X1 update

Latest news is the X1 coming to town will have 2.0d engine producing 130KW/177HP. Suspect it will come in both 2WD and Xdrive......

BrideX BMW's Update...

Just dropped by the showroom to have a look at the BrideX 3 series and 5 Series. Even before the advert for sale, i can confirm that already 20+ cars have been booked. The 3 series comes with 17' alloys with runflats, Bi Xenon/ LED lights and Sports Leather Seats. However the seats are manual adjustments as well as the air conditioning. The 5 series has 16" alloys with Normal Tyres, new idrive (spider) controller and dual zone air automatic climate control. Book early if you're interested cos they are flying off the shelves.

Will we see these M cars in town?

The X5M and the X6M are the first SAV cars to roll out of BMW's M factory. The performance is expectedly breath taking and the published numbers are simply unbelievable. I wonder when one will arrive our shores? In the mean time, if you wanna drool, click here BMW X5M and here BMW X6M

Price wise? I can only suspect it will be about 230 to 24Ok?

Bridex Offer....Official

Everyone, its official....Bridex cars BMW 320i will be sold for $55800 showroom and BMW 523i for $76800 showroom. Can't confirm what the exact options/specs are but heard the 320i will be fitted with more options than the regular ones sold. Colours available are White, Black and Silver. Contact BMW for more details. Book early to avoid disappointment.

BRIDEX.....I wonder?

Just recently, i mentioned about having another APEC type offer......well.....its not that far fetched.....stay tuned and i'll see what i can dig up. Fingers crossed.

Perfect MINI launch in BRUNEI

Eventhough Mini's aren't officially on the list of models offered by BMW Brunei, Mini's have on several occasions been brought in to supplement the sales and to test the market response. Cooper S, Cooper and One's have been brought in, you might see a JDW Mini once in a while but that would have been a self-import.

As that was the status, i have been rather reluctant to add MINI's to this blog. I know for a fact that BMW Brunei are actively pursuing more MINI's for sale in Brunei. Whether that comes as One-Offs or in a proper MINI showroom, thats still being discussed. However with the arrival of the MINI Crossover(Countryman?) in the near future, that might set the stage of the perfect launch for MINI (official) in Brunei......

This Could be One HOT BMW

Just a Artist rendering of what could be a future BMW. Possibly a 6 series replacement, possibly the next R8 killer.....whatever it is, its definitely HOT.

Range Topper 7 series will be........

The Head of M division of BMW, Dr Kay announced that there will be no M7 model. He said the All wheel drive 760Li will be able to meet fill the market for those wanting similar M-like performance. For the record, the 760Li will be powered by a V12 6litre aluminium engine and if that wasn't enough......Twin Turbo as well. This will pump out around 544BHP and a max Torque of 533lb-ft. Here i thought the 750Li in town was powerful enough!

Child Car Seats

The law on children using child car seats are a bit vague, according to http://www.bruneiroadsafety.org.bn/rulesregulation/index.htm ,
children under 3 years must be fastened securely in government approved car seats. Not only does it not mention the type of restraint, it doesn't specify, seats, weight and height of child and exceptions if any...eg, taxis and buses. Have a look at this reference for uk law on child car seats - http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/law/index.htm#under3

I wonder how many parents actually take note of this law/regulation. Waiting for my kid to finish school one day, i noticed maybe only a handful of cars actually had car seats....in fact about 3 out of 10 would be a fair estimate. Maybe more should be done to make parents or future parents aware of what dangers it may pose to their precious ones.

This video will definitely wake a few people up.
http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/carseatsvideo/chapter1a.html

What really worries me, is that the authorities aren't doing much about enforcing this law. If they were, they wouldn't be so brief with their description of child car seats, they wouldn't be charging 20% tax on child car seats, hence treating it like other car parts and lastly do they even know which child car seats are approved by the government?

BMW has a range of child car seats designed specifically to fit their models. They don't come cheap but they are definitely worth the piece of mind plus you know it has met and surpassed the Ultimate Driving Machine's safety standards. Having used the junior child seat i must say, my kid settled nicely into it and it is easy for parents to install....the BMW badge makes it look awesome too.

The next time you buckle up for your Pure Driving Pleasure, make sure your kids will be safe while enjoying the ride.

Stay Safe.

Chris Bangle's Take On Car Designs.

Chris Bangle the guy responsible for most of the current(modern) BMW designs, tells us a little bit of what goes into designing a car. FYI, the new guy now is Adrian Van Hooydonk. The new 7 series and the up and coming Z4 are start of a his design era.

Headlight Restoration

Every now and then, you come across a fair few number of Continental cars whose whole looks just gets let down with the dull, blurry, faded and yellowish looking headlights. Obviously i'm biased, but generally it seems to occur more with the 3 pointed star brand cars rather than the Ultimate Driving Machines. Being a believer of Meguiar's products, let me share with you this product coming to the Brunei agent (Max Tyre) soon.

Its the Headlight Restoration Kit. From the video, it seems to fix scratches with ease. Its meant to remove the oxidised plastic as well, so it should be a highly anticipated product for all avid car lovers esp for those with older cars

BMW for APEC but.....

BMW just confirmed that a total of 295 BMWs of 7 series and 5 series will be used as the APEC official car this year but unfortunately the venue.....SINGAPORE and not Brunei. I guess there will be 295 lucky BMW owners after the meeting as the cars are usually sold at a tax free price. Wonder if BMW could be the official car for the next big International Event in Brunei. Hmmm......i wonder?

BRake(typo) Energy Regeneration.

Another simple yet effective way of achieving Efficient Dynamics. Available in the new 7 Series and the up and coming Z4 roadster.

BMW Z4 launch date...

The latest rumour is the launch date for the Z4 E89 Roadster will be in August. The exact specs and options available are still kept under wraps, however expect to see a highly optioned Z4 35i commonly the case for the launch.

E90 Commercial

Maybe something BMW Brunei can offer for future 3 series customers

Another great ad for the 3 series. Would definitely be nice to see these ads in the showroom or on the local media

Show Off your Beemer(Bimmer) here...

Am trying to get BMW owners to share photos of their rides on this blog. Not only share with us what you like, dislike, added, modified or thinking of doing, but also a brief history of your Ultimate Driving Machine. You can distort the licence plate if you like. Looking forward to seeing some awesome local Beemers(Bimmers). email to bmw8brunei@gmail.com

3 Series GT?

This will be the evolution of the 3 Series into the GT range. It looks aggressively smart and proportional plus with a 3 litre twin turbo engine, the 335i GT could be the next big hit. Could we see this in Brunei?

X1 in motion.....

BMW X1 Promotional Footage from MotoringFile/BimmerFile on Vimeo.

BMW Technology......What Makes It a Driver's Car.

50:50 weight distribution.

The perfect balance of performance and precision: the ideal distribution of weight between the front and rear axles makes your BMW superbly agile.

Through the intelligent use of lightweight components and innovative production processes, it is possible to keep the vehicle weight to a minimum while at the same time achieving optimum weight distribution. The front and rear axles are made entirely out of aluminium, and in some models (BMW 5 Series and 6 Series), the entire front of the vehicle is made of this light yet strong metal. Engine components are made of aluminium, or alloys containing magnesium, and carbon-fibre composites further enhance your BMW's power-to-weight ratio.
Every kilo less represents a measurable increase in agility and safety, and even the vehicle’s structure can be adapted to optimise axle load - little overhang at the front, engines and transmission located as far back as possible. Weight should ideally be concentrated close to the vehicle’s centre of gravity.
Equal weight distribution results in greater agility, neutral self-steering behaviour and outstanding traction. Supported by Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) your BMW remains stable and controllable even in extreme situations: reduced weight means increased driving pleasure.

Source: BMW.com

Undoubtedly for me this is what makes BMW's a driver's car. The way it handles just instill confidence when you drive, be it a 118i or a 750Li. The Balance weight distribution is what makes it The Ultimate Driving Machine.

Offer price on the 325i Cabriolet.....

For those interested, the 325i Cabriolet is going for 112k, a one time offer (original price of 125k). More than 8k cheaper than the 325i Coupe.....very tempting.

325i coupe Vs 325i Cabrio

Just saw the latest arrival.....a 325i coupe. The 325i cabrio is selling for 125k whereas the coupe is yours for 120.8k. I must say i've always been a sucker for Coupes and Cabriolets and if i was to choose between the two, it would be a tough choice. After some careful and not impulsive thinking, i will have to opt for the coupe. Except for the " Blue Water" colour, its more practical for daily use in Brunei, its more than 4k cheaper and the stronger chassis makes a difference in handling. The Coupe also comes with the new styled idrive which has a sleeker(spider) looking control unit and more user friendly and upgraded display style.

1 Series Coupe and Cabriolet Update.

Just been told a white and silver 120i cabriolet coming soon. Also a black 125i coupe on the way.....
Having driven the 125i coupe, i can tell you first hand its offers a responsive Go-Kart feel and is by no means under powered. It is actually a detuned 2996cc 6 cylinder engine producing 218HP, so it has the torque and horses for a fun ride. If you have driven the outgoing Z4 model E85, than you can appreciate the similarities in road handling and feel. I believe its one of the better valued cars offered by BMW.

Here is a taste of the performance accessories that you can opt to get.....

Official X1 Photos....

The official photos of the X1 are out and its pretty nice too. I was slightly skeptical about the looks when i saw the teasers and spy photos but its actually quite a nice looker. The rear is the nicest bit......the front, probably not far off from the outgoing X3. The Havana colour seems to be quite fitting for it.