Auto and Cars

VIDEO: BMW teaches us how to correctly mount snow chains Even though winter is almost gone in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s never too late or too early to learn how to install snow chains on your BMW car. Snow chains can decisively improve the traction of your vehicle and road adhesion in certain conditions. They are effective on moderately snow-covered tarmac, when the surface consists of an inferior layer of basically ice followed by an upper layer of fresh snow / snow-ice mixture / snow-ice-water mixture. Moreso, snow chains should be used for a limited amount of time, only when traveling on such surfaces. They are efficient mainly in the mountainous regions, where inclined roads predominate, by ensuring extra grip. If the snow cover on the road is heavy or if the tarmac is we...

Video: BMW M8 Competition vs BMW M2 Competition drag race Comparing the BMW M8 Competition and the M2 Competition in a drag race is definitely not fair. Sure, the M8 is considerably heavier while it also has a lot more power and, most importantly, all-wheel drive. But at the same time, the M2 Competition doesn’t really stand a chance with its significantly lower power and rear-wheel drive. However, considering the price tag difference between them, how big is the gap and how hard is it to drive them both on wet surfaces? That’s what CarWow wanted to find out. They got an M8 Competition and an M2 Competition lined-up for one of their drag race/brake test videos. The M2 was driven by Joe Achilles and it wasn’t just any M2 either. This one is a special version, fitted wit...

BMW to shutdown production at its Spartanburg plant BMW announced on Friday, March 20 that it will temporarily shut down its manufacturing facility in Spartanburg due to the outbreak of COVID-19. In a statement, the company said it expected the suspension of production to last a couple of weeks. “The health and protection of our associates is our top priority,” the statement said. “At the same time, the dynamic development of the [coronavirus] pandemic is having a major impact on the global demand for cars. BMW Manufacturing is taking a flexible approach and adjusting our production volumes accordingly.” The Spartanburg County plant will stop production on April 3. BMW said it expects the break to last until April 19. The Spartanburg plant is one of th...

BMW to offer sweeping relief package to help its U.S. dealerships To combat the downfalls of COVID-19, BMW of North America releases a sweeping relief package to help its U.S. dealerships. The plan aims to preserve liquidity and prop up the balance sheet. The coronavirus has had a devastating impact on the automotive industry with factories being shutdown and empty showrooms. The package includes financial incentives, relaxed performance objectives and loan payment relief. The challenge facing the auto industry is “unprecedented,” CEO Bernhard Kuhnt told dealers in a note late Thursday evening obtained by Automotive News. “Safeguarding our business and the … retail network, while helping to ensure that you have the necessary support and working capital to naviga...

The iconic Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este postponed to October 2020 Every May, the automotive world gathers on the shores of Lake Como to celebrate the finest cars in the world. As patron and official partner of the event, BMW Group Classic has done a great job hosting the exquisite car show. But unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic will impact this year’s festivities. According to a press release, the OrganiZation Team of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este has decided not to proceed with this year’s edition on the planned dates (22nd to 24th May, 2020). Instead, they plan to hold the event from October 16th to 18th, 2020. Of course, they will continue to monitor the development of the spread of the coronavirus and we expect a final confirmation this Ju...

Does the E39 BMW 5 Series have one of the best Classic Car Interiors? Possibly the most beloved generation of 5 Series is the E39. With its simple looks, old-school BMW driving dynamics and pure steering, the E39 is still considered by many enthusiasts to be the best generation of 5 Series yet. However, not many enthusiasts remember its interior, when reminiscing about the E39 5er. Top Gear does, though, and actually considers the E39’s cabin to be one of the best classic car interiors. In this new list, TG puts the E39 BMW 5 Series among the top nine (why nine?) best classic car interiors. “A simpler time. A time before iDrive. A time when BMW basically perfected sporty exec saloon design. It’s just so wonderfully gimmick-free.” said TG. While I don’t disa...

BMW USA Marketing Boss US Explains reasoning behind new logo A small online storm was triggered last week when BMW unveiled a new logo. The iconic BMW roundel received a new and fresh design, but without the 3D shapes of the previous logo. The middle still has the blue and white colors of the Bavarian state. The font has also been shaped up differently. The outer ring now has a flat design in white, while some gradients fill the rest of the logo. For the moment, BMW has no plans to the transparent logo on production cars. Instead, when it comes to online marketing, some changes were deemed as necessary. In a recent interview with Adage, BMW’s head of the US marketing department, Uwe Dreher, explained why this move was approved. “When it comes to a world where most people, e...

65 years of the BMW Isetta bubble car: Symbol of German post-war reconstruction In April 2020, the BMW Isetta, the iconic symbol of the post-war flourishing Germany industry, celebrates the 65th anniversary. Germany was in the midst of an overall country and industry reconstruction after the challenging conflict years and the painful defeat in World War II. Money was scarce in the economy, infrastructure had to be rebuilt and production was far away the pre-war level. Yet the industry was starting to flourish, also fueled by the optimism of the German people. How To Survive A Crisis For BMW, the early 1950s decade was finding the Bavarian company in a troublesome situation. As we know, in times of crisis, BMW has always managed to reinvent itself and emerge victorious and more powerful...

BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe featured in new ‘Black Widow’ Promo Marvel’s latest upcoming superhero blockbuster ‘Black Widow’ has recently been delayed, due to the Coronavirus outbreak, like several other upcoming movies. However, that hasn’t stopped the wheels of marketing from spinning. Being that BMW is one of the brand sponsors of the movie, and is featured in it, the Bavarian brand recently put out a short promo for the 2 Series Gran Coupe, which is likely to be driven by at least a semi-important character. In the promo, you get to see the titular character herself, Black Widow, played by Scarlett Johansson, along with the movie’s villain, Taskmaster. I won’t get into the nerdiness of all of that — even though I could talk about Black Widow and...

2021 BMW M4 Coupe – A new Render With The Same Large Kidney Grille If there is one certain thing in the world today is that the next generation 2021 BMW M4 will come with a large kidney grille. Most of us have been in denial since news broke in early 2019, but since, we’ve received plenty of visual confirmations. Our friend and rendering artist Andrei Avarvarii has been doing a great job churning out fairly accurate renderings of the new M4. His latest creation is the very same 2021 BMW M4 Coupe with the large kidney grille which has been the Boogeyman for some of our readers. To differentiate itself from the G80 M3 – which will get the same XXL grille – the G82 M4 brings a mesh design upfront. The front-end is also dominated by two large air intakes with carbon fiber...

BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe Black Shadow Edition available in Spain The new BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe Black Shadow Edition is the special launch model on the Spanish model that can be ordered exclusively online. The Spain-reserved Black Shadow Edition for the new 2 Series Gran Coupe (F44) thus becomes the first BMW in history that can be purchased entirely online. The platform where the Spanish customers can order their very own example of the limited edition model is www.black-shadow.bmw.es . The Black Shadow Edition is available for the 218i, 220d and M235i xDrive variants. Until March 31st, 2020, the special edition models can be pre-ordered at special prices on the dedicated web platform. Client rebates vary from more than 1,500 euros for the M235i model up to 2,000 euros for the 218i and...

The future BMW 2 Series Coupe (G42) slated for 2021 premiere The future G42 generation of the BMW 2 Series Coupe will retain its puristic RWD underpinnings and is rumored to debut in the second half of 2021. The forthcoming G42 2 Series is already under internal development and first camouflaged test prototypes should hit streets by summer this year, if everything goes according to plan. The new generation could possibly be assembled at the Mexico plant in San Luis de Potosi. From what we know, the future 2021 BMW 2 Series Coupe will retain its iconic 2-door sedan shape, pretty much evoking the classic 2002 and making the compact coupe a true modern successor of the legendary model. Pictured: The pre-LCI BMW 220d Luxury Line (F22). The G42 generation will be developed on a shortened ve...

Japanese tuner 3D Design unveils their BMW 8 Series Aftermarket Program One of the most respectable tuning company on the market hails from Japan. Not only do the good people at 3D Design design their own parts but they also make them out of the best materials. Back in December, 3D Design unveiled their BMW 8 Series aftermarket program at the Tokyo Auto Show. So what’s new on 3D Design’s new BMW 8 Series project? Well, tons of carbon, for starters. It gets a new dry carbon fiber front lip, side skirts, rear diffuser and rear spoiler. Those carbon products were made from 2X2 carbon weave, prepreg 100% carbon, and lightweight. All are made in Japan. The trunk spoiler is currently available for the coupe, but a cabriolet version is also in development. The rear diffuser o...

How to Properly Clean Your Car Coronavirus Pandemic We’re in the middle of a global pandemic, with most major countries calling for self-quarantine of its citizens. Health officials and professionals are calling for people to stay in their homes and away from as many people as absolutely possible, to try and slow the spread of the virus and flatten the curve. However, if you must go out and drive your car, here are some cleaning tips to make sure your car stays virus free. Wear Disposable Gloves While cleaning your car, wearing a pair of disposable nitrile gloves is probably wise. The Coronavirus can survive on plastics for a surprisingly long time, so rubber gloves can keep your hands free of contact with the virus. Soap and Water Will Do the Trick While you’re going to wan...

The new BMW M2 CS spotted in the US, coming later this Spring The compact M2 CS rocket has recently been spotted out in the wild in the United States. The new BMW M2 CS is a complete bombshell. The high-performance coupe is engineered with inspiration from the world of motorsport. In every aspect, this is the best M2 ever created and likely one of the most mind-blowing ///M cars in the history of the Garching-based division. Recently, a pre-series prototype has been spotted in a car park in New Jersey, US. The prototype spotted has its M2 CS emblem covered, along with the side logos on the front wing air breathers, the “M2 CS” particle on the kidney grille and the BMW roundels from the engine hood, trunk and wheel hub caps. The spotted BMW M2 CS is dressed in the sensationa...

BMWBLOG & COVID-19: Why We Will Carry On Each and every day, the chaos caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) gets worse and worse and it’s going to continue to get worse before it gets better. Thousands of deaths have been confirmed, thousands more are sick and tens of thousands are feeling the weight of this virus. Every major country on the planet is facing some sort of quarantine, to various degrees, and we are as well. However, despite that, we’re going to carry on and bring you as much news and BMW-related content as we can. Hundreds of thousands of people are self-quarantining, in several countries, to try and flatten the curve and drastically slow the spread of this virus. Because of that self-quarantine, thousands of people are out of work, struggling to make ends mee...

Goodbye, V12! The Next-Gen Most Powerful 7 Series model will be all-electric After years of reports and rumors, BMW has officially confirmed today that the next-generation 7 Series will offer an all-electric version. We’ve been covering the topic for quite some time now and even shared some exclusive “rumors.” “[] I can tell you officially today: That our BMW 7 Series flagship will be one of them,” says Oliver Zipse, BMW CEO. “The next-generation 7 Series will be available with four drive train variants: petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid and fully-electric. All drive trains will be based on a single architecture. And the top, most powerful 7 Series will be fully electric!” Basically, this statement reinforces our previous reports. Firstly, BMW wil...

BMW says 8,000 orders already placed for MINI Cooper SE BMW’s latest fully electric vehicle comes in the shape of the MINI Cooper SE. The electric hatch was unveiled in 2019 and goes on sale this year. We recently drove the new EV in Miami and you can see our review here and here. According to BMW, the new MINI Cooper SE is already a successful car for the brand with over 8,000 orders worldwide. “[] we are winning over customers with attractive new models,” says Oliver Zipse, BMW Group CEO. “The new MINI Cooper SE was released just a few days ago. We have already received more than 8,000 orders. Most of the people who placed these orders did not previously drive a MINI. This shows that the MINI Electric has captured the spirit of the times and is perfect for urba...

SPIED: 2021 BMW M440i xDrive Coupe (G22) scooped flaunting its huge snout New sighting of the 2021 4 Series Coupe (G22), as two M440i test prototypes are spotted in Germany. Recent spy shots (which you can see here) from Germany reveal more details of the exterior design of the 2021 BMW 4 Series Coupe. The main controversy point of the forthcoming G22 model series will be its massive kidney grille. As we have already seen an uncovered 2021 4 Series model while it was being shipped, we also got that more and more confirmation that the BMW Concept 4’s hugely-sized grille will become reality. You should already start digesting the controversial kidney grille, as start of production for the G22 generation is scheduled for July 2020. Leaked image of the 2021 BMW 4 Series The latest sc...

BMW preparing to suspend production at plants in Europe and South Africa BMW is preparing to suspend production at its plants in Europe and Rosslyn, South Africa, until April 19, responding to lower demand and as a way to help reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus. The plant shutdowns will start at the end of the week. “We take our responsibility seriously, both when it comes to ensuring the protection and health of our employees and to achieving the best possible balance in terms of profitability,” CEO Oliver Zipse said in a statement on Wednesday. “Our production is geared towards sales development forecasts – and we are adjusting our production volumes flexibly in line with demand. Since yesterday: We began to shut down our European and Rosslyn automot...

Rolls-Royce suspended production at its plant in Goodwood Rolls-Royce announced today that production at the company’s Goodwood-based manufacturing plant will be suspended from Monday 23 March for two weeks. In order to further secure the health and welfare of the employees of the company this suspension will be followed by an already-planned two-week Easter maintenance shutdown. The day-to-day operations of the company will be assured by non-production employees who will remain at work at the company’s head office on the Goodwood Estate in West Sussex or who will work from home on a rotational basis. Social distancing measures have been introduced throughout the company . This unprecedented action has been taken following the introduction of additional measures by the UK Go...

BMW to invest 30 Billion Euros by 2025 in EV, autonomous driving tech At a meeting held today in Munich, BMW announced a lot of its plans for the future. Apart from confirming the new 7 Series will get a BEV model, the Germans also announced they will be investing heavily over the following years, to keep up with demands from the customers in terms of technology. The so-called ‘future technologies’ BMW will invest in will have some 30 billion euros set aside from the budget. “New technologies are key to the future of mobility. Up to 2025, we intend to invest more than 30 billion euros in research and development to underscore our position as an innovation leader. This also expresses our confidence for the future business development,” said BMW CEO, Oliver Zipse. ...

BMW Confirms all-electric 7 Series model is coming – BMW i7 It’s been a long time coming but BMW has finally confirmed that the upcoming 7 Series generation will get an all-electric model. The news was made public today during a press conference held in Munich by the German manufacturer, discussing the future of the brand and of the automotive segment as a whole. The next-generation 7 Series will mark a new milestone, according to BMW, and it will be offered with four different types of drivetrains: diesel, petrol, hybrid and electric. As you’d expect, the new 7 Series BEV will use the most advanced electric technology BMW has to offer. Thus, the fifth-generation electric drivetrain that is bound to make its debut in the i4 and iNext next year will be powering the luxurious ...

How to fix a loose door handle on the BMW i3 Now that the BMW i3 has been out a while, some things that need attention are popping up. Here’s a simple guide on how to fix a loose handle door on the BMW i3.  Over time, the BMW i3’s unique backward opening door handle starts to get loose towards the front pivot point. Its onset is rather insidious, and sometimes the passenger side can be worse than the drivers. If this gets left severely loose, the front part of the door handle can come out.  We put together a short DIY video on the simple fix. Truthfully, finding an E4 Torx Socket was the most difficult part of the whole procedure. You can order a single E4 Torx socket from Amazon. Or do what I did and run to the local auto parts store and buy a sleeve of Torx Soc...

Bike manufacturer 3T and BMW produced a special edition bike BMW and Italian bike manufacturer 3T announce a collaboration delivering a custom bike. Based on the Exploro all-road bike, 3T has produced a special edition 3Tfor BMW model in two color variations. “3T was a natural choice for us, as 3T’s Exploro model is the best gravel bike available combining performance, luxury and cycling pleasure to our customers”, says Gaston Streiger, Head of BMW Lifestyle division. The 3T FOR BMW bikes feature an aerodynamic carbon frame, the world’s lightest carbon aero cranks (made at 3T’s Italian carbon factory), an exclusive Brooks leather saddle and matching Brooks leather grips. Fulcrum alloy wheels and resistible Schwalbe One Speed tires ensure a secure grip...

Black Sapphire Metallic BMW F87 M2 on HRE Classic 300 Wheels This BMW M2 features a bevy of carbon fiber additions, several performance upgrades, a completely blacked-out color scheme and finally, a set of HRE Classic 300 wheels. For most of us, the BMW F87 M2 is one of the most successful designs revealed by the Bavarian carmaker in recent years. And this is further emphasized in this striking blacked out build. Painted in Black Sapphire Metallic, this BMW M2 comes from South Florida and by the look of things, it’s not a garage queen by any means. The small and nimble high-performance machine from Munich is laced with a bevy of carbon fiber parts, all in a menacing blacked out package. To make matters even more interesting, aside from all the aftermarket tuning done to this vehic...

Why Our Road Trip Vehicle Is A 13 Year Old BMW We love our BMW i3 BEV. It is really the ultimate daily driver but realistically it would very hard to drive it on a long road trip.  Enter the car I’ve owned the longest – A 2007 BMW X3 3.0si (E83). It is our go-to vehicle for long road trips. We just returned from an 1500 mile round trip to Colorado Mountains to go skiing and had zero hesitation taking a 13-year-old BMW with over 100k on the odometer. Over the years, we have properly maintained our E83 X3, and it has rewarded us by never breaking down on us or leaving us stranded. I am rather fond of this old X3 in part because it represents a lot of lasts for BMW. It is the last BMW with an actual key as in, shove it in the car, twist the tumblers key. Its N52 3.0 liter ...

First real life look at the BMW M340d featured in Laguna Seca Blue In the first live photos of the new BMW M340d we see the top diesel of the G20 family with individual paintwork in Laguna Seca Blue. The world premiere of the new diesel M Performance car was planned for the now canceled Geneva Motor Show. But thanks to a UK reader, we now get to see the car for the first time. Apart from the model badge on the rear, the new BMW M340d G20 is 100 percent the same as the M340i that has been known for months. Both M Performance models are optically based on the M Sport package, but can be easily distinguished from the standard models based on the mesh kidney grille, exterior mirrors and other accents in Cerium Gray. The BMW M340d comes with 250 kW / 340 PS and 700 Newton meters of torque, ...

BMW 1M Coupe – The Best BMW Car Ever Built? The BMW 1M Coupe is one of the most limited models ever built by the wizards in Garching. It was born out of a secret project which was unknown to most of the company’s bosses. The legend says that some BMW M engineers decided to build the ultimate track car and used most of the E92 M3 parts for the 1M. The result was a fantastic sports coupe which arrived in 2011 and it was sold out in most markets. BMW was originally going to release the 1M as a limited production model of 2,700 units. Then due to overwhelming demand, the company lifted the cap and produced a total of 6309 cars until production ended in June 2012. Nevertheless, production of the 1M Coup stopped in June 2012, with 740 units sold in the US and a further 220 sold in Cana...