Despite its controversial styling turn a few years ago and its consistently disliked iDrive system, BMW remains one of the world's most respected automakers, renowned for crafting luxury cars and SUVs that offer superior levels of driving enjoyment.
For 2009, the German-based company stands pat on many models, but also introduces all-new versions of its flagship 7 Series and its Z4 sports car. Even the 3 Series, the company's best seller, gets some love, including a new look and a diesel engine option.
BMW has also changed the naming of its all-wheel-drive models. First used on the new X6, the term "xDrive" will now be used on all BMW models equipped with all-wheel drive. Also first seen on the X6 were the "35i" and "50i" model designations. This naming convention will be used on all X Series SUVs like the X3 and X5, and the X6 Sports Activity Coupe.
On the all-wheel-drive 3 Series and 5 Series models, this change occurs on the trunk lid, where the "x" is removed and the xDrive badge will be shown on the side behind the front wheels.
2009 BMW 1 Series: A heated steering wheel has been added to the Cold Weather package on the 128i coupes and convertibles. The option is also available as a stand-alone option on 135i coupes and convertibles, and requires the Cold Weather package.
Optional active steering is no longer available on 128i models, but the optional navigation system with real-time traffic information features BMW's fourth generation of iDrive, which the company says is more user-friendly than before.
Space Gray Metallic replaces Sparkling Graphite Metallic. Bummer.
2009 BMW 3 Series: BMW's best seller gets a fair bit of revision for 2009. The 2009 BMW 3 Series sedan and wagon (but not the coupe or convertible) get a subtle face-lift in the form of a new hood, new rocker moldings and new more aggressive front and rear fascias.
But the big news is under the hood of the sedan, which will be available for the first time in North America with a diesel engine. The 2009 BMW 335d will be powered by a 265-horsepower 3.0-liter inline-6 turbodiesel engine.
The interior has also been improved. The driver-side armrest now sits higher, making the window and exterior mirror controls more accessible. There are also new-look instruments, higher-quality matte-finish aluminum trim and some redesigned switches within the center console.
The biggest interior change, however, is reserved for the optional iDrive system. It receives a smaller rotary controller surrounded by four individual one-touch buttons for the navigation, CD player, AM/FM radio and telephone functions, as well as a function to back out of the menu altogether. An 8.8-inch monitor is available. The iDrive software has also been revised, and the various options are now stacked vertically on the screen.
2009 BMW 5 Series: New standard 17-inch wheels with all-season tires are available on the 528i and 528xi models, while new 17-inch wheels with all-season tires are available on the 535i and 535xi models.
Also, the first aid kit has been removed from the standard equipment list and the green band windshield has been deleted.
2009 BMW 6 Series: The optional Sport package gets a few tweaks. It now includes 19-inch forged alloy wheels, sport seats and Shadowline trim, a contoured hood, chromed exhaust pipes, a sportier-sounding exhaust, an anthracite headliner (Alcantara suede on coupe only) and two exclusive exterior colors, Imola Red and Carbon Black Metallic.
Speaking of paint, the 6 Series also gets two new colors, Ruby Red Metallic and Azurite Black Metallic (Brilliant White Metallic and Midnight Blue Metallic are toast). Inside Rust Brown full merino leather replaces Canyon Brown full merino leather.
Also gone is the first aid kit from the standard equipment list.
2009 BMW 7 Series: The all-new 2009 BMW 7 Series is BMW's most significant new product this year. Larger, lighter and more powerful than before, the 2009 7 Series features a less polarizing look and a new 400-hp twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 backed by an eight-speed automatic transmission. Long- and short-wheelbase versions will again be offered, but the V12-powered 760i and supercharged Alpina B7 have been discontinued.
A true flagship in every way, the 2009 7 Series is replete with techno-goodies. In addition to the familiar active antiroll bars, new systems include optional rear-wheel steering and standard multimode dampers that adjust both rebound and compression damping.
And to the left of the new console-mounted gear selector is a cluster of buttons that command the new "Dynamic Driving Control." This system allows the driver to toggle through four vehicle configurations — Comfort, Normal, Sport and Sport Plus. They comprise increasingly aggressive levels of damper control, steering assist and ratio, antiroll bar stiffness, shift calibration of the six-speed automatic transmission, throttle gain and stability control.
Even iDrive has been tweaked for the better with new shortcut buttons to the various functions such as radio and navigation (including a "back" button like an Internet browser) and a new larger, clearer 10.2-inch black panel screen.
2009 BMW M3: The price of the optional M double-clutch transmission has increased by $200 to $2,900. Le Mans Blue Metallic kicks Sparkling Graphite of the color palette list.
2009 BMW M5: New exterior color Carbon Black Metallic is available.
2009 BMW M6: New exterior color Carbon Black Metallic is available.
2009 BMW X3: New standard 17-inch V-spoke wheel. New 18-inch Y-spoke wheel is available in the Sports Activity package.
Three new colors: Space Gray Metallic, Mineral Green Metallic and Vermillion Red Metallic. Silver Gray Metallic and Highland Green hit the bricks.
Inside, new light burl walnut wood trim replaces the dark ash wood trim, new Saddle Brown Nevada leather replaces Sand Beige/Black, and Oyster Nevada leather replaces Gray Nevada leather.
2009 BMW X5: The big news is under the hood of BMW's largest SUV, as it will be available for the first time in North America with a diesel engine. The 2009 BMW X5 35d will be powered by the same 265-hp 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder turbodiesel engine used in the 2009 BMW 3 Series.
BMW also removed the iPod/USB adapter from the stand-alone options list and added it to the Premium Sound package on the X5 xDrive48i. Heated rear seats have also been added to the Cold Weather package and an automatic tailgate has been added to the Premium package. And the optional napa leather now includes a leather-wrapped dashboard.
The rear self-leveling suspension on the X5 xDrive48i is no longer standard, but is included on vehicles with the optional third-row seat. And the space-saver spare is now a stand-alone option. Deleted on all models is the gray band windshield.
2009 BMW X6: An automatic tailgate has been added to the Premium package, heated rear seats have been added to the Cold Weather package and the self-leveling suspension has been deleted on the X6 xDrive50i.
Inside, a new optional leather-wrapped dashboard is available as a stand-alone option, while the optional napa leather now includes a leather-wrapped dashboard.
Furthermore the gray band windshield has been deleted and the space-saver spare has been deleted from the standard equipment lists of both models and is now a stand-alone option.
2009 BMW Z4: We expect an all-new 2009 BMW Z4 to debut at the 2009 L.A. Auto Show in late November and then hit dealers in the spring of 2009. The 2009 BMW Z4 will remain a rear-wheel-drive two-seater, but will feature a retractable hardtop like the 3 Series convertible and will be powered by the same pair of 3.0-liter inline-6 engines that power the 3 Series range. Power will range from 230 hp for the normally aspirated model to 300 hp for the twin-turbo version.
In the meantime, the BMW Z4 M and BMW Z4 Coupe have been discontinued.
For 2009, the German-based company stands pat on many models, but also introduces all-new versions of its flagship 7 Series and its Z4 sports car. Even the 3 Series, the company's best seller, gets some love, including a new look and a diesel engine option.
BMW has also changed the naming of its all-wheel-drive models. First used on the new X6, the term "xDrive" will now be used on all BMW models equipped with all-wheel drive. Also first seen on the X6 were the "35i" and "50i" model designations. This naming convention will be used on all X Series SUVs like the X3 and X5, and the X6 Sports Activity Coupe.
On the all-wheel-drive 3 Series and 5 Series models, this change occurs on the trunk lid, where the "x" is removed and the xDrive badge will be shown on the side behind the front wheels.
2009 BMW 1 Series: A heated steering wheel has been added to the Cold Weather package on the 128i coupes and convertibles. The option is also available as a stand-alone option on 135i coupes and convertibles, and requires the Cold Weather package.
Optional active steering is no longer available on 128i models, but the optional navigation system with real-time traffic information features BMW's fourth generation of iDrive, which the company says is more user-friendly than before.
Space Gray Metallic replaces Sparkling Graphite Metallic. Bummer.
2009 BMW 3 Series: BMW's best seller gets a fair bit of revision for 2009. The 2009 BMW 3 Series sedan and wagon (but not the coupe or convertible) get a subtle face-lift in the form of a new hood, new rocker moldings and new more aggressive front and rear fascias.
But the big news is under the hood of the sedan, which will be available for the first time in North America with a diesel engine. The 2009 BMW 335d will be powered by a 265-horsepower 3.0-liter inline-6 turbodiesel engine.
The interior has also been improved. The driver-side armrest now sits higher, making the window and exterior mirror controls more accessible. There are also new-look instruments, higher-quality matte-finish aluminum trim and some redesigned switches within the center console.
The biggest interior change, however, is reserved for the optional iDrive system. It receives a smaller rotary controller surrounded by four individual one-touch buttons for the navigation, CD player, AM/FM radio and telephone functions, as well as a function to back out of the menu altogether. An 8.8-inch monitor is available. The iDrive software has also been revised, and the various options are now stacked vertically on the screen.
2009 BMW 5 Series: New standard 17-inch wheels with all-season tires are available on the 528i and 528xi models, while new 17-inch wheels with all-season tires are available on the 535i and 535xi models.
Also, the first aid kit has been removed from the standard equipment list and the green band windshield has been deleted.
2009 BMW 6 Series: The optional Sport package gets a few tweaks. It now includes 19-inch forged alloy wheels, sport seats and Shadowline trim, a contoured hood, chromed exhaust pipes, a sportier-sounding exhaust, an anthracite headliner (Alcantara suede on coupe only) and two exclusive exterior colors, Imola Red and Carbon Black Metallic.
Speaking of paint, the 6 Series also gets two new colors, Ruby Red Metallic and Azurite Black Metallic (Brilliant White Metallic and Midnight Blue Metallic are toast). Inside Rust Brown full merino leather replaces Canyon Brown full merino leather.
Also gone is the first aid kit from the standard equipment list.
2009 BMW 7 Series: The all-new 2009 BMW 7 Series is BMW's most significant new product this year. Larger, lighter and more powerful than before, the 2009 7 Series features a less polarizing look and a new 400-hp twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 backed by an eight-speed automatic transmission. Long- and short-wheelbase versions will again be offered, but the V12-powered 760i and supercharged Alpina B7 have been discontinued.
A true flagship in every way, the 2009 7 Series is replete with techno-goodies. In addition to the familiar active antiroll bars, new systems include optional rear-wheel steering and standard multimode dampers that adjust both rebound and compression damping.
And to the left of the new console-mounted gear selector is a cluster of buttons that command the new "Dynamic Driving Control." This system allows the driver to toggle through four vehicle configurations — Comfort, Normal, Sport and Sport Plus. They comprise increasingly aggressive levels of damper control, steering assist and ratio, antiroll bar stiffness, shift calibration of the six-speed automatic transmission, throttle gain and stability control.
Even iDrive has been tweaked for the better with new shortcut buttons to the various functions such as radio and navigation (including a "back" button like an Internet browser) and a new larger, clearer 10.2-inch black panel screen.
2009 BMW M3: The price of the optional M double-clutch transmission has increased by $200 to $2,900. Le Mans Blue Metallic kicks Sparkling Graphite of the color palette list.
2009 BMW M5: New exterior color Carbon Black Metallic is available.
2009 BMW M6: New exterior color Carbon Black Metallic is available.
2009 BMW X3: New standard 17-inch V-spoke wheel. New 18-inch Y-spoke wheel is available in the Sports Activity package.
Three new colors: Space Gray Metallic, Mineral Green Metallic and Vermillion Red Metallic. Silver Gray Metallic and Highland Green hit the bricks.
Inside, new light burl walnut wood trim replaces the dark ash wood trim, new Saddle Brown Nevada leather replaces Sand Beige/Black, and Oyster Nevada leather replaces Gray Nevada leather.
2009 BMW X5: The big news is under the hood of BMW's largest SUV, as it will be available for the first time in North America with a diesel engine. The 2009 BMW X5 35d will be powered by the same 265-hp 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder turbodiesel engine used in the 2009 BMW 3 Series.
BMW also removed the iPod/USB adapter from the stand-alone options list and added it to the Premium Sound package on the X5 xDrive48i. Heated rear seats have also been added to the Cold Weather package and an automatic tailgate has been added to the Premium package. And the optional napa leather now includes a leather-wrapped dashboard.
The rear self-leveling suspension on the X5 xDrive48i is no longer standard, but is included on vehicles with the optional third-row seat. And the space-saver spare is now a stand-alone option. Deleted on all models is the gray band windshield.
2009 BMW X6: An automatic tailgate has been added to the Premium package, heated rear seats have been added to the Cold Weather package and the self-leveling suspension has been deleted on the X6 xDrive50i.
Inside, a new optional leather-wrapped dashboard is available as a stand-alone option, while the optional napa leather now includes a leather-wrapped dashboard.
Furthermore the gray band windshield has been deleted and the space-saver spare has been deleted from the standard equipment lists of both models and is now a stand-alone option.
2009 BMW Z4: We expect an all-new 2009 BMW Z4 to debut at the 2009 L.A. Auto Show in late November and then hit dealers in the spring of 2009. The 2009 BMW Z4 will remain a rear-wheel-drive two-seater, but will feature a retractable hardtop like the 3 Series convertible and will be powered by the same pair of 3.0-liter inline-6 engines that power the 3 Series range. Power will range from 230 hp for the normally aspirated model to 300 hp for the twin-turbo version.
In the meantime, the BMW Z4 M and BMW Z4 Coupe have been discontinued.
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