BMW announces 2005 model-year changes - a raft of enhancements offered across the range

BMW Great Britain has revealed numerous specification enhancements including
digital TV compatibility, MP3 decoders and a plethora of interior and exterior
changes for the new model year. Launched across most model ranges and offering
customers improved choice and value for money, the changes apply to all 3
Series, X3 and 5 Series cars built after 1 September and all X5 and Z4 models
built after 1 October, 2004.

BMW 3 Series Saloon
All petrol-engined, non-Sport 3 Series Saloon models are now available with a
Plus package, offering a group of previously high value optional items,
free-of-charge. The Plus package includes metallic paintwork, unique 17"
five-spoke alloy wheels and M aerodynamic body styling, all enhancing the
visual appeal of the car while improving value for money and residual values.

All BMW 3 Series diesel models retain their free three years or 60,000-mile
service and maintenance package.

BMW 3 Series Coupé
BMW 3 Series Coupé customers purchasing a non-Sport model can now specify the
Hi-Line package on their cars. Offering a unique 17" 10-spoke alloy wheel
design, metallic paint and Montana leather upholstery, the package is priced
between £800 and £1,250, depending upon model, representing a customer saving
of between 33 and 46 per cent.

BMW 3 Series Coupé and Convertible
BMW 3 Series Coupé and Convertible customers now have additional exterior
colours and interior upholsteries to choose from. Sparkling Graphite, Sonora
and Havanna metallic exterior finishes complement Finolino cloth / leather
combinations available in Anthracite or Sonora. Additionally, a new range of
Futura Exclusive leather, in Garnet Red, Light Beige, Light Grey or Black is
matched with Poplar Smoke Grey wood trim to add an air of luxury in the cabin.
All Coupé SE models (except 330Ci/Cd SE) also now benefit from a new standard
16" seven-spoke alloy wheel style.

Customers opting for the Professional Navigation system including TV now have
the benefit of being able to receive reception of digital TV stations. In
recognition of this upgrade, the option price has increased by £70 to £2,345.

A new option for customers wanting to safely and legally use their mobile
telephone in the car is also available. 'Bluetooth phone preparation with
functionality for BMW Assist', priced at £500 (£740 for 318Ci ES), offers users
of some Bluetooth-equipped telephones the opportunity of using the wireless
connection to select numbers from the phonebook and make / receive hands-free
calls by simply using the multifunction steering wheel. This is differentiated
from the 'standard' Bluetooth option by the addition of a telephone SIM card
within the telephone control unit for the benefit of the BMW Assist system.

In conjunction with the optional Professional Navigation system and BMW Assist
(ordered separately), if the car is involved in a severe accident rendering the
occupants unable to contact the Emergency Services themselves, the car takes
over. When the airbags are detonated, the BMW Assist system dials 999. If the
operator receives no response from the occupants, the relevant Emergency
Service is alerted and provided with details of the car's model, colour and
registration number alongside its position, courtesy of the navigation system.

BMW 5 Series Saloon and Touring
Customers ordering the recently announced 5 Series Sport models can now specify
their car in Carbon Black, previously only available from BMW's Individual
palette. Inside, Flashlight cloth / leather is offered on Sport models while
optional high-gloss Light Poplar wood and Brushed Aluminium trims further
increases the quality feel of the interior.

A plethora of other optional equipment enhancements are new for the 2005 model
year 5 Series. Like the 3 Series Coupé and Convertible, the TV function now
includes analogue and digital TV reception, making viewing of any non-coded
digital stations possible. As a result, the price of the option has increased
by £70 to £680. BMW's Business Navigation now comes as standard with TMC, the
traffic monitoring system previously only available with the Professional
Navigation option (now priced at £1,200), while the Professional radio option
now includes an MP3 decoder.

Extended Voice Control is another new option for the 2005 model year. Priced at
£270 it enables the majority of iDrive functions to be accessed via voice
control, e.g. names and numbers on a telephone's SIM can be accessed and radio
stations can be selected by a vocal command.

A new rear headphone system is now available to order, priced at £185, for
those many customers whose children demand different music to those in the
front seats. Rear seat passengers can listen to the CD player on their
headphones while adults in the front listen to the radio, or vice versa. The
option also includes a remote control for music selection.

An anthracite headlining is now available to order on all models, as is Sun
Protection Glazing - something previously only available as an option on Saloon
models.

BMW 6 Series Coupé and Convertible
Like its 5 Series relative, 6 Series Coupé and Convertible models specified
with TV function now come with the benefit of digital and analogue TV
reception. Both 6 Series models also reflect the change to the Professional
radio option coming with an MP3 decoder.

Additionally, both the 6 Series Coupé and Convertible variants can now feature
Active Cruise Control. Previously only available on 5 and 7 Series models,
Active Cruise Control, priced at £1,215, allows the driver to continue at a
predetermined speed thanks to radar mounted below the front valance that takes
account of other cars moving into its path. On 'seeing' a car ahead, Active
Cruise Control decelerates the 6 Series to match the speed of the other car,
before accelerating to the previous speed when the obstacle has passed.

Also new on the options list for the 6 Series is High Gloss Shadowline,
replacing the standard chrome window surrounds with a gloss black finish. An M
Sports multifunction steering wheel is also now available, priced at £70, as is
the same Extended Voice Control option already outlined in the 5 Series
section.

BMW X3
The recent announcement of the X3 2.0d has heralded a change in the external
appearance of the Sports Activity Vehicle. The vertical slats in the kidney
grilles and lower side window trim of the 2.5i and 3.0i models are now chrome,
while the 2.0d models retain black.

Internally, all cars also now come as standard with a covered storage
compartment bin, located on top of the dashboard panel that was previously only
available as a part of the Storage Compartment Package.

For those carrying children in their X3, front seat-mounted ISOFIX mountings
are now available to order, priced at £55. In conjunction with a
driver-selectable passenger seat airbag deactivation, three infants can now be
transported in safety.

Like other 2005 model year cars in the range, customers specifying the TV
function now receive a digital and analogue receiver, enabling the viewing of
uncoded digital stations. Accordingly, the retail price of the option has
increased to £680. In addition, as on the 3 Series Coupé and Convertible, X3
customers can now also specify Bluetooth phone preparation with functionality
for BMW Assist. When specified alongside Professional Navigation and BMW
Assist, this option enables an accident-damaged car to make an emergency call
for assistance if the occupants are unable to make the call themselves.

BMW X5
Like other 2005 model year BMW cars, X5 models specified with a TV will now be
able to receive both digital and analogue signals, allowing the driver to
receive uncoded digital stations when the car is stationary. Also, X5's can be
specified with Bluetooth phone preparation with functionality for BMW Assist.

BMW Z4
Customers specifying their Z4 roadster in Maldives Blue are now able to opt for
a matching Maldives Blue / Black Active Sports cloth / leather combination.
Also, interior trims that were previously of a titanium matt finish will now
revert to a black finish. Customers can now specify a high gloss Light Poplar
wood trim. Again, Z4 owners can also now benefit from a TV that is able to
receive both digital and analogue signals when specified.

Ends