BMW M Sport for 1- and 3-series

By Tim Pollard
First official pictures
16 February 2007 09:03
M Sport models for the BMW 3-series Coupe and Convertible
A new flagship has arrived for the 3-series two-door range - and it gives some pointers to how this summer's new M3 could shape up. The Coupe and Convertible's beefy M Sport styling kit is available with any engine spec and comprises 18-inch M-design alloys (19s are an option), a new spoiler and aero pack, plus 15mm-lowered sports suspension. This is no minority choice, either. More than three-quarters of BMW's six-cylinder coupes are ordered in M Sport trim. Buyers clearly love the M look, but without the expense of trading up to the real McCoy.
What do I get inside?
The M Sport trim bungs in a load of extra equipment, too. Figure-hugging sports seats are trimmed in cloth and Alcantara, the door sills gain M badging, as does the gearlever. Brushed aluminium dash trim and M steering wheel complete the interior upgrade. Prices start at £28,330 for a 320i M Sport Coupe, while the new folding hard-top Convertible can be had in M trim from £32,255.
And what's this? A BMW 1-series M Sport?
We've already seen the M trim on the One, but BM has now rustled up an M Sport Limited Edition of the 130i: all come with carbon black metallic paint, 18-inch alloys styled on the WTCC wheel design and unique lemon leather interior. Only 160 will be sold in the UK, costing £30,270. Meanwhile, the new three-door 1-series range has been priced from £17,785. And BMW has raised prices elsewhere in its range by an average of 1.4 percent (although some popular models like the twin-turbo 535d jump by more than 4 percent).

BMW M5 manual mess-up

By Chris chilton
Industry news
27 January 2007 01:34
North American customers were delighted when BMW bowed to their demands for a full three-pedal manual version of the current V10 M5 super saloon, but aren’t quiet so enamoured with the finished product.
The issue is not with the gearbox itself – BMW successfully replaced the European model’s seven-speed SMG box with the old-shape M5’s six-speed manual – but with the compromises that were needed to get there. Without the benefit of computer control for the opening and closing of the clutch plates, M division’s engineers couldn’t eliminate axle tramp under hard take-offs.
The only solution was to make it impossible to fully switch out the DSC stability system, although you can still employ the half-way house M Dynamic mode which is probably enough for all but the most crazed sideways obsessives. But punters in the US aren’t happy at what they see as a compromised M car. Which must be incredibly frustrating for M boss Gerhard Richter, who never believed a manual box was right for the car and was only bowing to commercial and boardroom pressure.
BMW has no plans to bring the manual M5 to Europe. And it doesn't sound like we should be too upset.

BMW 1-series

By Tim Pollard
First official pictures
15 January 2007 11:53
What's this? A BMW 1-series facelift?
Sort of. The 1-series has only been available as a five-door since its launch in 2004 - until now. The three-door was unveiled today and packs in longer, coupe-style frameless doors, but you won't exactly mistake it for anything other than a 1-series. That said, the whole range of Ones has been gently massaged, with a fleet of new engines and a mild facelift. There's a larger kidney grille, a reprofiled front spoiler and a darker headlamp cover on all 1-series. Of rather more interest is what's under the bonnet - including some pretty radical new environmental technology.
New engines? What do they do?
BMW has unveiled some pretty interesting new technology on the revised 1-series. All manual models (except the 130i) now switch off automatically at a standstill when the driver selects neutral; the engine restarts instantly the moment the driver presses the clutch pedal. And the company's new Brake Energy Regeneration system is seen for the first time. It disengages the alternator when battery recharging isn't needed; traditional alternators are constantly pulling power from the engine. It also harnesses energy wasted on the over-run to charge the battery. New direct-injection engines are also introduced to the 1-series range - in some cases, managing economy improvements of up to 24%. The new engines are: 118i, 143bhp (+14bhp), 47.9mpg (-24%) 120i, 170bhp (+20bhp), 44.1mpg (-17%) 118d, 143bhp (+21bhp), 60.1mpg (-19%) 120d, 177bhp (+14bhp), 57.6mpg (-16%)