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Showing posts with label BMW 3 Series. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BMW 3 Series. Show all posts

BMW 335d 18-Month Report and Review

The Diesel Driver delivers their 18-month report on the BMW 335d.
“While the unusually snowy winter in New York resulted in the cancellation of several longer driving trips, the 335d did quite well in the snow, thanks in part to the Pirelli Winter 210 Sottozero winter performance tires. In a 12-month period, the 335d drove to Lindau, Berchtesgaden, Roßfeld, and Graz before being shipped to the U.S. More recenty, it’s been to Philadelphia, the Poconos, and New England. It even made it to Lime Rock Park’s track.
Few if any passengers have guessed it’s a diesel although many have commented on the car’s power. The 425 pound-feet of torque is not only fun but has come in handy many times over.
What’s more significant is the car’s fuel economy. On highway trips, we continued to see excellent results. Across all such trips, the car achieved 6.5 l/100 km (36.18 mpg). In more local driving, which is all the 335d has done since the onset of winter, the figures were 9.0 l/100 km (26.13 mpg). (The EPA rating is 23 mpg city/36 mpg highway and the equivalent petrol model, the BMW 335i, is rated at 17 mpg city and 28 mpg highway. This means that the 335d uses 5 l/100 km LESS in city driving, which translates to 35% better fuel economy. The 335d also uses 1.9 l /100 km less in highway driving, which is 22% better than the 335i.)
The best sustained fuel economy we’ve recorded was 40 mpg (5.9 l/100 km), although we’ve seen as high as 42 mpg (5.6 l/100 km) for brief periods of time. On a drive from Philadelphia to New York, the 335d used 6.0 l/100 km (39.2 mpg) with an average speed of 65 mph (105 km/h).
In the 18 months since taking delivery, according to figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, oil prices have climbed from roughly $69 per barrel on the spot market to as much as $115 in April of this year. The price is currently $99 per barrel.”

BMW 335d

One of the two BMW diesels in the U.S., the 335d Sedan, gets promoted once again. With a production date ending in August of 2011, the BMW 335d will most likely be replaced when the new generation F30 3 Series comes to the U.S. in 2012. Back in September 2010, in an interview with Automotive News, Jim O’Donnell, CEO of BMW North America, has reiterated that BMW remains committed to its diesel strategy in the U.S. even if more hybrid vehicles will emerge in the near future. As far as future plans, BMW is hoping for 10%-20% diesel penetration in U.S and also the introduction of new diesel vehicles on the market. The one mentioned by Mr. O’Donnell was a diesel variant of the next generation 5 Series, but unfortunately, no other news along that line have been released since.
The 2011 Super Bowl featured two BMW ads, including a 335d telling the story of clean diesel technology. Also, last year BMW 335d Sedan has been named to the Top 10 Green Cars list, affirming BMW’s commitment to sustainability.

BMW has been out of the American diesel market for around 20 years now and they marked their return in 2008  with the twin-sequential-turbocharged 3.0 liter diesel engine for the newly refreshed 335. BMW’s first 50-state-legal diesel delivers 265 hp at 4220 rpm, and an all too fun 425 lb-ft of torque between 1750 and 2250 rpm. Driving through a six-speed automatic transmission, this engine will propel the 335d from 0 to 60 mph in 6.0 sec while delivering 23 mpg city and 36 mpg on the highway.
During the tough recession last year, the $4,500 Eco-Credit has also helped boost the sales for the two diesel offerings with most of the dealers running out of 3 Series diesel sedans.

BMW 3 Series Sedan Production end in October 2011

BMW announced today that production for the BMW 3 Series Sedan ends in October 2011. The only 3er diesel available in the U.S., the 335d, will also production in August.
BMW is preparing for the launch of the new F30 3 Series Sedan which goes on sale in Spring 2012. The new 3 Series is built on a new modular platform and design wise, it returns to the “slimmer look”, dynamic lines with squat proportions and short rear overhangs.
The typical proportions of a 3 Series remain, but the exterior design is more toned and muscular, bringing some the aggressiveness and design lines seen in the recent models, including the F10 5 Series. An expected move seen across the new BMW design language.

 
BMW is getting back to basics with clean uncluttered shapes, plus lower and wider kidney grille openings. The sedan model has a longer wheelbase, at least 1.5″ longer than the current generation. The F30 will sport a “pushing nose”, somewhat similar to the E89 Z4 front-end.
BMW will live under the umbrella of EfficientDynamics, and technologies like aerodynamically designed wheels, solar roof panel for extra energy efficiency in the use of interior controls, brake energy regeneration , stop-start technology, and pre-heating technology for the engine, gearbox and differential, will be incorporated into the new model.
Next generation 3-series engine options will include a full range of turbo and naturally aspirated 6-cylinder motors, 4-cylinder motors, and possibly even a new 3-cylinder motor.
The all-star BMW M3 will continue to sport the aggressive and super sporty bodystyle we have seen in the past. The new M3 will also feature a twin-turbo six-cylinder engine producing somewhere around 450 horsepower.
The M3 was launched in 1986 deriving its DNA from the E0 3-Series, and the history of automotive was re-written for the BMW brand.

Since the roll out of the very first M3, BMW has released three more generations of this vehicle. Through modifications of the engine, chassis, and aerodynamics of a standard 3-Series, an M3 performance car is born for enthusiasts.

The original 4-cylinder engine, fitted to the coupe or convertible M3, was replaced by the E36 6-cylinder model that was subsequently made as a coupe, convertible, and a sedan for the first time.

The BMW M3 takes the next chapter when the E46 came with a straight-six powerplant made available in convertible and coupe variants.

The current M3 E90/92/93 series was rolled out back in 2007 with its power given out by a new V-8 powerplant. The current M3 is offered as a sedan, hardtop convertible, and coupe variants.

With the celebration of the 25th year of the M3, we want to share to our readers videos which detail the different M3 generations. It will take about half an hour to watch everything but it will all be worth it if you are a BMW fan.
The BMW 3 Series sedan is expected to hit the market by 2011 as a 2012 model but the carmaker is not taking things lightly as it gives the current 3 Series coupe and convertible a mild upgrade inside and out for the 2011 model.

The most noticeable change are the reshaped headlamp clusters making the design go well with the wider grille and lower front end of the car. The tail lights retain their old shape but the reflectors got a reworked detailing. The hood looks a bit wider, side mirrors more extended, and the air dam at the tail end of the car also gets more contour lines.
BMW 335i
Aside from its looks, the 3-Series has some changes under its hood. A single turbo version will be replacing the twin turbo charged 3.0L. The new engine called N55 was recently launched as the power plants for the 535i Gran Turismo and for the 740i. The new engine resolves the turbo lag which might have been experienced by drivers with the twin turbo system. The N55 makes use of dual exhaust inlets that result to faster spinning of the turbine because of the better balance achieved with the incoming pulses.

BMW also boasts of a cleaner cold starting with the reduction of the emission by directing all the exhaust gases into a single and bigger catalytic converter which warms up faster. The intake of the engine makes use of the Valvetronic variable valve control system technology.

The direct fuel injected N55 gives the same 300 horspe power and 300 lb-ft of torque to the 3-Series but the torque maintains its peak at 1,200 to 5,000 rpm.

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