Rare 2001 Z3 M Roadster Manual 5 Spd on 2040-cars

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BMW recalls i8 for stability control problem

The Basics: BMW will recall 16 examples of the 2015 i8 with production dates between May 29, 2015, and June 5, 2015. The Problem: Improperly drilled holes in the dynamic stability control hydraulic unit could restrict the movement of one or more of the part's pistons. This problem could impact the DSC's control over the vehicle's braking. Injuries/Deaths: None reported. The Fix: BMW dealers will check the DSC hydraulic unit and will replace the part if necessary. If You Own One: BMW expects the recall to start February 10. More Information: BMW previously recalled 223 examples of the 2014 i8 for a possible fuel leak. Related Video: RECALL Subject : Impaired Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) Functions Report Receipt Date: DEC 28, 2015 NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V882000 Component(s): ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL Potential Number of Units Affected: 16 All Products Associated with this Recall Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s) BMW I8 2015 Details Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC SUMMARY: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2015 i8 vehicles manufactured May 29, 2015, to June 5, 2015. Improperly drilled holes within the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) hydraulic unit may restrict one or more pistons impairing the DSC functions, including braking. CONSEQUENCE: Impaired DSC functionality may negatively impact vehicle handling and braking and increase the risk of a crash. REMEDY: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the DSC hydraulic unit, and replace if necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 10, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. NOTES: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

YouTube viewers prefer BMW

BMW owners sometimes get a bad rap as being snobbish, rude drivers, but according to a new study by the online marketing company ZEFR, Bimmer aficionados also have a close relationship with the brand's vehicles. With well over 4 billion YouTube views, the German automaker is the industry's king of the road online. Making the popularity even sweeter for marketers, 95 percent of those clicks are for fan videos, which represents loads of free advertising. BMW isn't the only automaker with such an extensive following. Honda comes in a close second with around 4 billion views, and Mercedes-Benz is just a little behind it. Among all brands, it's the norm for fan-made videos rather than the official ones to get the lion's share of the clicks, generally 95 percent or more. "YouTube has become a treasure trove for connecting with the right people for automakers," Dave Rosner, ZEFR marketing boss, said to Automotive News. Beyond just a popularity contest among brands, automotive videos are big business on YouTube, according to ZEFR's research. Enthusiasts are leading the way, too. Racing is by far the most-watched category with 895,000 clips generating a staggering 8.2 billion views. Classic cars are also a very hot topic with 305,000 videos getting 1.6 billion clicks. Surprisingly, when it comes to watching auto videos, sedans are most popular on YouTube with over 9 billion views, according to Automotive News. Meanwhile, SUVs, performance vehicles, and pickups were each around 3 billion or less. You can check out the full study for yourself, as a PDF, here. Related Video:

A closer look at the 2015 BMW M3 and M4

It's fair to say we're going to miss the E92 BMW M3. Its high-revving V8, flame-styled looks and excellent driving character made it quite simply one of the best cars of the 2000s. Its replacements, the new M3 Sedan and M4 Coupe have a lot to live up to.
We still have a few months to wait until we can drive the new cars, but that doesn't mean we can't get excited in the meantime, learning everything we can. To find out, we sent west coast editor Michael Harley onto the Detroit Auto Show floor earlier this week to talk about the new M cars with BMW product manager Victor Leleu.
If you want a concise, but highly informative rundown of these new cars, look no further than this video. Leleu talks about the styling, weight savings and engines in a lot of detail, making this an interview M fans aren't going to want to miss. Scroll down for the full video.