BMW 320d M Sport Saloon: … and God saw that it was good.”

The statement, ‘And God made … and God saw that it was good” befits no other carrier than the 2008 BMW 3 Series!

 

The muscled power machine has everything built into its making without an error of omission. Neither is the safety of its occupants not only the priority but the elegantly designed auto took into consideration, in 100 percent thoughtfulness, the comfortability of its occupants.

 

The BMW 3-Series has established itself as the best seller in the compact executive class. This coveted status is not achieved through sheer normal energy injected into the automaking but the extra efforts by the automaker in ensuring that there exists no compromise in its production model. The series, launched some 30 years ago, and whose familiarity has refused to affect the wow factor positively due to the designers’ refusal to break with tradition, still ensures its contemporary. In short, the BMW 3-series is still a strikingly handsome car. This, obviously, is responsible for the machine’s balancing between boring and over fussy look. With well thought out cheek-bones, the conventional twin headlights, rear hockey-stick shaped light clusters and shark’s fin aerial, you definitely can’t miss out a BMa!

 

A BMW addict could bet his naira on what to expect of the interior, a very cool black interior roof, quality leather upholstery and M Sport branding on the gear knob and steering wheel. With a single instrument binnacle encasing, the speed reader and the revolution counter, you definitely can’t miss the 30-year-old making. Taking into cognizance the importance of ambience, the M Sport is when mapped out, either for the driver, passengers or the possessions. 20litre more boot space, 7mm more headroom for front seat occupants with additional 19mm for legroom in the back, it’s quite a little break away from the norm when compared to the previous models.

 

The car boasts of excellence in handling, being a driver’s car. It is a great fun for an anxious driver, the response is swift to command, you will soon realize you just got yourself hooked to the most obedient and reliable subject! What makes BMW dearly beloved are its main tenets. The obvious one is the hallowed 50-50 weight distribution, derived from the classic engine at the front drive to the rear layout. Besides, BMW has a well-deserved reputation for producing reliable cars, although since the launch of the new generation in March 2005, its reliability is yet to be ascertained.

 

There is an enormous range to choose from when it comes to 3-series, with an added option of choosing either a diesel or petrol engine. Flexing the reliability muscle, the four cylinder, 163bhp 320d M Sport completes a journey from 0-62mph in just 8.3seconds, can you imagine! Tell me if the cheetah is not reliable if I tell you that it tops out at 140mph.

 

Taking this car out for a test drive, you will definitely tick all the boxes because it comes right on top of your shopping list for this festive period! In the least, owing to the endless list of to-buys, you need a car that will also compliment and save you that extra change to add up, the 3-series performs fantastically well in terms of running costs. It is fun to drive a car which carries five in comfort but still returns nearly 50mpg!

 

Accidents happen, and how these come about depend on how each driver sees it. If you are of the opinion that the highway is a racing track, then Driver aid Dynamic Stability Control will surely help keep you out of trouble, but in case you don’t, six airbags will help you out, thereby ensuring longevity of your limbs! At 50mph, run-flat tyres will still carry you up to 150miles should you suffer a puncture. The 007 version of BMW’s Active Steering helps correct the car in case of an understeer. And with a full five-star rating following its crash test, you definitely have nothing to worry about.

 

However, for comfortability, especially for a lone driver, the sedan provides the needed companions in making the journey a pleasant one. Air conditioning, CD player, foglight, onboard control, keyless entry and start/stop button control all come as standard.  You just can’t stop counting when sports suspension, shortened gearshift, illuminated door handles, cruise control, rear parking sensors and superb sports seats are mentioned with the list.

 

Being a BMW 3-Series, it has become the most popular car in its class and is, for many people, the vehicle they aspire to. It’s easy to see why with a package which involves great driving, performance, economy, safety and practicality. So whether uptown or downtown, let’s go there!

INVESTOR SENDS POLICE AFTER STOCKBROKER

Personnel of Integrated Capital Services Limited (ICSL), a financial solution company which also provides stock broking services, have been engaged in a running battle with an investor who is determined to collect promised returns on a N50million investment the company had persuaded him to invest in the stock market. 

ICSL had persuaded the Chief Executive Officer of Tamstel Nigeria Limited to invest the N50million in its stock market focused product, aptly named I-QUITY RANGE INVESTMENT in July 2007. ICSL had given the investor the assurance of a minimum guaranteed return of 100 percent which would amount to a return of N100million at the end of a 12-month period, the agreed tenor of the investment.

Apparently emboldened by the general optimism of that period when the Nigerian stock market was unabashedly bullish, ICSL further offered to a N50million margin line facility to Tamstel with a guaranteed minimum return of 75 percent (net of interest charge). This would amount N37.5million profit to Tamstel at the 12 months maturity of the tenor of the investment.

 

The expectations of the total N137.5million (inclusive of initial investment) return to Tamstel by ICSL could not effected when at the expiration of the investment tenor in September 2008, ICSL could only give excuses for its inability to pay up on schedule.

  

Tamstel insisted, through a letter or payment demand to ICSL, that it could not accept the excuses offered for its refusal to pay its N50million equity participation and the documented returns promised it since the management of the investment portfolio was at its (ICSL) sole discretion without recourse in any way or manner to Tamstel. The client investor, according to the letter of payment demand, alleged that it believed that ICSL made huge and stupendous returns from investing the money in the stock market and specifically accused ICSL of scamming it in what looks like a 419 scheme.  

 

After several disappointing responses to its call for payment, the client investor invited the Police Special anti-fraud Unit (SFU) into the matter. After several stakeouts, the men of the SFU arrested and detained senior management staff of the firm. A schedule of repayment was agreed with the police at SFU.

 

Mr. Adeniyi Elumaro, Managing Director of ICSL confirmed that Tamstel, indeed, invested in ICSL with the promise of returns on the investment but this could not be realized because the stock market witnessed price slides for the most part of this year.

 

“It’s true that Tamstel invested N50million in the stock market through us and we also provided the company a margin line facility, but at maturity of the tenor we could not live up to the promise of returns we made to Tamstel because the stock market turned bearish dashing all our expectations. Though we explained the reasons we could not pay the promised return they refused to understand and thereafter brought in the police who arrested my staff. But we have been able to resolve the matter at the police station.” Mr. Elumaro said.