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Posts Tagged ‘bmw’

I have to bare up front that I own an older 3-series BMW, so I am quite conscious of its abilities and downsides. And as many different types of autos that I drive, I am always satisfied to revisit my baby. But when I got behind the wheel of the new 330i ( Edmunds pricing at $39,184 ) I could tell that this machine was a pointy step up in performance inside 1 / 4 mile.

At my first ride in the front seat, I couldn’t get over the ergonomics of the steering wheel. Every car has one, and I’ve handled some peculiar ones, but my grip hasn’t felt more at home than with this 330i. ( Sadly , it wasn’t a heated steering whilst like the 7-series, and it was quite cold outside. ) Then BMW mates this steering wheel with very precise steering for a sedan-level car.

The German automobiles avoid that Yank makers’ design, instead they provide a slower launch, but smoother, linear acceleration. And the silky 6-cylinder engine is very conspicuous with a manual transmission in this car. BMW eventually added a 6th gear for the stick shift, and I assert it is overdue. My old one has fifty thousand miles and the gearing still makes me look for 6th when I run up thru the gears – but sadly there are only 5 to be had. Since the 330i generates 255 hp, much more than I am used to for daily driving, I may have to upgrade my radar detector.

Yes, the car basics are impressive – engine, ride, steering (even the steering wheel), but the electronics controls are a laughable dissatisfaction. Any one that has driven this automobile has a story about turning on the turn signals from one side to the other and back again, in a vain attempt to turn them off. I know folks in the area gave me a wider berth, thinking I used to be a confused and lost driver. The turning signal lever does not ‘click’ into place as the remainder of the world has come to ordinarily expect turn signals to function. With the 330i, you tap the signal,eg for passing, and it instantly flashes 3 times and then turns off. But you can hold the lever a little longer, and you get your normal-action from the turn signal. But on a soft turn, where the signal doesn’t turn off, you have to flick it the other way to turn it off. But in the hurry of the instant, if it is more than a flick, then you simply indicated from your signals that you are turning in the wrong way. And this goes back & forth every once in a while until you get used to it.

Other electronic oddities are the Navigation/Radio controls. There are some models of vehicles where you can intuitively muddle your way to what you need to get done. I could not generate that kind of luck while I was driving. My passenger had to regularly go thru the owners’ manual that didn’t offer much guidance to get the map or radio station the way we wanted. And we did not even have the added i-drive option that so many customers complain about. I’m at a loss to give an explanation for the miss-timing of the automated windshield wipers. I like that Jaguar has this feature down pat, but the 330i wipers were always going too fast or too slow ; so kept having to manually adjust the automated windshield wipers. An electronic improvement over the prior 3-series model is the traction control system. The old model would cut the power to the wheels in a glaring fashion, whilst this model is a seamless experience of artificially superior driving skill.

So while the driving experience is a quantum level improvement over the last generation change at BMW, their electronics package gives me some hesitation in purchasing one of these machines. In bumper to bumper traffic, the electronic gadgetry of the 330i becomes more annoying; and only on curvy roads without traffic or law enforcement can you experience the thrill of what this car can offer.

For more reviews about sports cars, visit thesupercars.org and while you are at it, you might also want to have a look at BMW 5 Series used.

It’s a close race, one that likely won’t result in deep price cutting to move models, but is certain nevertheless to be on the minds of executives employed by two automakers till the clock strikes midnight for the last time this year. What the race is all about is this : the evergreen sales battle between two German automakers, BMW and Mercedes, with BMW expected to pass Mercedes in world sales totals for 2005. The implications are robust for each automaker and will set the tone for the way each company produces and markets cars from 2006 forward.

Mercedes finishing 2nd to BMW is not a snug taste for DaimlerChrysler, parent of Mercedes and now owner of The Chrysler Group, maker of Jeeps, Dodges, and Chryslers. Only Volkswagen sells more autos than either make, but when it comes to a predominately luxury line up Mercedes and BMW battle alone amongst German makes with Audi a distant third.

Unlike Yankee automakers, Mercedes is not likely to engage in deep price cuts to draw in shoppers and “steal” sales that they might have made in 2006 for 2005 to prevent BMW. Still, purchasers of Mercedes vehicles should find an even friendlier showroom in which to buy when they barter the price on their “C”, “E”, or “M” Classes of vehicles.

So, precisely what has lead to the shift in sales? Well, revealed reports indicate that Mercedes sales continue to rise, but slowly. On the other hand, BMW sales growth are in the double digit class which is what has pushed BMW before Mercedes so far this year. Oddly, it is not the luxury cars in each automakers’ fold that is spelling the difference. Unknown by several Yankees, both BMW and Mercedes sell automobiles that are smaller and less opulent than the cars that appear in the states. Autos that compete exactly against Volkswagen’s Golf and offerings from GM, Ford, many Eastern automakers, and others.

Yes, it is true. Not all BMW or Mercedes models are luxury cars. Unlike in the USA where a Cadillac is totally a luxury car, both German brands produce automobiles for the rank and file driver too. It is these sorts of vehicles that have fueled both automakers expansion and is likely behind BMW jumping before Mercedes.

To counter BMW’s surge, Mercedes does have an ace up its sleeve: the arrival of one or two smaller lines of cars to the U.S. market by 2007. If you have not worked it out yet, Mercedes has “A” and “B” Class cars that are smaller and more cost effective than this “baby” Mercedes, what we call the “C” Class. Mercedes hopes the US market is ready for less pricey cars sporting the venerable Mercedes name and that these sales will propel Mercedes back into the lead.

Of course, what is good for BMW as the automaker explores bringing its “1″ and “2″ series cars to the US to challenge for sales. Both lines of vehicles are positioned against Mercedes “A” and “B” class automobiles and are the same vehicles that have bumped BMW’s sales figures up.

Now if only Mercedes would consider importing it’s SMART vehicle to the US market.

If you can have any car in the world, what would it be? Visit thesupercars.org for information and specs on the greatest cars in the world, also take a look at old BMW M Coupe.

The name says it all, and it has a legendary resonance: Mille Miglia. From its inception, this road trial covering 1,000 miles was considered the ultimate challenge for drivers and cars alike. Those who stayed the course in the Mille Miglia proved not only their competitiveness in motor sports but also their automotive engineering prowess.

Between 1927 and 1957, the Mille Miglia was staged 24 times in northern Italy. It was a spectacular event for many thousands of motor sport fans and a perfect stage for race drivers such as Tazio Nuvolari, Stirling Moss, Rudolf Caracciola, Juan Manuel Fangio and Fritz Huschke von Hanstein. But the Mille Miglia was also a crucial trial of strength for car manufacturers. The event celebrated its revival in 1977 and, as a reliability trial for historic vehicles, has kept alive the spirit of classic car racing ever since. In 1925 four young men from Brescia, as wealthy as they were enthusiastic about motor racing, had resolved to turn their home town into a hub of motor sports. Two years later they saw their plans come to fruition. Henceforth, the start and finish line in Brescia would take on a carnival atmosphere, with the drivers and their automobiles enthusiastically celebrated by the numerous spectators who flocked there.

Each year racing fever spread throughout the land and not only because the cars that dominated the event were initially of Italian manufacture.

For fans of classic automobiles, todays Mille Miglia enjoys an importance on a par with the significance of the original races for the motor sport scene of the time. Nowhere other than between Brescia and Rome is the history of motor sport and automotive engineering celebrated so intensely and impressively. The Mille Miglia storica pays homage to the design engineers and their creations, which continue to inspire professionals and aficionados to this day.

More of these articles and much more automotive news can be found on: iCar Automotive News

iCar is an independent webzine for the car enthusiast and brings a daily fresh automotive news. When your are interested in classic cars then we could recommend Auto Motor Klassiek, thousands of classic cars for sale when you click on Classic Cars for Sale Auto Motor Klassiek is a magazine for Classic Cars.

Classic Bike Fan? Have a look at: Motor Klassiek for Classic Motorcycles Oldtimer Motoren

Published by: iCar Automotive News

The German car brands still keep to grow, though the automotive world in general is in recess. But not only in it’s home country BMW is doing well. In the first quarter of 2009, BMW Group continued to register growth in the Chinese Mainland market with a total of 16,580 BMW and MINI cars delivered  to the customers, representing 13.8% growth over the same period of 2008 (prev.yr.: 14,574 units).  Automotive expectations in the east are good, and Chinese people still are buying cars. But just ten percent of the Chinese public is driving or owning a car. One could predict the environmental issues if all Chinese own one or two cars. Luckily the Chinese government is trying to get people to buy only clean cars and reward it with half the taxes as would be payed normally.

Sales of the BMW brand automobiles in the Chinese Mainland increased by 14.four percent to 15,850 units, which includes 8,402 units BMW 3 Series and 5 Series cars are build in China. Sales of MINI cars rose by 1% in the Chinese Mainland to 730 units in the first quarter of 2009 (prev.yr.: 723 units).

In the whole Region China markets combining Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau, the BMW Group delivered a total of 18,244 BMW and MINI brand automobiles in the first quarter, a year-on-year increase of 5.4% (prev.yr.: 

17,317).  

“Considering the current global difficult times, the Chinese auto market continues to be very resilient and recently showed signs of recovering the growth path. We achieved again double-digit growth for BMW and MINI vehicles sales for the first quarter, and relatively strong growth of 20.4% in March. Our new generation 7 Series will be one of the strong contributors to our sales success throughout the year in China” said Dr. Christoph Stark, President and CEO of BMW Group Region China.

This article and more like them you can find through MyArticleNetwork, and the best of it, it’s free.
Classic Bike Fan? Have a look at: Motor Klassiek

In this current day and age having your own transport is essential as public transport will only let you down. People just want to have the best cars around and they end up setting them back a huge amount.

But is it worth the hassle of buying a new car these days? Let as have a look at why I just do not like this.
1.)  New cars are not made to last in this day and age; the manufacturers are very clever and only build cars for a certain lifespan so a new one has to be purchased.
2.) Even if a car was built to last in this day and age people just travel so much and they would probably do 100k miles in 3 years or less.
3.) Parts for your vehicle that will set you back alot.

I remember when I first passed my test it was an amazing experience but I was driving a car built in 1985 and although this car had done a huge amount of miles, it never caused me any problems. Nowadays I definatley like to purchase newer cars, but the annoying thing about them is that they are always breaking.

Alot of people like to buy vehicles on finance, but the problem is that as soon as they pay them off they end up breaking so they have to go back to the manufacturers and buy a new one.  So in my opinion car leasing is probably one of the best options you pay probably less than you would as a monthly rate for finance, then when your term is up you hand the car back and get a brand new one, plus avoiding all of the cost of repairs and break downs.

Great Mercedes car leasing or BMW car leasing.

Future Cars

My car seems to have lived its life its getting abit wrinkley, I have had it since I passed my driving test so around 5 years. But recently the body work has started getting a lot messy.

So I have been saving all of my pennies and am now looking through brochures of new cars. I just cannot decide which car to purchase as of yet, I navigate online everyday to see if anything catches my eye.

More recently while searching through the vide site YouTube I saw this great little video of how cars may look in the future. If you take a glimpse at the above video, you will just see the quality of these unbelievable vehicles.

Looking at the silver Peugeots or the silver BMW is just amazing and I honestly do believe that in the next 10 years we will be seeing cars that are a lot more rounded. Technology is advancing and if we turn out attention back to the early 90's where people did not really know how to manipulate metals most of the cars had a square format, but if we then fast forward to the present date you will see cars are already starting to take shape such as the Audi TT car models.

So after viewing this great video, I think I am going to hide my money away and save up abit more until the futuristic models get released. Give it 5 more years or so and they should be released.

Used BMW Motorcycle Parts

The first motorcycles were in fact just simply motorized bicycles that had engines attached to bike frames. Over the years they have developed into very complicated machines. Technology has developped and grown to increase speed, control, fuel economy and comfort. If you have a BMW motorcycle and you own the bike for an extended period of time, you are, at some point, going to need BMW motorcycle parts. You can buy new parts but used BMW motorcycle parts are often just as good and are available at a much better price. All separate components have their own purposes, but they depend on the other parts around them.

A Small Motorcycle Anatomy Lesson

The motorcycle chassis
This is one of the most important motorcycle parts. It includes the frame, suspension and front forks. The frame is typically made from welded steel or aluminum struts with the rear suspension included as an integral component. Expensive frames can even be constructed from carbon fiber or titanium. The frame includes the head tube that holds the pivoting front fork.

Suspension
The front suspension is often built into the front fork, but the rear suspension is optional. Chopper motorcycles usually forgo the rear suspension and use a rigid frame instead. The rear suspension can consist of several arrangements, including dual shocks, traditional mono-shock suspensions or soft-tail style suspensions. The front fork holds the front wheel and allows the rider to steer. The most critical part for steering of all the motorcycle parts is the front fork.

Other motorcycle parts

• the engine (vertical single, vertical twin, V-twin, opposed twin, in-line triple and in-line four)
• transmission (five or six forward gears, reverse gear)
• tires
• brakes (drum or disc based, with disc brakes being the most common on larger motorcycles)
• final drive (chain drive, belt drives or shaft drive)
• instruments (speedometers, odometers, tachometers and fuel gauges)

There are special companies that deal only in new or used BMW motorcycle parts, they are solely focused on the BMW brand. This means that if you are looking for a special part you will have a very good chance these kind of companies can help you. They usually can deliver quick and for a good price because they often have new and used parts right off the shelf.

Buying At Motorcycle salvage yards

A real good option if you really want to save as much money as possible are motorcycle salvage yards. There are many of these large businesses in the country and in fact all over the world, but its is best to build a relationschip with your local salvage yard. If they know you and they know what you are looking for , they can contact you if they have used BMW motorcycle parts they think will fit your bike.

It is important that if you are buying used parts you put a bit more effort into checking the parts before you buy them. You need to make sure a part is not damaged or deformed. You should be able to find great bargins that are exactly what you are looking for if you put just that little bit of time and effort into looking for the right used BMW motorcycle parts.

Frank Strider loves to talk about motorbikes and all the things related to it. Visit his website MotorBikePlace.com if you want to find out more about motorcycle salvage or about BMW motorcycle clothing for example.

BMW Autos

Sports cars are performance automobiles that provide driving satisfaction and pleasure. They allow a person to engage in the best driving experience and be in touch directly with the highway or road, as diametrically as possible.

In the automobile industry where economy automobiles, “family sedans” and SUV’s dominate the field, sports cars definitely stand out.

These types of cars, for the skilled drivers, can give optimum performance on the road. Not all drivers are equally skilled, but to individuals who are capable of feeling and understanding the faint messages of these vehicles, they can indulge in a rewarding and satisfying driving experience since sports cars are intended to be driven fairly fast.

Due to this driving pleasure, many people are drawn to a sports car. This is just one of the many reasons why people like sports cars. Other reasons include:

1. Appearance. The aerodynamic design of a sports car makes it attractive to car fans. Although when you are making an automotive purchase, this should not be the principal or only reason to purchase that vehicle. Functionality should be the main consideration even though beauty will also enter into your decision.

2. Driving characteristics. While other cars are mainly designed for affordability and function, sports cars gives emphasis on performance and execution. The trait and condition of driving a sports car is an experience often unmatched.

Keeping in mind their very discriminating car drivers, sports cars easily out perform the road execution of other automobiles. Drivers can easily accelerate when required, hug turns, and have a certain driving management not provided by most vehicles.

3. Fun plus excitement. The driving qualities of a sports car are providing excitement and thrill.

One can spend hours talking about pleasurable experiences such as curve hugging while not taking one’s foot off the accelerator or zooming past slow moving traffic yet remaining in full control or talk about the feeling of satisfaction , and knowing that one is driving a car with superb engineering.

4. Duration and resale value. Each new vehicle depreciates in value the very second it is driven. However, sports cars will become more valuable as time passes, because of their above-mentioned qualities and are expected to become potential classics that will retain their value.

One does not need to make their car choice a statement, although if one chooses, the opportunity is right there. Owning a sports vehicle will make a statement about the owner’s personality.

BMW has always produced quality sports cars especially their motorsport editions such as the BMW M3 Coup and as sports cars enthusiasts BMW owners like to modify their BMW car.

For more information and guides on how to modify your car especially your BMW, refer to www.BOBmodifiedBMW.com website where you can see many BMW Gallery pictures and articles to refer to as a guide. You may download a copy of “Modifying Guide” for your Car.

Other Car Information can be found at BMW Dealer

BMW M3 Coup

BMW or Bayerische Motoren Werke has long been conceived all over the world as “The Ultimate Driving Machine.” The company has proven this statement true in the past years.

The current models of BMW cars will attest to that statement.

Here are some of the current models of BMW, with their corresponding characteristics.

-BMW M3 2006

Engine specifications:

BMW M3 has an in-line, 3.2 liter capacity engine with a compression ratio of 11.5. It has 4 valves per cylinder. It promises to deliver 248 KW power and 333 HP at 7900 rpm (SAE).

Brake Features:

The car has electronic brake distribution, brake assist system, four disk brakes with ventilated disks, cornering brake control, and four-wheel ABS.

Handling Features:

BMW M3 is equipped with stability control, immobilizer and limited slip differentia at the rear. The ABS and engine management control the electronic traction.

Aerodynamics Exterior features:

The car has 0.35 drag coefficient, body side moldings, and 3771 lbs. curb weight.

-BMW M5 2006

Engine specifications:

The BMW M5 2006 car has a V10, and 3.2 liter capacity engine with a compression ratio of 12.  It has four valves per cylinder. It will deliver 373 KW power and 500 HP at 7750 rpm (SAE).

Brake Features:

The BMW has brake assist system, four disk brakes with ventilated discs, electronic brake distribution, cornering brake control, and four-wheel ABS.

Handling Features:

The BMW M5 is equipped with stability control, immobilizer and limited slip differentia at the rear. The ABS and engine management control the electronic traction. It is also equipped with a sporty suspension.

Aerodynamics Exterior features:

The car has 0.31 drag coefficient and 4012 lbs. curb weight.

-BMW 6-Series

Engine specifications:

The BMW M5 2006 has a V8, 4.8 liter capacity engine with a compression ratio of 10.5. It has 4 valves per cylinder. It will deliver 268 KW power and 360 HP at 6300 rpm (SAE).

Brake Features

The car has electronic brake distribution, brake assist system, four disk brakes with ventilated disks, cornering brake control, and four-wheel ABS.

Handling Features:

BMW M3 car is equipped with stability control, immobilizer and limited slip differentia at the rear. The ABS and engine management control the electronic traction. It is also equipped with an adjustable responsive suspension.

Aerodynamics Exterior features:

The car has 0.3 drag coefficient, and 3814 lbs. curb weight.

With all the features these cars have, BMW truly is the “Ultimate Driving Machine.” especially a BMW M3

For more information and guides on how to modify your car especially BMW, refer to www.BOBmodifiedBMW.com website where you can see many BMW Wheels pictures and articles to refer to as a guide. You can also download a copy of Modifying Guide for your Car.

Other Car Guides can be found at Car Information

BMW Automobiles

Are you planning to improve the aesthetic appearance of your car? Want to get that sporty look? Then here are some pointers that will help you style up your car.

What products to select from

When considering what options of setup you will do to your car, you should first keep in mind that there are a many different products being sold out there which claim superior performance and economical. But the reality is there are some good ones and many bad ones. Be picky when looking for car accessories and remember it is not a bad idea to look at the established brands before considering untested brands.

The wheels

One of the first things that a car enthusiast does when dressing up a car is to replace the existing wheels with custom made ones. But this is not just for looks since performance wheels and tires also enhance a car’s handling and performance. Considering between tall wheels and short ones will be the next step. Larger wheels get noticed more and improve the attractiveness of a car dramatically. Smaller wheels on the other hand have that vintage or retro look.

Racing Stickers

Applying sticker designs on the car hood or the other parts of the car body is one of the cheapest ways to alter the look of your car. Sticker art designs range from popular performance parts of manufacturers as well as those designed for rally and indy races. If you are capable of making your own stickers, it is important to get permission for copying a design as it may be copyrighted. If you are planning to put stickers on the hood, choose the kind that will not be damaged by the heat of the engine. Metallic foil stickers are perfect for car hoods.

Lowering Suspension

Lowering your car means making your car more stable when turning and giving it an aggressive and sporty look. Cars are not the only ones that have lowering kits, so if you have a pickup truck, chances are, there is a lowering kit made for your vehicle. Although having a lower ride means improved handling, the trade off is poorer ride quality since the car springs are stiffer and shorter.

These are some of the things that you can do to improve the look of your automobile. Your car is a representation of you so ideally you want it to look good. Of course, having a good looking car also means spending some serious cash. If this is what you like, then paying extra will not be a problem with you.

See this modified BMW M3 manual as an example of sports car styling.

For more information on how to modify your car especially your BMW, refer to www.BOBmodifiedBMW.com website where you can see many BMW M3 pictures and articles to refer to as a guide. You can also download a copy of Modifying Guide for your Car.

Other Car Guides can be found at BMW 3 Series