Autoblog

Click above for high-res gallery of the BMW Concept 1-Series tii

Of all the BMW 2002s still on the road, the tii models have remained the most highly prized. The combination of lightweight parts, Kugelfisher mechanical fuel injection and upgraded braking and suspension components made it the milestone of BMW performance offerings during the '60s and '70s. BMW recognizes the cachet that the tii badge carries among afficionados, and may be looking to officially bring back the badge to slot in below its M-line of products.

What began with the 1-series tii concept has evolved into the automaker's BMW Performance accessories range that now includes aero bits, uprated wheels and brakes, plus a range of interior components covering everything from heavily bolstered buckets to LED instrument clusters. BMW might be planning to offer similar parts for the next generation 3-series, due out sometime in early 2012. Aside from more traditional bolt-on accessories, this could included a tweaked version of the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six currently found in the 335i producing 355 hp and sending power to BMW's new dual-clutch transmission on its way down the driveline to an M3-spec limited-slip differential.

Naturally, any news coming from Autobild has to be treated with a few grains of salt, but if BMW offers a tii version of the 1-series – rumored to be a possibility – it wouldn't be a tough sell for a similar version of BMW's best-selling 3-series.

Update: Gabe over at BimmerFile tipped us off that the electronic differential and DSC system found in the current 135i will find its way into the 335i in the next few years. The extra kit will likely be part of a performance package to keep the 335i relevant before the next iteration comes to market.


[Source: AutoBild via Motor Authority]

Click the image above for a high-res view.

The carrier M/V Courage tipped at the port in Jersey City on Friday causing damage to over 370 BMWs. The ship was loaded with new 3-series and 1-series vehicles, including new M3s. Around 70 of the damaged cars are reported to be total losses with others sustaining major damage. Word is that the M3s bared the brunt of the brutality. Extensively damaged cars will be crushed while those with minor damage will undergo repair at a receiving facility in Elizabeth, NJ, after which they will proceed onto dealers. Bimmers destined for European delivery customers were also on board, although it's not clear how those buyers will be handled in the wake of the incident.

This is a particularly harsh hit to BMW in terms of the new M3 and even more so for the owners awaiting their new V8-powered uber-coupes. We'd expect this unfortunately event will lead to an extension of the waiting period many potential customers will have to endure. It also means many dealerships are out of luck for a demo car. With the M3's competition coming on strong from the likes of Lexus, Cadillac and Mercedes one can only imagine this sort of setback might steer away a few potential buyers.

Thanks for the tip Carl!

[Source M3Forum.com]

BMW has officially thrown its hat in the performance parts game here in the U.S., likely rivaling the products available from aftermarket firms and coming complete with a factory-backed warranty.

Beginning with the 3-series and Z4, BMW is offering a host of components, from brake upgrades to engine kits, that will boost performance and not cause owners to fear a trip to the dealer for service. Some of the parts include carbon fiber and aluminum strut braces, 3.07:1 performance diffs, lowering kits, performance exhausts and a engine package for three-liter models that includes new camshafts and a modified ECU that boosts output to 235 HP and 222 lb.-ft. or torque.

All of the wonderful tidbits can be procured after the jump, and we'd suspect good things to come from the Bimmer boys when they release packages designed for the 335i and the upcoming 135i.

[Source: BMW]

E90Post has several spy shots up that show the facelifted 3-Series sedan due around a year from now as an '09 model. While the car is still wearing camo, some things immediately jump out, like the more rounded grilles and sportier-looking lower front fascia. If you click through to the thread, you'll see that the taillamps are partially covered as well, suggesting a reshaping of the parts that reside on the trunklid. Changes to the hood and front bumper are also in store, but they're sporting disguises that still mask their updated shapes. To summarize, it looks like a more athletic look for the 3-Series sedan is in the works, which isn't a bad thing at all. For several more shots showing additional angles of the car, head on over to E90Post by clicking the image above or the "Read" link below.

Thanks for the tip, Lars!

[Source: E90Post]

Click image for photo gallery

BMW plans on selling 700 M3s in the UK this year, but if you haven't already put in your order, better luck next year. Not only are the Brits excited to get their own M3, they're also packing on the options, as this year's orders average £4,700, with the optional 19-inch rims being high on everyone's list. BMW is expecting the interest level to remain high into the future, as it plans to ship 2,000 of their 414 HP rocket ships next year.

It should come as no surprise that M3s are flying off the shelves right now, since BMW has added high-end V8 power to the already outrageously successful 3-series. We fully expect to see similar sell-out stories in other countries, including here in the US, as the M3 is one rockin' ride.

[Source: Autocar]

As long as BMW doesn't own Volvo, then the Swede is allowed to target the roundel's cars as competitors. Autocar reports that Volvo is shaking up the lowest two rungs on its sedan line to put more space between them, and to better compete with the 3 Series.

The smallest sedan, the S40, will be be made over from a 4-door sedan into a 5-door hatchback along the lines of the A3 and BMW 1-series. The very name S40 might also be sacrificed, changed instead to V40. The S60, instead of disappearing entirely, will get a longer wheelbase, a better interior, shared tech from the S80 and Mondeo, and a chassis that does a better job at challenging 3 Series dynamics. Part of that redesign, if the renderings are accurate, will be a flared three-section front bumper that is the new hotness in car design. Regarding the car's sporting aspirations, engineers are said to be battling accountants for funds to design a more sporting chassis. Engines for the S60 will include a 2-liter and 2.2-liter 4-cylinder diesels, the D5 5-cylinder diesels, as well as a 2-liter gas turbo.

It is claimed also that the Volvo logo will also be altered, losing the diagonal bar that spans the grill. Only the circle and arrow -- a stylization of the chemical symbol for iron -- will remain. All of these changes are slated to appear in 2009-10.

[Source: Autocar]

The BMW 3-Series has always been impressive, with deft handling combined with some of the world's best powertrains. The newest 3 may have grown in size and weight, but new engines like the 335i's twin-turbo I6
and the upcoming M3's 400hp V8 help mitigate the car's added girth. Both engines deliver a zero-to-60 time of less than five seconds, but there's always room for more power power and speed. Hartge decided to drop an M5's V10 into its smaller sibling only after adding new heads and camshafts to kick up the power equation to 550hp. The end result is a blistering sleeper with a not-so-sleepy $220,000 price tag.

Inside Line got to take a crack at the Hartge speed demon, and as you'd guess, the car is spooky-fast. A 0-60 time of 4.4 seconds doesn't tell the whole story, as the 205mph speedo is actually grounded in reality. Hartge keeps the H50 bolted to the ground with a revised suspension that's lowered a full 1.2 inches and ultra-wide, sticky rubber wrapped around 20' rims. The driver gave this odd-looking Franken-Series a tremendous compliment, saying that the H50 has the "composure of a 6-Series with the speed of a Ferrari F430." That would mean more if the Hartge H50 didn't cost more than a F430 or two M6's, but the H50 buyer is unlikely to care, and there's not one among us who wouldn't like to grab seat time in this pavement missile. Hit the read link below or the image above to read Inside Line's H50 V10 adventure in its entirety.

[Source: Inside Line]

Click the image above for more high-res pics.

German tuning powerhouse, Hamann, is back doing what it does best: massaging the exterior and interior, while making sweet love to the drivetrain of BMW's 3-series. Its newest line of products leaves no 3 untouched, covering the range from the 320i to the 330d and on to our beloved 335i.

Starting with the twin-turbo 335, Hamann performs its own version of electronic black arts on the ECU, bringing out an additional 37 HP and increasing top speed to 173 MPH. When coupled with its four-pipe sports muffler and a more flow-friendly air filter, anyone within earshot knows you're driving something special.

The 320i also benefits from optimized ECU maps, increasing power by 10 HP on the four-cylinder coupe, while the 325i and 330i get an additional 13 HP and 17 HP, respectively. Rounding out the line up is the Hamann-tuned 330d, where customers can benefit from a 272 HP oilburner cranking out 443 lb.-ft. of torque at 2,000 RPM.

Naturally, the exterior and interior get their due diligence, with the addition of a new front spoiler, side sills, rear spoiler and bumper with matched notches for the new exhaust tips. Wheel sizes are available from 18- to 20-inches, in a variety of shapes, while revised suspension and brake components round out the package.

Follow the jump for Hamann's press release and enjoy the 28-image gallery below.

With Audi and Mercedes rampantly trying to fill every conceivable segment, BMW has been stepping up development of its own niche vehicles, including the X6 CUV and now, a contender in the it's-not-a-minivan crowd, the V-Series.

The 3-Series wagon-bodied prototype supposedly foretells what BMW plans to pit against the Mercedes R-Class, sporting third-row seating and a somewhat higher ride height.

Little is known about the V-Series yet, but if KGP's spies are to be trusted, we should expect to see BMW's newest people-mover hitting the market sometime in 2010.

[Source: Inside Line]

Although the BMW 7-series has undergone some mild styling tweaks over the past few years, it seems that more is on the way, all in an effort to tighten the reigns of the mangled Bangled versions that caused drivers to bleed from their eyes.

Although some hope that the Concept CS will influence future 7s, the 2009 model will be more of an evolution, likely drawing cues from the redesigned 3-series. But the real changes are likely to come from underneath.

A longer wheelbase, partnered with a wider track, will be utilized to keep with BMW's handling ethos, while new engine choices, including a hybrid and twin-turbo V8 diesel will provide motivation. A new ZF eight-speed gearbox is almost certain, along with a revised iDrive system and several new safety features.

Look out for the refresh in 2009, with a full redesign sometime next decade.

[Source: Autogepot via Motor Authority]