OT: Last Leg of I-15 Finally Opens!!!

[Coronita]

Hijack…

Technology like this will make the commute go smoother in a few years…

So cool.. BMW Connected Drive.

Last May we went for a high-speed run around Laguna Seca in BMW’s Track Trainer, a modified 3 Series that can click of two-minute laps without the driver touching the controls. Now, BMW has packed a 5 Series with the next iteration of the technology and taken it on to the open road.

This latest ConnectedDrive experiment uses much of the same tech, but beyond the radar and camera systems on the 3er, it includes new ultrasonic scanners and lasers to re-read the road surface, lines and surrounding vehicles. We say “re-read” because like the system we sampled at Laguna, this version needs to have the road data downloaded into the car before it can drive sans human intervention.

Still, out on the autobahn it appears to work well, slowing for traffic, accelerating up to speed and performing lane changes when necessary. It’s still too early to tell if the system will ever gain widespread adoption – particularly given the need for advance road data – but the 2013 BMW i3 will be equipped with a new Traffic Jam Assistant system that will steer, accelerate and brake the city car up to 25 mph in congestion, so the functionality is on its way, just not at autobahn speeds. Check out the demo in the video below the fold.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/26/bmw-takes-its-autonomous-5-series-onto-the-autobahn/

[sdrealtor]

TG
We havent lost yet, you will be back. A taste is all you need and soon you will want more. That is unless we are all riding ponies after the next election.

Elect Vermin Supreme!

Enjoy the ride!

[an]

flu, afaik, Google is doing a lot of research on this. So are a few other automakers. Audi introduced something similar in the A8. Infiniti already have system that slow the car down to a craw and speed back up. So you can set your cruise control at 65MPH and never have to put your foot on the brake/gas again while sitting in traffic (laser guided cruise control). They also have camera all around the cars to keep it in lane by applying brakes at the correct wheel to bring the car back into correct position. So, it’s not too far of a jump to put them all together. Mercedes also have something similar as well. Lexus can already park itself. In another word, for those who don’t like to drive, I would say, in the next 10-20 years, they might not need to.

As a car enthusiast, I’m more excited about the current trend of more powerful smaller engines with the help of turbo(s) and the race of lighten up the car with more exotic materials like aluminum and carbon fiber.

[paramount]

[quote=temeculaguy]Went with a 2010 528i, with ridiculously high miles (over 90k) for 19k incl tax and lic (didn’t buy from a dealer, fairly unconventional method but not a salvage, clean title, no collisions either). It’s freaking gorgeous. [/quote]

Wow, awesome. Congratulations. Welcome to Club BMW.

Your situation sounds a lot like mine, including age – I think there may be something to that.

I’ve been driving an old Saturn to work for years – no heat or AC for a long time – so a 328i was a huge step up.

Sounds like you got a great deal – I paid 20k for my vintage 328i (2007) with 36k miles.

As mentioned I went to buy a 5 series that had 96k on the odometer, but based on my in depth research BMW’s are very well built and there’s no reason a 528 shouldn’t go 300k and maybe more cost effectively.

I wasn’t worried about the mileage at all, even at 96k.

I really have to watch my speed on the 15, that incredible I6 just wants to go go go.

[sdrealtor]

How do I embed an image? Got a great picture for my BMW bretheren

[Coronita]

[quote=sdrealtor]How do I embed an image? Got a great picture for my BMW bretheren[/quote]

Click on the “Add image” button.
Maybe sure the picture size is not too big…

At any rate, follow the successive directions…

BTW: do you have window tints? That might be part of the reason why it’s interfering with your radio reception. Antenna is integrated into the glass.

[sdrealtor]

Advertising at its best. Wonder how long it took Audi to get their billboard taken down?[img_assist|nid=15775|title=Advertising at its finest|desc=Wonder how long it took Audi to get their billboard taken down?|link=node|align=left|width=100|height=76]

[an]

Audi and BMW have been going back and forth for awhile. Here’s Audi’s answer to BMW’s “checkmate”:

Here’s another answer from Audi:

And here’s another:

Here’s another ad war with Subaru and Bentley entering the mix: http://ckweblog.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/ad-war/

[Coronita]

[quote=AN]Audi and BMW have been going back and forth for awhile. Here’s Audi’s answer to BMW’s “checkmate”:

Here’s another answer from Audi:

And here’s another:

Here’s another ad war with Subaru and Bentley entering the mix: http://ckweblog.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/ad-war/%5B/quote%5D

These were fakes….

Audi had a contest on how to respond. The actual response was kinda lame.

Check it out…Especially the last ad in hong kong about the new 5 right in front of the audi dealership… Lol…

http://www.autointhenews.com/bmw-vs-audi-billboard-wars-a-battle-of-ad-budgets/

[an]

flu, you’re right. Looking closer, they do look PS’ed. The actual response is kinda lame compared to these PS’ed one. Too bad the other auto makers didn’t enter into the war. Would be fun to watch.

I think BMW is the Apple of the automaker world. Their marketing team is top notched. This is also why car companies need Halo cars. At the end of the day, Audi can always respond with whatever BMW throw at it with the R10.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=temeculaguy]Looks like I’m going to dissapoint everyone, I ended up not going with either the 3 or the G. Like my house, I’m seduced by the deal more than the feel sometimes. An unusual opportunity came up, actually coutesy of anothr pigg. I have strange needs so it won’t make sense to everyone what I did, but it worked for me. Went with a 2010 528i, with ridiculously high miles (over 90k) for 19k incl tax and lic (didn’t buy from a dealer, fairly unconventional method but not a salvage, clean title, no collisions either). It’s freaking gorgeous. It’s the exact car I set out to buy two years go as a personal reward for a promotion that I talked myself out of, black on black, tinted, angel eyes, I envy me now. If it craps out the trade in value is near what I paid so it was low risk, especially for a 2k miles per year guy like myself. I’m a fix it guy, I’m sure I can squeeze 5 years out of it. I know, it has the same engine as the 3, with much more weight, but the relative fun was enough for me . . . [/quote]

Congrats on your wise purchase, TG!

I have a friend who recently bought a ’99 fully-loaded Lexus LX-470 with 143K on it for just over $12K incl tax/lic (after having it fully checked out by a Toyota Certified mechanic). It too is all the things I emphasized in your post PLUS, being an all-time 4WD, glides over ice and snowdrifts and by all “chain-on” areas! Just got back from Tahoe and Mammoth with 350+ lbs of “stuff” plus two people and can tell you that 95 mph feels like it’s sitting still :=}

Also appreciated the two front seat warmers :=D

Gas mileage …. uh, not so good. Depending on speed 12.4 to 15.1 mpg on the road.

I don’t know anything about BMWs but vehicles such as this one (on a heavy Toyota Land Cruiser chassis) which are designed to last up to 500K miles are still quite young with an odometer reading of below 200K. It sold for approx $59K brand new and the 2012’s are approx $92K.

Piggs, NOW is the best time in my lifetime (fairly l-o-o-ong, btw) to buy a used vehicle if you have the cash, IMHO.

I have no idea why vehicle buyers buy new. What’s the incentive to pay “top-dollar” for makes that hold their value (and looks) so well over the years??

[Ren]

Congrats on the 5. That would have been my pick for you, because you’re more into “pimpin'” than performance, and BMWs hold onto the pimpin’ factor far longer than most cars.

As for the 328/G argument – for many car enthusiasts, it isn’t always about test results. It’s about steering ratio and turn-in, road feel, weight, driver position, etc. Some of those qualities are subjective, but they’re the reason that a Mini is far more fun to drive than a 400hp Camaro, and why I’d take a 328 over a G37. The G does have a great exhaust note, though.

Besides, performance is easy. Slap $2k in mods on just about any factory turboed 4-banger, and it will embarrass a G37 or 335. A stock 335, anyway.

Props to BMW for making the new 3-series lighter than the outgoing model – a step in the right direction after the last decade of bloat.

[Ren]

Some of you will probably appreciate this. It’s the reason internal combustion engines will never go away even when gas is $20/gallon:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRYYe0kLCto

[an]

[quote=Ren]As for the 328/G argument – for many car enthusiasts, it isn’t always about test results. It’s about steering ratio and turn-in, road feel, weight, driver position, etc. Some of those qualities are subjective, but they’re the reason that a Mini is far more fun to drive than a 400hp Camaro, and why I’d take a 328 over a G37. The G does have a great exhaust note, though.

Besides, performance is easy. Slap $2k in mods on just about any factory turboed 4-banger, and it will embarrass a G37 or 335. A stock 335, anyway.

Props to BMW for making the new 3-series lighter than the outgoing model – a step in the right direction after the last decade of bloat.[/quote]
I agree with you it’s not always about the number. But numbers are not irrelevant either. A G37 is hardly like a Camaro and a 328i is hardly a Mini. The Camaro is ~500lb heavier than the G37 and the Mini is ~500lb lighter than the 328. Weight, like all other metrics is one of a factor. But if it’s as important as you suggested, then the 328i should be more fun than the M3, since the M3 is heavier. The 328i is 200 lb lighter than the G37 but it’s 100 HP less. 200lb is much harder to notice than the 1400lb example you just gave.

As many car enthusiast know, handling is only one portion of equation. Power is the another. Having the ability to accelerate in an uphill on ramp (not having to wait to hit the power band) because you have gobs of low end torque does make a car more fun to drive as well. The ability to accelerate at 65MPH without the need to down shift is another. Like weight and power, braking is also another very important factor. When you have a linear brake feel and good brakes that allow you brake deeper into corner also make the car more fun to drive.

I’ve never read any review that complain about the G’s handling. The only area I’ve heard people complain about is the clutch being heavy and the engine not being as smooth an I6. I agree with both of those. However, the new 328, like you said, is no longer using the I6. I4 are inherently not as smooth as the I6 as well.

If you read the C&D review, they praise the G37’s steering, handling, power, cockpit, etc. I.E. in term of performance, it was the superior car. But not all car please all people in term of driving position. I had no problem with either the 3 series or the G.

Would you take a Miata over a S2000 or Z4M because it’s lighter? It also make significantly less power.

Since you open the can of worms wrt modding… I’m not too sure you can say slapping $2k in mods in a new Turbo I4 328i will allow it to “embarrass” a G37 or the 335. The G37 dyno at 287WHP and the 335 dyno at close to 300WHP. So you need a lot more than a chip and an exhaust to embarrass either of those cars. I don’t think a chip and an exhaust can make up a 80-100WHP deficit. If you’re lucky, you’ll gain 50-60WHP. You should also keep in mind that the G37 is also the cheaper car. So, you can easily take the $ you save and toss in a supercharger for around $6-7k. A street legal Vortech system in an older G35 makes close to 400WHP. There’s no way you can mod an I4 to get that kind of power. My brother have an Evo, and he’s doing much more than bolt on to get near 400WHP. We’re talking about cams, valve, valve springs, etc. So, in essence, once you start modding, it would be more advisable to go with the cheapest car with a great platform. Tossing on a set of KW Variant 3 + thicker sway bars + strut bars and it’ll perform better than any stock cars out there w/in similar price range.

Like I said earlier, I like the the trend the car companies are heading to. Lighter cars with more use of turbo.

[Ren]

[quote=AN]
I agree with you it’s not always about the number. But numbers are not irrelevant either. A G37 is hardly like a Camaro and a 328i is hardly a Mini. The Camaro is ~500lb heavier than the G37 and the Mini is ~500lb lighter than the 328. Weight, like all other metrics is one of a factor. But if it’s as important as you suggested, then the 328i should be more fun than the M3, since the M3 is heavier. The 328i is 200 lb lighter than the G37 but it’s 100 HP less. 200lb is much harder to notice than the 1400lb example you just gave.[/quote]

You won’t find an argument here. Like I said, it’s subjective, and you have to weigh every factor, not just weight. All else being equal, if one car is 50 pounds lighter than another, I’ll take it even if my butt dyno can’t tell the difference, but I CAN tell a 200 pound difference. One of the most fun cars I’ve ever owned was an ’87 924S, which didn’t make enough power to get out of its own way, but it excelled everywhere else. The example I gave with the Mini was just an exaggeration to show WHY I like certain cars more than others. Some people prefer a boat with gobs of torque – more power to them.

[quote]
Would you take a Miata over a S2000 or Z4M because it’s lighter? It also make significantly less power.[/quote]

I would take a used Mazdaspeed Miata over an S2000, certainly. If I could manage to get over the looks. Given those choices, the Z4M wins.

[quote]Since you open the can of worms wrt modding… I’m not too sure you can say slapping $2k in mods in a new Turbo I4 328i will allow it to “embarrass” a G37 or the 335.[/quote]

You’re right – the BMW will cost more to mod, because that’s how the BMW aftermarket is. (I am VERY impressed with the low-end torque of the new BMW turbo 4, btw.)

By “embarrass” I was actually aiming pretty cheap, as it wouldn’t be embarrassing to be beaten by another bimmer 🙂 … as in Cobalt SS or SRT-4. Those two by themselves make ridiculous amounts of power for very little. To give an example of a car that I am more familiar with (my wrong wheel drive daily driver):

’10-’12 Mazdaspeed 3 – $25k off the lot
$350 – Autotech high pressure fuel pump internals
$340 – Cobb intake/turbo inlet pipe
$500 – downpipe
$520 – Cobb Accessport (for tuning)
$120 – stiffer rear motor mount (to dampen the horrific torque steer and wheel hop)

That $1,800 results in somewhere just north of 300hp/350tq (up from 240/260) to the wheels and will easily stomp a 335 or G37. In fact, when you see a lowered MS3, it most likely has all that under the hood.

[quote]A street legal Vortech system in an older G35 makes close to 400WHP. There’s no way you can mod an I4 to get that kind of power.[/quote]

There are several MS3s with big turbos at over 500hp at the wheels. That’s a $1,500 kit plus the above bolt-ons, with completely stock block/pistons/cam/rods/etc. That’s a reliable (as long as you keep an eye on things), 2.3 liter 4-banger. Granted they’re useless in the rain 🙂
Visit the SRT-4 and Cobalt forums for other examples of even easier and more ridiculous power. Not that I would ever buy either one.

Regardless, it’s a pointless argument, because my tastes are different than yours. My dream car is a Cayman R with a GT3 swap, not a Ferrari or Lambo. If I had a more understanding wife, I’d be driving a Dinan 335 right now, but until then, I keep up with a stock 335 (and G37, and 996) just fine.

[Author]

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