News

2008 - March

Open M3
It was never a secret that the new M3 would soon be joined by an open top version and April will see the M3 Convertible on sale in the UK. Based on the retractable hardtop configuration as used in the current 3-Series convertible range, the open-air M3 shares its mechanical specification with the Coupe and newly announced
Saloon. Read more>
Back To Basics
The 3-Series convertible might have grown bigger and heavier with each generation but chopping the top off the 1-Series has created a sleek replacement to the much-loved E30 and E36 models. Comparing the dimensions shows the 1-Series to be pretty close in size to the E36 model, too – slightly narrower in the rear but wider up front and within 8cm off its overall length. Read more>
Value added
The1-Series, 3-Series and Z4 models can now be ordered in the new 'Edition' specification. An addedvalue
package, the ES spec adds £250 to the value of the 1-Series but provides some £1300-worth of extra kit over the ES model, including 17 inch wheels, sports seats, three-spoke multi-function wheel and front fog lights. Read more >
Open air 320d
Just to complete this month's convertible news, from March the 3-Series convertible can now be ordered with the 2-litre, 177 bhp diesel engine in the shape of the 320d. Read more >
125i Coupe
The well-received 1-Series Coupe line-up gets broadened from March with the addition of the 125i. Running the 218 bhp normally-aspirated 3-litre straight six, it's good for 0-62 mph in 6.4 seconds, a maximum of 152 mph and 35.8 mpg. Read more >
Hunter Killer
You might dismiss the X3 as being fit for nothing more demanding than the school run, but legendary BMW tuner Hartge has given it a good workout to the point where it’s as good in the rough as proper 4x4s with no carpets and wind-up windows. Read more >

2008 - February

X6 Blows In
Even by BMW’s standard this is going some: it seems like only yesterday that we were watching the unveiling of the X6 concept at the Frankfurt show and here it is ready to go on sale. Read more>
BMW For 2008
This year sees the total number of BMW models offered in the UK reach 18 body styles and 231 different variants. Read more>
Blue Diesel
Over here in Europe, we’re used to BMW sitting at the top of the diesel tree, but over in North America, they’ve never seen a diesel-powered BMW outside the Spartanburg factory gates. It’s all down to do with our different views on what constitutes harmful emissions, but this month’s Detroit Motor Show sees BMW bring diesel power to the US and Canada for the first time. Read more >
M5 Hurricane
They’re calling it the world’s most powerful street-legal BMW and since they’ve strapped a pair of dirty great blowers to the V10 M5, we’re not about to argue with G-Power’s Hurricane. Read more >
E39 Project Kicks Off
It’s harder than you’d think to decide on a Total BMW project car, so thanks go to all the readers who emailed in with their suggestions – ranging from E28 M5s, through classic 2002s to 750i’s. In the end we settled for what was once described as the best car in the world - the E39 5-Series. Read more >
Mini Challenge
This year sees the launch of a new mini race series, seeing a grid of 25 hopefuls racing the new 210 bhp John Cooper Works Challenge cars in the hope of winning an official test in Andy Priaulx’s WTCC-winning 320si. Read more >

2008 -January

ACS for UK
Good news for fans of all things AC Schnitzer comes with the move of the official import franchise for the UK from BMW(GB) back to Norfolk-based Rossiters – the firm which originally introduced AC Schnitzer to us back in 1989. Read more>
Ring Record
Our own Nürburgring record is a bit, er, chequered (one Porsche, one 328i and one 730i have bitten the dust there in our hands in recent years...) so we take our hats off to Swedish firm Loaded. Read more>
Superspeed X5
If your brand new X5 isn’t quite loud enough, get on to Superspeed and ask for their new exhaust system. The full stainless system comes with a choice of no less than 145 tailpipe styles and is a proper dual set-up too. Read more >
Winter Safe
Over in Europe, BMW Driver Training offers some superb winter driving courses but they’re a bit thin on the ground here. Read more >
Hat-Trick For Priaulx!
We may have given up on football and Hamilton may have just missed the F1 title, but in the world of touring cars Britain still has a hero in the shape of BMW pilot Andy Priaulx. Read more >
Germans On Track
If the thought of an errant Caterham bursting through the door puts you off the idea of taking your M3 on track, then new firm German Track is organising the sort of track day you’re after. Read more >

2007 -December

Tii Reborn
It’s ironic that just as we were compiling a buying guide to the classic 2002 up popped a piece of retro marketing in the shape of the Concept 1 Series tii show car. When BMW previewed the concep. Read more>
Twin Turbo One
This month sees the UK launch of the 1-Series coupe and top of the tree is the twin-turbo 135i. Stepping straight from a Z4M into the 135i, we were expecting it to feel like an anti-climax but we were surprised at just how deceptively rapid the blown six feels in the small coupe.  Read more>
123 Is Go
The twin-turbo petrol is the 1-Series Coupe everyone’s excited about but in the real world, there’s a cracking drive to be had behind the new fourcylinder diesel. Bearing the slightly awkward name of 123d, the new fourcylinder oil burner cranks out 204 bhp and a staggering 295 lbf.ft which is enough to shunt it to 60 mph in 7 seconds dead and on to a top end of 148 mph. Read more >
It’s A Gas
Back in September we were chatting to the guys on the Hartge stand at the Frankfurt show and discovered that they were about to tackle a world land speed record in a modified 1-Series. Read more >

2007 -November

BMW’s Future Unveiled
BMW occupied the courtyard with what looked to be a village. Outside, there was a Hydrogen 7 Shuttle Service, which involved an attractive driver taking you out for a drive around the suburbs of Frankfurt in an environmentally friendly manner. Read more>
1-series coupe
A significant model in the BMW Pavilion was the 1-series coupe which attracted everyone with a notepad or camera. Designed as a 2+2, it offers a fresh alternative to the conventional three and five-door models. The 123d on display uses a 204 bhp four-cylinder variable twin-turbo diesel which can return 54.3 mpg and manages to reach 60 mph in 7 seconds.  Read more>
Hybrid U-Turn
Star of the BMW display was of course the X6 concept, a coupe/ SUV crossover which BMW reckons has created yet another new niche in the market. According to BMW chairman Norbert Reithofer speaking at the show, the concept on show was pretty close to the car you’ll find in the showrooms very soon. Read more >
Virtual M3
A popular attraction on the BMW stand was an unveiling of a gaming nature – the new BMW M3 Challenge, which is a race simulator built in collaboration with Blimey! Games. Read more >
200 mph M3
OK, so BMW’s M division has upped the ante by stuffing a V8 into the new M3, but if you really want wheeled 3-Series madness, put in a call to German tuners G-Power and ask for their V10 conversion. Read more >

2007 -October

Niche Work
As we went to press the Frankfurt Show had just kicked off, signalling the traditional muscleflexing between the big German brands. BMW of course is on a roll these days and expects to deliver over 1.4 million cars this year, but what can we expect to see in the near future? Read more>
Chinese Puzzle!
BMW and Mercedes have both threatened to sue Chinese car maker Shuanghuan if its German importer displays its Noble and CEO models at the Frankfurt show. The Noble resembles a Smart ForTwo, while the CEO looks uncannily like the last-generation X5 wearing a Toyota Land Cruiser front. We’ve spoken to people who have seen the CEO in the flesh, who report that it’s “almost a carbon copy.” Read more>
Cooper Works Returns
If you like the front-wheel-drive way of doing things, you’ll be delighted to learn that the John Cooper Works kit has been relaunched for the revised Mini. Read more >
Open Haman
The new 3-Series convertible has only just arrived and already Hamann has brought out a styling kit for the car. By Hamann’s standards it’s pretty restrained though: just bumpers, sills and rear boot spoiler. Read more >