Just a reality check for all those sites out there claiming to have pictures a true M X5 circling the ‘Ring. It’s not going to happen - it was never going to happen. The car currently being tested is simply a sport edition of the new X5 a la the 4.8is from the 1st generation. It will come with the twin turbo V8 and put just over 400 hp. This is the same engine currently in the X6-50i and the same engine that will see the light of day in the new 7 Series next year.
The Sequential Manual Gearbox (SMG) was the predecessor to the recently released DCT for performance oriented BMW models.
There were original plans to introduce the SMG in the E90 3 series sedan after 10/2005 as an option that required the then N52 330i engine and the Sport Package (ZSP). All of the training materials and press releases at the time stated the SMG would eventually be offered. BMW even completed a product comparison between it and the VW/Audi DSG of the time.
This all changed weeks before these cars were to be built, BMW had made the decision to forego the SMG in non-//M cars until further notice. There were many unhappy soon-to-be SMG owners.
Courtesy of Bring a Trailer, we’ve got another excellent early BMW. This time it’s a restored Chamonix White BMW 1600 Cabriolet with a few very tasteful mods. The engine compartment looks like it could be eaten off of. Auction is about to end so get your bid in has ended.
Official BMW Press Release: The BMW Group increased its sales in the first quarter of 2008 by 5.7% to 351,787 automobiles (prev.yr.: 332,933). Deliveries of BMW brand cars to customers in the first three months rose by 2.7% to 293,550 vehicles (prev.yr.: 285,840). MINI recorded a significant increase of 23.6% to 58,054 units (prev.yr.: 46,980). Rolls-Royce Motor Cars handed 183 automobiles over to customers in the first quarter (prev.yr.: 113/+61.9%).
We’ve heard this rumor before. The story goes that BMW is looking for ways to increase profit. One potential source of income is to sell some of it’s award winning engines to other auto manufacturers. Here’s an excerpt from a recent Automotive News piece on the topic:
BMW will decide by the end of the year if it will sell engines and other components to rival automakers, Friedrich Eichiner, the carmaker’s board member for corporate and brand development, said.
It’s nice to see our friends at Jalopnik get into the press junket fun. It’s a solid review of what has to be (for better or worse) BMW’s most ridiculous vehicle made to date.
The 2009 BMW X6 isn’t great on a racetrack. This thought occurs during my third lap when I realize — the throttle wide open, exiting a corner at 100mph — this may not be the best sports car out there. My next thought is “But this is a 4,993lbs SUV.” And that’s the point where you realize what we have here is something entirely new.
To go along with additional 1 series advertising BMW has also begun to run spots for the //M3. This ad shows the inner workings of the high revving V8, specifically the combustion chamber.
The campaign seeks to reassure potential buyers that the new model is indeed a “pure BMW” despite being smaller and less expensive. The ads are the result of a collaboration between two agencies: GSD&M Idea City in Austin, Tex., part of the Omnicom Group, and Dotglu in New York, part of the Kirshenbaum Bond & Partners division of MDC Partners.
Our series on European Delivery continues with a video tour of the new facilities at the WELT. This pre-release video, a rough cut, will eventual grace the the BMWUSA website. It does a nice job of showing the WELT and explaining the program features at the location in general. A picture is worth a thousand words, so less writing and reading is involved than would normally be required for an experience/venue of such detail. Watch it while you can. We are fairly sure with the increased traffic it will be receiving it will end up being removed from the site as it is still in rough form. Then you will just need to wait until it is officially released on the BMW site. You can see it here
BMW Motorosports Press Release: After the first three fly-away races of the season the BMW Sauber F1 Team returns to Europe leading the championship. Robert Kubica, who claimed the first pole position for the team on Saturday, and Nick Heidfeld were third and fourth respectively at the Bahrain Grand Prix. The team celebrated its third consecutive podium and, for the first time in its young history, took the lead in the standings, although the gap is only one point.
Robert Kubica: 3rd
Fastest Lap: 1.33.775 min on lap 55 (5th fastest overall)
“I am happy with the result. This is my second consecutive podium and the team is leading the constructors’ championship. Unfortunately I had massive wheel spin at the start and hit some debris in the first corner of the second lap. When I drove through the oil I was sure I had punctured my tyre as at that point I didn’t have the information about the oil. But this was a great day for the team. I am now looking forward to Barcelona.”
Courtesy of Bring a Trailer, we’ve got a very special and rare BMW that is for sale. This car has been imported from Europe and subjected to a thoroughly documented restoration (even has a a BMW Mobile Tradition archive certificate). Lots more details on the linked E9 Coupe Discussion page.
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We believe in the old school BMW ownership experience. We believe in garage nights with a six pack and some friends. We believe in 2002s, in E30 M3s and E34 540s with the 6 speed. We believe in progress in both design and engineering but we haven't lost sight of what made the brand and its products great all those years ago. And yes, we believe in the manual transmission.
We long for the days of the wave and for the days of roll-up windows. Yet we love the gadgets on the inside and the xenons on the outside.
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Sections: E70 X5 Apr 11th, 2008 12 Comments 
