Big Motoring World reviews the BMW 640d Coupe

Big Motoring World reviews the BMW 640d Coupe LCI which has had an upgrade.

Model

LCI stands for Life Cycle Impulse; that’s BMW’s way of saying it’s had a mid-life facelift. The new model has a high emphasis on efficiency and style – the latter which it has in abundance.

Exterior

Externally, the model is much the same as its predecessor. There are some styling tweaks which include revised bumpers front and rear, full LED headlamps as standard, new door mirrors, wider exhausts, fresh alloy wheel designs and a few new colours.

Interior

Inside, the upgrades are more noticeable and give it a really polished, luxury feel. A leather dash is now standard on all models, and this helps to enhance the car’s extravagant feel. BMW’s ConnectedDrive includes an in-built, subscription-free mobile sim card which means that emergency services can automatically be alerted at an accident.

Verdict

Overall, the changes add up to an enhanced appeal of what was already a great car.  It’s best sampled with the highly impressive 3.0-litre diesel. This car is now effortlessly economical, comfortable and luxurious. It’s deceptively quick, too, going 0-62mph in 5.3 seconds.

We are stocking the 2012 model, available from £25,000.

Big Motoring World

Big Motoring World is the largest independent seller of used BMWs and Mercedes-Benz in the UK. Based in London and Kent, Big Motoring World hold over 1000 cars so we are sure to have the perfect car for you.

By: Big Motoring World On 13:00

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Big Motoring World Reviews: Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster Auction

The 1999 Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR is a unique car. It looks like it’s about to conquer the toughest races, but it’s actually a road-legal luxury car.

The CLK-GTR is part of an almost extinct species of motoring culture – along with the Porsche 911 GT1 Straßenversion and McLaren F1 GTR, these are the sort of cars that are only built once in a lifetime.

The Car

This Benz is not only unique for a production model, but also for a racing one as well. It was the materialisation of Mercedes’ desire to compete, and essentially win in the FIA GT Championship. The regulations stated that at least 25 models are created to qualify, so Mercedes went and produced 26 CLK-GTRs.  6 of those are drop-tops, making the car even more exotic.

Under the hood lies an enormous 6.9-litre, AMG V12 engine, which produces 604-hp and 775 Nm of torque. The cars weighs 1,440 Kg which is on the heavy side, but the engine manages to sprint the Merc from 0 to 100 Km/h (62mph) in just 3.8 seconds.

The Auction

So, finding a Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR for sale is a rarity. Finding one with just 6 kilometres on the clock is like finding a unicorn in your garage. This beast is coming up for sale at the Goodwood Festival of speed and it’s offered by Bonham’s. For an estimated £1.4-£1.8m, you can get your hands on the only black-painted, untouched, barely used CLK-GTR roadster in existence.

Big Motoring World

Big Motoring World is the largest independent seller of used BMWs and Mercedes-Benz in the UK. Based in London and Kent, Big Motoring World hold over 1000 cars so we are sure to have the perfect car for you. 

By: Big Motoring World On 10:07

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Mercedes technology: Watch and learn

Following the success of the My BMW Remote App, Mercedes has announced its own software for Apple Watch and iPhone.

Technology

Intended mainly for navigation, the features include door-to-door directions to your car, as well as safe navigation when you’re driving, from an Apple Watch or iPhone.

The technology will be released this autumn, with further features for the technology included. Updates on fuel levels, range, maintenance codes and odometer readings will be available on the app, which will work with Mercedes-Benz C-Class and S-Class vehicles that have the Command Online tech. Support for other models is said to follow after the launch, with Mercedes hopeful that it will be in every new Mercedes by 2017.

Big Motoring World

Big Motoring World is the largest independent seller of used BMWs and Mercedes-Benz in the UK. Based in London and Kent, Big Motoring World hold over 1000 cars so we are sure to have the perfect car for you.

By: Big Motoring World On 14:27

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BMW’s ‘Batmobile’ tribute

Big Motoring World has discovered that BMW are to unveil a tribute to the ‘Batmobile’ 3.0 CSL at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.

Performance BMWs don’t come any more iconic than the 3.0 CSL of the 1970s, and it will be shown at the world-renowned event for classical cars in France later this month. With its steroidal styling, lively handling and screaming six-cylinder engine it set the template for every M Beemer since.

Homage

More than four decades years later, BMW is paying it the ultimate compliment with a concept car to be shown at Hotel Regina, Paris, on 22^nd May. It’s likely to follow the lead of the new M4 Coupe, which swapped steel for aluminium and glass for Perspex in pursuit of a lighter kerb weight. The 3.0 CSL will use carbon-fibre for the lower sections of the bodywork.

It has a massively widened rear track and, like the original, a huge rear wing with the LED taillights swirling around its outer edge. The BMW badge on the C-pillar is another distinctive cue taken from the Batmobile.

Plans 

The interior is yet to be unveiled, but BMW told Autotrader: “All the elements in the cabin are absolutely essential (with a) driving related function”. Expect a stripped-back, simplistic passenger compartment with bucket seats; no sign of a radio or sat-nav.

There’s no indication as to whether BMW is serious about putting the ‘Batmobile’ into production, but we suspect it will remain a design study for the foreseeable future. What it definitely does prove, however, is that BMW is plotting a higher performance version of the M4. They may use water-cooled turbochargers as showcased on the M4 Moto GP safety car, but whether it will be badged M4 GTS or M4 CSL remains to be seen. 

Big Motoring World

Big Motoring World is the largest independent seller of used BMWs and Mercedes-Benz in the UK. Based in London and Kent, Big Motoring World hold over 1000 cars so we are sure to have the perfect car for you.

By: Big Motoring World On 13:00

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Mobile banking – literally: Big Motoring World reviews

Polish based bank, IdeaBank, has developed a portable ATM Machine, built in the back of a BMW i3. The thinking is that the public will be able to get cash deposits anywhere they need it, by a simple phone call.

Benefits

Pop-up restaurants, bars and festivals are the primary aim of this idea, so people won’t have to walk to the bank for some much-needed cash. And business owners will also be able to safely drop off their takings rather than walking to the bank with a day’s takings, or leaving it on the property overnight.

Environment

The service is free-of-charge and the BMW i3 models are fully electric so won’t damage the environment. Once you download the IdeaBank app, you can signal for an ATM machine to come to you at a certain time and place; the fastest, easiest way to deposit your cash on the way out of the office!

The same safety procedure is being applied as with the safety deposit vans which transport banks’ money, so it’s a secure, quick and easy way which could be the future of the world’s ATM machines.

Big Motoring World

Big Motoring World is the largest independent seller of used BMWs and Mercedes-Benz in the UK. Based in London and Kent, Big Motoring World hold over 1000 cars so we are sure to have the perfect car for you.

By: Big Motoring World On 13:00

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Major Coupé for Mercedes

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the Concept GLC Coupé, carrying the previous successful formulae into a more compact segment.

Mercedes Elegance

The company has said in a recent press release that the dynamic and expressive show car has combined the typical styles of a coupé with the pure design of upcoming SUV generations. Extremely strong in character, this prototype has a twin-blade radiator grille, power domes on the bonnet and a dour-pipe exhaust system which look great. 

Almost all of the main body section is harmonious and is an eclectic mix of styles combining Mercedes elegance and a rugged, off-road feel with 21 inch tyres, front and rear underbody protection and increased ground clearance indicative of its off-road potential. 

Big Motoring World

Big Motoring World is the largest independent seller of used BMWs and Mercedes-Benz in the UK. Based in London and Kent, Big Motoring World hold over 1000 cars so we are sure to have the perfect car for you.

By: Big Motoring World On 12:00

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Big Motoring World Reviews: BMW 2 Series Convertible

Summer has arrived, so what more could you ask for than a convertible, classy and stylish BMW 2 Series? Big Motoring World digs deeper than the surface.

This car does all the sensible stuff with a big helping of style and fun. The engines available are a direct carry over from the coupe range – as anyone who’s ever driven a two-door tin top will tell you, that’s a very good thing.

Speed

It records 7.5 seconds for the sprint to 62mph and hits a top speed of 144mph. Press the Sport button and the steering weight up; the throttle responses sharpen. Press the button once more and you'll find Sport+, which partially separates the stability control and offers an even sharper throttle pedal.

The BMW’s front end features a broad kidney grille, with swept up side skirts, some deeply-surfaced flanks and tight overhangs towards the back. It’s a rear-wheel drive which is emphasised by the wide design at the rear wheel arches.

Inside, it’s got an improved build quality with substantial stylish plastic throughout. BMW's much-improved iDrive system features and now features a higher definition 6.5 inch flat screen.

Prices start at around £30,000 and the competition in this sector has become a bit hotter of late, with Audi launching its vastly improved A3 Convertible. The BMW is slightly different in that it’s more about style that speed. The hood operation is the best in its category and the effectiveness of the air con and stereo are exactly what you would expect from a luxury sports car.

Review

To go from Coupe to Convertible, BMW have done as remarkable job as could be expected. It looks like the stylish Coupe with the roof up, yet it’s sleek and clean with the roof down. Overall, it will take some beating to maintain your sleek streak in the BMW 2 Series on the roads this summer.

Big Motoring World

Big Motoring World is the largest independent seller of used BMWs and Mercedes-Benz in the UK. Based in London and Kent, Big Motoring World hold over 1000 cars so we are sure to have the perfect car for you.

By: Big Motoring World On 12:45

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