[laperacfo]

Originally Posted by tony20009

Some of that is a bit overstated...but directionally it's so...all the same, 56% of the population in China are illiterate. That said, the law of big numbers is very definitely in play in China...it's like that when there are 1.3 billion people in the country. So you don't need a big percentage of the population to be wealthy enough to buy BMWs.

The thing is, and this is scientific by no means, the last time I was there (Shenzhen in 2010 for about six months), Audis and Buicks seemed far more popular than BMWs. Also, unlike India, I didn't really notice so many folks being chauffeured. Perhaps, it's different in the Northern cities.

You need to visit Shanghai or any other major cities near or towards the northern part.

Audi's are a dime a dozen because the gov't uses them.

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1...-desired-brand

http://www.caradvice.com.au/110493/b...in-china-poll/

[tony20009]

Originally Posted by laperacfo

You need to visit Shanghai or any other major cities near or towards the northern part.

Audi's are a dime a dozen because the gov't uses them.

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1...-desired-brand

http://www.caradvice.com.au/110493/b...in-china-poll/

Not disputing your point, but both those links refer to the same source of information...the Clear thing from that Hong Kong consulting firm. I don't know whether that firm is on BMW's payroll, so to speak. The poll results notwithstanding, the increase in sales BMW's realizing in China certainly speaks for itself.

[EdM5]

[K3V808]

Originally Posted by Imola.ZHP

I don't like the "free-standing" navi screen, are they trying to make it look like a thin LCD TV or something? I don't get their logic, without any cover, how is a convertible M3 driver (who paid a ton of money for their car) going to be able to ever see the display?

They wont...

WTF BMW?

I drove my brother's new 2011 650i convertible with the same nav screen for few days, I was thinking about the same, how can you see the screen under the sun light with top down? But when you are in the car, you can see just fine. IMO, it looks really nice in person.

[laperacfo]

Originally Posted by tony20009

Not disputing your point, but both those links refer to the same source of information...the Clear thing from that Hong Kong consulting firm. I don't know whether that firm is on BMW's payroll, so to speak. The poll results notwithstanding, the increase in sales BMW's realizing in China certainly speaks for itself.

You are right. I have friends that just came back from China a couple of months ago and they were telling that besides Apple, BMWs is the top brand there. The Mandarin name for BMW is "Prized Horse".

I was wondering if anyone that currently lives in China can chime in.

[SCOTT26]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-0...sert-cars.html

[jjsaustin]

Originally Posted by shanecarmaster1

Does anyone else notice the truck-like space between the bottom of the climate control center and the center console? (similar to the X3) What is this??? The rest looks alright.

If they just shoved the whole center stack down, the LCD screen wouldn't look like an after thought

They should have copies this from the 5er as well

[Kayani_1]

I drove the new 650i conv. during drive for team USA BMW event few week backs. It was 98 degrees outside in Houston, Texas summer heat with sun shinning like crazy. I was able to see this new styled NAV screen perfectly. Also, it looked great with nicely metallic chrome like polished outline and was much larger and nicer looking then my i-drive NAV screen. Looking at this and the 6er screen there is not much difference but the size.

Trust me it was not hard to see at all in the new 6er conv.

Originally Posted by Imola.ZHP

I don't like the "free-standing" navi screen, are they trying to make it look like a thin LCD TV or something? I don't get their logic, without any cover, how is a convertible M3 driver (who paid a ton of money for their car) going to be able to ever see the display?

They wont...

WTF BMW?

[laperacfo]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-0...sert-cars.html

Awesome article. Now I want to go to China and take part in those courses. Looks like a lot of fun.

[d3l0n]

i love that extra shadow line on the top… can't wait to see what it really looks like… usually that would hint that new bmws may carry that extra shadow line when the 3 series comes out. Look at the new 5 and such after the e90. :-)
Then again, that was the bangle era?

Anyway, i wish that 3Li would make it to the states. Better competition for g37/a4 as far as length and interior space. I know BMW/Merc/Audi are supposed to make small cars, but come on. Just a little bit more room please. Some may like the 3 design and not the 5 design, but get the 5 cuz of convenience. .. but i understand how it works.

[odiesback]

Originally Posted by buschy

I know some don't but I love the double hump. Looks much better then this or a pop up. Its much more integrated and smooth.

I thought it was just me because I really dig the double hump dash.

[electro-house]

This is the interior of the new 3? Not liking, I thought for sure it would keep the 5 series interior look. I hope this is wrong.

[bmrm396]

This is not final it's still being pieced together ...

[ScarecrowBoat]

Originally Posted by epiphone3

I don't know if its just me, but I've never seen a bimmer with a tan steering wheel before! I remember the tan dashes from the 90's though!

Oh, and can anybody read what the note on the dash says?

Any germans in the house?

[hookah66]

Partnership of Brilliance China and BMW is what made Bayerische Motoren Werke AG shine, not the EU nor the US markets. It is a natural evolution for them to develop a specific model according to their market research results that will sell aggressively there. The Chinese buyers of "Prized Horse" cars has yet to develop the sophisticated driving appetite like the rest of us, so a longer wheel based 3 or 5 series albeit the coveted exhilarating bimmer thrill is not a drawback. Besides a smoother riding longer wheel based chassis is probably less jarring and more amenable in traversing the rudimentary choppy Chinese roads. I doubt that these longer wheel based variants will ever be marketed in the US market. They are stop gap fix for a poor man's 7 series. These chassis probably got a ride like a refrigerator a la Lexus, which will make the rest of us the true bimmer addicts to barf ad nauseum.