It might seem curious to suggest that all drivers of the vehicles of this celebrated Bavarian marque will come across the three specific issues we’re about to explain to you – and of course, we can’t claim this is literally the case.

Nonetheless, we felt the need to put the spotlight on these problems, not least for the benefit of less experienced BMW owners who might have only recently got behind the wheel of a Beemer for the first time.

Yes, the very letters ‘BMW’ are synonymous around the world with prestige, refinement, luxury, and build quality. But unfortunately, none of those terms mean the same thing as “reliability”, so we decided it was a good idea to draw attention to the following common problems with BMWs.

Issues with the electrics

It is almost guaranteed that if you own and drive a BMW for any significant period of time, you will experience some malfunctioning with the electronic aspects of the car.

We’re referring to such things as the operation of the windows, wipers, indicators, heating, and air conditioning. On your BMW, the problem may be that one or more of these functions of the car don’t work – or conversely, they might ‘work’ just fine, except that you can’t make them stop.

The good news is that any electrical problems with your BMW can be looked at and fixed by a reputable MOT centre in Laindon or wherever else you happen to live. But for as long as such faults persist, they can undoubtedly be extremely annoying.

Door handle wear and tear

Problems with the door handle of your BMW can be anything but the merely “frivolous” problem that you might initially imagine them to be. After all, what if you find one day that one of the outer door handles on your BMW lifts just fine, but doesn’t have the effect of opening the door?

This is the kind of issue that always seems to occur when you’re in a rush to get somewhere, and it can feel more than a little farcical.

With the door opening and locking mechanism on a BMW being situated within the door itself, it isn’t a massively complex problem to solve, but it will require the replacement of the faulty mechanism. That will necessitate the use of certain specialist tools.

Oil leaks

As with the other two problems we have described in this rundown, oil leaks can theoretically happen on basically any car, but they do unfortunately seem to occur a lot on BMWs.

There are certain areas where oil leaks can be especially likely to happen on a BMW, including the valve cover and valve cover gasket, the oil pan and oil pan gasket, and the oil filter housing and gasket. And those aren’t the only areas of the car where a frustrating oil leak could arise.

The gasket responsible for connecting the oil filter to the engine of your vehicle can be a particularly unsurprising source of an oil leak. There are certain moving parts that really require oil, and if a leak happens that leaves the engine with less oil, the consequence of this can be elevated wear and tear. That, in turn, can contribute to mechanical problems at a later stage.

BMWs can sometimes suffer brittle gaskets over time, with this vulnerability leading to a significant oil leak. But it can be expensive to have any gasket on a BMW repaired, which is why you might decide to have the entire part replaced, rather than just the gasket on its own. You might be especially likely to favour this option if your Beemer has over 100,000 miles on the clock.

Indeed, it’s worth being alert to your BMW’s mileage for quite a few reasons, with one of them being that the approximately 100,000-mile mark can be a classic stage at which an oil leak can develop for the first time.

Having said that, some BMWs can suffer leaking oil for the first time at around 50,000 miles, or your Beemer might exceed 150,000 miles without showing any signs of an oil leak at all.

Are you doing everything possible to look after your BMW?

While no one doubts the considerable desirability of BMW cars, there hasn’t always been strong consensus on how reliable the German manufacturer’s vehicles are in the ‘real world’. Some reports have praised BMWs as reliable, while others have suggested these cars can sometimes be vulnerable to niggles, faults, and malfunctions.

So, whatever your experiences have been to date with your own treasured BMW, it is important that you are alert to potential issues like those outlined above. Being so will help ensure you get the very best out of your BMW ownership experience for many months and years to come.

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Marcus M.

http://www.bmwcoop.com

The post 3 Common Issues Every BMW Driver Will Encounter appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

Next-generation electric vehicles from BMW are currently under development and are expected to hit the market in the middle of the decade. New batteries are one component of what the carmaker refers to as Neue Klasse (New Class), a new platform and family of new technologies that will provide up to 30% more range than BMW’s current models. After we discuss the stats, we’ll take a look at the company’s innovative battery technology.

BMW will debut its sixth generation of electric drive technology for the Neue Klasse, which will make use of new batteries. By transitioning to round cells specifically created for use in vehicles based on the Neue Klasse architecture, the Bavarian firm will radically alter the cell format and cell chemistry of its batteries. The prismatic cells currently used by BMW will be replaced by these new round cells.

The new battery cells will have a diameter of 46 millimeters and two distinct available heights depending on their application, according to the business. On the cathode side, the cell chemistry will have a higher concentration of nickel while having a lower concentration of cobalt. In response, the silicon content on the anode side will rise, and this new chemistry will produce a volumetric energy density that is more than 20% greater.

Neue Klasse will make a number of modifications, including the addition of an 800-volt electrical infrastructure that will improve the way energy is delivered to DC fast charging stations. BMW claims that this will result in a 30% reduction in charging times from 10% to 80%.

Speaking of charging, it’s also important to note that the company guarantees a 30 percent increase in range for its top-of-the-line vehicles thanks to upgraded batteries. Additionally, and possibly even more significantly, the manufacturer predicts a price reduction of up to 50% compared to existing fifth-generation batteries.

BMW will establish new battery manufacturing facilities in China and Europe with a combined annual capacity of up to 20 GWh in order to guarantee the supply of batteries required for Neue Klasse-based vehicles. In North America, two more cell factories will be constructed, although no partners have yet been named.

Photo Gallery:

Source: BMW

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Marcus M.

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The post BMW Promises New Round Battery Cells Will Increase Range By 30% appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

BMW has redesigned the X1 compact crossover and this latest version’s prototype has a battery-electric version.

Last summer, the CEO of BMW confirmed the plan for an electric X1 and an electric 5-series. The electric X1 would be called the iX1, he stated.

The redesigned X1 is based on the latest front-wheel-drive architecture from BMW, which is known as FAAR. The FAAR platform is a renewed version of the UKL platform that supports the current X1.

The biggest change is the option for a battery-electric powertrain.

The spy photos don’t reveal much and we can’t see the bumper’s design due to the camouflage garb. The bumper will likely be the same as the old one.

BMW didn’t disclose any details regarding the power under the hood, but we expect that the powertrain on the base variant will be teamed up with a single electric motor. A more potent option with two motors forming an all-wheel-drive system will also be offered. The expected range of the battery-electric model will be at least 250 miles for all variants.

The Mini Cooper SE, the aforementioned iX1, and the new i4 are being launched by the BMW Group for the 2022 model year. The refreshed version of the BMW X1 is expected to go sale in 2022 as a 2023 model with the iX1 arriving at the same time.

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Marcus M.

http://www.bmwcoop.com

The post 2023 BMW iX1 Caught Testing on The Streets appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

The BMW i4 is under its testing phase, which means a lot of spy shots have been circulating the internet trying to make sense of the upcoming design. The latest photos have revealed a lot more than before, including details of the front-grille design.

The front-end is partially visible, and although it is still covered by camouflage material, a lot more can be said about the grille’s shape and size. The BMW i4 will have the same signature kidney-grille as before with practically the same size as in the earlier models.

The headlights are also clearly visible for the first time revealing a c-shaped design. The LED daytime lights and the two projector-beam combo has been the go-to for BMW in the recent past and the i4 follows the same pattern.

Unsurprisingly, the rear of the vehicle also shows more than it did earlier. The taillights, for example, can be seen more clearly and we can decipher their near-final shape. Since the camouflage panels have started coming off, we can say for sure that the BMW i4’s release is not that far away.

The prototype vehicle is in its final stages of testing and once that is complete, BMW will reveal the I4 in its final form. It is expected to be released by late 2021 so expect a full unveiling by the Spring/Summer of 2021.

The BMW i4 is touted to be more powerful than some of BMW’s performance cars like the M3 and M4. The i4 will produce 530 hp at its peak, which will allow it to go from 0 to 60 mph in a brisk 4 seconds or less. The whopping performance figures are possible thanks to the single motor setup and BMW’s intuitive drag-reduction aerodynamic technology.

BMW has been tight-lipped on the price of the i4, but expect it to be around $70,000 for the base variant.   

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Marcus M.

http://www.bmwcoop.com

The post Upcoming BMW i4 Spy Shots Slightly Reveal New Design appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

From BMW`s website we bring you in a premiere some of the official details of the company`s latest creation – the iX – the ultimate EV in terms of technology. And from the way it looks, feels, and drives, it is definitely BMW`s most impressive model ever built.

Speaking of technologies and exterior design – not to mention the powerful configuration under the hood – Adrian van Hooydonk, BMW`s senior design, explains how the model shows and feels. He stated that the “car is technologycally complex, but it feels very clear and uncomplicated.” The brand new iX also “offers a mobile living space in which people will feel at ease, where the car`s intelligence is only there where you need it.”

All these impressive atributes about the technology it embodies, leaves the company`s BMW 7-Series way behind in terms of high-tech features. Plus, the intimidating looks and extreme power makes it indeed a one-of-a-kind type of a futuristic vehicle.

As we can depict from the media gallery below, the oversized front grille makes it manacing, while all the sensors, cameras or radars it incorporates, make it complete in every possible way. Not to mention the plethora of advanced driver assistance systems which provide driving pleasure at its best.

The massive SUV stands on the company`s new architecture designed for battery-electric models. That comes with a new all-electric powertrain, consisting of two-electric motors and a massive 100kWh battery pack. The electric motors develop more than 500 horsepower, while the battery pack adds a 600-mile range. However, as the company also states, the aforementioned numbers “are based on the car`s current stage of development.” Even so, it runs very fast from 0 to 100 km/h, and according to BMW, this would be in less than 5.0 seconds, which is also staggering.

One of the car`s main improvements is the hexagonal steering wheel it comes with, which means that it “improves ease and gives the driver a better view of the information display.”

Other features that caught the reader`s attention is the electric seat button console found on the door panels, or the largest glass surface ever designed in a BMW car. What is also interesting, is that the carmaker has left intact all the features from the iNext prototype, including the semi-autonomous system. And even if the iX is still in its “series production development phase,” we surely have a full idea of how it will finally arrive on the market. Speaking of production, the new iX will be built at the company`s new Dingolfing plant, with production to start next year.

More details and photos with the new BMW iX will be released shortly, meanwhile, have a look at what we know so far about the model in the media gallery below!

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Marcus M.

http://www.bmwcoop.com

The post BMW iX – The Ultimate EV High-Tech Flagship appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

The BMW i4 sedan was recently caught in full camouflage attire. The spy shots have revealed, to an extent, what the electric sedan will look like in the near future. BMW had hinted at designing the i4 on the I Vision Dynamics Concept car but it seems that the upcoming sedan will share its looks with the 4-series Gran Coupe.

The BMW i4 has striking headlights with daytime running LEDs, similar to the M series BMWs. The German automaker has decided to keep the grille concealed. Every BMW gets the kidney-grille so not much is left to the imagination even though the grille is non-existent as of now. Whether the grille is big or small that will be known as we get closer to its release.

The i4’s design seems to have a mix of sporty aesthetics as well as a slight luxury aspect. The elegant roof drops down to meet the boot in the rear to give the car a coupe-type finish. The spy shots do not reveal the taillights so that is a surprise you would have to wait until the final release. No exhaust pipes are protruding out the back though and given that the i4 is an EV you should not be surprised.

Reports suggest that the BMW i4 will be based on BMW’s CLAR platform. This means that the car will have multiple variants. BMW will offer an 80 kWh battery that will produce an impressive 523 horsepower and an electric range of 373 miles. The i4 will be able to use its RWD or optional AWD system to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in approximately 4 seconds with a top speed of about 124 mph.

The 80kWh battery pack on the electric sedan will be able to reach 80% of its capacity in only 35 minutes using the fast charger provided by BMW. The truth of all these claims will be evident once the sedan is released.

The post BMW i4 Sedan Spy Shots Captured During Testing appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

BMW is eyeing on dominating the electric market by launching a long list of electric vehicles including the BMW iX3, BMW i4, and iNext, as well as, next-generation BMW 5 Series and 7 Series saloons could be among them. The all-electric powered BMW 7-Series is famously and renowned known as the BMW i7, and more and more developments are underway.

BMW sources suggest the battery pack capacity may range from 80-kWh to 120 kWh. This enthusiast the future i7 could offer a range of 700 kilometers or 434 miles on a single charge that is simply amazing and unbreakable at large for its competitors.

Some experts suggested the BMW i7 could be offered with varying electric motors. The range-topping variant is said to have two electric motors which would give the model all-wheel drive as well as the combined output of around 650 hp. These 5-series and 7-Series are planned to be offered with petrol, diesel, and hybrid powertrains. While the addition of pure electric variants, BMW will effectively cover all of the bases. The model will go into production in late 2021 or early 2022.

It is expected to be launched as the fully-electric variant of the current-gen model, the i7 will be formally launched after the next-gen BMW 7 Series goes on sale. After the 7 Series workout, BMW is planning to work on bringing a fully electric version of the 5 Series, in a bid to follow the growing market trend of EVs. With growing trends and needs of diverting fuel economy to electric power, BMW has already planned to develop an all-electric series, not just one, but various in numbers to reach out to prospective customers and share the market share with its rivals in electric vehicle manufacturing industry.

The post Next-Gen Pure Electric BMW 5 Series & 7 Series to debut soon appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

BMW announced that they would not continue their i3 electric model a few weeks ago. There will be no successor but the model will still be sold. It doesn’t seem to be because sales aren’t successful, because the truth is actually quite the contrary. Currently in its sixth year of production the i3 has seen five different iterations. BMW has sold over 150,000 of these cars so far, and demand for them has increased each year. Sales were actually 21 percent higher than the same period last year, and sales in August were 30 percent higher. There must be another reason that they are discontinuing it, right? Well, it looks like it may simply be an advance for the company.

Success of the i3

In fact, the i3 has not only been successful in sales, it has been able to beat some records as well. IN August, the German company placed number one for record performance. The electric model has not shown any sign that is less effective than traditional engines, it has shown that it can keep up and even beat some of them.

Furthermore, according to the experts at the site MoneyPug, which is used often to find car insurance, the i3 has shown that it is quite reliable. It regularly tests very well when it comes to safety, which makes it cheaper to insure than some electric models. If it isn’t sales and it isn’t performance or safety, why is the company discounting the successful model?

Why the i3 will Stop Being Produced

The real reason that the electric car won’t have a successor is that it is going to start making its mainstream models electric. This strategy is what they have started doing with their new Mini Electric vehicle, which is essentially an electric version of their classic Mini. BMW won’t be focusing on creating new models from scratch, they will be making all of their cars electric. This suggests that it is working for them, and that they plan to compete with Tesla in the all-electric market. By ending the i3, BMW is signaling that electrification is a change in their overall strategy instead of a side project of the luxury brand. With this new branding, they may be able to stay relevant.

What’s Next?

BMW is planning no less than 13 battery-fueled models by the year 2023. It appears that they are still a bit reluctant to completely embrace the all-electric branding. Instead they are being cautious in the transition, which makes it less risky for them. They plan on building models with a traditional combustion engine, plug-in hybrids, and the completely electric vehicle all the same time.

There will also be a new push for hydrogen-powered vehicles, an industry the company seems keen to get in on. With the push to make more electric models, diversifying with more types of green vehicles will be quite beneficial to them. As BMW rebrands itself as an electric and eco-friendly car company, they will likely get new customers but will probably not lose the ones they have now. Electric and hydro-powered cars are the future and BMW seems to understand that very well.

Whether you like electric cars or not, they will continue to replace petrol and diesel engines. BMW is taking steps to get ahead of many automobile companies and compete with those who are already in the market. Tesla will be their main competition but Porsche and Jaguar both are building more electric vehicles. While the company is discontinuing its popular model, it is a sign that they are committing even further to the ethos of electric automobiles.

If they can be successful at building these models and selling them, the German auto engineers will cement their place in the future as a top car company. Only time will tell whether or not this will pan out, but it will be an exciting thing to watch. Stay tuned to see what models they will make electric next and how the company will handle the transition into eventually producing only electric and hydrogen-powered cars.

The post The End of the i3: Is it a Good Thing for BMW? appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

After dabbling with electric concept cars for the past few years, BMW has finally jumped into the future with both feet by announcing the launch of its first-ever all-electric Mini. The cars, which are being constructed in BMW’s Oxford plant in England, are in production now and available for pre-order. Buyers can expect their delivery by mid-2020 at the latest.

While BMW is keen to point to proven interest from potential buyers as the reason for the launch of the new vehicle, it’s likely that emissions targets laid out by the European Union may also have had something to do with the manufacturer’s keen sense of urgency. BMW, as with all car companies, are required to reduce the emissions their vehicles are responsible for by 2020. As the emissions target is taken as an average across all models of vehicle that a manufacturer builds, selling electric cars is an obvious step towards meeting the targets.

Positively Charged?

The number of customers who have registered an interest in buying one of the new Minis has been recorded by BMW as 15,000, which wouldn’t normally suggest huge demand. BMW built and sold more than a quarter of a million Minis in 2018, so 15,000 would represent barely a fraction of that amount. Seemingly low levels of interest from the public have been blamed for holding back the development of electric cars for years. Designing and building electric concept cars costs big money to manufacturers, and without the guarantee of sales at the end of the process, that big money is a big money gamble. Car manufacturers do not tend to be gamblers. In the gambling world, slot games only make money because customers come to them and pay in more money in total than the slots pay out in prizes. If the slot games paid out a jackpot each day without making more money back in return, they would quickly be shut down. BMW doesn’t have the luxury online slots websites do – they can’t just shut production down after it’s already happened. If they’ve invested big money in a car and it doesn’t sell, they’re stuck with it.

One thing that might prove to win approval for the electric model from the public is the price, which is comparatively low at a reported £24,400, which has been slightly subsidized by a grant offered to them by the British Government in return for making environmentally-friendly cars. It remains to be seen whether that makes up for what drivers perceive to be a lack of charging station availability, and therefore a risk of simply running out of power while out on the road and therefore getting stuck. Others point out the impracticality of charging an electric car at home for those who don’t have a driveway or a designated parking space, and the fact that the cars only have a range of 300 miles at best as things currently stand. For some commuters – especially those who drive to and from London every day – that just isn’t enough.

A New Era?

If the Mini is successful, as BMW hope it will be, the internal belief within the company is that it will act as a breakthrough vehicle as the company looks to move into the future. Senior BMW figure Oliver Zipse spoke at the launch of the Mini, and indicated that reaching the point at which customers prefer electric vehicles to petrol-driven ones is one of the company’s aspirations. He specifically referred to the Mini Electric as a ‘new model offensive,’ by which we presume he meant it was a spearhead project rather than being an offensive version of the much-loved classic Mini.

Although some newspapers within the UK are reporting a huge surge in the number of electric cars sold in recent years, many of them are only telling half the story. Even selling a few hundred more electric or hybrid vehicles this year than were sold during the same period of last year would have a significant impact on sales percentages because sales figures were so low to begin with. Less than 12,000 electric cars were sold during the first six months of 2019, which accounts for less than one percent of all car sales in the UK. If less than one in a hundred car purchasers chooses to go with an electric model when presented with the option to do so, the prospects of succeeding with a new mass-produced electric model appear to be brief. BMW’s forecast of 15,000 potential buyers would be three thousand higher than the total sales of all other electric cars put together. Either the company has drummed up incredibly enthusiastic support for their new car, or their data is wrong.

Carry On Regardless

Whatever happens with the sales figures for the Mini, BMW appears to be destined to forge ahead with making electric and hybrid cars, and are pledged to do so until well into the next decade. Existing plans approved by the company call for the creation of twenty-five electric car variants over the next four of years, over half of which are required to be fully electric instead of hybrid. Whoever oversees that project will have to believe in the cause completely – and the aforementioned Oliver Zipse may be the ideal man for the job.

There will shortly be a vacancy right at the top of the command chain in BMW, with chief executive Harald Kruger already making his plans for departure, and a power vacuum beneath him. Zipse is well-regarded inside BMW for his work at the Oxford plant responsible for the production of the new Mini, and as someone with hands-on experience of overseeing the production of electric cars, it may be that he’s ultimately selected as the best contender to take the company into the 2020s.

Are you one of the potential customers who’s put their name down to buy one of the new electric Minis? Do you already have an electric car? If you don’t, would you ever consider using one? Are they a necessary product of the future, or are they just not as good as conventional fuel-driven cars? As always, you can carry on the conversation and let us known down in the comments!

The post BMW Rolls Out The Electric Mini appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.

Even if BMW has been planning a fully-electric crossover with impressive mile range for many years, it is just now that the first details about its soon released have emerged at the surface. The first tip is the below teaser image which reveals the futuristic design, along with some info sourced out from a company`s executive.

Besides the new design language and increased mile range, the future BMW iNEXT crossover will become a benchmark in technology, incorporating the latest gadgetries.

Speaking of which, well-known Chairman Harald Kruger has named the iNEXT a “technology flagship”, declaring as well that “For the first time, we are combining all key technology for future mobility in one vehicle. The iNEXT is fully electric, fully connected and also offers highly automated driving.”

There are little known about the future BMW iNEXT, except for a couple of details concerning its body style and mile range characteristics.

According to a report issued by Automotive News magazine, the new electric crossover will be previewed in a concept form and officially revealed in full details at the 2018 Paris Motor Show, this September.

Once going into production in 2021 at BMW`s well-known facility at Dingolfing in Germany, the new iNEXT electric crossover will be offered with a highly-efficient modular battery pack with up to 120 kWh, which means a range of around 700 km on a single charge, which is pretty amazing. The model will also become the company`s first “Gen 5” vehicle, with high-efficient battery pack and plenty of technology onboard.

Positioned right above the new iX3, the new BMW iNEXT full electric is said to be an extremely large crossover with “a distinctive greenhouse with trapezoidal shapes at the B-pillar”, similar to the I Vision Dynamics concept.

Since the subject is too hot, we expect more details to emerge in the upcoming period. Meanwhile, take a peek at the teaser image of the BMW iNEXT and tell us how you imagine it to be!

The post BMW iNEXT Teaser Image Released – Will Be a Fully-Electric Crossover with Increased Mile Range appeared first on BMWCoop | BMW Blog, BMW News, BMW Reviews.