I took a little drive this weekend to see a friend and kept my speed around 65 to see what would happen to my gas mileage. I hit and stayed at 30 MPG…in a car that has 330HP and 330ft/lb of torque (BMW 335i). I was really pleased with my car this weekend; it was fun as hell to drive on the roads I was on, and knowing it was fairly efficient just made it that much better.

Anyway, it got me thinking about cars for a moment so I decided to go price a 335i and an M3 for giggles. That’s when I noticed an option on the M3 that I’d not seen before–the “M Double-clutch Transmission with Drivelogic”. Hmm, what is this I wondered…

Turns out it’s the BMW version of Volkswagen’s DSG. This thing is utterly sick. It’s a transmission with two clutches. As you move through the gears a second clutch remains open and waiting for you to switch into the gear above or below the one you’re in. So when the change happens (which is anticipated by the computer), it happens almost instantly because the other clutch has already rev matched your other gear.

Do has boner.

I’ve always believed that gas was gas. I thought it was all the same stuff and that any rumors to the contrary were nothing but marketing. Well, it turns out that isn’t the case.

Six of the world’s top automakers, BMW, General Motors, Honda, Toyota, Volkswagen and Audi recognize that the current EPA minimum detergent requirements do not go far enough to ensure optimal engine performance.

Since the minimum additive performance standards were first established by EPA in 1995, most gasoline marketers have actually reduced the concentration level of detergent additive in their gasoline by up to 50%. As a result, the ability of a vehicle to maintain stringent Tier 2 emission standards have been hampered, leading to engine deposits which can have a big impact on in-use emissions and driver satisfaction.

This is from the top tier website, and it’s not just a marketing ploy by some additive company. It is a real standard that has been embraced by the automakers listed. Of course I was still skeptical and decided to try a couple of tanks of Chevron’s 93 octane in my 335i.

Wow. There is a noticeable difference in my performance. My car seriously feels better all around — both in casual driving and when I accelerate aggressively. I’m genuinely and pleasantly surprised.

So yes, I suggest that if you are into cars and you’ve always thought the gas doesn’t matter, try doing a couple of tanks of premium through one of the following companies who supports the top tier standard. I think you’ll be pleased with the results. QuikTrip Chevron Conoco Phillips 76 Shell Entec Stations MFA Oil Company Kwik Trip/Kwik Star The Somerset Refinery, Inc. Chevron-Canada Aloha Petroleum Tri-Par Oil Company Shell-Canada Texaco Petro-Canada Sunoco-Canada

BMW has embraced semacode. Too cool.

[ Link: BMW Creates Semacode For European 1 Series Launch ]

The sad thing is that looking at my own semacode above I’m struck with the notion that it looks like a Desktop Tower Defense layout.

Since getting my watch I’ve received some pretty interesting reactions from people. The biggest misconception people seem to have about Rolex is that any Rolex is better than any non-Rolex. Or to put it another way, they simply think that Rolex is the “top of the line”, “best of the best”, most expensive, etc, etc.

This is simply not the case.

Rolex makes really excellent watches, don’t get me wrong — but Rolex is more comparible to like a $50,000 BMW than it is to a $250,000 Porsche, Ferrari, or Rolls. There are many watches that are 1) more expensive, 2) more exclusive, and 3) more accurate. There are also other brands that rival or surpass Rolex’s engineering — Patek Philippe is one example.

The thing that attracts me to Rolex, however, is their focus on rigorous testing and durability combined with the accuracy and appearance. Rolex tightly controls every element of the materials selection, the engineering, assembly, etc — all so that they can guarantee that the watch will last for multiple decades. I’ve met several people who’ve had their Rolex for 25-40 years and have never had it serviced.

This is what I like about the Rolex Submariner. Very high standards, excellent durability, meticulous testing procedures — all resulting in a piece that is superbly engineered, highly functional and looks great without calling too much attention to itself. The Patek pieces, for example, are incredibly awesome, but many of their movements can be damaged by the G-forces from as little as a Golf swing.

I compare my watch (the Submariner) to a low-end BMW or a Glock. Both of these are really excellent brands, but they place their emphasis on quality engineering and durability rather than being exotic or flashy. There are cars that are faster than a BMW, corner better than they do, and even cars that look better. The point is that the BMW does all these things really well for general use.

And that’s how I feel about my watch. It’s the perfect balance of the qualities that I look for.

So the next time someone freaks out about someone having a Rolex, point out that there are many watches that surpass Rolex in one or more areas. They aren’t “the best” (as if there really were such a thing). They’re just extremely decent. And that’s what I like about them.

My VIN number has been assigned, so somewhere in Germany my new car is being born. It looks like it’ll be here with plenty of time to spare before I return from New York. And I had them throw in window tint and the rubber floor mats as well. Bonus. So here’s the final setup:

• 2007 BMW 335i Sedan
• Sparkling Graphite Exterior, Gray Leather
• Sport Package
• Premium Package
• Comfort Access
• Rear/Side Window Shades
• Sirius Satellite Radio
• Aluminum Pedals
• Heated Seats

I seriously can’t wait to drive this thing. It’s going to be what my first car was supposed to be, plus a little more. Passing people is going to now become both trivial and extremely enjoyable, rather than the, “I guess that was o.k.” experience it was in the 325i. Yeah, can’t wait.

It looks like the new BMW 335i that I’m getting has been seriously underrated — probably because they don’t want it to overshadow their current M3 offering. According to testing done by Automobile Magazine (not once but twice), the 335i is closer to 350 horsepower and 350lb/ft of torque than the 300 for each that’s being claimed by the official literature. It did 0-60 in 4.8 seconds, which is only a tenth of a second slower than the M3.

These dynamometer numbers are showing 384 for each at the wheels, and when you do the math (roughly 17% loss from the crankshaft) they’re looking at like 348 for both horsepower and torque. And that’s getting 28mpg on the highway. Methinks the performance debate concerning the 335i and the Infiniti G35 is officially over.

I cannot wait to drive this thing in a manual transmission. The automatic was insane enough when I drove it, and it reportedly has far more turbo lag than the manual. Coming back from New York is going to rock for so many reasons.

The engine on the 335i is just utterly sick. It’s the fastest car I’ve ever driven. Period.

The one I drove was an automatic (boo, hiss) coupe, but it had the F1-esque shifting paddles. Those actually made the steptronic transmission enjoyable to drive–which was pleasantly unexpected.

So yeah, it’s totally decided: the next car I’m getting is going to be a 335i Sedan with a standard transmission (like my current 325i). I seriously don’t see how I could ever want any more engine than what that car offers. That car is what BMW is all about to me.

Screw the 5 Series; in like 2 years I’m getting a BMW 335i Sedan. This is my absolute dream car. I was considering just leasing a car every few years, but this thing is making me want to just buy one and keep it.

The thing has 300 horsepower and 300 lb.-ft of torque from an inline 6 with twin turbos. But that’s not the sick part. It gets 30 miles to a gallon.

In. Sane.

OMG, this thing is so awesome. I’m thinking I’ll have a 7 series at around 50 years old (5 Series at 40, 3 Series now), but I hope I don’t have to wait that long to see this in my own BMW:

Video: BMW Infrared Night Vision

Well I just upgraded my 2003 Volkswagen Jetta to a 2006 BMW 325i. It has so many cool features that I decided to write them down. Turns out that I have a blog, so I figured this would be a great place to do so. Here goes:

• The headlights are Xenon (the wicked cool blue ones), and they turn to point where you’re steering.
• It comes with BMW Assist, which will call BMW if I’m ever in an accident and tell them where I am so they can send an ambulance.
• I also go the concierge service, so I can call them whenever I want and have them look stuff up for me. They can give me directions, make reservations for me at hotels, or just sit there and talk to me. One of the cool applications I thought of was being able to call people when you are not in mobile phone range.
• The tires are run-flat, so if I have a “blowout”, the result is an indicator light on my console rather than death and destruction.
• The brakes are sick. If you take your foot off the gas quickly, the car knows you might be heading for the brakes and automatically shores up the distance between the brake pad and the wheel to avoid that delay when you do actually hit the brake.
• Oh, and in wet weather the car gently touches the brakes to the wheel every once in a while in order to burn off the moisture. This makes braking in wet weather just about the same as under normal conditions.
• I have a manual transmission (as if there was a question), and when you’re on a hill it’ll hold the car in place while you move from the brake to the throttle. Sooooo sweet.
• The side mirrors can automatically fold in at a press of a button.
• The car starts via a “start” button, and the “key” is a rectangle doohickey that you insert into the dash.
• The transmission/shifting on the car is masterful. It’s so smooth that it’s fun just to change gears.
• The turn signal is like nothing I’ve ever seen; you basically just touch it a little bit in order to change lanes, and then you actually push it down more to signal a turn. The cool part about it is that it doesn’t make the bone-snapping sound like most signals — instead it’s a smooth bump feeling. Rich, very rich.
• The steering wheel on the sports package is thicker than normal. This adds to the experience although I don’t know why.
• The winshield wipers have an auto mode that lets you just turn it on and forget about managing the wipers. If there’s barely a mist, it’ll get it every once in a while. If it’s a heavy downpour it will change to maximum speed automatically.

Anyway, I’m sure I’ll think of more stuff to add, but that’s a start.