Whether you know cars from engine to exterior or fancy a nice ride, the current exhibit at The Ultimate Driving Museum in Greer, SC has something for everyone. We joined Jackie Bechek + Christine Chabot from the BMW Car Club of America Foundation for a tour of the museum’s current exhibit, The Power of M: Celebrating 50 Years, which showcases a collection of BMW M model cars — from the series’ inception to its newest addition.

Keep reading to see how you can get behind the driver’s seat and Try This.

What we tried

We looked above the hood at 25 cars that showcase the last 50 years of BMW M, or BMW Motorsport, which has produced high-performance cars since its inception in 1972.

From the 1972 3.0CSL Batmobile, a 3.0CSL race car + this month’s featured model, to three special-edition M3 cars that were never sold in the US (like this one), to the 2015 F10 M5 30 Jahre (think: 30th anniversary model) that sold at auction for $700,000. Bonus: peep the 2022 BMW M 1000 RR, the first M Motorcycle, by the exhibit entrance.

What not to miss

Find the cars that are paired together — six being M race cars (all of which have won races or championships), and the others being the M street car version. All are M model cars, but each has unique features that make them ready for the race or the road. See if you can spot the differences. 👀

Can you spot the differences between the E26 M1 Procar (left) and E26 M1? | Photo by the AVLtoday team

What we’re still talking about

While the collection of cars caught our eye first, we’re still talking about the memorabilia, like racing suits, trophies, and full engines — all part of the 80,000+ items in the museum’s library + archive. We couldn’t take our eyes off the artwork, like “The Blue Hero Story,” a mural by Adrian Mitu that illustrates the life of German racecar driver Jochen Neerpasch, who founded BMW Motorsport in 1972.

“The Blue Hero Story” by Adrian Mitu. | Photo by the MKTtoday team

How you can experience this

The Ultimate Driving Museum is open to the public. Purchase tickets online to see The Power of M: Celebrating 50 Years now through Sat., Jan. 21, 2023.

Things to know if you go

Ticket Price: $12 (adults 18 and older), $6 (kids 6-17), Free (kids under 5)
Website: theultimatedrivingmuseum.org
Address: 190 Manatee Ct., Greer, SC 29651
Hours: Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. + Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (last museum admission is one hour before closing)
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