Category: BMW

Last month we read about an official recall in the United States for BMW M5 and M6 models affected by an oil pump issue. Details of the problem were outlined in an internal BMW US document, which has been published by BimmerPost. Here’s the first few paragraphs:

Q1. Which models are affected by this Recall?
Affected are certain Model Year 2013 BMW M5, M6 Coupe, and M6 Convertible vehicles produced between July 2012 and September 2012.

Q2. What is the specific problem?
The issue involves the engine oil pump. The pump driveshaft can separate from the pump rotor. If this were to occur, the engine could experience a sudden loss of oil pressure which could cause severe engine damage.

Q3. Why are other models not affected?
It has been determined that only certain vehicles produced between July 2012 and September 2012 were equipped with an incorrectly manufactured oil pump.

Q4. How many vehicles are affected?
Approximately 696 vehicles in the US are potentially affected.

We contacted BMW Australia to see if any locally delivered models are, or would be, affected. This is the reply we were given by Piers Scott, Head of Corporate Communications, BMW Australia:

“20 Australian cars are affected but they are all still either en route or yet to be delivered. So the fix will be conducted whilst still in our care and not one Australian customer will be affected.”

So, there you go, if you’re about to buy or take delivery of your very own F10M you can rest assured that you won’t be affected by this issue.

BMW DTM driver Augusto Farfus recently took his wife, Liri, for a drive around the Nürburgring Nordschleife in a company M3. For our amusement BMW fitted the car with a few cameras to make sure we didn’t miss any of the action.

BimmerPost takes us underneath the bonnet of the F80 M3 for our first look at the new inline six cylinder set to power BMW’s most revered M model.

We still don’t know how many turbos will be bolted on to the engine, but looking at the two pipes coming from the intercooler it looks like there’ll be at least two. Perhaps that’s the best visual indication we’ll get, too, as the rumour of a third turbo suggests it will be electrically powered and may be housed well out of view.

That’s some pretty serious strut bracing too!

Best predictions so far say the engine will provide punters 450hp (335kW) to play with. Of course, the same six cylinder engine will find its way into the M4 coupé, which is codenamed F82 for the trainspotters among us.

[Source: BimmerPost | Pic: Brenda Priddy & Company]

You’re looking at BMW’s first ever front-wheel drive model, the 1 Series Active Concept Tourer. For reasons of convenience we’ll refer to it as the 1 Series GT, although it is also known as the ‘Compactive Tourer’. We’re expecting a full reveal online in the next 24 hours now(!), before making its public debut in Paris.

The image above was leaked by Auto Bild on the cover of their latest magazine and the chaps at BimmerPost have removed the surrounding text and images to leave us with a clean look at the new model. On first viewing, we have to say the 1 Series GT looks pretty smart too. Certainly a bit sharper than its comparatively dopey looking rear-wheel drive sibling.

Interestingly there’s talk the next-generation 1 Series will only be a front-wheel drive model. Of more current day relevance the UKL platform used here will also underpin the new F56 MINI. The front-wheel drive 1 Series and the next-gen MINI will share several components.

[Source: BimmerPost]

UPDATE: BMW has since released official pics and info for the Concept Active Tourer (ie. 1 Series GT).

The Nürburgring-based based blog Bridge to Gantry brings us some new footage of the F80 M3 being tested on the Nordschleife. As the car exits the Karussell you can hear the trick gearbox doing its thing. However, as the new M3 drives further away you can also hear the turbocharged inline six cylinder hard at work.

We’ve said it before, but we’re still waiting for the exhaust engineers to get busy.

BMW Australia has announced pricing for its M Sport Package, which is now available on the current model 3 Series.

The M Sport Package is a suite of enhancements, mostly cosmetic, from the M Sport catalogue. It’s available to option on all 3 Series models offered in Australia, except the entry level 318d. Pricing ranges from $5,460–6,844 depending on the model chosen.

Items included in the M Sport Package are:

• Sport suspension (lowers car by 10mm)
• 19″ M Sport alloy wheels
• M aerodynamics package (body kit)
• BMW Individual High-Gloss Shadow Line
• M Sport leather steering wheel
• Dakota leather upholstery
• BMW Individual roofliner in Anthracite
• M door sill trims
• Aluminium interior trim with Estoril Blue or Black high-gloss highlights
• sport seats
• instrument cluster with unique printing
• two ambient light colour selections complete the package

BMW Australia expects around 25% of all new 3 Series models will be fitted with the M Sport Package.

Further to the list of items above the package can be complemented by optional Estoril Blue metallic paint and M Sport brakes.