BMW Archives

Family of E28 owners prove that older BMWs are still cool

There’s a saying in the car enthusiast fraternity, that a family that drives together, stays together. This is especially true in the case of the Caccavo family, where the dad, mum and son, each drive a well looked after E28 BMW 5-Series car.

It all started when the dad, Dean Caccavo decided to look for a clean E28 M5 that was relatively affordable, in good condition and was able to offer immense driving pleasure. After patiently waiting for prices of the M5 to dip to an acceptable level, Dean was able to pick one up that was in relatively good condition.

Seeing this, his wife wanted in on the action and so did his son, which lead to all three of them having very different yet similar E28 5-Series that they use as their daily drivers. It’s a touching story that should serve as a reminder to those who think that older cars don’t have the ability to cope with as much abuse as more modern ones. Check out this awesome video by Petrolicious video to for the full story about how the Caccavo family fell in love with the E28.

In general, the E28 was the second generation 5-Series that BMW made, it replaced the aging E12 and was produced from 1981 to 1988. The car was 4,620mm long, 1,700mm wide and 1,415mm high, which is considerably smaller than the current generation 5-Series. But back then, cars of that era were heavy and less powerful than the ones we have today.

There were a number of engine options to choose from, ranging from a 1.8-lire four cylinder to a 3.5-litre straight six that helped produce a sweet sounding exhaust note. Variants of the car included the 518, 518i, 520i, 525i, 525e/528e, 528i, 533i, 535i, M535i and the M5.

The E28 was eventually replaced with the more robust E34 that proved to be a hit among executive car buyers around the world. That said, the E28 is still respected among many and is still a decent classic by today’s standards.

BMW M8 prototype to debut at Nürburgring 24-hour race

BMW has revealed that alongside the development of the new 8 Series, the automaker’s engineers are also working on the M version of the car. The fully camouflaged prototype will make an appearance as a driving presentation, which is part of the support programme for the Nürburgring 24-hour race.

“The conception and development of the standard BMW 8 Series and the M model run in parallel,” explains Frank van Meel, President BMW M Division. The future BMW M8 will build on the genes of the 8 Series and augment its DNA with added track ability and generous extra portions of dynamic sharpness, precision and agility. It all flows into a driving experience that bears the familiar BMW M hallmarks and satisfies our customers’ most exacting requirements.”

The car is said to feature classic M design features which include large air intakes, modified brakes and a sports exhaust with four tailpipes. The M8 will also be the base on which BMW will build their M8 GTE race car that will spearhead the German automaker’s charge for the Le Mans title.

Development has already begun with the hopes of a debut sometime this year, but the car will only enter competitive racing next year beginning with the Daytona 24 Hours.

Take a look at the picture gallery below for a basic idea of what the M8 might eventually look like. We know its not much to go on, but something is better than nothing.

Resto Modded BMW 2002 featured on Jay Leno’s Garage

The resto mod market has has been steadily gaining ground over the past few years. Demand for such vehicles has been on the rise thanks to people like Magnus Walker, who, after restoring classics, have managed to preserve the beauty and essence of these vehicles yet incorporate certain amount of modernity to make them practical for today’s world.

Resto Mod is essentially the term used to describe a classic vehicle that has been restored by fusing the original body, panels and switchgear with modernized running gear. Considered sacrilege by purists, the popularity of resto modded vehicles have soared as of late. This is because, despite the vehicles looking just as they did 30 or 40 years ago, underneath, are mechanicals that allow vintage/classic cars to be driven in modern day traffic conditions, without breaking down or spewing oil all over the road.

Such is the case here with a BMW 2002, which was featured on Jay Leno’s Garage Youtube channel. It was brought in by founder of the well-known Bavarian Workshop. Marc and his team were responsible for the restoration project with this particular 1976 BMW 2002, which has been modified to keep up with today’s econoboxes but look infinitely cooler cruising down the highway.

Check out this video to learn more about the restoration process and the immaculately clean BMW 2002 that resulted from it.

BMW to reveal new 8 Series concept car

During BMW’s annual general meeting, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Harald Krüger, announced that the automaker would be introducing a new concept car. Considered to be a design study, it will be unveiled at this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on 26 May 2017.

The concept car will provide a glimpse into what the new BMW 8 Series Coupe would look like when it eventually is revealed in 2018. According to the Munich based automaker, the new car “embodies uncompromising dynamics and contemporary luxury – the essence of a modern BMW coupe”.

Speaking of the new concept car, Krüger said, “The BMW 8 Series Coupe will build on our tradition of luxurious sports coupes and add a genuine dream car to our line-up – a slice of pure automotive fascination. The 8 Series Coupe will underpin our claim to leadership in the luxury segment. I can tell you today that this will be a true luxury sports coupe.”

At the moment, all we have is an outline of the car. It isn’t much to go on but based on the silhouette, the car may incorporate design cues from the 6 Series Coupe albeit with wider dimensions. Both front headlights and rear taillights should be of the LED kind at the very least and the car in general, should be loaded with the latest safety tech and BMW’s latest iDrive system.

We will bring you more once the car is unveiled next week, so stay tuned for more updates.

BMW opens biggest warehouse and parts centre in Asia Pacific region

BMW Group Malaysia has officially opened its state-of-the-art logistics warehouse and parts distribution centre in Senai, Johor. This facility will function as the parts distribution hub for 23 countries in the region.

The 775,000 square feet facility is located at the Free Industrial Zone of the Senai International Airport in Johor Bharu. More than RM130 million was invested in the facility which is considered one of its kind and the first in the Asia Pacific region. It will not only function as the logistics warehouse and parts distribution centre for vehicle parts but for lifestyle merchandise of brands under the BMW umbrella, which include BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad.

Regarding the launch, Mr. Hendrik von Kuenheim, Senior Vice President Region Asia, Pacific and South Africa, BMW Group, meanwhile, said, “The record sales performance we achieved in Asia last year and in the first quarter of 2017 is a testament to the strength of the BMW Group in the region. In that, we believe Malaysia to be a key market that supports our strategic business direction in expanding our footprint in the region. The opening of the new BMW Group Regional Parts Distribution Centre here will help the BMW Group to continue driving our vision to deliver the best in automotive innovation and value to customers in the region.”

According to the German automaker, the launching of this facility proves its commitment to serving customers in the region and ensuring that the parts supply chain is in check with BMW standards and to ensure customer satisfaction.

It was completed at the end of last year and marks the first phase of the construction of the entire facility. Situated in a strategic area with good access to the sea port and airport in the Free Industrial Zone, BMW’s new centre should improve parts supply even further. Besides Malaysia, other countries that will benefit from the launching of this facility include Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Philippines, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Tahiti, New Caledonia, Fiji, and Guam.

The opening of this new centre is expected to create 120 new job opportunities in the country, which is good news for us Malaysians.

BMW introduce new BMW 2 Series Coupe and Cabriolet

BMW has given us a glimpse of the new 2-Series Coupe and Cabriolet ahead of their official launch in July this year. The automaker has sold about 150,000 such cars of the same name plate around the world but the demand is highest in the US, UK and Germany.

The new 2 Series features subtle design changes on the outside but an all-new interior with different upholstery choices. Now, the bi-LED headlights are fitted to both models as standard, but can also be specified in adaptive full-LED ones as an option. The twin headlights has a hexagonal look giving rise to a more futuristic appearance, The kidney grille is larger, the outer air intakes are now also larger and the rear features new single-piece LED taillights as standard.

Step inside the cabin, and you are immediately greeted by a new instrument display that features a black-panel design. There’s now one new leather and two new cloth upholstery options to choose from, which complement the aluminium or fine wood trim strips and high-gloss black panels with chrome accents.

BMW says that the interior feels more spacious and less cluttered due to certain tweaks that they’ve made to the design and layout. It’s more prominent features are the contrast stitching as well as the high-gloss black surfacing for the centre stack and the chrome elements for the control panels in the doors.

Located at the top of the centre stack is the high-resolution 8.8 inch touchscreen infotainment system that has the latest iDrive operating system as standard, optional navigation system, support for Apple Carplay, voice control system and a touch controller interface.

For convenience there’s a charging tray that allows you to charge your compatible smartphone wirelessly and the in-car Wifi hotspot provides high speed mobile internet for up to 10 devices. You can also insert a SIM card to expand the vehicle’s connectivity services which include Real Time Traffic Information (RTTI) with hazard preview, On-Street Parking Information and access to the vehicle via Remote Services. There’s even support for Microsoft Office 365, which will allow occupants to use a secure server for their emails, calendars, contact details and the car’s built-in Microsoft Exchange function.

The new 2 Series can be ordered with 16, 17 or 18-inch light-alloy wheels and the exterior body coloyr can be ordered in two new colours which are Mediterranean Blue, Seaside Blue and Sunset Orange. The M Performance vehicles, M240i and M240 xDrive get a bit extra kit than the standard cars.

BMW is offering the two series with a number of engine options that include three, four and six-cylinder powerplants with power outputs ranging from 136bhp to 340bhp. These engines can be mated to either a 6-speed manual or eight-speed Steptronic gearbox. And like the other cars in the line-up, the Coupe and Cabriolet have safety tech that include Active Cruise Control, a Driving Assistant, Lane Departure Warning system and City Collision Mitigation.

The 2 Series will officially be shipped out to dealerships around the world later in the year but expect more information and pictures as the launch date draws nearer.

The love story between a man and his BMW E30 M3

There’s saying that “The bond between a man and his car can only be understood by those who have experienced it”. This is especially true in the case of Gabor Mester and his E30 M3. He first laid eyes on this particular car at a very young age. It belonged to the parents of a friend of his. Gabor would go out of his way to find opportunities to spend more time with it.

The E30 M3 is considered the greatest of all M3 cars, it had a light nimble chassis that was powered by a four-cylinder engine which BMW derived from racing for use on the road. It’s an amazing vehicle that no automaker can replicate again due to more stringent safety standards and emissions regulations. This is probably one of the reasons why owners like Gabor seem to cling to the E30 rather than buy a newer vehicle.

At the beginning, he made that family promise that, when it came time to sell the M3, they would give him the first preference. And they did, but to know the full story, check out this love story between Gabor and the true ultimate driving machine.

BMW launches 740Le xDrive in Malaysia

BMW has launched a new variant of its ever popular 7-Series model, called the 740Le xDrive. The new vehicle has a sophisticated hybrid propulsion system, intelligent all-wheel-drive technology and a luxurious interior suited for top level execs. The car is part of BMW’s i line of vehicles and is touted as the most advanced modern luxury limousine in Malaysia by the Munich based automaker.

Unveiling the All-New BMW 740Le xDrive, Mr. Han Sang Yun, Managing Director and CEO of BMW Group Malaysia said, “Since its introduction early last year, the BMW 7 Series has already redefined the idea of driving luxury in the premium automotive world, even taking home the much coveted World Luxury Car of the Year 2016. The All-New BMW 7 Series Hybrid with eDrive Technology will only set the benchmark even higher, offering to our customers the most cutting edge BMW eDrive technology which we have developed through our expertise with BMW i.”

There are subtle hints that can help you tell the 740Le xDrive apart from other variants, it has eDrive badges on the C-Pillars and BMW i logos on the front side panels. Based on the same wheelbase as its predecessor, the new car is the largest 7-Series in the company’s history and features tech that rival that of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Under the bonnet is BMW’s TwinPower Turbo 2.0-litre inline four engine which produces 258bhp and 400Nm of torque. The turbocharger has been integrated into the cast-steel exhaust manifold for a more compact and efficient package, which coupled with high precision injection, double-VANOS and advanced Valvetronic technology offer decent performance figures.

Mated to the engine is an 8-speed Steptronic trasnmission, which aids in getting the 7-Series to its top speed of 250km/h. Working with the petrol engine is a synchronous motor that develops 113bhp and 250Nm of torque. Juice to the electric motor comes courtesy of a 9.2kWh lithium-ion battery pack that can be recharged using any electrical outlet. But, through the use of BMW’s Wawllbox Connect charger, the battery can be fully charged in under 5 hours.

The car has a combined output of 326bhp and 500Nm of torque which allows it to accomplish the 0-100km/h sprint in just 5.3 seconds, which is impressive for a car of its size. But this Bimmer’s party piece is the eDrive system that governs the propulsion system, activating or disengaging either petrol engine electric motor as and when required. When the Auto mode is selected, the engine and motor work together to deliver performance and fuel economy.

The engine is only cranked over once the car’s speed exceeds 80km/h which should help conserve quite a bit of fuel. when Max is selected, the vehicle can be driven in electric only mode, allowing the petrol engine to be shut off completely but awakened when the accelerator pedal is pressed to the floor.

The car’s suspension and driving behaviour can be altered through the use of the Driving Experience Control with five different modes which are Adaptive, Eco, Pro Comport and Sport. But what takes things to the next level is the xDrive all-wheel-drive system that operates proactively and varies power delivery between front and rear axles depending on the requirement at any given time.

Inside, BMW has fitted the Ambient Light design which includes the Welcome Light Carpet feature that illuminates the cabin and provides a sense of occasion for the occupants. The lighting system has three different colours to choose from and the car also comes with panoramic Sky Lounge glass roof which comprise of over 15,000 lighting elements.

Passengers at the rear are able to change the vehicle and entertainment systems through the use of the BMW Touch Command control located in the rear console. There is also a removable 7-inch tablet that allow passengers to change the comfort and entertainment (16-speaker Harman Kadron Surround Sound System) settings by tapping the appropriate commands.

On the safety side, the car comes with front and side airbags, head/curtain airbags for the front and rear seats, a knee airbag for the driver, ISOFIX child seat mountings in the rear, and the Active Protection System – along with other features.

The All-New BMW 740Le xDrive is available in Black Sapphire, Imperial Blue, Mineral White, and Sophisto Grey. Inside, the upholstery is lined with exclusive Nappa leather while the interior trim is finished in Poplar Grain Grey fine-wood.

The new 740Le xDrive is priced at RM853,800 but after factoring in the government incentive for hybrid vehicles, the price is comes down to a more reasonable RM598,800. BMW is offering the car with a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty. Head on over to the manufacturer’s local website to learn more.

BMW introduces the M4 CS

BMW has introduced a new variant of their M4, called the BMW M4 CS. It’s a special edition M car that is positioned above the standard M and the Competition versions. It sits at the top of the M4 range and is poised to offer drivers racing-like character but in a fully road-legal car.

Built in Munich, the M4 CS’s bonnet and boot are made from carbon fibre-reinforced plastic or CFRP, which is a lightweight but extremely rigid material. Similar to the standard car, the front end has LED headlights, a large front apron with three section intakes that offer cooling to the engine and braking system.

Unique to this variant is the front splitter made from carbon-fibre, which should lower the weight even further. At the rear is the rear diffuser borrowed from the M4 GTS and the same is true for the exposed carbon-fibre Gurney spoiler lip on the boot lid. It’s rear taillights incorporate OLED (Organic Light Emitting Dioede) technology which is a feature that is only found on the M4 CS and GTS variants. Lastly, the M wing mirrors and flared wheel arches and complete the muscular look of the car.

It rides on lightweight alloy wheels which are 19-inches at the front and 20 inches at the rear. The wheels are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres that are considered semi-slick road legal tyres but offer excellent grip on race tracks. Alternatively, buyers can have their M4 CS equipped with Michelin Sport road tyres if they don’t plan on exploring the limits on a racetrack.

Under the hood of this beast, sits a turbocharged straight-six 3.0-litre engine that has been tuned to offer 10bhp more than the one in the M4 with the Competition package, with a total of 460bhp. The engine features two mono-scroll turbocharges, charge air cooler, High Precision Injection, VALVETRONIC variable valve timing and Double-VANOS fully variable camshaft timing.

Mated to the engine is a 7-speed M Double Clutch Transmission (M DCT) with Drivelogic. The engine and transmission combination allow the M4 CS to cover the 0-100km/h sprint in 3.9 seconds and reach a stop speed of 280km/h.

The car features the adaptive M suspension setup similar to that found on the M4 with the Competition package and is optimised to offer a good balance of road and track performance. The control systems such as Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Adaptive M Suspension and Active M Differential have been modified to suit the M4 CS, giving it the best on and off track performance that the M division could muster. The electromechanical steering’s behavior and suspension setup can be changed by adjusting the drive modes which are Comfort, Sport and Sport+.

In typical BMW fashion, the inside is covered with leather and Alcantara which offers a decent blend of luxury and sportiness. The overall layout doesn’t differ much from the standard car and features automatic Climate Control, BMW infotainment system and a sophisticated navigation system.

There’s no word yet on when the M4 CS will be made available for Malaysia but in Europe, the car should go on sale soon at a price of EUR 116,900 or RM 551,854. However, don’t expect the same price tag once the vehicle hits our shores as the various taxes will definitely drive up the price up somewhat.

BMW i3 wins 2017 World Urban Car award

BMW’s electric vehicle, the i3 94 Ah, has been named 2017 World Urban Car at the New York International Auto Show. The car’s small dimensions, lightweight construction and efficient propulsion system made it a clear favourite for 2017.

“We are delighted and honoured that the BMW i3 has been recognized as the World Urban Car of the Year,” said Ludwig Willisch, Head of BMW Group Region Americas. “This award highlights BMW Group’s commitment to sustainable mobility through BMW’s first all-electric vehicle made primarily of carbon fibre. The design brief for the BMW i3 was to create a Mega City Vehicle for the cities of the future. Today, the new 2017 BMW i3 94Ah provides more range, paired with a high-level of dynamic performance, making it the perfect urban vehicle for people around the world.”

Originally launched in 2014, BMW managed to make the car spacious and offer decent range which made it a worthy choice for city dwellers. Compared with the standard one, the 94 Ah has a 50% higher battery capacity (33kWh) due to the higher energy density of its lithium-ion cells.

BMW was able to increase battery capacity but without altering its physical dimensions. This means that it occupies the same space as that in the standard car but allows the i3 to travel significantly longer before needing a recharge. The car is powered by a 170bhp AC synchronous electric motor which is able to propel the the little city car to 100km/h from a standstill in just 7.3 seconds.

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BMW

Family of E28 owners prove that older BMWs are still cool

BMW M8 prototype to debut at Nürburgring 24-hour race

Resto Modded BMW 2002 featured on Jay Leno’s Garage

BMW to reveal new 8 Series concept car

BMW opens biggest warehouse and parts centre in Asia Pacific region

BMW introduce new BMW 2 Series Coupe and Cabriolet

The love story between a man and his BMW E30 M3

BMW launches 740Le xDrive in Malaysia

BMW introduces the M4 CS

BMW i3 wins 2017 World Urban Car award

BMW Malaysia Memperkenalkan BMW iX3 Edisi Akhir Baharu – RM299,800!

BMW Malaysia Unveils the New iX3 Final Edition – RM300k, 286hp, 461km Range

BMW i4 dan 4 Series Gran Coupe Baharu Menerima Perubahan Kecil

The New BMW i4 and 4 Series Gran Coupe Receive Minor Changes

BMW X3 Baharu Menjalani Ujian Akhir

The New BMW X3 Undergoes Final Tuning

BMW Malaysia Persembahkan BMW iX2 xDrive30, Kini Sedia Ditempah – RM283 ribu

BMW Malaysia Launches Pre-Booking for First-Ever BMW iX2 xDrive30 – RM283k

BMW 5 Series Memenangi Anugerah Kereta Mewah Dunia 2024

BMW 5 Series Wins World Luxury Car Award 2024

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