Over the past decade or so, a number of beautiful BMW convertibles have came onto the market. In the past, drivers had to deal with the hassle of manual convertible tops; when they wanted the top down, they had to get out of the car and put it down themselves. Today, every BMW convertible top is power electric (Z3, Z4, Z8, 335ic, e30, M3, etc.) which makes the user-friendliness and allure of their cars only more appealing.

If you own a late model M3 or a BMW Z4 convertible, you probably won’t need to worry about replacing your canvas top anytime soon. Fortunately, they manufacture high quality tops that you should be able to get years of use from. However, if your car is from a few years back, such as a BMW Z3, it may be time for a replacement. Even if there are no tears or rips, the UV rays can fade the fabric over time. This is why it’s so important to park your car in a shaded area (ideally a garage) whenever possible. Not only will this help protect your convertible top, but also it will help protect your paint from premature aging. However it’s not only the sun you need to worry about, but also snow, hail, freezing temperatures, and other extreme weather.

Here are 3 quick tips to extend the life of your BMW convertible top, whatever year or model it may be:

1. Cleanliness. Just as this is true for the exterior paint, the same applies to your convertible top. Never let any sediment stay on it for an extended period of time. A thorough car wash once per week would be ideal if it’s a daily driver.
2. Garages. Whenever possible, keep your BMW convertible top shaded from the sun, even if that means using a car cover. Not only do UV rays prematurely age your skin, but your car’s canvas top too!
3. Protect. There’s ongoing debates about the effectiveness of so-called convertible top protectors. However, they probably can’t hurt, can they? It’s only spending a few extra bucks once in a while to buy a bottle of convertible top protectant from Autozone or Kragens, so you might as well do it.

Email This To A Friend or Social Bookmark It!

It will be able to store access passes for different methods of public transportation and information to help facilitate electronic payments. These are only two things that BMW will hope to bring in customers and make their lives much easier.

The best thing is that it will be able to carry the drivers personal preferences between each car. Owners will have their own fib personalized to their ConnectedDrive preferences – which would help make those options available in any BMW model and not just their own personal cars. This is the best way for people to remember their favorite radio stations and other special services when traveling.

Email This To A Friend or Social Bookmark It!

The automaker stated that because of the tougher environmental emission standards and the increase in manufacturing costs something had to change. It is just too expensive and no longer practical to be producing large amounts of their specially designed V8 and V10 engines that can be found in the M3, M5, and M6 models.

The X6 xDrive M will be the first M model to carry the brand new turbocharged engines. It will be produced with a 4.4 liter V8 engine that can produce 500 horsepower and 516 pound-ft of torque. Reports from BMW lead us to believe that this same engine will be placed in the F10 chassis M5 – which we will see late in 2010.

Email This To A Friend or Social Bookmark It!

They are now considering re-designing the range of 7-Series for 2009 and equipping them with a 4.4 liter twin-turbo V8. If this is successful we might see them expanding on this. We assume that they will start to import the diesel versions of the X5 utility vehicle and 3-Series with a twin-turbo six cylinder engine.

Averaging it out, a BMW is close to 20%-25% more efficient then the gasoline brands. Because of this having a diesel engine is beneficial to consumers to help lower the cost of fuel. It also helps manufacturers to meet the new CAFÉ fuel mileage stats.

Email This To A Friend or Social Bookmark It!

But they did manage to figure it out or they would never have installed it in their latest generation M3. However, that doesn’t mean that many consumers will understand what it means. BMW has now issued a recall. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that the problem with the DCT is that it makes it hard for hard braking. The transmission was built to initiate a multi stage downshift when braking and this can cause the car to stall.

So now BMW is asking that the owners of the 2008 and 2009 M3 built with the DCT (which is around 2,500) bring it in for a simple software update. All they need to do is bring it into their nearest dealership and let them fix the problem free of charge. Now BMW owners can brake in peace.

Email This To A Friend or Social Bookmark It!

The company was founded by Australian F1 driver Jack Brabham in 1960. The company was strong and successful until 1992 when it went bust from financial liabilities. But before that happened they managed to win the F1 drivers’ title four different times and also the constructor’s crown twice. Brabham’s 1966 title is the only championship that was won by a car using its driver’s name.

After almost 16 years of quiet Brabham has returned and is beginning again by working on BMW models. The company will be offering the spruced up cars during the Essen Motor Show in Germany. This line-up will include the BT 60 based on the M5, BT 70 based on the X6, and the BT 92 based on the M3.

Email This To A Friend or Social Bookmark It!

This new car will have a whole new look and two powertrains. One of the cars will be given motivation with the help of standard combustion and the other one will be completely electric. The electric car will of course meet all of the requirements with the California mandate that must be set up and met by 2012. This mandate requires that it be a fuel cell or battery powered car that can travel up to 200 on one single charge.

It’s also worth mentioning that the BMW CEO specifically pointed out that it meets California regulations, signaling that the vehicle would be available Stateside. There is still no word regarding which of BMW’s three brands would be used for the vehicle, but we’re still very sure it won’t be a Rolls Royce.

Email This To A Friend or Social Bookmark It!

Inside Line stated that BMW is deciding on whether or not they will be adding the direct-injected 2.0 liter four-pot engine all the way from Europe to the 3-Series here in the States. The 170-hp engine powers the 320i and 120i across the pond. The ultra-efficient powerplant averages over 38 mpg in the European combined test cycle while still providing the razor-sharp handling that is BMW’s trademark.

Oliver Friedmann – the project director for BMW – stated that s 4-Cylinder petrol model will have a “desirable effect” in the U.S. Of course that doesn’t mean that this is official. He did state that the U.S. is not yet ready for a diesel 4-cylinder. Of course I think that we are all ready for a good change and will gladly welcome it.

Email This To A Friend or Social Bookmark It!

The eight replaced the inline-six on the previous model, but instead of remaining content to say “good job on the extra two cylinders”, Dinan asks what happened to the extra two from the V10. Not that they would have been happy with the V10, either. On that, Dinan pushed and pushed, boring and stroking out the engine’s ten cylinders until they got it up to 5.7 liters and 628 horsepower. Pretty sick, but saddled with the heft of a BMW 5 or 6.

Word has it now that Dinan is preparing to shoehorn in its 628-hp concoction into the M3’s engine bay. Thankfully they’ll be lightening it up a little after that, removing some of the bulk from the front end in order to keep the weight balance in check.

Email This To A Friend or Social Bookmark It!

It will be getting a brand new active suspension with a ride height that has been lowered by up to 10mm in the back and 12mm in the front. It has also been equipped with a new front hood and new wheels.

With or without the Competition Package, however, the entire M6 range (coupe and convertible) gets new side mirrors, a new electronics package controlled by the revised iDrive system and a new shade of black for the exterior.

Email This To A Friend or Social Bookmark It!