As we mentioned last week, BMW’s 7 Hydrogen is part of the 2008 Hydrogen Road Tour that will last two weeks and visit 31 cities.

The BMW 7 Hydrogen joins an unprecedented cross-country journey featuring hydrogen-powered cars by the world’s leading automakers. The purpose of this unique tour: to call on congressional leaders to support the creation of a nationwide hydrogen fueling station infrastructure.

With this being said, let’s move on and see some photos of the 7 Hydrogen. Our dear friend Palbay from Upstate SC came through again. Being a huge bimmer fan, he couldn’t miss the opportunity of seeing the tour, and implicitly the 7 Hydrogen at the Spartanburg BMW Plant.

Along with the 7, there were hydrogen based cars such as:  Hyundai Tucson,Kia Sportage,Toyota Highlander,VW Touran, Mercedes A-Class and Nissan X-Trail.

Thanks Palbay!

Full Gallery

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It has been a while since we have seen some spy photos of the 2009 BMW Z4, but this past weekend, the guys at Autoweek posted two new shots.

Ignoring the bluriness in these photos, it is still pretty cool to see the new Z4 with its top down and less camouflage. With a projected unveiled date sometimes in November this year, in the next few weeks, we should be able to see some better photos, including the “real deal”, especially since the promo videos are being shot now in locations all over the world.

So, bare with us and soon we will finally show you how the new Z4 turned out. What is the 2009 BMW Z4 will look like this?

[Source: Autoweek via Germancarzone ]

Just yesterday, Jake posted an update of the latest Dinan software, and today, we have just learned that the tuning companies has some big plans for the bimmer fans. Dinan is looking to build an M3 with 628 horserpower coming from a 5.7 - liter V10 stroker engine.

The new project will be released next year and it will follow the companies 4.6 - liter stroker kit.

Steve Dinan just told MLE that Dinan Cars will build an M3 with the company’s just-released 628hp 5.7-liter V-10 stroker engine.

This is great news for all the die-hard bimmer fans that are always looking for improved performance and hopefully Dinan will deliver again a quality product.

[Source Modifiedle.com ]

Today, I would like to welcome TeamSpeed.com, the most recent sponsor of BMWBlog. Teamspeed.com is the world’s premier destination for aficionado’s of Luxury and Speed. What started out as “Luxury Lifestyle Forum” has quickly grown to the web’s # 1 destination for fans of the “uber” high end lifestyle in just 7 months, a feat no other forum has achieved.

Teamspeed.com was created by one of the founders of the well decorated Porsche forum 6speedonline.com. Teamspeed’s focus is centered on the evolution and change in many of our original members’ interests. What started out as generic Porsche website with 6speedonline has now grown into a super car website where truly unique individuals can graduate and discuss the true super-cars. Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche Carrera GT, GT3/2, Bugatti, koenigsegg and other high marquee brands as well as the standards; Mercedes, Corvette, Nissan, Audi & more.

In addition Teamspeed mixes things up with general discussions on performance boating, fine wine, watches, travel and other luxury lifestyle categories. Teamspeed represents an evolution and deviation from the standard automotive enthusiast forum and is the only forum in the world with tuning partners such as the world famous RENNTECH & RUF, plus dealer partners such as Bugatti, Koenigsegg, Porsche, Lamborghini, Bentley, Ferrari, Maserati, and more.

So before joining ask yourself this; are you up to speed?

Koeninsegg CCX from Teamspeed’s Universal Autosports

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BMW Welt

Apparently, chemical fumes emanating from the basement of the new BMW Delivery Center, The Welt, today resulted in the hospitalization of nine members of the Welt’s cleaning staff for observation.

For the full story and to get more recent updates, visit the original article in the BMWCCA forums.

Dinan , which is a high performance BMW tuner based in California, has 2 quick announcements. First the long awaited MSD81 software is available in stages 1 and 2. Stage 3 will be available at a later date.

The software is available for the 135, 335, and 535. And as well their software is now 50 state emissions legal. The MSD81 DME is the new DME that we mentioned here that detects modifications to the cars computer (DME,ECU) that enhances performance.

I have to say from the begining, I am usually not a big fan of car moding and despite what my friends tell me, I don’t think I will ever mod my bimmer, but…regardless of my personal preference, many people do enjoy moding their cars and making them stand out. Once in a while, I do see an interesting bodykit that gives the car a different look, unique, head turning, you name it.

Our dear friends from the TeamSpeed forums have recently posted some photos of black BMW 3 Series E92 pimped out to the extreme. The car has so many mods applied to it that it probably set back the guys at owner at least $6000-$7000.

The exterior body is definitely wider than a regular 3er Coupe, the trunk lid looks pretty good and front bumper is mean looking. Some of you might love the wheels as well, but for me, they are a little too flashy.

Oh, I forgot to mention the Brembo brakes, now that’s something more exciting for me.

Enjoy the photos and if you think you can “beat” these mods, feel free to email us some pictures.

[Source: TeamSpeed.com and i2iStudios.com ]

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If you have been following our blog lately, you are already familiar with the latest news from the auto industry and especially BMW’s strategy for the future. In a recent development, BMW is looking to move away from their car leasing business and focus more on the financing programs through increased incentives.

Chrysler is another major car manufacturer that imposes new restrictions on their leasing program, a decision that draw some criticism. These latest decisions will affect directly the buyers that are more interested in leasing their cars rather than financing and the leasing process might become a little more complicated since third-party leasing companies will have to work out deal together with the customer and the dealership selling the car.

On top of the increased difficulties in the leasing process, I am also expecting a mark up on  the lease rates. Fewer players in the game, more opportunities for revenue.

On the bright side, there will be new companies that will step in and replace the traditional banks that used to back up the leasing programs and the consumers will have more choices on choosing the leasing company.

One of those companies is LeaseCompare.com, a respected businesses in the car leasing market, which through their website, offers lease comparisons rates, purchasing and leasing advice. Tarry Shebesta, the President of LeaseCompare.com, was featured in an CNBC newscast just a few weeks ago and he had an interesting point of view.

Here is the link to the CNBC interview

Staying on the same subject, other businesses will benefit from the changes in the leasing industry. LeaseTrader.com is a website where people can get out of a lease or actually taking over another one. By an increase in the new car leases payments, we expect the amount of transactions to go up on LeaseTrader, with more and more people looking at the posibility of taking over a one or two year lease, rather than starting a new one with the car manufacturer.

And here is an interview with Sergio Stiberman, featured on CNBC as well.

How will this new changes work out? We don’t know exactly yet, but the automotive industry is going through some major changes and adjustments that will impact the way we think of car leasing or purchasing.

Apparently we are not the only ones that believe the upcoming, all new-redesigned 2009 BMW 7 Series represents a major technological step for BMW and not only.

In a recent analysis, Jonathan Spira, a Technology Editor at BMWCCA, shared a similar opinion and gave us a detailed description of all the technology whistle and bells that the new 7 brings to the table.

Also, just a few days ago, you have the opportunity of watching a promo video released by BMW, in which the technology is exemplified through some video scenes. I highly recommend this video since it will give you a better understanding of what BMW has done and what to expect from the 7er.

Just a few days later, a complex, well detailed and in-depth article, was posted by Telegraph UK, and it’s a great read that will give you a better understanding of the several features found in the 2009 BMW 7 Series.

IAS: Integral Active Steering (optional, but essential). Following a similarly equipped car through slow corners, you can see its rear wheels turn slightly, following the same arc as the front wheels (ie turning in the opposite direction), reducing the turning circle by more than 27in. As Arnold Kistler, 7-series model development manager, said: “Anybody who has ever manoeuvred a large car in an underground garage or under similar conditions will definitely appreciate this feature as a significant improvement in comfort.”

What about at higher speeds?

When travelling faster, IAS’s electronically monitored system turns the rear wheels up to three degrees in the same direction as the fronts; the front-wheel steering angle is also adjusted when necessary. The new 7 feels as nimble as a 3-series on the move.

As standard, the car has Dynamic Damper Control including Dynamic Driving Control. Responding to road conditions and driving style, this infinitely adjusts bump and rebound, preventing excessive reactions to surface irregularities or fast lateral acceleration.

Click for full article

Video: BMW 3-Series Sedan and Wagon

Spy Photos: BMW PAS

BMW Increasing Prices, etc.

Possible: 335d Postponed

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New F10 5er?

Griot’s Garage on Horatiu’s 335

09 7-Series on the Highway

Official: ///M X5 and X6 Read the rest of this entry »

Update: Added a couple more photos from Automarket.ro

It has been a while since we posted some photos of the upcoming 2009 BMW 7 Series. We have already seen the new 7 in a silver color and then there were some official photos shown here, here and here. Today, we have some new real life photos of the 7 Series spotted somewhere in Munich.

I won’t further comment on it, but if you have anything to add, please do so.

P.S I still like the car

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We all know the vaunted award winning N54 engine is a beast out of the box. 300hp and 300 lb ft of torque. However there are certain BMW enthusiasts that think too much is never enough.

With that in mind we at BMWBlog wanted to learn a little more about one of the quality tuners that offer enhanced performance for the N54 engine. So we had a little chat with Terry Burger of Burger Motorsports. Terry took some time out and give us some insight on why his company does what it does and a glimpse at what is in the future for Burger Motorsports.

BMWBlog: Terry thanks for taking some of your time and going through a few things with us. We understand you are a busy man these days. Before we dive too far into the future. Tell us a little about what started Burger Motorsports?Did you grow up around cars? Have a lead foot in High School? How did it all begin?

Terry: I think my passion for cars started with “stompers” as a child,which were miniature electric cars that ran off a 1.5 volt battery. I would get together with friends and modify them with larger batteries,
taller tires, stronger motors, and compete in little races. From stompers I went to electric RC cars, then gas powered RC cars, and before I knew it I was working on the real thing.

During high school cars were always a central part of my Social structure, often I would get together with a small group Of friends and we would purchase inexpensive cars (e.g. less than $500) just for fun on a weekend, modify them a bit by removing the mufflers and taking off weight, add nitrous, race fuel, and other little things, and smash them around in on the road destruction derbies. One of my favorites was a Pontiac LeMans with a three on the tree manual transmission that I bought for $120. It didn’t last a week.

I suppose I got started professionally with my 1993 Chevy Camaro, which was the first year of the fourth generation.It Had a six speed manual transmission, 275hp, and major drool factor at high school. A car ahead of it’s time. I began attending drag racing events with it, joined an online car forum, and began to make my name as a player in LT1 modification.
At one point I had the quickest LT1 on the internet, running 10.80 at 129 in the 1/4 mile, and soon after began receiving solicitations to tune others for similar performance.

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The European Institute of Design(Turin, Italy) in collaboration with BMW, tested the designing skills of their students in a project that involved the creating of BMW future concepts. Obviously the project was supported by BMW’s design team, including the Chief Designer Chris Bangle, who was part of larger commission, including Thomas Plath, the director of Model Techniques and Process Management at BMW, Anders Warming, director of Exterior Design.

The design study focused on what the 2015 BMW concepts might look like and the students job was to interpret the language, evolution and the trademark essence, in view of the company’s future perspectives.

There were 18 teams but only eight were developed into physical quarter scale models, while another four were turned into virtual designs models. Some of the acclaimed students were Raphael Laurent and Mihai Panaitescu with their “Africa. Decompose concept”, but there were others that impressed the BMW critiques as well: David Raffai, Kevin Schlaepfer, Andrea Torchia and Alberto Usai.

Even though it is unlikely to see any of these concepts in production in the next 10-15 years, the student’s imagination is quite remarkable and we might see them being implemented in the future. I can only imagine how advanced the technology will become in 20-30 years and seeing such cars on the road, wouldn’t be a surprised.

From all of them, the Snug is definitely my preference and I do see it being built before the others.

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In an unexpected event, BMW just announced a recall on 200,000 vehicles due to concerns regarding the front passenger air bags. It is suspected that in an accident case, the front passenger air bags might not deploy. The affected models are the following:

• 2006 3 Series
• 2004-2006 5 Series
• 2004-2006 X3

In addition to the vehicles listed above,  there is one more investigation taking place on the 2004-2006 Z4, 2006 X5, 2006 6 Series and some 2004-2006 7 Series vehicles.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation back in September 2007 and a few months later, the recall decision was sent to BMW.  The Munich based manufacturer had received 23,739 warranty claims over the air bag system issue by early January.

If you were affected by one of the recalls and have more questions, you can contact BMW at (800) 525-7417.

Here is the full report from CNN

[Source: CNN via Bimmerfile ]