[GS1]

     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

Sometimes our car swaps make no sense to onlookers but perfect sense to us. This time last year I was lucky enough to have a beautiful, low mileage E92 and a Lotus Exige 430 Cup as a road/track toy. Both fantastic in their own ways, and both intended to be forever “keepers”, whether on the road or in storage.

But life doesn’t always turn out as planned and unfortunately last year it became clear that two would need to become one. The question is what could replace such a pair as a one car “do it all” solution? Answer - a G81 with a few choice mods. This was after test driving an RS6 Performance back to back with an M3. From a driving perspective, there was simply no contest. The M3 felt light, direct, and alive.

I found the right example in December and so far am loving every minute behind the wheel. Hats off to BMW M for giving us such an awesome platform to build from, and to Aaron Reeve in the UK for many of the mods.

Mine will continue to evolve. But at this point the main mods are:

• KW HAS
• TRE exterior carbon
• Rayaa Forged wheels in 20/21”
• Milltek 4” single midpipe
• Milltek Sport backbox with valve controller
• 200 cell sports cats
• Eventuri intake system
• Stage 2 tune by AReeve Performance
• Flex-fuel system
• 650 - 820bhp switchable map

Pics of the E92, Exige and G81 below. Each wonderful in their own way.

Insta - @gst_lotus_m3t

[tnot]

Superb—congrats!

[mirob]

That's one of, if not, the best looking sets of wheels I've seen on the G8X platform. Defo need more pics.

[VagrantWade]

Looks so good with those wheels.

Some old guy had a lotus exige back in my home town and I always wanted one. I actually looked at the Emira for a bit but unfortunately I am out of the two seater game for the time being.

[GS1]

Originally Posted by VagrantWade

Looks so good with those wheels.

Some old guy had a lotus exige back in my home town and I always wanted one. I actually looked at the Emira for a bit but unfortunately I am out of the two seater game for the time being.

Worth going back to if you ever get the chance. The Emira is lovely to drive. Much more of an all-rounder than my slightly mad Exige.

[GS1]

Originally Posted by mirob

That's one of, if not, the best looking sets of wheels I've seen on the G8X platform. Defo need more pics.

Thanks. Few more added above. 👍

[ccdrvs]

Great taste in machinery sir. Love your G81. But I must admit that I am almost foaming at the mouth looking at that 340 Cup...I can only imagine how it would tear up a proper on-ramp or racetracck.

[GS1]

Originally Posted by ccdrvs

Great taste in machinery sir. Love your G81. But I must admit that I am almost foaming at the mouth looking at that 340 Cup...I can only imagine how it would tear up a proper on-ramp or racetracck.

Yep, they’re great fun. 430bhp and weighs just over a ton. They can run all day on track and be fine. Light on brakes, light on tyres.

[Vexige]

The Exige is outstanding! The best car I ever owned.
Very nice choice of cars. G81 looks great!

[chicagofan00]

[TunaNoCrust]

Nice and congrats. The Lotus looks amazing too. Great work.

[ToysArs]

Beautiful cars! I see that your e92 was space grey, always wondered how Skyscraper compares space grey side by side. Did you get a chance to compare them?

[GS1]

Originally Posted by ToysArs

Beautiful cars! I see that your e92 was space grey, always wondered how Skyscraper compares space grey side by side. Did you get a chance to compare them?

Pics for you below. They’re very similar. Hard to describe, but Skyscraper has a touch more “liquid metal” look to it, whereas space grey is a more traditional metallic. Which looks darker depends on angle and light conditions.

Optically, my side by side isn’t ideal due to the Touring having the black wheels on at that point but I think you can still see the subtle difference.

[E9TOU]

You have some excellent taste in cars! I love the concave in your G81. Looks great!!

[GS1]

Yeah, the wheel fitment came out pretty well. Happy with it. 👍

[JerseyM3]

Very nice. Btw, love the Tudor home. I owned one a few years ago. Loved the charm.

[GS1]

Thanks.
Only bit I really care about is the garage space…. 😂

[MissMyE46]

I would love to get some sound bites from your exhaust!

[rolbmw]

Beautiful cars !! Lotus and G81 is superb

[mirzan54]

BMW NA messed up not giving us M variants wagons

[Matt 335is]

Your choice in wheel color/finish(silver/brushed clear) is superb.
Sooooo much better than black wheels.

[Camarejh]

Looks so good Gordon!!