Japan Tuner Spotlight: WSTO Visits STUDIE TOKYO

This is an article published past our the folks over at WheelSTO.

I had never been as excited as I was nigh visiting tuner shops equally I was when visiting Studie. The excitement of visiting Tokyo Auto Salon had left me in daze that I had still not awaken from when I went to visit Studie. Studie has v locations; Yokohama, Tokyo, Kobe, Sendai and Kidnie. I had the honor of visiting 2 of those fine establishments, Tokyo (their latest which opened final year) and the main hub, Studie Yokohama.

Studie Tokyo did not look at all like a tuning shop. In fact, it actually had the aura and the feel of an automobile museum. Upon entering, the brandish of miniature versions of BMW Motorsport'south finest from the past and present enables guests to submerge in the history of BMW at a single glance.

Just past the entry way, you will find two cars on display. The famous Super GT series Studie GLAD R@cing widebody Z4 and another icon from the past, the 1998 Super Touring Motorcar Series champion Fina BMW E36 320, driven by Johnny Cecotto for BMW Motorsport Team Schnitzer.

The Z4 caught my attention correct away, with the widebody BMW motorsport shell wrapped in the brilliant livery of Japanese Anime. This Z4 is an agile duty race machine and although I was not able to audit it closer, the Stack instruments, total roll cage, huge "GT" wings, CF diffuser and hood (congenital by VRS) and BBS center-lock wheels was enough to let me know that this was one serious car.

The Fina E36 320 may not share the exciting livery and persona of the Z4, just all BMW enthusiasts volition know that this is that i car that brought BMW Motorsport back into the world of Motorsport Racing and BMW's decision to come back to F1 in the late 90's.
The almost astonishing thing most this car is that it is not a mere replica but the truthful crush of the bodily car that made it bear upon in Nurburgring, in 1998.

Although, it has retired from racing duties, Studie has resurrected the spirit of racing by transforming information technology into an actual "Gran Turismo" Game console. Yes, this car is a game console! Patrons of Studie are able to strap into the racing bucket seats and bulldoze the car in simulation. The illusion of reality and all motory senses are amplified when you turn the ignition of the game "on" and realize that the windshield is a special projector screen. Wow… my mouth was ajar.
For Studie, this was not merely a scheme to attract customers, merely a solution for them to share their passion for BMW and motorsport with customers. This passion and vision is evident throughout every corner of the shop and in all the individuals that work at Studie.

Equally in whatsoever identify I take gone to in Japan, I was greeted invitingly and cordially by the receptionist. The white color scheme and the bright colors of the shop are modernistic and very inviting. Clients of Studie are able to walk right up to the come across the Studie team and discuss matters of modification, maintenance and receive consultation from any one of the members of the Studie team. The process reflects Stuide'due south motto "TDMM" which is an acronym for Tuning, Clothes up, Maintenance, and Motorsports. Studie's goal is to provide the very best service past sharing the common passion for BMW in order to see the need of its clients.

I shook hands with Studie Tokyo'south managing director, Aizawa-san Although, we did not speak the same language, common respect and cognition about each other'southward shops as well every bit the shared passion for BMW really immune united states of america quickly go acquainted and share many ideas and views on BMW tuning.

On the walls of Studie Tokyo, you will observe pictures and pieces of art (valve covers) that are symbolic of BMW. The store is filled with the latest parts and accessories from corner to corner. Well known brands like BBS, KW, Bilstein, Arqray, ARC, Hamann, ACSchnitzer to name a few were easily attainable to customers to feel and inspect.

We have all seen Bbs wheels and as a dealer for Bulletin board system in the US, we have seen our share of them, just to have a wall of 9 Bbs's finest specimens was but amazing. Not to mention that you can't get 4 of them stateside, the RE-Five, RE Mg, RE-Y and the special edition gloss black face up RG-R.

It was time to walk out of the shop and inspect Studie'southward many project cars and customer'due south cars that they have congenital. The beginning car that defenseless my eye equally we walked out into the parking lot was this green widebody Z4. This motorcar belongs to the possessor of Studie, "Bob" and is nicknamed "kero
kero" (famous japanese frog). The black BBS RE-Mg equally well as the highly sort after "Golf" brawl shift knob really tells me how serious that are well-nigh the cars that they build.

The next machine that caught my attention was the E82 135i with BMW Functioning torso. Although, yous tin't tell from the seemingly stock exterior looks, this is a fully custom built car, gear up for the tracks of Fuji Speedway.

The interior is total custom "Red" leather and suede on BMW performance seats, and steering wheel. Operation is boosted with a healthy dose of power from Agile Autowere ECU upgrade, intercooler and blow off valve with the HKS oil libation to help proceed things in check.

The exterior is all BMW performance with custom lighting by Bellof and Hella. Chassis stiffening is by ARC and special torso dampers developed by Studie and Yamaha. Although, information technology is currently wearing E46 Contest wheels, this motorcar the cover model for the Advan RZ for BMW wheels.

Of form there were many other customer cars. Perhaps too many for me to list and talk about. I did make certain to do a more than my share of scrutinizing the mods on these cars, such every bit this very make clean specimen of E60 M5 with AVS F7 wheels and the full Air conditioning Schnitzer E46 M3.

By the parking lot, I was led to where all the piece of work is washed. Against the properties of Studie's slogan "Nosotros were born ii run", Studie Tokyo'southward pit was much similar their shop; clean and well organized and simply impressive. Parts and tools were well organized and catalogued.

Ii cars were upwards on the lifts when I visited Studie Tokyo; Black Air-conditioning Schnitzer Z4 and the widebody E92 M3. I recognized, the pink widebody M3, correct away. The M3 was fully congenital with Schubert Motorsport's wide body with Bbs FI wheels. At this point, I had just heard and seen the BBS FI wheels through the net. The sight of seeing them totally left me in awe. And to do them in a custom "pink" paint job, was an fifty-fifty bigger shocker. Too many times, take I seen a widebody with generic wheels that did not match upward well. With the assistance of KW coilovers, the opinion and fitment of the wheels was close to perfect.

The corporeality of customization and effort that has gone to this motorcar is just unearthly. Arqray has developed a unique, one-of-a-kind exhaust system so that they can use the fully functional diffuser for increased downforce.

The perfect marriage of Bulletin board system FI and Brembo Racing brakes.

This pink M3 belongs to Aizawa-san (director of Studie Tokyo). He drives it on a regular basis, taking it to the tracks whenever he can, where it is about happy. Regular roads in Tokyo may allow information technology, but I am not also sure the car will survive the roads of Chicago.

AC Schnitzer Japan
Another unique thing about Studie Tokyo is the fact that they share the edifice every bit well equally the entrance with Air conditioning Schnitzer Nippon. Of course, I had to check them out. Every bit soon as I walk in, the commencement thing that amazed me was the car: BMW Air-conditioning SChnitzer E36 M3 CLS Ii.

With a 2900cc engine, it can churn out 350 BHP and has a maximum torque of 355Nm. It recorded viii:xvi at the Nurburgring Nordschleife in 1997. What is equally impressive is of grade its weight reduction through advanced cloth such every bit carbon Kevlar which is used in every corner of its cockpit and outside.

Although, we are a dealer for AC SChnitzer, nosotros have never seen this many different varieties of AC Schnitzer products in one place.

Outside, I witnessed 2 other high profile AC Schnitzer Concept cars, the ACS Profile and the ACS6 Falcon. The white and orange 2-tone was as distinct as the design of the ACS Z4. What really impressed me is the fact that I was looking that the ACS concept car, non in a show but on a parking lot in Tokyo.

Afterward the tour of the Studie Tokyo, I wanted to live in that location. It was BMW heaven and I understood why so many seek the expertise and leave their prized BMW at the easily of Studie. The service and products that Studie provides is top notch in every sense.
WSTO is humbled and in many ways feel proud to share a partnership with Studie, to share tuning ideas and philosophies for BMW owners in the USA.

I had to leave Studie Tokyo and head out to the Centre and Soul of Studie in Yokohama. With apprehension edifice up and not knowing what to await or fifty-fifty comprehend how it can exist whatever better than this, I bid cheerio to the crew at Studie Tokyo.

Hope you enjoyed this episode of WSTO Japan Shop Tour: Studie Tokyo. Stay tuned for more than…

[Source: WheelSTO ]

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Source: https://www.bmwblog.com/2010/06/17/japan-tuner-spotlight-wsto-visits-studie-tokyo/

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