Andrew

We love the look of the new BMW X5 and now German tuner HAMANN has made it sexier than ever. The HAMANN E70 BMW X5 gives the original BMW X5 an aggressive look with a new front spoiler, a new rear apron, a roof spoiler and four different design of wheel choices including Anniversary I and II, PG3 and Edition Race (see below for size options). For more power, HAMANN reprogrammed the series produced Motronic so now the X5 3.0si produces 274 horsepower and the X5 4.8i gets 368 horsepower. Buyers can also get a customized interior with features such as a multimedia entertainment system including a DVD, TV and PlayStation 3, exclusive floor mats, aluminum foot rest and pedals and extravagant leather in a variety of colors. HAMANN E79 BMW X5 Gallery:

This autumn, BMW will launch a green-friendly BMW 3-Series in Britain that improves fuel economy and CO2 emissions by 15 percent. The car will be a part of BMW’s new EfficientDynamics program, which is BMW’s new term for their green strategy. Being called ‘mild-hybrids’, the car imroves efficiencey of the diesel engine found in the BMW 320d. Four key EffiecientDynamics techonolgies that BMW incorporates in the newly launched 118d are the integrated starter motor-alternator, a computerised alternator control, an auto stop-start and electronic power steering. These features allow the 1.8 liter diesel engine to improve combined fuel economy from 50 mpg to 60 mpg. According to AutoCar, if the same technologies are carried over to the 320d, it will have a combined fuel economy of 57 mpg (up from 50 mpg) and just 132g/km of CO2 BMW’s current EfficientDynamics strategy, outlined by Reithofer, includes the new BMW 118i which consumes 5.9 liters of fuel per 60 miles, the current BMW 320i which consumes 23 percent less fuel than the 1983 model, the current 525i model which consumes 33 percent less fuel than its 1982 model and the new MINI Cooper D.

Gus - you can get a clubsport license at this link http://www.motorsport.org.nz/Pdf/A001.pdf They last a year

I met the reserve for you guys...ouch.

I had a mare of a day initially - doing 3 very slow runs in the 28/29s. Took a bit of a learning curve to do a different type of driving. It came together for the end and I shaved 4 sec of my time to finish with a best of 25.1 which was on a par with the other cars in my class. Commentator called out a 24.1 which had me excited. Congrats to John Hudson who cleaned up. I came 5th in my class and 30th overall.

Rookie

HB Mate! Terrorize those Aussies

agree

just swap the gears in from an open 3.79

Nice speeds down the straights - if it would go round corners it would rock.

You could hardly call a GT-R skyline jap crap.

Would have to be 116i in silver on 15" steelies

Is a problem with Adrians account - will sort. Cheers

BMW tuner, Alpina, today unleashed their latest creation, the Alpina B3 BiTurbo. Taking the BMW 335i’s already powerful 3.0 liter, twin-turbo, 6-cylinder engine, that develops 300 horsepower, and fitting it with direct injection technology, Alpina gave the car an increase of 60 totaling to 330 horsepower. The B3 Bi-Turbo’s engine has a sporty engine’s willingness to rev to 7,000 rpm with a 0-62 mph time of 4.9 seconds. Oh yeah and it’s damn good looking. On a side note, the new 2008 BMW M3 does 0-62 mph in 4.8 seconds. Just thought you’d like to know. Check out the press release and images after the jump. BMW Alpina B3 BiTurbo Galley: Press Release: In ALPINA’s more than 40-year history of manufacturing automobiles, turbo-charged engines have consistently set enduring accents. Launched in 1989, the BMW ALPINA B10 Bi-Turbo is just one example of the cult status some of these automobiles achieved. In fact, ALPINA’s turbo-charging history began in 1978, based on the 5 Series and 6 Series of the day (E12 & E28 and E24). The new BMW ALPINA B3 Bi-Turbo continues this tradition for the first time on the basis of the BMW 3 Series with its world premiere at the 2007 Geneva Salon d’Automobile. The heart of the B3 Bi-Turbo offers 265 kW (360 hp) at 5,500 - 6,000 revolutions per minute, as well as maximum torque of 500 Nm from 3,800 - 5,000 rpm. The B3 Bi-Turbo’s engine has a sporty engine’s willingness to rev to 7,000 rpm. Equally as present but usually reserved for diesel engines, there is vigorous torque from 1,500 rpm onwards. The result: a powerband broader than ever before experienced, guaranteeing both sporty and bullish driving dynamics Technically, this is all made possible due to the exceptional BMW base engine with injectors centrally located over the pistons – the state-of-the-art in direct injection technology. For more than a year, ALPINA engineers researched, developed and tested, both on the engine test bench and on the road. Ever refining the ALPINA engine map to leverage all the advantages offered by modern direct injection, the potential inherent in the BMW foundation was maximised. The use of extremely durable MAHLE pistons allows for a maximum boost of 1.1 bar with a 9.4:1 compression ratio. The result, peak specific values of 89 kW (121 hp) per litre and a maximum average pressure of 21 bar The allure of the new BMW ALPINA B3 Bi-Turbo is found in its V8 like performance, but with the advantages of a much lighter and noticeably thriftier 3.0-litre straight-six, a six with an aluminium block and twin-turbo charging. The smooth-running nature inherent in this engine concept is even more prominent when the engine is charged The BMW ALPINA B3 Bi-Turbo embodies pure driving enjoyment – whether cruising along or enjoying all 7,000 revs in each gear. The reason for the spontaneous responsiveness of the B3 Bi-Turbo is the ZF 6-speed sport automatic transmission with its very short shift sequences, which smoothly processes the power through the drivetrain without any uncomfortable interruption of forward momentum. The driver may also choose to shift manually at the wheel using SWITCH-TRONIC, which contributes in no small part to both the awe-inspiring performance numbers and the ability to save fuel in top gear. Frugality and driving excitement are therefore not contradictory in the B3 Bi-Turbo. Driven by high torque means using sixth gear on the Autobahn is more than sufficient in almost all situations The engine’s kick surprises even those in the know: 0-100 km/h in 4,9 seconds and thrust-like acceleration that keeps pulling all the way up to a top speed of 285 km/h. Indulgence without remorse: in spite of its stellar performance, the new BMW ALPINA B3 Bi-Turbo achieves excellent fuel economy in relation to its competitors. One of the B3 Bi-Turbo’s features that literally stands out are the four exhaust tips, with their catalytic converters contributing significantly to the achieving of low Euro4 emissions standards The intense driving experience and an immediate bonding with the B3 Bi-Turbo are markedly influenced by fine materials and superior ergonomics. The standard leather interior features comfortably-padded sport seats with excellent lateral support, making long journeys a joy. The ALPINA SWITCH-TRONIC steering wheel falls perfectly to hand and affords a clear view of the typical ALPINA blue instruments with their red pointers. As demanded by any enthusiastic driver, the provision of essential information in the form of the analogue oil temperature gauge located below the rev counter means the B3 Bi-Turbo can be pushed to its limits, once the minimum oil temperature of 50° C has been reached. Next to the analogue speedometer, the B3 Bi-Turbo also provides a digital speed read-out as well as average fuel economy and instantaneous fuel economy figures – thrifty driving also creates driving pleasure Immediately noticeable is the B3 Bi-Turbo’s light-footed, extremely agile handling. The secret lies in an ideal 50/50 weight balance between front and rear axles in combination with a ALPINA’s neutral and supple suspension. Augmenting this agility are light-weight 18” ALPINA CLASSIC wheels shod with conventional MICHELIN tyres, 225/40 ZR18 front and 255/35 ZR18 rear, with a conscious choice having been made not to use heavy Run-Flat tyres. 19” wheels offer an even higher level of potential lateral acceleration – in either DYNAMIC or CLASSIC design ALPINA’s newest creation reduces aerodynamic lift, especially approaching top speed. The greatest contributors are the optimised front and rear aerodynamics, helping guarantee true driving safety, not just creating a feeling of safety In quite exclusive fashion, we’ll complete but a few hundred B3 Bi-Turbos in Buchloe per annum for automotive connoisseurs. As tradition holds, each automobile will be fitted with an ALPINA plaque identifying its unique production number The new BMW ALPINA B3 Bi-Turbo – revel in its unique driving experience infused with impressive grace, power and thrift

Gotta admit that this one left me totally speechless. Ok; I can find some kind of logic in turning a Peugeot 406 Coupe into a Ferrari 360 Modena, a Lincoln Continental into a Rolls Royce Phantom or even a MX-5 / Miata into a BMW Z3. But please give me a sane reason to as why someone would take the decision to transform an E36 BMW 3-Series Coupe into a Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 �"even if the final result could actually deceit many people? Oh wait, is that a can of Red-Bull I see in one of the pics? I’m sure that if we could check the rest of the garage we’d definitely find a bottle of Romanée Conti laying around somewhere. Lesson: Never mix Red-Bull with alcohol drinks cause you never know what kinda of a messed-mix you’ll be into latter… Pic Via: Caradisiac

By TOM VOELK / Special contributor to NWCN.com KING The Jones’ will have a very tough time keeping up with this car. Occasionally I get a taste of the high life when a manufacturer drops a car made of unobtainium off at my office. After a thorough test I pass this info on to you. I’m of the firm belief that a car doesn’t have to be expensive to fun. Still it’s always a treat to see how the other half lives. This week I’m living large in a BMW M6. The Jones’ will have a very tough time keeping up with this car. Starting at $100,000 for a base model, the M6 is not for the faint of heart or light of checkbook. Expensive cars are desired for a reason. Don’t appreciate bleeding edge technology and high performance? There’s always the crass pleasure that others think you are someone special. Not that you aren’t. The plain BMW 6 Series which starts at $75,000 is a very distinctive car (and really shouldn’t be described as plain in any circumstance). Add a unique front fascia, back end diffuser, exposed carbon fiber roof plus a host of enhancements under the skin and this rare vehicle becomes something exotic. For those who don’t already know, M badges on a BMW mean mucho performance. In that department, the M6 doesn’t disappoint. If you need a tool for blistering pavement, choose this one from the shed. After living with it for a week though, I keep asking myself this- Is it too much performance? Let me explain. The racing derived 5 liter 40-valve V10 (yes, 10) delivers 400 hp for puttering around town. Not enough? Push the “M” button on the steering wheel for 100 more. Maximum torque is 383 lb.-ft at 6,100 rpm. It redlines at 8,250 and sounds like a Bavarian symphony doing it. No need for the great stereo, I’ll just listen to the engine thank you very much. The 7-speed SMG transmission can be manually shifted using the console stick or steering wheel paddles shifters. It can also be dropped into an automatic mode. This is a rear drive vehicle. The culmination of these mechanical parts and electronic software wizardry results in breathtaking performance. Zero to 60 happens in a tongue swallowing 4.5 seconds. This kind of brute force is at first scary. Run through a number of launches it’s still scary, but in a fun way. So what’s wrong with that? Nothing, if you’re on a closed course. A talented driver on a race track can put all this go fast equipment to use. Trips to the grocery store are another matter. In this environment the M6 is a chore to drive. In everyday traffic it’s jumpy off the line, even with M mode disabled. Transmission shifts that are lightning fast when pushing this car become curiously long when slogging in city traffic. Like a caffeinated greyhound, this car lets you know it only wants to run hard. An adjustable suspension goes from firm (when set to Comfort) to rock hard for track use. After some experimenting I’ve left it on Comfort and suspect most owners will too. Hustling this car down my favorite country road, I’m not coming close to finding the cornering limits. That would certainly mean jail time. It’s fun getting a full exemption from the laws of physics on the sharp turns I challenge though. The huge cross-drilled anti-lock brakes, 14.7” up front and 14.6” in back, stop the M6 right now. The various electronic stability and traction controls can be turned off for those who are feeling brave, or foolish. When in flight, this BMW demands full attention with its very direct steering. Remember that when iDrive gets addressed in a moment. The driver and passenger are snugly surrounded by a hand-stitched leather instrument panel supporting a small forest of wood trim. Think Jetsons meets Amish furniture. I doubt the Amish have much need for a 200 mile speedometer though (electronically governed to 155 Mr. Speed Racer). The drink-holder looks like sculpture. The deeply bolstered seats are especially supportive. The experience is like being in a Sharper Image leather cocoon. Some will find it form-fitting. Others? Claustrophobic. Some folks find that BMWs turn signal operation takes some time getting used to. Bump them slightly and it triggers three flashes for courteous lane changes. There’s no tactile feel if you go past that and into full turn signal mode though. Move to cancel and it’s easy to signal the other direction. To those behind you, it looks terribly indecisive at best. There are loads of electronics. BMW offers HD radio across the board now. Bluetooth phones become hands-free in this cabin. There’s keyless ignition and a proximity sensor that helps to keep the bumpers scratch-free when parking. All that plus the most pleasant warning chime in the car business can’t make up for the frustration I’m experiencing with iDrive though. Perhaps you’ve heard of BMW's much maligned user interface. This version is apparently simplified. Good thing. Call me a Ludite, but I find it very distracting to use while driving. Combine that with hair trigger steering and soft road shoulders are just a screen glance away. Everything short of the weather can be manipulated with the hefty metal jog wheel - sound system, climate control, satellite nav, even the transmission settings. Do it before getting underway or learn the voice command controls. There is a back seat, sort of. It won’t get much use. There’s actually more room in the back of the smaller 3 Series coupe. Consider it a 2-seater with emergency space. If you need a high performance family car, go with the M5 sedan. The M6 not a small car. The toilet paper test finds the trunk to be about average at 6 packs. Styling is a hot topic with BMW these days. The trunk seam on the back end is too obvious, but overall, I like the elongated and aggressive design of the 6 Series coupe. The M6 version with its 19” wheels and unique fascias looks even better. Drop an extra $5,000 and the coupe becomes a soft-top convertible. I understand those who might contact me to assail my manliness for not drooling over a car like this. Go ahead, I’m married and can take it. After a week of seat time, the M6 and I just didn’t connect. Truth be told, it surprised even me. That’s the way it is though. If you have gobs of money, finagle a test drive to see if it fits your personality. You will see very few of these on the road but you’ll know it when one is near. In sight and sound, subtle it is not. The one I’m driving is responsible for a dozen cases of whiplash, minimum. The M6 may tear up a race course with incredible cornering and performance but consider it a dedicated tool for a specific job.

Video: HERE After years of speculation, the 2009 BMW M3 is finally out in the open. First it was the debut of the M3 Concept at the Geneva auto show, followed by the release of full engine specs a few weeks later. Now take a look at these preproduction M3 prototypes as they make their way around the Nürburgring test track. Obviously, there isn't much to see on this prototype that hasn't already been revealed. Almost nothing has been changed from the M3 Concept other than the size and style of the wheels. Production versions will get a set of 18-inch forged aluminum wheels with a double-spoke design in place of the concept's 19-inch cross-spoke alloys. The real story here is the M3's much anticipated 4.0-liter V8. With roughly 414 horsepower and a redline of 8,400 rpm, this lightweight V8 makes some sweet sounds at wide-open throttle. And unlike so many high-powered performance cars of late, the 2009 M3 sticks with a traditional six-speed manual transmission; you can hear the test drivers banging through the gears. BMW has yet to announce just how quick the M3 is around the Nordschleife, but it does admit this car is faster than any previous-generation M3. No surprise there. Although the new M3 is 234 pounds heavier than its predecessor, the extra 78 hp and 33 lb-ft of torque supplied by the new V8 are apparently enough to compensate. The M3 also gets some help from less unsprung weight thanks to suspension pieces composed almost entirely of lightweight aluminum and a lower center of gravity due to its lightweight carbon-fiber roof. Though the M3 is expected to go on sale in Germany this fall, we won't get this BMW super coupe until sometime next year.

Tony & I saw this on the way back from the V8s - was quite amusing.

Alternatively any BMW wrecker will have them.

I do believe the original question is asking about the 540 V8.

Welcome

318is

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, every 25.5 seconds, a car is stolen in the US. Car theft is the costliest property crime in America, costing more than $8.6 billion annually. So you must be wondering what is the number 1 most stolen car in the United States? Well it’s Caddy’s big daddy, the Cadillac Escalade EXT. While the new revamped Escalade is growing in sales, with sales up 36 percent in the first-quarter, the Escalade’s popularity is also being measured by its theft loss rate with 1,728 stolen. The second most stolen vehicle in the US is the BMW 7-Seires. Check out the list of the ‘Top 7 Luxury cars that are most likely to be stolen’ below. Top 7 Luxury cars that are most likely to be stolen Gallery: Top 7 Luxury cars that are most likely to be stolen: 1. Cadillac Escalade EXT: Theft loss rate - 1,728 ($55,045) 2. BMW 7-Series: Theft loss rate - 431 ($78,900) 3 (tie). Land Rover Range Rover SUV: Theft loss rate - 351 ($77,250) 3 (tie). Lincoln Navigator: Theft loss rate - 351 ($46,575) 4. Lexus GS Sedan: Theft loss rate - 243 ($44,150) 5. Mercedes-Benz S-Class: Theft loss rate - 227 ($86,535) 6. Mercedes-Benz SL-Class: Theft loss rate - 209 ($95,575)

You can easily stream DVD over wireless - its all of 9 Mbs tops.

I've used data recovery about 10 times now Cost is AT LEAST 2k per disk.