German Car Blog, Performance, Tuning, Motorsport, and Modification News

Arkym has released its carbon fiber replacement roof for E90 BMW's including the M3. This is a full carbon fiber panel which sells for about $1000. This panel offers weight savings over the standard roof but the amount saved has not been listed by Arkym. If interested in adding that M3 carbon roof look to your E90, Arkym has you covered. ...

We would like to welcome our newest supporting vendor, PAW Motorsport. PAW Motorsport specializes in the N54 and N55 platform BMW's as well as Mini's. PAW offers parts, service, dynos, and custom flash tuning for these cars. N54 owners will likely be interested in the cylinder head upgrades PAW Motorsport offers which provide a great improvement over stock (details on this to be posted tomorrow). On behalf of everyone at BimmerBoost, welcome! ...

As of right now, the transmission is completed and the cooling system is in the process of being completed. Where we left off was the car being taken to SSP for the build of the cooling system. To make this all make sense we will not skip ahead, instead showing you each step. Here SSP is getting ready to put it together with the new clutch discs. They laid out all the parts and used 3d scanning equipment to record them to aid in the production of the parts. Everything was laid out to make sure the parts were clean and accounted for. Additionally, they were working on prototype viton seals for the transmission. The next update will have details on the cooling system. ...

Autoweek is reporting that Mercedes plans an entry level 4 door coupe as well as AMG A class. The CLC may be based on the new A class and an AMG variant may come as well. The powertrain would likely be the same dual clutch transmission that Mercedes plans to use in their GLC (entry level SUV slotted below the GLK). What we have to wonder is if the A class will make it to the USA this time as the CLC is a sure bet. ...

The 24 hours of Daytona is now over. A very strong showing for Chip Ganassi racing finishing in the 1 and 2 spots overall and winning the DP (Daytona Prototype) class. Chip Ganassi Racing has done very well in this event over the past few years winning in 2006, 2007, 2008, and now in 2011. The motor for the cars was prepared by Dinan who clearly did an amazing job, hats off to Dinan for independent support that beat factory backed outings. We can not stress enough how impressive this is for Dinan in particular. ...

Mercedes GP Petronas had been doing teasers of the new car and now they have revealed the full design. You will likely notice first the new color scheme. Along with that, aerodynamic enhancements for the 2011 season have been made with the nosecone and wing undergoing major changes. They are calling this car the "Silver Arrow" and it will make its debut at the first Formula One winter test in Valencia on February 1st. ...

Some of you may remember that Brabham came out with their stroked S65 V8 M3 with a widebody. They have now taken it to the next level by swapping in a stoked 5.8 liter S85 V10. The car still has the same widebody kit but now features different wheels. Power is at about 650 horsepower. Price? Well, the V8 car goes for around $300,000 so this one is not going to be cheaper. Worth it? No way, but cool to see. ...

Here are the results from testing and tuning of OE Tuning's C63 AMG. This car belongs to OE Tuning's tuner, Jeremy. At the time of the first dyno session the car had approximately 2000 miles on it. Before the dyno, the car had custom tri-Y long-tube headers and full exhaust made which were designed by Gintani (now off the car to finish production jigs).The car ran an 11.6@121 at the Famoso drag strip with the following mods: header back cat-less Gintani X-pipe with Gintani Full exhaust & Mufflers + OE Tune + Sunoco 104 gas + Continental Sport stock street tires. ...

Mercedes, congratulations on 125 incredible years. You have a storied history that is in a league of its own. Happy birthday Mercedes, and keep up the great work as we know you will. ...

APR was on the pole to begin the race in their MK6 GTI setting a qualifying record for the ST class. The street tuner class is the entry level class for compacts and imports. Kia managed to finish in second with Kinetic Motorsports doing a great job with their Kia Forte. Bimmerworld rounded out the top 3 in their 328i. We will be following what develops in the Continental Series closely, results below. ...

The Grand-Am 200 in the Continental Tire series which kicks off the Rolex 24 weekend is now complete. Rum Bum Racing's finished 1st in the GS class along with setting the fastest lap. The Ford Mustang Boss 302 by Multimatic Motorsports finished right behind the M3. The next three spots were all BMW M3's with Turner Motorsport finishing in third place and Fall Line occupying 4th and 5th. BimmerBoost will be following the Continental Tires series. Results and explanation of the classes below, click read more. ...

This is a great time lapse construction video from Turner Motorsport. The Rolex GT 24 hours are this weekend and to kick off our coverage check out this time lapse construction vid. ...

GWA tuning has been doing some very interesting things with Mercedes modification. You may remember their take on the Mercedes C111 from a few weeks back. The Pagoda is based on a classic Mercedes W121 chassis with a Mercedes 190 2.3 serving as the donor car. The final product is one of a kind with retro and modern muscular looks rolled into one. The powertrain is taken from a Mercedes C43 AMG so it has a a 4.3 liter M113 V8 with a 5 speed automatic. Very well done GWA, but we have to ask, how much $? ...

Horsepower Freaks Stage 2.75 is a recent development. The stage 2.5 as many of you know is a built motor and has seen numbers on methanol and race gas just under the 700 whp mark. Stage 2.75 differs from the 2.5 by offering a different turbo as well as the HPF 4" exhaust that is used on the Stage 3 as well. 754 whp is impressive and we congratulate HPF on a job well done. More power clearly isn't necessary so how about that 10 second slip already? ...

Arkym has released their carbon addon pieces for BMW E92 Msport equipped cars. These pieces are full carbon fiber consisting of a front lip, rear diffuser, and a rear trunk spoiler. Check out the studio photoshoot of the pieces! ...

Well, the numbers aren't all that impressive and actually pretty slow. But hey, this is an SUV after all, and a heavy one at that. The Q7 weighs about the same as an X5 at 5,256 pounds yet it puts up much worse numbers than the N55 equipped X5. It also only pulls .81 on the skidpad due to its high center of gravity. The V8 is also now gone. What you say? Yes, the 3.6 v6 and the 4.2 V8 are both gone and the 3.0tsi supercharged 6 cylinder is actually quicker by a couple tenths than the V8 it replaces. For whatever reason, the Q7 has a detuned version of the 3.0tsi putting out 272 horsepower vs. the Audi S4's 333. The S-line version has the full 333 ponies on tap but the Q7 does not seem be much of a sporty SUV to begin with. ...

This is an example of how to not drive your E92 M3 on the ring unless 10 minute laps and almost wrecking the car at every opportunity are the goal. I don't know if terrible even cuts it, this is just bad. If camera shaking doesn't get to you go ahead and marvel that this car survived. ...

The major roadblock for the C63 AMG has been the transmission whose software has not been cracked preventing tuners from exceeding the limitations. Well, Mercedes has no decided to replace the 7-speed auto in the C63 with their AMG Speedshift MCT transmission. This transmission is a dual clutch, semi-automatic transmission that is also featured in the CLS63 AMG. It is able to handle the torque produced by the twin turbo V8 so perhaps this means the C63 will have a higher torque capacity than the old 7G-tronic automatic which was limited to 542 pound-feet of torque. ...

Images of the updated C63 AMG were leaked onto the web today. Likely the first thing most will notice is that LED's have been integrated into the bumper. The taillights have also received LED's which are the current fad. The quad exhaust remains untouched as do the powerplants (457 horsepower standard, 487 with the P31 performance pack) but changes to the transmission have been made which will be detailed in a supplementary article. ...