2004 Bmw M3 Base Convertible 70k Miles, Excellent Condition on 2040-cars

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BMW M1 poised to set new records at auction

A rare BMW M1 with exceptionally low mileage is set to break records when it goes up for auction next month. The Bavarian supercar is one of just 450 examples made. It has only 424 miles on the clock after decades in storage, putting it in prime position to draw heavy bidding. The legendary M1 was the first vehicle made by the M division and brought together some of the biggest names in the business. The chassis was designed by Dallara, the body by Giorgetto Giugiaro, and development was carried out (at least initially) by Lamborghini. It was the first mid-engined supercar BMW made. The original idea was to homologate the M1 for racing. But when the FIA changed the rules, BMW started the Procar series that put F1 drivers behind the wheel of racing-spec versions of the M1 ahead of the European grands prix. That put BMW and its M division on the map, earning the M1 a special place in the history books. BMW only made 450 examples, of which 399 were road-going versions like the one you see here. And it's a gem, to be sure. Chassis number WBS59910004301426 was delivered new in Arctic white with black checkered upholstery to a dealer in Italy, which never sold it. A broker in Pennsylvania acquired it for baseball legend Pete Rose, who never took delivery. And so it sat in the dealer's warehouse for over three decades. A friend finally managed to convince that US dealer to part with it. And after replacing a handful of soft components (with only original parts, of course), the current owner is now putting it up for sale at RM Sotheby's upcoming auction in New York. Given the pristine condition of this particular example and its low mileage, the auctioneers expect it will fetch between $800,000 and $1 million. That could stand to make this the most expensive M1 ever sold. According to Sports Car Market, the current record for an M1 stands at $854,000 paid in 2011 for a racing-spec Procar with livery designed by Frank Stella. The most ever paid for a road-going example, however, rests at $605k. This example, then, stands not only to obliterate the M1 auction records, but elevate the iconic supercar into 507 (and even 328) territory among the most valuable BMWs ever made. It may, however, have a tough time getting the attention it deserves, considering some of the other machinery RM has lined up for the Driven By Disruption sale.

BMW mulled ten, eight, and six-cylinder engines for i8 before going hybrid

There's little doubt that the 2015 BMW i8 is one of the most radical and groundbreaking performance cars this industry has seen in a long time. From its unique carbon-intensive construction to its 1.5-liter, three-cylinder and electric motor plug-in powertrain to its concept-car appearance, the flagbearer for BMW's new i venture challenges the very notion of what it takes to be a supercar.
Yet apparently the i8 almost didn't do that at all. Yes, it probably still would've had innovative assembly techniques, serious performance and come-hither bodywork, but according to a new report in the Telegraaf, it was very nearly a much more conventional beast, drawing its power from a V10 engine. According to the report, that line of development never got much beyond the drawing board, but BMW engineers then shifted their focus to both V8 and six-cylinder motivation, going so far as to build prototype cars. The higher cylinder-count engines were eventually dropped altogether after BMW decided to turn the i8 into a hybrid, with the six-cylinder reportedly nixed due to heat management and weight issues. In the end, of course, BMW went with the PHEV powertrain that offers a total system output of 362 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque - plenty of thrust for this lightweight, all-wheel drive coupe while still enabling an incredible 94 miles to the gallon on the EU cycle. Regardless of how it turned out, it's still fascinating to think that BMW didn't have a much firmer conceptual idea of what it was after when it started the i8's development.
Here at Autoblog, we're genuinely thrilled about this new generation of greener hybrid super- and hypercars, a movement spearheaded by the i8, Porsche 918 Spyder, Ferrari LaFerrari and McLaren P1. But even so, our inner-gearheads can't help but wonder what might have been had BMW pursued a more conventional i8, either in place of, or in addition to, the car they did build. What do you think? Have your say in Comments.

Ward's announces 10 Best Engines 2015

Ward's Auto has named its 10 Best Engines for 2015, covering a range of powerplants from fuel-sippers to fire-breathers. As with past years, forced-induction reigns supreme, with seven of the ten engines featuring a turbo or supercharger. This year is slightly different, though, as two of the seven blown engines are turbocharged three-cylinder mills, from the Ford Fiesta and Mini Cooper. They're joined by the 2.0-liter turbo four from the Volvo S60, the 1.8-liter turbo four from the Volkswagen Jetta and the 2.0-liter boxer from the Subaru WRX. BMW and Chrysler were the only marques to be named to this year's list twice, with the electric motor from the i3 joining the Mini's three-pot, and the 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 in the Ram 1500 and Jeep Grand Cherokee repping the diesel crowd, alongside a certain supercharged monster. Hyundai also took a prize with a zero-emissions powertrain, with the Tucson FCV's 100-kilowatt fuel cell making the list (apparently Ward's is quite generous with what it deems an "engine"). Rounding out the list are two Autoblog favorites, each displacing 6.2 liters, but producing their power very differently. On the one hand, Chevrolet's overhead-valve, 455-horsepower V8, found in the Corvette, makes its power the old fashioned way. And in the other corner, we have one of the most exciting engines of the year – the 707-hp, 6.2-liter, supercharged Hellcat V8, featured so prominently in the Dodge Challenger and Charger SRT Hellcat. "We spend a lot of time reading the powertrain tea leaves throughout the auto industry, and we're proud that this year's list is a microcosm of all the latest innovation coming from automakers," said Ward's Editor-in-Chief Drew Winter in a statement. "It's not just a list for enthusiasts or for environmentalists," he says. "There's something for every vehicle shopper and every budget. All the powertrains on this list deliver a first-rate driving experience," Winter added. Scroll down for the full list from Ward's, and let us know which engines you think belong and which should have been included in this year's rankings. Ward's 10 Best Engines of 2015 Announced by Penton's WardsAuto Honorees span most diverse and technically advanced engines in 21 years of recognized powertrain excellence SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Dec. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Penton's Wards 10 Best Engines of 2015 have been announced.