BMW Blog, Performance, Tuning, Motorsport, and Modification News

The 4-Series overall is a nice design if more evolutionary than revolutionary. With the recent official reveal of the F32 4-Series coupe it follows that naturally the F33 Convertible model will follow. This rendering is well done and the car definitely looks good with the top dropped. The artist got the rear correct along with the wheels, exhaust, diffuser, basically everything. It would be nice to see the car from a front angle as well but overall well done. ...

Some interesting information was posted in the N20 section of the BimmerBoost BMW forums regarding the durability of the N20 motor. Now, the motor is becoming very popular and is winning multiple awards and rightfully so as it is currently the best factory 2.0 liter turbo four cylinder in production. The keyword there being factory as apparently it is not going to be a stout aftermarket tuning platform at least not yet. Take the information you are about to read as unconfirmed but from an interesting source. ...

Now this is a nice development if accurate. The recently officially revealed F32 4-Series seems to be the start of a new trend at BMW regarding weight loss for its cars. About time really as the new F10 M5 is definitely a porker at over 4300 pounds. The F12 6-Series is no better coming in at an astounding 4555 pounds. BMW has not used lighweight aluminum or plastics as the competition has instead relying on steel to keep costs down at the expense of weight. As well as their famed 50/50 weight distribution with their new turbo motors. ...

Evolve get a good amount of business from customers running forced induction kits from tuners that compete with them. The cool thing about Evolve is that does not bother them as they will still tune it for you unlike many other tuners and it does not matter what platform it is or if it happens to be one they directly compete in. Evolve simply will do a custom tune just as someone asks and that is how it should be as in reality the hardware and engine belong to the owner of said car, right? ...

It's no secret BMW's have gotten fat. Very, very fat. 4300+ pounds for the new F10 M5 and 4555 pounds for the new F12 650i. Nothing efficient or dynamic about those weights which have spiraled out of control affecting BMW's image and well as traditional claims such as 50/50 weight distribution. With the new F32 4-Series it seems BMW finally is aware it has a weight problem and that the cars are straying from the traditional formula making it difficult to continue to claim to make the Ultimate Driving Machine. ...

Oh yes, here we go the millionth time, the ever popular 335 versus M3 discussion. A user posted the video below of a bolt on DCT E92 M3 pulling a JB4 tuned 335i in the forums and the N54 fanboys went for the pitchforks and torches. For whatever reason 335 owners in particular seem to really want to attack the E92 M3 perhaps in justification of their own purchase. There is the typical "oh I didn't get an M3 because a tuned 335 is faster" nonsense that N54 fanboys tend to comfort themselves with in the never ending M3 versus 335 debate. ...

Very impressive results here and nice to see some big numbers from supercharged S62 V8's. This car here is using the RMS supercharger kit which obviously features a supercharger (Vortech YSI) and RMS associated hardware including what is one of the most beautiful plenums in the BMW aftermarket. This E39 M5 features a built motor S62 V8 with low compression pistons and forged internals which can handle more boost from the YSI allowing for an impressive 669 wheel horsepower. ...

There are few pleasures equivalent to having a drivers car and a beautiful twisty road. That is exactly the type of thing the driver in the video below is enjoying. as he takes his E46 M3 down a beautiful twisty cliff side road with a great view of the ocean. The problem is when one pushes it too far and this video shows the consequences. Now the driver is not exactly going balls out but it goes to show you do not have to be to lose it on a road you may lack familiarity with. ...

The F10 M5 exhaust note simply is underwhelming to put it mildly from the factory. When is the last time BMW ever needed synthetic sound inside the cabin to compliment their factory M5 exhaust system? The answer is never. Fortunately, GermanBoost Network vendors IND-Distribution, AMS Performance, and Eisenmann are here to remedy the situation giving the F10 M5 the exhaust the bark and aggression it is supposed to be have to begin with. ...

Great runs here between two motors we are going to see going head to head for some time to come, the S63TU V8 and the M157 V8. Both are twin turbo, both are direct injected, and both are V8's positioned against each other in each respective manufacturers lineups. The CLS63 AMG is stock with the Performance Package and the F10 M5 has downpipes. From a stop, the cars are quite close surprisingly basically going neck and neck when launch control is used. ...

Well it is a changing of the guard and the end of an era of dominance for BMW at the International Engine of the Year Awards. 2013 marks the end of the N54 twin turbo inline-6 and S65 V8 appearing on the list. The S65 V8 lost this year as not only is the E9X M3 at the end of its model run but the more than worthy McLaren M838T took home the award in the 3.0 to 4.0 liter category. The S65 V8 ends its run with 5 straight awards in the 3.0 to 4.0 liter category. ...

This is just flat out cool and heartwarming to see. In between the forum flame wars and endless bickering over car stuff the average woman thinks is insane there are some sweet things on the BMW forums. Ok, very few of those things but this is the kind of video that definitely shows enthusiasm for cars and what puts it over the top is that yes it involves a girl. A really damn cute one. And amazingly it proves BMW nerds on the forums actually can have an attractive girlfriend which might be the greatest lesson of all here. ...

Great video here showing the difference in naturally aspirated potential between the S65 V8 and the S85 V10. What makes this interesting is both motors are very similar even sharing parts like the pistons and rods as the 4.0 liter S65 V8 in the M3 is based off the 5.0 liter S85 V10 in the E60 M5. It really is the same motor with two cylinders lopped off. This video illustrates what that extra liter of displacement means in naturally aspirated form especially up top on the highway. ...

Interesting claim here regarding the curb weight of the next generation F80 M3. Now the horsepower is expected to be in the 450 range. CAR Magazine claimed the car would have 444 horses so ~450 seems to be the right range. This not as big of a jump as the E46 M3 to the E92 M3 or the new F10 M5 to the previous generation E60 M5 but BMW only made about a 60 horsepower jump with the new M5 model at the crank although the horsepower numbers at the wheels point to far more. ...

Nicely done BMW Motorsport. There is no other way to put it, BMW was kicking ass and taking names with a 1-2-3 finish. Bruno Spengler took the victory for BMW and is number one in the driver standings with 53 points followed by Audi's Mike Rockenfeller who has 41 points. Audi managed to get into second place just barely ahead of Mercedes-Benz by 2 points with 67. BMW is way ahead for now with 171 points but there are seven races remaining and as we saw last year anything can happen. ...

This is not much of a race or comparison. The Audi R8 4.2 V8 simply gets annihilated. It really is not even a comparison as this Audi needs to be a V10 model for this to even be remotely interesting. A stock E92 M3 DCT and the Audi R8 is a good race as is (with the M3 edging it out) and with bolt ons the R8 is easily pulled. With a supercharger the result is as you see here with the M3 putting several bus lengths on the R8 V8 4.2. ...

The new F10 M5 has a very weak exhaust note from the factory. The car just does not have that M motor exhaust punch one would expect. It is actually so bad BMW has to fake the engine sound over the internal speaker system. Fortunately F10 M5 owners aFe Power has you covered so your M5 no longer has to fake having some real growl. There are photos and a sound clip below of the full system on an F10 M5 at Bimmerfest and this is the best sounding exhaust I have heard either online or in person for the S63 V8 motor. ...

Well that was fast! Just two days ago an article was posted on BimmerBoost stating the F15 reveal would be coming any day now and here it is. Introducing the new 2014 F15 X5. The new SUV will be available later this year (as spyphotos correctly projected) and will be available as xDrive35i, xDrive50i, and xDrive35d models. The 35i will have the N55 turbocharged inline-6 while the xDrive50i gets the updated N63TU V8 with 445 horsepower. ...

The Mahart Racing tuned M6's and M5's at this event have been causing people to scratch their heads with the results. On one hand, you have a Manhart tuned F10 M5 just annihilate a C63 AMG Black Series and a Manhart tuned F13 M6 crush an MTM tuned V10 twin turbo C6 RS6. All of these Manhart Racing tuned cars have the Manhart Stage 4 S63TU tuning package which consists of an ECU tune, downpipes (with cats), exhaust, and airboxes. ...