Category: bmw

Rolled BMW M3

Ashley Bischoff1 Comment

I heard about this from one of the LSC BMW CCA mailing lists. And, of all places, this picture sequence of a BMW M3 rolling over was posted on a Mazda 6 message board. The shots must have been taken in continuous-shot mode since there’re ten shots but I can only imagine that it occured within a span of a couple seconds. I’m interested in any conjectures on what the continuous-shot framerate may have been (some cameras with this feature allow selectable framerates).

You’ll also notice that they’re meta-photographs and, even though they turned out well, I would think that the originals would be even better.

In some ways, my favorite picture is #4 — you could just about caption it “This is the last instant where you’ll see your windshield intact and roof taut. Enjoy it for now.” Schadenfreude aside, you can really feel the fellow’s heartwrench in that last shot. See also more shots of the aftermath further down in this thread.

BMW 6-Series Spy Shots

Ashley Bischoff2 Comments

I saw this page of BMW ’05 6-Series spy shots from the track-junkies mailing list. This site also has some “artist renderings” of the 6-series (whatever that means). Some speculated that it looked a bit like a Pontiac Grand Prix, but I rather like it myself. Of course, at $47,000, I won’t be buying one either way ;).

Codenamed E64, the all-new 6-Series convertible will likely be powered by a series of V-8s including a 272-hp 3.5-liter engine, with other options including a 333-hp 4.4-liter V-8, and a 231-hp 3.0-liter six to follow. […]

Want more spy shots? There’re plenty elsewhere on the site. In particular, the BMW ’05 1-Series also looks intriquing.

All models will be powered by longitudinally mounted four-cylinder in-line engines driving the rear wheels — typical BMW, but still unique in this class. Entry-level models will be equipped with a 1.6-liter, 90-hp engine. The uppermost vehicle in the range may get a 2.0-liter M version pushing 225 hp when it arrives sometime in 2005.

More than 150,000 units of the 1-series are expected to be built at BMW’s Regensburg (Germany) plant the first year, with the base model priced under $16,000. […]

Manumatics-only for future BMW M3s

Ashley Bischoff1 Comment

It appears that, within the next few years, BMW will only offer a manumatic shifting option on their M3:

The company’s second-generation SMG is an option on the M3, and the next-generation M5 will also feature the Formula One racing-style paddle shifters, sans the traditional clutch pedal and gearshift lever. According to Rolf Scheibner, product manager for M cars, it won’t be long before SMG is the only transmission option for the performance cars.

Many M3 die-hards aren’t happy about this and, initially, I wasn’t either. However, I then reasoned that if it’s good enough for Formula One (all Formula One cars now use manumatics), it’s probably good enough for me :).

Ronin

Ashley BischoffLeave a comment

I finished watching Ronin just now, recorded from TNT onto TiVo. I enjoyed the film as a whole, and the car chases in particular. Though I’ve only seen clips of it, it appeared that Ronin may have a similar feel to The Bourne Identity.

As a motorsports enthusiast, my favorite moment was watching the wheels of the Audi S8 lock/spin/lock/spin as the anti-lock brakes took hold through one of the turns — nice. It’s no wonder that one of the stunt drivers was former Formula 1 driver Jean-Pierre Jarier.

I think I’ll buy the DVD sometime. All the same, I wish the ending were more clear-cut :-/.

Mini Cooper

Ashley Bischoff4 Comments

I was talking with my brother over the phone today and we got to talking about the new Mini. Renowned as small zippy cars, the Mini corporation was bought by BMW. And, later this year, they’re releasing “the new Mini” (officially, the “Mini Cooper”), a complete remake of the old classic. I recalled, speaking to Adrian, that I had heard good things about the car, but I decided to find some specifics.

And, I found specifics from this Car and Driver road test of the Mini Cooper S.

Here’s some advice: Don’t buy a Mini Cooper unless you own an enclosed, lockable garage. Otherwise, you'll get to talk to your neighbors until 11 o’clock at night. They’ll come a-knocking, begging rides, trailing kids with disposable diapers and disposable cameras. And during those rides, other travelers will shout questions at you. From their moving cars.

[…]

There are two Mini flavors. The standard Cooper, with a base price of only $16,850, is powered by a 16-valve 1.6-liter four-banger producing 115 horsepower. The Cooper S fetches an extra $3000 but is supercharged and intercooled, producing 163 horses funneled through a Getrag six-speed. It’s simple to tell the two apart. The S is the one with the Royal Mail slot in its snout.

[…]

What the Mini does best is devour corners, thanks in part to its 3-series-style multilink rear suspension and spring rates that must be close to a Ferrari F40’s. On even the wildest kinks and whirligigs, there is simply no perceptible roll, dive, or squat. The car hangs on beyond what its grip of 0.85 g suggests. By the time you get the tires howling, your passenger will be dialing 9-1-1. Eventually, the Mini understeers, but on dry, public roads, you'll have a deuce of a time inducing it.

[…]

Our test car was loaded with $4150 of options, none of which increased its fun factor. The car you want is the $19,850 “base” S. Everything of consequence is standard: anti-lock brakes, traction control, 16-inch wheels that grip as well as the 17s, even a six-speaker stereo with a CD player.

[…]

All things considered, the new Mini appears to be the car to buy for around $19-20k.

Interestingly, one of the testers says at the end of the article “For the price of a Mini Cooper S, you could buy an Acura RSX Type-S or a Subaru Impreza WRX”, but actually those are $23,650 and $24,520, respectively. On the other hand, if you were considering something in the range of $23-24k, then both of those would be excellent choices.