X3 28i Certified Cpo Pano Roof Navigation Nav Bluetooth Audio Awd on 2040-cars

Auto blog

BMW factors big in Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation

Product placement is big business, especially for automakers and especially in blockbuster action film franchises involving spies and assassins. Just ask Aston Martin or Jaguar Land Rover about their involvement in the James Bond movies, or Audi about the role it plays in the Transporter series. But when it comes to Mission: Impossible, it's all about the Bimmers. BMW has been featuring prominently in the popular action franchise, putting its i8 hybrid sports car front and center in the last installment, Ghost Protocol. And it will grab the spotlight once again in the upcoming Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation. Watch this latest trailer just released by Paramount Pictures and you might be able to pick out the M3 driven by Tom Cruise, the X5 by Jeremy Renner and the S 1000 RR motorcycles ridden by a whole crew of bad guys. Wheels aside, it's our best look yet at the upcoming fifth installment in the popular movie franchise, so if you're a fan, you'll want to check it out as the movie's not set to be released until the end of July. High-speed, high-tech, high excitement 24.03.2015 Munich/Los Angeles. BMW confirmed today its role as exclusive worldwide automotive partner of the next installment of Paramount Pictures' legendary action film franchise, "Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation", in theaters from July 31. This is the second time BMW has "accepted the mission" to lend its superior technological support to the film's production crew, enabling it to deliver breathtaking automotive stunt scenes shot around the globe. BMW previously partnered with Paramount on the 2011 successful release of "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol". The film's official trailer, released worldwide yesterday, offers fans a first glimpse of the high-adrenaline action that only Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his Impossible Mission Force (IMF) team can deliver – including spectacular driving scenes where the new BMW M3 is put through its paces. Its renowned high-performance capabilities made the fifth generation M3 sports car the perfect choice to perform precision driving sequences, the likes of which have never been seen before. The M division's philosophy and dynamic design leaves no doubt about the M3's motorsport genes while the BMW Motorrad S 1000 RR, which is also seen in the film trailer released yesterday, represents the ultimate performance on two wheels.

BMW's Connected Drive feature vulnerable to hackers

BMW is working to fix a cyber-security flaw that has left 2.2 million vehicles worldwide vulnerable to hackers. Cars equipped with the automaker's Connected Drive remote-services system are affected, according to the German Automobile Association (ADAC), which first discovered the problem. Researchers found they could lock and unlock car doors by mimicking mobile communications and sending phony signals to a SIM card installed in affected vehicles. An attack could be launched "within minutes" of accessing the system without the perpetrators leaving a trace, according to their report, in part because once they had gained access to the network, the communications were not secure. In response to the security gap, BMW says it has been upgrading software via over-the-air updates over the past week, so no visits to dealerships are needed to remedy the security hole. In fact, owners of affected cars may not have even noticed the updates taking place. The problem affects BMW, Rolls-Royce and MINI vehicles equipped with Connected Drive since 2010. Flaws were first reported to BMW last year by ADAC, which is the country's equivalent of AAA. ADAC says it withheld a public announcement until the car company could address the problem. While BMW has pushed the software patch to most affected vehicles, the organization said it's possible some at cars in the United States had not yet been updated. BMW did not respond to a request for comment Monday. In a written statement, the automaker said it knows of no real-world breaches. 2015 Off To Dubious Start The hack could raise the eyebrows of industry leaders: Cars are now the equivalent of mobile computers and cyber-security experts have been warning that the auto industry has been slow to close its security holes. BMW's breach marks the second time in 2015 that researchers have found a popular automotive feature with little or no security precautions. Last month, experts said a popular device made by Progressive Insurance that allows motorists to track their driving habits contained no security whatsoever. Like the Connected Drive smart-phone app, many automotive components and infotainment features were conceived and produced at a time when industry executives never considered the possibility someone might want to hack into them. But increased connectivity brings increased risk. Going forward, BMW says its Connected Drive features will now operate by using encrypted communications via the HTTPS protocol.

2013 Dinan S3 BMW 550i

Steve Dinan has been enhancing BMW models since 1979. But don't throw his company into the ring with the dozen or so other tuners who tweak, tinker and piggyback upgrades on the famed German marque. Dinan is a tuner, but it's also an engineering firm that writes its own software, builds its own parts and then backs everything it does with a factory-grade warranty. That sort of fastidiousness comes at a price, but most of its customers - including the powerhouse of BMW Motorsport - rely on Dinan to help them come out on top.
In stock form, BMW's 550i is a formidable four-door with a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 rated at 400 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. While those figures allow it to run with quick company (0-60 in 5.0 seconds, according to the automaker), Dinan puts the sedan's kettle on full boil with its S3 package. Starting with the engine, the performance engineering firm bolts on larger turbochargers, air-to-water intercoolers, a trick strut tower brace cold air intake, a quad-pipe free flow exhaust and its own engine management software. Pump in some premium fuel, and the result is 542 horsepower and 587 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent through the stock eight-speed automatic to a limited slip rear differential (Dinan will upgrade xDrive all-wheel drive models, too).
The Dinan S3 also features and extensive suspension upgrade that includes new front camber arms and low compliance rear control arms (engineered to reduce understeer and improve turn-in). The stock dampers are retained, but new bump stops are installed along with new springs. Overall, the car rides about a half-inch lower than stock to improve roll rate. To reduce unsprung weight, forged 20-inch HRE Performance wheels are fitted at all four corners (wearing Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires - 275/35ZR20 up front and 295/35ZR20 in the rear). Lastly, the company remaps the factory Electronic Damper Control (EDC) software with its own Dinan Shockware to work in conjunction with the new enhancements.