Dock in Harbor Towers condo

The 640-unit Harbor Towers­ complex has undergone an extensive rehabilitation, including all new windows, a $74 million heating, air and electrical upgrade and, most recently, renovated lobbies and common hallways.

Unit 10F is on the 10th floor at 85 East India Wharf, one of the complex's two 40-story towers built in 1971. It features a renovated kitchen, a large open living/­dining area with great harbor views and two bedrooms with great Financial District views. The unit, which has a new half bath, French doors and carpeting, is on the market for $1,100,000.

The lobby, with contemporary lighting and a 24/7 concierge, leads to reconditioned elevators and up to newly carpeted common hallways with sconce lighting.

Unit 10F opens into a long ceramic-tiled foyer and hallway lined with closets.

To the left is a track-lit renovated kitchen with 25 cabinets, including six large pantry cabinets in an added built-in. Counters have gray Corian tops as does an island with a gas stovetop and seating for three. Updated stainless steel appliances include a Bosch dishwasher and double wall ovens, and there's a side-by-side GE refrigerator.

Off the kitchen, a half bath with a patterned porcelain sink and white tile floors was added six years ago.

The kitchen opens into a large, open dining/­living area that was recently re-carpeted and features a wall of windows overlooking Rowes Wharf, Fan Pier and Boston Harbor. There's track lighting over the dining­ room area as well as a granite-topped built-in with shelving and cabinets under the windows. A sliding glass door at the far end of the living­ area opens out to a private concrete-sided balcony.

A new set of French doors from the living room lead into the second bedroom, currently used as a home office/study. This room has carpeting over parquet floors and has two windows with great Financial District views.

The adjacent master bedroom suite also has carpet over parquet floors and windows with great city views. There's a recently added walk-in closet with built-in wardrobes, but the white ceramic tiled en-suite master bathroom could use some updating.

Across the hall, a second full bath has been reno­vated, with ceramic tile floors and walls around a glass-doored tub and shower.

The unit does not have an in-unit washer and dryer, although their use has recently been approved by the condo board. There is a common laundry room, which is about to be renovated.

Parking is at the Harbor Garage across the street and costs an additional $388 a month per space for residents.

The $1,185 monthly condo fee includes heat, hot water and central air-conditioning, and also services such as a 24/7 concierge and an outdoor heated pool.

Broker: Susan gram and Karen Peters of Otis & Ahearn Real Estate at 617-227-6070

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BMW X-Drive will make you believe

It would be easy to think the BMW 428i is just a rebadged 3 Series, since they've discontinued the 3 Series coupe, but this is a new build from the ground up. Lower, wider and with more fuel-efficient powerplants, this refreshing and elegant sportster begs to be driven and boy, it's just a blast to drive.

Our four-cylinder 2.0 -liter turbo cranked out 241 horsepower and is mated to a smooth-shifting, powerful and quick accelerating eight-speed automatic. Don't expect a guttural growl out of this motor — it purrs like a kitten while delivering plenty of pop. The X-Drive full-time all-wheel-drive feature worked very well in rain and light snow, but heavy snow calls for performance winter tires.

One drawback to the 
X-Drive is the lack of a manual transmission option with a stick only available on the rear-wheel models. BMW does offer selectable driving modes for the automatic though, and without question the Sport mode is the preferred one for the 428i. The LCD shows how the mode affects the way the car changes gears, power distribution to the wheels, suspension settings and engine performance. I ran it in Comfort on the highway and the gas mileage increased proportionally. I thought the car's performance really suffered in ECO, but once again the mileage improved. Mileage is rated at 22 city and 33 highway. One note: Disable the annoying auto-on auto-stop feature; it's very rough.

The classic BMW split grill sets apart the cat-like wraparound directional headlamps that blend into the refined sweeping lines that tuck into the rear lamps. The shark-like fender gills actually are functional, working in conjunction with the brakes to help direct airflow over the discs to help cool them.

A comfortable but very understated leather and brushed metal interior is well crafted, moderately quiet and surprisingly roomy. Two gauges adorn the dash with electronic readouts for radio and car info. Rear-seat passengers will manage for short jaunts, but I would not recommend a long journey for them. However, for you and your favorite someone, the car is a neat highway cruiser and touring about will be fun. The trunk provided enough space for bags or groceries and easily will haul your gear for a holiday.

But sporty driving is the hallmark of the BMW. And I love the way the 428i delivers with light and responsive steering. This is just a fun, easy car to drive. Drop into the racing-
inspired driver's seat, grab the leather-wrapped steering wheel and you'll feel as if all the controls were 
custom-designed. For a low-slung two-door, the sight lines were good except for backing up. The beautiful lines, with its flared fenders and swept-up rear, do sacrifice some rear vision; however, the backup camera and warnings proved very useful and made parking easier.

European carmakers are known for the quick escalation in price as you build out your ride but at a $42,500 starting price, Bimmer comes well-equipped out of the factory. Our $50,225 M Sport was a tricked out tester that included the Cold Weather, Driver Assistance and Dynamic Handing Packages in addition to the upgraded M-sport Brakes. Only missing was the Technology Package that adds navigation, a larger LCD, a HUD and Bluetooth connectivity.

Make sure to swap out to performance snow tires or all-seasons in the winter. I ran into a pretty good nor'easter and the performance tires struggled even with the full-time all-wheel drive. Some ice and snow buildup on the alloys caused a brief rough ride until they heated up and spun off the debris. You've invested in this car so instead of garaging it for the winter, spend a few extra dollars to maximize your BMW as a year-round driver.

BMW has struck a nice balance in the luxury coupe field with its handsome styling and spacious interior and cements itself against some tough competition such as the Audi A5, Infiniti Q60 and the Mercedes-Benz C-class.

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B.R.A. OKs $500M Landmark center

Mayor Martin J. Walsh told hundreds of retailers the city will soon usher in a "new era of transparency" at the Boston Redevelopment Authority, just hours before the agency met for the first time since he took office, approving a massive Landmark Center development project in the Fenway — with full property taxes.

"From big business to small business, from neighborhood businesses and downtown businesses, we will make reforms, including better organization of our staff under a new economic development chief," Walsh told real estate professionals and investors at the Colliers International Annual Seminar at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center yesterday. "That will keep our economy growing. We will make Boston a leader in streamline transparent and effective job and business growth from Seaport Square to Dudley Square."

The Herald first reported Sunday that Walsh would seek a brand-new cabinet-level economic development czar to oversee the BRA and submit Beacon Hill legislation to reform the agency. Brian P. Golden, a former state representative and BRA executive director, has been named the agency's interim director. Walsh will also call for an independent audit of the BRA, though he's been short on specifics about what the probe will focus on.

Meanwhile, the BRA approved a major redevelopment of Landmark Center last night.

The Landmark developers will have to pay property taxes on the new construction. The same property had been previously granted tax breaks as a blighted area in 1996. The BRA came under fire following Herald reports during the final months of the Menino administration for granting breaks to high-end projects. Yesterday's approval with taxes took place without fanfare.

The project will create 550 apartments, 110,000 square feet of new retail space, 75,000 square feet for a new Wegman's grocery store, and 15,000 square feet of office space and parking. The $500 million development will feature three residential towers, a new food court and the Wegmans and have clear access to the T, developers said. They plan to demolish much of the existing building, but maintain the historic 200-foot Landmark tower, originally built in the 1920s for Sears, Roebuck and Co.

"It's been years in the Fenway working on various buildings and master planning and revitalizing of the neighborhood," said Steven Samuels of Samuels & Associates, the developer. "When acquisition of Landmark became available a couple of years ago, we envisioned it as a key piece in the final turnaround of the Fenway."

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High-end rentals offer way of life

It may be off-season for rentals, but a thousand high-end apartments have hit the Boston market.

The Victor near North Station has come on with 286 units, there's 381 apartments at the Kensington in Chinatown, the 99-unit Gatehouse 75 in Charlestown is also open. The 50 units at 11 West Broadway in Southie and the 202 units at 315 on A in Fort Point are both ready for move in.

The race is on to sign up tenants, and the developers believe that there's a pent-up demand out there. Normally it takes about a year to fully lease larger rental buildings.

Rents are high. At The Victor, they start at $2,795 for a studio up to $5,000 for one or two-bedroom units. The Kensington rents are even higher, ranging from $2,920 for a one-bedroom up to a staggering $10,645 for an upper-floor two bedroom. Rents at 315 on A straddle the two, starting at $2,279 for a studio, up to $5,289 for an upper-floor two bedroom.

They say in real estate it's all about location, location, location. But for these big new luxury apartment buildings, that's only part of the draw. Just as important are the amenities and creating a great urban living experience for their tenants.

These buildings offer condo building finishes, with quartz and granite counters and custom cabinets, on-site fitness centers — so you don't have to join a health club — and elaborate outdoor terraces that provide a sense of 
nature in the hard-edge city. They have common kitchen areas, lounges and club rooms where residents can serve meals or host a party and where guests can come over to watch a game. And they offer conference rooms and work spaces that allow residents who work at home to present a more professional face to their clients.

"The rents are high, but people are seeing the value in all the amenities, and that you can have it all right here in the building," said Drew Boujoulian, The Kensington's resident services manager. And that even includes dog-walking and pet-sitting services.

It appears to be drawing tenants. The Kensington is already 48 percent leased.

These buildings create their own neighborhoods even as they exist in larger neighborhoods. Residents can go out and get to know their surroundings, or if they don't have the time or inclination, create a community in the building they live in.

And these buildings aren't just drawing young professionals, but a lot of empty-nesters, testing the water for city living in 
environments that help them ease into urban life.

Each building has its own personality. The Victor has a wood-floored sports court — a homage to the nearby TD Garden — and a unique gift-wrapping station. At 315 on A, there's a common kitchen/lounge and fitness center on the 20th floor offering spectacular views. The Kensington has an outdoor pool and a shared car service.

The Victor seems more for corporate people, The Kensington has an air of urban exclusivity, while 315 on A targets its appeal to creative types.

Kelly Saito, president of 315 on A developer Gerding Edlen, added: "One big difference between what we offer and other big apartment dwellers is our focus on sustainability."

From the reclaimed wood on the lobby floor to its photovoltaic array on the roof, to the building's cogeneration heating and cooling system, 315 on A 
offers every imaginable green amenity.

The pitch seems to be working. Jessica Ryan, property manager of 
315 on A, said 26 percent of the building is leased.

Even though The Victor has only leased 10 percent of its units, the building's community manager 
Gabrielle Strahl says things are picking up, with eight leases already signed this month. And she doesn't even mind that lease-up is proceeding slowly.

"It's given me time to work out the hiccups and get to know personally everyone who's moved in here," Strahl said. "You don't get to do that when it gets really busy."

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The Ticker

Alnylam shares soar after Sanofi buys stake

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc. saw its biggest gain in almost 18 months after Sanofi and its Cambridge-based Genzyme unit agreed to pay $700 million for access to rare-disease treatments and a 12 percent stake in the biotechnology company.

Alnylam rose 41 percent to $93.28 at the close in New York, the biggest single-day gain since July 2012 and its highest value since the Cambridge-based company first offered shares to the public in May 2004.

Genzyme will gain greater access to Alnylam's Patisiran, a therapy for a life-threatening illness that damages the nervous system, as well as the rights to three other drugs, Paris-based Sanofi said in a statement.

Charter Communications offers to buy Time Warner Cable for $62.35B

Charter Communications Inc. has made a verbal offer to buy larger rival Time Warner Cable Inc. for $62.35 billion, including debt.

Charter is offering to pay $132.50 per share — about $83 per share in cash and the rest in its own stock — and is preparing to take its bid to shareholders of Time Warner Cable.

Jim Beam maker acquired by Suntory

The maker of classic American bourbon whiskey Jim Beam, Beam Inc., has been acquired by Japanese spirits giant Suntory Holdings for $13.6 billion in cash, the companies announced yesterday. Including the assumption of Beam's outstanding debt, the deal is valued at $16 billion and very well could create a new global leader in spirits and whiskey.

Suntory, which was founded in 1899, is a privately-held company known for producing Japan's first whiskey.

Today

 Commerce Department releases retail sales data for December.

 Commerce Department releases business inventories for November.

TOMORROW

 Labor Department releases the Producer Price Index for December.

 Federal Reserve releases Beige Book.

THE SHUFFLE

Murphy & King P. C. announced today that Elizabeth A. Murphy, left, has joined the law firm as a litigation associate in the firm's business litigation practice. Murphy will concentrate her practice on complex business and commercial litigation matters.

 Health Plan of Massachusetts, a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corp., announced the appointment of Jay Gonzalez as president and chief executive officer. He served as senior vice president and chief development officer of CeltiCare Health for the past nine months.

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Peyton Manning’s got ‘most to lose’

When the Patriots take on the Broncos on Sunday in Denver, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning will have more than the AFC Championship and a shot at the Super Bowl at stake.

Both quarterbacks earn millions of dollars in endorsements. But no one may have more to lose in terms of his future marketing potential than Manning, experts say.

"If the Patriots win, Manning will have the stigma of his inability to close the deal and win the big one," Doug Quintal, senior executive in residence at Emerson College's Marketing Communication Department, said, noting that Brady has won three of his five Super Bowls, whereas Manning has won only one of his two. "He's been the bridesmaid every time but once. And while that might not affect his existing endorsements, I don't know if he gets any new ones if he loses."

At 37, Manning is also a year older than Brady. And although Brady's annual $31.3 million in salary and winnings as of last June was nearly double his Broncos counterpart's $18 million, according to Forbes Magazine's 2013 list of the world's highest paid athletes, Manning earned $12 million in endorsements to Brady's $7 million, making them a key part of his overall earnings.

"Both Brady and Manning have well-established brands, but Manning has the stronger of the two because he does so many more endorsements," said Robert Rosenthal, who teaches marketing communication at Suffolk University. "For future marketing — once he retires — Manning has more to lose. ... It would be nice if he had the cache of having another Super Bowl ring."

In the short term, if Sunday's game is one for the ages, both men's images and legacies stand to be enhanced, said Marc Ganis, president of the Chicago-based consulting firm SportsCorp.

If the game turns into a blowout, however, Manning has the "most to gain and the most to lose," Ganis said.

"The reason is because the expectations for the Patriots are so low, and the expectations for the Broncos aren't," he said. "More than 25 percent of the Patriots' salary cap is on injured reserve. ... They're simply overachieving."

Neither quarterback will necessarily gain any endorsements based solely on the AFC Championship, Ganis said. However, if either Brady or Manning goes on to win the Super Bowl, things could get interesting.

"If one or the other wins the Super Bowl, their price goes up and their legacy goes up," he said. "Off of the AFC Championship, that won't necessarily happen."

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Smart Body Analyzer takes fitness monitoring to an impressive scale

Withings Smart Body Analyzer ($149.95, various retailers)

Just in time to keep your New Year's Resolution on track, the newly upgraded Smart Body Analyzer is like a scale on steroids. In addition to measuring your weight, the analyzer also records your resting heart rate, a key measure of fitness, as well as your body-fat percentage and even the quality of your indoor air.

The good: The Smart Body Analyzer reimagines household scales. It syncs seamlessly to an accompanying app each time you weigh via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. It's easy to use and sleeker than your old scale.

The bad: Don't use this product if you have a pacemaker, as it emits a small electrical charge to collect its data.

The bottom line: If you're serious about improving your overall fitness and want to track more than just your weight, this is a worthwhile investment.

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Helping businesses get social

The city's Office of Business Development is updating its services, offering businesses social media training and taking greater advantage of technology, responding to changing needs from business owners.

At a "Social Media 
Accelerator" on Monday at Harvard's iLab in Allston, small business owners got a crash course in Twitter, Facebook and other 
social media, one of the new breed of skills small businesses need, attendees and officials said.

"It's just the next evolution," said James DiSabatino, founder of Roxy's Grilled Cheese. "It's about finding that voice and showing other people who you really are."

Alec Stern, a vice president at Constant Contact, said businesses that aren't on Twitter or Facebook are behind.

"Everyone in the game — your competition — is on it," Stern told attendees.

The OBD, whose core purpose is to help small businesses navigate the permitting and licensing process, is seeing a shift in the help businesses need, OBD Deputy Director Rafael Carbonell said, and are going to evolve the services they offer to 
businesses.

"It's going to continue to evolve based on the needs we're hearing from the businesses," Carbonell said. "You're going to continue to see us do a lot more in the innovation and technology space that specifically enhances the needs of small businesses."

In the coming weeks, the city's Main Street program will install a screen in an empty storefront in Roslindale Village that will display real-time answers to the question, "What do you want to see here?"

The responses will ultimately be used to fill the vacancy.

In a statement, Neighborhood Development Director Sheila Dillion said, "By helping small businesses harness the power of social media, we're helping our Main Streets grow. It's collaboration and innovation like this that helps takes economic development to the next level throughout our entire city."

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VW Golf diesel teaches lessons about glowplugs

I have a 2001 VW Golf TDI. It starts right up but after I drive a few feet, the "Check engine" light pops on. I get a code P0380. I replaced the glow plugs, as they had 120,000 miles on them. Any help would really be appreciated.

According to my ALLDATA database, the P0380 DTC fault code relates to a problem with the glow plugs, the glow plug relay or the RPM sensor. But first, a question: Did you have the P0380 code cleared from the engine control module (ECM) after replacing the glow plugs? A scan tool is required to clear DTCs; they cannot be cleared manually.

If the P0380 code has returned after having been cleared, there is a continuing issue. The glow plugs on this diesel engine are controlled by the ECM, which engages the glow plug relay to turn them on to "preglow" to warm the air in the combustion chamber adequately to start the engine. When the glow plug light goes off, "preglow" is finished and the engine is ready to start. After the engine starts, the glow plugs operate in "afterglow" mode to shorten warmup time, reduce combustion noise and emissions. The "afterglow" mode lasts until engine RPM reaches 2,500, coolant temperature reaches 140 degrees F. or three minutes elapse.

Since the "Check engine" light comes on after the vehicle is in motion, meaning that engine RPM is likely above 2,500, the problem may well be associated with the RPM sensor.

My vehicle is kept outside all year. I did not get a good coat of wax on it before the cold and snow arrived. How do I get the snow and road grime off during the cold weather without having the doors freeze shut?

Whether or not the vehicle has been waxed, the only way to remove road debris, dirt, grime and — worst of all — salt is to wash the vehicle regularly and thoroughly. It's best not to wash a vehicle when temperatures are seriously below freezing, but if temperatures are or will be in the 20s or higher, wash the vehicle. In addition to the exterior painted surfaces, it is critically important to flush the underside, wheel wells, bumpers, valances and any areas that can trap winter debris. Also, wash the inside edges of the doors, hood and trunk along with their jambs and sills.

How can you keep the doors, hood and trunk from freezing closed after washing? Dry the inside edges, seals/gaskets, jambs and sills, then apply aerosol silicone spray to the door seals and gaskets and their contact surfaces.

To finish up, insert the extension tube of a spray lubricant/moisture dispersant like Deep Creep into the outside key slots and spray liberally. Do the same to the locking mechanism on the door jamb. Then operate each lock/latch a few times to make sure the lubricant is well distributed.

We bought a 2002 Lexus RX300 with 134,000 miles on it. The "Check engine" light indicated an issue with the camshaft sensor. The owner of the dealership said that if the vehicle was his, he wouldn't spend the money to replace it. What do you think?

A scan tool can identify the specific fault code associated with the "Check engine" light. P0340 indicates a cam sensor issue. P0345 indicates an issue with the variable valve timing actuator position sensor. Both are easily accessible under the engine cover. The cam sensor costs roughly $85 and takes about 20 minutes to install. Since both of these are part of the variable valve timing system, if either is faulty I wouldn't hesitate to replace it.

The dealer may be thinking of a more expensive failure of the variable valve timing system, but until you know the specific DTC that triggered the check engine light, you won't know.

Paul Brand, author of "How to Repair Your Car," is an automotive troubleshooter, driving instructor and former race-car driver. Readers may write to him at: Star Tribune, 425 Portland Ave. S., Minneapolis, Minn. 55488 or via email at paulbrand@startribune.com.

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Just one Mass. compounder registers with FDA

A Massachusetts hospital is one of 14 compounding pharmacies nationwide that has voluntarily registered with the Food and Drug Administration as the federal agency pushes states to inform businesses of new regulations passed in the wake of a deadly fungal meningitis outbreak.

Marlboro Hospital, a member of UMass Memorial Health Care alliance, is the only Bay State facility on the FDA's list of 14 compounding pharmacies registered by the federal agency.

Candra Szymanski, the hospital's chief operating officer who oversees its pharmacy, said the small community hospital sought FDA licensing of its pharmacy more than two years ago to increase supervision and boost quality when they began looking to provide compounded drugs to other hospitals in their affiliated group.

"We decided to up the ante a little bit and to be sure of the quality of the drugs we produce at our hospital and for the system if we do so," Szymanski said.

The new registration was a natural continuation of the FDA licensing Marlboro Hospital took on voluntarily, Szymanski said, which led to the hospital's pharmacy mixing drugs, not only for its own patients, but also for those at UMass Memorial Medical Center campuses.

In November, Congress enacted new regulations under which compounding pharmacies can voluntarily register with the FDA and submit to federal inspections in response to last year's fungal meningitis outbreak that was traced to the New England Compounding Center in Framingham that killed 64 people and sickened 751.

U.S. FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg last week sent letters to state officials who regulate compounding pharmacies on the local level to push the companies to seek federal registration, thereby voluntarily submitting to FDA oversight.

"States have a critical role to play in the oversight of pharmacy compounding," Hamburg wrote in her Jan. 8 letter to state health officials. "One new opportunity afforded states by (the new law) is the ability to encourage compounding pharmacies located outside of the state that ship compounded drugs into the state to register with FDA as outsourcing facilities. Once facilities are registered, states could be assured that FDA will inspect the facilities on a risk-based schedule."

She said there are more than 15,000 compounding pharmacies across the U.S. and federal food and drug officials continue to find problems at some of them.

Massachusetts lawmakers continue to work to come up with state regulations on compounding pharmacies. A conference committee met for the first time last week to sort out differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.

"When Governor Patrick launched his series of aggressive pharmacy reforms last fall, our mission was to ensure every patient can feel confident in knowing that their medicine is safe," state Department of Public Health spokeswoman Anne Roach said in a statement. "We look forward to continuing our work with leaders at the state and federal level to advance additional reforms that continue this mission."

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