November News in Brief

Class-leading DAB radio capability across the BMW range

BMW is to offer DAB radio as standard across its entire range from January 2013. The move sees the marque establish a marked lead in the switch over to digital radio compared to its competitors and comes soon after it offered owners of older BMWs the chance to upgrade their vehicles with a retrofit solution.

The 360 degree solution to the forthcoming digital switch over means no BMW owner of a modern vehicle will have to go without in-car entertainment when analogue radio broadcasts are discontinued. DAB radio will be fitted as standard from the entry level BMW 114i 3-door Sports Hatch all the way up to the BMW 760Li. No other mainstream premium manufacturer currently offers such a breadth of in-car entertainment.

The benefits of DAB have been compared to the switch over from AM to FM as the preferred medium. Digital radio offers greater choice to the listener with better reception and superior sound quality. Currently 94 per cent of the UK is covered by DAB signal with approximately 24 million listeners a week using the format at least once.

News of the class-leading across the range DAB offer comes soon after BMW partnered with Connects2 and its AutoDAB product to offer a fully integrated retrofit digital radio that is compatible with all BMWs with an RDS text-equipped FM radio. 

The unique interface is the first fully integrated aftermarket digital radio available for BMWs in the UK. The AutoDAB system fits behind the dashboard, plugging into the existing radio.  Fitting seamlessly behind the existing head-unit, installation takes on average one hour with no additional box or dangling wires, just a small aerial running from the back of the unit, affixing discretely to the top left corner of the windscreen.

Once installed, the station, artist information and song titles are all transmitted via RDS and displayed as text on the car’s existing display.  All DAB functions are controlled by a radio frequency remote control fixed to the dashboard and favourite digital radio stations can be stored for quick access, with FM radio stations still available. The BMW digital radio retrofit is priced at £299 fitted and available to order from your local BMW dealer.

BMW model portfolio receives raft of enhancements
January 2013 sees the introduction of a higher level of standard equipment on several BMW models. The BMW 1 Series Sports Hatch gains BMW Professional Radio with a 6.5-inch monitor as standard along with an upgrade to DAB capability, while SE, Sport, Urban and M Sport models also gain rain sensor with automatic headlight activation. The BMW 1 Series Coupé and Convertible, and the BMW X3 gain the same radio enhancements as the Sports Hatch with the addition of Bluetooth and USB Audio Interface now as standard.

BMW scores double win with Fleet News

BMW produces the most reliable company cars in the UK, according to a survey of the 50 largest contract hire and leasing companies. Companies in the FN50 are surveyed each year and ranked according to fleet size and asked to name their most reliable vehicles. Those responding to the car reliability survey have combined fleet sizes numbering more than 585,000, while those providing information for the car manufacturer element have a total car parc of more than 484,000.

BMW actually repeated its double victory in the FN50 reliability survey coming top as most reliable car manufacturer, as well as having three cars in the top 10. The BMW 3 Series was named as most reliable car while the 1 Series and 5 Series were named as eighth and tenth most reliable respectively. BMW also beat a top five of Audi, Honda, Volkswagen and Toyota to be crowned most reliable manufacturer.

Tim Abbott, Managing Director at BMW UK, said: “To have three of our biggest-selling cars in the top ten is a fantastic achievement and our customers will take great heart from realising they not only drive a class-leading car in terms of efficiency and driving pleasure but also one that is the most reliable too.

“To have the BMW 3 Series crowned the most reliable company vehicle in a car parc of nearly 600,000 UK cars is quite a statement, while no other manufacturer can boast three big-selling models in the top ten to take the honour of most reliable outright manufacturer. Both titles are for the second year in a row. Following this news we will soon offer further initiatives for the corporate customer that will add to the ownership experience, but more of that shortly.”

BMW launches new Aftersales Corporate Charter

BMW has launched a new service standard for corporate customers who are some of the highest mileage owners in the UK. When a business depends on efficient and reliable vehicles then a quick and hassle-free dealer experience is required to ensure a vehicle is off the road for the least time and the business can continue running.

BMW’s Aftersales Corporate Charter has been signed by all 147 UK dealers and sees such time-saving features as a free of charge vehicle collection and delivery within 15 miles and MOT Protect, which covers any vehicle that has had work carried out at the dealer in its first MOT, become the new standard. Other points see workshop availability guaranteed within three working days for those owners not taking a courtesy car, or seven days for those that do, while there is now no cost for the environmental disposal or consumable charge. And every finished vehicle is handed back with a wash and vacuum to complete the premium service.

Tim Abbott, Managing Director at BMW UK, said: “The customer is at the heart of everything we do and we have to ensure everything we do as a business delivers on our premium position in the market and makes those customers feel proud to own a BMW. In 2011 we launched the Five Star Scheme that allowed customers to rate their dealership experience and this has seen an increase in customer satisfaction. This Corporate Charter is the next step in ensuring that every point of contact with us when you are an owner goes the extra mile.”

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