BMW M5 News

The company reports an engine oil pump problem that could lead to severe engine damage. The global recall affects 2013-model M5, M6 coupe and M6 convertibles.Luckily, the 20 Australian cars are either still on the boat from Germany or in Australia but yet to be delivered, says BMW Australia spokesman Piers Scott. “There are 20 cars affected but because these relate only to a set production period, every one of those cars is either still to be delivered or not yet in the country,'' he says."So there is not a single Australian owner or customer affected.'' BMW sent out a technical service message to dealers over the weekend. It says it found a “manufacturing defect'' in the oil pump through its quality checks. The affected models were built this year between July and September.The recalled cars are equipped a turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 engine that BMW internally calls the S63TR. BMW says that cars with the faulty pump could suddenly lose oil pressure, triggering severe engine damage. "Because of this potential, BMW and its dealers will stop delivery of all affected vehicles until the recall repair has been completed,'' BMW says in an emailed statement.The company did not say how many cars are affected. BMW has boasted that the S63TR is the most powerful engine it has built for its high-performance M division. At 412kW/680Nm, it has 10 per cent more power and torque than its previous V10 engine but has a 30 per cent reduction in fuel consumption. BMW's M5 costs $230,000 and the M6, which arrives next month, about $300,000. 

...and now Carparazzi has caught it during development tests.The looks are largely unchanged but the stylish four-door picks up the twin-turbo V8 mechanical package from the latest M5 sedan and M6 coupe and convertible twins. 

BMW has upped the ante on its M models with the M Performance Editions. Following on the recent tease of the BMW M3 M Performance, the UK headquarters of the German brand has moved onto the M5.BMW will roll out an extremely limited edition of just 30 BMW M5 M Performance Editions, fitted with an enviable specification of standard equipment and sporting a choice of three unique Frozen paintwork colors -- ten of each in Frozen Red, Frozen Blue and Frozen White matte paint. 

The twin-turbo V8 in the muscular new mid-sizer is stretching the friendship with the back tyres in the fifth-generation M5 and there are concerns about customer reaction in snow-belt countries around the world. An all-wheel drive upgrade is the logical solution and BMW M chiefs from Munich admit they are considering the move. "We are thinking about it," says Max Ahme, M5 project leader. "If you are increasing the power more and more, maybe you need it." The basic powerplant in the M5 is the same 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 already used in the M versions of BMW's full-sized SUVs, the X5 and X6, but is tweaked to unleash 412 kiloWatts of power and 680 Newton-metres of torque. "The block is the same, but the cylinder heads are new. The inlet track is new, it has double Vanos (variable valve timing) and more revs. So, more power," says Ahme. He refuses to go into much detail but it's clear that BMW M is making a serious assessment of its first all-wheel drive passenger car. "It's a good idea, but it would add 120 kilograms to the car and it's all over the front axle," says Ahme. Other companies have made all-wheel drive conversions successful, including Ferrari with the lightweight system fitted to its new FF supercar. Ahme admits BMW has had an FF in its workshop, although he believes the system would not be suitable for an M5. "We have looked at this car. We do some swaps with Ferrari." But Ahme is totally black-on-white on one potential stretch of the M5, into a new Touring wagon. "This will not happen," he says. There have been three M5 Touring models in the past but the sales record of the car is not good, and numbers dropped dramatically in the previous-generation car. "It does not make any sense. Just look at the numbers," says Ahme.

The upcoming 520i, priced from $77,900 instead of the previous $82,000 for a 520d, comes after an earlier move on the 3 Series down under. BMW Australia says its objective is to provide better value, as well as a 'stepped' approach to equipment levels that mirrors bottom-end brands from Hyundai and Kia to Holden and Ford. It began the change with the 3 Series and is now moving on the Five with a claim of up to $7000 worth of extra value - most of it in standard equipment - on the 520i. There is also said to be more punch from the engine, which is a new 2.0-litre four with TwinPower turbo good for 135 kiloWatts and 270 Newton-metres of torque. "We've got power up, value up and fuel consumption down. Everyone is happy," says BMW spokesman, Piers Scott. A new four-cylinder 528i - replacing the previous six-pack - is also part of the 5 Series change, with more equipment in the 535i and 535d that means up to $7000 of extra value. Scott says the value boost comes thanks to the engine change but does not deny BMW's stronger emphasis on value at a time when it is taking a battering from Mercedes-Benz and Audi on both sides. "It's really just the fact that this is a brand-new engine that's available to us. That accounts for the 520 and the 528i," he says. "The other changes are to get a logical ladder into the price structure. "The jump from the 520i - which snuggles under the Luxury Car Tax threshold thanks to economy of 6.4 litres/100km and CO2 emissions of  149 grams/kilometre - to the 528i manes 180 kiloWatts and 350 Newton- metres, even though the four-cylinder basics are the same. The 528i is priced from $98,200, helped by also qualifying as a low-emission model under the LCT rules. Prices of the 535i and 535d now start at $115,600 and $120,900 respectively, with the diesel engine now boasting 230 kiloWatts and an eight per cent economy boost, with the 535i also getting a 0.7 litres/100km economy improvement. BMW Australia now also includes stop-start technology on all Fives except the 550i, with its new Active Safety package - closing the windows and sunroof, electro-mechanical belt tensioning and a crash- optimised position for the passenger-seat backrest - also part of the deal.

BMW has announced that its semi-active suspension control system Dynamic Damping Control (DDC) from the M3 and M5 would be suitable for their motorcycles. DDC would react to acceleration by increasing damping on the rear shock to avoid rear "squatting" and in braking would increase damping at the front to prevent "fork dive". It would also stiffen suspension when the bike is leaning in a corner to prevent "wallowing". BMW says the system would come with three selectable modes, "Comfort", "Normal", and "Sport". DDC will be introduced to the first BMW motorcycles "in the near future", according to BMW Motorrad in Germany. BMW Group Australia spokesman Piers Scott says there is no timeline for the introduction of the technology or which models would be the first to receive it. However, he said it would be likely to be introduced to models where riders had greater acceptance of the technology, such as large tourers. These were also the first BMW models to include anti-lock brakes, BMW's electronic suspension and traction control. Despite many of these technologies being available in cars for many years, motorcycle companies have been slow to introduce these aids. BMW was the first to offer ABS across all its range followed by Triumph with Harley-Davidson expected to follow. BMW and Ducati were the manufacturers to embrace traction control and electronic suspension in high-end models.

China is clearly on top of the car world in 2011.

... but BMW is also deeply into development work on the car. So this F10 prototype in action in Scandinavia, and caught by Carparazzi, needs no disguise beyond BMW's famous psychedelic wrapping. Even a power bulge in the bonnet is exposed. Full details are coming soon and the new M5 will be on the road in Europe this year, with Australian deliveries in 2012.

... following the lines of the already seen 6 Series convertible.Both new Beemers run turbocharged V8s, 4.4 litres and 300kW in the case of the coupe, the M5's output through its seven-speed gearbox hasn't been announced.But the Germans promise this M5 will be a "new interpretation of the business sedan that aspires to reach the level of driving dynamics typical of a high-performance sports car".