First BMW Coupé with diesel reaches the UK in October

Sublime handling and tax-busting economy are what customers can expect from
BMW's new 320Cd, which arrives in the UK this October - the first BMW Coupé to
be equipped with a diesel engine in the UK. Its combination of enviable
performance, low carbon dioxide emissions, and the first Euro IV BMW diesel
engine to hit UK showrooms, are set to make the latest addition to the 3 Series
range a hit with both private buyers and company car drivers.

Prices are confirmed at £24,310 on-the-road for the base model and £26,620 for
the Sport variant.

BMW 320Cd performance:
Powered by BMW's second generation common rail two-litre diesel engine, the
320Cd reaches a top speed of 137 mph and achieves a sporty 0-62 mph figure of
8.8 seconds. Its 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine delivers a class-leading
maximum power output of 150 bhp. This means it can accelerate from 50 - 75 mph
in just 7.2 seconds.

BMW's six-speed manual gearbox is offered as standard, providing short and
precise gear changes. A five-speed automatic gearbox with Adaptive Gear Control
(AGS) and Steptronic is also available as an option. AGS learns a driver's
style and adapts shift points accordingly. It also recognises uphill and
downhill gradients as well as bends and prevents the transmission from shifting
up in mid bend, retaining the correct transmission ratio for accelerating
cleanly away.

Economy:
For drivers of the 320Cd, piling on the pounds - that's up to 239 lb-ft (330Nm)
of torque at just 2000 rpm - needn't mean sacrificing them from the wallet.
That's because the 320Cd boasts outstanding economy figures.

As well as modest fuel consumption of 49.6 miles per gallon on the combined
cycle (40.9 with automatic gearbox) the 320Cd emits just 153 g/km CO2.

Being Euro IV compliant, the 320Cd negates the three per cent government
surcharge applied to drivers of most diesel-engined cars. That makes it an
attractive proposition for company car drivers, falling within the lowest 15
per cent band for company car tax.

Sporty addition to 3 Series Coupé range:
Thanks to its sleek coupe proportions, sporty diesel engine, trademark 50:50
weight distribution, rear wheel drive, and typically direct steering, BMW's
320Cd will be hailed as a true sports coupe. Suspension is stiffer and set 15
mm lower than the saloon and, as on all BMWs, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
is a standard 'safety net' to help keep the car going in the intended direction.

Adaptive headlights can also be specified, in conjunction with Bi-Xenon
headlamps, significantly improving visibility when cornering. This £990.00
option swivels headlamps by up to 15 degrees, taking information from the wheel
speed sensor, steering angle and yaw sensors. Adaptive headlights allow
drivers to 'see' round corners, with headlamp beams focusing on where the car
is travelling rather than where it is pointing.

Euro IV 3.0-litre Coupé arrives in 2004:
The new BMW 320Cd is the first 3 Series Coupé in the UK to be powered by a
diesel engine that is Euro IV compliant. It follows the international launch of
the 330 Cd this year, a model which arrives in UK showrooms in March 2004 -
also sporting a Euro IV compliant power plant.

Free servicing and maintenance as standard:
Buyers of the new 320Cd will benefit from the free servicing and maintenance,
applicable to all new diesel 3 Series models. Originally offered on all diesels
purchased before the end of June, but recently extended for the foreseeable
future, the package is valid for five years or 60,000 miles and includes:

· Oil services
· Inspection services
· Brake pads and discs
· Brake fluid replacement
· Wiper blades
· All labour charges and VAT

As well as freedom from normal service and maintenance bills, owners will
benefit from strong residual values as it is fully transferable to subsequent
owners.

Sales performance - 2003:
The Coupé body style is second only to the saloon variant in BMW's best-selling
3 Series range. From January to May 2003 BMW sold 5,384 3 Series Coupé models,
nearly 18 per cent of all 3 Series sales. A total of 8,002 diesel 3 Series were
sold during the same period, making 26.7 per cent of total 3 Series sales.

ENDS