Half masked 1///M video

This is a video from YouTube showing a half masked upcoming 1 series M. Yum. Quad exhaust!!



more from video captures




























Still have not seen the spec yet!

Posted by Taka via the trusted iPad.

Decided on the 1///M

Here are some of the video of the BMW 1///M. It is a slightly bigger and wider car with more power. It is likely to have:

BMW official video:

1 addicts spying video @ Nurburgring:

• 260kW.
• DCT as per the 135i now.
• LSD.
• 245 19" front tyre and
• Probably a 265 19" rear tyre

I hope most of the options are standard.

Rumour the price to be $120K in Australia. But some report say it is just north of $100K. Hope the report is right :)

一仔 has a new sound

BMW performance exhaust has been installed for a week now. Here are my thoughts:

In pure sound terms, it has better lower rev rumbling that the stock exhaust lacks. Stock exhaust has a silencer which makes street driving not as satisfying. It feels like there is something restricting the air flow at low speed. It feels like the 1er has asthma. :D.

The performance exhaust sounds the best when it is low speed, cold and is close to wide open throttle. In cruising, there is a low tone rumble and may annoy someone. I used to own a stock Honda Integra DC2 Type R. The Honda does 4000rpm @ 110kph on 5th gear. That is way more annoying I tell you.

How should I describe the noise. Let see the video below. It is hard to pick it up with the video camera and I had to enhance the recording to reflect as best and as truthful as I can.

I would describe it as a very dry low tone noise. “Dry” as if you have a very sore throat without any mucus on your throat. Sorry for the medical analogy here but at least this is more familiar with me.

The only disappointing thing is when the car is FOT in high rev, the new exhaust is not that much different from stocky. However, after 100km. It opens up one time today when I press hard at low rev, the pop comes in when changing gear.

It is certainly a different exhaust. I never have a tubro car before so the character is totally different from an NA car. You see NA car exhaust will make enormous sounds in high rev, making you wanting to rev the car more. Tubro exhaust like this one is totally opposite, wanting you to press on low rev and low speed – so I want to make someone heard when I pass you on the street!!!

Alpine BMW speaker unit fitted

Ah this is my Xmas present to the 1er. It is an upgrade of the front speakers with amplifier

 

Brochure reads

A class-leading two-year BMW warranty adds further appeal
to this premium accessory.
– Designed by Alpine Electronics specifically for the BMW 1 Series
and BMW 3 Series.
– No need to visit a specialist car audio store to enhance your
audio system.
– Seamless integration with the vehicle’s electrical system.
– Original speaker position in the doors remains, preserving
the look of the interior.
– High-range/mid-range speakers with aluminum membrane.
– Powerful Alpine Class D technology amplifier 4 x 80 Watt RMS
with a harmonic distortion of just 0.5%.
– Loudspeaker grille with Alpine logo.
– Amplifier located neatly and safely under boot floor.

Alpine Hi-Fi System kit contains:
– Amplifier.
– Two high-range speakers.
– Two mid-range speakers.
– Two frequency gates.
– Cable harness including small parts.
– Two Alpine logo badges.

Oops I did it again

It wasn't done parking at all It was done when I was driving hard and turn in too quick.

I got it repaired today at Wheel Solution today. The owner is an important teacher in my life. Most of the racing skill I know is from this man, Matt Coleman... the ex Porsche Carrera cup champ. He is now good at driving a sander and spray gun.

He does it much proper way. He takes the wheel off, strip the tyres, sand and respray the whole wheel. Cost is the same as the mobile service.
Highly recommended.

Bye Bye 325… hello back TAKA-1

After about 2 weeks,  the parts arrived by air from Germany. However, after changing over the headlight parts. They found the headlight module also faulty and has to be replaced. That is a sealed box that has to be changed as a whole. The parts is located in the head office in Sydney. After another half a week, they have sorted by car. They also washed by car to test out the new headlight. :). They said every thing is fine. So fine…

Now make me think a little – the car has a headlight warning signal before but it also dies before the car went to BMW.

On the same token, I had to return the 325i I borrowed. My thought of the car is that it is very comfortable. Handle well. But 2.5L engine drinks a lot (13L/100km), and it goes only moderately well.

The update iDrive is a must for all the BMW ... although it took me a few days to fully know all the functions, but once it is all sorted and explored, it work better than most units out there. The navigation of the route is easy to understand and speak well. It also has lane directions. The only draw back is the navigation menu is difficult to access fast, even if you know where to go.

I manage to do 8.1 sec from 0-100kmh. I thought the car was quicker.

Guess what… I have a “new” car to bring home

Well I got a call from the BMW Melbourne that my car is not going to be ready in one day. Well they do not have the part (the adaptive headlights) from Australia. Show one has to be ordered from Germany or hopefully get one from Asia. So for safety, BMW Melbourne gave me a loaner. I treaded a key of a small diesel car will come to be. But instead, they gave me a brand new 17km on the clock 325i sedan, which is fully optioned up. It has sat nav, comfort entry, premium sound system, sunroof and stuff. Very cool.

Only the colour is quite mid life crisis-ish :(. And BIEGE :O leather.

It does not do 8L/100km. Try 24L/100km if you stuck in traffic from Southbank to Heidelberg.

 

Wood grain makes me look old… But I quite like the sat nav and the new iDrive, particularly it has a TV. But the language setting is only English, French and Portuguese. Hmmm. Not Chinese for these few weeks.

 

More pics and performance data later. :)

Headlamp failure!

Frustration cannot sum up my feelings. It is a well known problem in the other makes that headlights can have water vapour getting inside the case. This is happening to a top of the range BMW. It is not even common in the RX-8. When I heard about it in the 8, it is normally due to the seal not being tight around the edges and when you spray water to say… clean the car. Water will get it and block the lens.

To top that… the xenon light die on me the next day. I have called BMW Melbourne which offer me a spot on the same day for repair. Unfortunately the work is tight on Mondays and I will have to go tomorrow. Here are some shots of the mist before it goes away tomorrow. They have asked for my rego, hence the VIN number and I guess they will just change over the parts.

Oh I replaced the RDash LED before tomorrow. It only took me 1/2 for 2 lights. I somehow wonder the workmanships of some of the so called professionals.

Wheel repair… OU>>CH!

I have hit a kerb!
The damage is heart breaking. I was made aware of people doing mobile alloy repair in Sydney by lovely people here in 1addicts.... so after crawling the web I have found the following website called www.thesmartguys.com.au. Their number is 1300 WHOOPS haha... I was going to repair it at Morrabin but I also have a dent from I dunno when. So it is more convenient for me. Wheel cost $150 to repair and dent is $100.
I was not intending to replace the wheel but I called BMW to get a quote.... $1025 each back wheel!
Before

After

Before

After

This is how they fixed my wheels. Firstly they smooth it out with an orbital tool. Then put some fillers in. Then cover all the parts (brake disc, caliper, body, logo on the wheel etc). Then 2 coats of paint (undercoat and cover).

Sun tan treatment :)

Racing Dash LED light installed

I went to a local BMW “cosmetic” shop today call Carware @ Keysborough for this kit. As I told many others, from my reading the RDash does not give the brightest light but it is white. Really white that it is whiter than the D1S Xenon. Since I hate the yellow ring so much, I am prepare to sacrifice the brightness for some whiteness. If you want brightness, go for GT Thunder or MTEC bulbs.

This is the ballast and the bulb, the bulb will spray open when it lights up. I guess if it does not return back, it will get damage when I remove it. So when you install it, make sure you are surely secure and fitted properly before lighting it up. Otherwise you may not be able to fit it in!
 

Taken from Carware, this is the before and after photos. See how white it is but it is not as eye catching in day light. Even with Xenon on at the left. It is still brighter.

This is the photo of one light being installed (on the right)
 
You can still see the reflection from the door of the ring.
 
Colour matching the Xenon very nice though.