In My Garage

I’m a BMW fanatic. So when I heard Satch Carlson, Editor-In-Chief of Roundel, would be attending our annual E30 Picnic I jumped at the chance to talk with him. I also tossed out an opportunity for all of you to join me in my chat with this BMW icon… well, your questions could join me.

Satch didn’t disappoint.

Satch addresses the E30 picnic

What I thought would be a quick 10-15 minute Q and A session turned into an hour long conversation about all of the hot topics on the minds of BMW enthusiasts, car owners, and magazine readers everywhere. I wish I could say I was able to stay on task and get direct answers to all of your questions, but I was so enthralled with his stories and insights I had to just listen, take notes, and try to weave our questions in wherever I could.

Satch on the direction of BMW…

One of the big debates on minds (and message boards) of BMW enthusiasts these days is the direction BMW is heading with all the new models, bigger cars, Bangle-Butts, and iDrive. When are we going to get our 2002s and E30s back? Satch hit the proverbial nail on the head when he led into this topic saying,

“When I first saw it, the X6 seemed like the answer the question nobody was asking.”

Wow, took the words right out of my mouth. However, a conversation he had at the X6 launch with Tom Purves, head of BMW North America, corrected that thinking. The X6 was the answer to the question WE (current BMW owners and enthusiasts) didn’t ask. This, and many of the why-are-they-making-another-car-I-don’t-want cars you see BMW producing today, is BMW reaching out of their current market to customers that wouldn’t generally consider buying a BMW. This strategy was verified to Satch when his neighbor, who had never said a thing about his M Roadster, stopped and complimented the X6 he was test driving for a day.

Okay. I’m cool with the fact that BMW is reaching into new markets, but I still want to know when we are going to get our 2002s and E30s back. “Look what they’ve done to the M3… it’s a muscle car with its V8 and 3,600 pound weight,” I told Satch. He reminded me that no other V8, 3,600+ pound car can handle like the M3 and that BMW is still building cars for the enthusiast. In fact, the head of M told Satch that the next M3 will be smaller and lighter (yes!). Also, the increased size of the new Z4 has made room in their line for a smaller roadster, the Z2. So sleep easy enthusiasts, your cars are coming. For now, enjoy your E30 and go buy a 135i.

Satch on alternative fuels…

I know I’m not the only petrol head that gets a bit worried when he hears sees another Prius drive by. Take heart… Satch doesn’t see electric cars or hybrids being the future of automobile power. Hydrogen is where it is at, he says, and BMW is leading the charge.

Satch informed me that BMW has been researching hydrogen as an alternative fuel since the 70’s, so the technology is there. The problem he says is,

“We need to quit trying to convert the stuff [hydrogen] into electricity. Just put it in the motor and set it on fire!”

Satch and I agreed that BMW is heading in the right direction with their “set it on fire” mentality. We’d just like to see some other manufacturers follow suit. This might help over come the other hurdles of the high cost of implementing this, so we can have an easy and affordable way to fill our tanks.

Satch on Roundel and the club…

I would’ve assumed the addition of all these Bangle-ites and iDrivers (a result of BMW reching “new markets”) would have changed the demeanor of the club. However, Satch hasn’t felt any changes in the feel of the club in the 10 years he has been there. In fact, he loves to see all the different types of enthusiasts joining the club. Each one has a different thing they are enthusiastic about, but can find something to appreciate in other club members’ cars. Plus they all bring $40 a year (wink, wink).

Satch on your questions…

Of all the motors that have been produced by BMW, which do you feel embodies the heart and soul of what the brand stands for?

SC: Tricky question. I love the S14 (E30 M3) engine because of the passionate intensity that produced it (in just two weeks!)to fit a very specific purpose. But that’s motorsports, which is not really the “heart and soul” of BMW. For driving, I don’t think you can find a more dutiful engine than the M20, if only because there are so many E30s running around with 300,000 miles on them. Let’s face it: These guys build legendary engines! Among my favorites are the S54 and the N54 twin turbo. I love the S85 V10, too, for its technological brilliance. The new twin-turbo V8 is spectacular in stock form, and the M guys have gone overboard with their version of it!

BMW used “The Ultimate Driving Machine” as a slogan for years. Which BMW, in your opinion best embodies that slogan and why?

SC: Another difficult question! All BMWs seem to involve the driver in the process. I’d say it’s the one that provides an exhilarating exercise, delivers you comfortably and quickly, and doesn’t make you eager to get out of the car. After all, the 2002 was the world’s first sport sedan; I’d say today’s 335i (or maybe the 135i) comes closest to providing outrageous handling and performance in a car that’s suitably practical in its Dr. Jeckyl phase.

What’s your dream car under $30k?

SC: They make cars for under $30,000? In my case, it would be a used BMW – probably a 3.0Csi.

My personal favorite Satch quote of the day…

“You have to think about what M really means. M no longer means motorsport. It hasn’t meant that since the E30 M3.”

And finally…

Congratulations to reader Robert Svetanic who submitted the prize-winning question about BMW’s greatest motor. All the questions were great, but I especially liked Satch’s answer to this one since it favored the motor in my own car (the M20) and gave me a greater understanding of my favorite BMW motor of all time, the S14. Robert wins our new Traveling Car Care Kit!