ADAC "Gelber Engel" prize in 2009: BMW X3 once again the most reliable vehicle on Germany's roads.

Munich. You always can rely on it: the BMW X3 has finished first in the
ADAC quality ranking for the second time in succession. As in the
previous year, the Sports Activity Vehicle was awarded the renowned
ADAC "Gelber Engel" prize in the "Quality"
category. Germany's automobile club thus once again deems the BMW X3 to
be the most reliable vehicle on Germany's roads. The "Gelber
Engel" award is based on an evaluation of some 2 million cases
drawn from ADAC breakdown statistics as well as a customer satisfaction
study by the club magazine "ADAC motorwelt" in which around
43,000 readers participated this time. In the ADAC breakdown
statistics, the BMW X3 was once again the model which last year made
least work for the ADAC roadside assistance mechanics, known in Germany
as the "Gelbe Engel". This experience confirms the high
quality level of the Sports Activity - one of the vehicle's key success
factors alongside it fascinatingly agile driving response. The BMW X3
has become a best-seller worldwide, with 500,000 having been supplied
as of November 2008. A pioneer and still a role model in its category:
the BMW X3. Fitted as standard with the intelligent all-wheel drive
system xDrive, the BMW X3 is a pioneer and still the benchmark for the
vehicles of its segment. This also applies in the area of efficiency.
An unbeatably economical balance of driving fun and fuel consumption is
especially provided by the BMW X3 xDrive20d. Its 130 kW/177 bhp
4-cylinder diesel engine with all-aluminium crankcase and common rail
direct injection of the latest generation is combined with a number of
BMW EfficientDynamics measures. The BMW X3 xDrive20d offers impressive
pulling power with an average fuel consumption as per EU test cycle of
only 6.5 litres per 100 kilometres. Its range of qualities has led the
BMW X3 to win a number of renowned awards. Twice in succession it was
voted "Off-road vehicle of the year" and "All-wheel
vehicle of the year" by the automobile magazines "Off
Road" and "Auto Bild Alles Allrad" respectively. The
vehicle's unique combination of quality, driving fun and efficiency
also benefit its value retention. In the off-road vehicle category, the
market analysis experts of EurotaxSchwacke ranked the BMW X3 as number
one on their 2008 automobile forecast index, showing the SAV model to
have lowest level of value loss of all vehicles in this segment.
"Gelber Engel": a seal of quality which carries considerable
weight. The quality verdict documented by the ADAC "Gelber
Engel" prize is based on the experience of professional experts as
well as customer assessments. The ADAC breakdown statistics cover all
call-outs carried out by the "Gelbe Engel" on the roads of
Germany for vehicles between one and six years old. The ranking list of
the most reliable models is based on the number of breakdowns per 1000
vehicles registered. There is also an evaluation based on a broad-based
customer satisfaction survey run by the club magazine "ADAC
motorwelt". All model series produced in numbers of over 10,000
units each for three years in succession in largely unaltered form are
assessed from these two perspectives. In addition to a snapshot
impression, this also provides a long-term picture of a vehicle's
reliability, showing that the premium quality of BMW models provides an
excellent basis for long-term satisfaction.