After last year’s pole position with the BMW M6 GT3, ROWE Racing has now marked the debut of the BMW M4 GT3 by making it to the front row of the grid in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring (GER). Augusto Farfus (BRA) posted the second-fastest time of 8:10.640 minutes. In the #72 BMW M4 GT3, Dan Harper (GBR) claimed sixth spot for the BMW Junior Team – directly ahead of Christian Krognes (NOR) from the Walkenhorst Motorsport team in seventh position. Nick Catsburg (NED) drove the second ROWE Racing car to 13th on the grid, after his team-mate Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) set a spectacular best time in Top Qualifying 1. Ben Tuck (GBR) reached 18th place in the #102 BMW M4 GT3 from Walkenhorst Motorsport. The 50th edition of the 24h Nürburgring starts on Saturday at 16:00 CEST.
The #20 BMW M4 GT3 from Schubert Motorsport, with Jesse Krohn (FIN) at the wheel, just missed out on progressing from the first section of Top Qualifying. He will start from 21st position. The #100 Walkenhorst Motorsport car will start from behind the starting group.
In qualifying for the BMW M Race of Legends, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday just before the grid lines up for the 24-hour race, Bill Auberlen (USA) secured pole position on the Grand Prix circuit in his BMW M2 CS Racing ahead of Johnny Cecotto (VEN) and Eric van de Poele (BEL). The race will feature a total of twelve cars.
Augusto Farfus (#99 BMW M4 GT3, ROWE Racing, starting position 2): “I’m very happy to be up there in P2; that’s a great result. The car has been strong here all season and it felt like I expected in qualifying. Well done to BMW M Motorsport, it’s a strong performance overall.”
Dan Harper (#72 BMW M4 GT3, BMW Junior Team, starting position 6): “Very happy with my qualifying. The lap times are very close, but P6 is a great starting position for the 24-hour race. I was excited to be out there fighting on such a high level. Thank you to BMW M Team RMG for putting together a great car; I’m very much looking forward to the race.”
Christian Krognes (#101 BMW M4 GT3, Walkenhorst Motorsport, starting position 7): “I’m a little bit disappointed to be honest, as I expected a bit more than P7. I didn’t get the perfect temperature into the tyres in the first lap where it had its peak. But anyway, we take P7 and aim for a good race. I know we have a very strong car.”
Nick Catsburg (#98 BMW M4 GT3, ROWE Racing, starting position 13): “Unfortunately, I had a few mistakes in my first lap. That was as bit of a shame. Sheldon did a great job in Q1 to get us into the second shoot-out but I wasn’t able to finish what he began. Hopefully P13 isn’t an unlucky number for us. It’s a long race and everything is possible.”
Ben Tuck (#102 BMW M4 GT3, Walkenhorst Motorsport, starting position 18): “It’s amazing driving the Nordschleife without any traffic. That alone makes this session a special occasion. We are just really happy to have made it into Q2 and into the top 20. We are fighting in the Pro-Am category, so we are really happy with where we are.”
Jesse Krohn (#20 BMW M4 GT3, Schubert Motorsport, starting position 21): “The first lap was fine and I felt that also on the second lap the tyre was still very good but I just hit a Code 60 zone, so clearly the qualifying was done. You lose ten seconds and there is no way of catching it so it was just bad luck. I truly believe that we could have improved on the second lap, especially on the Nordschleife. It’s a pity to be out as the first car but sometimes that happens. But it’s a long race, we have a good race car, we have been focusing a lot on the race set-up. I have high expectations and I think that we still have a good race.”
BMW PRESS
BMW M – the most powerful letter in the world – is celebrating its 50th birthday, and the BMW Museum in Munich is joining in the celebrations: the new BMW M exhibition opened on 24 May 2022, marking the very day that BMW Motorsport GmbH was founded on 24 May 1972. It is dedicated to the hugely successful BMW M brand, which emerged from BMW Motorsport GmbH.
Little could anyone have known how much of a unique success story BMW Motorsport GmbH would grow into when it was founded half a century ago – bundling and further professionalising all of BMW’s racing activities. The newly developed BMW 3.0 CSL won the 1973 European Touring Car Championship. Since then, BMW M has passed many unique milestones in the fields of motorsport, technology and design. This is embedded in the BMW Group’s corporate history in a lively and exciting new exhibition at the BMW Museum.
Visitors walk through large sections of the museum on a specially created BMW M circuit, modelled on a racetrack: “We have consciously integrated the eight BMW M stations into our permanent exhibition to highlight the BMW M anniversary everywhere,” says Helmut Käs, Head of BMW Group Classic, explaining the concept: “It is not your usual temporary exhibition. Instead, we are adding special highlights within the museum. For example, the ‘Visions’ room is actually all about future topics. We have set up a stage for the most successful racing touring car in the early days of BMW Motorsport – the BMW 3.0 CSL – flanked by the BMW 2002 turbo. That is also a symbol: both vehicles are an integral part of the tradition which is shaping our tomorrow.”
The special exhibition flowing through a further seven rooms highlights various aspects such as the history of racing touring cars, the manufacture of the BMW Individual, the complete M Story with background information on the distinctive colours, the logo and the anniversary logo launched in 2022. Special aspects such as the BMW Art Cars and BMW driver training, which would not even exist without BMW M, are also showcased. The exhibits include the iconic BMW M1 and BMW M3 as well as design concepts, prototypes, BMW M classics and winning racing cars such as the BMW V12 LMR, all combining to give a sense of what the brand is all about: “This motorsport gene from the early days still thrives in BMW M today,” says Jochen Neerpasch, co-founder and first Managing Director of BMW Motorsport GmbH from 1972 to 1980: “The brand owes its dynamism, passion and performance to motorsport. Innovations such as lightweight construction, aerodynamics, optimised engine performance or a reinforced chassis still feature in M vehicles today.”
When you know a lot, you see more. The one-hour guided tour through the permanent exhibition, which currently has a special focus on the BMW M stations, fully lives up to this motto and gives a wealth of information. The BMW Junior Museum has come up with something special that will get even 9- to 14-year-olds thrilled about BMW M. Entitled “Join the M Team!” it offers exclusive, two-and-a-half-hour BMW M anniversary workshops. The young participants meet up-and-coming talents from the BMW Junior Team, experience genuine motorsport passion and team spirit, learn about historic victories and landmark vehicles. They complete small challenges and create their own airbrush BMW M designs, which can be exhibited in the museum and taken home.
The BMW M motorsport exhibition at the BMW Museum runs throughout 2022. All dates, further information – including about guided tours – and the online ticket shop are at www.bmw-welt.com/en/experience/guided_tours.html
The BMW Museum presents a fascinating look at the corporate, brand and product history of BMW. More than 120 of the brand’s most valuable and eye-catching cars, motorbikes and engines are on display in the 5,000 m² exhibition area. Information on exhibits and background information is given in German and English.
The BMW Museum, together with the BMW Plant and BMW Welt, impressively showcases the brand experience in Munich, providing deep insights into the tradition, the present and the future of the BMW brand. Founded in 1973 as one of the first brand museums, it was redesigned and expanded in 2008.
BMW Museum opening hours: Tuesdays to Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Last admissions at 5.30 p.m.
Guided tours can be booked via the BMW Welt info service on + 49 (0)89 125 016 001. Tickets are available via the online ticket shop at https://ticket.bmw-welt.com/Exhibitions/Register?refresh=y&id=75026459-1499-e911-9104-02e0ec439a41&shop=D1C6FD86-4613-4437-A931-F2CC660641ED&language=EN.
Event date: 13-15 May 2022
May 12-15 was a busy weekend for BMWDCM and two of the events were held at Phillip Island. The Victorian State Race Series round 3 and National Motoring Heritage Day drive.
A large group of BMWDCM members are also part of the E30 series and are entered in round 3 and over 30 members of BMWDCM are driving down on Sunday to display their cars and support the E30 category in their final race for the weekend.
So, what did I do on that weekend?
I had volunteered as Deputy Race Secretary for the weekend to help Noel Tippet from PIARC.
What is the importance of volunteering as an official?
There are all different types of events we can officiate at, and these meetings are one of them and over 100 officials are needed to successfully run these types of events.
Volunteer officials range from pit entry, Pit exit to race control, (when qualified) and lots more.
After volunteering to help as Assistant Secretary at Round 2 of the Victorian State Series at Winton, I thought I would offer my services for Phillip Island, seeing it clashed with Bathurst and a lot of officials would be volunteering for that event I knew they would be shorthanded.
I am now a Silver Admin, and this enables me to both assist and run these types of events, but BMWDCM do not hold race meetings, so this is a perfect opportunity for me to help and also grow my skills.
It is great to work with a wide range of both senior and junior officials and listen to how they do things and also offer opinions for future events.
What was my job for the weekend you might ask?
Graeme and I arrived late on Thursday night as the track was open from 6.30pm for drivers to gain early entry to their pit garages and set up, so I joined Noel in the Secretaries office to do garage allocations and also answer any queries for sign in on Friday morning. This went extremely well, and it was surprising how many drivers took up the option to arrive early. Great idea.
Friday morning was a very early start, with us getting there at 6.20am to set up for drivers check in. This was all done in the muster shed where drivers briefing normal happens, we had a team of 2 officials and 2 volunteers, and we had the bulk of them checked in within 2 hours and then we had a few dribble in throughout the day allowing us a little bit of breathing space.
With COVID a lot has changed with how check in and scrutineering is done, so we also had to collect all vehicle log books and for those drivers wanting a licence upgrade, their licence logbooks needed to be handed in so that one of the senior race officials can observe them throughout the weekend and sign them off. This enables them to come off their Ps and get a National Licence once they have successfully obtained enough signatures in their logbooks.
Logs books need to be sorted into categories for the scrutineers to do their checks and sign off. This all seems simple but at a meeting with 250+ cars entered and logbooks with no details on, it can be a nightmare, but once check-in was over, I had some quieter time to process all the log books and get them across to scrutineering and also group the licence observations for checking over the weekend.
The day remained busy with pit crew check in and late driver arrivals flowing through the day. I was kept busy until leaving and felt pretty happy that we had processed most of the drivers so that Saturday morning would not be quite so busy.
The day finished around 5pm when most drivers and all the crew had what they needed. So back to our accommodation for a nice home cooked lasagne.
Saturday morning was another early start but instead of doing the remaining check ins at the muster shed, we figured with only approximately 40 remaining, we would process them at the base of the tower in the Secretaries office. This worked well and also saved us packing up twice and wasting much needed time.
Drivers all checked in and all pit crew signed on. Qualifying started and the weather was very kind, for Phillip Island, with only a little morning mist making the track a little slippy but very few incidents which was fabulous for all. Races commenced on time, which at an event like this is always a challenge but race control had everything under control and if there were any recoveries, they had that all noted and were keeping a very close watch on times, so that the day would run on time, as it did.
My day was filled with driver, crew and guest queries, printing of grid sheets for the grid marshals, checking all drivers had actually checked in and presented their logbooks, which they all had. Still collecting licence for observation but most of those came through in the morning. Massive day and again without volunteers these events don’t happen.
Late finish on Saturday night with some teams needing to stay behind to fix car but lucky PI has 24-hour security, and they are free to do this. Back to our rental for another lovely home cooked meal.
Sunday morning was not such an early start, 7am and grid sheets handed out to the grid Marshals and the day was off to a start with the sun out and what was looking like another fabulous day.
E30 Racing had a combined race with Improved Production, and this was going to be interesting as they always have a large grid. The race was a split grid with two rows between and both categories started at lights out. An incident happened on the first lap which involved 2 IP cars, and this took the field to safety car laps so there were only 2 laps remaining under green which was a shame.
I felt like a proud mum when I saw the line of BMWs led by a yellow Commodore coming in to support our group. We really do have a great bunch of members and it is so good to see them supporting other members doing what they love. Our group where lucky to arrive when the Brabham did the Speed comparison and it had quite a spectacular spin but managed to come back with no damage. This was driven by Tim Slade who took out the Phillip Island Outright Lap record for the track in one of the races over the weekend.
E30s last race was a 9-lap race, and I was lucky enough to be able to wave the chequered flag for their final race. As a flag marshal I have always wanted to do this and now I have, and to wave it with one of our Bell Motorsport cars taking the chequered flag was even better. Well done Alex Jory, and all the E30 racers who had a brilliant weekend. The wind was giving me a bit of stick and I did struggle a bit with the flag but managed to get it waved when all the cars crossed the finish line.
Well, that was my excitement for the weekend, so back to work for me, handing out licences to drivers and getting garage keys back, again all this seems easy, but it isn’t, when a driver or pit crew pack up and take the keys home with them, we are left at the track looking for the teams and then have to work out how we are getting the keys back.
Same with the licences and vehicle logbooks, it is surprising how many drivers leave the track and forget to collect their credentials, these all then need to be posted back to them. Just another job for the secretary and also a cost incurred. Very important to make sure you have done everything before you leave the track.
It was so nice to have so many teams come in at the end of their day and thank me for all I had done to make their weekend run smoothly. This is why I do it, to get people out on the track and for the love of the sport.
It was great working with some great officials on the weekend and I thank them for the opportunity. I do miss being out there officiating and I enjoy it when I get the opportunity to get back out trackside.
If you want to help out in anyway make sure you have your working with children’s check completed, you nominate Motorsport Australia and BMW Drivers Club Melbourne as your nominated clubs, then once you have done that, go to Motorsport Australia and do a general official’s online course.
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne always need officials for all our track events, so we encourage all who are interested to do these online applications.
If you are needing any help becoming an official, please do not hesitate to give us a call and we will be able to guide you through.
Jo Mawson | Member #2 BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
With its next-level power and intelligent lightweight design, two-seater configuration, model-specific chassis upgrades and equipment features selected specially for the job at hand, the new BMW M4 CSL has track driving as its raison d’être. The genes the M4 CSL shares with its competition-spec sibling, the BMW M4 GT3, are also reflected in its performance attributes. In test runs on the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife circuit, the BMW M4 CSL posted the fastest lap times ever for a series-produced BMW car. On the version of the track traditionally used for comparison purposes – which is 20.600 kilometres / 12.8 miles in length and doesn’t include the straight at section T13 – it stopped the clock at 7 min. 15.677 sec. Its official and notarised lap time for the 20.832-kilometres / 12.943-mile circuit (the complete lap) was 7 min. 20.207 sec. Acceleration figures of 3.7 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) and 10.7 seconds for the sprint from 0 to 200 km/h (124 mph) are similarly impressive.
The stripped-back racing character of the BMW M4 CSL is underpinned by a time-honoured concept that harnesses cutting-edge development expertise and the latest technology to create an enthralling end result. “CSL” stands for “Competition, Sport, Lightweight”, referencing the critical role of weight-minimised design in achieving success in motor sport. The BMW 3.0 CSL developed by BMW Motorsport GmbH according to this same principle won the European Touring Car Championship at the first attempt in 1973. And the M4 CSL is also following in the tyre tracks of successful special-edition models from earlier generations of the BMW M3/M4, most notably the legendary BMW M3 CSL from 2003 and the BMW M4 GTS unveiled in 2016.
For BMW M GmbH, the world premiere of the new BMW M4 CSL at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este (20 – 22 May 2022) will be one of the highlights of its 50th anniversary year. Production of the special-edition model will begin – in a limited run of exactly 1,000 examples – at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing in July 2022.
Present and correct in the fundamentals and the details: intelligent lightweight design in the BMW M4 CSL.
Its talent for innovation and racing-car know-how enabled BMW M GmbH to restrict the special edition’s DIN kerb weight to 1,625 kilograms. A standout power-to-weight ratio of 2.95 kilograms per hp (4.01 kg/kW) provides the ideal platform for a dynamically sublime driving experience.
Fitting M Carbon full bucket seats reduced weight by around 24 kilograms on its own compared with the standard seats fitted in the BMW M4 Competition Coupé. 21 kilograms were saved by removing the rear seats and seat belts, integrating a partition and making the associated modifications to the luggage compartment. And chassis changes, including the addition of extra-lightweight M Carbon ceramic brakes and special light-alloy wheels, springs and struts, lowered the figure by around another 21 kilograms. Paring back the amount of soundproofing plus switching to ultra-lightweight sound insulation saved around 15 kilograms, while the use of components made from carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) deducted some eleven kilograms. For example, in addition to its CFRP roof, the bonnet and boot lid of the BMW M4 CSL are also hewn from this lightweight high-tech material, as is its centre console. And a titanium rear silencer cuts more than four kilograms from the weight of the exhaust system. Detail modifications to areas such as the BMW kidney grille, rear lights, floor mats and automatic climate control shave off another four kilograms.
The body of the BMW M4 CSL is painted in the exclusive Frozen Brooklyn Grey metallic as standard. This exterior shade teams up with exposed carbon-fibre surfaces and red accents to create a visually expressive appearance of sporting purity. Alternatively, customers can specify their new M4 CSL in Alpine White solid or Sapphire Black metallic.
The carbon-fibre structure of the body components is visible in various areas, including the two chiselled indents in the bonnet. The surfaces of the indents – which are not painted in body colour – are highlighted additionally by red outlines. Red accent lines also bring extra emphasis to the two fins on the CFRP roof of the new BMW M4 CSL, the contours of its side sills, the black model badges, and the model-specific CFRP splitters and air curtain inserts in the front apron.
The optionally available BMW Laserlight headlights bring another head-turning accent to the front end of the new BMW M4 CSL. Both in the welcome effect triggered when unlocking the doors and when the low and high beam are switched on, these headlights illuminate in yellow rather than white, bringing to mind the look of successful GT racing cars.
The LED rear lights of the new BMW M4 CSL are equipped as standard with technology making its debut in a series-produced car. Their glass covers have intricate light threads woven into them which are illuminated using laser technology, bringing a vibrant structure to the surface of the lights. This creates a highly distinctive light signature that is recognisable from a long distance during the hours of darkness.
The model-specific power unit of the BMW M4 CSL is based on the same high-revving, six-cylinder in-line engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology found in the BMW M4 GT3 racing car. Its substantial performance reserves enabled a major hike in power without having to make any concessions in terms of stability or durability. Key to this power boost was an increase in the maximum charge pressure of the two mono-scroll turbochargers from 1.7 bar to 2.1 bar and model-specific tweaks to the engine management. The BMW M4 CSL’s engine develops peak torque of 650 Nm (479 lb-ft) between 2,750 and 5,950 rpm. Its maximum output of 405 kW/550 hp is produced at 6,250 rpm.
The race-derived design of the 3.0-litre engine is focused squarely on high revs and maximum power development. The crankcase’s sleeve-free, closed-deck construction helps to make it extremely rigid, while the forged lightweight crankshaft allows it to handle extremely high levels of torque. Another special M-specific feature is the cylinder head core made using 3D printing techniques.
Both the cooling and oil supply systems are designed to handle the particular challenges presented by track driving. The twin-tailpipe exhaust system with electrically controlled flaps and weight-minimised titanium rear silencer additionally generates a racing-car-inspired, emotionally engaging engine note created especially for the new BMW M4 CSL.
The drive torque produced by the engine is relayed to the rear wheels of the new BMW M4 CSL via an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic. Model-specific mountings for the engine and transmission ensure the engine’s power is translated into dynamic performance in exceptionally rapid and direct fashion. The firmer connection of the engine and transmission to the car’s structure is clearly perceptible, especially under hard driving.
Like the engine in the new BMW M4 CSL, its chassis technology benefits from a wealth of detail upgrades – which have been tailored to the power unit’s performance characteristics. These modifications also factor in the substantial reduction in vehicle weight at play here and the model-specific improvements to body rigidity, allowing the blend of handling agility, dynamism and precision for which BMW M cars are renowned to be taken to new heights.
In the engine compartment, a composition of front-end strut braces developed entirely from scratch raises the body rigidity of the new BMW M4 CSL up another level. Using numerical models, the geometry of the cast aluminium elements between the spring strut towers and the front end has been adapted precisely to the forces exerted in different driving situations.
The individually tuned axle kinematics and model-specific wheel camber settings, dampers, auxiliary springs and anti-roll bars optimise steering precision, transmission of lateral control forces when cornering, spring and damping response, and wheel location. The model-specific wheel suspension is accompanied by a drop in ride height of eight millimetres compared with the BMW M4 Competition Coupé. Also to be found on the standard equipment list for the special-edition model are adaptive M suspension with electronically controlled dampers, electromechanical M Servotronic steering with variable ratio and M Carbon ceramic brakes. An M-specific version of the integrated braking system offers the driver excellent pedal feel even when pushing the dynamic limits and in adverse road conditions.
The standard-fitted M Traction Control function with model-specific track tuning lets the driver set individual intervention thresholds for wheel slip limitation. On dry surfaces, stages 1 to 5 of M Traction Control help the driver to execute controlled drifts. Stages 6 to 10 are based on the application developed for touring car racers and make allowance for both surface conditions and tyre temperature to maximise traction and directional stability.
Also specified as standard are forged M light-alloy wheels in an exclusive cross-spoke design (19 inches at the front axle and 20 inches at the rear). These are fitted with high-performance tyres specially developed for the special-edition model in size 275/35 ZR19 (front) and 285/30 ZR20 (rear).
Model-specific equipment features give the BMW M4 CSL a distinctive balance between sports car purism, unrestricted everyday usability and exclusive premium substance. The M Carbon full bucket seats for the driver and co-driver are marked out by their self-supporting CFRP structure and purposeful rejection of comfort-enhancing features. They have a fixed backrest angle, forward/back adjustments can be made manually, and the seat height can only be adjusted in a workshop using a three-stage screw linkage. The M Carbon full bucket seats also have detachable head restraints and allow the integration of a six-point belt system.
The M Alcantara steering wheel, anthracite-coloured headliner, Carbon Fibre interior trim strips, “CSL” badges on the seats, centre console and rear panel, plus M-specific displays also help to create the perfect on-board setting for concentrated driving pleasure. Merino leather trim with extended features and M seat belts are also standard. Two helmet storage units can be found in the rear compartment.
The M-specific control/operation system includes the M Setup button for direct access to numerous vehicle settings and two M buttons on the steering wheel for storing preferred configurations. Standard equipment also features the M Drive Professional system including M Drift Analyser and M Laptimer, plus the M Mode button for activating the ROAD, SPORT and TRACK settings.
The likewise standard BMW Live Cockpit Professional comprises a fully digital screen grouping made up of an instrument cluster with a 12.3-inch screen diagonal behind the steering wheel and a 10.25-inch control display. Among its functions are the navigation system BMW Maps, the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, smartphone integration, telephony with wireless charging and a Wi-Fi interface. The BMW Head-Up Display with M-specific elements and the BMW Drive Recorder can be ordered from the options list.
The range of comfort-enhancing features and driver assistance systems fitted in the BMW M4 CSL are focused on the essentials, in keeping with its intelligent lightweight design approach and puristic vehicle concept. Standard specification includes automatic climate control, Park Distance Control, Front Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning and Speed Limit Info. Two-zone automatic climate control, an alarm, and the Driving Assistant and Parking Assistant systems are available as options.
See The M4 CSL Set Nurburgring Lap Record For Production BMWs here.
Similar to the famed sign on the Hollywood Hills, the sight of the big letters MOUNT PANORAMA - BATHURST never fails to excite when I arrive at this very special racetrack. For a fan of the 12 Hour race (usually held in February), it’s unusual to see the letters surrounded by fog, but things are being done a bit differently this year.
On Saturday, I alternated between enjoying the comfort of the corporate box (including the endless food and drink served by our wonderful waiters), wandering around the GT3 pit garages, and watching the on-track action from various points along Conrod Straight. In the morning, we had several GT3 practice sessions, a weird and wonderful bunch of production cars in the Combined Sedans races, and the feisty little Aussie Racing cars. Ex-V8 Supercars driver Garth Tander did an interview in our corporate box. Garth just happened to be walking past when someone asked me if Garth was racing at this event. I said to them “he’s only commentating, but he probably brought his racing suit along just in case”, then Garth looked over and said “you bet I did!”.
Saturday afternoon was the qualifying session, with the order being shaken up by several top teams occupied with major repairs and the fascinating comparison between the international GT3 pros and the local drivers with more experience at this track. Sadly there were no BMWs to cheer for this year, so I pinned my hopes on locals Chaz Mostert (who drove for BMW here in 2017-2020) and Shane van Gisbergen. Qualifying finished with a brilliant Top Ten shootout, where Chaz Mostert clinched pole position right in the dying seconds of the session.
Sunday morning started off with a grid walk, as we got up close and personal with the crazy machines (and their drivers) who were about to race flat-out in the darkness and fog. There was much talk of the first few hours being stuck behind the safety car due to the fog, but thankfully the proper racing was able to start after a few laps. During the race, I also checked out the various other attractions, such as the Shannon’s cars and coffee display, the racing car simulator and the bus to the top of the mountain (all carefully timed between the numerous meals served in our suite, of course!). It always amazes me that this international racetrack most of the time is actually just a country road, with the end of someone’s driveway separated from a pack of GT3 racing cars by just a temporary barrier. At around 5pm, after 12 hours of racing, we congregated to the rooftop area to cheer the winning SunEnergy1 Mercedes as it crossed the finish line. Then it was down onto the track to watch the podium presentation
After all of the lockdowns etc, I was so excited when it was announced that the Bathurst 12 Hour was back on. It turned out to be a wonderful weekend, and I’m already looking forward to going back next February for the 2023 race.
Simon de Lisle | Member #430 BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
On the first weekend in June there is another highlight in store for the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team in the FIM Endurance World Championship (FIM EWC): the return of motorcycle endurance racing to Spa-Francorchamps (BEL). The 24H SPA EWC Motos from 2nd to 5th June marks the second event of the season in the FIM EWC 2022 and are also the home race for the team headed by Team Manager Werner Daemen.
In preparation for the 24-hour race, the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team took part in two days of testing at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on Tuesday and Wednesday. The team, with riders Markus Reiterberger (GER), Ilya Mikhalchik (UKR), Jérémy Guarnoni and Kenny Foray (both FRA), worked on various electronics and chassis solutions for the #37 BMW M 1000 RR and completed some comprehensive tyre tests. The riders also had the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the circuit.
Overall, the testing was successful - and the riders were able to prove just how fast the #37 BMW M 1000 RR can go. On both days, the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team not only set the fastest times but also new lap records; on Tuesday with a time of 2:20.887 minutes and on Wednesday with 2:20.344 minutes. Both times were set by Reiterberger.
Werner Daemen, Team Manager BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team: “The test went really well. We set the overall fastest lap time and also the average speed was really good. We tested a lot with tyres, brakes and everything and to be honest, it looks good. But now we have to make the same in the race. The race pace was good. We had very hot weather, it even was a bit too hot for our bike, but that’s okay. It was a good preparation for the race.”
Markus Reiterberger: “That was some excellent testing, with fastest times and new lap records. I felt really good from the very first lap. We completed a comprehensive testing schedule. However, the circuit is challenging and provides so many variants and lines that we riders had to get used to it all first. We improved lap by lap, and at the end of day one I was able to post a new lap record with 2:20.887 minutes. We then did even better than that on the second day. I am very happy, particularly because my pace on used race tyres was very good. The team did a fantastic job. I am certainly feeling very confident. The circuit is superb, our motivation knows no limits and we are all set for the race.”
Ilya Mikhalchik: “The test was quite okay. Actually, I did not have my best feeling on the bike because I still don’t know the track 100 per cent and need a few more laps and more time on this track, but we will have the time for that during free practice in the race week. Overall, the team did a good job. The bike is really good and now I am looking forward to the race. Let’s fight for a top result and enjoy this beautiful circuit!”
Jérémy Guarnoni: “For me, it was the first time riding at the Spa circuit and it was a great experience. The track is really nice, completely amazing, but it is not easy to get fast. I am quite happy with the lap time I did and of course I still can improve a lot. The bike was really good, especially for a stint and also the tyres worked really well. So we will try to further improve in the race and give our best.”
Kenny Foray: “For me, it was a short test but I was happy to ride here because it is always great to ride at Spa. The bike is ready, everything is ready, so now I hope that the team can get a good result in the race.”
Month in review.
Dear members,
What a busy month April was! To go with it, we had some beautiful autumn weather before the cold really started to arrive.
On 2 April we kicked off the month with our International Women’s Day at Broadford, supported by Makulu Vehicle Storage who donated an encouragement award, which went to Stephen Wesson for most improved on the day. We had quite a few new drivers attend, who were all supported by many officials from the VFT and BMWDCM teams. Thank you to the volunteers and instructors who attended! Thanks to you many members had a fantastic day.
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On 6 April we had 20 BMWs bump into the Australian Grand Prix for our annual display. It was so great to be able to do this after two years of no Formula 1 in Melbourne. We had a fantastic cross section of age and class of cars, giving the public a really great display to admire. We were placed next to E30 Racing so with 10 E30 race cars, we put on a great show.
On 12 April we held our April members meeting at one of our members private collections. It was a real honour to be able to share Malcolm's eclectic collection with our members. Thanks very much to Malcolm for having us!
Over Easter, we held our annual Good Friday display in support of the Royal Children's Hospital Appeal. Thanks very much to Christopher George from Flavours Patisserie who opened up for us to enjoy your coffee and treats.
We then had a great selection of cars attend the Flinders Motoring Heritage Display. Despite the very windy conditions, we had a great day in support of the Flinders Lyons Club who raised over $40,000.
Over ANZAC weekend, a group of members went away for a trip to Lakes Entrance. Jo had planned so many fun activities for us, including a trip to the Buchan Caves, a private boat cruise for lunch, dolphin watching and a dawn service on ANZAC morning.
We finished our month with our birthday and annual presentation dinner at the Park Royal, Monash. Our theme was famous people from the past or the silver screen. It was so much fun and great to see so many people dress up on the night! We also raised $640 for The Smith Family through the sale of raffle tickets, with many people walking away with prizes on the night.
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE: 737 MEMBERS
Welcome to our new members Brian Randall, Mert Tetik, Clive Meaby, Will Hughes, Mark Walsh, Rex Xu, Aaron Schramm, Simon Withington, Nilojan Tharmarajah, Georgia Suttie, Brent Young, Chris Liu, Jennifer Rose, Robert Wilson, Neil Searle, Mitchell Bergman, Anthony Corsetti, Jenny Guice, Graham Annells and Jessie Keogh. We look forward to seeing you at an event soon!
Don't forget to catch up with this month's update from our President, Graeme Bell here.
The month ahead.
Here's what we've got planned in May:
Tuesday, 10 May May Members Meeting - Adex Detailing Join us this evening for a fun and informative night with club sponsor, Adex Detailing. Thursday, 12 May - Monday, 16 May Bathurst 12 Hour Finally, our annual trip to the Bathurst 12 Hour returns! We hope those who are attending have a fantastic time. Sunday, 15 May National Motoring Heritage Day Drive to Phillip Island Join us for a drive in a progressive convoy to Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, put our cars on display and watch some racing. Many of our members will be competing in the E30 Racing Championship. Sunday, 15 May Mailing Road, Autoclassico This event will focuses on displaying classic, historic, and modern exotics consistent with the unique characteristics of the event. Sunday, 22 May Otway Fly DriveWe're going to drive to the top of the trees! A day out, for all the family. Starting from the services on the Geelong Ring Road we'll drive for approximately 1.5 hours through part of the splendour which is the Otway Forest to the Otway Fly arriving at about 11:45am.
Be sure to keep an eye on our calendar to stay up to date with our events.
If you're attending a social drive or weekend away, we recommend checking out our event tips to help you get the best out of the event.
We want you!
We are now one of the largest Official BMW Car Clubs in Australia and we need your help.
Have you ever attended one of our events and thought “wow this event was well run” or purchased some of our merchandise and thought “I really like that”? Well, all these things and more happen because your volunteer committee who all work tirelessly behind the scenes to make your day/weekend/event run smoothly and be as fantastic as it is.
Do you have skills we can tap into? Do you have a business we can engage or use the services of? Do you have some spare time you’d like to fill with an interest that gives a lot of people joy, including yourself?
We are putting out an early call to all our members to think if you would like to help our team with any of the day to day running of our wonderful club.
Click here to find out more information.
Club Permits.
We are finding an increasing number of members leave renewing their Club Permit registrations until the last minute, which sometimes results in members having to get a new roadworthy certificate.
The best option is for you to use the online system through a MyVicRoads account (see option 1 under Renewals on our Club Permits page).
Taking this option means you are not required to get a physical signature and is quicker for you and easier for us. Instead of us signing the renewal form, we sign a Club Endorsement Form, which you send to us by email. This can be done any time after you receive the renewal reminder.
In fact, no matter which option you choose, the paperwork can be completed any time after the renewal is received. There is no need to wait. Once the paperwork is completed, you can then pay for the permit at your leisure (within the expiry period).
Please remember that all club officials are acting in a volunteer capacity, even if conducted during business hours at a business premises - club work is not paid work and may be preventing paid work from being done.
News & Blog.
Our blog page on the website is constantly being updated with not just club news, but everything BMW from all around the world! We welcome you to submit any articles of your own.
Club blog.
International Women's Day Come and Try Day | Broadford
Surest way to put a smile on your dial!
April Members Meeting | Big Mal's Car Collection
Australian Grand Prix
BMWDCM Fourth Birthday & Presentation Dinner
BMW around the globe.
Motorsport Australia.
From the Welfare Team.
Being humble means recognizing that we are not on earth to see how important we can become, but to see how much difference we can make in the lives of others.
Click here for more Welfare Team updates and their contact details.
Classifieds.
Have you seen our classifieds page?
Want to sell something? Looking for a specific item? Email us today to list your car/parts/anything BMW related!
idrive magazine.
Everyone has their own BMW story - we'd love to share yours.
Email us to feature in our very own idrive magazine.
Club partners.
Members are welcome to submit their business to be shared on the Club Partners page on our website and idrive magazine. We believe in supporting those who support us. If you would like your business listed email us with your details.
As always - thanks for reading, we look forward to seeing you at an event soon!
President | Graeme Bell 0407 186 296 Vice President | Jo Mawson 0412 661 900 Secretary | Lawrence Glynn 0414 563 290 Treasurer | Shaaron Glynn
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Bell Motorsport
Berwick BMW
BM Tech
Creative Custom Cars German Auto Haus
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Traction Tyres
Waverley BMW
Apologies for this report being so late but April and May are so jammed packed and I have just been so busy with work, club stuff and life in general.
What a beautiful month we have just had though, with amazing Autumn weather throughout April, you just wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, would you? And with so many events to choose from there is something for everyone.
2 April, was our International Women’s Day at Broadford, supported by Makulu Vehicle Storage who donated an encouragement award, which went to Stephen Wesson for Most Improved on the day. This event, like all our come and try days, was well supported with officials from VFT and BMWDCM and we had a fabulous turn out of new and more experience drivers. Thank you to all the volunteers who make these days work so well and also to all the instructors who spent the day helping our new inexperienced drivers get so much out of their day.
On 6 April we had 20 BMWs bump into the Australian Grand Prix Display, which was so great to be able to do this after 2 years of lockdown. We had a fantastic cross section of age and class of cars, giving the public a really great display to admire. We were placed next to E30 Racing, so with 10 of their cars, this really did make a great exhibit. We had so many people come and talk to us about both clubs and had a few new members join from seeing us there, so welcome to those new members.
Jo and I also attended the BMW Clubs Australia AGM in Melbourne so we were busy trying to be present at both events. Unfortunately Sunday’s meeting ran late so we were unable to get to the track to watch the race but we did have a large TV screen available to watch it on.
Being an Official BMW Club means we are a part of the largest manufacturer supported club network in the world. This means that you are all members of not just our club, but you are a member of the world-wide BMW Club network. One of the benefits of this is that you have reciprocal membership with every Official BMW Club in the world too and this can mean lots of benefits if you like traveling and going to events or meeting people from other clubs and countries. Because it is all supported and run by BMW in Munich you also have access to special things from BMW if you are ever in Munich. So if you are planning on going to Munich or anywhere else for that matter, let us know and we can put you in touch with BMW Classic for a tour or even a loan car, if available, or hook you up with a club where ever you are heading to. We have already had a member drop in to BMW Classic in Munich and meet Eva and see our name up on the Honour Wall for being awarded the Best BMW Club in 2021.
If you have any questions about what it means to be an Official BMW Club, or the International BMW Club network, just drop me a line and I can answer all your questions.
On 12 April was our April members meeting, which we held at one of our members private collections. This was a real honour to be able to share Malcolm's eclectic collection with our members - thank you Malcolm, all who attended really enjoyed the night.
On 15 April, Good Friday, we had our Royal children’s Hospital Coffee & Cars meet in Beaumaris where we supported Christopher George, the owner of Flavours Patisserie who opened for us to enjoy his wonderful treats on the day. We had over 70 cars turn up and some of the locals even went home and washed their BMW’s and brought them along, what a fun morning with families bringing their children along to support what has become an annual event for us and one we are very passionate about. We raised over $1600 which is brilliant for a coffee and cars morning. Thank you to all who gave so generously, with all proceeds going to the Royal Children’s Hospital Appeal.
On 17 April, Easter Sunday, was another annual event we all love to support. That is Flinders Motoring Heritage Display and again we were not disappointed with our display with a great selection of cars showing of the years. This event is run by the Flinders Lyons Club in support of Peninsula Health and other local charities. This year we helped them raise in excess of $40,000. Another very proud moment and thank you again to all who attended and gave so generously.
23-25 April was our Anzac weekend away in Lakes Entrance. The weather was just amazing and what a brilliant weekend was had by all who attended. As we drove past the Sale Airforce Base, our Jo had arranged for a fly over from the roulettes, which was just stunning. Even if it’s a bit hard to drive the back roads and watch them do aerobatics… They followed us for about 30 minutes darting from side to side and at one stage heading straight for us. Just amazing.
Jo also arranged some brilliant activities for us all to do, Sunday we all explored the Buchan Caves and there were some furry friends in the picnic ground, to the delight of all young and older members.
On Anzac morning, most of our members attended the dawn service which was very moving. Then at 10.30am we all boarded a private boat cruise which took us through the lakes to Metung for lunch. Again we were treated to a spot of dolphin watching, with approximately 12 dolphins just frolicking Infront of our boat. There was an amazing display of bird life too and after our wonderful lunch at Metung we also got to see a Crested Eagle and a few seals sunning themselves on the rocks. These events are so good for new and older members to get to know other members and it was so lovely to have lots of children attending and enjoying this weekend away.
We feel so honoured that families bring their children on our trips away, we also had a learner driver who did a brilliant job of keeping up with the convoys through the countryside. As always, a huge thank you to Peter Williams, our Drive Co-ordinator that finds these amazing roads for us to explore and enjoy.
On 27 April I had an extremely proud dad moment, with my daughter Jess, our Editor and webmaster being admitted to the Supreme Court. This has been a long hard 8 years for Jess but still she has helped us with producing our wonderful magazine each year, as well as looking after the website and all the back end that makes us look so good. There are not enough words for me to express how proud I am of you, Jess, you are just amazing.
29 April was our monthly catch up with BMW Munich, but unfortunately last month there was a miscommunication with the timing of the event with clocks being changed both here and in Munich, most of us all logged in too late. We will make sure we have the time correct for the May catch up.
30 April our last event for the month was our Presentation Dinner. This was held at the Park Royal in Monash, which is only a few years old and a brilliant venue for events like this. Our theme for the night was famous people from the past or the silver screen and we had some absolutely amazing costumes on the night. We held a raffle with some brilliant prizes, generously donated from Sonax, Sirene Sea Pearls, German Auto Haus, Celebration Cellars, Waverley BMW, Revolution Racegear and Bell Motorsport. We also raised $640 for The Smith family on raffle ticket sales. Well done everyone who gave so generously and also well done to all the award winners on the night. We had some very worthy winners.
May is another jammed packed month, check out our calendar here for more details:
Other events to put in your calendar so as not miss out on are:
As with all our events, unless specified, all are welcome, members and non-members and we even allow non-BMWs to attend most of our events. There are only a few selected events through the year that we ask for either members only or BMW’s only, but these are spelt out in the event notice. Otherwise, we are a very inclusive club, we love you coming along, no matter what you drive or who you bring, and this is one of the things that makes this club so successful.
Above, you would have seen our Driver Training Day at Sandown. We will need volunteers for this to make the day successful, if you are interested in helping out in any form, please email Meg at officials@bmwdcm.com.au and let her know what area you will be happy to help out in. We encourage all our volunteers to go to the Motorsport Australia website and complete and general officials course and obtain a Working With Children’s Check too.
Jo and I will be taking a well-earned break for the last week of May. From the 20 May until 1 June. We will be out of the country, soaking up some South Pacific Sunshine and recharging our batteries. So any Club Plate renewals will need to be sent to Lawrence via our new renewals email address: cpsrenewals@bmwdcm.com.au and any other club related questions will also need to be answered by Lawrence while we are away either by email to secretary@bmwdcm.com.au or phone on 0414 563 290.
We will have our phones with us and our computers, but they will be off most of the day and we will only turn them on if we are feeling like doing some work in the evenings. Please make sure all your club stuff is done before the 19 May if you want to see either Jo or I.
Remember your committee are just volunteers and we can only do so much, so please be patient with email and phone calls, as we all have lives too, well some of us do. LOL. Also, if you are wanting to help out in any way, we would love to hear from you and remember that at our next AGM you have the opportunity to come on board and make this club even better than it is by joining the Committee.
As always, drive safe and I look forward to seeing you at an event somewhere soon.
Graeme Bell | President BMW Drivers Club Melbourne Inc.
P.O. Box 81, TYABB VIC 3913 Incorporated in Victoria #A0102695G BMW Drivers Club Melbourne Inc is a member of: BMW Clubs Australia and the BMW Clubs International Council Motorsport Australia Affiliated Motorsport Club
Event date: 30 April 2022
Time has flown by and it's now that time of year, the 2022 4th Birthday Celebration and Awards Presentation Dinner for BMW Drivers Club Melbourne!!
This years awards night was a themed silver screen dress code for a bit of fun, which I'll admit, I'm not a fan of themed things, but our darling Vice President Jo mentioned "Tim, you can go as Odd Job from James Bond". My first thought was, oh boy what idea Jo giving me, but once I googled Odd Job, I thought that looks simple enough, I run with that. And I thought unlike my pityful attempt at dressing up as the alien creature from Men In Black during my time in Shanghai for a school performance, I wanted to make more of an effort as dressing up this time!
The location was perfect for me too; at the ParkRoyal Monash 15 minutes from home, so I was only too happy to attend (not like I ever wasn't going to be honest, regardless of the location).
Festivities kicked off with pre drinks in the hotel foyer before we all got seated, with about five to six people at each table. Our President Graeme Bell made a fantastic introduction followed by something different, a trivia. There were 3 rounds consisting of questions about movies, movies with a BMW element and lastly questions about members in the club. Our table scored 20/40, not bad considering some of the questions weren't easy!
We had a delicious 2 course meal alternating between Roasted chicken breast with baked potatoes or grass fed eye fillet steak and mash pototo. Dessert was either chocolate cake or lemon meringue tart. All very yummy.
A big part of the night is the awards and I was surprised to be awarded the 2022 Member of the Year award. What a pleasant surprise, as I wasn't expecting that at all!
Congratulations to Shannon Cooper, Shane McKenzie, Jess Bell and all the other award recipients as well!
Most importantly, Thank You to Graeme, Jo, Lawrence and Shaaron for organising and putting on another fantastic presentation night, it was a great evening. And also Thank You to all the sponsors of club for your generous donations for the raffle.
Tim Oh | Member #538 BMW Drivers Club Melbourne
It’s the master plan for the automotive production of tomorrow: The BMW iFACTORY production strategy defines the future orientation of plants and production technologies at the BMW Group and meets the challenges of the transformation to e-mobility. “Automotive manufacturing of the future requires a new, holistic way of thinking. With our BMW iFACTORY, we are leading the way and setting new standards in flexibility, efficiency, sustainability and digitalisation,” said Milan Nedeljković, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Production.
Over the last few decades, the BMW Group has considered itself the benchmark for innovative, flexible and efficient production technologies in vehicle manufacturing. And it is from this level that the company is now redefining operational excellence. The strategic vision of the global production network is the BMW iFACTORY. LEAN. GREEN. DIGITAL., with its integrative, global approach. “The BMW iFACTORY is not a one-off showpiece but an approach we will implement at all our plants in the future – from our 100-year-old home plant in Munich to our forthcoming plant in Debrecen, Hungary,” said Milan Nedeljković.
The BMW iFACTORY focuses the BMW Group’s production expertise on three key topic areas: LEAN, which stands for efficiency, precision and extreme flexibility, GREEN, for sustainability, resource-efficiency and circularity, and DIGITAL, for the active use of digitalisation in data science, artificial intelligence (AI) and virtualisation. As always at the BMW Group, the holistic approach of the BMW iFACTORY is underpinned by the consistently high standard of flexibility, launch expertise and integration capability in the company’s production system.
The BMW Group’s production network is on the cusp of a fundamental transformation: the Neue Klasse, due for production launch in 2025, is based on a completely new vehicle architecture. With its clear focus on the all-electric drive, it sets the conditions for future vehicle generations to be manufactured efficiently and in line with the company’s profitability and quality goals. The BMW iFACTORY is now set to strengthen the proven success factors of the global production network. Board Member for Production Milan Nedeljković: “Our production network has three key strengths: maximum flexibility, excellent processes and outstanding integration capabilities. We are the absolute benchmark in all three. And they are the focal points of our BMW iFACTORY.” The key topic of LEAN is about highly flexible, efficient production through streamlined processes in competitive structures.
Flexibility remains the key competitive advantage of BMW Group production, now and in the future – and in several respects: The company’s production structures are so flexible that a single production line can produce different drive types and vehicle models. They also set the standard in terms of rapid responsiveness and adaptability, absorbing supply bottlenecks and shortages comparatively spontaneously and reacting quickly to fluctuations in demand. And for customers, this flexibility means they can change certain elements of their vehicle configuration up to six days before the production date.
The aim of the BMW iFACTORY is to use even more meaningful real-time data from throughout the production process to control global manufacturing more closely and transparently achieve the fastest possible response times. This will enhance not only volume and market planning but also supply chain and inventory management and support targeted work on quality as well.
Avoiding consumption, saving resources and using state-of-the-art technologies: With the BMW iFACTORY, the focus on sustainable production is stronger than ever, reaffirming the BMW Group’s position as the most sustainable manufacturer of premium automobiles. “Environmental, economic and social responsibility are inseparable, and we strive to achieve all three not only in the product itself but along the entire value chain. By 2030 we aim to reduce CO2 emissions from production by 80 percent compared to 2019,” explained Board Member for Production Milan Nedeljković.
With its new plant in Debrecen, Hungary – where production of the all-electric Neue Klasse will launch in 2025 – the BMW Group is entering a new era in sustainable automotive production. “Our plans are for Plant Debrecen to be the first automotive plant in the world to dispense completely with fossil energy sources in its production processes,” said Nedeljković. “Debrecen will be our first CO2-free vehicle plant and puts us clearly at the vanguard of developments in this regard.”
A significant share of the plant’s electricity will be generated directly on site. The remainder will be covered by 100 percent renewables, the vast majority of which will come from regional sources. Nedeljković: “Our contribution to the energy transition makes not only environmental but also business sense because our approach ensures stable prices and secure supplies.”
Another element of sustainable production is consistent circularity. Wherever possible, production materials and resources will be reused. Metal offcuts and filings from milling, for example, will be recycled and reused, while waste heat from cooling will be fed into a circuit to heat indoor spaces and water.
Saving resources significantly benefits the company economically – but smart, effective solutions also make production at the BMW Group unique in terms of environmental credentials. Examples of the technologies realising our commitment include the resource-saving wet-in-wet painting process (IPP) and the use of direct current in car body construction for the very first time.
The energy that powers the BMW Group’s plants around the world is sourced purely from renewables. As Plant Leipzig develops into a centre of excellence for hydrogen, the company’s facilities worldwide are becoming increasingly independent of third-party energy suppliers or other external influences. This is enabled by a combination of self-generated and stored energy with flexible load profiles throughout production. Here, the latest digital methods and comprehensive systems ensure maximum transparency and support the consistent reduction of energy consumption as well as the needs-based use of renewables on the basis of accurate forecasts.
A further key issue in the field of climate protection is biodiversity. The variety of flora and fauna at BMW Group sites worldwide is being promoted through targeted, region-specific measures, from beehives and falcons to meadow orchards.
Meanwhile, to support GREEN logistics both within and outside the plants, the BMW iFACTORY adopts an open-minded approach to technologies, focusing on environmentally sustainable concepts. Within the next few years, for example, increased use of rail transport and electric trucks will mean zero local emissions from transport logistics at Plant Munich.
Customised premium vehicles, delighted customers, excellent quality and on-time delivery have always been the goal of digitalisation at the BMW Group. “The BMW iFACTORY is advancing digitalisation by taking data consistency to a completely new level along the entire value chain and across every one of our process chains. We use digital innovations to create effective use cases in production – because for us, innovation and efficiency go hand in hand,” emphasised Milan Nedeljković.
Production at the BMW Group uses the latest technologies to link all the relevant product, process, quality and cost data between development, planning and production processes. The main focus here is on applications from the fields of virtualisation, data science and artificial intelligence.
Virtualisation plays an important role within the BMW iFACTORY strategy model. In a first step, every detail of all the BMW Group’s production sites is being recorded in a 3D scan. In this way, planning work can be carried out virtually at any time and from anywhere. In the next logical step, a virtual representation – or digital twin – is created of each factory in its entirety. This can then be used by planning specialists in real-time collaborations across different locations and time zones. This approach takes the planning of all structures, production plants and even individual processes to a completely new level. It allows virtual products to be integrated into the factory early on, for example, and significantly reduces planning work further down the line. It also allows investments to be otimised and enhances process efficiency and the stability of product launches.
In partnerships like the one with NVIDIA, the BMW Group combines its pioneering spirit and process expertise with cutting-edge technologies. Applications and augmented and virtual reality support employee training for future processes and technologies, and digital production system planning allows global partners to be integrated into the value chain early on.
Meanwhile, data science provides the foundations for fact-, figure- and (real-time) data-based decision-making. Consistent, transparent data allows the root causes to be identified quickly and proactively so that processes can be optimised. BMW Group production is already an industry pioneer in the effective use of AI and currently uses more than 200 AI-based applications. The technology allows various logistics and production processes to be automated for better quality assurance. In addition, standardised platforms and self-services mean solutions can be scaled rapidly for application across all technologies and locations.
At the heart of the BMW iFACTORY are the people who create it. Future-focused and highly qualified, the BMW Group’s workforce is ensuring a competitive and successful transformation. The Production division is investing heavily and with foresight in upskilling staff for quality, logistics, maintenance, e/e, e-mobility and digital planning. Thanks to state-of-the-art instruction methods, employees benefit from electronic training programmes that leave them free to train independently and on their own initiative. Extensive additional development options are also available to help them maintain and enhance their skills. More than 50,000 BMW Group employees have already undergone the training they need to work in electromobility.
The key factors behind the transformation of BMW Group production are the developments in the automotive market and specifications around climate change. The BMW Group is already doubling its production of electric vehicles in 2022, having delivered more than 35,000 fully electric cars to customers in the first quarter alone. At the same time, the latest technical innovations are supporting the company as it contributes significantly to climate protection and sustainability. Milan Nedeljkovic: “The BMW iFACTORY delivers not only on the increasing customer demand for electric vehicles but also on our desire, as a member of society, to support climate protection and sustainability. We are using digitalisation to make this happen – while remaining absolutely competitive.”
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