Navigator_E90
Active member
Where do I even begin with this build…
This project lived in my dreams for years, slowly growing until it reached a point where it simply had to become reality. My previous E90 build started life as a stock road-going 330i. While the engine and gearbox remained standard, almost everything else changed: a roll cage, race seat with harness, proper suspension, upgraded brakes, exhaust system, a short-ratio LSD differential, and countless small race tweaks made on the fly to keep the car competitive.
My best lap around Zwartkops was a 1:11.7 — achieved in an E90 with a completely stock engine, ECU, and gearbox, still running steel doors, bonnet, and boot.
But eventually, it was time to build the dream car.
That brings me to the E12. On paper, it makes little sense. The E12 was never a popular choice in racing, especially compared to icons like the E9, E21, E30, or E36, which were far more common then — and still are today.
Yet the E12 holds deep personal meaning for me. It was the only car my dad ever bought brand new, back in 1981. We drove that BMW all over South Africa, and when I turned 18, I used to sneak it out of the garage to go have fun with my friends — until I got caught one night. But that’s a story for another day.
After my dad passed away, I always dreamed of owning an E12 again. And after racing the E90, I began to notice something else: there are hardly any old race cars left on track anymore. For good reason too — classic race cars are now worth a fortune, and no amount of money can truly replace a legend once it’s gone. Today, we’re left with only a handful of heavily modified E30s on track, which are incredible machines in their own right.
Don’t get me wrong — modern cars are brutally fast and highly capable race machines. But they lack soul. They’re missing something that time has quietly taken away.
So the E12 project began. I didn’t just want a classic — I wanted more. I dreamed of a classic that could perform like a modern car, not only in a straight line, but around a circuit. A car that could attack every apex, brake later, accelerate harder through corners, and match — or even outperform — modern BMW race cars in our championship.
But bringing a 45-year-old car up to that level is a bit like asking myself, a couple of few years older than the E12 itself to scrum against Malcolm Marx — and we all know how that will end.
With the concept defined, the project officially began a few years ago with the purchase of a 1980 BMW E12, sourced from a marketplace listing deep in Soweto. The vehicle had been standing unused for several years — conservatively estimated at five years or more — and came with a collection of miscellaneous spare parts.
As expected for a long-term stationary vehicle, the car was in poor initial condition. Evidence of rodent infestation was present, with rats having made the E12 their home, along with the associated damage and contamination typical of extended storage.
The car was recovered and transported home as a classic “barn find.” While I was enthusiastic about finally starting the project, the reaction from my family was understandably less optimistic. To them, it appeared to be nothing more than a heavily rusted shell with a strong odor and questionable prospects.
From a build perspective, however, this was simply the baseline: a complete body suitable for a full strip-down, inspection, and redevelopment into a dedicated race car..... or so I even thought
Few pics below, first of my dad! Proudly giving his E12 its own wash
Update to follow soon
This project lived in my dreams for years, slowly growing until it reached a point where it simply had to become reality. My previous E90 build started life as a stock road-going 330i. While the engine and gearbox remained standard, almost everything else changed: a roll cage, race seat with harness, proper suspension, upgraded brakes, exhaust system, a short-ratio LSD differential, and countless small race tweaks made on the fly to keep the car competitive.
My best lap around Zwartkops was a 1:11.7 — achieved in an E90 with a completely stock engine, ECU, and gearbox, still running steel doors, bonnet, and boot.
But eventually, it was time to build the dream car.
That brings me to the E12. On paper, it makes little sense. The E12 was never a popular choice in racing, especially compared to icons like the E9, E21, E30, or E36, which were far more common then — and still are today.
Yet the E12 holds deep personal meaning for me. It was the only car my dad ever bought brand new, back in 1981. We drove that BMW all over South Africa, and when I turned 18, I used to sneak it out of the garage to go have fun with my friends — until I got caught one night. But that’s a story for another day.
After my dad passed away, I always dreamed of owning an E12 again. And after racing the E90, I began to notice something else: there are hardly any old race cars left on track anymore. For good reason too — classic race cars are now worth a fortune, and no amount of money can truly replace a legend once it’s gone. Today, we’re left with only a handful of heavily modified E30s on track, which are incredible machines in their own right.
Don’t get me wrong — modern cars are brutally fast and highly capable race machines. But they lack soul. They’re missing something that time has quietly taken away.
So the E12 project began. I didn’t just want a classic — I wanted more. I dreamed of a classic that could perform like a modern car, not only in a straight line, but around a circuit. A car that could attack every apex, brake later, accelerate harder through corners, and match — or even outperform — modern BMW race cars in our championship.
But bringing a 45-year-old car up to that level is a bit like asking myself, a couple of few years older than the E12 itself to scrum against Malcolm Marx — and we all know how that will end.
With the concept defined, the project officially began a few years ago with the purchase of a 1980 BMW E12, sourced from a marketplace listing deep in Soweto. The vehicle had been standing unused for several years — conservatively estimated at five years or more — and came with a collection of miscellaneous spare parts.
As expected for a long-term stationary vehicle, the car was in poor initial condition. Evidence of rodent infestation was present, with rats having made the E12 their home, along with the associated damage and contamination typical of extended storage.
The car was recovered and transported home as a classic “barn find.” While I was enthusiastic about finally starting the project, the reaction from my family was understandably less optimistic. To them, it appeared to be nothing more than a heavily rusted shell with a strong odor and questionable prospects.
From a build perspective, however, this was simply the baseline: a complete body suitable for a full strip-down, inspection, and redevelopment into a dedicated race car..... or so I even thought
Few pics below, first of my dad! Proudly giving his E12 its own wash
Update to follow soon
