BMW Group USA total sales are down for the year to date 3.9% and down 11% for the month when compared to 2007.
BMW sales are down a staggering 17% for June and 9% for the year to date. MINI continues to reap the benefits of US consumers awakening to high fuel prices with an increase in sales of 24.8% for June and 33.6% for the year to date compared to 2007.
BMW NA Press Release: The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) today reported June vehicle sales of 26,155, a decline of 11 percent from the 29,394 vehicles sold in the same month of 2007. For the first six months of 2008, BMW Group sales are down 3.9 percent to 157,913 vehicles versus the 164,338 sold in the first half of 2007.
For better or worse the BMW M3 has grown up. The Alpine White four door M3 we tested for a week could not illustrate this any better. From its (relatively) compliant ride to the 3726 lbs curb weight, the E90 four door M3 is a completely different animal from what came before it. Yet as a concept it has held true to its motorsports roots. The engine noise, the ability to configure your driving experience, its the little things that add up to the special feel only an M product can deliver.
We tested the E90 four door M3 in and around Chicago as well a couple long distance drives around the midwest to get a clearer picture of how the M3 has changed and ultimately if it lives up to the badge and the M brand. What we found is a car that defines the word sport sedan perhaps better than anything ever made while offering creature comforts that BMW owners have come to expect.
When we last reviewed the BMW 135i in February the car had yet to go on sale in the US and there were numerous questions about everything from design and packaging to performance. What we learned with that initial drive is that the 135i delivered well enough in the areas of performance to negate any niggling design or packaging issues. However that was over the course of a day in and around some of the best roads Northern California has to offer. Our question this time around; how would the 135i fare through the rigors of a week in Chicago.
Our Montego Blue 135i came equipped with almost every option available. The most notable were the Sport package, Premium package and the 6-speed Automatic Transmission. The Sport package consists of just a few options on the 135i since the car comes standard with a M developed suspension, aero-kit and unique steering rack. However the thick, perforated M steering, shift knob and ebrake handle that come on the package add some subtle yet noticeable improvements to the touch-points drivers interact with the most. The Premium pack delivers leather, auto wipers, power seats w/lumbar support (a surprisingly nice addition), auto dimming mirrors along with some nice touches like the power folding mirrors and exterior door lighting. While I would consider all of it purely a luxury from an enthusiast point of view, it can be hard to pass up considering the cost of leather alone.
It is once again Friday so what a better way to kick off the weekend then showing a clip of the guys at Top Gear doing what they do best. Once you watch the clip and then do a double take we would love to hear your comments on hybrids in general, BMW will be releasing hybrids in the X6 and 7 series sometime next year so even BMW fans are not immune to the wrath of the hybrid!
We have been hearing for the past several days that deliveries for 2009 3 series cars are being moved back until October 13th. The original info we had received was for European Delivery cars but what we are hearing now is that it is across the board. All 3ers are affected and not just the E90. This has to do with EPA requirements for re-certification.
Production of German made cars will begin in September; October for Roslyn builds.
Also, worth noting is that with the option of the front park distance control on the E90 it will need to be re-crash certified as well. There are other rumors circulating as to the reasons for this and as always we will bring you the facts as soon as we can! At this time we are also not sure if other models are affected.
With the upcoming release of the next generation BMW 7 Series we thought a nice stroll down memory lane would be in order. We have compiled a brief history of the model line since the inception of the 7 moniker in 1977.
The first 7 Series followed the BMW design that was introduced in the 1977 6 Series coupe. It combined an elegant exterior along with new technical innovations. This original 7 (E23) was designed to provide the sporty handling of a BMW along with powerful refined engines in a package for the upper class of society. The initial flagship of this first 7 series was released in 1980 as the 745i. Interestingly enough the car’s designation did not indicate displacement (and many thought today’s models started that trend!) it was powered by a 3.2 litre turbo 6-cylinder engine. It was one of the performance leaders in the sedan segment at the time. Over the 9-year span it was built (1977-1986) about 280,000 of this model were produced. It was a huge success for BMW.
All indicators are go for the PAS (Progressive Activity Sedan) according to Auto Motor und Sport and it will hit the stage in Frankfurt next year.
Essentially think F10 5 series, in hatch back form rather than a sport wagon, an X6 without the “X”. There have been some spy shots on the net but this artist impression is a good look at what the overall theme of the vehicle will be.
It is interesting that they are going to build this “hatch” and more than likely target the US with it but have no plans to bring the hatch people actually want, the 1 Series. BMW does intend to design and build a car for each niche market moving forward but the real question is if this model will replace the sport wagon and/or just impact the sales number of them.
We just obtained the ordering guides from a source and are needless to say a bit disappointed. There is no mention of the 335d, E92/93, the 1er or any of the SAVs. This may just be a preliminary guide to be further updated later on but something just does not seem “right” about this. We expect things to change but for now this is what we have. Note these are indeed dated last week.
While the models we mentioned here the other day will see those changes, there is little in these documents that mention any other changes excluding “615 Online Information Services”, which could translate to a variety of things, including Connected Drive.
Autofiends.com has some nice photos of a new 335d hot weather testing out in Death Valley. Interesting to finally see the AdBlue filler cap (circle in bumper) for the urea injection system in body color.
We have been hearing rumblings from sources and in the community that the 335d release has been moved from October to December, though this has yet to be confirmed.
From the rear angle shots they were able to obtain you can see the new rear bumper fascia and body lines. There appears to be some change to the area behind the Hoffmeister kink in addition to the lights and bumper.
For further info on the BMW Advanced Diesels please see our previous articles here.
Though the CS concept has been shown many times and described by BMW countless more times some of the finer design points get lost. One of these is the incredible moving turn signal located on the front fenders and doors. Essentially that due to the location and position on the front door the turn signal pops out and slides to allow the door to open. You can view this at 2:18 in the following movie.
What the recent spy shots of the “F” from our friends at Bimmerpost reveal is that the production car will have its turn indicators in nearly the same location as the CS, part on the fender and part on the door. How they implemented those lights to remain in that position is still up for debate but the shape and location is similar to the CS. The light appears to be smaller in size so the setup may be two hinged pieces allowing the light the remain fixed, we will no more shortly.
This image allows the long and short wheel bases to be compared, the rear door is larger than the front on the long wheel base. These shots are from final testing on the “Ring”.
More info on the soon to be released 7 can be found here
Official Press Release: On 19 June 2008, Chairman of the Board of Management of the BMW Group, Dr. Norbert Reithofer, opened the BMW Museum in an official opening ceremony. He highlighted the importance of tradition for the company: “Awareness of our heritage, the experiences and developments that our company has been through give us direction, power and inspiration for our work”.
After a period of construction lasting two and a half years, visitors can look forward to more than 120 exhibits in museum space covering 5,000 square metres. They will be presented in a completely new exhibition concept. The circular museum building right next to the company head office tower will continue to be a landmark. The adjacent low-level building now complements the “Bowl” - as the circular museum building has been designated ever since it was opened in 1973. This has entailed increasing the available floorspace fivefold. The museum will open its doors to the public this coming Saturday, 21 June 2008 from 10.00.
BimmerFile is dedicated to bringing you the most interesting news, links and reviews related to the BMW brand and it's vehicles.
We believe in the old school BMW ownership experience. We believe in garage nights with a six pack and some friends. We believe in 2002s, in E30 M3s and E34 540s with the 6 speed. We believe in progress in both design and engineering but we haven't lost sight of what made the brand and its products great all those years ago. And yes, we believe in the manual transmission.
We long for the days of the wave and for the days of roll-up windows. Yet we love the gadgets on the inside and the xenons on the outside.
In short, we can't get enough of BMWs. This is BimmerFile.
Sections: Sales/Marketing Jul 2nd, 2008 No Comments 
