New technology cuts emissions by up to 21 per cent and improves fuel consumption by up to 24 per cent The 4.7 l/100km 118d is BMW’s most economical production car.

The new BMW 1 Series goes on sale in Spring 2007 and features a model line up that includes the most fuel efficient production vehicle BMW has ever produced. The introduction of a three-door model and a revised five-door come as a raft of new fuel-saving innovations are rolled out across the range.

Technologies such as Brake Energy Regeneration, Automatic Start-Stop function and Electric Power Steering are combined with lower rolling resistant tyres and a gearshift change indicator to encourage economical motoring. These innovations are in addition to the use of variable valve technologies and High-Precision Direct Injection engines on some 1 Series models that boost power output but cut fuel consumption and emissions.

The BMW 118d, BMW’s most economical car, manages its record 4.7 l/100km figure courtesy of these features in conjunction with the use of further lightweight engineering. The car now has an aluminium crankcase to save weight. Aside from the BMW Hydrogen 7, the BMW 118d also posts the lowest ever CO2 emissions of any BMW recording 123g/km.

Other engines in the new 1 Series range record economy improvements of up to 24 per cent compared to the previous model, while emissions have also been cut by up to 21 per cent. These improvements have not been to the detriment of driving pleasure. The new 1 Series is powered by a range of engines whose outputs have increased by up to 20hp with a consequential improvement in performance figures.

New fuel saving technology
Brake Energy Regeneration (iGR) makes its debut on the 1 Series. The system uses an Intelligent Alternator Control (IAC) and an Absorbent Glass Mat battery to recycle previously lost energy, in turn saving fuel. This is achieved as the IAC reduces drag on the engine by only engaging when required to charge the battery, whereas a traditional alternator is always pulling power from the engine.

Additionally, the energy generated by the engine on over-run (under braking or descending a hill) was previously wasted. Now this lost energy is utilised by the IAC to charge the battery. iGR alone is responsible for a three per cent improvement in fuel economy.

The new 1 Series comes with Automatic Start-Stop function to cut fuel consumption. Standard on all manual transmission models (except 130i), the system automatically switches the engine off when the vehicle is stationary and the driver puts the car into neutral. To restart the driver only need engage the clutch again before pulling away in the normal manner. Should he not want to use the Automatic Start-Stop function it can be manually switched off.

The use of Electric Power Steering results in a 90 per cent energy saving compared to a conventional mechanical hydraulic steering system. Power assistance is now provided by an electric motor that works only when required, such as turning a corner. Other fuel saving enhancements have been made courtesy of various ancillary devices, such as the air-conditioning power supply being disconnected from the drivetrain when not in use. Even flaps behind the kidney grille improve economy, closing up for improved aerodynamic efficiency should the engine require less airflow. The feature also improves cold starting times.

Engine changes and statistics in detail
130i: World’s lightest six-cylinder production engine with VALVETRONIC and Bi-VANOS technology achieves zero to 100 km/h in 6.0 seconds (five-door is 6.1 seconds) and an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h. Output is 265bhp while peak torque is 315Nm. Combined fuel consumption is 8.3 l/100km and CO2 emissions are 197g/km.

120i: New four-cylinder engine with High-Precision Direct Injection and Bi-VANOS technology achieves zero to 100 km/h in 7.7 seconds (7.8 seconds for five-door) before going on to a top speed of 224 km/h. Output is 170hp (up 20hp) while peak torque is now 210Nm (up 10Nm). Combined fuel consumption is 6.4 l/100km (improves by 17 per cent), CO2 emissions are 152g/km (down 16 per cent).

118i: New four-cylinder engine with High-Precision Direct Injection and Bi-VANOS technology achieves zero to 100 km/h in 8.7 seconds (8.8 seconds for five-door) before going on to a top speed of 210 km/h. Output is 143hp (up 14hp) while peak torque is now 190Nm (up 10Nm). Combined fuel consumption is 5.9 l/100km (improves by 24 per cent), CO2 emissions are 140g/km (down 20.5 per cent).

116i (five-door only): Four-cylinder engine with Bi-VANOS achieves zero to 100 km/h in 10.9 seconds and a top speed of 200 km/h. Output is 116hp and peak torque is 150Nm. Combined fuel consumption is 7.5 l/100km and CO2 emissions are 179g/km.

120d: Second generation common-rail diesel engine with aluminium crankcase achieves zero to 100 km/h in 7.5 seconds (7.6 seconds for five-door) before going on to a top speed of 229 km/h. Output is 177hp (up 14hp) while peak torque is 350Nm (up 10Nm). Combined fuel consumption is 4.9 l/100km (improves by 16 per cent) and CO2 emissions are 129g/km (down 15.1 per cent).

118d: Second generation common-rail diesel engine with aluminium crankcase achieves zero to 100 km/h in 8.9 seconds (9.0 seconds for five door) before going on to a top speed of 210 km/h. Output is 143hp (up 21 hp) while peak torque is 300Nm (up 20Nm). Combined fuel consumption is 4.7 l/100km (improves by 19 per cent) and CO2 emissions are 123g/km (down 18 per cent).

Low running costs
The plethora of new technology showcased in the BMW 1 Series will have a significant impact on cost of ownership for customers.

Traction and safety
All BMW 1 Series models come with Dynamic Stability Control with Dynamic Traction Control for the best combination driving pleasure and safety. DSC allows drivers to make the most of the 1 Series’ 50:50 weight distribution and rear-wheel-drive configuration for the best on-road performance. The BMW 130i comes with five additional functions with its DSC+ system for enhanced convenience and driver safety: Hill Start Assistant, Brake Pre-tensioning, Brake Drying, Brake Fade Compensation and Soft Stop.

All BMW 1 Series have six airbags as standard, the Brake Force Display function on the rear lights to highlight sharp braking and Run-flat tyres with Tyre Puncture Warning System.

A new style of BMW 1 Series
To herald the introduction of the latest generation of engines, BMW’s designers have refreshed the interior and exterior styling of the five-door model. The 1 Series now features a larger kidney grille for improved airflow to the engine. The lower front spoiler has also been reprofiled to create a larger air intake, while the spoiler protrudes further for a more pronounced, sporting look. The headlamp cluster remains the same size but a darker cover gives a subtle, more distinguished front end.

At the rear a restyled bumper gives the impression of a wider, lower car. The rear lamp cluster now features a new arrangement of lights, but retains its original shape.

The new three-door 1 Series features the same styling cues but its side view is naturally different. The passenger doors are longer than those on the five-door model and are also frameless in the style of a coupé. Inside, customers will also be able to choose between either a four-seat or a five-seat configuration. In the four-seat arrangement rear passengers are separated by a central storage compartment and sit in more sculptured seats. As a no-cost option the five-seat layout offers the traditional bench seat standard on the five-door 1 Series. The introduction of higher quality materials and minor changes to the layout of the interior enhance customer comfort and practicality.

Optional highlights
The new 1 Series comes with MP3 and USB stick capability for the best in in-car entertainment. Customers with their favourite music loaded on an Apple iPod or a USB stick can now plug these into the car to continue their listening. Tracks are selected via steering wheel controls or the iDrive system.

The optional Adaptive Headlights that turn to follow the intended course of the car have been improved on the 1 Series. Cornering light function is added to the package as standard. This means two additional lights turn at speeds of between 36 and 60km/h to further illuminate the direction of travel on a twisting road.

Since its launch in September 2004, the BMW 1 Series has proved a popular choice with 51,492 sold to date and in excess of 200,000 worldwide. The new three- and five-door BMW 1 Series models will be on display at the Geneva Motor Show in March and go on sale in Ireland at the same time.

1 Series Sports Hatch – 3 Door

118i € 32,900
118i ES € 34,565
118i SE € 37,100
118i M Sport € 40,560
120i € 36,500
120i ES € 38,415
120i SE € 40,550
120i M Sport € 43,870
130i M Sport € 53,195
118d € 34,300
118d ES € 36,315
118d SE € 38,500
118d M Sport € 41,960
120d € 38,200
120d ES € 40,365
120d SE € 42,250
120d M Sport € 45,570

1 Series Sports Hatch – 5 Door

116i € 29,600
116i ES € 31,515
116i SE € 33,550
116i M Sport € 36,875
118i € 34,000
118i ES € 35,665
118i SE € 38,200
118i M Sport € 41,715
120i € 37,500
120i ES € 39,415
120i SE € 41,550
120i M Sport € 44,920
130i M Sport € 54,365
118d € 35,400
118d ES € 37,415
118d SE € 39,600
118d M Sport € 43,115
120d € 39,300
120d ES € 41,465
120d SE € 43,350
120d M Sport € 46,720

Audi have posted the prices of their new TT Roadster first versions of which will begin to arrive on the market here from next month. 

There will be two models in the new TT Roadster range beginning with a 2.0-litre TFSI, 200bhp version with 6-speed manual transmission at EUR54,340 (ex works). 

A second version with S-Tronic transmission will be available at EUR57,170. 

Next is a 3.2-litre, 250 bhp 6-speed quattro version at EUR66,040 followed by a top-of-the-range S-Tronic quattro version at EUR68,870.

Standard on the new TT Roadster will be an electric folding roof which opens in 12 seconds and can be operated at speeds up to 50 km/h. 
Other features include leather/Alcantara upholstery, 17″ alloys, climate control, concert radio, rollover bar, windblocker and driver/passenger side airbags.

All-new Mazda2 to debut at the 2007 Geneva International Motor Show
Mazda Motor Ireland, 13/ 02/ 2007

Mazda Motor Corporation will unveil the much-anticipated all-new Mazda2 at the Geneva International Motor Show. The world premiere will take place at 14:15 CET on Tuesday, 6 March at the 77th annual Geneva International Motor Show.

The all-new Mazda2 is more than just a model freshening of the current Mazda; it represents the progression of Mazda’s Zoom-Zoom brand promise. In 2002, the Mazda6 heralded the arrival of Mazda’s new generation of Zoom-Zoom vehicles, and now the Mazda2 becomes the first of these to evolve to the next level.

Globally, Mazda2 has attracted more than 410,000 customers in the four years from January 2003. The Mazda2 was voted the overall winner of the What Car? magazine ‘Comfort Test’ in 2003 and 2004 for its interior with easy access, a spacious cabin, exceptional functionality and generous equipment.

Officially titled the Salon International de l’Auto de Genève, the Geneva Motor show press days are March 6 and 7, and the public days are March 8-18.

Europe loves the economical Polo BlueMotion
The Polo BlueMotion has surpassed all expectations. More and more European importers are eager to introduce the five-seat automobile. Thus, production at the Pamplona plant in Spain has been more than tripled. With its most economical model, Volkswagen launched its BlueMotion initiative on sustainability which refers to Volkswagen’s environmental responsibility.

Clean issue: the Volkswagen „Clean TDI“
Volkswagen unveils the cleanest ever TDI engine – the „Clean TDI“. Central theme of the entire concept is the reduction of nitrogen oxide. One of the drive systems, for example, uses a reservoir catalytic converter. Compared to present vehicles, this system produces up to 90 % less nitrogen oxide emissions. The “Clean TDI” engines of Volkswagen will comply with the most stringent requirements worldwide – the “Tier 2 /Bin 5” norm in the USA.

OK, so you decided to buy a used car. Whether this is your first car or not, you should be careful who you are buying from and always pay attention to the detail.

Most used car searches start on the internet, but you can also find the right car in the papers or dedicated magazines.
Anyway, say you have circled a few of them, made few phone calls and arranged a time and date for viewing the cars.
Below you will find  a few points to help you with checking your new car. 

• If you have the registration number of the car you are going to finally purchase you can also get an Auto Check Report which might save you money and time.

1. Always view the car in daylight when you can see it properly and notice small defects that are not usually visible at night.

2. Never bring the money with you if buying from private party. A small deposit of 100Euro should secure your purchase.

3. Never meet in car parks and other public places to view the car. If the seller is not willing to give you his address for security reasons then ask him to drive to you. If for security reasons you don’t want the seller to bring the car down to you, then you could choose a place to meet but as I mentioned above, do not bring the money with you but just enough to put a deposit on it.

4. You meet in a public place, you put a deposit on the car now is time to go and collect your goods. At this point the seller should already have some trust in you to give you his address. If he doesn’t then something could be wrong. Either the car has a hidden history, has been barely fixed just to make the sale, etc. That normally should raise some questions marks straight away.

5. Check the papers that comes with the car. Make sure they match the chassis and the engine serial (VIN) number both the car and the log-book.

6. If the car is older then 4 years, make sure it has passed the NCT. If it had failed for “small things”, please do not take it for grant it that it doesn’t cost much to fix it. Let the seller go for the Re-test. Sometimes those small things could cost a fortune, especially electrical problems.

7. Have a mechanic check the car for you. They could easily spot problems quicker then yourself.

8. Take the car for a test drive. Drive it at low speed on a rough road, also drive it at high speed (check speed limit in the area), preferably Motorway or Dual-Carriage way.

9. Constantly check the brakes for vibrations by pressing the foot-brake pedal, which is caused by warped brake disks and needs to be replaced.

10. When and if driving at high speed (motorway), slightly release the pressure on the steering wheel, just enough to see if the car is trying to go to the side (left or right), which can be caused by bad wheel tracking.

11. Make sure the wheel is not shaking, which is caused by bad wheels balance or a damaged rim that has been badly fixed (alloy wheels).

12. Check all electrical switches making sure they are all in working order, especially electric windows and electric sunroof. Always roll them down fully, then roll them back-up. Also check central locking for all doors if fitted.

13. If  there is a fitted radio this should be checked as well including the CD player or tape-deck.

14. Check all seat-belts by pulling them out and locking them into place. Due to safety reasons a faulty seat-belt will fail NCT.

15. After starting the engine all lights in the dashboard should turn-off automatically. If not there is a fault that needs to be fixed. Before starting the engine check the dashboard light (engine light, ABS, Airbags) that they are working and the bulbs are not missing or burned-out.

16. If the car has NCT, compare the mileage from the speedometer with the mileage written on the NCT papers and also compare todays date with the NCT date. Normally a car shouldn’t do more then 10-15000 miles per year, so doing a bit of maths should give a clue of how many miles the car has done since last NCT ( If the NCT has been done 12 months ago or more and the odometer difference is very small compared with what’s on the paper should raise few questions).

17. Check the Road Tax – when is the last time this car has been taxed (verify the reg plate wit the registration written on the Tax disc). If the car hasn’t been taxed for a long time, there is a chance that the car has been damaged and fixed sitting in a garage waiting for parts. The seller should have a very good reason for it so go ahead and ask.

18. Check the exterior of the car.

19. Look out for scratches, dents, miss-alignment between the door, wings, bonnet, boot-door. The gap (e.g. between the door and the wing) should be equal all around.

20. Check the paint colour. Should be uniform and same shade. A brighter panel colour indicates that it has been replaced or repainted. Is very hard to duplicate the original paint finish.
Now we are not saying that it had had a major damage, these things happens every day and small dents can be even seen on brand new cars, so ask the owner about it.

21. Look for signs of over-spray easily spotted on windows, doors seal, doors handles, especially in small corners (top or bottom corner of the windscreen) which are easily missed by garages after re-paint.

22. Have a person inside the car while you walk around and check all lights to be in working order (indicators, brake light, fog lights, side lights, hight beam and low beam, spot lights if fitted).

23. Make sure the glass covering the light (front, back and side) are not cracked or broken.

24. Now moving back inside the car, check the carpet for damp and leaks. In a hot summer day the smell of damp is easily spotted and can be very unpleasant.

25. Check seats for damages and usage. They can be very expensive to fix. If the seats are covered, remove them and see whats hidden behind.

26. Check the rubbers fitted on the pedals. Excessive use should tell you the car has done a lot of mileage and sometimes the car can fail the NCT for it.

27. Check heater which should blow hot air if the engine was running for a little while. Make sure all speeds are working.

28. Check the Air conditioning if fitted. It should blow cold air instantly.

29. Moving to the boot area – look for the spare wheel, jack and the jack lever, making sure they are there. You never know when you are going to need them.

30. Pull up the carpet in the boot and look for signs of over-spray, damage and water leaks.

31. Moving to the front of the car and look under the bonnet. Engine should be clean, no signs of oil or water leaks. The bonnet should open easy enough and the alignment between the bonnet and head-light should be the same.

32. Look at the chassis leg – should be straight and have no damage signs or over spray.

33. Check the panels behind the headlights for signs of damage.

34. Make sure all wires are in place and without visible damage or loose.

35. Inspect the water tank area. Dark yellow dried dust indicates engine over-heated. Also the tank should be full.

36. Battery and battery terminals should be clean.

37. Check the brake-fluid level.

38. If you spot an alarm siren under the bonnet find out if it’s working and see if the remote controls are available. 
Now you have seen the car, and took it for a test drive and you are willing to buy it, so is time for negociating the final price.

Price Negotiation for your next Used Car.

This is probably the hardest part of buying a car and doesn’t last longer then 10min.
You have your facts right, you like the car ( never let that away to the seller ), you know and found the bargaining points, you know the asking price so lets go ahead and ask “What is the last selling price?”. This is a very frustrating question, some sellers didn’t allow for negotiation when setting  the price and they might not want to bring it down at all. But hey business is business and you are prepared for it and so should  the seller.
One very important point I would like to make here:
Learn to say NO and walk away from a deal. You want to buy a car not conquer the world, and you want satisfaction for yourself. Don’t let the seller insult your intelligence. If the seller is not willing to negotiate, then move to the next one you found, but before you go make sure you give the seller your phone number to call you just in case he changed his mind. There are tons of used cars on the market, and rushing things doesn’t usually help. 

You and the Seller should be able to compromise for the final price easy enough and when the deal is made your are both happy. Once the deal is made, sign all papers, adding the time and date of the purchase made (very important), sign a receipt, make sure you get all the keys and remote control if available, get all the documents that come with the car, except the log book which has to be posted to the Vehicle Registration Office in Shannon by the last owner and drive home safely.

The above should apply both Private or Garage Sale, the only difference is from Private Sellers is that you get no warranty on the car, while Garages or Dealers do give the least 3 months on engine and gearbox.

Talking about buying from Used Car Dealers and warranty, reminds me to say: Never buy a car “As Is” or “As seen” and always get written documentation about what the warranty offered and for how long. Even if you pay cash, always get an invoice for the purchase you have made.
 
Buying from a garage or used car dealer you are protected by the Irish law – Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act 1980 – within limits, due to the fact that you are buying from a person that owns or works for a business registered in Ireland as selling used cars, which is not the same as buying from private sellers where the law is only on your side if the fault found is likely to endanger the people driving it and even that is very limited. 
If you find a fault with the car, bring it back to the garage and let them sort it out for you, making sure you got receipts and written confirmation of what has been done. Papers can be  a life saver, so always keep them safe, you never know when you might need them. If the garage fails to fix the problem, find out if the business is a member of the SIMI and give them a call about it. This has to be done within 3 months from the time of purchase the vehicle.
You can also get more information about your rights at The National Consumer Agency which has made some documentation available on-line for download – Here -> or give them a call @ 1890 432 432 or visit their website: http://www.consumerconnect.ie  

Buying from Car Auctions.

Highly NOT recommended, as you will need a lot of experience and that have little or no come back.
Auctioneers have their own Terms and Conditions which lets you know before signing it that there are no warranties given on your purchase for any faults you might find after, so make sure you know what you are doing.

This is by far complete but we are looking into it and will add new points as we find them, and should help you  in getting a decent car without some sort of hidden history.

Now if you finally purchase the right car, FunkyMotors.ie staff will like to take this opportunity and wish you “Happy Motoring and Safe Driving” and hey don’t forget – “Speed Kills” or as you see on some signs on our roads – “Get the Point not the Points“.

Auto Directory – Find Used Car Dealers, Auto Electricians, Panel Beaters, Mechanics, etc.

Car Finder – Help in finding that used car you are looking for.

Sell your used car on-line - Buy and sell used cars website

VRT (vehicle registration tax) Office – On line VRT calculator

Motor Tax Office – Get your Car Taxed on-line.

NCT website – Book your next NCT on-line

Driving Test

Road Safety Authority

Taxi Regulator

An Garda Siochana – Ireland’s National Police Service

Extended Auto Warranty  – Avoid surprises and costly auto repairs while protecting your investment with an extended auto warranty.