With 2012 BMW is making a variety of changes across the line-up. Here’s a full rundown of every change on every model.
All Vehicles
BMW Apps is available as a stand-alone option on all models for $250. With this addition, the Smartphone Integration will be removed as a stand-alone option and now included in BMW Apps.
You can see the entire line-up in detail after the break.
Our friends over at DrivesTv have posted an eye candy video of the Alpina B7. What can we say about the Alpina B7 besides- it is a gorgeous machine which offers high end luxury and outstanding performance, not much more because it simply offers what few others do. We’d love one to park alongside say an M3 or 1M.
BMW Individual has partnered with the famed German piano maker Steinway to create a special edition BMW 7 Series. The car is based on the ActiveHybrid 7 model and is created with BMW’s Individual. Exclusively in white or black it is perhaps the most elegant F01 7er to date.
Now that snow, ice and other winter messes are showing up all over the world we have received many question about the functions of Dynamic Stability Control (DSC). The following information is a brief synopsis of each of its functions and the basics behind it all. We hope that this information is useful and provides you with some answers to your questions. The information here is for the newer generation of cars equipped with DSC.
DSC is ON by default, there is no need to press any buttons on start up. DSC uses a series of sensors to detect wheel spin, yaw rate of the car and other properties. Using sensors and other electronics it can apply the brakes as needed, cut engine power and with Active Steering it can make small steering corrections to better keep the car under control. In layman terms, all the nannies are on by default and help to keep the car from spinning out. When DSC is intervening a caution light will flash in the instrument cluster.
With “The French Laundry” in Napa, “Per Se” in New York, and “Bouchon” in Las Vegas, Chef Thomas Keller is one of the most preeminently celebrated chef’s in the US if not the world. BMW has partnered with Chef Keller by employing the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 as part of his “concierge service”. This service sets apart “The French Laundry” when compared to other high end dining experiences helping make it even more exclusive and sought after.
BMW NA has officially released it’s 2011 model year changes and we’ve got all the details for you. So if you’re considering a 2011 model year BMW of any kind this is essential reading…
BMW’s new inline-6 gasoline engine.
Beginning with model year 2011 production, several BMW models (135i, 335i, 535i, 535i Gran Turismo, X5 xDrive35i, and X6 xDrive35i) will switch to the new, single twin-scroll turbocharged inline-6 “N55” engine. The newest BMW inline-6 engine is the first BMW inline-6 to combine turbocharging, High Precision direct fuel injection, and Valvetronic variable intake technology. It features a single, mid-sized turbocharger with a “twin-scroll” housing to boost performance and minimize the response lag. Together, this combination produces the same at 300hp and 300 lb-ft of the previous N54, but the fuel efficiency improves and the emissions are reduced.
We always have our ear to the ground in search of the latest BMW news and speculation. What we are hearing these days is that BMW will be upping the Efficient Dynamics push. Sources have been reporting that we will see the introduction of auto stop/start at some point in the not so distant future into new models and markets.
Based on our information all indicators point to this beginning with the September 2010 production run and will be available in a variety of non-hybrid vehicles for the first time; possibly including the ///M3 and the V12 powered 760. Auto/Stop start is a feature that can be turned on or off by the driver, the system basically turns the engine off when the car is at a stop idling and restarts when the accelerator is depressed. It has not been taken into account by the EPA for official MPG figures but is said to improve economy in the real world as is evidenced by EU methods.
We will update you as we hear more about this strong rumor.
Another huge BMW Podcast for us. We recap Michael’s experience at last week’s BMW NA press event where he had to drive pretty much every car BMW imports to the US on the track. It also gives us our best debate yet on whether or not the 335is is truly an M3 killer. But what about the 135i with the new N55 engine? We had guessed it may be down on (actual) power as compared to the N54. Conclusions? You’ll have to listen!
We then move on to talk about the new Competition Package M3, 5 Series diesels (we drop some hints as to the engine we’ll likely see in the US) and of course the car we can’t get enough of, the Alpina B7.
Finally we touch on the incredible showing at the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring with BMW winning the race outright.
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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: E70 X5, E71 X6, E81/82/E87 1 Series, E89 Z4 Roadster, E90 3 Series, F01 7 Series, F07 PAS, F10 5 Series, F12 6 Series Convertible, F13 6 Series Coupe Sep 14th, 2011 3 Comments 
