fbpx

Dec 27, 2018

I saw it, I heard it, I bought it! : Martin and his BMW M6

During my first months in Berlin I had the opportunity to meet a great friend at a classic car event, Martin. He was sitting in his M6, and I carefully introduced myself: ”Hello! I’m Alex from Carphiles“, and he answered; ”Yes, I know who you are!“ He already followed me on Instagram and we started talking that day for a long while. As time passed, we kept in touch and became very good friends.

I have a special affinity for the E24, it was the first classic that I photographed properly. I feel the M6 is an incredible car. I enjoyed it on different occasions in Berlin, and outside of the city in summer and spring for a drive with my friend. For this reason, you will see different locations in the photos below.

Here is the story of Martin and his BMW M6. I hope you enjoy it!

Tell me about your M6

It’s Euro-spec’ed, so it’s a M635 CSi, built in December of the first model year 1984. It came out after BMW had transplanted the M1 supercar engine into the E24 chassis. My M635 spent the 80s and 90s in Southwest Germany in the hands of two caring owners and was locked away in a dry hideout in 2006 for ten years.

What about you?

I’m a Berlin-based editor, car and music connoisseur. That’s pretty much it.

What was your first car?

I was lucky to have access to many cars throughout my career, press cars, test cars, whatever cars. The first car I actually owned was a 1971 Mercedes-Benz W108. A true beauty, but a total service nightmare.

How did you first become interested in cars and why especially in BMW?

Growing up with Lego all around me as a little boy, I always had a thing for cars and creativity. Then as a young teen, I was into RC model building and mixed parts of different models for some pretty entertaining results. BMW had always been one of the more attractive automakers to me, as cars evolved. They’re still primarily drivers cars and unlike other brands today one can still trace the DNA of a new M sportscar back to early 80s classics, like this M6.

How did you come across the BMW M6?

To be honest, I never expected to find one in a better condition than average, because pristine examples like this have become extremely rare. When I found it, I knew had to be quick. I saw it, I heard it, I bought it!

What condition was the car in when you bought it?

It was ready to roll! A good friend of mine from Dortmund had just restored it with OEM parts. He‘s into classic BMW M cars since the early 90s and a real expert when it comes to technical specifications. I only had a few final mechanical updates done, after I found a BMW Group Classic branch in Berlin willing to handle it. It’s also regularly serviced there.

What’s your favorite detail or what do you love most about your car?

Of course, there’s the obvious sharknose, the Hofmeister kink and all the details. But for me, the true mastery of Paul Bracq’s design is its coherence. It looks stunning from every angle, perfect proportions. That’s very rare in the automotive world and especially rare with bold and passive aggressive baselines. Also, it’s one of the few classic cars that look much better with factory spoiler kit – this car has all M options available in 1984! The M88/3 straight-6 engine is another milestone. It needs serious attention, though. There’re very little people who know this business – and even fewer people willing to pay the price.

Personally, I think the BBS wheels make the M6 so unique, and they match perfectly with the aesthetic of the car, what’s the history behind it?

Wheels are always crucial. It’s a kill or cure thing. These are rare original three-pieced 17“ BBS RS, powder-coated, with spacers. They fit the E24 much better than stock wheels, I think, and they’re design classics in their own right!

Is there any other BMW or classic you would like to have?

I think the BMW M1 is still one of the most understated collectibles, compared to boring omnipresent Italians. Especially the Procar series. But that’s a different talk.

To where would be the perfect ride on this M6?

Up in the hills of the French Riviera on a warm night in June – and that’s exactly what we did! It’s pure joy to drive.

Being a music connoisseur, what is your favorite song to play when you are driving on a long road or just in the city?

I love screaming along Queen’s 1984 smash „Radio Ga Ga“ on the Autobahn – period correct, hahaha! Apart from that, I’m a huge fan of Parcels and their new album is a perfect soundtrack for any trip in the car with my wonderful girlfriend.

Tell me about your project Autowahn!

Well, it’s just my street photography project on Tumblr. It started in 2013 as an outlet for the tons of car pictures I was amassing and became a place for odd, rare, or just beautiful cars I spot wherever I go. There’re some 2000 cars on Autowahn, often combined with pointless and/or ironical pearls of wisdom.

Do you have a quote related to cars that you would like to share?

Save the manuals!

On sale? Why?

I‘m a project person and it’s now time for a new project!

Martin’s M6 on Classic Trader

Instagram: @m6berlin

His project: Autowahn

2 Comments

  1. Scholli

    Great pics, amazing car, excellent guy! He should never try a Porsche, he would forget the music and the rest of life!?

    Reply
    • alexberlinetta

      Thanks. That’s so true! I already told him 🙁

      Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published.

Related Articles

Reviving a concept car: The BMW Garmisch by Marcelo Gandini for Bertone

Some time ago I visited Munich, and as always I was very welcome in the BMW Classics department. Benjamin, who is part of the BMW classic team prepared an exclusive surprise for me and Carphiles. Which was one of my favorite concept cars the Garmisch by the visionary Marcello Gandini for Bertone.

A Sunday Drive Around Caracas With The Porsche Club

A few months ago I visited Caracas, Venezuela. I felt sensitive because of the difficult political and economic situation of the country but was still curious to visit some friends I know from Instagram. Ivan from BlaubachMotors invited me over for a Sunday ride to the Hacienda Santa Teresa, where I met the team of Porsche Club Venezuela.

BMW 70s icons at one of the most Iconic places in San Francisco: Bengt and Alex’ sheer driving pleasure.

Back in 2018, while I was in San Francisco for the first time, I met Bengt, an Instagram friend who I’ve been following for a long time, and his E9. On this day he drove me to one of the most iconic places in town The Golden Bridge.

A Photo gallery from The Berlin’s Second Edition of Flitzer Club Tour

During the weekend after a long quarantine, we Berliners were finally able to return little by little to our favorite activities. One of them was the Flitzer Club Tour, organized by Dirk and Leo, which was a two-day drive through East Germany, approximately 350km in total. We went to different interesting places like castles, an abandoned hospital, and a gallery.

David And His 1975 BMW 3.0 CSi: Surely One Of The Most Stylish BMWs Ever

by Alexberlinetta Leaving Berlin for a bit, I went to Leipzig, to visit my Carphiles friend, David and his outstanding 1975 BMW 3,0 CSi. Personally, I have a special affection to the E9; I found it one of the most pleasurable cars to photograph, from any angle, any...

A W111 Helping To Chill And Put Life In Perspective: Thomas And His MB 250SE

During these strange times that we are all going through, I am always happy to know that you can find an escape from this with the pleasure of driving or just working on your car to achieve a more positive life!

The Smoothness of a Classy V12: Oliver and his BMW 750i

Last summer in Berlin, I met Oliver and his wonderful 1990 BMW 750i. I’m a fan of big BMWs from the 80s/90s, they are very spacious and classy. One thing, in particular, I like about this car, was its red interior. I think it makes the car much more special.

Reliable, comfortable and a very unique two-tone Benz: Rudi and his 250

I always think that the world of cars is so unique. It gives me so many opportunities to meet people who share the same passion as me and thanks to social media I can connect with them instantly.

Carphiles Friends Become Contributors: Cars As A Work Of Art At Wilhelm Hallen, Berlin

To me, cars were never just cars…They always meant something special to me. Firstly, they are one of the most significant works of art in my life. Thanks to them I developed artistically and professionally, living the dream of working with something I’m passionate about. Appreciating cars from a design perspective combined with magnificent architecture as a playground is something I love and this provides basically the essence of Carphiles

Haute Future Meets The Future – Part I – Robert and his Citroën SM

The world of Instagram always helps me connect with incredible people in every country I visit, in this opportunity I met Robert and his wonderful SM. Let’s say it in a better-known definition the Citroën SM is the Concorde for the road, powered by Maserati.

#CarphilesandCoffee June 2022

On Sunday, June 19th, we celebrated the first Carphiles event of this year. In a typical Berlin industrial backyard in the Xberg area where our friends from @conciergecoffee are located! I selected 19 iconic cars to stage and appreciate them in different ways. Here we were both car lovers and non-car lovers which in a different way is my way to draw the attention of those who don’t have an interest in cars, especially these design icons.

read more

Everything revolves around the Testarossa: Fabio Don and his Ferrari

I think that in almost all my photos I can show my great love, passion, and respect for architecture and cars. That’s why I could say that this shooting is one of the best I’ve ever done in the almost 7 years I’ve been specializing in cars. This time I was in one of the most prominent buildings of Swiss Brutalist architecture, combined with one of the great icons of the 80s, the Testarossa.

read more

The End Of An Era: Alex and his 993 4S

Everything comes to an end in some way, such as air-cooled engines or more recently the end of one of Europe’s most emblematic and modern airports of the 1970s: Berlin Tegel TXL.

read more

PART OF:

SOCIAL MEDIA

WRITE US