Is there anything more German than Weisswurscht? That’s steamed white sausage from Munich, usually served with a sweet mustard sauce. Funny then, that instead of ‘Cars and Coffee,’ BMW Classic hosts Wheels and Weisswurscht twice a month. A gathering of some of the nicest German (and some non-German) cars and bikes over breakfast sausage and coffee, there is no better way to spend a weekend in Munich.
BMW Group Classic is a one-of-a-kind venue
Sure, the cars mainly park in and around BMW Group Classic, but the venue itself has so much meaning and history to car buffs everywhere. The main building is the original factory of BMW. When I say original, I mean it; it was BMW’s aircraft engine factory. They manufactured aircraft engines, and for those who don’t know, that is why the logo of BMW is a spinning propeller.
After World War I ended, Germany was subject to the Treaty of Versailles, which prohibited the local manufacture of aircraft engines. Because of this, BMW eventually had to start making motorcycles and, eventually, automobiles. But this also meant that at one point in that turbulent time, BMW had to sell the original factory to another company.
In 2014, BMW finally bought back the land and the building that was on it, and from then on, they converted it to a museum to store some of their most valuable and historically significant cars in their inventory. Additionally, BMW Group Classic today also serves as a workshop to keep these pieces of rolling history in drivable condition.
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The museum houses some of the coolest in BMW’s history
The factory floor has been converted into a museum-slash-store room of sorts, where you will find some of the more historic cars that did not make it into the BMW Museum just down the road. From Ralf Schumacher’s Walrus-nosed F1 car, to the Warsteiner E36 320i, to even as far-fetched as Mr. Bean’s green Mini (complete with sofa and broom handles), the museum has something for everyone. Things like the first hydrogen-powered BMW, which is, if you can believe it, a 1975 BMW 520/4, with a hydrogen conversion done in 1979. Absolutely mind-blowing, and it just goes to show that BMW has been at the bleeding-edge of technology since time immemorial.
If we rattled off every single car and bike we saw on the factory floor, we could be here all day, so below is a gallery of the greatest hits.
Enthusiasts of all walks of life drop by
While most of the cars we saw were generally jaw-dropping German classics in pristine condition, including, but not limited to, BMW M cars, Alpinas, classic Mercedes-Benzes, and even some rare Opels, that does not mean that everything was expensive, or German, for that matter. We also saw a pair of meticulously restored Minis, a perfect first-generation Mustang, and even some awesome vintage BMW motorcycles.
It’s not just the cars, though; the visitors were awesome too. We met Frank, a guy who worked for BMW and brought his first-owned blue E46 convertible. Original miles, original paint, just absolutely, impeccably well maintained. One of his many, many BMWs, as he showed us photos of his other babies. Walking around, he pointed out a Z4 coupe parked nearby, and a rather unassuming man standing behind his pristine M3. “That man designed this car,” he told us, while highlighting the ‘Z’ in the side panel of the BMW coupe. He pointed out Danish BMW designer Anders Warming, the man behind the Z4. Come to think of it, I should have asked for a photo with him, as he designed one of the cars I regret selling the most.
A pilgrimage for any BMW enthusiast
BMW Group Classic and Wheels and Weisswurscht is a worthy pilgrimage for any fan of the German marque. Find a schedule, drop by, grab a weisswurscht, and walk around breathing in the sights and sounds of the cars, the people, and the historic factory. Once you have had your fill, walk down the road and check out the BMW Museum and BMW Welt, the brand’s massive, flagship showroom nestled in the shadow of its headquarters in Munich.
All things you can do to get to know the company that builds the Ultimate Driving Machines.
Photos from Top Gear Philippines’ visit to Wheels and Weisswurscht:
