Before you replace the serpentine belt on your BMW, it’s imperative that you have a diagram to follow, as the belt must be threaded correctly for it to run properly. It’s also very important to ensure you have the right diagram for your type of motor, as threading the belt according to the diagram which is wrong could result in problems. The important thing to keep in mind when replacing the serpentine belt is that the pulleys are either grooved or smooth, and this tells you which side of the pulley the belt rides on, giving you some clue as to how the belt is threaded on the various pulleys.

The 535i xDrive offers an extremely high set of luxury features without sacrificing great performance and utility in the same package. This 5 Series wagon is priced at around $55,000 for the basic package, but its received rave reviews from car magazines and owners alike.

The wagon counterpart is only offered in all-wheel drive xDrive, but if you’re interested in the sedan of the same model, it can be had in the 528i, 535i, or the 550i configuration. The thing that sets the 535i apart from the others is the way it drives and handles. Of course, one look under the hood and you’ll know why. The 535i has a twin-turbo 6-cylinder motor with 300 hp ready to get you where you need to go. Aside from this, its a six speed automatic which has a manual setting as well.

 

The 535i also features Active Steering, which helps reduce how sharply you have to turn the wheel during low speed driving and turning, such as driving through a parking lot. While this feature is also included in the X3, you’ll notice it even at higher speeds, as the steering offered by the 535i is incredibly natural and you’ll wonder if you’re not behind the wheel of a sports car.

On the outside, the 535i is the largest sedan available in the 5 Series, nearly rivaling its 7 Series counterparts. The wagon model adds even more bulk and it resembles traditional wagons of the past. However, BMW’s sleek design is present in the 535i and one look at it will let you know exactly what model of car you’re driving.

BMW has always done right with the interior of their cars, and the 535i is no exception. Everything in the car is leather trimmed with polished wooden accents. The arm rests are nice and padded and driver contour seating is offered in certain packages. The steering wheel of the 535i comes with a heated option, meaning you won’t need gloves on a chilly winter morning drive.

Backseat passengers will have plenty of head and leg room to stretch out, as the 535i accommodates three passengers easily and comfortably, with controls for air and heat, as well as beverages within easy reach. They’ll also be able to enjoy the panoramic moon roof with a great view.

 

All in all, the 535i is an excellent choice for someone who is looking for a luxury sports sedan or wagon with the ability to get up and go when needed while still being able to maintain a car full of passengers or cargo. There are also several feature packages available, including the Value, Premium, Sport, and M Sport package, all priced according to the features they offer with prices going up in range.

The BMW R1100RS has great second generation ABS brakes as well as a fuel injection system rivaling what you’ll find on any competitors bike. The RS has 90 horsepower available which complements BMWs famous smooth ride and reliability. In fact, the RS shares the same frameless construction which is found in the R100R series of bikes. This means the engine is tuned for top end power, with a 1080cc engine which offers great front and rear suspension as well as a Telelever wishbone.

The most notable fact about the RS is the non-adjustable front suspension, which makes it feel more squishy than any normal sport bike, though most BMW fans will note that the R1100RS can’t be classified solely as a sports bike. Instead of being just a sport bike, The RS can go for a leisure ride down backgrounds and highways a like. The RS isn’t built for taking corners as fast as you can, but rather enjoying the ride.

 

The BMS R1100RS comes equipped with Bridgestone Battlax BT50 tires which give great grip on the road, but road tests showed they only lasted a mere 2,500 miles on the bike. Nevertheless, the RS is good for a great ride, despite lacking in sport bike transmission and suspension.

Overall, the BMS R1100RS is a great bike for anyone looking to make the crossover from cruiser to sport bike, as it offers many great features of both. However, for those who are looking for straight up performance and speed, it might be best to look elsewhere.

BMW hasn’t skimped on the amenities with the K1200LT, as there’s an electro-hydraulic center stand, as well as tailored seating which can be heated if the rider desires. In addition to these great features, the BMW K1200LT also features a flat-screen display with a 6 disc CD changer. In addition, owners have the option to get a bike which has illumination underneath for greater showability, and a better measure of safety while mounting and dismounting in the dark. In addition to this, the BMW K1200LT also features adjustable footrests for the passenger, cruise control, and even bright a bright Xenon headlamp for great night rides.

 

The engine of the BMW K1200LT purrs just like a standard BMW car motor, with its powerful water-cooled four-stroke engine which puts out nearly 116 horsepower and 86 lbs of torque. The BMW K1200LT requires premium fuel to get up and go, and has twin floating disc breaks to make those extra hard stops when you need them. The stability of the bike is ensured with the BMW Motorrad ABS breaking system, which helps keep rider and bike safe in full quick stops.

The BMW K1200LT gas tank will hold up to 6 gallons of fuel with one gallon in reserve, which is larger than most touring bikes offered on the market today. All of these features make the BMW K1200LT a great touring bike. The cost of the bike is around $22,000 and while its not cheap, it is luxurious, which is what most BMW bike owners look for.

The best way to compare the two companies is looking at the cars they offer in the same price range. A traditional fully equipped BMW or Mercedes sedan will set a bank account back by around $60-80,000, depending on the features included. Looking at two unique cars in the same class, the BMW 745Li and the Mercedes S340, its shown that the BMW is $5,000 cheaper and offers 50 more horsepower than the Mercedes, for a lower price. In this argument, its clear that BMW is the winner. They offer more horsepower and performance for a lower price.

However, moving out of the sedan market and into the convertible market, buyers have a choice between the BMW M3 and the Mercedes 645Ci. Both cars are prices similarly and have similar features, though the Mercedes blows the BMW out of water in the performance category with a jaw-dropping 604 horsepower engine. While it’s true this Mercedes is priced a few thousand dollars above the BMW, the sheer amount of horsepower and torque gained for a mere $3,000 puts the ball clearly in Mercedes’ court.

So has the question been answered? BMW clearly won out in the sedan category, but Mercedes is the clear-cut winner in the drop top convertible category. Just as with any argument over deciding which product is best, it’s always wise to shop around on the market and look at similar items, so you always know what you’re getting. Because Mercedes and BMW have been going head to head for years on their car models, the consumer often benefits with lower prices from one manufacturer to the other.

Of course, personal preference always plays a part here, as there are some people who simply enjoy being BMW or Mercedes owners on principal, as they have brand loyalty and would not seek to change it. Despite brand loyalty, BMW and Mercedes offer a wide variety of features for consumers no matter what they’re looking for, so there really is no clear cut winner. Shopping around and making informed decisions as to which type of car is best for your needs is always the best decision, despite what the media and the car manufacturers themselves would have you believe.

Because BMW and Mercedes offer similar products at similar prices, looking at the specs of a car and comparing them to others in its class should always be the main priority in choosing whether or not it will suit a person’s needs.

This is somewhat surprising, as Japanese car manufacturers traditionally win most all reliability surveys. However, BMW topped the charts in both car series and manufacturer. The BMW 3 series was judged to be most reliable, but the BMW 1 Series also found its way onto the list, peaking at number 7, just below the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

This particular survey was compiled entirely by Fleet News and aimed to take a look at all car manufacturers on the market today, assessing over 881,000 cars in order to determine reliability factors based on customer perception and the number of breakdowns per 100 of each model which was tested. Once these numbers were determined, points were awarded according to the different brands and models. With these points distributed, The BMW 3 Series came out on top, beating out Honda and and Toyota by a wide margin, who were last year’s winners of the reliability survey.

The results of this survey may come as little surprise to current BMW owners, as the manufacturer was recently awarded the ‘Car Manufacturer of the Year’ award for its superb engineering and modern day adherence to green and energy saving techniques. For prospective customers of BMW, this information should provide ease of mind, as BMW has not only one series, but two series on the list, and was the only car manufacturer in its class to achieve this distinction.

BMW has long been known for providing superb support and warranties for their cars, but this survey focused not on the support a car manufacturer offered, but the frequency of break downs in which this support was required. With BMW beating out both Honda and Toyota this year, it is likely these manufacturers will re-think their construction strategies in order to appeal to the masses who demand high performance vehicles which look and perform well, while being just as reliable as a standard car.

A similar survey is being conducted in the United States in order to determine reliability there, but if these results are conducive of anything, its that BMW will beat out most American car manufacturers as well. Its expected the American survey results will find BMW and Mercedes on the list as well, but whether American car manufactures like GMC and Chrysler will make their way onto the list remains to be seen, especially with the economic crisis which these companies find themselves in.

BMW has been making cars for nearly 75 years now and has gained a name of reliability and trust from both their customers and the media alike. The results of this poll are not surprising, and its expected that BMW will likely top the charts with their 2010 models as well.

Chip Tuning

Tuning a BMW in order to obtain optimal speed involves swapping the ECU (Electronic Control Unit) chip, or adding a super charger to the current engine. The most cost effective of the two is swapping the ECU chip. BMW equips all of their cars with an ECU chip which contains factory settings loaded onto it. This little chip controls things like the air to fuel ratio and RPM limitations. These chips are designed to improve gas mileage, but they do so at the cost of performance. Providing a BMW with a new ECU chip means the standard factory settings are erased, giving the car a gain in horsepower, as well as overall performance. It should be noted that this gain comes at a loss of fuel efficiency and on the rare occasion, emission standards.

Components

While tuning the engine can lead to maximum performance, there are other ways to increase horsepower and performance. Mufflers and transmission adjustments can give a gain in horsepower, while increasing vehicle performance. There are many different components available for BMW on the market, including components for some of BMW’s most popular models, such as the M3, M5, and the M6.

Tires

Tuning the wheels and tires is a must for any driver and to achieve the highest driving performance, its important to make sure the car has high quality, thick rubber tires in order to increase performance and safety. Since tires are the only contact the car has with the road, making sure they’re of high quality can mean the difference between maintaining control in a tight spot, or losing control and causing an accident.

For speed enthusiasts, installing a BMW will light weight rims can mean a lighter vehicle, but also great styling of your choice. Many people choose to install new rims on their car as a personal reflection of their style, but lighter weight aluminum rims could mean the difference in speed tests, as well.

Body Modifications

Decreasing your car’s resistance to air can mean a speed increase for your vehicle, but it can also work to save fuel and increase overall performance. Many good body kits include a spoiler, hoods, and side skirts in order to help your vehicle achieve maximum speed. While these modifications are extremely functional, many people opt for them simply to make the car look better.

Suspension Modifications

Modifying the stock suspension in a BMW means obtaining complete control over the vehicle even at top speeds. By replacing the car’s struts, shocks, and damper kits with specially modified replacement parts, the cars response time and steering will be top-notch, even at high speeds.

Supercharger Kits

For the ultimate in performance, its recommended that any BMW enthusiast who wants to tune their own car, install a supercharger. A supercharger is not a beginners project, as it involves a lot of work. However, the results from installing one of these devices is simply amazing. A car can gain anywhere from 100 to 400 horsepower from an install. Superchargers work by forcing lots of oxygen into the combustion chamber of the engine. Because the fuel has more gas to react in the burning process, you achieve greater speed. This does come at the cost of lower fuel economy and a severely reduced emissions output.

While the Z8 may bring back memories of the retro 507, the engine is the same used by the third-generation M5 sedan, giving it plenty of power under the good. Overall, the Z8 was designed to be a flagship car which would attract attention to BMW and its line of vehicles. It was produced for only four years and the annual production rate was around 1,200 cars. Due to this unnaturally low number, owning a Z8 is considered a top luxury which many BMW collectors would pay upwards of a half a million dollars to add to their collection.

The most recent Z8 model was produced in 2003. It was sleek and stylish and didn’t give up on superior performance, while providing a great ride. The all-aluminum chassis was light enough to provide a great road feel, even while driving hard. It is perhaps the best feature of the Z8, and many Z8 owners have praised the light body for offering a superior feel of the road while stretching the limits of the Z8.

The Z8 sports a 4.9-liter V8 capable of producing 394 horsepower at top speeds. The power is fed through the rear wills in a standard six-speed transmission, although the Z8 based BMW Alpina model featured an automatic transmission. Given the test of time the Z8 averaged 0 to 60mph in just 4 seconds. The variable valve timing system which was included on the car allowed it to perform supremely well both in-town and on the track, while not losing an ounce of performance in either situation.

The BMW Z8 was very forgiving to even beginning drivers, thanks to BMW’s Dynamic Stability Control system. This system combined anti-lock brakes, traction control, and a cornering stabilization feature to rein in drivers and prevent collisions and accidents in common road conditions.

The Z8 interior was extremely supple and rich, and in a nod to the retro 507, BMW moved the speedometer and other gauges to the center of the dash. This was coupled with a retro-styled steering wheel with a leather-wrapped rim and metal-rodded spokes in order to evoke the classic sports car feeling. The entire car is decked out in supple leather, including the dash, center console, and even the door skins and rollover bars. Perhaps the final touch which put the Z8 above just the standard luxury sports car is the push button start. With the key in the ignition, a single press of a button causes the car to roar to life.

Eventually, the M8 protect was scrapped because BMW believed there would be no market for the car. Ferrari’s foothold on luxury sports cars was all encompassing, with Lamborghini shortly behind. With BMW still competing with Mercedes for the supreme title of best luxury sedan, the M8 was scrapped, as BMW decided they didn’t want to play on two different playing fields.

The only prototype of the car that was ever produced was reported to be not even road safe, and it was eventually locked away in the company’s Giftschrank, or poison storage. However, many people believe the car was destroyed, as it wasn’t safe to drive, and since the car would not go into production, there was no need in making it safe to drive.

Though BMW never produced the M8, it should be noted that the BMS 850CSi was tuned by the same division which worked on the M8 and the car’s VIN number helps to identity this. Instead of being given the BMW AG prefix, the car was given BMW Motorsport. This classification essentially means the 850CSi is a detuned M8, even if the engine similarities are quite different.

The M8 was never driven beyond a few shows in order to gauge reception to the idea, and because reception was lukewarm at best, BMW decided it was best to scrap the entire project. Resources that were to be put toward building the scrapped M8 were eventually put forward in BMW’s other lines, which is likely why the 850CSi received so much work from the M8 team.

The BMW M8 is the only known car from BMW to be produced as a fully working prototype and not be sent into production. With this status, it leaves many car buffs wondering about the capabilities of the failed car, as the company has never officially stated that the prototype was destroyed. If it is still in storage, the car could be worth millions, as BMW enthusiasts around the world would love to have it in their collection of cars. If the car has been destroyed, BMW’s attempt at entering the luxury sports car market to rival Ferrari met a quiet end.

Perhaps the greatest thing found in the 530i series is the sound system. With an integrated iPod adapter, you can take your tunes with you to listen on the included Logic7 sound system, which offers booming surround sound you might expect to find in a home theather system. In addition to the absolutely wonderful sound system, the car’s climate control system has dedicated knobs which are clearly marked and easy to read. With control options for both driver and passengers, the 530i offers the best in comfort both in seating and climate control.

 

Under the hood, the BMW 530i houses a powerful 24 valve DOHC 3.0 liter six-cylinder engine, which pulls like nothing else. The immediate delivery of power should be praised, since many of the competition’s cars cannot deliver this amount of power. In fact, the car operated so smoothly, fifth and six gears are almost forgotten about on the freeway, since the smooth running engine does nothing to remind you to shift. The interesting thing here is that the BMW 530i actually shares the basic components of an engine with the BMW 330i. However, the 530i is 22 pounds heavier than the 330i and sports a manual gear box. While this seems like a small design change in the 530i versus the 330i, it should be noted that the 530i is substantially larger than the 330i.

Because performance is considered to be just as important to the safety of the car as it is to the appeal, the 530i’s braking performance is like no other, in that it has a dynamic stability control system. This system works by sensing brake fade according to pressure, which means the driver never has to alter pressure on the break system in order to obtain an even braking performance. This system also lets you know when to lift from the gas pedal and it can actively anticipate a panic stop, which can help drivers make those sharp stops when they are needed most. Perhaps the most welcome feature to this whole design is the Brake Force Display brake lights. It’s simply a set of lights on the back of the car which activate to let the driver behind know that a hard stop is coming.

In addition to these new braking features, the 530i features xenon headlights which steer with you to follow the curve of the driver’s steering wheel for extra assistance in seeing around sharp curves on the road. In the way of guidance while on the road, the 530i also comes with BMW Assist, which works just like OnStar in American vehicles. This service will connect the driver to a BMW service center which can help in emergencies and can also provide driving directions for cars which are not equipped with a standard navigation system. All of this is wrapped up with a 4 year/50,000 mile warranty which includes BMW’s award-winning maintenance program.