The Repsol Hill Climb Team were determined to win the title, and went at the European Championship again in 1989. The Lola T298 was decorated blue that year, to represent the arrival of Carlos de Miguel as manager. A switch to the BMW 2500cc engines at the midway point in the season would eradicate the 2L machines. Vilarino would finally take the crown after wins in Portugal, the Ecce Homo and the Swiss St. Ursanne–Les Rangiers.
Year after year, Vilarino would have increased experience and development of his BMW engine, led by mechanic Jean–Pierre Fleur. He had a new set of rivals after Nesti’s retirement, in form of Walter Pedrazza, Philippe Darbellay and Bernard Chamberod –plus the veteran Herbert Stenger. However, they could not stop Vilarino from retaining his title, with seven wins in the 1990 season: Austria, Portugal, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Hungary were all conquered as he dominated the year.
Despite not starting well in 1991, with a crash in torrential rain at the Rechberg opener, he would take a third European Championship that year. He would win the Jaizkibel, Falperra, Ecce Homo and Türckheim events, as Spain upped its representation in the class with Pancho Egozkue, Riera, Goiburu and Gutierrez all coming through.
