Big SoCal Euro 2009 has now come and gone. I’ve never seen that much carbon fiber in the same place. Now that the show is over, a bone stock M3 just doesn’t do the trick for me anymore. I expected to see more E46 M3s, but everywhere I looked I saw E90 335s and E92 M3s. Given the value and tunability of the 335, this is not shocking. The 6 cylinder turbo charged engine can easily hit the 400hp mark with fairly minimal modifications starting with an ECU upgrade from Dinan which gets you started at 421 lbs of torque. Combine that tire melting acceleration with a flat torque curve and you’ve got a car that will make you glad you opted for the small fries.

While the latest and greatest were present in all their glory, there were plenty of classics in the mix. One that caught my eye was an 1988 E28 BMW M5. My first memories of torque were from my dad’s E28 535is, so I could appreciate this living legend. The contrast of the latest M5 2 rows down was nothing short of jaw dropping. The M5 has come a long way, but its heritage is clearly nothing to be ashamed of.