Bimmer Invasion LA: IND’s G87 M2 Debut

Bimmer Invasion stretches from Florida to Los Angeles and sets the bar for BMW gatherings in North America. The organization is sharp, the energy is real, and fans fly in from all over to be part of it. This year’s LA stop meant even more to us. It was the debut of IND’s G87 M2 build, and we wanted a reveal that showed exactly how far we can take a BMW and make it feel personal.

We usually share teasers as a project comes together. Not this time. The moment the M2 rolled out of the paint booth, we knew it needed a proper first look at the show. With the G87 M2 buttoned up, and our G99 M5 Touring and G82 M4 in British Racing Green ready to go, we loaded the enclosed trailer and pointed it toward California.

Our first stop was the industry pre-Bimmer Invasion gathering at Finish Line Auto Club, hosted by the CSF crew. Ravi and his team helped us keep the M2 completely under wraps. The first reveal happened there, in a room filled with vendors and manufacturers. Imran from Evolve Performance flew in from the UK to pull the cover. At 7:45 p.m., he grabbed the mic, the crowd tightened around the car, and the cover came off. It was the first time the M2 had been seen outside IND’s HQ. For a second the room held its breath, then the reactions poured in. The response was overwhelming. Hearing our peers speak so highly of the work was humbling. We spent the rest of the night walking friends through every detail. By the end, my voice was gone, and the adrenaline was still high.

The next morning we rolled into the Fairplex Pomona Fairgrounds for the main event. As a title sponsor, it was powerful to see the IND logo and images from past builds across the venue. With the heat in mind, we set up inside the main hall, and Corey and his team placed us front and center.

We were joined by partners who feel like family. Karbonius flew in from Spain and MMX from the UK. Both brands build world-class parts and they brought serious hardware. Karbonius debuted an all-new G8x CS/CSL full pre-preg carbon fiber center console, along with a new F95 X5M strut brace. MMX unveiled an aluminum DCT pan and a G8x billet high-capacity baffled differential cover. We have wanted that diff cover since we handled the first sample at SEMA 2024. MMX does not take new releases lightly. They tested the cover for more than a year, including track miles at the Nürburgring. We just received the first North American sample and will be installing it on our G87 M2 this month.

Karbonius debuted their brand-new aluminum strut brace for the F95 X5M, F96 X6M, and XM at the show. A special thanks to the team at RG Sport for getting the braces installed in time for the debut.

Photo of Karbonius’s new G8x CS/CSL carbon console that was debuted at the show

We were also joined at the booth by Garage Welt, a collective that blends art, lifestyle, and automotive culture. Their work is a curation of mediums inspired by the emotions and influence that cars bring into our lives. Known initially for their custom art skate decks celebrating some of the world’s most iconic BMWs, Garage Welt has since expanded into handmade carpet floor mats, crafted in Los Angeles. These unique pieces are now available directly through the IND site.

During some downtime at the show, we took the chance to visit our friends’ booths, including Mario and the team at Goldenwrench, Lawrence at JQ Werks, KW Suspension, and Ravi with the CSF crew. Having strong partners in this industry means a lot to us. We’re fortunate to work with some of the best, and getting a moment to see the effort they put into their booths and catch up in person is always one of the highlights of the event.

For the booth cars, we kept it simple on purpose. The G87 M2, the G82 M4, and the G99 M5. Fewer cars meant more time to focus on details and real conversations. Owners could step in, ask questions, and get a close look at the work. That choice paid off. At the end of the show, our G87 M2 was announced Best of Show, and the G99 M5 took home Best Wagon. Hearing those announcements from the stage brought everything full circle. The long nights, the miles, the time away from family and friends. It all landed in that moment. The work mattered, and the dedication showed.