Approved Used Cars News in Brief

Mobile phone search for Approved Used Cars
BMW is the first car manufacturer in the UK to offer a mobile phone search
system to customers looking for a used car. This innovative new search
function enables customers to find their ideal used BMW anytime, anywhere from
a mobile.

The new system allows a search to be carried out by model and price from any UK
BMW dealership, or to search the Approved Used BMW stock offered by a local
dealer. In addition, the search can be narrowed down by fuel type,
transmission and preferred options. Search results are specifically adapted
for use by any WAP enabled 2.5G or 3.0G mobile device. They include an image of
the car and full contact details of the supplying dealer, with the ability to
save a favourite car for reference. For a link to the mobile search function
the customer simply texts 'Search' to 61100.

Record used car sales
BMW (UK) Ltd is set to achieve record used car sales through its dealer network
in 2006. Over 80,322 BMW Approved Used Cars and MINI Cherished vehicle sales
had been recorded by the end of October. This shows a year-to-date increase of
13.5 per cent compared to the same period as last year's record year.

Sales of BMW Approved Used Cars accounted for 59,666 vehicles in the first ten
months, an increase of 10.3 per cent compared to 2005.


The top 10 BMW Approved Used Car models were:

Ranking BMW Model Volumes sold 2006 YTD
1 X5 3.0d Sport 2,783
2 320d SE Saloon 1,547
3 M3 Coupé 1,323
4 318i SE Saloon 1,031
5 M3 Convertible 988
6 320Cd M Sport Coupé 968
7 120d Sport 942
8 530d SE Saloon 874
9 Z4 3.0i SE Roadster 858
10 320i SE Saloon 843

Jim O'Donnell, Managing Director BMW (UK) Limited, commented: "2006 is proving
to be another extremely successful year for BMW. New car sales are buoyed by
record used car sales and we expect to achieve another record-breaking year in
a market that is generally in decline. Approved used cars are the bedrock to
strong residual values and support the new car market. We will not rest on our
laurels however and will continue to work with our dealers as they focus on
this important business opportunity."

This exceptional performance underlines the growing importance of the used car
market to BMW UK. In 2005 the total UK industry volume for used cars was more
than three times that of the new car market.

This performance also supports strong residual values (RVs) for BMW, a key
purchase decision for many owners. As an example, according to Glass's Guide,
BMW's highest selling model the 320d SE Saloon currently enjoys 49.1 per cent
retained value over three years and 36,000 miles - a stronger performance than
its competitors.

Proving that the BMW Group offers products that appeal to the heart and wallet,
Auto Express announced recently that BMW had the best residual values in the
compact executive and executive sectors. The BMW 318d SE retained 51.6 per cent
of its value over three years and the 535d SE 51.7 per cent. MINI meanwhile
dominated the supermini category. The MINI One D retained a massive 61.1 per
cent, making it one of the best performers in any sector.

The interest in BMW used cars is also borne out by the fact that BMW continues
to be the most searched-for marque on the UK's biggest used car database. The
www.autotrader.co.uk website handles an average of 18 car buyer searches every
second or 1.6 million searches every day. Research has found that used car
buyers increasingly prefer to search for German cars, with BMW being the most
popular. The marque now accounts for 9.3 per cent of all used car searches.

BMW 5 Series scoops What Car? award...again!
The BMW 5 Series scooped the gong for 'Best Executive' car at this year's What
Car? 2006 Used Car of the Year awards, the fourth year in a row that the 5
Series has won its category.
The five-year-old 530d SE automatic beat the Jaguar XJ8 to claim top spot, with
the judging panel calling the 5 Series the best diesel car on sale in recent
years. The panel of experts from What Car? said: "The 530d auto can do it all:
waft along in imperious calm on long motorway hauls; transport the family and
their luggage in comfort; and even raise a smile on your favourite back-road."

Ends