Archive for BMW

BMW is currently working on new technologies to better manage heat released from its vehicles. By improving heat management, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions can be reduced. Even a very fuel efficient engine can only convert about one-third of the energy contained in fuel to actually propel a car.

The rest is lost as waste heat via the car’s exhaust and radiator. To be more specific the auto maker is working on three systems including technologies to eliminate cold starts, convert heat from a car’s exhaust into electricity and use waste heat for interior heating.

To eliminate cold starts, BMW is working on improving heat insulation of engines (pictured below) that can help prevent them from cooling down quickly and retain as much residual heat as possible for the next start. With the technology that is being developed, the engine will take longer to cool down and even after 12 hours, engine temperature can still be figured at about 40 degrees Celsius.

BMW claims that each degree Celsius above the ambient temperature can help reduce fuel consumption by 0.2%. To help achieve better heating, a vehicle will be surrounded by fully clad walls and panels using materials that are normally used in the car’s underfloor for insulation.

Heat can also be converted into electric power. The automaker says that between 3 and 8% of the total fuel consumed by modern cars is due to the rising number of electricity-dependent features. BMW is testing a component called a thermoelectric generator (pictured below).

This generator uses the effect of the temperature gradient in thermoelectric semi-conductor elements generating electrical voltage (the Seebeck Effect). The bigger the difference in temperature, the higher the voltage generated. Exhaust gas temperatures, which are usually between 300 and 900 degrees Celsius, are on the hot side of the generator, and engine coolant is used for the cold side.

Basically up to 250 W of energy can be produced by integrating the component with the exhaust gas recirculation cooler. 250 W equals to about half the on-board electricity consumption in a BMW 5 Series. This can help reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 2%.

The final technology of the heat management idea is an exhaust gas heat exchanger. This system can be placed close to the catalytic converter and it can convey heat to other components or areas like the interior. It can replace the need for electrical heating modules which consume additional fuel (by about 1 liter per 100 kilometers).

Furthermore, the feature can also be used to help warm up components like the transmission (example, oil in the automatic transmission). The above mentioned technologies are in testing stages hence it can take years before we can actually see them in production cars.

BMW has just made available two mobile phone hands-free Bluetooth headsets – one with a BMW design and one with a MINI design. The headsets are aimed at those who own BMW or MINI cars that did not come with Bluetooth handsfree systems from the factory. In Malaysia, it’s safe to say that all iDrive-equipped BMWs have Bluetooth handsfree systems installed.

The Bluetooth headset by BMW weighs 8 grams and the rechargeable battery offers a talktime of 5 hours and a standby time of 7 days. You can charge them via a charger that you hook up to your car’s cigarette lighter. It can be paired and used with two different mobile phones at the same time.

The BMW X1 has not even been launched here yet but AC Schnitzer has already released these photos of the X1 fitted with their alloy wheel designs. A full-on bodykit has yet to be developed, but that will come pretty soon.

A first half of 2010 launch is expected for the X1 here in Malaysia. In line with BMW’s new EfficientDynamics gameplan internationally and recently in Malaysia, you can expect at least one turbodiesel model to be launched.

BMW has no competitor for the RS4 Avant as yet. I know there are customers out there that would definitely like an M3 Touring but I guess it’s just not enough for BMW. If you pick up copies of BMW Magazine or Performance BMW from the newstands you can sometimes see E46 Tourings turned into makeshift M3s. Each of the other 3-Series bodies have already received its M3 – the E90, E92, and the E93, but at least the E91 has a 335i, which can be chipped into an M3 contender.

Another option would be to get one of these babies – an “M3 Estate” custom-built from an E91 by Manhart Racing. It’s not exactly an M3 with a touring tail – the engine and transmission package in the engine bay is completely different as well and comes from the ‘older’ E60 M5. This means a big 5.0 liter high-revving V10 putting out 550 PS and BMW’s 7-speed single clutch SMG transmission. It’s already been pre-tuned with various bits and pieces from factory – a stainless steel quad-pipe exhaust, 200-cell racing catalysts, 6-pot front/4-pot rear Stoptech brakes, Bilstein PSS10 coilover suspension, etc.

The rear end of the car is typical E91 wagon (in these photos it is the pre-facelift version) but at the front, the whole unappealing pre-facelift E90 front-end has been replaced by the E92 coupe look, which is the same thing that BMW did with the E90 M3 Sedan anyway. You can buy one for €120,000, and of course converting your existing E91 is cheaper. But at the same time, an M5 Touring only costs under €100,000.

Click here to read the rest of Fancy a compact BMW wagon with a V10?

BMW has upgraded its heads-up display technology to have full-colour images instead of a simple red, orange, yellow and green system before this. This especially enhances the use of the HUD for GPS navigation purposes. Not something you’d probably care about but BMW claims the latest version of their display now only requires less than 10 LEDs to function, when older models of the system required over 100 of them. LEDs are energy efficient to begin with but this is one of BMW’s obsession with reducing power consumption (from 13 to 7 watt) in action, or is it to save cost on buying LEDs?

BMW have launched four new diesel models here in Malaysia, complementing the existing X5 xDrive30d model. The four are the BMW 320d Sports, the BMW 520d Sports Edition, the BMW X3 xDrive20d Executive Edition and finally the flagship BMW 730Ld, which also so happens to be the cheapest F02 7-Series available in Malaysia.

The BMW 320d Sports is only RM7,000 more expensive than the BMW 320i. It’s also the 3-Series Sedan with the most torque, save for the 335i Individual and the M3 Sedan. With 177hp and 350Nm, the 320d outshines the 320i’s 156hp and 200Nm of torque. Thanks to that 0 to 100km/h acceleration time is down from the 320i’s 9.8 seconds to 8 seconds in the 320d Sports. Nearly 2 seconds is a big difference in acceleration feel.

The Sports suffix means that it has the full M-Sport kit – bodykit, seats, aluminium interior trim, 320i Sports wheels, and the M-Sport suspension bits. But it doesn’t have iDrive though, so for that you’ll have to go for the 323i and above variants. The 320d Sports consumes just 6.0 liters of diesel per 100km on an average driving cycle and if you’re on long distance trips it should be even better.

The BMW 520d Sports Edition has the same engine as the 320d Sports – a 2.0 liter turbodiesel engine with 177 horsepower and 350Nm of torque. 0 to 100km/h takes a little more time at 8.4 seconds because it is a larger car.

The term Sports Edition means it’s sort of in between a regular 5 and a 5 M-Sport. You have the M-Sport bodykit, M-Sport wheels, M-Sport steering, but no M-Sport seats and M-Sport suspension. So it’s going to be more of a comfort cruiser with the aesthetic go-fast bits tacked on. Like all 5-Series save for the non-SE 523i, you get the latest version of iDrive with the internal hard drive storage and etc.

Both the 320d Sports and 520d Sports have exhaust tips that points downwards. All the non-M-Sport E39 5-Series used to have this exhaust but the difference is it was hidden behind the bumper, out of sight. But with the M-Sport kits on both the 3 and 5 of this current generation, the bumpers show off the exhaust tailpipe in full glory.

The reason for this is due to the rules set by the German HQ. We get Euro 3 versions of these engines due to our diesel quality which is only just Euro 2M and not the Euro 4/5 capable diesel available in Europe, and amongst the various differences is the fact that the DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) has been removed because of the Euro 2M sulphur levels.

For cars without DPF filters, the instruction is to have the tailpipe facing the road, so that the particulates are channeled towards the ground instead of straight out. For owners, if you don’t like the look you can probably get that fixed at JFA in Sunway or something or something. Other than that, BMW says they’ve done adequate testing and the engine should run fine on our Euro 2M fuel, at least within the warranty period.

The flagship is of course the 730d long wheelbase with the new aluminium crankcase 6-cylinder diesel engine. This is a new generation diesel engine that I had the opportunity to try out matched with a manual gearbox when it was installed in a 330d in Germany. In Malaysia installed in the F02 7-Series, its mated to a ZF 6-speed automatic.

It’s got 245 horsepower and 540Nm of torque, but consumes 6.9 liters per 100km. The engine felt really amazing in the 330d – unlike other diesel engines its powerband did not taper off at the higher ends of the rev range, which shows somehow with this new generation BMW has managed to control the auto-ignition combustion quite well at high revs. The 7-Series is the only car in Malaysia with this new engine, but the X5 xDrive30d will probably be getting this engine too when its time for it to be facelifted.

Looking at the 730d at the launch also gave us a sneak peek at changes to the 7-Series offerings when it comes to the 2010 model year here in Malaysia. The rear passengers of all 7-Series variants will now get a proper full-fledged iDrive controller, including this new 730d. Previously, rear passenger iDrive was only available on the 750i. The 740i had the dual rear screens but you had to control it with a remote control, and the user interface was a little limited on features. Now with full rear iDrive on all models, the ceiling air conditioning vents have been removed as part of the spec adjustment, presumably so the same price can be offered.

Removing the ceiling air conditioning vents is probably good as the option adds a little box in the boot that intrudes into the bootspace which I initially thought was a subwoofer of some kind, but is in fact the aircond compressor. This means 2010 model cars will have more boot space. I don’t think people will miss the ceiling aircond much as there is still the B-pillar and center console air conditioning.

The following are the prices for the new diesel models:

BMW 320d Sports – RM 255,800.00
BMW 520d Sports Edition – RM 379,800.00
BMW X3 xDrive20d Executive Edition – RM 333,800.00
BMW 730Ld – RM 698,800.00

They include BMW Service Inclusive + Repair for 3 years or 60,000km. Look after the jump for hi-res photos of the three sedans. I kind of missed the X3 that was on display.

Click here to read the rest of Four new BMW EfficientDynamics turbodiesel models now here in Malaysia!

The Dow Jones Sustainability Index has named BMW the most sustainable automobile company in the world for the 5th consecutive year. The index was first published in 1999, so it is in its 10th year now. Effectively, this means that right now, BMW is the world’s most ‘greenest’ automaker.

BMW has just established a Sustainability Board in summer 2009, which comprises of the entire Board of Management, determines the strategic alignment for sustainability issues. They meet twice a year to discuss and adopt the strategies and activities proposed at operational level.

Sustainability is not only defined by your product mix. On one hand BMW makes the zero emissions MINI E (though on trial), but on the other hand you also have the BMW X6 M, weighing well over 2,000kg with 555 PS sent to all four wheels yet can only move four from A to B.

No, it’s more than that. It also includes the production plants, production processes, green recycling practices, etc. It also extends beyond the gates of their office buildings and plants, sustainability is also the excuse that they gave for leaving F1. Whether that’s the real reason or not, I don’t know, but I’m pretty sure it’ll score some brownie points on whatever index the DJSI is using.

These are the examples of sustainability activities that you don’t see when you take delivery of your new 323i. BMW’s Munich R&D center uses naturally cold groundwater to cool some buildings. This saves about 10,000 MWh of electricity, and translates to 6,300 tons of CO2 a year. At their Spartanburg plant where the X6 M is built, over 60% of total energy requirements are from methane gas from a nearby landfill.

BMW also takes care not to waste any water unnecessarily. The water cycles at BMW plants are designed to reuse water as often as possible. In fact, BMW’s engine plant in Steyr produced 733,500 engines in 2008 without generating any wastewater at all. The aim is for a 30% reduction of water, energy, solvent emissions and waste per vehicle between 2006 and 2012, and we’re smack in the middle of that now.

But for us Malaysian motorists usually when you hear the word ‘green’ or even BMW’s EfficientDynamics brand, you usually think of the product itself – reduced fuel consumption and reduced tailpipe emissions, unfortunately less so the latter with most people. Now with better quality Euro 2M diesel here, you can expect some interesting announcements from BMW this week.

You can probably already guess what it is, but I’ll be back with the full details later this week. I think what’s coming is great and I can only wish that the manufacturers who sell the more affordable cars here in Malaysia are going to do the same.

Not many car companies here in Malaysia have a used car program. BMW has their Premium Selection and Toyota has their TopMark service. It’s not easy to setup but it’s good because it allows the companies some kind of control over their product’s resale value. Not complete control, but at least there is some sort of avenue to influence it if you have a business where you take in used versions of your products, refurbish them, and resell them at a good price with at least a one year warranty for that peace of mind.

New BMWs are potentially full of electronic niggles. Loads of sensors for this and that. Personally I feel the last BMW that’s fairly modern but yet isn’t too full of sensors and electronics is the early batches of the E39 5-Series – the one with the single VANOS M52 engine, I think the production year 96 to 98?

Beyond that, with the E46, double VANOS E39 and etc, things got a little over a ‘fine line’, conventional throttles were replaced by drive by wire, etc. So there’s alot of things that could potentially break when you buy a used BMW.

This is where used car warranties come in. Internationally, BMW and Allianz have just signed an agreement to intensify their cooperation on a global level. The agreement focuses on a range of vehicle and mobility related insurance products for end customers, such as automobile insurances and used-car warranties.

We’ve already seen Allianz insurance products offered under BMW branding here in Malaysia and its called BMW Motor Insurance. It guarantees that the buyer of a new BMW will be entitled to a brand new car if the car is stolen or totalled in an accident within the first 12 months from date of purchase. Even used BMWs purchased from authorised BMW dealers in a similiar predicament within the first 12 months will also receive a full insured value claim settlement with no market value adjustment.

This could potentially extend to things such as extended warranty programs, which will definitely be very valuable to a BMW buyer. The current plan is for BMW Service + Repair Inclusive to be offered for the first 3 years or 60,000km, whichever comes first. Another two years to cover more years of a typical 5 year to 7 year loan will bring peace of mind.

What’s the biggest difference between a MINI Cabriolet and a MINI Roadster Concept? I’ll tell you. It’s simple – boot space. The MINI Cabriolet only has 125 liters of boot space with the roof down, and 170 liters with the roof up. The MINI Roadster Concept? 250 liters whether the roof is up or down.

The downside is that the roof folds into the space where the rear seats used to be, making the Roadster strictly a two seater. But in reality who uses the rear seats of the Cooper and Cabriolet, unless for some reason you’re punishing a friend?

In the engine department, both are powered by the JCW MINI’s engine. The 1.6 liter turbocharged engine makes 211 horsepower and 260Nm of torque, with a short overboost of up to 280Nm over a short time.

Both these cars are going into production at Plant Oxford in the UK, bringing the MINI bodytype range up to 5 now. It could soon be 6 with the addition of an SUV later.

Look after the jump for very high-res images of the Oxford twins posing together as well as “individual portraits”. I wonder which one did BMW intend to be the wilder twin as depicted in the teaser videos? The Coupe or the Roadster?

Click here to read the rest of Oxford Twins: MINI Coupe and Roadster Concepts

I’ve been tinkering with a new toy over the past two day in the company stables – an E30 3-Series Coupe. If you’ve been a long time follower of this site you may remember a post back in end-2005 where in a caffeine-induced moment I went rambling about how I thought the E30’s design was timeless and how I wanted one.

Well, nearly four years later I finally got one, by accident really. A friend had placed a deposit on this automatic Agate Green 320i Coupe with a 325i engine but later found a manual 323i Coupe with a sunroof. He wanted a manual to begin with so he was looking for someone to take over the 320i, and after having a look at the car I was sold.

What really attracted me was the fact that this particular E30 Coupe had an interior in really good condition. Cream interior with leather seats, no cracks on the dashboard, leather seats in great condition, and everything worked, from the electrically adjustable power windows, the dashboard clock, all instrument gauges, etc. No white smoke (or black for the matter) from the engine, though there was a hairline crack in the exhaust header, but that’s a minor issue.

The car had a little timing issue where whenever you shifted gears into D or R from N, the RPM would drop a little and sometimes the car would just die off. This was fixed by raising the engine idle speed a little. That stopped the engine from dying but there was one problem – when you shifted into gear, the oil pressure light would come on awhile and would go away once you revved the engine a little. Well, that was that… or so I thought.

And then the adventure began. We (road tester Harvinder and I) were on the way to the mechanic’s place to get some electric fan issue sorted, the oil pressure light came on permanently. This was somewhere in TTDI.

Panic ensued – an oil pressure issue is not one to be taken lightly. An engine needs oil for lubrication to function properly. Friction is your engine’s enemy. Of course it could mean that the engine oil pressure has dropped to a very dangerous level which could mean the engine’s oil pump has failed, or the oil pressure sensor has failed. We remembered checking the engine’s oil level just yesterday so it couldn’t really be possible for the engine to have no oil.

So within a few minutes we navigated through the TTDI jam into one of the housing area and parked the car. We turned off the engine as soon as we could to prevent or at least minimize any possibility of damage.

For some reason our first reaction was to check whether the oil pump worked or not. This is an easy test, at least on this particular M20B25 engine. Start the engine and open the oil filler cap. Put your palm above the oil cap. You should feel little drops of oil on your palm. These are the splashes of oil from the cylinder head oil squirters. We didn’t get any drops – a bad sign!

Now this could either mean the oil pump is busted or there’s no oil in the engine. We turned the engine off and let it rest for awhile to let the engine oil settle down into the oil pan and checked the dipstick – uh oh. No oil. Why, was the engine leaking oil? Was it suddenly burning oil? Loads of questions quickly flew through our minds…

And then we noticed something that wasn’t there when we first parked the car – a small puddle of oil had accumulated under the engine! The engine was leaking oil! No wonder there was no oil pressure – there was no oil in the engine!

Sheesh – but this didn’t really eliminate the possibility that either the oil pump or the oil pressure sensor might be gone too. We jacked up the car and had a look underneath. Oil seemed to be leaking from something that looked like the oil pressure sensor – so it seemed likely that the oil pressure sensor is damaged and engine oil had been leaking from it.

After a quick walk across the busy TTDI road (it’s insanely hard to cross that road on foot) to the BHPetrol station and back with a 4 liter bottle of mineral oil, we filled the engine up and started it up. We did the palm test again and I think you can see the results above – oh glorious engine oil! The oil pump was working. Now all we had to do was to quickly get to the workshop before the engine oil leaked all out again. We did, thankfully.

It was confirmed that the oil pressure sensor had failed and to make it worse engine oil was leaking out of the engine through it. Replacing it with a second hand unit fixed the problem. We did another engine oil change at the workshop.

The E30 has since been running reliably so far. The BMWs of that age were really built to last. Only a few bushes and suspension parts need to be inspected and changed, and that exhaust manifold crack has to be fixed, then it will be perfect and perfectly suitable to be used as a daily runabout car! It’s going to be used as a run-about for the company whenever it is needed.

Anyway I intend to start a journal to chronicle the experience of a second hand E30 buyer on this blog under a category so that it can serve as a guide for anyone who is adventurous enough to want to go down the same route and drive an old reliable and fun BMW instead of a cheap brand new car. Stay tuned for another update later In the meanwhile, are there any other E30 owners here?