By Richard Massey
Looking back, the year 2006 was the start of some wonderful things. Fifteen years after its introduction elsewhere in the world, BMW finally made the BMW Individual program available in the US in late 2006 on the 7 series. That same year, the first E91 Tourings came to the US, updating the 3 series with some very unique color palettes (Lemon anyone?) that would never stick around very long. E91s would turn out to be the last manual Tourings ever offered in North America.
Additionally, in early 2006, fate dictated that instead of the Chrysler 300 rental I’d requested for a long trip, I’d be given a Dodge Magnum and fall in love with the lines and practicality of longroofs over sedans and SUVs. By summer, I’d bought my first BMW wagon in preparation for the arrival of my second son late that year… an early 1992 OEM+ Black on Black E34 525iT that he came home from the hospital in. Both those moments changed me forever.
That E34iT didn’t stay “stock” long, eventually getting E-code smiley headlights with working manual height adjusters, rear fogs, upgraded audio, and an automatic to 5 speed conversion, adding to the previous owner’s lowering springs, plus upgraded wheels and tires, thus setting the standard for all future wagons I’d come to own later.
Yes, I became a die-hard BMW wagon aficionado.
Later, I returned to the OEM+ game with a loaded Silver over Grey E46iT, punnily named ‘Alan Touring’. Such was my obsession, that I was thrashing away all night in the garage, much to my wife’s chagrin, to make sure it was “euro’d out” with city lights, rear fogs, a rear view camera and a retrofitted factory TV Tuner, days before my youngest, a daughter, was born. I couldn’t very well bring her home in anything less than a modded BMW wagon, right? BMW Tourings are too good at hauling kids, luggage, mulch, model sailboats, etc. to be long without one, so when “Alan” needed to be taken off the road for maintenance and became my eldest son’s first car, (he later moved up to a 328d RWD sedan when Alan became too needy), I moved up to a 1 of 93 F31 diesel M-Sport in Mineral Grey over Black, nicknamed “THE Touring”.
My F31d M-Sport soon received coding to enable rear fogs and variable light distribution, Street Comfort coilovers, a rear diffuser and front lip, and a few interior tweaks along with larger brakes, upgraded wheels, tires and audio upgrades. (Are any readers spotting a pattern here?) It was near perfect… quick, quiet, and could cruise cross-country at 80 mph all while sipping diesel at a miserly 49 mpg freeway! We even drove it 4+ hours north one morning to buy my second son *his* first BMW, an R53 JCW 6 speed.
Seeking individuality amidst the sea of F3xs and F8xs present at every Cars & Coffee and traffic light, I completely lost my mind and sold ‘THE Touring’ for a lowered big block crew cab dually on 22” semi-wheels with spikes. Quickly, the reality set in that while slammed & shaved duallys were awesome to look at, I missed having the freedom to glide cross-country swiftly and economically in my diesel wagon. I was a BMW wagon guy. Tourings were now in my DNA. The dually had to go.
Visiting the BMW CCA classifieds in February 2024, I found my current E91, ‘One of 1’, the only manual xDrive E91 built in the uniquely gorgeous Barrique Red over Terra. The opportunity to start anew with a unique jaw-dropping color combo couldn’t be passed up. I immediately arranged to fly to Detroit to drive it home for 4 days to west Texas. I bet you can guess what happened then… Yes, lighting and audio upgrades, coilovers, big brakes, and upgraded wheels for one rolling piece of art!
In the ultimate twist of fate, as I am writing and reminiscing about it, my former F31d has suddenly appeared for sale… could “THE Touring” return home and join “One of 1” as the ultimate pairing of style and practicality? The uber-rare OEM+ art piece finally alongside the ultimate OEM+ long distance hauler BMW ever made? Only time will tell but one thing is for sure…
Since 2006, BMW’s Individual offerings have expanded to many models, but for this individual, I have learned my individuality is best expressed via the canvas of an OEM+ BMW Touring.
