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When BMW shocked the automotive world by deciding to break up and sell off the Rover Group in 2000, the reason it gave surprised many. BMW said the move was triggered to the decision to build a new Golf size vehicle under the BMW rather than the Rover badge. The upshot was that Rover was no longer part of BMW’s future plans. Work on the small Rover R30 had been underway at BMW in Munich for two years. However, many at BMW had been lobbing for BMW to build its own compact model. Some have claimed that BMW utilized work already completed on the R30 to get the 1 Series project off to a flying start, with the core of the R30, from the widescreen backwards, carried over to the baby BMW. Even if true, the 1 Series needed a new nose structure to accommodate a longitudinally mounted engine because it was rear wheel drive, like all BMW’s road cars. The world got its first glimpse of the 1 Series project in the form of the 2002 CS1 cabrio concept. Although the size was reminiscent of the classic 1980s E30 3 Series, the new design language was a shock.

Initially dubbed ‘flame surfacing’ it saw CS1 sides given dramatic concave and convex surface, partly inspired by natural erosion. Not everybody appreciated this when it was made production really in the 2004 1 Series five door. It was, though, sharp handling and well made with a smart interior, if a little cramped and stiff riding. But had another sales hit n its hands, and the 1 Series was expanded to include a coupe and cabrio.

Posted January 28, 2010 Comments(0)

After the big advances made by the 1991, 3 series and the highly regarded 5 series before it, much was riding on the all new 5 series which was launched in 1995 BMW’s inherent devotion to leading edge technology was amply demonstrated in the model. The new 5 series shared only gear boxes and its differential with the out going model. It’s rare for replacement models to be completely new. Engineering a large executive car to a high standard is an incredibly complex task an also an incredibly costly one, even to a company and large as the mighty BMW. BMW’s dedication to making the 5 series as sporting as possible and its willingness to invest serious money was not obvious when looking at the 5 series. In fact, at the time of launch the overly smooth styling was badly received after the chiseled edges of the 3 Series. However, under the skin was a suspension system expensively constructed from aluminum not just the suspension arms, but the front stunts, sub frames and brake calipers, a complex and costly move. Unsurprisingly, the BMW 5 Series proved to be an absolute impeccable road car. It offered a remarkable combination of a very compliant ride and strong, sporting handling.

The car’s build quality was unmatched by few cars available at any price. Ironically, the 5 Series lofty talents were so evenly spread, it was sometimes marked down as lacking in character, however, the 5 Series was so brilliantly conceived, it was not changed or updated during its lifespan.

Posted January 26, 2010 Comments(0)

In the early 1990s BMW’s engineering chief, Wolfgang Reitzle was hatching for a premium ‘off roader’ in the manner of the chassis Range Rover. By coincidence Land Rover made contact with BMW at the same time. The British company wanted to buy BMW’s 2.5 liter six cylinder diesel engine for use in the 1993 second generation Range Rover. Then BMW boss Bernd Pischetsrieder decided that it would better to but Land Rover than stretch the BMW brand into a new market. However, BAe, owners of Land Rover were only prepared to off-load the whole Rover Group, so BMW opted to take on the rump of the UK motor industry in 1994. However, a couple of years of troubled Land Rover ownership, and the imminent appearance of the Mercedes M class, convinced BMW to revive its own SUV project. The X5 was loosely based on the four wheel drive 1992 BMW 5 series iX Tuoring. The first X5 prototypes were actually jacked up 5 series models spotted occasionally driving from Germany to Land Rover’s British HQ. BMW’s first rate six and eight cylinder engines powered the X5.

Towards the end of its successful production run, the X5 was fitted with some very powerful engines, including 314 bhp 4.4 liter and 365 bhp 4.8 liter V8s, which further exploited its on road prowess. The X5 was built in BMW’s US plant at Spartanburg South Carolina and was received with wild enthusiasm from the press for its remarkable on road handling qualities. It’s probably fair to say that the X5 was responsible for inspiring a new market for large, road baised, pseudo off roaders.

Posted January 25, 2010 Comments(0)

In the mid 1985 BMW decided to found a new internal division Technik GmbH. It was to be an advanced design and engineering counterpart to be company’s already proven and highly successful Motorsport division. By late Technik’s engineers had launched the Z1 roadster, the first in the wave of modern roadsters. Z stood for zukunft, the German for future. It was an appropriate name given the nature of the vehicle that was being developed. The Z1 would play an important role in shaping the future technology of other BMW vehicles. The Z1 was masterminded by Ulrich Bez and styled by Harm Laagay; shortly after the launch, both men left for Porsche where they had earned themselves deserved reputations as innovators. Although not reveled at the launch, the A1 started life as a ‘mule’ used to develop the complex and clever rear suspension for the 1991 3 Series. Technik, however, put in a much bigger effort than simply manufacturing what at first looked like a re-bodied 325i carbriolet. The Z1 was built on a steel backbone chassis, which gave the car all its strength. The 13 exterior bolt on plastic didn’t provide any strength the Z1 could be driven without them. It also used massive still sections into which the side doors would slide and disappear, giving the driver a truly open driving experience. The car’s actual ‘floorpan’ was a high strength, foam cored sandwich panel bolted to the metal chassis.

At its launch, the car proved to be a revelation in terms of handling and grip, and benefited enormously from the beautifully sculpted, had edged styling Production capacity immediately sold out to two years in advance. The BMW Z1 was not only a step into the future. It was the accumulation of everything that BMW had learned over the decades up to that point about production great roadsters. Without the technological jumps that the development of the car helped bring about, fabulous later vehicles such as the BMW Z3 roadster would not have been conceivable.

Posted January 24, 2010 Comments(0)

Plans for BMW to enter the Group 4/5 World Championships were laid in 1975. The company, then a tiny player on the world car making scene, thought this route would be both a more high profile way of publicizing the BMW badge than Formula One, and would give BMW a chance to compete directly with, and beat – Porsche. The then head of BMW’s Motorsport division, Jochen Neerpasch, decided that a mid engined car would have to be created, a move that would require 400 road going versions for homologation purposes. Unusually for a German car maker, BMW mishandled the birth of the M1, as it became known. It set a production deadline of early 1978 by which to finish a run of 800 productions M1s. Unfortunately, it was a total that couldn’t be accommodated either by BMW’s main production line or the specialist Motorsport division, so the M1 project was framed out. From there on the project went sadly went sadly awry, While Italian stylish Giugiaro was completing the body styling. BMW decided to commission Lamborghini to build it. Lamborghini, however, looked incapable of meeting the quality standards and also seemed on the verge of closure. Other delays, including a redesign of the engine’s cylinder head, meant that the car missed the Group 4 homologation deadline.

The road going M1 was built, but it went through five different companies in Germany and Italy before being finished. And with no race sales to compete in, BMW had to invent the 1979 Procar race series to give the M1 a purpose. Despite being far better conceived and more reliable than contemporary Ferraris or Lamborghinis, only 453 M1 were sold. The result is an extremely sought after car.

Posted January 23, 2010 Comments(0)

BMW first turbocharged design was the mid engined Turbo show car of 1972. Originally just two of these vehicles were built, but the car gave a foretaste of some of the engineering to be found on the company’s first full production model, the 2002 Tirbo of 1973. Its 170 bhp engine was considerably detuned compared with the show car. Despite this, it was still more than enough to give the boxy little two door saloon serious kick. The top speed went up to 130 mph (208 km/h) and the 0-60 mph (96 km/h) time came to just 8 seconds, an astonishing figure for a 2 liter road car in the early 1970s. Lowered suspension and fatter tyres gave the 2002 Turbo better grip than the standard car, but the primitive early turbocharged installation lacked the flexibility and response of modern units, the boost could come in rather viciously. Driving it quickly required a considerable amount of skill to handle the sometime nature of the turbo’s muscular boost.

It was to be a short lived model, which is perhaps a shame. Unfortunately the 2002 Turbo came into being in the midst of the 1970s fuel crisis, and became another tragic casualty of the period’s war on its class of car. Company executives thought that the 2002 Turbo’s aggressive stripes and spoilers were somewhat inappropriate too. BMW withdraw the car form production in 1974, after just 1674 examples had been built.

Posted January 22, 2010 Comments(0)

Just one corner, that’s all it takes. The BMW X6 hurtles towards it with a kind of rock off a cliff momentum, obeys the dab of slow pedal and then makes a hefty lurch for the turn in. you imagine its going to loll and further like an SUV should on a racetrack, an impression magnified by the fact that you are sitting so high up a niftily punted Lotus 2 Eleven could pass under you. But the result is startling. Grip, extra turn-in more grip, more throttle, no lean, no wander. You are out and flooring it, not so much grinning as chuckling. Clearly this much desired SUV meets coupe mash up actually works. But on earth is it doing here, crashing the Gumpert/ Lambo-fest with as much hope of success as a giraffe in dark sunglasses trying to blag his way into a polar bears only golf club? Its here because its designed to perform. Not only that, its designed to do that thing no SUV has yet properly nailed going round corners. Using something called Dynamics Performance Control it dishes torque form wheel to wheel, maximizing grip and thus stabilizing the car, even when you are off the power. This, plus BMW’s awfully good X-drive four wheel drive system and the use of ‘efficient Dynamics’ (brake energy regeneration, a clever alternator and low friction) make a compelling case. Love it or not, it deserves its chance, even in boggo 3.5i petrol form.

But we couldn’t find a group to stick it in, until our eyes alighted on Audi RS6, sitting quietly  in the corner, trying to avoid awkward questions about its vicious price tag.(that’s 80 grand to you, fahad—unless you’d prefer an X6, a Clio Cup and three grand in change?).Okay Audi is a different beast, but it shares with the BMW an avowed determination to overcome a massive weight problem and still perform like a stick thin athlete. These two cars at just over 2000kg each pack roughly the same heft. Together all the fat jokes.

Posted November 25, 2009 Comments(0)

Restorative justice is forcing a criminal to apologize to his victim. And I am in the dock again, with prosecutor Chilton accusing me of kerbing without due care and attention. His memory is much longer than he is, because this rap dates back to a nibbled alloy on his long-gone MX-5. The day he got it, the latest case involves my 335i, whose 19 inch wheels resemble Swiss cheese with specks of black mould. So I am bundled off to Pristine Alloy Wheels in Bedfordshire, to get them refurbished and learn the error of my ways. The firm’s MD, David James, directs my patience. The 67 year old golf nut (the game, not the car- he drives Aston Martin) began alloy wheel repairs in the late 80’s. He noticed customers at his Fred the Tread tyreshop had crumbling alloys, with corrosion in once hot brake dust or a kerbside skirmish breached the protective lacquer. So James branched out into the wheel refurbishment and, two decades on, has 60 staff and 400 agents nationwide feeding in work. Door to door, the process takes three years to four days. As soon as I arrive, the 335 is inspected. One of the rims is badly gouged, and will need an aluminum weld to build it back up.

It will then follow the other three alloys onto a computerized lathe, where a diamond cutter slices off threads of aluminium like strands of silver hair, until the rim is back to its original profile. First the rims are prepared, shot-blast and doused in chemicals, to remove grime or corrosion. After brushing, they are machined on lathe, and then cleansed in demineralised water. The wheel is then pre-heated to dry it and to remove any internal gases. My repair cost $352 before VAT and the $465 rims look as good as new again.

Posted November 22, 2009 Comments(0)

BMW X5 is the German SUV manufactured by the BMW Automotive. It’s a 4 wheel drive vehicle with a powerful engine in his heart. The engine displacement is about 3000cc. The BMW look likes a station wagon but it’s not a station wagon at all. Actually, it’s a crossover utility vehicle which is not a full size luxury Sports Utility Vehicle. Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, etc. are the examples of such crossover utility vehicle.  This X5 is also available in 4.0 liter engine. The 3000 cc engine produces 260 brake horse powers with 6400 RPM. Drive train includes 5 speed automatic transmissions. Fuel capacity of the vehicle is about 25 gallons. After this vehicle BMW made another Sports Utility Vehicle known as BMW X6 which is the advancement of the BMW X5. The body of this mid size luxury SUV looks very impressive. Body cuts looks very beautiful as a mid size SUV should be. The most interesting thing about the X5 is the interior of the vehicle. The interior contains leather electric seats, 2 tone interior color and more comfortable seats as compared to the last versions of the vehicle.

The rear seats can be easily folded and a lot of space is available in the car. 5 doors are given in this SUV. The speedometers looks pretty good, fuel gage, time and the door opening alarms are also the part of the vehicle. Power air conditioner makes the BMW more luxury and comfortable in hot summers. FM radio and a navigation system enhance the grace of the vehicle inside the interior. DVD player is available as for the entertaining option. X5 exterior has a very awesome look. The front grill is same as all the BM’s have. Lights looks like a fish beautiful eyes. LED lights are available in the back. That’s all the BMW X5.

Posted October 21, 2009 Comments(0)

This is the new BMW 5 Series by the Germans manufacturers. This vehicle is a mid size luxury sedan car. This 5 series has the ability to challenge a Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Audi A6. Performance wise this is the best vehicle as a mid size luxury saloon car. The comfortable BMW is now even more luxury and comfortable. Mainly this vehicle was produced for the Business Executives because it has the special stuff for these sorts of persons .The vehicle is a four door saloon car with front engine, rear wheel drive and 4 wheel drive option. In Germany this BMW is known as the BMW E60. This BMW has advancement of technology as compared to the last versions. The vehicle has an electronic control over from head to toe like suspensions, interior lights and different temperature zone in the spacious cabin of BMW 5 Series. Safety is priority of the Germans manufacturers so they have introduced a new technology of trailer stability program which enables towing a caravan. The interior includes very interesting options in it. A superb cruise control and an active steering wheel are available.

The new features of the BMW 5 Series include night vision and high beam lights. The drive train has 6 speed automatic transmissions. For entertainment music system in the LCD screen is available and a CD-Player, DVD Player and a navigation system is also installed in the Heart of this BMW. The Engine is very powerful and has a displacement of 3000cc. and produces brake horse power of 255. The alloy wheels and the body cut of the vehicle enhance the beauty of the saloon car. The grill is very beautiful and the tag of the BMW is right up front of the bout. The lights are very amazing and look pretty good on that mid size luxury saloon car.

Posted October 16, 2009 Comments(0)