detector won’t go offuntil you are being targeted. So, inessence, a portable detector is only

Mark Miller is the owner of Westminster Speed & Sound, an award-winning vehicle customization facility inbusiness since 1969. He is the Head Judge in the Mobile Electronics category for the SEMA New ProductAwards, a two-time board member of the Mobile Electronics Retailers Association, and an 11-time recipient ofthe Top 50 Retailers Award by ME magazine. Mark is an avid BMW enthusiast and owner. You can reach himat mark@WestminsterSpeed.com or by calling his store at 410-857-5300

alerting you to the fact that you areabout to get a ticket.

However, there is hope - cue theentrance of the custom-installed radardetector. While it has many cosmeticadvantages in that it is integrated intothe vehicle, it has two main perform-

mal radar, a custom-installed systemcan use a larger receiver, improvingrange.

Some other benefits of a custom-installed laser and radardetector are the cosmetics. You willhave nothing hanging off your dash

system. Our shop has actual policeradar and laser guns that we use totest all of our systems once the job iscomplete. When it comes to place-ment and aiming of the receivers andshifters, you don’t want a shop to cutcorners to speed up the install orarrive at a lower price. You are mak-ing a significant investment, so besure you are getting all the perform-ance possible.

Finally, buy the system from theshop that is going to do the install. It is the only way you can guaranteethey will be familiar with the productand offer service after the sale on theproduct itself.

As always, if you have any questions on this category, feel free tosend me an email or call the store. I am here to help our fellow BMWowners.

(Top) A front mounted laser shifter is barely noticeable. (Above) AnEscort display and controller custom-installed in the car’s center console.

(Above( A radar receiver mountedbehind the front bumper is hiddenfrom view.

ance advantages. First, with regardsto LIDAR, a good system comes witha laser-shifter or defuser. When itsenses a laser beam, it immediatelyfires back powerful beams of light thatprevent the laser gun from getting areading. And yes, it is legal in 45states, including Maryland, Delaware,Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. If you live in Virginia or Washington,D.C., they are illegal and you cansurely reach out to me for more infor-mation. Second, with regards to nor-

so there is no invitation to theft. Also, in the event you get pulled over,there is nothing visible to the officer,which is another plus. The systemwill turn on and off with the ignition,meaning you don’t have to worryabout driving up the road and forget-ting to activate it.

One extremely important thingto consider when getting one of thesesystems installed is the caliber of theshop and their attention to detail whenperforming the install and testing the

By Mark Miller, Tech Talk

Advantages of a Custom-Installed Radar Detector

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By James Chew

The X2 design attracts crowds.

2020 BMW X2 M35

The BMW GTI

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2 0 2 0 B M W X 2 M 3 5 - T H E B M W G T I

(Below) If this side profile doesn’t make you want to drive, check your pulse.

Creating an enduring, positive image is the goal for every brand market-ing group. Car companies, especially the American brands, are notorious for annually changing their brand slogans to achieve

this goal. And they all use one slogan as their benchmark: “The UltimateDriving Machine”.

Even with that benchmark slogan and brand image, the BMW marketershave created sub-brands to furtherdistinguish. The “30” designationmeans the “entry” level, while “M”means the “Ultimate” level.

Then there’s “M-sport”. Meantto be the “intermediate” level, manyfeel the M-sport sub-brand productsare the true descendants of the original M models – outstandingdaily driving vehicles that are alsooutstanding weekend autocross/race track vehicles that won’t drainyour bank account.

What gives the “M-sport” vehicles their outstanding perform-ance is the turbocharged version of the famous BMW in-line six, coupled with a perfectly matchedsuspension, steering, transmission, and brakes. While these vehicles have acringe-worthy amount of “M” logos sprinkled throughout the vehicle, theBMW enthusiast knows to look for the “40” designation.

Unless you’re looking at an X2. There’ the “M-sport” version is a “35”.The reason for this outlier designation is simple – the costs of design-

ing a transversely mounted, turbocharged in-line-six “M4” drivetrain for theX2 would simply be too high. Remember, the X2 uses the same chassis asthe Mini – both are front-wheel-drive vehicles. So, BMW turned to tuningits outstanding turbocharged four-cylinder engine to produce 302 horse-

power and 335 foot pounds oftorque, mated with a performance-tuned 8-speed shiftable automatictransmission and Torsen-basedlimited-slip M Sport Differential on the front axle. The X2 M35’s“intelligent” (their word) all-wheel-drive system works so well with theideally matched suspension, steer-ing, transmission, and brakes thateven the most jaded BMW rear-wheel-drive tradtitonalist will begrinning from ear to ear. In short,BMW has finally produced theirown version of the GTI.

My own performance rootscame from working on the Chrysler front-wheel drive perform-

ance products. During that time, all of us at Chrysler learned to appreciate theperformance potential of our properly engineered four-cylinder engine, and howto realize that performance potential from transversely mounted, front-wheel-

(Above) Still wonder if the upside down grills were initially a joke.

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drive drivetrains. It would notbe an understatement to saythat the Chrysler 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine was the “smallblock Chevy” of the 1980’s.The turbocharged version ofthe engine reliably produced146 horsepower. The Shelbyversion of that engine, whichadded an intercooler and a dif-ferent engine computer, pro-duced 175 horsepower. Thefirst vehicle to have that engine,along with Koni shock suspen-sion, was the entry level Omni,and the fun was from cruisingthe Pacific Coast Highway, theCamp Pendleton section of I-5,and Angeles Crest Highway,seeing the faces of perform-ance-car drivers getting theirlunch handed to them by someguy driving a “rental car”.

While it would be correct to say that Chrysler gained valuable rear-wheel-drive design experience from Mercedes during their brief marriage,it can also be said that Mercedes gained valuable front-wheel-drive design experience from Chrysler. It would also be fair to say that Chrysler pioneered the front-wheel drive tuner movement, 20 years before Japanesemanufacturers embraced it.

Fast-forward to the present, and the VW GTI continues to be the bench-mark front-wheel drive enthusiast vehicle. Since it was introduced in 1976, theunique combination of design, performance, practicality, utility, civility, and

(Below from Left) The red leather adds to the performance feel. The dual-folding rear seats gives the X2 a huge practicality factor.

affordability has beenunmatched. It was the firstvehicle I can remember that was a family hauler, a family weekend shopper, and a weekend track/autocrossvehicle. In my early days inthe auto industry, I spent a fairamount of time trying to createour own version of the GTI.

So, how does the X2M35i compare? Well, to para-phrase Elwood Blues, the X2M35i has an M-tuned engine,an M-tuned suspension, M-tuned brakes, M-tunedwheels and tires, an M-tuneddifferential, an M-tunedshiftable automatic transmis-sion, and an M-tuned interior.Let’s drive.

And drive, we did. The X2 M35i autobahn-

and-Nürburgring-tuned driving characteristics are immediately noticeable.In non-rush hour freeway driving, you’ll be surprised how often you’ll findyourself cruising a triple digit speeds. Through the Napa and SonomaValley backroads on the way to Sonoma raceway, you’ll notice that some ofyour fellow enthusiasts will be laboring to keep pace as you effortlessly driv-ing the X2 M35i the manner in which it was designed. Three items of proofthat BMW had found that unique combination of timeless design,perfor-mance, practicality, utility, civility, and affordability was that (1) there was nodrama when allowing the X2 M35i to realize its performance potential, (2)

(Above) The wonderful cockpit design adds to the X2’s driver’s-car cred.

March I April 29

the three adult passengers (their luggage fit nicely in the rear cargo area)never seemed to notice that the vehicle stretching its long performance legs,and (3) we achieved an average of 28 miles per gallons during our 1000mile evaluation.

Now, the X2 is based on the BMW UKL chassis, which is a front-wheeldrive, transverse engine layout which is shared with the MINI products. The front-wheel drive bias of the now proven BMW x-Drive system may initially seem a little quirky to the legacy BMW rear-wheel drive owner. Thereis no noticeable torque steer. Under heavy acceleration, there is an initialslight hesitation, allowing the computer to properly management the torque,shuffling it to the most appropriate wheels.

2 0 2 0 B M W X 2 M 3 5 - T H E B M W G T I

(Below from Left) The doors open wide for easy entry and exit.

(Above from Left) Looking deceptively small, the hatch opens to reveal a huge cargo area.

Most impressive was the diverse group of admirers we attracted whenwe pulled in to the parking lot for the Rodin sculpture garden at StanfordUniversity. From the well-dressed who were there to attend a wedding to thecollege student, the X2’s exterior design seemed to have the right combina-tion of luxury and performance. And the exterior design cue that was notedby all? The C-pillar-mounted roundel!

However, it was the X2 M35i’s interior that surprised all. In a very distinctive and tasteful Magna Red color, it shouts that the X2 M35i wasdesigned for performance.

It starts with the driver’s and front passenger’s seats. Similar to theX5M, X6M, and X3M seat design, these seats have the rare combination of

2 0 2 0 B M W X 2 M 3 5 - T H E B M W G T I

30 derBayerische

support, comfortable, safety, andstyle. The design seems readymade for the installation of a five-point harness. The added conven-ience of power seat-back adjust-ments and the manual adjustablethigh support enhances the“upscale” performance feel. Itwould not surprise us to learn thatengineers from Recaro, Momo, andSparco have purchased these seatsto “reverse engineer”, producingdesign cues for their next genera-tion racecar seat design.

While we yearn for the classicdriver’s-side-biased center controlstack design (no doubt a victim of many bean-counter battles), allthe controls are ergonomicallydesigned to be instinctively operat-ed by the driver. The “M” steeringwheel begs the driver to explore thisvehicle’s driving limits.

Perhaps it’s an illusion, but theX2 M35i’s rear seats seem to bemore supportive than those of the “base” model. And even withthe low roof line, our full-sizedAmerican rear passengers com-mented on the comfort in the rearseating area.

As with all their products, theBMW engineers have done an out-standing job in squeezing every bit

of useful, practical space for cargo.Whether we were making the “bigbox” warehouse club run or trans-porting four adults with cameraequipment for working a classic carshow, the X2’s cargo area was morethan up for the task.

In our review of the “base” X2,we declared it be “the ideal dailydriver for the driving enthusiastwho had the need to haul stuff”. It would be the SAV that would havethose other kids (who are riding intheir parents’ American and

Japanese “sport utes”) pointing andasking for one. With an as-testedprice of $45,000 (with SensaTechupholstery), the “base” X2 repre-sents an outstanding value.

The as-tested price of our X2M35i was a little over $55,000.This is a deceptively high price differential compared to the baseX2, because our X2 M35i wasequipped with the outstanding,optional leather-covered sport seatsand the Harmon Kardon entertain-ment system. When comparing the

base X2 model (with SensaTechupholstery, base stereo, no premi-um package) to the base X2 M35i,the price difference is $8,000.00.Keep in mind, there’s a $6,000 pricedifference between the base Golfand the base GTI.

For BMW, transversely mount-ed front-wheel-drive drivetrains arehere to stay. BMW’s outstandingintelligent all-wheel-drive systemgives the X2 a “tossability” factorthat one cannot obtain with rear-wheel-drive vehicles. If you’re in the market for a daily driver or asecond vehicle, give the X2 M35i aspin. You may agree that BMW hasdeveloped the ideal no-compro-mise, active-performance-lifestylevehicle.

(Above) Blue calipers mean “M”.

(Below from Left) The sensual nature of the X2 design is quite apparent.

(Above) The X2’s badging is subtle,but effective.

The Habits of Highly Effective Autocrossers:

Habit NineBy Jack Raymond | Photos by Natalie Speth

A U T O C R O S S

March I April 31

Autocross season is again upon us; see the Calendar and Coming Eventsat the front of this magazine. As observed previously, there’s alwaysroom for improvement. Let’s recap the autocross tips and habits from

the last four articles before moving on:• Tip: Leave the car unmodified; run what you brung.• Tip: Go to an autocross school or two and as many events as you can.

- Focus on training the driver, training the driver, and training the driver.•Tip: Dial in your tire pressures by chalking the tops of the sidewalls and experimenting with pressures, judging the results by how much chalk is rubbed away and, more importantly, by your times on the course.• Tip: If you’re ready to seriouslycommit to autocross, acquire aset of extreme performance sum-mer tires and a set of OEM-size, lighter-weight wheelson which to put them. (www.tirerack.com is a good source.)• Tip: Get a competition align-ment with a little toe-out in front,and dead-neutral toe in the rear(for front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive cars) or half the reartoe-in of the factory specifica-tion (for rear-wheel-drive cars),plus as much negative camber

as you can get with your stock suspension in front, then match that in the rear.•Tip: Arrive at your competition event with just ¼ tank of gas so as not tocarry excess weight.• Habit 1: LOOK AHEAD, THINK AHEAD

- Keep looking and thinking around two seconds in front of the car during the entire run.

- The car goes where the driver is looking.- Position the car for what’s coming up next.

• Habit 2: ENTER WIDE, EXIT TIGHT- Almost all the critical turns in autocross demand a late apex.

- Corollary 2a: Think of thecourse as being a series of arcs, not a series of linesegments.• Habit 3: Take the corners bydriving IN SLOW(ER) and OUTFAST(ER). If there’s any trade-off to be made between entryspeed and exit speed, thenfavor exit speed. If the car ispushing & plowing (under-steering) or sliding tail-way-out (oversteering) as you’re try-ing to exit the corner, andyou’re losing time while you

(Top) Another stiff suspension; background - someone overdrove that car! (Above) Dontoverdrive the car.

A U T O C R O S S

32 derBayerische

wait for the car to recover, then you probably entered the corner too hot.• Habit 4: SMOOTH IS FAST. Jerky inputs unsettle the car’s suspension andlead to understeer or oversteer. This doesn’t mean that your inputs can’t bequick; they just can’t be jerky.• Habit 5: DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT*, to the limit of grip, beyond your comfort zone, maximizing the load on your suspension while minimizing distance traveled. Where you can go fast, go CRAZY fast.

- *But not on public roads. Trust me.- Corollary 5a: Remember the friction circle. If you’re braking at 100% ofthe tires’ grip, then the tires have no grip left for turning at that moment.Your tires’ available grip is being shared between braking, turning, and accelerating. When you’re performing more than one of theseactions at the same time (braking & turning, turning & accelerating) thenremember that those actions need to share the available grip. This is whyyour instructor told you to do your heaviest braking while traveling in astraight line.

• Habit 6: TRAIL BRAKE. Approach the corner aggressively, enter the cor-ner wide, brake moderately, ease off the brake as you begin turning. Thatresidual, light braking as you’re turning will keep the car’s weight transferredto the front tires, helping to rotate the car. When the nose of the car is point-ed where you want to go, finish lifting off the brake and smoothly get back onthe gas. The result should be that you apex within inches of the cone and exitthe corner pointed towards your next element. If you can’t get within inches ofthe cone, or if you’re not pointed towards your next element as you exit the corner, then you might have entered the corner too hot or too tight. Approachaggressively, enter wide, brake, lift & turn, exit close to the cone, go!• Tip: if your car’s handling exhibits excessive body roll and/or is slow torespond to steering inputs (and you’ve already done a competition alignment),and you’re in the street/stock class, then consider getting firmer dampers(shocks & struts). See the July/August 2019 article describing Habits Three

and Four.- If you’re driving in a class that allows it, consider getting firmer springs(these may also lower the car) and matching shocks & struts; a coiloversuspension kit includes a combined damper-and-spring setup.

• Habit 7: PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. Analyze how your car isbehaving at each turn and adjust accordingly. Analyze your in-car video for the same purpose. Ask your colleagues for insights. Are you applyingeach of the six habits, above, at every corner?• Habit 8: HAVE FUN. Enjoy the entire experience, including your workassignment. After all, if you’re not having fun, then why are you here?

What’s next? This article is the fifth of several entitled “The Habits ofHighly Effective Autocrossers” (with apologies to Stephen Covey). (Ok, theseries started out as “The Seven Habits…”, but this article brings us up tonine, plus numerous tips, as you saw recapped, above.) Habit number nine isthis: DON’T OVERDRIVE THE CAR.

At last spring’s test ‘n tune, I was driving my heart out, working the carand the tires hard, squealing and drifting around every corner, and my timeswere terrible. So I finally told myself to calm down and just focus on exitingclose to the cones, without worrying about speed. Voila, instant improvement!A few more runs, and I had knocked two seconds off my earlier times. What had been the issue?

I had been overdriving the car, trying too hard. Remember Habit 2:enter wide, exit tight, close to the cone. It’s hard to exit tight to the cone ifyou’re overdriving the car. Remember Habit 3; in slow, out fast. Sometimesyou have to slow down to be fast.

In the September/October issue of der Bayerische, the Habits articletalked about one of the classic debates in autocross, in the context of Habit5 (“drive it like you stole it”): is the emphasis first on maximizing load (cornering to the limit of grip) and then minimizing distance, or the otherway around? Based on that test ‘n tune (and advice from drivers like MarkS and Okas and Mike S) maybe it’s “minimize distance, then maximize load”

(Below) Is that cone chasing me or did I overdrive that corner?

A U T O C R O S S

after all. As Mike S said, every extra ten feet that you add to your run (by notdriving a tight line) adds a tenth of a second to your time.

Does that negate Habit 5, “drive it like you stole it”? No, Habit 3 comesbefore Habit 5, and Habit 3 was “in slow, out fast”. Also, remember that partof understanding Habit 5 was “where you can go fast, go CRAZY fast”.Entering the corners too hot, failing to exit tight to the cone, and pushing wayto the outside of the exit is not consistent with “where you can go fast”.

Does “minimize distance” mean drive straight from cone to cone? No,the problem with the “point-n-shoot method” is thatyou’ll enter the corner pinched, and then one of two things willhappen. Either you’ll overbrake to turn the corneror you’ll end up understeering and “pushing” to theoutside upon exiting the corner. That first outcome(overbraking) results in throwing your momentumaway, and autocross (and track driving) are allabout keeping your momentum up. The secondoutcome (understeering / pushing / plowing /scrubbing at the exit of the corner) results in wasting time waiting for the car to recover, ratherthan accelerating out of the turn. It also results infailing to minimize distance. So, don’t try to turnthe course into a series of line segments.Remember Corollary 2a: think of the course asbeing a series of arcs.

There’s a lot to absorb here, and it’s a balancingact. As I said in previous articles, don’t try to master everything all at once.Start at the top of the list and tackle one thing at a time.

Next, as I’ve been promising for months, I finally have a little space to talkabout sway bars and a cat-back exhaust. As I’ve said previously, don’t makechanges to the car just because you can or because your buddy said it’ll make

the car faster. Make changes because you understand how the car is behaving, how you want it to behave differently, and how to achieve that.Make one change at a time, so you can gauge its effect.

A sway bar is more appropriately referred to as an anti-sway bar or an anti-roll bar. It’s literally a long, shaped bar (rather like a long handlebar from agiant bicycle), attached to both sides of the car’s front or rear suspension. It connects the left and right sides of the car’s suspension. It helps reduce thecar’s body roll during cornering by increasing its roll stiffness, i.e., by increas-

ing its roll resistance. How does it do this? Whencornering, the suspension on the “outside” of the cor-ner is being compressed while the suspension on the“inside” of the corner is extending. That is, one sideis being pushed down while the other side is liftingup. Pushing down on one side and lifting up on theother side results in a twisting force being applied tothe anti-sway bar, due to its lever-like shape. (See thediagram.) The anti-sway bar resists being twisted,and the thicker the bar, the greater that resistance.The anti-sway bar’s resistance to being twisted iswhat reduces body roll and keeps the car “flatter” dur-ing cornering. Keeping the car “flatter” during cor-nering maximizes the tires’ contact patch against thepavement. Maximizing the tires contact patch maxi-mizes grip, and maximizing grip maximizes the speedat which the car can corner. That’s why we use anti-sway bars!

But wait, there’s more. Autocross rules for stock or “street” class allowonly one aftermarket ant-roll bar: front or rear, but not both. Adding just a bigger rear sway bar adjusts the car’s handling more to the oversteer side ofthe spectrum. Adding just a bigger front sway bar adjusts the car’s handlingmore to the understeer side of the spectrum. If you’ve already done a compe-

March I April 33

(Above) Speed Academy explains how swaybars work: As the suspension travels upwardon one side, the anti-roll bar twists along itslength and provides torsional resistance,since it is effectively anchored to the suspen-sion components on the other side.

(Below) Lift that inside wheel!

34 derBayerische

A U T O C R O S S

tition alignment (as previously described), and your car still understeers (as is typical with front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive cars), then replacing the rearsway bar with a bigger, stiffer bar will help the car rotate and make the car’shandling more neutral. If your car tends to oversteer (as is typical with rear-wheel-drive cars, especially higher-horsepower cars), then replacing the frontsway bar with a bigger, stiffer bar will reduce body roll during cornering andwill adjust the car’s handling more towards understeer. DO NOT add a biggerfront sway bar to a car that already understeers, even if you’re trying to reducethe car’s body roll; that’ll only make the understeer even worse (unless you’reDavid E, who somehow manages to make a bigger front bar work for him, inconjunction with his Koni shocks & struts and bigger tires. However, us normal human beings swear that David [and Tommy, and Mark S, and MarkC, among others] must be aliens from another planet to make a car do whatthey do.) In that scenario (a rear-wheel-drive car that understeers), try analignment with a little bit of front toe-out, or wider front tires (same width as in the rear), or stiffer springs (in any class except street/stock) or stifferdampers instead.

If you’re trying to correctan understeer or oversteerissue and you’re shoppingfor an aftermarket anti-rollbar, pick one that’s hollow,adjustable, and bigger indiameter than your stockbar. An adjustable barmakes more than one stiff-ness setting available toyou. A hollow bar is lighterthan a solid bar. A biggerdiameter bar is stiffer thana smaller diameter bar.Note that an anti-roll bar’storsional rigidity is propor-

tional to the cube of its radius, so even small increases in the diameter of ananti-sway bar make big differences in its stiffness. The outer 20% of the diameter of the bar contributes most of the torsional rigidity to the bar. For agiven diameter, a hollow bar is almost as stiff as a solid bar, but weighs a lotless. Think of a solid anti-roll bar as having a weak inner core and a stiff outershell; discarding the weak inner core leaves you with the stiff outer shell:a hollow anti-roll bar.

It is possible to reach the point at which an anti-sway bar is so stiff that itcauses the inside wheel to lift off the ground during tight, hard cornering,especially if you replace just one bar (front or rear, but not both, to be compli-ant with stock/street rules). If a wheel lifts clear off the ground, this means thatonly one tire on that end of the car is firmly planted, so the overall grip at thatend of the car is greatly reduced. This is not necessarily a bad thing inautocross, if that’s the effect you’re trying to achieve, but I’d be careful about employing such a setup on the track unless you’re an experienced competition driver.

For a great write-up onhow sway bars work, seehttp://speed.academy/how-swaybars-work/.

With regards to a cat-back exhaust: that $1000+exhaust may add a fewhorsepower, but autocrossis more about techniquethan power. Better to spendthat money on training thedriver, training the driver,and training the driver.

(Below) Now that’s a stiff sway bar.

(Above) Exit close to the cone.

The National Capital Chapter of theBMW CCA now has 4,940 members.We continue to be the largest chapter in the U.S.

Do you know someone who ownsa BMW, but is missing out on therewards of belonging to the BMWCCA? They probably don’t even

realize what great benefits they aremissing, including parts discounts atlocal BMW dealerships and selectindependent service centers, theRoundel, the club’s award-winningnational, monthly publication, theMembership Rewards Program spon-sored by BMW NA, and all our local

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Louis RamosIlene ReiterSean RobertsonAndy RosThomas SchneiderBilly SchultzImran ShahAdam SharpWilliam ShortPaul SingerCylburn SodenKevin SourkAmanda SternMatthew StoverTom StutsmanShawn SumrallJeffrey TarucMichael ThierJoseph ThomasMark ThomasJoe TierneyJustin VelellaWallace VitezRavi VohraKwaku WalkerYunhong WangScott WatkinsMichael WilsonMichael WinerShenpei WuJian Zhang

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