Many owners of 99-06 model year BMW 3 series vehicles have reported failures of the rear-axle supports in the vehicles sub-frame caused by cracking and defects. BMW has steadfastly denied any charges of wrongdoing made against it in the lawsuit but has issued the following statement and owners or leasees can refer to an established website for further information.
BMW NA Official Statement. BMW has agreed to a proposed settlement of a class action lawsuit concerning the Sub-Frame structures on 3 Series (“E46”) models produced from 1999 through 2006. Under rare conditions the attachment points of the Sub-Frame may develop a fracture or crack. BMW has prepared an inspection, approved repair procedure, and reimbursement policy in keeping with the terms of the proposed class settlement. Details will be forthcoming, pending the court’s final approval of the proposed class settlement. In advance of the final settlement, BMW customers with questions should visitwww.E46subframeclassactionsettlement.com.
Here is a video displaying the aforementioned fracture
In a surprise move BMW is releasing limited edition M3 models with special trim, wheels and a lowered suspension for release worldwide in July.
Official Release: Powerful, aesthetic design, supreme performance and exclusive style – the unique characteristics of the BMW M3 are now available in highly attractive Edition Models focusing on the most outstanding highlights of these outstanding cars.
Based on the BMW M3 Coupé, the M3 Edition Models offer a choice of no less than four highly individual cars boasting perfectly harmonised modifications in body design and interior features as well as special light-alloy wheels and an even lower chassis.
The BMW M3 Edition Models will be entering the market worldwide in July 2009 in Alpine White, Black, Dakar Yellow, and Monte Carlo Blue. In the interest of supreme exclusivity their production period is limited to just six months.
Individual highlights both outside and inside.
Bimmerpost is featuring a number of spyshots that are well worth talking about. For the first time we get a decent look at the next generation 1 Series (in 5 door iteration) and it’s new modular platform. This car will be slightly wider and longer than the out going 5 door 1er but reportedly lighter.
Then there’s the 7 Series sport. We’re almost 100% sure this is not an M7. Why? Several things. For one look at the brakes and the wheels. Even in prototype form the M division uses production spec wheels and brakes that are quite a bit more aggressive than that of the standard car. This prototype clearly shows a stock set-up. Instead we believe this is a 7 Series with an M Sport front end and/or possibly a revised front end design to allow for more functional air intakes.
Finally there’s the new 5 Series Touring. Not much to say about this other than we won’t have long until the camo comes off of this one.
Official Release: The style has changed, but not the content: “Many German motorists see motoring not just as a comfortable and fast means of transport, but also as a sporting activity. These are people who, once they see an aerodynamic car body with a long and sleek engine compartment, as well as a speedometer extending all the way to 150 km/h, feel that strong yearning for wide open roads simply perfect for driving fast, for Alpine passes just begging to be conquered, and for ompetitors so easy to overtake.”
It was precisely with these words that BMW announced the Company’s first self-engineered roadster in 1934. And indeed, this concept with its six-cylinder power unit was destined to shape the future of the brand, extending all the way to the current BMW Z4.
Last our sister site MotoringFile exposed the interior image seen in Automobile.Fr as a forgery. This week we’re doing the same to the exterior photoshop image. Instead of debating the image for days upon days we thought we’d go straight to the source and ask the always candid Gert Hildebrand (director of all things design at MINI) while at MINI United. His response was straight forward and clearly sincere. The images (interior and exterior) are both fake. A simple answer from the man who would know.
A full walk-through of the new system found in the 1, 3, Z4 and 7. It’s a huge step-up from the previous iDrive system and is easily the best I’ve seen in the marketplace – finally surpassing Audi’s latest MMI system.
Editor: The original title of this post was “3rd Generation iDrive Walk-Through”
The 1st generation appeared in the E65/66 7 Series, the 2nd was introduced in the E60/61 5 Series, the 3rd generation was when the additional “shortcuts” were first added to the E90 3 Series, which was more of an evolution.
This is the 4th generation of iDrive and is a major revolution compared to the past versions.
BimmerFile is dedicated to bringing you the most interesting news, links and reviews related to the BMW brand and it's vehicles.
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: E46 3 Series, Official News, Recalls/Bulletins, Safety, Video May 30th, 2009 4 Comments 
