New BMW M Performance Parts for the new BMW 3 and 5 Series Sedans

With the price of a new M5 sedan starting at $89,000 USD, and the price of the upcoming M3 twin-turbo likely starting at 80k or higher, BMW has left a large number of buyers behind. Hence the new line of BMW M Performance parts – an attempt to split the wide gap and allow enthusiasts to build a car a piece at a time.

BMW Press Release follows:

 New BMW M Performance Parts for the new BMW 3 and 5 Series Sedans.

Aero, Interior, and Chassis items added to lineup

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – December 14, 2012…  BMW today announced the release of a second major wave of BMW M Performance Parts designed and tested for the new BWW 3 Series and current 5 Series Sedan models. On sale now through all Authorized BMW Centers, BMW M Performance Parts are accessories which have been carefully developed in collaboration with BMW M GmbH to ensure an authentic transfer of racing-derived M technology into everyday driving. In addition to the first wave of new 3 Series and 5 Series M Performance Parts which became available in Spring 2012, the latest offering includes exclusive chassis, aerodynamic, and cockpit components to further intensify The Ultimate Driving Machine®.  

Aero: Form follows function.

The BMW 3 Series and 5 Series Sedans both benefit from this release of parts with new Aerodynamic and Exterior component choices. For the 3 Series, the BMW M Performance Front Splitter, Rocker Panel Blades, Rear Spoiler (in choice of black or carbon fiber finish), Rear Diffuser, Side Stripes, and Rocker Panel Decals become available. Additionally, an M Sport Line Retrofit kit is now available for vehicles not originally equipped with M Sport Line.

For the 5 Series Sedan, a new BMW M Performance Rear Diffuser is offered for 528i, 535i, and 550i models, and will be joined by a new Carbon Fiber Front Splitter which becomes available early in 2013. An M Sport Package Retrofit kit will also become available for 5 Series Sedan models in 2013.

Interior: Show that matches your Go.

For the BMW 3 Series, BMW M Performance now offers a Stainless Steel Driver’s Footrest and a set of Stainless Steel Pedal Covers for manual and automatic transmission cars. Additionally, a set of BMW M Performance Floor Mats is now available, as are the BMW M Performance Carbon Fiber Parking Brake Handle with Alcantara boot.

The crowning touch, certainly, for the 3 Series interior is to install the BMW M Performance Electronic Steering Wheel which is now available for cars equipped with the Automatic, Sport Automatic, or 6-speed manual transmission. The latest-generation Electronic Steering Wheel, featuring a flat-bottom rim and covered in Alcantara, is a unique offering in the industry and allows drivers to take advantage of three separate information modes:

• EfficientDynamics Mode shows the driver real-time fuel efficiency data, average speed and efficiency data, water and oil temperatures, recommended shift points, and an EfficientDynamics Index (“EDI”) calculation.
• Sport Mode features a built-in stopwatch function, G-force meter for longitudinal and lateral forces, water and oil temperatures, and multicolored LED shift lights.
• Race Mode features a stopwatch function with storage of values for up to 50 lap times (including lap, max speed, max G-forces), measurement of up to nine sector times within each lap, drag-strip simulator (LED launch countdown, reaction time, 60-foot time, 330-foot time, 1,000-foot time, 1/8th-mile time, ¼-mile time, and trap speeds).

On the 5 Series, the non-electronic M Performance Steering Wheel becomes available, featuring a flat-bottom rim and covered in Alcantara. A red quick-index stripe is located at the 12 O’clock location, and the wheel is finished with a carbon fiber insert with chrome BMW M Performance inlay.

Additionally for the 5 Series, a BMW M Performance Carbon Fiber Interior Trim system is now available for models with both Automatic (nine pieces) and 6-speed manual (seven pieces) transmissions. It replaces the vehicle’s existing door handle pulls, center console, ashtray lid, cup holder lid, and dashboard insert with beautiful, handcrafted carbon fiber components. Each trim piece is clear-coated and polished to create visual depth and protect against UV rays. Also for the 5 Series, the BMW M Performance Parts Stainless Steel Pedal Covers are now available for vehicles with Automatic and 6-speed manual transmissions.

Chassis and Exhaust: Focused performance for the 3 Series.

A new BMW M Performance Suspension Kit is now available for the new 3 Series Sedan bringing an extra measure of responsiveness and handling to the quintessential sport sedan – a car that has been named to Car and Driver’s “10Best Cars” list for 22 consecutive years. New coil springs, finished in M Performance Red paint lower the ride height by 10mm, compared to the factory M Sport suspension, and by 20mm compared to the standard suspension.

This focused look can be further enhanced with the addition of 20-inch M Performance Double-Spoke wheels. These weight-optimized, forged alloy M wheels feature an exclusive bi-color design sporting a high-gloss turned finish on the face and Orbit Gray paint between the spokes. The wheels come with Pirelli P zero run-flat tires mounted and balanced. The tires are sized 225/35 R20 90Y up front and 255/30 R20 92Y in the rear.

The final dynamic touch is the availability of the M Performance Brake System. The high-performance Brembo system features compound, cross-drilled, dimpled discs mated top 4-piston aluminum calipers up front and 2-piston calipers in the rear. The calipers are available in a choice of M Performance Red, Yellow or Orange finish and sport the M logo. The discs are cross-drilled, grooved and internally vented to optimize thermal resistance and feature aluminum hats to reduce unsprung weight. The front discs measure 370mm x 30mm (14.6 in. x 1.2 in.), the rears 345mm x 24mm (13.6 in. x 0.9 in.).

The available M Performance Exhaust helps both the new 328i and 335i to sound, look and breath better. Developed using state-of-the-art CAD and FEM technology, the stainless steel exhaust improves both the note and the performance. The unique chrome exhaust tips are laser-engraved with the M logo. The system reduces back pressure lends an even sportier tone to either the TwinPower Turbo 4-cylinder of the 328i or the TwinPower Turbo Inline-6 in the 335i.

M Performance Wheel and Exhaust upgrades are available for the 5 Series Sedan

The M Performance Exhaust is available for the 535i. Developed using state-of-the-art CAD and FEM technology, the stainless steel exhaust improves both the sound and the performance of the 535i. The unique chrome exhaust tips are laser-engraved with the M logo. The system reduces back pressure and lends an even sportier tone to the TwinPower Turbo Inline-6.

Unique M Performance V-spoke wheels are available for the 5 Series. The exclusive bi-color design features a high-gloss finish on the face and Orbit Gray paint between the spokes. As an option, the wheels can also be finished in Liquid Black paint. They come with Bridgestone Potenza RE050 A run-flat tires mounted and balanced. The performance tires are sized 245/35 R20 95Y up front and 275/30 R 20 in the rear.

Customers now have the ability to tailor their new 3 Series or 5 Series to suit their performance tastes thanks to the latest enhancements from BMW M Performance Parts. These accessories are available now exclusively through your authorized BMW Center just in time for the holidays.

BMW Group In America

BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975.  Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003.  The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, a strategic design consultancy in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country.  BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group’s global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all X5 and X3 Sports Activity Vehicles and X6 Sports Activity Coupes.  The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW passenger car and BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 139 BMW motorcycle retailers, 115 MINI passenger car dealers, and 32 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers.  BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

What to do when you encounter a prototype car

One word: video. This is your big chance… do have your passenger video it.

This lucky BMW 1M driver in Germany encountered a prototype next-generation M3 on the Autobahn going in the direction of Berlin. But it wasn’t just any 1M: the owner had modified it to the tune of 420 HP. And with an engine directly related to the updated inline six in the M3, a comparison was required and the chase was on.

And a chase it was – the M3 driver clearly didn’t want anybody snooping on the prototype of a product that we probably won’t see unveiled until next January at the earliest. The M3 driver also technically broke the law by not immediately pulling over to the let the overcoming car pass. Instead it pulled away itself at even faster speeds (demonstrating that it had higher horsepower).  At one point the speeds hit 240 KPH. Not a problem on the Autobahn, though, since it was ion an unlimited speed section.

Watch the two videos below, in order, for the full story.

BMW offers 7-speed double-clutch automated manual for 2009 M3

Even after reading the stellar reviews of the racetrack and overall performance of the new double-clutch automated manual transmissions on the Evo X and GT-R, some enthusiasts are still holding out for ye olde fashion manual transmissions. Well, better get used to it folks – this is more than the wave of the future: it’s already here today and is actively offered and promoted on the latest leading-edge cars.

The double-clutch automated manual offers every possible advantage to the overall performance envelope of the car. It shifts better and faster than any human can, and almost always produce better mileage and/or emissions (2 areas which will improve as further experience is gained). And it can be electronically tuned to produce fantastic results on the racetrack when teamed with multi-dimensional accelerometers and related sensors.

In the future you’ll see fewer old-style manual transmissions offered in performance cars. The days of manufacturers investing in old-style transmissions are ending. Ask Getrag, Tremac, Aisen, Borg-Warner, and other companies what they are working on and you’ll hear all about this type of transmission. The only exceptions are where the market will not bear the cost of development due to low price and low volume. For example, given the very limited sales volume of vehicles using the Tremac TR-6060, a replacement by an automated manual would be years off because of these limitations. 

New for 2009 are offerings for the BMW M3 and Porsche 911 (which also picks up direct injection for 2009 – another advanced technology that offers every benefits).

DrivingEnthusiast.net offers an extensive BMW press release as well as 10 super high-res images of the transmission so that readers can study it in detail. A sample image is shown to the right.

Follow the link http://www.DrivingEnthusiast.net/sec-bmw/ (suggest <right click> and <open in new tab>) to the new BMW section and look under Drivetrains for full detailed information.

E92 M3 – market adjustment

97 thousand dollars? You could buy three E46 M3s for that – each of which would be 98.9% as fast as the E92 M3.

Or a Z06 which would eat it alive on the track. Or a fully loaded Nissan GT-R – which would beat the vette and tromp the BMW.

Forget about it………….

There’s nothing like finding an E92 V-8 M3 in the desert!

Found: one prototype M3, with a couple of arrogant engineers.

BMW commercial of the 2008 V-8 M3

In an unusually early move, BMW has provided a commercial for the upcoming 2008 V-8 M3!

Driving enthusiasts enjoy! 

2008 V-8 M3 Coupe – prototype

Testing on the track. This is a great video because you can hear the sound of the V-8!