Rare Manual 1988 BMW Alpina B11 3.5 7 Series Up for Grabs in Seattle

The manual gearbox is one of those pieces of technology you can actually see dying off. It reminds us of the old Nokia brick phones that used to rule the world before the iPhone came out. A lot of people are buying manual cars these days just so that when they eventually go extinct, they can still enjoy shifting gears themselves. On a BMW 7 Series, a manual gearbox is even rarer, no matter the production year. But what if we’re dealing with a BMW Alpina?

Well, that’s even rarer still. Today, the 7 Series can no longer be had with a manual gearbox, regardless of if it’s an Alpina or not. And it’s been that way for generations, dating back to the 1990s. But the car we’re showing you today, though, is even older and, lo and behold, it’s a manual.

Yes, we’re talking about a rare, 1988 Alpina B11 3.5 7 Series that was built atop the BMW E32 7 Series. Only 332 of these cars were ever made and not all of them were fitted with manual gearboxes. Under the hood, the original engine fitted by BMW was a M30B35 3.5-liter straight six, single overhead cam engine with 12 valves and a power output of some 208 HP.

Thanks to Alpina’s treatment, the B11 used to make 254 HP back in the 1980s. Of course, today, that engine is nowhere close to that level of power output but, according to the seller, it still runs great. Speaking of which, there are some issues present on this 28-year old car. They are mostly visual problems, like fixing the upholstery or the steering wheel leather or changing the front air dam. As far as technical issues go, only a faulty AC system is listed as well as a cracked windshield.

Looking at the pictures, the car does seem to be in okay-ish shape. Considering it was just imported from Japan after receiving limited driving time since the 1990s, it could’ve been worse. Yes, it may take some TLC and money to get it back to its former glory but since the price tag is just $9,950, it may be worth a look.

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BMW 330e iPerformance Model Thoroughly Explained in 10 Minute Video

BMW is clearly offering a lot of its attention to plug-in or pure EV models. At this year’s Paris Auto Show, most of the company’s officials are missing, instead gathering in Munich to reach an agreement on how electrified cars with the blue and white roundel can become even more attractive. Apart from offering its first iPerformance models, like the BMW 330e, plans seem to include even more pure EV choicese.

Their focus will not only be on how many cars they can create and sell but rather on how to do it so that the spirit of the i sub-brand is kept intact. That means, the production cycle of these new models will also have to be sustainable while the materials used inside and out will need to be as eco-friendly as possible. It’s not an easy task by any means.

However, BMW will most likely also continue to offer bridge-gap solutions on the medium and short term. That includes the new plug-in hybrid models we have on offer today such as the BMW 330e, 740e or the BMW X5 xDrive40e. The most attractive solution of them all seems to be the BMW 330e, at least for now.

The car comes with some incredible claims from BMW, especially in terms of returned MPG. And while at first they may seem like a bunch of numbers you’ll never read on the on-board computer, real-life results aren’t bad at all. During our own review we saw that you can actually reach 25 miles on electricity alone inside the city, provided the traffic allows you to actually drive. Furthermore, outside the city, we recorded 36.7 mpg which is more than decent.

If mpg figures won’t impress you, the way the car drives definitely will. Thanks to instant torque being sent to the rear wheels, the 330e is impressive in almost any given situation, even if the battery is drained, eBoost kicks in from time to time. Sure, you’ll feel some of the weight of the batteries but overall, the car does a great job at masking it.

The guys from BMW decided to put together a clip dissecting the BMW 330e, to show us and other potential customers just what sets it apart from the rest of the range. The video might take 10 minutes to watch but it goes into a lot of detail to explain how the car works and is being built.

 

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BLM Moves to Erase Evidence of Racism in Moab

Negro Bill Trail gets a new name, and vandals promptly steal the sign.

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Alex Zanardi to Race BMW M6 GT3 in Italian GT Championship Final

The living legend, Alex Zanardi, isn’t finished with racing cars yet. After winning three medals at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, the Italian is ready to once again climb aboard a racing car, this time a BMW M6 GT3. From 14th to 16th October, the BMW Brand Ambassador will compete in the season finale of the 2016 Italian GT Championship in Mugello.

Zanardi’s BMW M6 GT3 will be entered by BMW Team Italia and ROAL Motorsport and specially modified by BMW Motorsport. It will be the first time that Zanardi will race the BMW M6 GT3, the successor to the BMW Z4 GT3, that has been in action on racetracks worldwide since the beginning of this season.

The engineers are currently working on adapting the BMW M6 GT3, to fit the needs of the Italian driver. Zanardi’s participation in the Italian GT Championship finale will be a triple anniversary celebration: just one week after this, on 23rd October, the BMW works driver will celebrate his 50th birthday. In addition, BMW Italy is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and the 100th birthday of BMW.

“It is great to see Alex back in the cockpit after he had fully focused on para-cycling for one year,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “We followed his races in Rio de Janeiro full of excitement – and I have to say that, once more, he proved what an outstanding athlete he is. Alex tackled his mission Rio de Janeiro with determination, passion and professionalism, and this commitment was rewarded with two gold and one silver medal.”

“I always say that my life is a never ending privilege of being able to do so many things, and this season is a classic example,” said Zanardi. “Preparing for Rio de Janeiro, approaching my 50th birthday, not only being able to run competitively, but winning what I won is exceptional. But on top of this I will once more enjoy the privilege of indulging in my primary passion, being behind the wheel of a great race car.”

Zanardi’s last race to date was the “Spa 24 Hours” in July 2015, when he shared the cockpit of a BMW Z4 GT3 with Timo Glock and Bruno Spengler. After that race, the Italian fully focused on preparing for his para-cycling competitions in Rio de Janeiro. With great success: just two weeks ago, in the middle of September, Zanardi won two gold medals and one silver medal.

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Can Photographer Devon Barker Control Time?

He lives in permanent overlandia, is saving the world, has a hell of a lot of fun, and oh, we think he can slow down time, too.

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Twilight Purple BMW i8 with AC Schnitzer Parts Arrives in Abu Dhabi

The BMW i8 is already a car that attracts a lot of attention, thanks to its futuristic design. Looking like a real-life concept approved for mass production, the i8 is a magnet and a head-turner, even without any other flashy additions. However, that’s even more the case when you add a psychedelic color to the mix.

The guys from BMW Abu Dhabi are known for their daring projects and this one makes no exception.. Few dealerships in the world have delivered such bespoke projects as they did in their rather short life span. Yet, they’re not showing any signs of slowing down and their most recent project involved BMW’s plug-in hybrid sports car and a color called Twilight Purple. With enough money, the BMW Individual treatment can turn your car into anything you can think of, including Twilight Purple if you so desire.

Apart from the special exterior color, the car also received a full set of AC Schnitzer tuning parts as we’ve been getting used to when it comes to BMW i8 models delivered in Abu Dhabi. The list includes a set of AC Schnitzer wheels, a new splitter up front and a wing at the back, both made of carbon fiber for the best performance/weight ratio.

Under the hood, however, nothing was changed as AC Schnitzer doesn’t offer a tuning kit that improves the i8’s performance. That means we’re still dealing with 131 HP from the electric motor coupled with the 231 HP of the 1.5-liter 3-cylinder turbocharged mill at the back for a combined power of 362 HP and 570 Nm (420 lb-ft). No worries though, as that’s enough to allow the car to reach 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 4.4 seconds from standstill.

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