Andrew

It lives, no link anymore. Factory ECU is working much better. Will be out at the testing days as often as possible to get back up to speed. Anyone want a Link

BBC shows like Top Gear may be forced to diversify their all-male presenter team due to a new Equality Bill that was introduced into Britain Monday. The bill was introduced by Labour’s deputy leader Harriet Harman. Shows like Top Gear, along with a number of other shows that have been funded by the BBC, now fall under the bill. It is reported that the “too blokey” show has been under pressure to add a lady to their team to make it “female friendly.” It is reported that besides being hosted by males, Top Gear has fewer females on its production team and fewer females than male guests. While we can’t wait to hear for Clarkson has to say about this, Executive Producer Andy Wilman said that the statement was “utter drivel.” “If the show is allegedly female-unfriendly, why is almost half the audience female?” said Wilman. ”Secondly, if we are to have a female presenter just to represent the sexes, then by that logic Loose Women needs a bloke in the line-up pretty sharpish.”

We are doing a software update that will hopefully sort this. The problem is humans are signing up these bots so are getting around current protection methods.

I don't care about the car. That was a seriously solid dragon! But seriously badass work. 103 beers.

Tis my sisters.

Sad guys, I just bought this two weeks ago.

Isn't it just the best headline ever though?

BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer said today that the automaker could lose money this year if the current global sales downturn continues. Reithofer declined to give any earnings outlook for the full year but said that it expects global auto sales to decline between 10 and 20 percent. “For 2009, the largest risk is the collapsing market. If revenues fall more than 20 percent, you lose money,” Reithofer said at the company’s annual earnings conference, reports Automotive News. Reithofer said that after the inevitable decline this year, sale volumes will pick up again in 2010. BMW Group’s sales dropped 24.3 percent to 150,838 units in January and February. During the last months of 2008, BMW sales declined 4.3 percent, its first annual drop since 1993.

Earlier this year AutoCar revealed that BMW was working on supercar that will showcase the company’s EfficientDynamics fuel-saving technologies. The car, which is known as the Z10 ED, is going into production and will be turned into a front-engined, rear-wheel-drive, £80,000 Audi R8 rival. We’re guessing you don’t believe us just it. Rumor has it that the car will carry a turbocharged direct-injected inline-6 that will make around 400-hp and will be mated a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. EfficientDynamics’ technologies such as start/stop and a regeneration braking system, should increase fuel-efficiency by 15 percent. AutoCar recently sat down with Adrian van Hooydonk, who recently took over as head of design of BMW Group. So if any of you thought that the Z10 ED was just a rumor, words from an official BMW executive should prove that this car is no joke. “It would be good for BMW and show what we are capable of,” van Hooydonk. told AutoCar. “The Z10 is the answer to the very interesting question ‘what if we designed a car for the future?’ The key to the BMW brand is that we must deliver an exciting dynamic experience in the future. That is the cornerstone of BMW, definitely.” No details on when the Z10 ED will be available but sources say the car will be built in very limited numbers - so you can expect it to be very pricey. Note: Pictured above is the BMW M-Zero Concept by Mael Oberkamph.

BMW is hard at work on the new 5-Series sedan due out next year followed by a 1-Series replacement in 2011 and the next-generation 3-Series for 2012. UK publication CAR has dug up some interesting info on the 2011 1-Series that may be of interest to you BMW fans. According to CAR, BMW is considering at least five different variants for the next-generation 1-Series including a two-door hatchback; a three-door shooting brake; a three-door Sportwagon; a three or five-door GT1/PAS (like the 5-Series GT); and a three-door Sport Activity Coupe (you can think of this variant as a two-door BMW X1). The new 1-Series due out early 2012, will also feature a Supersport model that is rumored to fit between the 135i and the next-generation BMW M3. While it won’t be badged the M1, the car will carry a high-revving 2.0 or 2.2L twin-turbo 4-cylinder engine making some 300-hp and a peak torque of 331 lb-ft. CAR says that with new design and engine lineup the next-generation BMW 1-Series is likely to move up the price and performance ladder. - By: The Daily Auto Editor

The Swiss man accused of blackmailing BMW heiress Susanne Klatten has been jailed for six years. Helg Sgarbi, known as the Swiss Gigolo, was convicted at his trial in Munich after trying to pull a scam in an attempt to squeeze millions of euros out of Germany’s richest woman. Sgarbi was also convicted at his trial for trying to scam three other unnamed women. He has reportedly extracted 7 million euros ($8.8 million USD) from Klatten. Sgarbi threatened to release footage of their affair onto the internet. He apologized to Klatten in court but did not say where the alleged sex tapes are being kept. Klatten owns a 12.5 percent stake in BMW.

I can't really like..move. So that's out. Anyone want a mitsi FTO .. mint condition REAL cheap

Yes, when you do it through the GPS.

See for info on what it can do: http://www.theblackhawk.co.nz/personal/default.asp This is excess stock from Bimmersport LTD. I can hook you up with someone to install also. This GPS tracking unit can help with some insurance premiums (see Blackhawk webpage for which companies). $1 res on Tardme - brand new, un-opened. Cheers! http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=208632387

Howdy - Anyone have a Mitsi mechanic that won't charge $1200 to replace an FTO waterpump. Seems a tad pricey to me. Cheers

optimal beer to work ratio - I like it. Badass swap.

Will watch this year. Gus and I are meeting in Bahrain (of all places) to watch the F1, should be awesome. Will post pics of those hot pit girls in burkas.

Wayy to skinny

According to Project i boss Dr. Ulrich Karnz, BMW’s Project i will develop vehicles for those that can afford premium vehicle. Project i is BMW’s strategy to develop compact electric-vehicles for big cities like London, New York, Tokyo and Shanghai. The 515 electric MINI E models currently being tested are the foundation of future Project i vehicles. “These vehicles will be premium vehicles,” Kranz told CAR at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. “They will not be Tata Nano rivals – no way! We can and will only build premium cars.” Kranz said that BMW has yet to decide whether the cars will wear a BMW badge or create another brand for the fuel-efficient premium vehicles. He said that the cars will initially be built in Germany but production in other markets is possible. “They will be built by BMW in BMW factories – we wouldn’t consider outsourcing production to a third party,” Karnz said. First Drive: MINI E: http://www.flickr.com/photos/egmcartech/se...192147637/show/

The new BMW Concept 5-Series Gran Turismo is one of the last vehicles of Chris Bangle who recently resigned his position of design head at the Munich automaker. Nonetheless, the design is here to stay and BMW is displaying the new PAS (Progressive Activity Sedan) at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. BMW is known for offering concepts that are really close to their final production version - and the Concept 5-Series Gran Turismo is no exception. The production version will make its debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show in Sept. and will go on sale shortly after in early 2010. The production version is expected to be offered with a choice of a 272-hp naturally aspirated engine and an updated 326-hp 3.0L twin-turbo 6-cylinder in the U.S. Click through for the high-res image gallery. 2009 Geneva Motor Show: BMW Concept 5-Series Gran Turismo:

You’ve seen prototypes of the upcoming BMW X5 M and the X6 M. BMW has now launched a minisite counting down to the unveiling of the two new M models. According to the site, there are only 30 days until we see the first ever ‘M’ BMW SUVs. Power for the X5 M and the X6 M is expected to come from a 4.4L twin-turbo V8 making above 500-hp. We expect to see the two M SUVs at the 2009 New York Auto Show next month. Click here to view the minisite.

According to a report by Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, BMW shares jumped up 2 percent today on possible cooperation talks between the Munich based automaker and Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz. “According to our calculations, a cooperation in purchasing, r&d and financial services could generate annual cost savings of up to 3 billion euros or 1.10 euros per Daimler share and 1.60 euros per BMW share,” Commerzbank analyst Daniel Schwarz said in a note to obtained by the publication. “We believe that BMW is the more efficient company with regard to purchasing compared to Mercedes,” Schwarz said, saying that Daimler will end up gaining more from the cooperation. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung said that both automakers are stepping up previous efforts to share cost due to the current economic downturn, reports Automotive News Europe.

Gymkhana secret is to tape up the ratchet on the handbrake. FTW

Happy Birthday Shelley - Cheers for all the support.

That sucks Cain, glad your OK.