2013 Bmw M3 M3 Lime Rock Park on 2040-cars

Auto blog

2014 BMW X5 configurator goes live

BMW won't begin selling the 2014 X5 for another few months, but the German manufacturer has brought the third-generation SAV's configurator online, allowing interested customers to poke around and look at the X5's optional goodies.
Like the 3 Series, the X5 is available in a number of lines that load up extras automatically. There's also a do-it-yourself truck that allows owners to pick and choose if they're not enamored with the styling or trim of one of the dedicated packages. As usual, the options list is quite vast, regardless of which line is chosen. We were able to easily take the new, rear-drive X5 sDrive35i, which started at $52,800, and bring the total price up past $80,000.
The new X5 carries over its 4.4-liter, twin-turbo V8 from the current model, as well as BMW's excellent 3.0-liter, turbocharged inline-six. The X5 xDrive35d, with the 3.0-liter turbodiesel will also be available on the third-generation SUV, but won't hit dealers until early 2014. BMW is stepping outside of the X5's usual bounds, offering a dedicated rear-drive model, available with all the same trimmings as the xDrive vehicles. Head over to BMW's US consumer page and have a go.

Car subscription services: A slow, expensive start — but the potential is huge

Americans are used to paying for subscriptions — to magazines and cable television, for instance — but experience shows they'll cancel when the price of admission gets too high, or there are more tempting alternatives. Cord cutters ditched nearly 1.5 million pay-TV subscriptions in 2017, according to a survey by Leichtman Research Group. Cable TV started out cheap with basic offerings, and then got expensive. The auto industry's subscription offerings are new, but they're starting out costly, and not price-competitive with traditional leasing. The upside is that they take the hassle out of car ownership for busy people by letting the service take care of maintenance, insurance, licensing and taxes. And they give consumers choice, often allowing relatively painless switches between different cars in the automakers' lineup. Subscription services also point the way toward an ownership-free auto experience, and offer an easy transition to a potential world where ride- and car-sharing will be dominant. Subscriptions are here to stay, but consumers may take a while to "get" them. Lincoln's subscription service for lightly used 2015 to 2017 models, offered through the Ford-owned Canvas beginning this year, got off to a slow start. Many early subscribers canceled. Last month, Cadillac announced it would " temporarily pause" its $1,800-per-month Book subscription service for "adjustments" as of December 1. According to the Wall Street Journal, "Snags with the back-end technology used to support the service made some customer-service functions tedious and time-consuming, adding costs for the company." The challenge for automakers is to come up with a strategy that offers consumers a compelling, affordable option to regular ownership, and one that can also make a profit. I think they'll find that sweet spot, but they're not there yet. Jack Nerad, former executive editorial director at Kelley Blue Book and author of " The Complete Idiot's Guide to Buying or Leasing a Car," points out that "A lot of people expected that subscriptions would be very valuable for people who wanted inexpensive transportation, but the reality is quite the opposite. Subscriptions are offering more choices for the wealthy.

BMW recalls 840,000 vehicles to replace Takata airbags

The Basics: BMW will recall about 840,000 vehicles in the US, and they include: 2008–2013 1 Series Coupe (incl. 1M) 2008–2013 1 Series Convertible 2008–2013 3 Series Sedan (incl. M3) 2009–2011 335d Sedan 2006–2012 3 Series Sports Wagon 2007–2013 3 Series Coupe (incl. M3) 2007–2013 3 Series Convertible (incl. M3) 2013–2015 X1 2007–2010 X3 2007–2013 X5 (incl. X5 M) 2009–2013 X5 xDrive35d 2008–2014 X6 (incl. X6 M) 2010–2011 X6 ActiveHybrid The full list, which includes approximate volumes and production dates, is in BMW's statement, below. The Problem: The vehicles have Takata's PSDI-5 driver side airbag inflators, and the parts could rupture in a crash. Injuries/Deaths: None reported in this population of vehicles. The Fix: BMW will replace the driver airbag on these vehicles. If You Own One: BMW will send owners a letter advising them about the recall, and people will receive a second letter when the parts are available for the repairs More Information: This recall stems from Takata and NHTSA's announcement in late January that automakers need to repair about five million vehicles. Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Audi, Ford, Mazda, and Honda have already announced recalls due to this expansion. Related Video: BMW statement BMW has notified NHTSA of its intention to recall approximately 840,000 cars and Sports Activity Vehicles equipped with Takata PSDI-5 driver-side front air bags to have the driver-side front airbag replaced. These vehicles, covering model years 2006-2015 have not been part of earlier Takata-related air bag recalls. Owners of potentially affected BMW vehicles will be contacted by first-class mail advising them of the recall. When replacement parts are available, owners will receive another letter with instructions for having the recall completed. Owners with questions can contact BMW Customer Relations at 1-800-525-7417 or e-mail CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com. Model Model Years Approx. Vol. Production Dates 1 Series Coupe (incl. 1M) 2008 – 2013 32,620 Nov 2007 – Oct 2013 1 Series Convertible 2008 – 2013 28,160 Nov 2007 – Oct 2013 3 Series Sedan (incl. M3) 2006 – 2011 132,845 Feb 2005 – Dec 2011 335d Sedan 2009 – 2011 4,160 Mar 2008 – Aug 2011 3 Series Sports Wagon 2006 – 2012 3,270 Jun 2005 – May 2012 3 Series Coupe (incl. M3) 2007 – 2013 129,515 Apr 2006 – Jun 2013 3 Series Convertible (incl.