Tag Archives: BMW

News

ALPINA: More Than Just a BMW Tuner

There’s a persistent myth in the car world that ALPINA is just a tuner, a niche outfit taking BMWs off the shelf and adding big wheels, hand-stitched leather, and a few more ponies under the hood. The truth? That hasn’t been the case for decades. Back in the early 1980s, the German Federal Ministry of Transport officially recognized ALPINA as a manufacturer in its own right. Every car that leaves the brand’s headquarters in Buchloe wears its own VIN, a unique production plaque, and a distinct personality that blends BMW engineering with ALPINA’s signature refinement.

But the story doesn’t stop at new cars. ALPINA’s business is surprisingly multifaceted. Alongside building some of the most discreetly outrageous luxury sedans and SUVs in Europe, the company also restores classics, fabricates hard-to-find parts to keep older models alive, and even consults for automakers far outside its own lineup. For almost 15 years, ALPINA has been quietly supplying engineering services directly to the BMW Group—a partnership that has produced some unexpected assignments.

In a recent interview, CEO Andreas Bovensiepen, son of company founder Burkard Bovensiepen, pulled the curtain back on a few of those behind-the-scenes projects. One of the more surprising? Sending ALPINA engineers to China to help fine-tune the suspension of the upcoming all-electric MINI Cooper (internal code J01). For longtime fans, that’s a neat full-circle moment: ALPINA once built a one-off Cooper S Lux based on the R53 in the mid-2000s, complete with signature multi-spoke wheels, Alpina Blue accents, and an Alcantara-lined cabin.

The company’s consulting work doesn’t stop with small hatches. Bovensiepen confirmed ALPINA had a hand in perfecting the dynamic stability control system of a recent Rolls-Royce model, a reminder that even the most cosseting ultra-luxury cars still benefit from sharp chassis tuning. Rumors also suggest ALPINA lent its axle expertise to Toyota for the Z4 M40i–based Supra Final Edition. Not a bad résumé for a company too often dismissed as a boutique BMW modifier.

And while BMW has purchased the rights to the ALPINA nameplate, the Bovensiepen family’s business isn’t going anywhere. The automaker will continue building cars and consulting from Buchloe under its own banner, while BMW deploys the ALPINA brand for its biggest, cushiest models. Think 7 Series and X7—only more bespoke, more powerful, and more luxurious, slotting neatly between the high-end BMW lineup and the rarified air of Rolls-Royce.

That strategy is already taking shape. Expect an ALPINA-badged i7 to debut alongside the 7 Series facelift in the coming year. A first-ever iX7 is reportedly scheduled for 2027, and sources say both EV and gasoline versions are in the pipeline, each carrying unique internal codes: “G72” for the 7er, “G69” for the X7.

Meanwhile, the Bovensiepen family is still pursuing passion projects of its own. Beyond engineering gigs, ALPINA recently launched the Zagato-designed M4, a rare reminder that style is just as integral to its DNA as horsepower.

For enthusiasts, it’s the best of both worlds. The ALPINA name will live on as BMW’s high-end sub-brand, crafting hyperluxury derivatives of Munich’s flagships. At the same time, the Bovensiepen operation continues its tradition of quietly shaping the driving dynamics of cars you’d never expect. Tuner? Not even close. ALPINA is—and always has been—a manufacturer with a foot in two worlds: building cars for those who know, and shaping cars for those who may never realize who made them better.

Source: MotoManTV Podcast via YouTube

News

BMW Issues Massive Recall Over Starter Motor Fire Risk—Toyota Supra Included

BMW is back in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. The automaker has announced a sweeping recall involving more than 196,000 vehicles in the United States and at least 136,500 in Germany, after regulators uncovered a defect in the starter motor that could lead to vehicle fires. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) made the recall official on Friday and took the unusual step of urging owners not to park their cars inside garages or near buildings until repairs are complete.

At the heart of the issue is the starter relay, which can corrode if exposed to moisture. That corrosion may trigger overheating, and in some cases, a short circuit. Initially, the problem may leave a driver stranded with a car that won’t start. But NHTSA and BMW confirmed the bigger danger: the defect can escalate into a fire—even hours after the vehicle was last driven.

BMW traced the issue back to water intrusion in starter motors built between late 2015 and 2021, with internal testing and customer complaints pointing to repeated failures. The recall spans a wide range of models, and thanks to shared components, the Toyota Supra finds itself caught up as well.

Models Affected in the U.S.

  • 2019–2021 BMW 330i
  • 2019–2022 BMW Z4
  • 2020–2022 BMW 530i, X3, X4
  • 2021–2022 BMW 430i, 430i Convertible
  • 2022 BMW 230i
  • 2020–2022 Toyota Supra

Globally, the campaign covers nearly every BMW model line produced between September 28, 2015, and September 7, 2021, with only transverse-engine compact cars and M performance models escaping the defect, thanks to different suppliers.

Germany’s Recall List Includes:

1 Series (F20, F21); 2 Series Coupe (G42); 3 Series (G20, G21, G28); 4 Series (G22, G23, G26); 5 Series (G30, G31); 6 Series GT (G32); 7 Series (G11, G12); X3 (G01); X4 (G02); X5 (G05); X6 (G06); X7 (G07); and the Z4 Roadster (G29).

Safety Warnings

Both BMW and U.S. regulators are treating the situation with urgency. Because the fire risk is unpredictable and may occur while a vehicle is parked, NHTSA warns:

“Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the remedy is complete.”

That’s not boilerplate advice—it’s the same language regulators have used in past recalls where parked-vehicle fires became a real-world hazard.

Remedy and Timeline

BMW says owners in the U.S. will begin receiving official recall notices on November 14, 2025. At that point, drivers can confirm their vehicle’s status by checking their VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls.

The fix involves replacing the starter motor free of charge, and in some cases, swapping in a new battery. Repairs will be carried out at authorized BMW dealerships worldwide. For U.S. owners with questions, BMW’s hotline is 1-800-525-7417.

This is not BMW’s first large-scale recall in recent years, but the scope—spanning multiple continents and even pulling in Toyota’s halo sports car—makes it one of the brand’s most significant safety campaigns to date.

Source: BMW

NEW CARS

Did BMW Just Leak Its Next-Gen Electric Sedan on Its Own Website?

Car companies usually roll out new models with carefully staged presentations, but sometimes the future sneaks out through the side door. That may have just happened to BMW. A mystery electric sedan briefly appeared on the brand’s German website, tucked inside promotional animations for the all-new iX3 SUV. The unintended cameo has set off a wave of speculation among enthusiasts and industry watchers.

The car in question wasn’t the iX3 at all. Instead, BMW’s driver-assistance demos—meant to show off features like adaptive cruise and automated parking—featured a sleek, low-slung four-door unlike anything in the current lineup. Its styling points directly to BMW’s upcoming Neue Klasse family of EVs, which will underpin the brand’s next era of design and technology.

A Closer Look at the Mystery Car

At first glance, it’s easy to dismiss the sedan as a digital placeholder. Automakers often whip up generic CGI cars for marketing material. But this one carries an unusual level of detail—right down to production-style side mirrors, something you don’t typically see on purely conceptual models. That practical touch makes the design feel closer to reality than fantasy.

Styling cues reinforce the impression. The car wears a slimmed-down interpretation of BMW’s kidney grille, flanked by sharp, horizontal LEDs. Its surfaces are smooth and uncluttered, with flush door handles and a hunkered-down stance that feels more performance sedan than commuter appliance. Compared with the already-previewed Neue Klasse i3 sedan, this model looks wider, lower, and far more aggressive.

Could This Be the Next i4?

The leading theory is that the mystery sedan foreshadows the next-generation i4. The current i4 Gran Coupe is BMW’s sportiest EV and a direct rival to the Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2. On BMW’s new dedicated electric architecture, a successor would gain the kind of packaging benefits its predecessor couldn’t offer—more interior space, improved range, and faster charging.

Slotting a performance-oriented i4 alongside the more conventional i3 sedan would also give BMW broader coverage in the premium EV market. The i3 could court buyers looking for practicality, while the i4 would double down on sporty appeal.

A Leak or an Easter Egg?

BMW hasn’t commented on the surprise appearance, leaving fans to debate whether the car’s presence was a happy accident or a deliberate tease. It could be an early i3 design that was repurposed for animations, or it could be a deliberate nod to what’s coming. Either way, its placement on BMW’s official website seems too conspicuous to ignore.

Until Munich decides to say more, the mystery sedan remains just that—a digital glimpse of a possible future. But if this really is a preview of the Neue Klasse i4, then BMW may have just given us an accidental first look at one of its most important electric cars.

Source: BMW