When Fitment Changes Everything — BMW M2
Spring has arrived, the season is underway, and while waiting at our agreed photo location, the unmistakable sound of today’s feature car can already be heard approaching in the distance. The deep N55 growl, overrun braps, and pops and bangs announce its arrival long before it comes into view. Soon, a Long Beach Blue M2 appears on the horizon. At first glance, you might assume it’s one of many track-focused or performance-built examples, but what rolls in front of the camera is something different – a tastefully modified head-turner built by Silver, where fitment takes center stage.
Since our blog editor is, to put it mildly, a BMW enthusiast who always approves when former fans of other brands eventually find their way to BMW ownership, we gave him the opportunity to ask the opening question. Let’s get into it.
Since you’ve always been known more as a VAG guy, how did you end up behind the wheel of a BMW? How long did it take before you finally made it to the “real cars”?
To be honest, I was never a 100% VAG guy. One of the most defining decisions in any enthusiast’s automotive journey is their first car, as it often shapes future brand preferences. My first car was an Audi, and I stayed loyal to the brand for quite a long time. I was also somewhat comfortable within that ecosystem because I knew the strengths and weaknesses of the brand. When buying another Audi, I knew exactly what to look for and what to avoid.
Originally, I planned to buy an Audi RS3. However, being a manual transmission enthusiast and with newer RS3s only available with automatic gearboxes, I eventually abandoned that idea. That’s when I started looking at BMWs. I remembered a rule I had made for myself years earlier: if I ever bought a BMW, it had to be turbocharged and petrol-powered. With those criteria set, I quickly became obsessed with the E82 135i. After browsing listings for a while, I imported one from abroad. After owning the E82 for some time, the desire for something more grew, which eventually led me to this blue M2.
Before we move on to the M2, let’s briefly touch on your automotive history. You mentioned your first car was an Audi. How many Audis did you own before switching to BMWs? And where does the well-known Fakestatic fit into the story?
Before BMWs, I owned three Audis. Two of them remained completely stock and simply served as daily drivers. I also had a VW Corrado G60. The project eventually stalled because I started building Fakestatic instead, and a couple of years later I sold the Corrado. Fakestatic was actually my very first car, and I’ve now owned it for 17 years.
Does Fakestatic still get any attention alongside the BMWs? Any future plans for it?
In my eyes, it’s pretty much finished. Of course, there are always small things that could be improved, but I don’t really see the point anymore. For me, that project is complete. In fact, it’s currently up for sale. During summer I still try to drive it around 1,000 kilometers each season just to keep it active. It hasn’t been neglected at all – it receives all the maintenance and repairs it needs whenever required.
When switching to BMW, did you have any specific expectations, hopes, or even concerns? Was the goal always to build a stylish street car, or was BMW’s driving experience and track capability also important? Had you driven BMWs before, or did you jump in head first?
Thankfully, there are plenty of BMW enthusiasts around, and I gathered a lot of information before buying one. I’d say I was fairly well informed. My expectations were pretty typical – a fast, good-handling, and visually appealing street car. Although, in the end, it hardly matters because I always end up ruining my cars anyway. I slam them to the ground and make them look the way I think they should.
Have those expectations been met? Before we move into styling and modifications, have you made any performance upgrades?
The previous owner had already completed some of the modifications that I would have done myself. The exhaust note was one thing that hadn’t been addressed, so that became one of the first jobs on my list. The exhaust was replaced with a straight-pipe setup, followed by a Stage 2 tune which added a couple dozen kilowatts. I’m not chasing huge power figures. I don’t participate in drag racing, and at the moment the car has more than enough power for me.
Speaking of styling, is the car purely your own vision or do you draw inspiration from elsewhere? Do you usually know the final result before starting a project?
It’s entirely my own vision. Wheels are usually the only area where I actively search for inspiration and technical information online regarding fitment and specifications. Everything else tends to evolve naturally during the build process. Older cars are actually more difficult because you need to come up with custom solutions yourself if you want to stand out. Modern cars are easier. There are endless options for diffusers, splitters, side skirt extensions, and rear wings. You simply choose what matches your taste. I always try to avoid anything overly aggressive or anything that resembles early-2000s tuning culture. Larger rear wings can still work, but you need to find one that complements the car rather than overpowering it.
How important are quality and branding when choosing parts? Have you used any custom solutions on the M2?
Quality is definitely important. I won’t just bolt anything onto the car. Brand reputation matters most when it comes to wheels. With carbon fiber parts, the brand itself is usually less important. Most of those products come from the same places anyway – you just need to make sure they’re well made. The only custom modification on the M2 addresses a common fitment issue. The front tire was rubbing against the area where the fender meets the bumper, so that section was widened and reinforced with an additional support bracket. When running aggressive fitment, this is one of the most common rubbing points on both E- and F-series BMWs.
One thing people often notice about your cars is the absence of replica wheels. Is that a principle, or are wheels a hobby of their own for you?
Replicas have always been a difficult subject for me. They’re copies of original designs, and because they’re so common, they’ve ruined some genuinely great wheel designs in my eyes. When you see them everywhere and can’t immediately distinguish the real thing from a distance, the originals lose some of their appeal. There are also plenty of affordable wheels that aren’t replicas, but I haven’t found many that suit my taste. These days there are countless wheel manufacturers. Personally, I tend to stick with companies that existed before 2020. For me, replica wheels are like Crocs – perfectly fine at home or in the countryside, but not something you’d wear to a presidential reception. Over the years I’ve developed a list of trusted sources for finding wheels. Whenever possible, I look for custom-made multi-piece wheels. Many are produced in Poland and the UK, although ordering from Poland tends to be easier. For BMW owners specifically, I’d recommend CR Custom Wheels. To summarize, my ideal wheel is original, custom-built, two- or three-piece, light-colored, and definitely not black.
What’s next for the M2? Any future plans? And we’ve heard there’s another BMW project in the works.
There are still a few things I’d like to change. A wheel swap is definitely coming. Since I love multi-piece wheels, I need to correct that mistake. I’d also like to do something with the interior and eventually repaint the car. It has accumulated enough cosmetic imperfections, and there will undoubtedly be more in the future. However, all of that will happen after my second BMW project is completed. That project is the E82 135i N54. It has already received fresh paint, suspension upgrades, and three-piece wheels, and is currently waiting for a complete engine rebuild. The goal is to have it ready by this year’s Statement event. Whether it will fully match the vision I have in mind remains to be seen, but at the very least I want it back on the road.
During the photoshoot it was obvious that the car attracts attention. How much attention does it get in daily life and on social media?
The attention arrives with warm weather and disappears when temperatures drop. As soon as I start driving it again, photography and videography offers keep coming in throughout the summer. People find me at events or even on the street, so there’s always fresh content arriving in my inbox. The color itself already attracts attention, and because of that the car appeals to people of all ages, not just younger enthusiasts.
Which car would you like to see featured in a future blog post?
The LTWS Porsche 911 would be very interesting.
Finally – should young people today get involved in car culture, and why?
I wouldn’t say they should. People should pursue whatever genuinely interests them. If someone chooses the automotive hobby, however, they should do it for themselves rather than for others, and they should choose the right people as role models. If cars help keep someone away from trouble and bad habits, then perhaps it should be mandatory after all.
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PHOTOGRAPHER
CAR OWNER
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PHOTOGRAPHER
CAR OWNER
