There are a range of components included in BMW’s vision for carbon fibre plated cars, with some being available across the M3 range. Door mirror caps and lower front splitters will be obtainable for all models, while coupe and sedan owners will have the opportunity to purchase a rear boot lid spoiler.

The parts have been tested in the company’s Munich-based wind tunnels, but besides looking strikingly cool, what is the point in carbon fibre parts? BMW say that their accessories will reduce lift and minimise drag, thus enhancing high speed stability and maintaining fuel efficiency. The parts are yet to be priced up for the public, but they will be covered by a two year warranty and will be available from authorised dealers.

All that realistically separates the frozen gray M3s from the standard coloured models is the stylish paint job and impressive dual-leather interior. However, trading in your used BMW for one of these limited edition models carries considerable kudos, particularly with only 30 being made available. The eye-catching exterior paintwork is achieved using a metallic luster finish which is produced with a silk matte clear coat on top of the grey metallic base coat, making the model distinguishable from the conventional gloss finishes of other M3 Coupes.

The Spartanburg assembly line in South Carolina churned out the milestone vehicle, a fitting accolade given that the plant has proven to be integral to the success of the model. The centre has existed for 15 years and become the centre for expertise on BMW X models.

This new sedan looks set to be released wearing a 6 series badge and BMW may display a production model as early as the Paris Auto Show in the autumn. The show acts as a demonstration of the newest models likely to hit markets over the coming years. If the Gran Coupe proves to be as stylish as initial reports seem to suggest, then the forecourts of used BMW dealerships look set to swell with older models.

The Gran Coupe has been designed to compete with the likes of like the Porsche Panamera, Audi A7 and Maserati Quattroporte, while retaining all the classic sleek features of past BMW coupes. When it does launch, a range of engines similar to those in the current 5 and 7 series models looks likely, with 8-speed automatic transmissions across the board.

The feat achieved by the Sunday Times’ Tom Ford, on a test run from the Channel Tunnel to Munich, ending in Lille, was also notable for the fact that the driver didn’t use overly efficient driving techniques such as coasting, and drove at reasonable speeds throughout.

The superb economy that this model offers makes it an ideal choice for companies looking to upgrade their used BMW company vehicles for a more economically sound option. However, the new 320d still packs a punch, with its 163bhp ensuring that fuel-saving need not be boring. BMW’s commitment to greener driving has certainly paid off.

The BMW Roadside Assistance application will soon be available for iPhone, BlackBerry and Android users and with the range of features on offer, it’s easy to see why this app could prove useful. The app is aimed at cutting down the time it takes the user to get information to BMW in the event of a breakdown so that they can provide assistance sooner and also providing the same user experience which users expect from BMW.

Features include: Roadside Services (allows you to connect to Roadside Assistance by selecting the service you require including towing, battery, tyres and lock-out), Dealer Locator, Service Detailes and VIN Registration.

With the amount of BMW drivers who are also smartphone users, it’s easy to see where this app’s audience lies, and providing it works well, its success is all but guaranteed.

The German manufacturer is extremely eager for people to keep using BMW servicing rather than independents. To help its cause it is actively pushing its inclusive servicing offers with all of the new models.

In short this allows you to make a single advance payment which covers you for the first five years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. It might seem like a big expense in the short term, but you will at least know the servicing costs in advance.

On top of that you get the reassurance that yours will remain a genuine BMW with genuine parts throughout the course of its life.

There is a healthy trade worldwide for faked auto parts. Even reputable mechanics can be taken in as they’re often packaged and sold as the genuine article. The only answer, says BMW, is to make sure you stick with genuine BMW services throughout the car’s life span.

The Concept ActiveE is the latest piece to roll out of BMW’s Project i campaign, which is dedicated to creating low-emission city cars and follows the MINI electric car out of the door and promises “CO2-free Mobility”.

The company were mocked when they left Formula One in order to dedicate the resources to their Green R&D, but the decision seems to be paying off: with the range of exciting hardware coming out of the company lately, including the Concept ActiveE, the cleaner, greener Beamer seems to be becoming a reality.

BMW have just released a new car that is set to take the performance car world by storm. The new BMW M3 GTS is a hardcore version of the BMW M3.
The German manufacturer has decided to follow in the footsteps of Lamborghini, Porsche and Aston Martin in making an extreme race version of their supercar. This new M3 has been stripped of any weight and tips the scales at just 3300lb including the internal roll-cage and six-point race harness.

The what? Oh yes you did read it right, the back seats of the car are missing and in its place is a race specification roll cage and a fire extinguisher. It fills you full of confidence doesn’t it? The front seats have been removed and replaced with special race seats and the rear spoiler is definitely built for the assistance in downforce and not just simply for styles sake.

Surely you would imagine that the changes would end there. Well you would be wrong. BMW felt the need to tweak the 4.0 V8 engine in the standard M3 and this new hardcore version will feature a massive 4.4 litre V8 which will kick out a colossal 450bhp.

BMW certainly knows how to make a sports car, they have produced a long line of successful and incredibly fast sports cars, but whether this latest super hardcore version will be a success is another matter completely. There doesn’t seem to be a long line of individuals queuing up with a stack of cash waiting to waste it on a car that can in effect only be driven on a race track.
BMW usually seem to hit the nail on the head but this car just seems like complete and utter madness and not a major money earner, although I have been wrong before.

BMW fended off the competition, including Honda, to take their place at the top of the Fleet News reliability survey as the most reliable company car manufacturer.

Fleet News is a sister publication of the well respected car guide, Parker’s, and the annual survey covers 840,000 cars from 50 of the biggest UK contract hire companies.

Manufacturers were graded by counting the number of vehicles on a fleet per 1,000 that broke down.

BMW received the same points as Honda yet more companies voted for BMW as first placed manufacturer.

Most reliable car manufacturers: 1. BMW 2. Honda 3. Audi 4. Toyota 5. Volkswagen 6. Mercedes-Benz 7. Ford 8. Mazda 9. Nissan 10. Skoda