It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. BMW’s 2008 annual report is out and while it doesn’t paint the best picture for 2009, they have officially announced that the long range targets of the company are safe from the chopping block. Here’s the full release:
Despite the current challenging economic times, the BMW Group is confirming the long-term targets set out in its Strategy Number ONE. “2009 will be a transitional year for which we cannot yet make any reliable forecasts. Nevertheless, our long-term profitability targets for 2012 remain intact. We want to preserve the independence of the BMW Group,” stated Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG Norbert Reithofer at the Annual Accounts Press Conference in Munich on Wednesday. continued →
This may just be one of the simplest to install accessories you can add to your E90 3 Series BMW. No tools required; that is right NO tools! So those of you afraid of a wrench or messing with the “ultimate driving machine” you are safe with this one.
In about 15 minutes you can add some functional storage to the underside of the rear-shelf. This drawer works great for keeping miscellaneous items (such as bike components) from banging around the trunk. It also allows easy access to these items even when other stuff is taking up the main trunk area; the major setback to storing things under the cargo floor. As you can see from these photos; BMW over engineered the drawer and it even retains the ability to hold up the lower load floor to make accessing items under it easier.
There are three parts for this install:
Luggage Compartment Drawer Part # 51477131155
Left Adapter Part #51476956665
Right Adapter Part #51476956666
Pricing varies from dealer to dealer but as with many BMW parts you may find the best prices at GetBMWParts
Official Release: BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team completed the third of three pre-race testing sessions this afternoon in preparation for this Saturday’s 57th annual 12 Hours of Sebring. Today’s one-and-one-half-hour session followed two yesterday with the two BMW M3s recording times in the upper half of the 13-car GT2 class field.
A total of 109 laps were completed over the two days with BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team personnel working together with BMW Motorsport engineers to continue chassis and tire development. On Monday, the team took full advantage of the first time both M3s tested together and tested Dunlop tires for future races. continued →
Looks like BMW’s biggest share holders the Quandt family have nixed the idea of a closer relationship between the German giants. This could impact everything from A/B Class component sharing with the MINI to engine sharing with Mercedes and BMWs.
Okay so this should be pretty easy right? The R57 is the convertible version of the R56. So I can copy and paste any one of our many review of the R56, do a find and replace here and there and I’m done.
Wow that was easy. Now I can go back out and drive the thing. I’ve got one day left with the new 2009 version of the MINI Cooper S Convertible and I’m dying to get outside and put the top down. The sun is out, the temps are hovering near 60F, it’s Chicago in March and the lakefront beckons.
Yes the 2009 MCS Convertible (MCSc or R57 for short) is a chop top R56. But the culmination of this is much more than simply a roofless coupe. This new convertible truly has its own identity. For one the R56 platform just feel so much more right for this car than the previous iteration. The power delivery, the exhaust note and the more supple ride all just feel right in this car. Forget arguments about hard edge handling and raw edge performance. The R57 feels like a bigger leap over the previous drop-top than the R56 over the R50/R53 Cooper and Cooper S hardtops built from 2001-2006. continued →
Karim Habib, exterior designer of the new 7 Series, has accepted a lead position in Mercedes advanced design studio located outside Stuttgart. He’ll work with Mercedes’ new head, Gorden Wagener. This is clearly a big loss for BMW but one that will surely be overcome by other talent already in-house.
Official Release: The BMW Group Forschung und Technik, in cooperation with researchers in Graz and Vienna, Austria, has succeeded in developing a dedicated hydrogen combustion engine with diesel-like geometry and progressive H2 high-pressure direct injection technology. The result is an efficiency level of up to 42 percent, on par with that of the best turbodiesel engines. Partners in the “H2BVplus” project, which is sponsored by Austria’s Federal Ministry for Transportation, Innovation and Technology (BMVIT), are the Institute for Internal Combustion Engines and Thermodynamics at Graz University of Technology, HyCentA Research GmbH in Graz, as well as HOERBIGER ValveTec GmbH in Vienna. continued →
Official BMW AG Release: The BMW Group’s performance held up well in 2008 despite difficult market conditions. “The BMW Group has been able to make improvements at an operating level in the midst of extremely difficult economic times”, stated Reithofer Norbert, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, on Thursday in Munich. “Cost structures have been further optimised and, thanks to rigorous management of free cash flow, the BMW Group is in a very solid financial position”, he added. continued →
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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.
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Sections: Sales/Marketing Mar 18th, 2009 No Comments 
