Modified BMW M3 Touring F81 on 20” BBS LM-R Custom Wheels

Modified BMW M3 Touring F81 on 20” BBS LM-R Custom Wheels

Even though wagons were once considered to be a dying breed, they’re still going strong…

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Bagged VW Arteon Shooting Brake R-Line With AGT Air Suspension

Bagged VW Arteon Shooting Brake R-Line With AGT Air Suspension

The VW Arteon is a premium-segment liftback produced by a German manufacturer that was launched…

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Stanced BMW E34 Touring with M5 Engine Swap and Air Suspension

Stanced BMW E34 Touring with M5 Engine Swap and Air Suspension

BMW 5-Series E34 is hands-down one of the most iconic BMW models of the late…

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Stanced 1994 Audi 80 B4 Zender on BBS Strosek and Air Suspension

Stanced 1994 Audi 80 B4 Zender on BBS Strosek and Air Suspension

Continuing our previous article dedicated to a small privately owned European car collection from Bangkok,…

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20 Best Modified German Cars – Performance, Stance & Custom Builds

Germany is well known for producing some of the best cars in the world. Audi, BMW, Porsche, and Mercedes-Benz are all German brands that are highly respected in the automotive industry. While these companies make amazing stock cars, many enthusiasts take things to the next level by modifying them.

In this article, we will take a look at some of the best modified German cars from the US, Europe, Asia & Australia. German cars are some of the most popular in the world for good reason – they’re well-built, have great performance and handling even in stock form, and offer a lot of customizability.

Bagged VW Arteon Shooting Brake R-Line With AGT Air Suspension
Bagged VW Arteon Shooting Brake R-Line With AGT Air Suspension. Read more about this build and check specs here.

We’ll see cars with amazing visual upgrades, as well as those that have had their performance enhanced with aftermarket parts. So sit back and enjoy this showcase of some of the coolest german cars around!

The History Of German Cars

Germany is a homeland of production cars with internal combustion engines. The first production of automobiles was by Karl Benz in 1888 in Germany. Benz’s car was powered by an engine that ran on gasoline and had three wheels. Many other companies followed suit, and by the early 1900s, Germany had become a leading producer of automobiles.

While the majority of the cars designed and produced in Germany in the middle o the XX century were created to fulfill the basic transportation needs of average drivers, there were also high-performance sports cars made for racing competitions such as the 24 Hours of Lemans, Formula 1 and many other.

mercedes c123 coupe white with stanced suspension 1

Today, German automakers continue to be at the forefront of car design and innovation. They are renowned for their quality engineering, and their cars are sought after by drivers all over the world. Whether you’re looking for a luxurious sedan or a powerful sports car, you’re sure to find a German-made vehicle that meets your needs. If you’re looking for a top-quality car, then German automakers are sure to have what you’re looking for.

The Most Popular German Car Brands

Germany has a long and proud history of building sports cars. Some of the most iconic European sports cars come from German brands like Audi, Porsche, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. These companies have been making fast cars for decades, and their experience shows in the quality of their products.

Bagged Audi TT-RS With a Perfect Stance, BBS E89 Rims & Other Mods
Bagged Audi TT-RS With a Perfect Stance, BBS E89 Rims & Other Mods. Find out more about this project in our special feature.

Audi

Audi is a German company that is owned by Volkswagen. Audi was founded in 1909 and released its first car, the Audi Type A, in 1910. Audi has a long history of building luxury cars, but it has also produced some popular sports cars, such as the Audi TT, R8, and the entire S/RS-line.

Modified German car BMW M3 F81 touring
Gorgeous blue BMW M3 Touring F81 on a set of BBS LM-R custom wheels. Read more about this build in our feature.

BMW

BMW is another German company with a long history of building sports cars. BMW was founded in 1916 and released its first sports car, the 3/15, hp, in 1928. Since then, BMW has gone on to produce some of the most popular sports cars on the market, such as the M Series and the Z Series.

Mercedes GLC63 AMG Specs mods and upgrades
600bhp blacked-out 2018 Mercedes GLC63 AMG with air suspension and lots of performance modifications. Read more about this project here.

Mercedes

Mercedes-Benz is another German brand with a rich history of building sports cars. Mercedes-Benz was founded in 1926 and released its first sports car, the 24/100/140, a.ka. the Mercedes-Benz Typ 630, in 1928. The company has since gone on to produce some of the most popular sports cars on the market, such as the SL-Class, AMG GT, and AMG Black Series.

Opel

Opel is a German company that is owned by General Motors. Opel was founded in 1863 and released its first car, the Opel patent motorwagen, in 1899. While Opel does not have as long a history of building sports cars as some of the other German brands, it has still produced some popular sports cars, such as the Opel GT and the Opel Speedster.

Porsche 964 Air Lift Performance air suspension with 3H management

Porsche

Porsche is perhaps the most well-known German sports car manufacturer. The company was founded in 1931 and has been making sports cars since 1948. Porsche is responsible for some of the most iconic sports cars ever made, such as the 911, 959, GT, and the Cayman.

STANCED VW GOLF MK5 WITH A THUNDER BUNNY BODY KIT and Seibon Carbon Fiber DV hood
Stanced Volkswagen Golf MK5 with a Thunder Bunny body kit and Seibon Carbon Fiber DV hood. More about this build here.

Volkswagen

Volkswagen is a German company that is best known for its cars, such as the Beetle and the Golf. Volkswagen was founded in 1937 and released its first car, the VW Beetle, in 1938. While Volkswagen is not typically associated with sports cars, it has still produced some popular sports cars, such as the VW GTI and the VW R32.

BAGGED 1986 MERCEDES 190E ON AMG HAMMER RIMS FROM THAILAND
SLammed 1986 Mercedes 190 Evolution 1 on period correct AMG wheels. Read more about this project here.

European Racing & Sports Car Heritage

German car manufacturers have a long history of success in racing and autosport competitions. The events like 24 Hours Of Lemans, DTM, F1 and other competitions served as a proving ground for engineers to develop new technological ideas and test their innovative solutions in real-world conditions. As a result, German cars have consistently been at the forefront of automotive performance and design.

BMW 6 Series E24 Wide body Kit DTM style


Stanced BMW E24 M635CSi
BMW 6 Series E24 with a unique DTM inspired wide body kit by Coutner Japan. Read more about it here.

Today, German manufacturers continue to dominate the world of racing, with teams such as Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Audi regularly claiming victories in major competitions. This commitment to racing has led to some of the most iconic cars ever made, such as the Audi Quattro, Porsche 911, BMW M3, and AMG versions of various Mercedes models.

Aftermarket Modifications and Tuning Shops

Autosport was the main source of inspiration for amateur racers, car enthusiasts, and DIY mechanics alike. All of them wanted their cars to look, sound, and drive like the racing icons from the pages of car magazines and TV screens, so they started implementing things and solutions borrowed from the world of motorsports.

Audi 80 Kamei Front grill


Audi 80 clear taillights
Audi 80 B4 on MajicAir air suspension and a set of staggered custom spec BBS Strosek wheels sized 17×8 up front and 17×9.5 on the back (both with +35 offset). Read the full feature dedicated to this build here.

It engaged the development of independent performance parts manufacturers and “Tuner shops” specialized on modifying production models of popular European cars like Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, Opel and VW.

This is exactly how small German tuner shops like ABT-sportsline, AMG, Alpina, Brabus, Hammann, MTM, Zender, and others became famous far beyond the European continent.

The most Famous German Tuner Shops & Manufacturers

MakeTuner Shop
AudiABT, MTM, SMS, Oettinger
BMWAlpina, AC Schnitzer, Hartge, Hamann
MercedesAMG, Brabus, Carlsson, Kleemann, Lorinser, MAE
PorscheRUF, Lotec, Tech Art, Strosek
OpelSteinmetz
VWABT, Oettinger, Zender

Factory Performance Series: Audi S-Line, BMW M, Mercedes AMG

Sports cars have long been coveted for their sleek design and impressive performance. However, it is only in recent years that the average person has been able to purchase a vehicle that comes close to the power and speed of a true race car in stock form.

This is largely due to the influence of autosport, and a growing number of wealthy drivers, willing to pay extra for a high-performance street-legal vehicle with a genuine race-car DNA. As a result, the average person now has access to a wide range of high-performance cars that offer an exhilarating driving experience.
BMW M3 Wagon F81 blue modified

Conclusion

It can be said that without autosport, the car culture as we know it wouldn’t exist. Many popular modifications and trends were born on race tracks and then transferred to the street cars.

In addition to their on-track success, German cars also enjoy a reputation for being some of the most stylish and well-built vehicles on the road. Whether it’s a sleek sports car or a high-performance SUV, German cars are sure to turn heads.

The German automakers listed in this article are responsible for making some of the best sports cars on the market today. As the automotive industry continues to evolve, it is clear that German car makers will remain at the forefront of innovation, using motorsport as a platform to better serve their customers.