1999 Bmw M3 Base Convertible 2-door 3.2l on 2040-cars

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BMW i3 REx can be hacked to offer more miles, AM radio

If you're a BMW i3 REx owner who's willing to risk voiding your warranty, there's a low-level hack that offers up an interesting question. Which is worth more, an extra 20 miles or so of range from the gas-powered range extender or the ability to listen to local sports, like, for example, the iconic Vin Scully on Los Angeles Dodger broadcasts? The choice might be easy for Dodger fans, but it could be a bit more challenging anyone ready to make a road trip. The i3 REx is considered a zero-emissions vehicle under the odd rules from the California Air Resources Board (an important category for automakers) because the miles provided by the gas-powered range extender are about equal to the single-charge range of the vehicle's battery, Green Car Reports says. Some enterprising folks have figured out how to modify the software to tweak the car's capabilities. That means that instead of being able to put in only 1.9 gallons of fuel at a time into the tank, you can put in 2.4 gallons, allowing for that extra 20 miles of driving range. Additionally, the i3 REx's software suppresses AM radio because of potential electromagnetic interference from the electric drivetrain. But, again, that can be reversed with a few tweaks to the software. We need to give out a warning, though: messing with these sorts of software settings is a good way to void your warranty. So, if you're in LA and thinking about enjoying that Dodger (or, dare we say, Giant) broadcast and a few extra driving miles, make sure to figure in all of the factors. Related Video: Featured Gallery BMW i3 Coupe Concept: LA 2012 View 18 Photos News Source: Green Car Reports Green BMW Electric California warranty range extender software

Ring Taxi BMW M3 chases an Aventador SV and Cayman GT4

On paper, a BMW M3 that's loaded with three passengers probably shouldn't have a chance at keeping up around a track with a Porsche Cayman GT4 and a Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce. In the real world, driver skill and track knowledge can make all the difference, though. And when the M3 is a Nurburgring Taxi with a driver that knows the course incredibly well, we end up getting a fantastic lap like this one. The 'Ring Taxi driver starts by teasing his passengers that they'll see whether the Lambo is fast. Before the two of them get on track, the GT4 cuts in to join the party. What follows is a fascinating lap of the Nordschleife. It's impressive how the BMW driver's skill allows him to keep up with the two other cars and blow past tons of other traffic. During faster sections, the Porsche and Aventador start to pull away, but as soon as the course gets curvy again, the M3 is right back in the action. As the group pulls back into the parking lot, even the Ring Taxi driver sounds impressed with his performance. See the impressive show in the video above. Related Video:

BMW: i8 sold out, i3 records 10k orders

Just in case anyone was wondering how plug-in BMW cars would be received, the answer is apparently "quite well." After speaking with BMW's global sales chief last week at the LA Auto Show, Reuters has learned that the plug-in hybrid i8 sports coupe is already sold out for its first year on the market.
There is no word as to how many i8s BMW sold, but the first example was delivered to a customer last week in Germany. As for the all-electric/range-extended i3 hatchback, the automaker has received more than 10,000 orders for this model before it even goes on sale. Likewise, we don't know how many BMW plans to sell, but we do know they'll be showing up in the US before next summer.
We've already spent some time behind the wheel of both plug-in BMWs, and you can check out our first drive of the production i3 and our first drive of an i8 prototype.