Behold, the first reader review on BimmerFile. We’d like to make this an ongoing feature so if you’d like to share your take on your new or old bimmer, let us know via the contact form.
This particular review was sent in by Greg Kaufman, long-time MotoringFile and BimmerFile reader.
It’s been almost an exact month since I took delivery of my 2008 BMW 135i on May 31, 2008. As a MINI Cooper S owner for just shy of four years – I traded in my MCS for the 1-Series – I have been thinking a lot about the differences and the best way to explain my thoughts. I also took delivery of my car in a somewhat unique fashion – definitely unique for me. I took delivery and then immediately drove North for about 40 some odd miles to an Auto Cross event, my first time doing an AutoX by the way – talk about really getting to know you’re car on the first day!
One of our loyal readers Mike Hopp has graciously offered us up photos and a trip report from his recently completed European Delivery.
Poor Mike is probably agonizing over leaving his beautiful car in Europe and having to wait the 4-8 weeks to get it back! We can sympathize with him and after all his 135i being delivered via Munich is a prize many enthusiasts long for! Congrats Mike on a great car and trip!
If you, our readers, would like to contribute in a similar fashion (or anything BMW) we would be more than happy to feature it. Just shoot us an email (via the contact form) and we will try our best to make it happen in a timely manner.
BMW M GmbH will be introducing some changes for the year 2009. All 2009 ///M cars will feature the new iDrive system. The information and photos are for EU models.
Most notably will be the change of the rear on the ///M3 sedan. There are new lights, a new rear bumper and trunk lid. On the interior there are new vent grills, modification to trim pieces and doors.
It looks like the BMW 650i will receive a more aggressive Sport Package (at least in the EU) similar to what is currently done with the 550i. This secondary refresh improves some of the controversial styling of the original look of the car and will be available for the coupe and convertible.
First, I would like to apologize for the lack of posts over the past few days, lots has been going on behind the scenes here at BimmerFile!
Next up are some real spy shots from Jeff Budzinski’s Flickr account. These shots he took show a variety of BMW models being tested in the heat of California. These may in fact be ///M versions of the X5 or X6 though we would hope them be performance versions (as BMW has given us in the past) with the ‘S’ adder to the badge.
The shots of the unwrapped X5 is our first glimpse of the bumper that will be on the higher performance performance models, we expect a similar look from the X6 once that loses the wire mesh.
The 1-series in this set is what is really interesting to us. Our insiders reported to us about a month ago that BMW was testing something new in the 1. Other clues we were given at the time were that the mule had a single blacked out tailpipe (like the 135i but only 1), different wheels and a kit similar to the current 135 though not identical, at the time we were unable to confirm this information but now that we do see BMW is testing something in the 1 we thought we would spill the beans! The car in this set is sporting EU lights so this is not a US spec car… Could this be the upcoming 4 cylinder turbo?
Recently the NY Times was able to spend some time with the BMW Hydrogen 7, for the most part they came away from the experienced pleased though there was one glaring issue.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has made the decision to ban the car from the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels as well as the lower level of the George Washington Bridge, this essentially makes traversing the Hudson a bit more time consuming and frustrating since there are not as many options to beat the traffic.
We have seen several sets of spy photos of what can be interpreted as a BMW X6 ///M over the last month. Originally it was thought that it would feature an over boosted version of the Twin Turbo V8 in the xDrive50i as the source of wheel spinning power.
Indications now are that these test mules could be featuring a advanced hybrid system designed under BMW’s F1 program, a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS). This is an different system to the previous hybrid X6 (non-///M) we had featured which will utilize the system jointly developed with MB, GM and Chrysler.
This rendering once again shows us how the rear of the forthcoming Z4 may appear. It has the reversed shoulder line as we had discussed in the past as well has the hard lines from the front. BMW’s use of design cues from the CS and also the GINA concept are apparent in the overall style of this car.
Below are the official BMW AG photos of the upcoming 1 series new iDrive system. In addition to the new controller, the current pop-up screen has exited the dash in favor of a new wider and higher resolution (1280X480 to be exact) fixed screen. The system will also feature a 80 GB hard disk and brand new menu system as previously discussed for the 3 and 7 models.
This new Professional navigation system will allow for a full-screen map display and additional features such as travel and route planners.
These changes have been confirmed for most markets outside the US. Click on the “link” tab to view at a higher resolution.
(I apologize for the slow load times as I did not resize them appropriately)
Here are some shots of future additions to the BMW lineup; the PAS (based on the next generation 5) and the X1. The redesigned X3 was caught in its swirled disguise as well. We have been hearing the X1 should premier in “concept” form this fall while the X3 will relieve the current one some time next year. This is a year earlier than the normal life cycle as the current version is based on the E46 and is looking very dated. The PAS will debut around the time of the new F10 5 series.
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We believe in the old school BMW ownership experience. We believe in garage nights with a six pack and some friends. We believe in 2002s, in E30 M3s and E34 540s with the 6 speed. We believe in progress in both design and engineering but we haven't lost sight of what made the brand and its products great all those years ago. And yes, we believe in the manual transmission.
We long for the days of the wave and for the days of roll-up windows. Yet we love the gadgets on the inside and the xenons on the outside.
In short, we can't get enough of BMWs. This is BimmerFile.
Sections: E81/82/E87 1 Series Jul 31st, 2008 10 Comments 
Behold, the first reader review on BimmerFile. We’d like to make this an ongoing feature so if you’d like to share your take on your new or old bimmer, let us know via the contact form.
