This week on the Pitstop, we explore several BMW's that we feel capture the essences of what BMW was in its prime. The M1 is planted and balanced even in the rain, more humble than its reputation suggests. The 850CSi never claimed to be a sporty coupe yet could outperform many of them, a car whose essence was understated but whose presence never went unnoticed. The 2002 Alpina tribute proves that your perception of speed has little to do with what the gauges are indicating, a lightweight chassis with just enough power to carve canyon roads without ever needing more. And then there is Rashod's Florida Green 1600, an old shell with E30 bones and 15,000 miles of cracked dash and worn patina, a car that refused polish the same way its owner did.

Four BMWs, four different eras, four different relationships with the road. None of them are perfect. None of them are trying to be. What connects them is the idea that the most interesting cars are the ones that ask something of the driver, presence, patience, commitment.

The BMW M1 is a hero car, and the author recently had the chance to drive one restored by BMW Classic on a wet Bavarian highway. Before handing over the keys, a technician warned that losing grip in the M1 is unrecoverable, unlike the CSL.

Getting into the car is awkward, and the pedals are offset roughly 15 to 20 degrees to the right. There is almost no interior space, and the trunk shares a cavity with the engine. The gearbox is buttery, the clutch is reasonable and pulling out of the parking lot was easy.

The M1 is squat and well centered, with almost no body roll when tossed side to side. This was a stock, low mileage M88/1 DOHC Inline Six producing around 276 horsepower. The car felt balanced, planted and aerodynamically tuned without wanting more power. It feels fast even at a stop light.

In corners it stays planted, in the straights it is torquey. After a lifetime of staring at posters of the M1 expecting it to bite, the author instead found a car content to cruise along feeling soft and humble. BMW builds cars that do what they say, not what your imagination expects.

It's too easy to get lost in the statistics of fast cars. Prodigious helpings of power and grip can only get you so far, and momentum cars like Gen Shibayama's BMW 2002 Alpina tribute prove that your perception of speed has little to do with what the gauges are indicating.

The BMW 2002 started as a 1.6-liter compact sedan and eventually changed the way people looked at affordable sport cars. When companies like Alpina tuned them, you could end up with nearly 140 horsepower along with upgraded handling components and sports-focused styling. Gen's car started as a base pre-facelift roundie and went through a serious restomod session. The body was widened with early Alpina pig cheek fender flares, lighting and trim were converted to European spec, and the Alpina livery was applied. Under the skin sits a fully overhauled M10 with a big cam and Weber DCOE carbs. Inside there are GTS Classics Nürburgring seats, Alpina gauges and a Momo Prototipo steering wheel.

Within the first few minutes the car felt near perfect. The power felt proportioned for the lightweight chassis. It was rigid and stable through corners, with tight steering feedback. As long as there are roads with curves there will be room for cars like this.

The BMW 850CSi is the ultimate retro techno-toy, and Petrolicious tracked down Taylor Patterson's pristine example to film. BMW had been working on a full M8 variant of the grand touring coupe in the early 1990s, and while that prototype still exists complete with carbon fiber wheel covers, it never reached production. Instead M left its fingerprints on the 8-Series in the form of the 850CSi.

At the time of its reveal in 1992 the peer group for this car was almost nonexistent. It never claimed to be a sporty coupe yet it could outperform many of them. Its true domain was a lengthy trip at 100 or more miles per hour. Its essence was understated yet its presence never went unnoticed.

Only 1,510 units were produced worldwide before updated emissions standards ended the run. Each came fitted with a six-speed transmission bolted to a 5.6-liter V12. The 380-horsepower S70B56 engine is the rarest production engine in a BMW road car and variations of this motor went on to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans outright in both the McLaren F1 GTR and BMW's own V12 LMR.

The 850CSi is not a compromise between motorsport and luxuriant indulgence. It is evidence that the last thing at play in a car like this is compromise.