2013 Bmw M5 4dr Sdn on 2040-cars

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BMW recalling 1 Series ActiveE over bad drivetrain housing

There are always growing pains when automakers introduce new technologies. BMW is learning this with the electric powetrain used on the 2011 BMW ActiveE. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about half of the all-electric 1 Series coupes currently in the hands of the public are being recalled for a potential problem that could leave the cars stranded.
With 700 ActiveE models running around the US, 360 of these cars have insufficient sealing between the electric motor and transmission, which could lead to premature wear to the connection between the two, which in turn could result in a loss of propulsion. BMW started notifying affected owners by phone earlier this month.
While no automaker wants a recall on its hands, it's much better for BMW to learn such a lesson now on the low-production, lease-only ActiveE ahead of the car's successor, the BMW i3, which is expected to be a much higher-volume EV. Scroll down for the official recall notification.

Tailor-made BMW motorcycles presented by Petrolicious

Italy is known as a world hub of great design, whether from finally crafted suits and shoes or screaming V8s from Ferrari. In its latest video, Petrolicious transitions to two wheels to focus on a man bringing the country's sophisticated style to some quintessentially German cycles. Calling Franco Augello a motorcycle customizer is almost a slander against his work. Instead of wild paint, heavily modified frames and serious engine upgrades, Augello's creations look more like high-end models from the original factory. His bespoke BMW R65 for a close friend is a perfect example of that craftsmanship. At first glance, the bike, which he calls the Inge 09 for his buddy's nickname, looks like a vintage BMW, albeit one in great shape. Looking closer, you can start picking out little details like the minimalist touches around the fuel filler and leather-wrapped grips. There's nothing flashy about Augello's bikes. Instead, his designs look like well-restored cycles that are more concerned with tiny improvements in some places rather than absolute authenticity. They offer all of the beauty of a Ermenegildo Zegna tailored suit with the ability to fire up the engine and take a ride.

The 2016 BMW M4 GTS sounds so good

Critics and those hopelessly in love with the limited-edition, juiced-up 2016 BMW M4 GTS will both concede that water injection isn't a new technology, but it has also never been used on a production car with an intercooler before. It's traditionally been the realm of highly-tuned supercharged piston aircraft engines and some jets, although some pre-intercooler cars used the system as well. All that history sets the scene, but the M4 GTS steals it. Carfection takes a close, loving look at all the little details that set this BMW and its novel water-injection system apart from a typical M4, which it should be noted is no slouch at all. While it's DCT-only, it puts out 493 hp (a full 68 hp more than a normal M4). The example Carfection examines is painted in the available Frozen Dark Grey, with lovely 19- and 20-inch snowflake-style alloys set off in a color known as Acid Orange. Don't miss the startup and revving. The M4 GTS breathes through a titanium exhaust system, and it sounds monumental. As we mentioned in the reveal piece, this is a very limited-production vehicle. 700 will be built, and only 300 will make it to the States – and only 30 in the UK, where Carfection is based. Enjoy the video above.