The BMW 3-Series began production back in 1975 and is one of the German automaker’s luxury sedans. The 2012 model year will mark the 3-Series’ sixth generation since its birth and will incorporate all of the current versions for the luxury car: 2-door coupe and convertible, 4-door saloon, 5-door touring, and 5 door liftback. The new 3-series is expected to be powered with new aluminum four-cylinder gasoline engines ranging from 135 to 220 horsepower.
The current model is powered by a choice of four different engine. The 3.0L I-6 produces 230hp and 200 lb-ft of torque, while the 3.0L twin turbo diesel gets 265hp and 425lb-ft of torque. Another option is the 3.0L twin turbo I-6 getting 300hp and 300 lb-ft of torque, and the final engine option is a 4.0L V8 producing 414hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Engines can be mated to a six-speed manual transmission or a six- or seven-speed automatic.
In its standard version, the BMW 335i develops a total of 306 HP. That should be enough for some, but for others - like a seasoned tuner - power can always be boosted to a higher number. MR Car Design, for example, has played with the output of the 3-Series so that it could compete against its own BMW M3!
Thanks to a new exhaust system (850 Euro), an XXL intercooler (899 Euro), and an optimized engine software (849 Euro), the engine will now deliver a total of 406 HP and 530 Nm of torque. Quite impressive for a 335i, and not far from the 420 HP of the M3. The package also includes a new KW coilover suspension that improves the handling.
The car sits on a new set 20 inch Breyton Spirit alloy wheels wrapped in high-performance tires, 235/30-20 and 285/25-20.
Realistically, we don’t see anyone actually pinning these two together, but it’s nice to see that the souped up 3-Series could hold its own against its speedier brethren, the BMW M3. The increase in horsepower will obvious give the 3-Series improved performance numbers, but the tuner has failed to divulge what these new numbers are. That being said, we expect big things from this enhancement.
British tuner, Superchips, has decided that diesel engines can be just as much fun as their petrol counterparts, so they decided to do a little reconfiguring for BMW’s 3.0-liter, six-cylinder engine that powers models like the BMW 3-Series, 5-Series, 7-Series, X5, and X6.
Superchips was able to increase the power of the diesel engine by 44hp at 4183 rpm and 90 Nm of torque at just 2222 rpm. This brings the total output to 313hp and 627Nm of torque. In order to accomplish this task, Superchips had to perform a remap of the engine while taking into consideration the "careful optimization of fueling and turbo boost settings". According to Superchips, this reconfiguration allows for a sharper throttle response, a keener, more urgent engine, a harder pull throughout the rev range.
The BMW 3.0 D ECU remap is priced at £445.00 and comes with a 12 month/30,000 mile supplementary vehicle warranty.
With the announcement of Infiniti’s new performance line and the debut of their 2 M-based models coming up at the Pebble Beach Concours, it probably wasn’t a bad idea for BMW to release a video about their Performance line. There’s always room for a little refresher when competition is brewing.
BMW’s Performance line is available for models like the 1-Series, the 3-Series, the X5, and the X6. It includes hand-crafted carbon components, a lightweight sports silencer, front bumper, side-sills, and an insert for the rear bumper; all in a special design and body color. The Performance line also includes a rear spoiler, rear fins in matte black, and a front grid finished in high-gloss black paint. Finishing off the line are a set of 21" light-alloy wheels.
For models like the BMW M3, the Performance Package includes a lowered suspension that brings the chassis 10 mm closer to the asphalt and stiffens things up with a newly developed set of electronically adjustable dampers as well as an all new set of lightweight mesh alloys measuring 19 inches in diameter. These alloys help dress up the new M3’s appearance along with the functional aero package.
Want to see more on BMW’s Performance line? Check out the video for yourself!
South Africa’s BMW Roslyn plant will officially launch a new, limited edition version of the much fabled BMW 3-Series sedan. This edition will be called the "Dynamic Edition’ and will be available only in the four-cylinder 320i petrol and 320d turbo diesel and the turbocharged straight-six 335i sedans. The ceiling for these models will be set at 300 vehicles.
The ‘Dynamic Edition’ models combine elements from the M-Sport package as well as some from the BMW Performance program such as a carbon fiber front air dam splitter, side mirror add-on’s, and a rear spoiler. It will come in Alpine White, Blue Water Metallic, and Space Grey Metallic exterior paint finishes with royal blue piping in the floor mats. The seats will come with Blue Shadow cloth and alcantara upholstery with royal blue stitching. The Dynamic package will also see engine software upgrades to improve performance for the limited edition sedan. The package is rounded off with dark chrome 18-inch alloy wheels and dark chrome tail pipes.
Today BMW delivered a completely restored 1972 BMW 3.0 CSi to its owner. This occasion marked the very first full restoration completed by the BMW Classic Customer Workshop and the first time BMW Welt has delivered a classic vehicle, as opposed to a brand new one, to a customer.
The owner had a specific request for his CSi. He wanted BMW to convert the four-speed manual gearbox to an automatic, something that had previously been done only with two prototypes of the BMW 3.0 CSi. It was fitted with an automatic transmission from a BMW 2.8 CS. Other than the gearbox conversion, the experts at the BMW Classic Center had to repair a lot of body damage done to the vehicle as well as iron out technical and electronic defects. The process for this vehicle restoration took months of research and hard work, but it all paid off once the car was delivered to its owner in perfect condition. Perfect condition being the only one acceptable by the customer.
Some drivers are just plain assholes. No other way to describe it than that. And if you wanted any proof as to how these people exhibit their displeasure on just about anything that they deem as threatening to their ride, watch this video of a BMW 335i whose owner can’t stand the heat of a nice little trail ride from a MazdaSpeed3.
We don’t know what led to the uncalled-for outburst by the jerk in the BMW, but we’re guessing that he can’t stomach the fact that the high-powered Mazda could keep up with his precious ride.
Good thing that the driver of the Mazda kept his cool during the whole ordeal because a hot-tempered fellow with a penchant for road rage would have probably taken the Mazda and rammed it into the BMW. Don’t think it’s far-fetched. We’ve seen it happen before.
Being called the best-selling BMW line is not something that should be taken lightly. There’s a certain amount of prestige and honor that goes with it and BMW is doing its part in releasing a commercial dedicated solely to this model: the BMW 3-Series.
The first 3-Series made waves back in 1975 and since then, has spawned, five generations and about five different body styles with the latest incarnation coming in the form of the facelifted 2011 3-Series Coupe and Convertible.
Check out the video to see the history of the BMW 3-Series in 30 seconds.
Those guys over at BMW are just barely done exhibiting their talents with the 5 Series and the facelifted 3-Series Coupe and Convertible and they already working on the next generation 3 Series. It will be revealed in the next few months and will go on sale in early 2011. They sure aren’t wasting any time.
Like many of their latest models, the 2012 3-Series will take its design inspiration from the 2007 CS Concept. It will remain a front-engined, rear-wheel-drive model with a new 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine and 1.5-liter three-cylinder unit under the hood. Both units will deliver around 150 HP. All models will be offered with l EfficientDynamics – including stop-start and energy recuperation.
The car’s interior is said to model that of the 5 series, but will also feature a tremendoues achievement. The next-generation 3 Series will have Wi-Fi in its lineup which we hope BMW will be readily able to explain once the car gets closer to production.
As for the exterior, BMW seems to be sticking to its classic design while adding a wider body to differentiate it from its earlier models. We aren’t really sure if BMW fans will go for the newer model if it tends to look just like the models from before and cost more. Of course, they will be highly intrigued with the electronical adjustments made. Let’s just hope when the actual vehicle comes out, it will look a little prettier than this rendering.
It’s not as ghastly as the Corvette from Hell we showed you a few days ago – some people even dig the whole body chrome treatment, though we’re not one of them – but the owner of this BMW 328i really went through the proverbial needle’s eye to make his car look as – for better or worse – as attention-grabbing as it can get.
We’re big fans of chrome detailing if done correctly. As far as we’re concerned, this one isn’t one of them. Maybe it’s the overall package of the car or maybe it’s just those tacky white outlines that makes it look more like a toy car than anything else; either way we’re not big fans of how this customized 328 turned out.
Motor Trend knows how to make the ultimate throw-down among rival manufacturers: pit them against each other in a good ol’ fashion fatal four-way Topless Drag Race!
For this event, MT brought together an Audi A5, a BMW 335i, a Lexus IS350, and an Infiniti G37 – all of which, incidentally, are convertibles. It’s the showdown of showdowns to determine which top-down machine takes home the coveted bragging rights for winning Motor Trend’s special Topless Drag Race.
We’d spoil you the result of the race but where’s the suspense in that? But just so you won’t get caught off-guard, we’ll give you a little teaser of what to expect – or not to expect, for that matter.
It’s not the kind of drag race you’re accustomed to seeing.
