A strong start to the season followed by consistent podium finishes throughout the midpoint of the year culminated in the first American Le Mans Series GT Driver championships for the No. 56 BMW Team RLL M3 GT of Dirk Muller and Joey Hand, and the second consecutive Team championship for BMW Team RLL. The Muller /Hand pairing clinched their first titles as teammates with a grueling second-place finish in Saturday’s American Le Mans Monterey race at Laguna Seca Raceway, marking BMW Team RLL’s eighth consecutive podium finish in GT competition.

“A Drivers Championship – against this year’s competition - is fantastic,” said Joey Hand. “Dirk and I are a great team. We had a great showing from our Crowne Plaza and Avnet partners this weekend. It was … CONTINUED

6POST member Superspeed provides his 4 month 6,000km mark review of his 640i convertible. He provides some insight on everything from size, to performance, handling, braking, interior/comfort, technology, and an overall verdict.

Many of our 1M owners are taking advantage of BMW’s european delivery option and reporting back with great stories and gorgeous photos of their experience.

Member djafactor has just posted his euro delivery journal which takes us on his 8 days ED trip with his 1M and father as co-pilot. Along the way they meet a lead 1M engineer, hit the Geslar Pass, Innsbruck, through the South Tyrol mountains, drove Furka and San Bernadino Pass, and drove the Nurburgring. You can experience djafactor’s trip vicariously inside.

Bystanders in Utah are being lauded as heroes after they lifted a burning BMW off an unconscious motorcyclist trapped beneath it. Authorities say the accident Monday near the Utah State University campus in Logan happened when 21-year-old motorcyclist Brandon Wright collided with a car pulling out from a parking lot.

The bike and car burst into flames and Wright was trapped underneath.

A camera nearby captured a group of students and construction workers gathering together to tilt the car up and pull the young man to safety before emergency crews arrived.

The onlookers also used fire extinguishers from the college campus to put out the flames.

Brandon Wright survived and is recovering from his injuries.

Monterey, CA. – September 16, 2011… BMW Team RLL driver Joey Hand recorded the sixth pole of the season for the No. 56 M3 GT in this afternoon’s qualifying session for the American Le Mans Monterey to extend the BMW Team RLL qualifying streak to a total of seven consecutive poles in 2011. His lap of 1:22.226 minutes around the 2.238-mile, 11-turn Laguna Seca circuit bested the 12-car GT field by a margin of .898 seconds. Hand and co-driver Dirk Muller lead the GT driver point standings with a total of five podium finishes that include three consecutive victories to start off the season.

Teammate Bill Auberlen qualified the No. 55 M3 GT in the third position with a 1:23.132 minute lap. Auberlen and co-driver Dirk Werner … CONTINUED

The upcoming 6 series Gran Coupe, a 4-door coupe model of the current 6 series, has been spotted by our spies testing on the Nurburgring for the first time. Although the Gran Coupe will be a grand touring type car, it’s still being tested on the Nurburgring to ensure that it will deliver a sporty, yet luxurious ride. It’s pictured here wearing BMW style 356 wheels, which look rather nice and sporty on the Gran Coupe.

The low slung and sleek Gran Coupe will take on the likes of the Mercedes CLS and Audi A7. Current expectation is for the Gran Coupe to hit showrooms in 2012 as a 2013 Model Year vehicle. Engine range is expected to be identical to the 6-Series Coupe.

We bring you the latest live look and listen at the upcoming new M6 coupe (F13) and convertible (F12) undergoing some final testing at the Nurburgring. We’ve also posted below a set of photos from the testing.

Not much camouflage remains, so its general shape and styling is easy to imagine. As for sounds, the M6 sounds quite similar to the F10 M5, owing to sharing the M5’s 4.4L 560hp twinpower twin turbo V8 S63Tu engine [specs]. This prototype appears to be testing carbon ceramic brakes, which will be an optional upgrade.

There’s no final word on debut and availability of the BMW F12/F13 M6 but we expect BMW to officially unveil the M6 in late 2011/early 2012 with a market launch in 2012.

Be sure to follow all … CONTINUED

M3POST member reco53_///M shows us what the E92 M3 coupe looks like fully decked out in BMW’s M Performance parts. His competition package M3 has the full compliment of M Performance parts installed, including the M Performance grilles, M Performance splitters, M Performance mirror covers, M Performance trunk spoiler, M Performance steering wheel, and the just released M Performance stripes. Check out the photos inside.

Who’s the boss asks EVO Mag in their latest shootout among German and American muscle coupes - the BMW M3, C63 AMG, RS5, and Boss 302 Mustang. We hate to say it, but the results are hardly a surprise anymore Read on…