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How to Take Your BMW to a Car Show

BMW owners are some of the most passionate car enthusiasts around. If you’re one, you owe it to yourself and your auto to visit a show or two when you have some extra time. 

Car shows have gone relatively unchanged for the last 70 years, but recently the younger generation is breathing new life into the aged format. Modern gatherings are making it just as fun to show off your period-correct CS coupe as your modified E30 or F90 3-series. Here’s how to get involved. 

Find a Car Show

You might have guessed that this is the most important part. If you live in a populated area, chances are something is happening not far from your door. Those who live in more rural locales may need to travel a little, but you can rely on internet message boards on owner’s clubs and car enthusiast sites to communicate when shows are taking place. Be sure to check your local meetup groups and social media as well. They’re great ways to find more casual meets, like cars and coffee gatherings, which can be more intimate ways to meet fellow enthusiasts. 

Enter Tour Car, or Don’t

We know, this is an article on how to take your car to a show. However, that doesn’t mean you have to compete. Most shows these days have an easy way to sign up through the mail or online. If you want to take a shot at winning a prize, look through the different classes to see where your BMW lands and sign up. It’s always a good idea to apply early. If you just want to check out what’s being shown, you’ll still have a great time. 

Prep Your Car

If you do choose to enter your car in the show, you’ll want to make sure it’s looking its best. Your vehicle should get a full detail inside-and-out for the best chance to receive some recognition from the judges. Make sure you wash the car thoroughly, clean and wax the paint, polish any brightwork, clean the interior and exterior glass, and black the tires out. Shampoo and vacuum carpets, remove debris from the interior and wipe down any plastic with a high-gloss cleaner. 

Display Your Car

With the car ready for its big day, you’ll want to make sure it stays in its pristine state right up until the judges can evaluate it. Consider using an enclosed trailer to move your BMW to the show if you’re in the running. This will ensure no harm comes to it on the way there. In addition, it’s a good idea to craft some information about the car in the form of a diorama that explains your ownership history and any vital information about your model. 

Leave Gracefully

We shouldn’t have to say it, but certain venues have become known for showboating when people leave. If you enjoyed the show, avoid ruining a safe and fun time for your fellow enthusiasts by being courteous when you make your exit. You’ll feel much better about yourself for the rest of the ride home. 

If you enjoy your first experience with showing your car, there are lots of other places to satisfy your hobby. You can travel around the world, but you’ll probably make the strongest connections in your local community. Start small, work your way up and above all, have fun.

Car Care, DIY, Editorial, Information

How to Take Your Car to Its First Show

Car shows offer a fantastic way to see some amazing cars or show off your own car, but if you’ve never gone to one before, taking the plunge to present your car at its first show can be intimidating. Whether you’ve got a classic BMW that you want to showcase or a modded race car that you want to show off at the track, it’s essential to find out what you need to do before you take your BMW to its first show.

Wash Everything

If you’re going to show your car — no matter what model of car it is — you want it to be as clean as possible. Give the car a good wash to remove any dirt or debris and make it look shiny and new. Don’t neglect the interior of the car or under the hood. If you’re showing your BMW, you’ll want to give your engine a good cleaning. It doesn’t have to appear off-the-assembly-line new, but you want to make it look like you at least made an effort!

Once everything is washed, add a good coat of wax, and polish your car so that you’re sure it looks its best when you’re on the showroom floor.

Pick Your Class

Before you enter a show, you’ll want to make sure you pick the right show class. There are generally three classes — street, stock and modified — but each show might have its own classes. Be careful to read up on the individual show before you enter.

Stock cars are cars that, other than being in good shape, are basically the same car that rolled off the assembly line when it was new. It might have some replacement parts, depending on the car’s mileage, but it hasn’t been modified at all.

Streetcars fall in the middle and might contain some aftermarket parts or paint jobs. They still look like their classic stock counterparts, but they pack a few extra secrets under the hood.

Modified cars, as their name suggests, have been heavily modified and may have a lot more power than street or stock cars.

Keep All Your Paperwork

It’s not just the car that the judges are going to look at. Make sure you have all your paperwork in order, including your license, registration, proof of insurance and receipt for your entry fees. You can and probably should also have some process photos of your car, especially if you’re entering in the modded class. Having some before and after pictures can help show the judges all the work you’ve put into your favorite BMW.

Finally, the most important thing to remember is to have fun — win or lose, car shows are a great place to network and find some new friends or reconnect with old ones while you enjoy a few brews over the hoods of your favorite cars. You can enter your BMW in nearly any car show, but you might want to pick a BMW-only show if you really want some competition.