Archive for BMW

The original Alpina D3 was based on the BMW 320d sedan and made its debut at the end of 2006. The 2.0 liter inline-4 single turbo diesel engine received an upgraded turbo, resulting in an increase from 170hp to 200hp, and 410Nm (up from 340Nm) of torque between 2,000-3,000rpm. It sold 850 units since its introduction.

This year a new Alpina D3 debuts called the Alpina D3 Bi-Turbo Coupe based on the E92 Coupe. Like the D3 Sedan, it is also powered by a 2.0 liter turbodiesel engine but this time it is the new twin turbocharged BMW N47D from the BMW 123d. The N47D’s stock power levels of 204hp and 400Nm have been upgraded to 214hp and 450Nm.

The brakes have also been uprated from the ones in the D3 from 300mm front and rear to 330mm and 336mm from and rear respectively. The engine radiator has also been uprated in size for better cooling. The 6-speed manual version is upgraded from the ZF SG6-37 to the ZF SG6-53 to handle the higher torque. This new gearbox can handle up to 520Nm of torque. The automatic model which Alpina calls Switch-Tronic is loosely based on ZF’s 6HP19TU but adds an extra planetary plate and a different flywheel for 100ms upshifts. Driveshafts, propshaft and halfshafts have been uprated for the higher torque.

Aesthetics that help it be identified as an Alpina include a front lip, Alpina floor mats, a straight exhaust system with no rear box that allows a 5,200rpm redline (high for a diesel engine), sport suspension, Alpina alloy wheels, and the typical Alpina instrument cluster with a blue background.

More images after the jump.

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BMW has released full details on the new BMW 3-Series Sedan and Touring facelift. The following are the full list of changes for the 2009 facelifted model.

• A new front end comprising of a new front kidney grille, a new bumper, and headlamps with new internal graphics including LED turn signals.
• The rear end is made to look broader thanks to more detailed lines. The rear headlamps now return to the classic L shape and have new lense graphics.
• The side profile has different wing mirrors.
• The power window control panel has been changed slightly for ergonomics purposes. BMW also says there are new cubby holes to store things.
• The iDrive system has been updated with an 8.8 inch display and the new enhanced iDrive with 3D navigation graphics and a web browser using BMW ConnectedDrive (GPRS and EDGE) is available. Navigation storage no longer uses DVD but a 80GB hard drive, which can also store music files.
• The BMW 330d gets the new N57 inline-6 VGT turbodiesel with an all-aluminium engine block that made its debut in the F01 BMW 730d. This produces 245hp at 4,000rpm and a peak torque of 520Nm from 1,750-3,000rpm. Optional is BMW BluePerformance cat converter for EU 6 emissions compliance.
• All petrol engines are equipped with BMW’s direct injection system called High Precision Injection.
• Certain models have a wider rear track by up to 24mm because of new wheel carriers and other modifications.
• xDrive all-wheel drive is now available for the 2.0 liter inline-4 engine in the 320xd.
• New EfficientDynamics features such as Automatic Start/Stop, Brake Energy Regeneration, Shift Point Display, automatic air intake flaps which vary the kidney grille air intake openings depending on needs to improve aerodynamics and thus fuel economy.

Also included in the facelift announcement is the official addition of a 7-speed double clutch transmission for the 335i Coupe and 335i Convertible. Look after the jump for a full high-resolution photo gallery of the facelifted E90 Sedan and E91 Touring.

Click here to read the rest of Facelifted 2009 BMW 3-Series: full details and photos

Here’s a short clip just over a minute from BMW about the BMW 3-Series which is, according to the narrator, where BMW began and it is the car that built its current customer base. View the video after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of BMW 3-Series Heritage Video

The facelifted E90 and E91 BMW 3-Series will be unveiled at the 2008 Paris Motor Show this month, but as a pre-show teaser BMW has released a set of photos showing both the E90 sedan and the E91 touring wagon. More details and photos after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Initial photos of facelifted E90/E91 BMW 3-Series

The E92 BMW 335i Coupe will have its 6-speed Steptronic automatic transmission option replaced with the 7-speed BMW M DCT transmission from Getrag, according to an Australian brochure for the E92 last revised on the 30th of June 2008.

Interestingly the M DCT-equipped 335i Coupe will be more fuel economical and less polluting than the 6-speed manual model, with only 9.1 liters per 100km consumed and 217g/km CO2 emissions compared to the manual’s 9.5 liters and 228g/km figures. This is probably due to more efficient transmission of power and more gear ratios to keep the car in the perfect rev range. The M DCT transmission carries a premium of AU$2,447 over the manual model.

This makes the 335i even more appealing as an M3 alternative with a more usable style of power delivery - loads of fat torque across the rev range rather than high revving. However expect the version of the M DCT in the 335i to be sufficiently de-M-ed, it will probably be missing various features like DriveLogic options and etc.

Source

This TV commercial shows the entire BMW 3-Series range beginning from the E91 Touring, the E90 Sedan, the E92 Coupe and finally the E93 Convertible. The E91 sheds a part of its “roof” to become the sedan and so on, cool concept. Video after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of BMW 3-Series Range Transformation TVC

Fiat and BMW have announced that they plan to collaborate on a common platform to build the next generation Fiat Grande Punto, the second generation Alfa Romeo Mi.To and third generation MINI on.

BMW has been looking for a JV partner for its MINI platform for quite some time now in the search for higher economies of scale. The MINI already shares engines with another European company - PSA Peugeot Citroen. The MINI’s 1.6 liter Prince engine is also found in PSA cars like the Peugeot 308.

BMW had been in talks with Mercedes-Benz in the past to increase their JV activities including exploring the idea that the next gen MINI and A-Class could share the same underpinings, but its rival had rejected the idea of any further joint projects beyond the current hybrid system JV.

The fact that BMW and Fiat is tying up for platform sharing is quite funny really as Fiat had also been in talks with Daimler in the past and talks progressed further than any talks Daimler had with BMW, but in the end Daimler decided to go ahead and build the next generation A-Class on its own rather than share platforms with anyone as it had sufficiently cut costs through its CORE initiative. To make it simple, A and B were both going after C, but A and B ended up getting together instead.

BMW and Fiat are also considering developing a new family of gasoline and diesel engines together. This should be the successor to the Prince family.

More details will be revealed by the end of 2008.

For those who can’t get enough of the new BMW 7-Series whether it’s to ogle at it or bang its designers or just admire the new technologies BMW has put into the 7-Series and hope for it to trickle down to the 3-Series as far as possible, here are more videos on the new 7-Series. Look after the jump for each video and a description of what’s in the video.

Click here to read the rest of A collection of new BMW 7-Series videos

The BMW 7-Series has always been a very important car to look at for those who loves BMWs. As the flagship model, new design cues and technology more often than not makes its debut on the 7-Series first and then slowly trickles down the rest of the model range. Let’s have a close look at the new F01 7-Series after the jump.

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As expected after the leak earlier this week, BMW has released full details and photos on the new BMW 7-Series. A full post on the all new car is coming up soon, but first here’s a few initial sketches penned by the designers of the car. You’ll be able to see how much of the concept has been translated into metal.

Click here to read the rest of New BMW 7-Series Concept Sketches