1998 Bmw Z3 Roadster Convertible 2-door 1.9l on 2040-cars

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BMW's DriveNow car sharing shutting down in SF next month

BMW's DriveNow car-sharing service is suspending operations in San Francisco next month after more than three years. The culprit? Not enough parking spots in the City. BMW debuted both DriveNow car-sharing and its ParkNow service in the City by the Bay in August 2012, initially launching with the ActiveE plug-in vehicle and later moving over to the i3. While there probably wasn't a shortage of folks looking to drive those cars, it was the ending part of that equation that proved problematic. That's because San Francisco hasn't been able to clear out enough street-parking spots to make the program work properly, despite adding 80 spaces for the 150 cars in the program back in 2014. "We hope to return to San Francisco in the future and will continue to engage with the City on possible solutions that will allow you to experience the full benefits of our one-way car sharing service," said DriveNow CEO Richard Sternberg on the company's website. "In the meantime, we are focusing our efforts on new cities where our transportation solution can flourish. We would like to thank you for your loyal support and embracing flexible car sharing as an alternative transportation method." As far as that expansion to other US cities, BMW hasn't been specific. Bimmer also runs the DriveNow program in three Germany cities as well as Copenhagen, Vienna and London. So, DriveNow apparently has an easier time finding parking spots in London than in San Francisco. Why BMW couldn't use a flexible parking system for its one-way rentals like the similar Car2go program uses remains a mystery. Related Gallery BMW i3 Available Through DriveNow In Germany View 17 Photos News Source: DriveNow via BMW BlogImage Credit: DriveNow/Facebook Green BMW California parking drivenow

30th Anniversary BMW M5 information leaks out

BMW hasn't kept its 30th Anniversary M5 a very big secret. It even hinted that "a surprise" was coming while celebrating its Autobahn-storming sedan's 30th birthday. However, what exactly was on the way has been a mystery... until now. The folks over at Bimmerpost have found some leaked details about the new model, and it's definitely more than just some badges special paint.
The biggest upgrade for the M5 is that power allegedly increases to 592 horsepower (600PS) and 516 pound-feet of torque (700 Newton-meters). That is a 32-hp and 14-lb-ft increase over the standard M5 and 17 ponies more than models with the Competition Package. The forum claims that all of the cars come with a dual-clutch gearbox, even in the US.
Styling also sees an upgrade with BMW Individual Frozen Dark Silver Metallic exterior paint, special 20-inch wheels, dark chrome trim and 30th Anniversary badges. The interior mixes Merino leather and Alcantara upholstery with dark aluminum trim and more celebratory badges.

Tesla in talks with BMW about batteries, charging collaborations

With Toyota and Daimler no longer holding Tesla shares, the electric vehicle company might be looking for a new partner – possibly a Bavarian one. In a new interview with Germany's Der Spiegel, CEO Elon Musk confirmed that he has had talks with BMW execs about future collaboration. "We are talking about whether we can collaborate in battery technology or charging stations," Musk said in the interview, according to Reuters. However, a Tesla spokesperson has tempered things by saying no formal agreements are in place at the moment. In the same interview, Musk reportedly praised BMW's use of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic in its i sub-brand offerings, and said he would like to have a battery factory in Germany in the next five or six years. The possibility of technological cooperation between Tesla and BMW has been a hot topic this year. In June, Musk reportedly met with BMW execs, and the two companies were also rumored to have met with Nissan to discuss charging technology. When Daimler sold off its shares, there was talk of it opening the way for possible collaboration between the two automakers, as well.