All Entries in the "BMW" Category
2010 SLS AMG Mercedes-Benz Video
By Gunnar Heinrich | YouTube
IS the jury still out on the 2010 AMG SLS or have we reached a verdict on Mercedes’ Gullwing redux? Perhaps this flick will help you render…
eBay Watch: 1985 BMW 735i
By Gunnar Heinrich | IMG eBay Motors
FINDING an 80s BMW 7-Series whose very tyres haven’t seen their last millimeter of tread scrubbed is, sadly, a challenge.
This is especially true of the great e32 gen. (1987-1994) which have largely led very hard lives judging by the sickly, three digit dogs that proliferate the Internet.
Truly sad.
That’s what makes this mint Californian example such a find. A 1985 BMW 735i, it’s part of the original e23 generation 7’s that the Bavarians sold from 1977 through 1986.
As some of you recall from our filmed road test of the 733i from 2007, the classic e23’s road manners seem downright wooden by today’s highly assisted standards. And yet, a well maintained example exudes a classic Black Forest charm that is, to many, the very heart and soul of the roundel.
Considering that this particular sedan hails from (typically) dry California, has only 154K miles on the odometer, a loved interior and exterior, plus the original radio (!), and is selling for a reasonable buy-it-now price of $3,995, this seems an offer too good to be true.
Apparently others agree, as the vintage 7er has 15 bids as this post goes to post. As always, caveat emptor. Any car with low miles can suffer from a slew of problems that are every bit as detrimental to the vehicle’s welfare and – your wallet – as those that are driven hard.
Fat Cat Capsizing: BMW TV Brings Drama With 7er Crash Testing
By Gunnar Heinrich | IMG via YouTube
DRAMA. Intensity. Crumple zonage.
It never occurred to me that when I drove the ‘09 (F01) BMW 750Li, that there was the potential of high velocity impact. I didn’t want to really, such as it is a painful premise even in theory.
Of course accidents can happen and if/when they do it’s nice to know that the car maker’s got your back…along with everything else.
From this footage via BMW TV, the 7-Series driver and passengers would benefit from probably the best impact protection this side of a Mercedes S-Class. Notice how in an offset frontal, the roofline past the A-pillar doesn’t even appear to have a crease.
That long bonnet’s got the job covered, danke.
BMW v. Audi, Volvo v. Audi, + One Classic Range Rover Advert
By Gunnar Heinrich | IMG Land Rover | Volvo/Audi via Jalopnik
IN addendum to the previous post, I had a chat with our good friend Hardy.
He said that the BMW v. Audi photograph drew to mind another earlier advertisement; one from Range Rover during their gloriously witty marketing campaign of the early to mid 1990s.
The above print ad is the example. Indeed, there are parallels to be drawn!
And just to show that no good marketing coup goes unpunished, it seems that Volvo enjoyed some positive press recently at Audi’s expense when a police V70 caught up to, and literally overtook, an old Audi.
Thanks again, HD!
Unofficial Snowy Driveway Test: BMW v. Audi
By Gunnar Heinrich | IMG Kill It With Fire
YOU’VE likely seen this shot before.
Like a crumpled dollar bill, it’s been circulating through the Internet for a few weeks now. And while the source of this marketing currency isn’t clear (the image’s posted on an anonymous blogger account with few other automotive articles) the message pretty much is – pro-Audi.
Hardly a match up of equals, the BMW 3er e46 gen. is rear wheel drive riding on stock grand touring tyres. The Audi A4 B6 gen.’s beefier treads tracked truer thanks to Quattro all-wheel drive.
The light amount of snow and the modest cant of the driveway suggests both Teutons were “goosed” a bit.
Needless to say, BMW also offers all-wheel drive on the 3-Series (both current and e46 generations). Which makes you wonder: was this wintry comparo an Audi PR made-for-web ploy?
Or merely a gear head who took time to note the difference between miss-matched autos?
Either way, Audi seems to have some benefit to gain from this dispersed pic. Will BMW counter?
Thanks, HD!
BMW 3er GT? The Uncontrollable Four Wheel Slide Into Brand Extension Oblivion
By Gunnar Heinrich | IMG AutoBild via BMWBlog
HOW many sub niches can a car company possibly entertain?
BMW’s brought us the X6 – it’s bulbous form’s a stretch for many Bimmerphiles, to be sure. And now the 5er GT, a useful concept at creating a luxurious chariot for long distance cruising.
But a 3-Series GranTurismo? Really?
Bear in mind, that for those who likes hatches – there’s already the 1er 5-door on sale in Europe.
Is GT just that moniker which will replace the old “Touring” “Estate” or “Station Wagon” tags?
It seems like auto makers are at pains to call stretched five door versions of their sedans as anything but…I challenge you to think of a m.y. ‘10 car (other than a Volvo) that’s referred to as a “wagon”.
If rumors prove true, and those Auto Bilders are right, matters in Munich may just be slipping out of hand.
Remember the core, BMW!
BMW Milestones 7-Series Film
- Paul Street’s Milestones Film for BMW China
- From upper left: 502 (1952-1964) |E23 (1977-1986) | E32 (1987-1994) | E38 (1995-2001) | E66 (2002-2008) | F01 (2009 – )
- Streetlight Films known for car adverts and special film segments for Top Gear
By Gunnar Heinrich | IMG via Street Films
YOU have to admire Paul Street’s craft.
The British film maker is best known for more commercial works through his production company, Streetlight Films. His company produced Top Gear’s best segment – you know, the one that featured Jeremy Clarkson at the helm of a Ford first chased by a Vette through a mall and then in a completely disconnected scene – taking part in a mock invasion by landing on a beach with British marines.
You can see why BMW would’ve wanted to enlist such talent to present the new 7-Series to the burgeoning Chinese market. What follows is one fluid sequence of circular motion. We see BMW design theory change through the years; a reflection of each decade.
Tell me, were the late 90s really that boring? And the 80s that loud?
Our point of view is looking at the passage of time from streetside; like watching the action of a clock’s arms pass swiftly along its face from the slim view granted from a profile perspective. This promotional film, for Chinese eyes only, apparently, is whirrling magic.
Perhaps with time, we’ll be able to point to the flaws in such overt use of computer animation. But for now, Milestones work rather nicely.