Four Standouts From Bimmers Of Sweden

As much as Swedes love their Volvos, there is no shortage of BMW fans in this Scandinavian country. And when celebrating the German auto brand, there is one event above all others. I am, of course, talking about Bimmers Of Sweden.

It was 2019 when I last attended this event, so what better way to spend a recent Saturday than baking in the sun at Mantorp Park for the 2024 edition?

What started as a 30-car meet with friends in 2010 has evolved into the largest BMW-specific event in Scandinavia.

Anyone with a BMW can enter Bimmers Of Sweden, and this year, that equated to a staggering 1,704 cars on show.

With this many BMWs in attendance, you can always bank on some extra special vehicles in the mix. For this post, I set myself the task of finding just four cars to take a closer look at. Trust me, it wasn’t easy.

Let’s start with Mikaela Andersson‘s 1990 BMW E30 Touring, painted in BMW Brilliant Red.

Spotted in the Meguiar’s booth, Mikaela’s E30 wagon checks every box for a textbook stance build. There are M-Tech bumpers, side skirts and side panels, BMW E30 Cup side mirrors, and a custom rear spoiler. The wheels? Classic 3-piece BBS RSs, measuring 16×9.25-inch in the front and 16×9.5-inch out back.

The interior, which features an M-Tech II steering wheel and sports seats, was designed and expertly trimmed by Carlsborg Custom Seats in Sweden.

If you’re wondering about the suspension, the answer can be found in the trunk, where you’ll find the guts of Mikaela’s Air Lift Performance-based air ride setup featuring 3P management and custom-made hard lines.

Continuing the Air Lift Performance theme, next up we have Jonathan Berggren‘s BMW F31 340i.

The F31 is a popular model in the Swedish stance scene, but Jonathan has taken his wagon to the next level. The front lip, side skirts and rear diffuser are all forged carbon fibre – something I hadn’t even originally noticed in the harsh sunlight.

The interior has been treated to an M-Performance overhaul with upgraded seats, steering wheel, panels, armrest, handbrake and gear shifter. The Braum Racing bucket seats have been custom-trimmed in orange leather and Alcantara. The rear bench seat has received the same treatment, despite the half cage making it unusable.

That’s two wagons – now let’s check out two sedans.

First up is Alexander Wallin‘s 1982 BMW E23 735i, which really stood out to me at the parking entrance, surrounded by hundreds of other cars. Whenever a door, bonnet or trunk is open, my golden rule is always to look closer, and I’m glad I did here.

Inside the E23, Alexander has followed the glassätarbil (ice cream-getter) trend with a refreshed interior incorporating an Air Lift Performance suspension system in the trunk. My favourite touch is the ALP logo that lights up when the trunk lid is opened.

BMW and BBS are a match made in heaven, and complementing the 735i’s air-equipped stance are 2-piece BBS RC090s that have been turned into 3-piece splits and stepped up from 17- to 18-inch.

A harmonious blend of modern tech and classic design made this E23 my favourite of the show.

For my final pick, I flipped the switch and selected something a little more ‘Swedish’…

Do you remember what I initially said about Swedes loving their Volvos? As much as I love the look of the blue BMW 535i, its green companion feels closer to home. I’m sure you can see where this is going…

Inside the 1987 BMW E28’s engine bay is a B6294S2 from a 2004 Volvo S80 that is now paired with a large Holset HX40 turbocharger.

Cross-manufacturer engine swaps often require chassis tweaks. In this case, the firewall needed modifying to accommodate the Volvo motor. Furthermore, the rear shock mounts were raised, and the body was reinforced.

There is one more engine-swapped BMW from Bimmers Of Sweden 2024 that I would like to show you, but I have saved it for its own spotlight feature. Stick around for that.

Alen Haseta
Instagram: hazetaa