Via BMW: Over a year ago, BMW Financial Services launched The Ultimate Drive smartphone app for iPhone and Android, which lets you find millions of miles of user-suggested driving routes and receive special discounts for BMW FS (U.S. customers only). Today, we’ve made the app available to an even wider audience with a standalone Facebook app — The Ultimate Drive for Facebook. Anyone who has a Facebook account can now access our free app from their computer!

In addition to making The Ultimate Drive App available to all Facebook users (more than a billion people!), BMW Financial Services has also extended the voucher program previously available via mobile app only. Now mobile and Facebook users can claim vouchers worth up to $700 off the first … CONTINUED

The BMW Group experienced growth in many regions around the world in September and achieved another record month in sales. With 177,716 (prev. yr. 159,223) BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brand automobiles delivered worldwide, sales were 11.6% higher than in the same month last year. It was also the best first nine months for the company, with sales up 8.3% compared to the same period last year. A total of 1,335,502 BMW Group vehicles were delivered during this time (prev. yr. 1,232,619).

Ian Robertson, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Sales and Marketing BMW: “We made solid gains in many of our markets last month and were once again able to achieve record sales in September, despite the difficult environment in some European … CONTINUED

The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported September sales of 26,660 vehicles, an increase of 3.5 percent from the 25,749 vehicles sold in the same month a year ago. Year-to-date, BMW Group is up 7.1 percent on sales of 234,928 in the first nine months of 2012 compared to 219,314 in the same period in 2011.

“The economic indicators and consumer confidence are showing improvement and the traffic in our showrooms is further encouraging our optimism for the fourth quarter of the year as the BMW new model ramp-up continues”, said Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO, BMW of North America, LLC. “The X1 in its first full month is largely sold out and MINI set another sales record; both are strong indicators of … CONTINUED

With their expressive and unmistakeable design, BMW’s latest new models convince not only juries of experts at renowned competitions, but also the general public. Latest example of this is BMW’s double victory in the readers’ survey conducted by the trade magazine “auto, motor und sport”. In the vote for the best design innovations 2012, the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé and the new BMW 3 Series Sedan each attained a top position in their respective vehicle segment. As a result, both models are now being honoured with the “autonis” award presented by “auto, motor und sport”. “We are very happy to receive the awards for the new BMW 3 Series and the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé. Such a positive feedback from our customers and friends … CONTINUED

BMW Manufacturing Co. announced today that the National Association of Foreign Trade Zones (NAFTZ) recognized the company as its Exporter of the Year. In addition, the NAFTZ recognized BMW as the recipient of its Export Achievement Award for being the member that showed the most improvement in value.

BMW’s plant in South Carolina has steadily increased its export activity. According to data from the U.S. Department of Commerce, based on the 2011 value of BMW exports from South Carolina, the company’s Spartanburg facility is the largest automotive exporter from the U.S.

BMW’s plant in Spartanburg currently produces over 1,000 vehicles each day and is the exclusive exporter of X3 and X5 Sports Activity Vehicles and the X6 Sports Activity Coupe through the Port of Charleston. This year, the … CONTINUED

The new BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Saloon has fought off tough competition to once again be crowned Best Executive Car of the Year at the What Car? Green Awards 2012, going on to top the field and be awarded the prestigious accolade of Green Car of the Year.

The BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Saloon won over the judges with its unconventional statistics, combining outstanding fuel efficiency and emissions with impressive performance. With a combined fuel consumption of 68.9mpg and CO2 emissions of 109g/km, the 320d EfficientDynamics Saloon is still capable of travelling from zero to 62mph in 8.0 seconds. It was this no-compromise blend that ensured the most parsimonious 3 Series model took the top green honour.

Not to be left in its big brother

On 14 September 2012 the BMW Driving Academy will open for business. This new BMW Group driver training centre just outside Munich lies close to the heart of the company, with barely 30 kilometres separating it from BMW headquarters. The site of what used to be the Fürstenfeldbruck airfield in Maisach covers some 130 hectares (1.3 million square metres) – an ample area on which to simulate and practise every conceivable type of driving manoeuvre and situation.

“The new facility in Maisach allows us to offer our customers an array of new training options, something that hasn’t been possible up to now due to space restrictions,” says Robert Eichlinger, Head of BMW and MINI Driving Experience. “Here, our customers can now experience and learn to deal with … CONTINUED

With 121,615 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brand automobiles sold worldwide last month (+9.7%, prev. yr. 110,903 units), the BMW Group achieved its best-ever August sales result. Since the beginning of the year the BMW Group has delivered 1,157,777 vehicles worldwide, an increase of 7.9% compared with the first eight months of the previous year (1,073,396).

Ian Robertson, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Sales and Marketing BMW: “We achieved record sales once again in August. Models such as the BMW 1 and BMW 3 Series, the BMW X1 and X3, as well as the BMW 6 Series reported strong gains and made a positive contribution to our record sales performance last month. We expect further gains in the coming months and we … CONTINUED

BMW has issued a service bulletin (SIB / TSB) affecting owners of a BMW powered by the 6 cylinder N54 turbo engine. It extends the warranty on the N54 turbochargers for any failure of a turbocharger caused by a defect in the turbo wastegate. Here is the full bulletin:

SUBJECT:
N54 Engine Turbocharger (Wastegates Only): Emissions Warranty Extension to 8 Years/82,000 Miles

MODEL:
E60, E61 (MY 2008, 2009, 2010): 535i including xDrive E71 (MY 2008, 2009, 2010): X6 xDrive35i
E82, E88 (MY 2008, 2009, 2010): 135i
E89 (MY 2009, 2010): E89 – Z4 sDrive35i
E90, E92, E93 (MY 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010): 335i including xDrive

INFORMATION:
All issues relating to the last-minute appeal have been resolved and the new effective date of the settlement is July 11, 2012. The court-approved settlement provides the … CONTINUED