Check out BMW's new gold M5 wheels
Autumn update brings lighter rims for XXL M5, a more powerful X3 M50 and an M Performance Black Package...
With the BMW range as vast as it is, there’s an awful lot to cover when it comes to model updates. Or rather, an awful lot to wade through. For this autumn, for example, BMW is very proud of the 2 Series Active Tourer now being on standard 17s rather than 16s, high gloss black roof rails for the iX3 and two-tone paint for the 7 Series. None of that is really going to tickle the PH pickle. But there’s plenty that is…
We have to start with the M5. Talk about timing - the day after it’s announced that AC Schnitzer has new owners, BMW launches a set of M Performance wheels that could have come straight from the aftermarket. And that’s meant as a compliment - they look stunning on a matt black saloon. Imagine on a dark blue Touring. These new wheels are clever, too, built using a new High Pressure Casting process which is said to be an automotive first. The benefits are myriad: it opens up new design possibilities for cast wheels (up to 70-bladed spokes is possible), takes half the time and energy to make (a wheel is cast in just 0.05 seconds), and for the M5 introduces a weight saving of 20 per cent. Every little helps with that car.
BMW suggests that the ‘significant’ reduction in unsprung and rotational mass makes for ‘even more agile handling, faster acceleration and improved braking performance.’ Plus a 40 per cent increase in fear of kerbs. The 20/21-inch set can also be had in black, but don’t be boring - get gold. There isn’t a price for the moment, though bear in mind that a set of M Performance Y Spoke 21s for an X5 without the clever new tech is £5k - they won’t be cheap…
Also fresh for the final quarter of the year is an updated X3 M50. It now boasts another 45hp, for 443hp in total (like the new M350) - more than 10 per cent extra will make a difference. Although just as important, given some initial reservations voiced, will be ‘a number of new interior features’; for a car that costs as much as it does, the M Performance X3 didn’t feel tremendously expensive inside. From the autumn, all X3s will get illuminated centre console stowage, new stitching for the instrument panel, ambient lighting for the grab handle and a new glove box opener. Yes, really. Maybe those changes will help the impression of perceived quality - something needs to.
Finally, the Black Package. Taking a leaf out of Mercedes’ book, where every possible A-Class, CLA and GLA is Night Packaged to the nines, the M Performance 2 Series and 4 Series models (the 40is) plus the aforementioned X3 can now be had with a Black Package. You’ll need to add the M Sport package Pro first, with the Black adding carbon fibre details inside, black wheels, black sills, black badges… you get the idea. It’ll probably won’t make an M240i, M440i or M440i drop top any better to look at, and they’ll be flooding dealerships before you know it. Still, if it means more people buy more of some really very good six-cylinder BMWs, then that’s surely to be encouraged.
While prices for the M5 wheels, more powerful X3 M50 and Black Packaged M Performance cars aren't confirmed yet, don’t expect to wait long - there’ll be the next range update to think about before long. Certainly it’s a great time to look at M5s those amazing wheels could go on - saloons and wagons are down to £80k - and X3s that there must be deals to work out with a new model coming: there are early cars around at £20,000 less than a new one would cost. And that’s a healthy kitty for making it faster…
.But 100x better than black.
If gold were the only option over black, then gold every time.The X3 s look aren t getting any better with age, are they?
Black wheels - kill them with fire.
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