BMW GROUP VEHICLES ENVIRONMENTALLY RECYCLABLE

Munich. The BMW Group has proved in a large industrial trial involving 501
pilot-production vehicles that it has already met the future high standards
defined for reusability, recyclability and usability today. The statutory
regulations for recycling include the EU Directive 2005/64/EU. This directive
specifies that at least 85 percent of new vehicles must be capable of being
recycled and up to 95 percent must be usable with effect from December 2008 at
the latest. These results verify that the recycling quotas can be achieved by
2015.

The pre-treatment of vehicles and dismantling of components for reuse was
carried out at the BMW Group Recycling and Dismantling Centre (RDZ). This
includes deactivation of pyrotechnic components by selective detonation and
separate removal of all liquids from the vehicle. The latest major trial only
involved components being assembled which can be redeployed as used parts.
Depending on their condition, these include wheels, or front and tail lights.
Shredding of the residual bodies and processing treatment for the material
fractions produced by post-shredder technology was carried out at partner
processing companies. These processes enable metals and composites containing
metals to be used in entirety as secondary raw materials directly or following
further reprocessing. Plastic waste materials in the form of a mixture of types
of plastic are particularly important. The products created were used as
recyclates for the manufacture of new components and as replacements for
conventional reducing agents, e.g. coke and heavy oil, in furnaces. This means
that material cycles are closed efficiently and ecologically. The high
proportion of re-used and commercially recycled materials demonstrates the
importance of old vehicles as a raw-material resource.

The initial operations of the large-scale trial were carried out at the
Recycling and Dismantling Centre. The commitment of the BMW Group to
continually optimising the recycling process has been concentrated here since
1994. Today, the certified specialist operation is one of the leading
international facilities of its kind. The RDZ acts as a development platform
and also launches important initiatives for dismantling and drainage
techniques, and for future recycling concepts. The BMW Group also pre-empts a
large number of measures in the design and development of its vehicles which
ultimately promote efficient and ecological re-use of the products. The BMW
Group organises this initiative under the concept of Design for Recycling. For
example, all components containing liquids are designed so that operating
liquids such as oil, fuel, brake fluid and coolants can be removed quickly and
easily prior to dismantling. Pyrotechnic components are designed so that they
can be rendered harmless selectively by plugging into a central socket
connection. This significantly simplifies and shortens the process of
dismantling and re-use.

Further information on the recycling strategy of the BMW Group can be accessed
by clicking on www.bmwgroup.com/recycling. Drivers who want to have their BMW
or MINI recycled free of charge professionally can find information under
www.bmw.com/recycling or www.mini.com/recycling.