BMW at Inside Basel Geneva.

Check out BMW at “Inside Basel-Geneva,” the most exclusive watch fair in the world. Watch collector Jeff Kingston describes his passion for mechanics and why his readers have a natural interest in luxury and high end cars like BMW. Click the video to learn more!

Wallpaper Wednesday!

 Happy Hump Day fans!  We thought we would share this BMW beauty with you for Wallpaper Wednesday - enjoy!

BMWBLOG Test Drive: 2013 BMW X1 xDrive28i

BMWBLOG recently threw everything we had at the new 2013 X1.

11,158 ft mountain pass in a snow storm. Check. 9,000 ft pass in a blizzard. Check. Highway speeds on snow packed icy roads at -3 degrees Fahrenheit – Check. All while loaded down with the author’s family and ski gear for a week. – Check. You see, this author comes from a perspective of owning BMW X SAVs for about ten years taking them on this trip many times before. So this little X1 had some big brothers it needed to keep up with to deserve its X badge in our mind.

What is the BMW X1? Is it a Sport-Ute? Is it a wagon on steroids? A crossover? More importantly is it worthy of a BMW X badge? After all, it has the lowest ground clearance of any X series vehicle and it’s the only X series available without all wheel drive. To find out, BMWBLOG recently put an X1 xDrive28i to a week long test in some of the worst winter weather the Colorado Rockies had.

Introduced to Europe as a 2010 model, the X1 has been a sales success with over 300,000 delivered by mid-2012. At a base MSRP of $30,800, the X1 is the least expensive BMW in the U.S. market even though it’s not the smallest. I first saw the X1 in the BMW Welt in 2010 and though it didn’t look bad, it was missing something. During the LCI update for the 2013 model year, this missing refinement was infused before being brought to the U.S. market.

The motor in the X1 xDrive28i was the biggest mystery for me. I have been engrained in the BMW family, loving the signature low rumble and wonderful wave of torque of the BMW inline-six. Further, having owned an X3 and an X5, we have driven this same route through the Rockies many times with them, so I figured it would give a unique perspective to evaluate the X1. We wanted to find out if new N20 four-cylinder would be enough motor to climb an 11,000 foot pass in the Colorado Rockies with family and requisite ski gear loaded up.

The N20 motor epitomizes BMW’s Efficient Dynamics principles: smaller displacement, Direct Fuel Injection and Variable Valve Timing which BMW calls Valvetronic. This 2.0 liter four-cylinder makes 240 hp at 5,000 rpm with max torque of 260 lb-ft located at throttle tip in – a ultra low 1,250 rpm. Th engine is mated to a ZF-sourced eigh-speed quick shifting automatic transmission. BMW does offer an N55 3.0 liter inline-six Twin Power (single) turbo which produces 300hp/300ft-lbs for the X1. This does come standard with all wheel drive, but it bumps the base MSRP up to $38,600. BMWBLOG found the N20 four-cylinder such a good motor in the X1, it’d be our choice but can see why some might opt for the N55 six-cylinder.

A bit about BMWBLOG’s test X1 xDrive28i – it had a base price of $32,350. It was nicely optioned, well okay, loaded with options starting with the Sport Line that included some sweet anthracite grey 18” wheels. To help handle the cold in the mountains, it was equipped with the Cold Weather Package that surprisingly included a heated steering wheel in addition to the heated front seats and headlight washers that we put to use frequently while driving in snow. Unfortunately you cannot get heated rear seats as you can in the rest of the X series SAVs, a big negative when it’s minus 3F out and you have a passenger back there. This X1 had the Ultimate Package, a $6650 option which combines the Premium Package, the Technology Package, and iDrive/Bluetooth. Fortunately they had included the $250 BMW Apps which in this scribes humble opinion should be standard with all iDrive units. Lastly it was topped off with Servotronic, Sat Radio and destination charge bringing the MSRP up to $45,595.

Interior is unmistakable BMW and the premium pack with red deviated stitching you get with the Sport Line combined with iDrive certainly dresses BMW’s entry level auto up. Rear seats fold down in 40:20:40 fashion, opening the 12.7 cubic feet of luggage space up to 47.7 cubic feet. Covering over 2,300 miles in one week, I was able to keep myself comfortable with power adjustable seats and much needed adjustable lumbar support. Seating position is much lower than you get with an X3, X3 or X6 so it’s lacking that commanding SUV view and might be a turn off to some X series shoppers.

Driving the X1, one immediately notes excellent feedback from the steering. It is perhaps one of the last hydraulic units in a non-M car that we’ll see. The steering wheel feels just right in the hands, it’s not the stout thick size of a 1M but it’s not too thin like some Porsches can be. The vision out of the X1 is excellent tough not the commanding view most SUV owners are accustomed to. Fortunately, there’s no obstruction when looking over your shoulder like you get with the massive C-pillar of say an X6. The suspension is firm yet compliant but does reveal some significant body roll should you *cough* attempt autocross style turns. Accelerating out of a corner you can feel all four wheels grip and pulling you out. At highway speeds in curvy mountain roads it was a sheer pleasure, and easily kept BMW’s Ultimate Driving Machine reputation intact.

Passing semi-trucks in the mountains, one wants to get around them very quickly especially on two lane curvy roads. The N20 four-cylinder had absolutely no problem when put in this situation. Its peak torque is available at a ridiculously low 1250 rpm and yet carries through to 4800 rpm. The well matched eight-speed automatic would quickly drop a few gears and launch the X1 out around the trucks. In the mountains, I chose either Sport on the transmission or Manual which allowed nice control of the motor while climbing or descending. In the X1 under full throttle, speed climbs quickly so you need to watch it or you can get into the ticket zone before you know it. The power delivery is different than the classic inline-six. It’s not bad just different.

BMW offers the X1 in three variants. The X1 sDrive 28i with a BMW’s lowest MSRP in the U.S., $30,80,0 and it comes with the N20 four-cylinder,. The X1 xDrive 28i starts at $32,500 and adds all wheel drive like the one tested here. And finally, the X1 xDrive 35i with a base price of $38,600 and has all wheel drive plus the the 300 hp N55 inline six-cylinder.

Annoyances and nitpicks? Not many, but I did notice upon of exiting the X1 my left calf pant leg would get a nice coating of road grime just like I would get from a first generation X3.

Center console cup holder position was irritatingly hard to reach, it was where my elbow wanted to sit and I am 5’10”. If I was 6’7” like Jared Gall of Car and Driver it might work better. Lastly, a loaded X1 ventures easily into X3 territory. I thought the styling of the X1 looked great but concede looks are subjective and some may not care for it. BMWBLOG drove 2,374 miles during which the 2013 X1 xDrive28i consumed 89.68 gallons of premium fuel yielding 26.5 MPG.

Going into this test, I wasn’t sure what to expect but ended up extremely impressed with the X1. All in all, I think the BMW X1 an excellent addition to the X series family in the US. It may be BMW’s least expensive BMW but it can handle virtually anything it’s bigger brothers can just in a smaller package.

Courtesy of bmwblog.com

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BMW history. The 02 Series.

Maintenance Tip of the Week

No way around it! Waxing your car is work. But it’s satisfying work that will help keep your car looking new. Car wax preserves paint by slowing oxidation and forming a barrier against bird droppings, sap, and pollution. Plus driving a nice shiny car is just plain fun.

Here’s what to do to ensure the maximum in protection:

• Liquid and spray waxes are tempting to use — they make the car shiny with less work than rubbing in paste wax. But there’s still no beating paste wax for the hardest, longest-lasting finish. Look for paste with a high carnauba wax content.
• Apply a thin, even coat of wax to the car’s surfaces with a damp sponge. Avoid applying too much, or it will be difficult to remove and some residue will inevitably mar your finish.
• To avoid fine scratches, use a clean, soft cotton or microfiber cloth to remove wax once it has dried.
• Apply an extra coat of wax to the nose and hood. The wax film in these areas wears away quickly.

Courtesy of Reader's Digest

BMW Group cautiously optimistic for 2013

In view of the strong demand for its vehicles, the BMW Group will continue to invest in boosting capacity in 2013, thus enabling it to remain successfully on course. Development costs for new technologies and vehicle concepts will also continue to rise. 2013 alone will see the launch of eleven new models. By the end of 2014, some 25 new models will have been added to the range, ten of them totally new models.

“Due to high levels of expenditure for new technologies and models as well as investment in the production network, we expect to report Group profit before tax on a similar scale to the year 2012″, continued Reithofer.

Despite the additional costs referred to, the Automotive segment continues to forecast an EBIT margin of between 8% and 10% for the current year. This corridor is also seen as a sustainable EBIT margin for the time beyond 2013. However, depending on political and economic developments, actual margins could end up being above or below the targeted range.

The Motorcycles segment forecasts further sales volume growth in the current year for the BMW brand thanks to attractive new models such as the R 1200 GS, which should, in turn, bring about a further rise in segment revenues and earnings.

The Financial Services segment is also expected to put in another strong performance and remains committed to achieving a return on equity of at least 18%.
Forecasts for the current year are based on the assumption that worldwide economic conditions will not change significantly.

Strategy Number ONE: First third successfully completed  
The BMW Group has been tirelessly pursuing its Strategy Number ONE with great success since 2007, enabling it to achieve the intended impact of becoming significantly more profitable and competitive. The Group is also extremely well placed to meet future challenges: “We have now successfully implemented the first third of our strategy. All interim targets have been fully attained”, emphasised Reithofer.

Group profit before tax doubled during the period between 2007 and 2012. At 10.9%, the Automotive segment’s EBIT margin exceeded the targeted corridor of 8% to 10% during the past year. By way of comparison: the segment EBIT margin in 2006 was still only at a level of 6.4%. The return on equity of the Financial Services segment in 2012 was 21.2% (Number ONE target: >18%). The improvement in reported figures is also reflected in the share price: between the end of 2007 and the end of 2012, the price of BMW common stock rose by more than 70 percent.

Strategy Number ONE has also seen the birth of a whole host of innovative vehicle concepts – including the BMW i3 – as well as remarkable advances in terms of reducing fuel consumption thanks to EfficientDynamics technology. As from the beginning of 2013, the emissions of 73 BMW Group models do not exceed 140 grams of CO2 per kilometre driven. The equivalent figure five years ago was 27 models. The average fuel consumption of the fleet is 5 litres of diesel and 6.3 litres of petrol per 100 kilometres driven.

The BMW Group will continue its rigorous implementation of Strategy Number ONE through to 2020 and remain on a profitable growth course. The target for 2016 is to sell more than two million BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce vehicles.

Several hundred advance orders received for BMW i3
Electromobility will be very much in the spotlight for the BMW Group in 2013. “The future belongs to those who dare to venture”, remarked Reithofer. The first pre-series BMW i3 came off the production line in January 2013. This innovative vehicle, which has been specifically designed to run with zero emissions for use in an urban environment, will come onto the market by the end of the year. “Several hundred advance orders have already been received for the BMW i3″, added Reithofer.
The BMW i3 is designed with a carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) passenger compartment, an aluminium chassis, and sets new standards in the field of lightweight construction. The i3 will be 250 to 350 kilograms lighter than a conventional electric car.

The BMW i3 has an approximate range of 150 kilometres, which – based on experience gleaned from the MINI E and BMW Active E test fleets – is absolutely sufficient in most circumstances. Customers can also opt to increase this capability with a so-called Range Extender. Production times are reduced significantly by employing unique production methods and a significantly lower number of assembly parts. The BMW i3 will require only half the time needed to produce a conventional vehicle.

To have any chance of addressing the growing ecological challenges in the world’s metropolitan areas, there is no getting around the use of zero-emission drive technologoy. “In the medium term, megacities have no choice but to encourage the use of alternative drive systems”, underlined Reithofer. Electric vehicles in Beijing, for instance, are already exempt from the allocation procedure for number plates and from fees.

Reithofer: 2012 best year in BMW Group’s corporate history
The BMW Group can look back on an excellent 2012 financial year: “The past year has been the most successful year in the BMW Group’s corporate history, with new records achieved for sales volume, revenues, and Group earnings”, stated Reithofer.

Revenues increased year-on-year by 11.7% to reach a new high of € 76,848 million (2011: € 68,821 million). Despite greater expenditure on new technologies and increased personnel costs, earnings also climbed to new record levels, with profit before financial result (EBIT) up by 3.5% to € 8,300 million (2011: € 8,018 million), profit before tax (EBT) up by 5.9% to € 7,819 million (2011: € 7,383 million) and Group net profit up by 4.4% to € 5,122 million (2011: € 4,907 million).
The total number of BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brand vehicles delivered to customers worldwide in 2012 rose by 10.6% to a new high of 1,845,186 units (2011: 1,668,982 units), thus enabling the BMW Group to maintain its position as the world’s leading premium vehicle manufacturer.

Capital expenditure and R&D ratio within targeted corridor
Capital expenditure rose sharply (+41.9%) from € 3,692 million in 2011 to € 5,240 million in 2012 due to the number of new models, increased production capacities at various sites and preparation for the launch of the BMW i. The capital expenditure ratio increased to 6.8% (2011: 5.4%). Research and development expenditure went up by 17.2% to € 3,952 million (2011: € 3,373 million), mostly on projects aimed at securing the Group’s future, resulting in an R&D ratio of 5.1% (2011: 4.9%).

Dividend to increase to € 2.50 per share of common stock
The Board of Management and the Supervisory Board will propose to shareholders at the Annual General Meeting on 14 May 2013 that the dividend be increased to a new high level of € 2.50 (2011: € 2.30) per share of common stock and € 2.52 (2011: € 2.32) per share of preferred stock. Based on these figures, the total distribution will rise to € 1,640 million (2011: € 1,508 million), corresponding to a distribution ratio of 32.0% (2011: 30.7%).

Automotive segment: EBIT rises to € 7.62 billion
The BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce brands all posted new sales volume records in 2012. Automotive segment revenues went up by 11.0% to € 70,208 million (2011: € 63,229 million), thanks to the sharp rise in the number of vehicles sold. The segment EBIT rose to € 7,624 million (2011: € 7,477 million/+2.0%), resulting in an EBIT margin of 10.9%. Profit before tax amounted to € 7,195 million (2011: € 6,823 million/+5.5%).

Free cash flow for the Automotive segment totalled € 3,809 million, an improvement of € 643 million on the previous year and well above the target of over € 3 billion set for the full year.
Sales of BMW brand cars increased by 11.6% to 1,540,085 units (2011: 1,380,384 units), thus exceeding the mark of 1.5 million units for the first time in a single financial year. The MINI brand surpassed the sales volume threshold of 300,000 units for the first time in a 12-month reporting period, with sales volume up by 5.8% to 301,526 units (2011: 285,060 units). Rolls-Royce was the clear market leader in the ultra-luxury segment in 2012. In total, 3,575 units were sold during the year (2011: 3,538 units/+1.0%),

Motorcycles segment also achieves sales volume record
117,109 BMW and Husqvarna brand motorcycles were sold worldwide during the past year (2011: 113,572 units; +3.1%), a new sales volume record for the segment.
Sales of BMW brand motorcycles went up by 2.0% to 106,358 units (2011: 104,286 units), while Husqvarna handed over 10,751 motorcycles to customers (2011: 9,286/+15.8%). In future, the Motorcycles segment intends to focus exclusively on the BMW brand. At the end of January 2013, the BMW Group signed a contract for the sale of Husqvarna with the Austrian company Pierer Industrie AG.

Segment revenues were 3.8% higher at € 1,490 million (2011: € 1,436 million). EBIT fell to € 9 million (2011: € 45 million/-80.0%) as a result of the new direction being taken for the BMW Group’s motorcycles business. Profit before tax decreased accordingly to € 6 million (2011: € 41 million/-85.4%).

Financial Services segment remains on growth course
The Financial Services segment continued to perform well in the past year. Revenues went up by 11.7% to € 19,550 million (2011: € 17,510 million). Profit before tax came in at € 1,561 million (2011: € 1,790 million/-12.8%), whereby the decrease in segment earnings was primarily a reflection of the previous year’s extremely high figures. In 2011, the segment recorded exceptional income of € 439 million resulting from the reduction in provisions for residual value and bad debt risks. Business with end-of-contract leasing vehicles gave rise to an exceptional gain of € 124 million in 2012.

The number of new lease and credit financing contracts signed worldwide (1,341,296) was 12.1% up on the previous year. The number of lease and financing contracts in place with dealers and retail customers at the end of the year rose by 7.1% to a total of 3,846,364 contracts.

Workforce up by 5.6%
The BMW Group’s workforce increased during the period to 31 December 2012, growing by 5.6% over the year to 105,876 employees (2011: 100,306 employees) worldwide. The BMW Group needs engineers and skilled workers, in order to keep pace with the continued strong demand for the BMW Group’s cars, forge ahead with innovations, and develop new technologies.
1,376 young people – 1,200 of them in Germany – started their vocational training with the BMW Group at the beginning of the new training year. The number of trainees in Germany therefore increased by more than 10%. At the end of 2012, the BMW Group employed a total of 4,266 apprentices worldwide.

Courtesy of bmwblog.com

20% off any maintenance or repair on any BMW!

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2014 BMW i8 Spy Shots

With most of Europe soon to be free from the grasp of winter, we have a new batch of spy photos of the 2014 BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car as it undergoes the last of its cold-weather testing ahead of this year’s reveal and next year’s eventual sales launch.

Retaining a great deal of its conceptual design, the i8 looks just about as we last saw it, though this time it’s wearing the light units and bumpers that will appear on the final production car.

Not long ago, we brought you the latest word on production specs for the i8, along with a spy video showing the car in action.

Though the sweeping expanses of structural glass have gone, as they must for safety, the flying buttress rear roof pillars remain, and a small air inlet nested in the flared rear fender near the door sill adds another highlight. The fuel filler cap also sits in the fender.

The leading edge of the now-opaque doors appear to be relieved to allow them to open slightly upward as well as outward, a factor also hinted at by the high sill and short door height.

As for the rest of the BMW i8, it's expected to be a high-performance hybrid in addition to a dramatically-designed coupe. Acceleration to 60 mph should come in around the sub-five-second mark, with a top speed of 155 mph.

On top of the fast, it should be efficient, too, with the concept aimed at about 78 mpg. The i8 is expected to manage these impressive figures with a curb weight of about 3,200 pounds, a turbochared 1.5-liter engine rated at 223 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, plus an electric motor good for an additional 170 horsepower--making total combined output something close to 400 horsepower, with the double-bonus of turbo and electric torque at the low and mid range.

The combustion engine drives the rear wheels, while the electric motor drives the front, making the i8 a so-called “through-the-road” hybrid, which will be capable of either gasoline-only, electric-only, or hybrid propulsion. The electric-only range should be around 20 miles.

Running down the center of the floor is an "energy tunnel" that houses the high-voltage lithium-ion battery. This gives the i8 a very low center of gravity--and all the dynamic benefits that come with it. The positioning of the electric motor and engine over their respective axles also helps provide an ideal 50/50 weight distribution.

The 2014 BWM i8 is due to commence production at BMW's Leipzig plant this fall, arriving in the first driveways in early 2014--at right around the $200,000 mark. Look for a debut at the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show in September.

Courtesy of Motor Authority

Wallpaper Wednesday

Hey fans, it’s Wallpaper Wednesday!  We hope you like this week’s pick – a 1937 BMW 327 Coupe!

2013 BMW F10 M5 on Velos Designwerks Solo V wheels

North American Exotic and Luxury Automobile Tuner, Velos Designwerks, reveal their latest wheels designed for the 2013 BMW M5. The Solo V wheels come in 21×11″ for the rear and 21×9.5″ front, and are also available in 20″ fitment for us with factory tires. The wheels contrast beautifully with the blue calipers as part of the ceramic brakes package.

To give the car an even sportier stance, H&R Springs were fitted to the F10 M5.
Blacked out kidney grilles and carbon fiber mirror casings complete the overall look of the car.

The 2013 M5 is powered by a high-revving 4.4-liter turbocharged unit that uses the BMW M TwinPower Turbo technology. The engine outputs 560 horsepower from 5,750-7,000 rpm and 680Nm (502 lb-ft) of torque from only 1500rpm. It comes in both manual and 7-speed DCT transmission. The base price of the F10 M5 is $90,695.

Courtesy of bmwblog.com

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2013 BMW 135i Convertible - Lease Offer

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The new BMW plug-in-hybrid-technology

Maintenance Tip of the Week

If you happen to be driving and suddenly your headlights go out, chances are you blew a fuse. Luckily, this is an easy fix that should only take five minutes and cost you nothing if your car came with spare fuses. Here is how to do it:

1. Locate your fuse box under your dashboard on the driver’s side.

2. Pull out the box and locate the fuse that looks melted. Most fuse boxes have a diagram, so if your headlights go out you can easily look at the diagram to make sure you are replacing the fuse that goes with the headlights. Replace the blown fuse with a fuse of the same color.

3. If there are no blown fuses in the fuse box under the dashboard, locate the fuse box under your hood. Find the fuse that looks melted and replace it with a fuse of the same color.

Courtesy of usnews.com

2013 Geneva Auto Show: BMW 3 Series GT World Debut

At the 2013 Geneva Auto Show, BMW introduces the new 3 Series Gran Turismo.

This third body variant of the current 3 Series model family unites the sporty-dynamic genes of the Sedan with the practicality and versatility of the Touring, along with enhanced space and ride comfort.

The 3 Series Gran Turismo stands out with its interior designed to provide luxury and comfort, for both the driver and his passengers. Page Biermann, exterior designer of the 3 Series GT, says that his design inspiration was drawn from the Lamborghini Espada, the grand tourer built by the Italian automaker between 1968 and 1978.

BMW displayed two models here in Geneva, the high-end 335i GT with a newly designed M Sport Package – which adds, beside the usual M design cues and aggressive front end, a new ///M logo on the front side skirt. The unique M badge depicts an M Sport model and not a fully developed M vehicle. The M Performance brakes with blue calipers were included in this show package, along with the Active Rear Spoiler which helps with downforce and aerodynaics.

The second model displayed is the 328i GT with the Modern Line, a softer approach of the 3 Series Gran Turismo.

The 3 GT will be offered with the Sport Line, Luxury Line or Modern Line equipment packages, or with the optional M Sport package, which will already be available from July 2013.

The new midsize Gran Turismo model is built on the 3 Series long wheelbase platform and uses the 5 Series GT’s design as the starting point. At 4,824 millimeters long, 1,489 millimeters tall, 1,828 millimeters wide and with a 2,920-millimetre wheelbase, the new BMW 3 series Gran Turismo is notably larger all round than the Sedan and Touring variants of the 3 Series range.

The new BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo is also 200 millimeters longer than the BMW 3 Series Touring and comes with a 110-millimeter longer wheelbase and stands 81 millimeters taller. Front and rear passengers all benefit from a seating position raised by 59 millimeters.

At a first glance BMW seem to have learned some lessons with their 5 Series Gran Turismo and the new 3er GT fixes some of the design features of its larger brother, starting with a more appealing rear-end.

Here is a photo gallery which will be followed soon by an exclusive interview with the 3 GT designer.

Courtesy of bmwblog.com

 

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