Bimmers & Brews Returns — and Raises the Bar

by mhulbrock

Lebanon, NJ — Tuesday, August 11, 2026

When we held the first Bimmers & Brews at Sunken Silo Brew Works back in May, the turnout told us something: this chapter was ready for it. The second edition, held on Tuesday, August 11, answered that with an even stronger showing. The lot filled early. The patio filled out. The brewery filled in. And the cars — the cars were something else.

The Lot, Revisited

The first Bimmers & Brews drew a crowd. This one brought a caliber to match it.

Across the lot, hoods were up and conversations were deep. A blue E46 M3 wearing full M-stripe livery sat alongside a Sahkir Orange companion — two cars that individually would stop traffic, parked side by side like it was nothing.

The detail work on the M3 deserved a closer look. M-colored kidney grille inserts, stripes running the length of the hood, everything executed with intention. It’s the kind of car that makes people slow down mid-conversation. 

And then, parked nearby, something that didn’t need stripes to announce itself.

Empower Motorsport Brings the Hardware 

Club sponsor Empower Motorsport returned — and this time, they brought two.

Parked side by side with hoods raised, the contrast told the story on its own. On one side: a red E46 sedan in street trim. On the other: the No. 421 E36 M3, Empower’s C-Mod Club Race car running an S54 swap beneath that battle-worn race livery. CSL-style intake, R-compound tires, aero kit — every detail earned, not decorative.

The other project was the Imola ZHP sedan: supercharged S54, full street spec, and an exterior that gives nothing away. Parked next to a car wearing race numbers and aero, it made a quieter case. Both hoods were up. Neither car needed an explanation. 

The Scene at Sunken Silo

The brewery, the patio, and the parking lot were all working at capacity. Conversations moved between the cars and the bar in the natural rhythm these events develop when the mix of people is right. Old regulars. New faces. People who’d been to the first Bimmers & Brews and came back. People who hadn’t heard of the chapter until that evening.

That last part matters most.

This Is What Season-Building Looks Like

From the May debut to the August return, Bimmers & Brews has established itself quickly. Two events in. The format isn’t complicated — good cars, a good venue, the right people. That’s been enough. 

The chapter calendar has more ahead. Stay tuned.

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Photography: MEM Creative Content

All BMW CCA New Jersey Chapter events are open to members and non-members alike. BMW ownership is not required — enthusiasm is.