



By N2H

Five Things You May Not Know About BMW

One of the most recognizable names in luxury cars, BMW has forged its way into being one of the first car brands people turn to when looking for a car that is both a status symbol as well as a well made high performance vehicle. BMW was founded in 1916 and over the years has honed its design and development process to the point where nearly every model that rolls off is highly regarded by automobile enthusiasts and automotive industry insiders as well. BMW is one of the many German automobile manufacturers that has helped established a reputation for quality and performance for cars made in that country. Another reason that BMW made cars receive kudos from car buyers is their consistently high safety ratings. They are one of the more famous and recognizable automobile manufacturers in the world, but here are five things you may not know about BMW.

In pre-World War I Germany, the BMW company had been a manufacturer of aircraft. Due to terms within the Versailles Armistice Treaty, BMW and the country of Germany itself were prohibited from manufacturing aircraft, so the BMW moved into production of motorcycles and eventually automobiles.
Though prohibited from producing aircraft following World War I, when Germany began rearming itself in 1930, BMW resumed making aircraft engines. There were other German aircraft manufacturers during that time that were forced to operate under similar circumstances.
For six years, from 1994 through 2000, Germany’s BMW owned the British Rover Group, maker of the Rover, Land Rover and MG.
The BMW E53 was one of the first successful luxury SUVs when it debuted in 1999. At the time the company also owned the Land Rover company and many of the of the design components were shared between the two makes of automobiles.
The first time that movie spy James Bond’s car was not British made was in the 1995 film GoldenEye. Actor Pierce Brosnan, as James Bond the super spy, drove a BMW Z3 in that film.

BMW’s continue to be popular with the car buying public around the world for a number of reasons. From their high performance, to their high safety ratings, to the view that owning one is a sign of luxury and prominence, there is nothing on the horizon to indicate that the popularity of BMW will be diminishing anytime soon. When looking at the line of automobiles manufactured today by BMW, it is hard to believe that the company started as an aircraft maker before evolving into a manufacturer of motorcycles and then moving into the world of small economy car manufacturing. BMW has set itself up well as a car company that is thought of a little more highly than standard automobile manufacturers. Driving a BMW is a true joy and BMW owners often get hooked on the vehicle and stay loyal to the company for life. When looking at all that their vehicles have to offer, it is easy to see why.

Tags: BMW

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BMW 1 Series 135i Coupe

BMW makes plenty of sporty vehicles that are perfect for hitting the road in style. While the 3 series has definitely made a name for itself for being pretty affordable, while offering lots of power, the new 1 series is not only new to the scene, but also offers plenty of performance at an affordable price. Today, there are a few models to choose from in the 1 series, including the 128i coupe, 128i convertible, the 135i coupe and 135i convertible. However, for those that are looking for lots of power and very decent price point, the 135i coupe is perhaps the best of the 1series vehicles.

Under the Hood of the 135i Coupe
There is plenty to get excited about under the hood of the BMW 1 Series 135i Coupe. For instance, the engine offers a 3.0 liter l6, 24 valve engine that produces a very peppy 300 horsepower @5800 rpm. Matching this nicely done engine is a 5 speed manual transmission or the option of a 5 speed automatic transmission. Regarding acceleration, the 1 Series 135i definitely impresses reaching 0 to 60 in less than 5 seconds (4.7 seconds to be exact). The top speed for this vehicle is also a very healthy 143 mph.

Inside the 135I Coupe
Inside you will find all the creature comforts and while the interior is a little tight, it is fine for commuting back and forth to work in performance and a little luxury. The dashboard is nicely laid out and easy to read and the center console is easy to work. The price for the 135i Coupe comes in at about $32K, which is much less than the 3 series and a very low price point for a new BMW. However, the 1 series does offer plenty of performance and good looks making this vehicle a buy.

Tags: BMW, Car Reviews

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BMW 335D - 2009

For BMW enthusiasts, the new 335D for 2009 is sure to please. The D obviously stands for diesel and while diesel engines are not that popular in the states and the fuel sometimes more costly than regular gasoline, the BMW 335D’s diesel engine is definitely a great component to this vehicle. New for this model year is a stylish new front and rear. On the front end, new headlights, a louver hood and a new grille makes this vehicle stand out from the pack. In addition the rear of the vehicle offers new brake lights and some new lines making this vehicle much more attractive than last year’s model.

Under the Hood of the BMW 335D
While most are not diesel fans, believe me, this engine definitely is a plus. The engine offers a very peppy 225 horsepower which is twin turbo charged, but the kicker is the low end torque. The 335D offers incredible low end torque that makes this car a rocket with just a small touch of the gas pedal. While these cars are made generally for the European market with nice and high twisting roads in the Alps, you can definitely expect great steering and a very tight suspension. The BMW 335D offers both. In fact, the steering is one of the nicest we have seen. It is incredibly precise without any over or under-steering. The suspension is tight, but not too rigid making this vehicle extremely fun to drive. As for corners, there is nothing that this vehicle will find an obstacle. The 335D conquers corners easily and convincingly.

The 2009 BMW 335D is a great vehicle and one of the best diesels we have seen in a long time. Expect this model to be in the US in December of 2008. The price with decent features is around the $40K mark.

Tags: BMW, Car Reviews

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2009 BMW 3 Series Convertible

If you love BMW, you probably find the 3 series one of the better vehicles on the road. The BMW 3 series offers a bunch of vehicles that are generally more affordable, but offer plenty of style, performance and power. While the last few years, the BMW 3 series stayed relatively unchanged, there are plenty of changes coming for the 2009 model year, one of them affects the BMW 3 series convertible.

2009 BMW 3 Series Tech Specs
The 2009 BMW 3 series convertible comes with a retractable hardtop. This is a nicely done coupe vehicle built for 2. As it is primarily the same vehicle as the BMW 3series coupe, expect the same power plant and chassis. The 328i convertible coupe offers a lot of power and performance. For starters, the 328i uses a 3 liter inline six engine. It produces a healthy 230 horsepower. It should also be noted that this vehicle is a rear wheel drive and comes with a six speed automatic that includes as an option a steptronic gear selection with rapid action.

The 335i Convertible Model
Another model offering a convertible in the 3 series is the 335i that comes also with a 3 liter inline six, but adds twin turbochargers, an all aluminum crankcase and offers 300 horsepower making accelleration extremely quick- 0 to 60 in about 5.5 seconds.

Regarding the convertible hard top, this hard top is quiet and comfortable when fully up. The hardtop adds about 500 pounds of extra weight compared to the couple model, but folds down quickly and easily. Starting price for the 352i is about 44K. Unlike many other models that lower the performance of their convertible, you will find exceptional performance, power and handling with this vehicle.

Tags: BMW, Car Reviews

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The Electric Mini Cooper, Finally

For years, auto enthusiasts have seen quite a few electric vehicles come out- most of them extremely small with weird styling cues and by companies that are unknown and lack financing. While most car enthusiasts agree- all companies and cars are welcome to make an electric car a reality, one car and one company sat on the sidelines when they should have been leading the effort who you might ask- BMW and their Mini Cooper.

The Mini Finally Goes Electric

Anyone that has seen these tiny, very stylish and trendy cars has probably asked themselves, why not this car for an electric? It’s extremely small, lightweight and has the engineering powerhouse of BMW backing it. Well, your wish has come true- the Mini Cooper is coming out as an E-plug car as early as 2009.

Mini E

While BMW has plenty of projects with alternative energy vehicles, this will be their first product for the US. The Mini E will be sold in limited quantities- about 500 for the 2009 model year. They will be available for sale in only 3 states: California, New York and New Jersey.

Tech Specs of the Mini E

It looks like the Mini E will definitely not disappoint. The car will featured a powerful motor getting about 204 horsepower and offering decent acceleration from 0 to 60 in about 8.5 seconds. The top speed is slow for those looking to take this baby on the autobahn, but at 95 mph, it will be just fine for American roads. Here is the real surprise, with a full battery charge, expect the Mini E to get a fantastic 150 miles, which is much more that practically any other electric plug in is expected to get. For instance the Chevy Volt is only expected to get about 40 miles on a full charge.

The Mini E will use lithium-ion batteries and these batteries will take up plenty of room in the Mini- good bye back seat. The weight for the new Mini E will also increase to about 3,200 pounds, about 700 pounds more than the gas powered version. However, charging the Mini E using a special charging adapter at one’s home will be quite quick at only 2.5 hours. It should be noted that a driver can use a standard wall socket- but this will increase the charging time. Right now no price has been set, but if the US government offers a tax credit, this vehicle may be in the range of a lot of car buyer’s budgets.

Tags: BMW, Electric Cars, Hybrid Cars, Mini

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