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BMW Blog, Performance, Tuning, Motorsport, and Modification News
Published on 07-17-2011 04:00 AM
We finished dyno tuning the HPF "Right Hand Drive" (RHD) turbo system with some great results. Each turbo system we produce is designed for a specific application. The RHD application was designed for the track / autocross / daily driver and required the use of twin turbos as opposed to one larger turbo as the factory steering shaft and A/C was retained. These GT22 turbos spool so fast that the benefits result from high torque results at very low rpm. The downside is with the smaller turbos, peak horsepower is less than with a comparable larger turbo. ...Published on 07-16-2011 05:10 AM
We really like 5th Gear and prefer how it is more substance than fluff. This wasn't up to their usual standards though. We love Vicki but having her in one car (the M3) and Tiff Needell in the other does not make for an accurate comparison. Also, the drifting scoring seems haphazardly done with them just pulling out numbers. The laptime comparison being done using an Iphone to time from inside the car isn't exactly the professional timing we would expect. If we were to apply their own scoring system, we give the comparison a 6/10. ...Published on 07-16-2011 04:00 AM
Car Planet Racing in Cheshire, England was facing the same problem as so many of our customers – how do we turn an OBD-II chassis into a full race car without sacrificing engine functionality? They had an E92 BMW M3 from which they wanted maximum lightness and simplicity. But the electronics architecture of the chassis made this impossible. They wanted full control of their engine tuning as well but was constrained by the heavy and complicated BMW electronics system. The solution? Call Apex Speed Technology! ...Published on 07-15-2011 06:51 PM
You should know by now BMW is returning to DTM racing. They will be racing an M3 which will have a 4.0 liter V8 (coincidence the road car features the same style of motor? Nope) which will be putting out about 480 horsepower depending on the restrictors used. BMW last raced in DTM from 1984-1992. The last victory coming in October, 1992 on the Hockenheim with an E30 M3 Evo. Two decades was far too long of a break, we look forward to seeing the new M3 DTM car in action. ...Published on 07-15-2011 04:51 AM
Maybe we are a bit sensitive since we are a BMW Enthusiast site. We like to see innovation and BMW has been one of the best at introducing technologies or designs that eventually others in the industry copy. We just wish they would focus like they once did on introducing innovations and technologies designed to enhance the driving experience instead of trying to score environmental kudos. The only person at BMW who had the courage to question the direction where BMW was heading was BMWNA head Jim O'Donnel who was forced to apologize for daring to question the electric strategy. Watch the vid and see how our beloved BMW is changing before your eyes. ...Published on 07-15-2011 01:31 AM
The car is our 2011 135i w/ DCT, JB4 (Stage2), AR 4" downpipe, and WW quick install meth kit. I have an N55 Helix IC for it but have not had time to install it yet, hopefully soon! The car is using the same Shell 91 octane + NOS octane booster it's been on for the past 3k miles. Temps were in the low 70s. For today's meth testing I wound up having to run 100% duty cycle most of the power band. Meaning the JB4 is working the wastegate as much as it can be worked. And even in that trim it struggled to hold 17psi @ 5000rpm and 13psi @ 6000rpm. ...Published on 07-14-2011 02:24 AM
We have been sitting on this story for quite some time but can no longer sit by and not say anything. For a while now, BimmerBoost had been the primary source of single turbo information coming from the user unfor who recently changed his username. His thread was one of the most viewed and rightfully so as N54 people want single turbo information. Things just started to get more and more odd as bold claims came from unfor such as posting a 10 second flat timeslip claiming it was from MIR with a Garrett professional driver and odd dyno charts that looked nothing like what an N54 motor should look like. We hate to tell you this folks, but his performance claims were all lies. ...Published on 07-12-2011 08:04 PM
These are almost becoming common, aren't they? We must say, we really like what LS1tech members are doing with these motors. From putting them into Porsche 911's to BMW 3 series', these motors seem to be finding their way into everything. We don't think that is a bad thing. Hard to beat the LS V8 series for weight, reliability, power, and cost. Check out the build pictures and videos below. ...Published on 07-11-2011 11:42 PM
The video here is just a small part of the comparison EuroTuner Magazine did which will be featured in the August 2011 issue. Obviously, it isn't really fair to compare a tuned M3 to a stock 1M but Willow Springs (namely the Streets) is a tight track that favors lighter cars. The M3 has a GIAC tune, H&R coil-overs, Brembo brakes, with Continental CSC3 tires. The 1M starts in front but the M3 pretty much reels it in at will. ...Published on 07-11-2011 08:33 PM
BMW's are getting fat, really fat. Good thing they have twin turbo motors because they need the torque to move their giant behinds. Road and Track did a quick first drive of the Alpina B7 and hit 12.7 (no trap speed listed) in the 1/4. The 760Li they tested did it in 12.6@114.9. Why bother with the B7 when you can get the V12 and tune that? Or even tune the regular 750? For a body kit? ...Published on 07-10-2011 11:06 PM
Ian Robertson is a powerful man sitting on the BMW Board of Directors. Guess we are not surprised that he wants to keep his huge office on the 22nd floor of the headquarters by bending over and accepting whatever BMW wants him to. Robertson stated the following about BMW's upcoming front wheel drive cars at the 6 series reveal, “In the last 10 years we have built nearly two million front-wheel-drive Minis and no one has ever told me the driving dynamics are questionable." ...Published on 07-10-2011 03:11 AM
This time we definitely have to give G-power credit as they are making their top speed claim with something they never did before, proof. The run was done by Auto Motor Und Sport magazine at the Nardo high speed test ring and as you can see the speed was verified officially. We do not know of any other E9X M3 with a higher officially timed speed. Pretty impressive for what is a 570 horsepower stock motor kit. ...Published on 07-09-2011 11:41 PM
This was the third race of the season and BMW Motorsport continues their great start with their third victory of the season. BMW finished 1st and 2nd at the 12 hours of Sebring to start the season and 1st place at Long Beach. The number 56 M3 GT started from the pole position and led every single lap until the finish. Car number 2 was unfortunately involved in a wreck but still managed to finish in 8th place. The next race is July 24 at Mosport in Canada. ...Published on 07-09-2011 04:42 AM
Eugene has been posting a lot of run videos lately with his supercharged M3 and we are definitely like it. He recently ran a tuned Nissan GTR and now decided to take on an LP-560 as well as a 2008 Gallardo. Setup is the same as with the runs with the GTR, 15 psi which is relatively low boot. In the video with the LP-560 he has belt slipping and the Lambo jumped but he still managed to pull. With the 2008 Gallardo, well, it's a massacre. ...Published on 07-08-2011 12:03 PM
Looks like those triple turbo rumors 6 cylinder rumors for the X3 M were true. Auto Express reports they confirmed the triple turbo 3.3 liter with head of M Dr. Nitschke. 450 horsepower is the expected output with 2 turbos fed by gasoline and 1 that is electric. How would this work? We aren't entirely sure how BMW plans to arrange them but the attached diagram may help resolve how the turbos could be positioned with an inline 6 with the electric turbo in the middle working as a sort of quasi-compound turbo setup. ...Published on 07-08-2011 04:00 AM
This is a great drag race to see but not really all that surprising. The Audi wins the race by virtue of its AWD launch and DSG transmission. Whomever was driving the 1M launched poorly. The 1M had the higher trap speed by 3 MPH so it is the faster car. Makes you wonder how the 1M would do with a DCT transmission. The video calls the Audi an automatic (not this again) and suggests it would win by a larger margin in the rain (as if drag racing the rain is smart or desired) leading both comments to sound, well, stupid. ...Published on 07-07-2011 07:00 AM
It will be the 2 series that produces the next entry level M car, not 1. In an interview with M director Dr. Friedrich Nitschke, Auto Express was able to confirm the car is coming. This will be a coupe which will be compared to the Cayman and TT-RS much as the 1M is compared now. Rumors of a tri-turbo motor persist and if the X3 M is revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this year with a triple turbo motor, expect this car to get the same powerplant. ...Published on 07-07-2011 04:00 AM
E90 3 Series production will end later this year. Before it ends, BMW will offer the Performance Edition which boosts horsepower by 20 and torque by 32 pound-feet. Basically, it is the Stage 1 BMW performance software included in a package with black kidney grills and Performance Edition badging for $550. Reality is you can get more performance in the aftermarket for less money. We would prefer a real performance BMW, like the GTS or CRT. ...Published on 07-06-2011 10:01 PM
By now you have seen the video of the 1M drifting on top of the highest helipad in the world. This video created a ton of speculation that the stunt was faked. Most of the people saying it was fake naturally came from Youtube. The driver was Greg Tracy and you can read his own blog entry about the stunt here. And remember, hitting your head against a brick wall is more productive than reading what people on Youtube have to say about anything. ...Published on 07-06-2011 04:05 AM
Theophiluschin rendered his take on an X5 pickup truck. BMW pickup trucks have been in a the news a bit after BMW pulled their April Fools joke with the M3 pickup. The X5 makes a lot more sense for a pickup and the renderer did a good job although we think the 4 door variant doesn't look as good as a two door sport truck would which we have attached a rendering of. Maybe a BMW pickup truck wouldn't be such a bad idea? ...
Today, 04:55 PM