1998 Bmw Z3 Roadster Convertible 2-door 2.8l on 2040-cars

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BMW broadens engine bolt recall to nearly half-million cars worldwide

Almost one month ago, we reported on a BMW investigation into a potentially defective bolt that lived in the company's VANOS variable valve timing system. At that point, the potential recall was seemingly limited to Chinese-market cars; the company was filing a recall application with Chinese officials.
Today, Bloomberg is reporting that the engine bolt issue has expanded into a recall for several world markets, involving some 489,000 vehicles. BMW was able to verify that report to Autoblog, while also providing a great deal more detail about the issue and vehicles affected.
The recall affects vehicles powered by N55 inline six-cylinder gasoline engines equipped with VANOS and Valvetronic technologies. 1 Series, 3 Series, 5 Series and 5 Series Gran Turismo, X3, X5, X6 and Z4 models from the 2010 to 2012 model years are included, as is the 2012 6 Series.

BMW X2 in the works?

BMW could bring yet another niche-busting product to the market in 2017 if a report form a forum is to be believed. According to the BMW X1 Forum of Bimmerpost, 2017 could see the debut of the BMW X2. Yes, X2.
Allegedly, this car will ride on the UKL platform, which is slated to underpin both the next-generation Mini Countryman and BMW X1. The X2, though, will play the role occupied by the X6 relative to the X5 - that means it'll be the same basic vehicle with a more sporting (i.e. less practical) roofline. The denizens of the forum claim the X2 will only be offered with xDrive all-wheel drive, and unlike the X6 and soon-to-arrive X4, it will be available in both three and five-door variants.
We reached out to BMW for comment, and got the typical "There's no plans as of right now" statement, although spokesman Dave Buchko did add that, "It's fun to speculate."

BMW X3 spied with nip and tuck nearly complete

With the style-driven BMW X4 coming along in development, it looks like some of the forthcoming crossover's design could trickle over to its utilitarian sibling, the X3. Captured in these spy shots, it appears that the 2015 BMW X3 is preparing for a minor facelift, and from what we can tell, the biggest change will center on the CUV's headlights.
There is plenty of camouflage on the front and rear fascias to suggest updates will occur there, too, but we can definitely tell that the X3 will be getting LED-equipped headlights - at least as an option, anyway. The halos are slightly different from the current offering and there is also an LED strip above the headlights used as turn signal indicators. Another interesting thing we notice in these pictures is the nub at the bottom of the grille (also visible in recent X4 spy shots). While this could be some sort of test sensor for this prototype, it could also be a front-mounted camera for a possible parking assist system.
We don't expect any changes to the powertrain and we're not sure what updates could be in store for the interior, but we're guessing that that the 2015 X3 will debut shortly after the X4 goes on sale next year.