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2012 BMW 1-Series M Coupe Dakar Yellow
 
Back in 2010, pictures of a Dakar Yellow BMW M3 spotted in Southern California flooded the internet, gaining the admiration of many a car enthusiast. At that time, we wondered why BMW did not carry the striking yellow exterior finish on more of their models, but alas the German automaker stuck to their high maintenance "Frozen" finishes of Dark Blue, Gray, and Silver. Until now. A similar Dakar Yellow package has been applied to the new 1-Series M Coupe, rounded out by a series of visual and power upgrades. The package starts off with a series of elements from the BMW Performance arm, including new seats, a new steering wheel, pedals, shifter, and carbon fiber trunk lip. Then, since this is a high performance sports coupe, carbon fiber elements were thrown in to enhance its character. The 1M Coupe received a new front lip, a new diffuser, new side valances and skirts, and a new roof, all covered in carbon fiber. For an even meaner look, the car also received new angel eyes. Under the flashy paint job and shimmering carbon fiber, the BMW 1M Coupe also juiced up with new Brembo brakes and a new set of KW suspensions. Next, the Dakar Yellow 1M received an Akrapovic exhaust system and a wireless kit to add to the all around fun of the sports coupe’s twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six with 340 horsepower. Video: BMW M Performance Parts. Development.
When it comes about high performance vehicles, BMW M models are no doubt one of the best example on how cool an updated model can get from factory. And now BMW has unveiled a very cool video explaining to us how their M performance models are being developed. And although if the video is just 3:30 minutes long it is pretty education and you will make a pretty good idea on the work standing behind the development of the BMW M models. The video also gives you a preview what’s in store for the BMW 3 Series. "BMW M Performance Parts stands for original BMW retrofit equipment in four categories: aerodynamics, drivetrain, cockpit and chassis. To provide the best parts for customized and even sportier design, a lot of work has to be done beforehand. Have a look at the development process."
Australian teen steals BMW X5 while under the influence of paint
The fact that illicit drugs are easily accessible to many teenagers across the world is worrying in and of itself, but the fact that everyday household products can have the same effects is quite astounding and extremely worrying. Case in point, this 17-year old Australian male who was recently arrested after being pursued by police for over two hours while under the influence of paint. Yep, those fumes we’re sure you all are familiar with, can be used by immature people to get high, but we never imagined it could impair an individual’s perceptions this much. The driver, William John Noel Compton, attracted police attention after a white BMW X5 was stolen from a Westlake home in Brisbane, while a black BMW Z4 roadster was also taken from the same household by another group. It’s believed that five teenagers were in the vehicle throughout the entire chase, but until the teens face court, we’ll never know just what they were thinking. Furthermore, scientific testing on how paint fumes can affect an individual are extremely limited and almost non-existent, but we wouldn’t be surprised if the driver was under a similar hit provided by marijuana and other similar illicit drugs. If one positive can be taken out of this event, it’s the fact that much of the chase was captured by a Channel 7 media helicopter and we can show you that exact video. The lives of dozens of motorists were put in harm’s way, and after many recent deaths in Australia resulting from police chases, the pursuing cop cars were understandably cautious while following the vehicle. Check out the video above, and please note we don’t condone this sort of behavior!
2012 M5 Hits 186 mph on the Autobahn, then Loses Control
We all love the BMW M lineup, and we are particularly fond of the brand new 2012 Ms, which punches 560 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque from a TwinPower Turbo 4.4-liter V-8 engine. According to our report in January, the 2012 M5 can hit a top speed of 190 mph, and a driver on the Autobahn decided to test this spec. This 60-year-old man pushed his fresh-off-the-showroom-floor 2012 BMW M5 all the way up to an estimated 186 mph. As he approached a merging vehicle he swerved to avoid it, sending this machine into ping-pong ball, as it careened back and forth between the left and right guardrails. The M5 then flipped several times before coming to a rest in the grass to the side of the high-speed highway. Miraculously, the driver, his 20-year-old passenger, and his dog all survived the crash, though severely injured. This clearly shows how advanced the BMW’s safety features are. Judging by the images (hat tip to Bimmerpost for the images) if this were any other car, the results would have been more tragic. This just goes to show that just because you own a car that will do 190 mph and are on a section of the Bundesautobahn (Autobahn for short) that has an unregulated speed limit, does not mean you should push the car to its limits. By all means, stretch its legs when it’s safe, but don’t max the thing out. We should all use the tragic death of this brand-spankin’-new M5 as a lesson in how not to drive. Save that craziness for the racetrack.
2012 BMW 6-Series Coupe by Hartge
Shortly after introducing their new program for the BMW 6-Series Convertible, German tuner Hartge has set its sights on the F13 coupe version with a similar styling and performance upgrade. As part of Hartge’s new digs for the 6-Series Coupe, the German tuner added aerodynamic modifications that include specially tailored spring sets that give the vehicle a lowered stance by 30mm in the front and 25mm in the rear. To go with the suspension tweaks, Hartge also fitted the 6-Series Coupe with four different sets of 19" to 21" wheels wrapped in 295mm wide tires. The wheels, incidentally, are available in a number of color finishes, as well as matte black or glossy finishes that customers can choose to fit into the car. For the BMW 650i M Sport package, Hartge also added a new stainless steel exhaust system that comes with a stainless steel center silencer, rear silencer, and dual round tail pipes. For the relative lack of intricate aero upgrades, Hartge more than makes up for it with a significant power boost that takes the 640i’s output from 320 horsepower to 384 horsepower and 398 lb/ft of torque. Likewise, the 650i also gets its own performance uptick, to the tune of 490 horsepower from the standard 407-horsepower output of the standard model.
2012 BMW MH5 S-Biturbo by Manhart Racing
With 560 HP, the new BMW M5 is nothing short of a hit among tuners from all over the world: some want to make it look even more aggressive and others want to improve upon the already impressive performance numbers. The latest tuning package comes from Manhart Racing, who hope to prove that, when combined with the appropriate updates, the BMW M5’s standard 560 HP is more of a joke than a serious power offering. The BMW M5’s standard 4.4 liter V8-Biturbo engine has been given a series of modifications on its turbochargers, downpipes, and exhaust-gas system. As a result, the output has been increased to 633 HP and 575 lb-ft of torque. If that’s not enough, the tuner has promised that the next step will be achieving 670 HP. The package also includes a flap-controlled sports-exhaust-gas system made of high-grade steel with four diagonally placed 90 mm exhaust pipe-ends, a new sport coilover kit, and the obligatory new set of 21" wheels.
Spy Shots: BMW 4-Series Convertible shows off its roof mechanism
 The upcoming BMW 4-Series Convertible has been caught topless before, but now the spy images that were captured show off the details of the vehicle’s roof mechanism. Just like the current 3-Series Convertible (E93), these photos officially confirm that BMW has decided to go with the folding hard top mechanism. The BMW 4-Series Convertible is still heavily camouflaged, hiding most of the lines, but according to some inside information, the front end will differ from the recently announced F30 3-Series sedan and will be more sculptured and sportier. In fact, rumors say that the new 4-Series will take most of its design elements from the 5-Series and 6-Series, but with more squared-off headlights and larger eyebrows. Rumors also say that the 4-Series will be offered with the latest four and six-cylinder petrol and diesel units found in the BMW lineup, including the new 245bhp 2.0-liter four-cylinder petrol engine. The new BMW 4-Series Convertible will be launched sometime in 2013 and will go on sale as a 2014 model.
BMW M135i Caught on the Nürburgring
BMW just keeps on dangling the M135i three-door hatchback carrot right out of the reach of U.S. buyers and this time, it just may start a complete revolt in U.S. BMW dealers. Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, or BMW to all of you un-cool people, decided to whip the new M135i hatchback around the Nürburgring and some savvy little filmmaker caught it. To make things even better, this is actually a really good video with awesome sound – it seems almost like a professional deal. The sound of this 300+ horsepower 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo engine – “TwinPower” means one turbo with two scrolls, not two turbochargers – is music to our ears. It’s so nice that it may just take the place of all the songs on my MP3 player. Not only does this thing appear to scream when the driver puts the pedal to the proverbial “metal,” or posh carpeting in this case, but it also looks to handle like a dream. The bad news in this whole situation is that BMW has still not decided to let U.S. buyers know if the M135i, let alone any three-door hatchback 1-series, will make its way across the pond and into showrooms at any time. There’s not even a European release date, as of yet, and we are already about to explode at the opportunity to get our grubby hands on them. For now, all we have are the pictures from the Geneva Auto Show and the above video to keep our hopes alive. We are sure that if a large enough portion of US BMW customers start bombarding BMW with requests for this vehicle, the Bavarian car builder would eventually cave and bring this extremely hot hatch to the states. Kick back, crank up the volume a tick, and enjoy the video of the M135i cruising the Nürburgring over and over and over again, just like we did.
2013 BMW 3-Series LWB
The BMW 3-Series may be the German automaker’s resident mid-sized vehicle, but don’t tell that to the Chinese market. In what can be attributed to the Chinese’s penchant for limousines, BMW has acquiesced that demand by unveiling the new 3-Series LWB that will be exclusively sold to the Chinese market. The vehicle, which will make it’s debut at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show, features a longer wheelbase than the standard 3-Series. The extra 4.3" in length should bode well for all those high-rolling Chinese that prefer to ride in style with a chauffeur in tow. On top of that, the 3-Series LWB comes in a number of trim models, including the 320Li, the 328Li, and the top-of-the-line 335Li. Powertrain options for the respective models include a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine for 320Li that produces 181 horsepower and 199 lb/ft of torque. Meanwhile, the 328Li gets a 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder with 241 horsepower and 258 lb/ft of torque, while the top-end 335Li gets a 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six that develops 302 horsepower. More details are expected to be revealed regarding the 3-Series LWB when the 2012 Beijing Auto Show arrives. For now, digest these photos and wonder how you can get this ride into your garage. Video: BMW provides wind tunnel testing on the Olympic torch
With the 2012 London Olympics a little over three months away, the time has come for the Olympic torch to make its customary long journey on its way to the host site. On its way to London, the torch will pass through a plethora of environmental conditions so to ensure that the flame doesn’t get extinguished, BMW, a main sponsor of the 2012 Olympics, decided to lend its wind tunnel facility to test the toughness of the torch. The BMW Energy and Environmental Test Center is located in Munich, Germany and is as high-tech a facility as they come. It features three wind tunnels and two climatic test rooms that can simulate temperatures from a freezing -4F all the way up to a scorching 131F. On top of the temperature simulation, the facility can also replicate weather conditions the torch could potentially face in certain locations. Be it wind speeds of up to 174 mph, pouring rain, or snowy conditions, BMW’s Energy and Environmental Test Centre has it covered. So how did the Olympic torch manage when it was tested in the BMW facility? The UK’s ITV1 dedicated a segment to show the entire testing procedure, which you can watch after the jump. It’s definitely worth four minutes of your time. Full story
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