2010 BMW 5-Series

Power, handling, comfort and luxury are all associations one could make when shopping for the 2011 BMW 5-series, BMW’s mid-range sedan. This 5th generation of the BMW sedan slots above the BMW 3-series but only slightly below the 7-series having been designed on the same chassis as the se7en. BMW has done away with the majority of the Bangle design, most notably, the “Bangle-Butt.”

Comfort in the 5-series including the HVAC, audio, system functions and Sat/Nav system is handled mostly by the iDrive system. Now in its fourth-generation iDrive has been improved and is much more intutive, less distracting and easier to control than the previous generations.

Power in the 5-series is handled by either a naturally-aspirated inline-6 with 258HP (528i), a turbocharged inline-6 pushing just over 300HP (535i) or a twin-turbo 4.4L V8 producing 400HP (550i) allowing a sprint to 60 in just 5.0 seconds. Two transmissions are offered, this being German and all, a 6-speed manual and an 8-speed automatic for fuel economy… obviously.

Interesting technologies in the mid-level BMW include the aforementioned iDrive system, adaptive cruise control which can maintain a constant speed based on other cars speed, lane departure warning system, head-up display, park distance control which displays a sort-of birds-eye view of the car, is visible on the Sat/Nav screen and blind spot protection lights an indicator in the outside mirrors to let you know you’re merging into traffic. As part of the continuing BMW Efficient Dynamics campaign the car’s battery gets recharged during braking using brake-regeneration without even a hybrid system.

In relation to handling, TheAutoChannel.com reports that, “what is most appealing about the 550i though is its road manners.” Allowing those superb road manners are an overall length gain of the body with a 3-inch longer wheelbase and slightly wider track but then it would be bigger since its based on its big brother. The 5-series comes in sevreal variants: a four-door sedan, wagon, Gran-turismo body-style and expect a sporty M5 to follow.

BMW E90, E92, E93 Supercharger Kit

When the E90/E92 series BMW M3 was released it never had an easy life. It was compared to everything on the road including the Bugatti Veyron, as it should, since the M3 is often considered the benchmark sports car whether it be in the entry level, hardcore sports, sedan or coupe segment categories. The fantastic motorsports derived 4.0L V8 found in the current M3 broke the mold with 414HP and almost 300LB/FT of torque. But for those of you M3 drivers who want more, wait no longer.

Vortech’s Stage 3 supercharger boosts your E90, E92, or E93 BMW up to 775HP after chipping with less than 7PSI of boost. Unlike most supercharger kits, this one comes fully involved with a high capacity intercooler, drive belt rollers, larger fuel injectors, a K&N air filter, hose clamps and other necessary hardware to complete the project. The Stage 3 kit is only compatible with the strength of the BMW manual transmission because of undocumented torque figures, however the Stage 2 kits and under are all DCT aware. This Stage 3 kit lists for $13,389 or best offer for the full enchilada or just $8,800 for the “starter” Stage 1 kit to boost the benchmark sports car.

BMW, Packard, Rolls-Royce, SAAB, and Spyker all have what in common? The Packard and Rolls-Royce clues should have given it away but if you haven’t guessed yet they all are car manufacturers who once worked in aviation. (Interestingly, Spyker recently publicized purchase of SAAB from GM maybe a signal to come back for Spyker and/or SAAB to their aeronautical roots?) Apart from some Spyker model names and various aesthetic pieces (mostly interior trim) nothing similar about Spyker planes and the C8 Laviolette LM85 we have today.

The wonderfully beautiful Spyker C8 Laviolette LM85 features Audi’s wonderfully sonourous 4.2L V8, found in various Audi’s but most notably in the 2008 Audi RS4, pressing out 400HP in Laviolette trim. But what sets the Laviolette apart from a “standard” Spyker C8 is the fixed roof and GT2 series inspired livery and there were only 24 built to honor the Spyker teams attempt at competing in the 24 hours of Le Mans in 2006 (the “85,” from LM85, was their car number).

Located in Houston, TX, today’ car is a #6 of those 24 cars with a claimed 3 miles on the odometer (wouldn’t that be something?). Apart from the Audi steering wheel, the bespoke interior has quilted leather and alcantara and brushed, billet, polished and turned aluminum and stainless throughout (part of the “Quilted Leather Package” and “Turned Aluminum Package” respectively). Bidding starts at $252,490 from expo_motorcars for this mint-condition piece of Spyker history.