Sections: F30 3 Series | Video Jan 4th, 2012 2 Comments BMW has just released the first F30 3 Series commercial for the international market with all the glory of the car and the Olympics you’d expect. Look for US specific spots around February.
Sections: BimmerCast | F30 3 Series | i3 | i8 Jan 2nd, 2012 12 Comments 
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We’re back but a week since our last show with a look ahead at 2012 and some improved audio quality and another big 60 minute show. But more importantly we tell you how to properly order an F30 and what those “Lines” really are.
After the F30 we move onto the Detroit and Geneva Motor shows and what to expect at each. But what about M? 2012 will initially be the year of the M5 and then as things warm-up a drop-top with close to 600 hp. We break-down what to expect from the new halo M car – the M6. Finally I admit to temporarily putting an E60 M5 into limp mode due to cold weather and a little impatience. continued →
Sections: BimmerCast | MINI Jan 2nd, 2012 No Comments 
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Something funny happened after Michael and I finished our last podcast for BimmerFile. We started talking MINIs. And as we’re prone to do, we quickly started talking about future cars and the direction of the brand. What followed was the most efficient use of ten minutes possible to MINI fans. In short we break down when you’ll see the next generation MINI, what will be under the hood, and what will happen to the rest of the MINI range through 2015. IF you’re a MINI fan, you’ll not want to miss this one.
Sections: //1M\\ | //M5\\ | E9 3.0 CSL Jan 1st, 2012 1 Comment 
The heart and soul of BimmerFile (as the case with MotoringFile) are the reviews. And it’s not just the new cars we’re after but the classics. This year we were lucky to review a couple instant classics and one that is unarguably the real thing. Our reviews of the 1 Series M Coupe and the F10 M5 surely fall under the former. They each represent a step towards the future for BMW M while keeping an eye on the past. But it was a 39 year old coupe on a storied road that completely stole our heart. continued →
Sections: //1M\\ | In the Press Dec 31st, 2011 5 Comments 
First it was Jeremey Clarkson calling it the most fun car of the year. Then we followed officially naming it the BimmerFile’s BMW of the year. Now another third of Top Gear has chimed in and given it top honors for 2011. Richard Hammond has named the 1M is own 2011 car of the year. Here’s an excerpt:
Visually, it tells you straightaway that while it might be still right now, what it wants to do more than anything is bounce up and down like a mad thing, crap on the rug and tear off with the TV remote in its teeth. Comparisons are made with the original BMW M3 every time this car is talked about, and with good reason. The M3, when it popped up in 1987, was adored for its track-derived focus, razor-sharp performance and fizzing, raucous energy. continued →
Sections: //1M\\ | //M3 CRT | //M3\\ | //M5\\ | //X5 M\\ | //X6 M\\ Dec 29th, 2011 10 Comments 
German publication Autobild took the entire current M range (including the ultra rare M3 CRT) to the Sachsenring. The winner? Perhaps unsurprisingly it was the über M3, the new CRT. But what of the standard production models? The F10 M5 bested the lot with a time of 1:38.90. Not bad for a heavy-weight. But it was the race for second that caught out attention. continued →
Sections: //M3 GTS Dec 29th, 2011 No Comments 
While this test actually was published earlier this year, up until now EVO hadn’t allowed it to pop-up on their site. So if you’re not an EVO subscriber (shameful) you can now read the full review by Chris Harris at EVO.co.uk. However be warned, Harris is not a huge fan of the GTS as compared with the Porsche GT3. Here’s a quick excerpt:
It is a very different machine to the base M3, or even the Competition Pack version. The geometry changes have wrought much more steering weight and feel, there’s less understeer and less ride comfort. The dampers and ride-height are adjustable too, so nothing is definitive. As presented, it lacks the suppleness of a GT3 RS, but is similar to the Porsche in that its overall road manners are so palatable that each glance in the rear-view mirror comes as a slight shock: it reminds you of the deleted rear seats and bolt-in roll-cage.
But the 3.0 CSL is another story. continued →
Sections: E60 5 Series | Opinion Dec 27th, 2011 12 Comments 
I need room. Two kids under three means at least one of my cars has to now be able to do some serious family hauling every so often. So my wonderful 2004 330i ZHP has to go. But the problem is, what to replace it with?
Given my need for performance, a hint of efficiency and the desire to feel like I’m driving a sports sedan, the only choice is to go with a wagon.
Since BMWNA axed the 5 Series wagon anyone looking for utility within the BMW range was either forced in the 3 Series wagon or up into the SAV range. The problem is that there are many people that don’t want a crossover and need something a bit larger than the current 3er wagon. And with the larger F31 3 Series wagon at least a year off, the only choice is either a used 5 series wagon or to look at other brands. continued →
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