Based in the heart of Gloucestershire, and part of the group of companies fronted by scene legends, Forge Motorsport, Silicon Hoses really is a company that does what it says on the tin

Words and Pictures:  Paul Cowland

In a dog-eat-dog industry, and particularly during these trying economic times, it’s always refreshing to be able to write a story about a company that is going from strength to strength. Silicon Hoses (SH) is one such lucky outfit, although, when you discover the work, effort and imagination that went into its formation, you’ll understand that luck never really came into it. This is a good, old-fashioned story of making something that people really want, getting it to the market in good time and at the right price.

The story all starts with sister company, Forge Motorsport. Back in the early noughties, this hugely respected band of alloy artisans was ordering silicone hoses at a rate of knots to satisfy the demand for coupling-up everything from dump valves and intakes, through to radiators and intercoolers. At this time, Forge was relying on well-known third party suppliers to furnish its demand, but when it became clear that Forge’s burgeoning clientele were simply ordering way more product than these external contractors could cope with, a cunning plan was born. Having extensive knowledge of the type of quality and consistency that was required, Forge took the sensible decision to create its own in-house hose division and in doing so, become master of its own destiny. Thus, in 2005, Siliconhoses.com Ltd was born.

This Essex-based BMW specialist may be renowned for its styling enhancements, but a change in premises and a dedicated department to look after the track and tuning market meant that TBMW was overdue a visit...

Words and Pictures:   Adam Tait

When Total BMW last visited M Style, it resided in a smaller premises next door to the current unit and showroom, but despite the doom and gloom of what seems to be an infinite recession, this Essex-based BMW specialist seems to have brushed off the financial woes that stare the motor industry in the face.

Head honcho, Paul Emmerson employs seven full-time staff, who work in the mail order outlet, showroom sales and a flurry of mechanical work that goes on out back. These hands are all kept busy with the BMWs that fill the Monday to Friday diary, while the spray guns found in the insurance-approved bodyshop deal with the styling transformations that have etched M Style’s name into the BMW market.  

On the workshop ramp, when we visited, was an E60 530d which was undergoing surgery to have all the visual cues of an M5, just without the associated running costs. Next door to that, also perched on a ramp, was a Dakar Yellow E90 having an Eiesenmann exhaust system fitted, along with a carbonfibre rear valance. Sitting faceless in the bodyshop was an Alpina B10 3.2 that was in to have its stone chips taken care of.

A brake manufacturer that’s up there with the best of them. We get the lowdown on the embossed lettering you see nestling behind the spokes of the more serious road and competition cars...

Words  Adam Tait   |   PICTURES  AP Racing

Pressing, pressing harder, slightly more, oh dear, the corner has arrived already... the pedal then sinks to the floor. This might happen on a track day, and is known as brake fade. Pressing, pressing harder, slightly more, oh dear, the rear of that lorry is now part of the scuttle panel. This might happen on the road, where it is also known as having a shunt.

A strategically-placed gravel trap could have saved the day in the track day scenario, but the road offers no such luxuries. If you have owned a succession of BMWs, from those born in the ‘80s to what is being sold in showrooms today, obvious advances in technology aside, you will probably be a lot more impressed with the brakes on an E90 3-Series than you would say, on the E30 that you owned some years ago.

The latter may even have drums on the rear, but even those with discs all-round offer no serious braking power, and anything without ABS will lock up and the car will skid into the thing you are trying to avoid.

Is your BMW suffering from tramlining? We hook up with the guys from Falken tyres to find out more about its renowned FK452 model, tyre safety and development...

Tyre choice can be a very personal thing to the keener driver’s out there, because once you have broken free of budget brands, the premium line-up has an array of choice that is capable of harnessing the power of anything from an E21 316 to something bearing the M badge.

Not so long ago we were in a tyre shop when an owner walked in and asked behind the counter for budget brands or whatever used ones are in stock. Budget tyres are great for a drift practice day, but for road use (which in this case it was) it’s short sighted. Braking distances will be extended, handling will be inferior and they will be incapable of harnessing any sort of power. When the total contact patch keeping you on the road is no bigger than an A4 piece of paper, tyres should be considered as one of the most important purchases.