05/06/2026
42 years apart
A 1981 BMW 528i and a 2023 BMW M4 parked side by side at Bimmer Rescue
The 528i was imagined, designed and built in a world without computers. No CAD, no internet, no giant digital screens, just designers, engineers, drafting tables, slide rules and instinct.
The M4 represents the opposite end of the spectrum. Computer aided design, integrated technology, advanced driver systems and unbelievable performance.
Mechanically, there is only ONE part from the 528i that fits the M4... The tire valve stem cap.
Yet somehow, hop behind the wheel of both cars and you realize they still share the same soul.
The classic 528i feels raw, direct and connected to the road. Visibility is incredible. The switches and controls feel almost aircraft inspired. No driver assists. No filters. Just you and the machine.
The M4 is a monster. The acceleration, braking and cornering are honestly shocking. But settle into a cruise and it becomes smooth, planted and confident.
Very different cars.
Very different eras.
But both remind you why BMW earned the phrase:
The Ultimate Driving Machine.