The new iDrive app is now available in most current BMW models. It consists of an LCD panel mounted to the car’s dashboard, and a controller knob mounted to the center console. iDrive allows the driver and front-seat passenger to control the air conditioning and heating systems, the audio system, and the navigation and communication systems of the car. In most recent models, iDrive is available for back-seat passengers as well. In addition to controlling the internal atmosphere of the car, iDrive also delivers information about the local weather, current fuel prices, and much more right to your dashboard with the click of a button. It also has an On-Board Diagnostics function which provides detailed information for servicing in plain text, replacing vague and unclear symbols and lights, such as the “Check Engine” light.

The appeal of the iDrive lies in its delivery of enhanced safety to drivers. Rather than a confusing array of controls, knobs and buttons, it allows drivers to control all systems, and seek out useful information, all in one unit.

Another option is to install BMW apps, which would allow iOS based BMW apps to be displayed right on your car’s navigation screen and controlled by iDrive. BMW apps can be purchased for the additional price of $250.

BMW Connected already offers a wide array of applications, including web radio, Facebook, Twitter, Calendar, Pandora, MOG Radio, and Last Mile Navigation and Vehicle Finder.

BMW applications are the most cost efficient as they offer innovative design developments separate from automotive development. More importantly, they allows customers to upgrade as future technology uncovers new apps and improvements to functionality of current apps.

The second annual Car of the Year Award is fast approaching, and this year the potential candidates are quite exciting. Last year, BMWblog.com chose BMW’s 740i, describing it as “the most pure and honest example of Bavarian design…With legendary inline-six power onboard, the 740i offers the type of brand purity that personifies its roundel. Whereas the 12 and 8 cylinder models were mighty and powerful to drive, the 740i was ‘fun.’ There is a special honesty, simplicity and character to this car that embodies the magic of the brand – and for that, the 740i becomes our Car of the Year.”

The 1 Series M Coupe, more popularly referred to as the 1M, has been the talk of the car lovers’ town. With a short wheelbase and suspension inherited from the M3, the 1M’s suspension is smooth and the handling is a dream.  While the base 135i has been known to understeer and get hinky when braking at high speeds, the 1M offers more suspension than engine, curing the suspension and acceleration problems of its predecessor. The 1M can easily accommodate two, even four passengers.

Some car junkies maintain that despite the engine, the 1M’s suspension more than makes up for what its motor might lack. Others argue the M5 is a far superior model. The M5 has been characterized an executive sedan that performs like a race car. Among the many descriptions afforded to the M5, one thing people can’t seem to deny is its “aura of awesomeness.”

The F20 1 series has also received rave reviews. It’s fast, fun, light weight, efficient and extremely modern and practical.

The N20-powered Z4 is said to represent the future of BMW with its small, torque engine.

Whatever your car of choice, it certainly can’t be argued that with almost 400,000 units sold in 2010 (nearly one third of all BMW cars sold worldwide), the new 3 Series is the most important in terms of sales. The 3 series offers nothing radical in terms of design or technology, yet is “bigger, better, and meaner,” yet still manages to deliver the elegance and sportiness that BMW lovers have come to expect from their brand.

BMWBLOG’s Road Test Editor Shawn Molnar recently reviewed the new BMW F30 3 series. The model driven was the new 4 cylinder 328i sedan, and Molnar reports that it impressed on both road and track.  According to Molnar, “the 5th generation that this new 3 Series replaces was a fine car in every respect. It drove well, proved reliable, and wasn’t too thirsty at the pumps. In fact – even several years after its initial launch, the E90 3 series was still winning comparison tests with the best the competition had to offer.” With such an impressive model to begin with, the question becomes what could BMW possibly have had to improve upon, rendering the new 3 series a superior model?

BMW implements a “vehicle behavior switch,” or VBS. The VBS allows drivers to choose between five unique drive modes.  For instance, driving in “Eco Pro” transforms the gas pedal to hard and stiff, making it difficult press and resulting in better fuel economy. When driving in Eco Pro mode, a blue bar appears on the dash, and grows longer as the gas pedal is pressed. The challenge is to keep the blue bar as short as possible. If you do, you gain “bonus miles,” miles saved from the current tank of gas by driving in this mode.  The system seems to work- BMW claims a 20% improvement of fuel efficiency based on the Eco Pro system.

Aside from motivating the driver to press the gas pedal less forcefully, Eco Pro mode forces the automatic transmission (the 6-speed comes standard, but an automatic transmission is optional) to shift early and move into next gear as quickly as possible. This keeps the engine below 2000 rpm, saving fuel. Additionally, the turbo’s waste gate is less likely to dump boost pressure in Eco Pro mode, conserving energy from the turbo.

One of the things that makes the 3 series so impressive, aside from the state of the art fuel saving technology, is that even in this fuel saving mode, the car still feels powerful and delivers a smooth ride .

In addition to Eco Pro mode, the 3 series also offers “Sport +” mode.  Sport Plus enables a “sharpened throttle response, tighter suspension settings, heavier weighted and more communicative steering, as well as more aggressive transmission shift logic.” Sport Plus mode thus transforms the 3 Series into a sports sedan. It seems BMW has finally accomplished their long term goal of designing “two cars in one” on their performance based M branded cars.

Eco Pro mode and Sport Plus mode lie at two opposite ends of the spectrum. In between are Comfort, Normal and Sport modes, and offer a custom driving experience. Depending on the mood you’re in, you have the option of driving 5 different cars at your fingertips at all times.

Although many people are unaware of the process, the BMW European Delivery Program has long been the preferred choice among bimmer fans to purchase a new BMW. Many say that especially for first time BMW buyers, the program is the best way to be introduced to the brand.

European Delivery, also known as Overseas Delivery, Tourist Delivery, or Factory Delivery, is relatively unknown, but it is available at every dealership in the U.S. In addition to BMW, Mercedes, Audi and Porsche are the other three German automakers that offer similar programs. After the recent bankruptcy of SAAB, Volvo is the only Scandinavian automaker that still offers  European Delivery

The process is actually quite simple. A buyer merely has to go to a dealership and request a car for European Delivery, usually around three months in advance of the desired delivery date. The savings vary by manufacturer, but a typical buyer saves thousands of dollars on the purchase, with the exception of Porsches, which actually cost more to be shipped via European Delivery.

In addition to imposing no additional charge, aside from Porsche, European Delivery offers many additional benefits. Aside from the opportunity to visit Europe, which in itself is exciting, most manufacturers offer one free night in a luxury European hotel. Additionally, all manufacturers provide free tickets to local car museums, and complimentary meals at the delivery center.

Some companies even go as far as covering the cost of your flight to Europe. Mercedes-Benz waives their delivery fee, which amounts to a savings of around $875. BMW offers a special re-delivery program  at the company’s factory in Spartanburg South Carolina, which includes dinner and overnight accommodations.

For more information on European Delivery or to more thoroughly familiarize yourself with the process, visit bimmerfest.com.

The European Delivery program can trace its roots back to the 1950’s. It originated when members of the U.S. military returning from their assignment overseas began to purchase European cars for their time in Europe, shipping them back to the states upon their return.

Throughout the 1960’s, it was quite rare to find a European car in the States, aside from the iconic Volkswagen Beetle. The popularity of European cars is partly due to Max Hoffman, an Austrian man responsible for creating the imported car business in the U.S.  Hoffman with many European auto moguls throughout his career, including  Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Porsche, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Jaguar, and BMW vehicles.

Mercedes-Benz, Saab, and Volvo commenced their European Delivery programs as early as the 1950s. But it wasn’t until the 1960s, with the arrival of the jet age, that European carmakers began to aggressively market to Americans, many of whom, it was supposed, might be about to embark on their first European vacation. The manufacturers believed Americans would find it desirable explore Europe in their own car, eliminate the cost of a rental car, and save money on the purchase. Hoffman, who was working for BMW at the time, wasted no time creating catchy advertisements in an attempt to appeal to the first generation of American jetsetters, and his competitors quickly followed suit.

To test drive a new or used BMW cars, visit your local Pennsylvania BMW Dealer, Otto’s BMW in West Chester today, you won’t be disappointed.

BMW has recently announced that the company will be offering new Power Kit upgrades available on certain vehicles. Now all 135i and 335i’s, as well as the X6 2010 model year through April can be upgraded with a new Power Kit. The Power Kits can be installed on these models at any BMW retail center or through the Port Installation Program. The Power Kits allow current BMW owners to upgrade their vehicle for increased performance without purchasing a new vehicle.

There are several versions of the Power Kit available for purchase. The first was introduced on the 335i BMW Performance Edition model, and is available for all Model Year 135is and 335is and for al X6 vehicles produced through April 2010.

The second version of the Power Kit utilizes the same engine performance software as the first version, in addition to an Auxiliary Water Cooler and an Enhanced Radiator Fan, which reduces thermal stress on the engine during high temperature driving.

There are several advantages to the Power Kits. Horsepower is increased to 320 hp, a 20 hp increase. Torque is increased to 332 lb-ft with the automatic transmission, and 317 lb-ft with a manual or DCT transmission.  In some models, the Power Kits increase acceleration and cut down on engine sounds.

Vehicles which are upgraded with Power Kits still retain original emission certification, maintain original fuel efficiency rating, and their original BMW Limited Warranty remains unaffected.

In 2011, BMW offered the Version 1 Power Kit for a special price $599 MSRP. The Version 2 Power Kit was offered for $1,199 MSRP (excluding additional air ducts or other components that be necessary for installation).   Contact your local BMW dealer for current Power Kit pricing.

The design of the 2014 BMW M3 Coupe (or M4 for that matter) will be based upon the upcoming 4series, due out in 2013. The M version of the popular coupe will still carry the the wide track, an M front bumper, full LED headlights, and the signature four exhaust pipes  that are characteristic of that model made clear that the current M3 is the last to be offered with the award-winning V8 naturally aspirated engine. Thus, it remains to be seen what type of new engine will power the new M3. It’s been revealed, though, that BMW will now use six cylinders, but it is unclear whether it will utilize an inline-six turbo or a newly designed V6. The consensus among the rumor mill is that turbocharged sixer is the engine of choice, but nothing has been confirmed for certain.  The V6 candidate is said to be a 3.3 liter BiTurbo engine with roughly 450 horsepower.

Road and Track reports that Albert Biermann, head of product development at M, was recently quoted describing the M3’s torque. Biermann stated that the coupe will not have torque vectoring; instead, look for an electronically controlled differential as in the M5.

A dual-clutch transmission is expected, but it would not be surprising if a manual is also offered to U.S. customers.

To learn more about the new BMW M3 or to test drive new or used BMW cars near Bala Cynwyd, visit your local Pennsylvania new BMW Dealer in West Chester PA today.

For those of us fortunate enough to be living in the Northern hemisphere, as the joys of the holidays come, so do the hazards of winter weather, forcing us to start thinking about slippery roads and winter tires again.

Slippery roads decrease traction coefficient, which allows tires to surpass their grip limits at much slower speeds than usual, causing the tires to lose grip and cars to slip and slide all over the roads.

However, not all winter weather driving is to be dreaded. A good snowfall offers the ideal opportunity for off-roading. High performance, off-road tires can turn winter weather driving into an adventure.

Even if you’re not looking for a wild off-roading experience, a vacant snow-covered road or parking lot can be the perfect opportunity to teach someone (or practice yourself) how to control understeer in winter conditions, should your car ever lose control. But remember, summer performance tires should never be driven in the cold, much less over snow or ice. This is because summer performance tires simply have no grip, and driving them on slippery roads drastically increases the likelihood of spinning out and losing control of your car. Worse yet, one chemist with Yokohama advised me that summer tires can actually shatter if they come in contact with a bump or dip in the road and the temp is well below 0 Celsius.  Summer performance tires have nano technology engineered into them, allowing them to grip to the road even in extremely high temperature. However, this means that at low temperatures, as water on the road turns into ice, the tires will literally solidify and shatter.

To stay safe in winter weather, be sure to winterize your tires. But, if you plan on doing any off-roading, whether for the sheer thrill or as a learning experience and safety precaution, winter performance tires will keep you safe and your car on the road.

Let’s talk engine. Typically, an M car engine delivers around 8,000 rpm. Unfortunately, a diesel engine, otherwise known as a compression-combustion engine, cannot rev as high as a sparked gasoline engine, particularly due to its specific burn rate. Comparatively, most diesels rev at a maximum of 4,000-4,500 rpm. While it is true that most diesel engines become extremely noisy to the point of being obnoxious and distracting when revving above 3,000 rpm, that is not the case with BMW diesels. The BMW diesels boast an impressive 5,400 rpm- uncharacteristically high for a diesel- while continuing to remain quiet and unobtrusive, and deliver the same smooth driving experience that BMW is famous for.

A modern day M car engine is a turbo-gasoline engine, with a maximum rev capability of 7,200 rpm. So, considering that the 3.0 liter turbo diesel M engine sacrifices only 1,800 rpm and manages to produce powerful torque and improved fuel economy, the sacrifice seems more than worth it. Plus, the diesel engine has not one, not two, but three twin-scrolls powered by six cylinders. Although BMW is yet to release all of the technical specifications, it’s clear that the new diesel engine is one of the most advanced and innovative engines of its time.

Look for the new M Performance Automobiles at your local Otto’s BMW dealer, home of a great line up of new and used BWM cars in Pennsylvania in the coming months.

The fuel injectors, for one, operate by injecting fuel at a staggering rate of 2,200 bars, which is the equivalent of roughly 31,908 psi.  According the BMWBlog, “That is a mind-blowing figure – I’ve simply never heard of such a thing. The highly precise metering and timing of fuel injection allows for improved power, efficiency and responsiveness – extracting every joule of energy possible from every micro-droplet of diesel fuel.”

In addition to astonishingly efficient fuel injection rates, the diesel engines have also been engineered to be more light weight than their predecessor models. The M engineers accomplished this feat by using aluminum to construct the crankcase, rather than the traditional and much heavier steel. The lighter engine allows for “quicker chassis responses and more nimble, agile handling. The lower weight will also add to the balance of the car, ensuring no more than 50% of the weight rests upon the front axles,” again,  according to BMWBlog.

To give you some perspective of just how amazing these figures are, let’s compare the new diesel engine to the M5’s gasoline S63tu unit. The S63tu measures 4.4 liters in displacement, 560 horsepower, 5,750-7,000 rpm, and 501 lb-feet of torque.   Now, the M series diesels deliver 381 horsepower, 4,0000-4,4000 rpm, and 546 lb-feet of torque. Let’s look to the experts to describe what this really means: “That means a specific output of 127 hp/liter and 114 lb-ft/liter for the M5 and – paint me red and shoot me dead – 127 hp/liter and 182 lb-ft/liter for the M diesel. Theoretically, if the M division increased this Diesel’s displacement to 4.4 liters while keeping the same specific output, it would match the M5′s 560 hp while producing more torque – a gluttonous 801 lb-ft” – BMWBlog.