Category Archives: BMW

NHTSA looks into Mini Cooper power steering

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Posted in BMW

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced that it is expanding the investigation into used Mini Coopers, revealing that problems with the cars' power steering may extend to some 60,000 vehicles.

Mini Coopers from 2004 and 2005 are expected to be included in the probe, which was first launched in September of 2010. The organization was spurred to action after receiving more than 300 complaints about the loss of power steering on the cars, making them extremely difficult to control. BMW says it has received less than 200 complaints, although there have been 4,500 claims for power steering related issues on warranties.

According to the automaker, five accidents and three fires have been attributed to issues with the power steering, fortunately resulting in no serious injuries. The complaints aren't completely consistent – some say that the issue is permanent, while others say the loss is only temporary.

The models in question are currently undergoing engineering analysis by the NHTSA, which will determine if a full recall is necessary.

Drivers interested in purchasing a used vehicle should check the latest safety news to ensure that the model they are considering isn't involved in any serious recalls. Once they've decided on a car, New Jersey State Auto Auction can offer affordable prices and finance options.

Lexus falls to third in luxury sales ranks

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Posted in Auto Industry News, BMW, Mercedes-Benz

Lexus has been at the top of the luxury sales chart in the U.S. for the past decade, but it looks like its reign has come to an end: BMW and Mercedes-Benz have officially passed the automaker on the sales charts.

The Japanese brand's fall from grace isn't a complete shock – analysts have been expecting this ever since BMW and Mercedes began to outsell the brand toward the end of last year. Yet it does serve to show just how much the luxury market has changed over the past few years, as high-end buyers begin to favor performance over reliability.

It doesn't help that Lexus has been hurt by the recent Japanese earthquake. The luxury brand's parent company, Toyota, makes many of its models overseas in the U.S. Yet all but one of Lexus' vehicles are made in Japan, creating a supply chain nightmare for the brand.

Still, BMW and Mercedes outsold Lexus long before the earthquake started. The fact that Lexus has fallen not one but two spots is all the more embarrassing. BMW is at the top, but it's by no means a dominant lead – it only holds a few hundred cars over Mercedes, which is several thousand ahead of Lexus.

Drivers in the market for any of these cars should check out New Jersey State Auto Auction. Luxury vehicles can cost a pretty penny new, but they frequently drop off in price when drivers decide to buy used.
 

BMW, Mercedes, may surpass Lexus in sales

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Posted in Auto Industry News, BMW, Mercedes-Benz

Lexus has been the king of the luxury sales charts in the U.S. for the past five years, but it appears that 2011 could see a new leader when all is said and done.

Toyota's luxury brand seemed invincible at one point, but last year's recall scandal hurt the brand's image in the eyes of many consumers. It still wasn't enough to topple Lexus completely, but it did allow Mercedes-Benz and BMW to make a late charge at the end of the year.

That trend continued into 2011, and both of the German automakers have outsold Lexus thus far this year. What may seal Lexus' fate, however, is a circumstance entirely out of Toyota's control – the Japanese earthquake. Mercedes and BMW have been largely unaffected by the disaster, but Lexus has already told dealers to begin preparing for severe shortages over the next few months.

Essentially, this means that even if Lexus was selling well at the moment, it might not have enough supply to keep up with its German counterparts. These signs point to either BMW or Mercedes – or possibly both – surpassing Lexus before the year is done.

Drivers interested in a used BMW, Mercedes or Lexus may want to consider New Jersey State Auto Auction. These luxury vehicles can be a bit on the expensive side, but shopping the used car market can help drivers score a great deal. 

BMW pairs 650i coupe and convertible

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Posted in BMW

BMW has revealed that its new 650i convertible will soon be followed by a hardtop version later this year.

The 650i convertible has already been unveiled, but those who don't like the feel of the wind in their hair (or the premium that they have to pay for the privilege) were likely disappointed that there was no mention of a hardtop option. Now, the German automaker has announced that the 650i coupe will be hitting showrooms this fall. The convertible model is slated for a late spring release, just in time for drivers to take full advantage of the car's strengths during the summer.

Both versions of the 650i will be using BMW's twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8, a monster of an engine that produces 400 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque. That kind of power means the cars can go from zero to 60 in less than 5 seconds – a time when drivers may appreciate the shelter of the coupe edition as opposed to the whipping wind felt in the convertible.

No official price point has been unveiled, but MotorTrend puts the ballpark figure at around $90,000. Those interested in the vehicle might want to wait for a price drop when the vehicle hits the used car market. 

Cadillac surprises, but BMW still on top in February

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Posted in Auto Industry News, BMW

BMW had the best month among luxury automakers in terms of pure sales figures, but the real surprise was Cadillac, which was able to leapfrog both Lexus and Mercedes-Benz for the second-highest total in February.

Cadillac sold nearly 16,000 cars in February as its sales rose 70 percent from February 2010. BMW was still able to outsell the brand buy about 700 cars, with an 8.7 year-on-year increase. Mercedes came in third for the month with a 4 percent increase, while Lexus' sales remained even and kept it in fourth.

Although the massive sales spike was certainly welcome news for the Detroit automaker, analysts are hesitating before jumping on the General Motors bandwagon.

"GM offered aggressive incentives to employees and friends in February," Jesse Toprak of TrueCar told Bloomberg. "That helped GM and clearly helped Cadillac." Cadillac's incentives in February averaged out to nearly $5,000 per vehicle.

Drivers interested in a luxury car or any other vehicle may want to visit New Jersey State Auto Auction. High-end vehicles are typically pricey when bought new, so browsing through a wide range of used cars for sale can help buyers find the perfect car at a more affordable price.

“BMW i” to launch in 2013

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Posted in Auto Industry News, BMW

Luxury automaker BMW has announced that it will be launching a new sub-brand, BMW i, in order to market its upcoming slate of electric and hybrid vehicles.

Unlike other BMW-owned brands like Mini Cooper and Rolls Royce, BMW i will fully acknowledge the BMW name in advertising and marketing. However, BMW executive Ian Robertson says that the new venture will be "an independent brand, but committed to the BMW brand promise of joy through pure driving pleasure."

Initially, BMW i will feature two models, set to be launched in 2013. The i3 is a four-seat battery-powered car aimed at city dwellers. It seems as if nearly every manufacturer with a toe in eco-friendly technology is introducing some variant of these subcompacts, much in the style of the Chevrolet Volt or Nissan Leaf.

However, the new i8 promises to be something that hasn't been seen yet. This hybrid sports car will reportedly be able to go from zero to 60 in just five seconds, while still offering drivers all the fuel efficiency that comes with most subcompact vehicles. The company plans to add additional models over the next decade.

Those interested in a BMW, hybrid or any other vehicle may want to head to New Jersey State Auto Auction, which features a wide variety of new and used cars for sale. 

What are the most considered luxury brands?

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Posted in BMW, General Auto News

Every quarter, Kelley Blue Book, the company behind the popular used car pricing guide, surveys thousands of shoppers in the market for a new vehicle about what brands they are considering. This "most considered" list is used as a barometer for determining which brands are first and foremost in shoppers' minds.

This type of information is especially important in the luxury segment, which has heated up as of late as three brands – BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus – all compete to be the brand with the most sales for 2010 in North America. The results were largely in line with recent sales figures. BMW placed first, which might be an explanation for its recent surge in sales. It was followed closely by Lexus, Audi, Acura and Mercedes-Benz. The company pointed out that while Mercedes was fifth overall, it held the top rank in a number of a factors
that drivers cited as important, such as prestige, family friendliness, safety and interior design.

The rankings got shaken up a little bit when the group turned its attention to the luxury crossover/SUV market, a quickly growing segment. Lexus held onto the top spot in this category, followed by Acura, Cadillac, Lincoln and BMW. This suggests that the domestic luxury brands aren't appealing to buyers in the market for a coupe or sedan, but still make their way onto buyers' shopping lists for larger vehicles.
 

Luxury sales race will be tight as year comes to close

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Posted in Auto Industry News, BMW

The year-long battle between North America's top luxury brands has been intense, with three separate companies – Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and BMW – all having a chance at claiming the crown. Though Lexus holds the lead going into December, all three have a chance at coming out on top.

Lexus has been the top-selling brand on the continent for the past 10 years, but has seen its dominance challenged in 2010 thanks to a wave of recalls by parent company Toyota. That gave both Mercedes-Benz and BMW a chance to knock the Japanese nameplate off its throne.

Bloomberg previously reported that the battle was down to Mercedes and Lexus, but a strong showing by BMW in November has made it a three-horse race. Lexus has the lead with 201,769 vehicles shipped, while the German brands are neck-and-neck at 196,833 for BMW and 196,288 for Mercedes.

BMW improved its sales by 30 percent year-on-year in November, compared to an 8.4 percent rise for Mercedes and a 1.4 percent drop for Lexus.

Despite the recent drop-off for Lexus, BMW U.S. unit chief Jim O'Donnell told the news source that Lexus would likely walk away with the crown thanks to December incentive programs that will drive sales. Mercedes and BMW, meanwhile, have backed off of incentive programs.

"Next year, I would like to think we may have a go at them," he said.

Kelley Blue Book reveals cars with the best resale value

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Posted in BMW, How To

When buying a new or used vehicle, owners must factor the model's resale value into consideration. Most drivers don't aim to run their car into the ground until it can't function anymore, instead opting to trade in their vehicle when it's time for a new purchase.

That's why resale value is so important. According to Kelley Blue Book (KBB), a pricing guide for used cars, a $25,000 car with great resale value will actually save a driver money over a $20,000 model with poor resale value, given a 3-year ownership period.

KBB recently named its 2011 Best Resale Value Awards, a yearly distinction given to the models and brands that are expected to hold their value for the longest amount of time. The company named the top 10 vehicles as well as some winners within their segment.

Despite the appearance of perennial best-sellers like Toyota and Honda on KBB's list, the consumer guide went in a different direction in naming the brand of the year. With a massive improvement over years past, Subaru took home the title as the brand with the best resale value. The guide noted that buyers are beginning to take notice of the company's recent efforts to improve its vehicles.

The luxury brand of the year was BMW, with both the BMW X5 and X6 luxury crossovers singled out on the top 10 list as being especially valuable. BMW vehicles tend to have the latest technology and timeless styling, and always command a high price tag simply due to the prestige associated with the name.

Yet BMW was unable to take home the title for luxury car with the best resale value. That went to the Audi A5, which KBB described as having "perfect form." The A5 was the only entry for Audi, although Volkswagen, which owns the German luxury brand, was honored as the best alternative energy car for its Golf TDI Hybrid.

Overcoming its safety-related issues from earlier this year, Toyota was able to post two vehicles in the top 10 in addition to two more from the Lexus nameplate. The FJ Cruiser off-road SUV and Tacoma pickup were honored for the main brand, while the RX and GX SUVs were named for Lexus. The Toyota Sienna, while not named one of the top 10 vehicles, was named the best minivan.

Ford didn't have a vehicle on the overall list, but was able to come out on top in two segments. The best-selling F-Series pickup truck was singled out in the full-size pickup class, while the Mustang was picked as the high-performance car with the best resale value.

Finally, it wouldn't be a discussion of resale value without a mention of Honda. The Japanese automaker just had one car on the best overall list in the form of the new CR-V, but the Accord and Fit won the mid-size and subcompact segments, respectively.
 

BMW recalling vehicles for fuel pump issue

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Posted in Auto Industry News, BMW

BMW has announced that it will recall more than 150,000 vehicles due to two separate issues related to fuel pumps.

The first notice affects 130,000 used BMWs from the 2007 to 2010 model years. The luxury automaker says that the high-pressure fuel pumps in twin-turbo inline six-cylinder engines could possibly fail, affecting engine performance. The issue could cause the engine warning light to come on or the engine to possibly go into "safe mode," accompanied by a loud tone and malfunction light.

Models in the recall include the 2007-2010 335i; 2008–2010 135i, 535i and X6 xDrive35i; and 2009–2010 Z4 Roadster sDrive35i. Of these vehicle, BMW estimates 40,000 will need entirely new fuel pumps while the rest will just need updates to the vehicle's software.

In a separate move, BMW says there is also a issue with the fuel pump in approximately 20,000 X5 SUVs from 2008. This low-pressure fuel pump is actually a separate part with a different issue than the high-pressure pumps included in the first recall.

Drivers interested in a BMW may want to shop the used car market in order to save money on the luxury vehicle.