BMW has unveiled photos and details pertaining to the facelifted, Euro-spec 2009 3 Series sedan and wagon. We touched on the visual updates yesterday, but to recap, the car sports a revised front fascia, a new hood, restyled mirrors, and reshaped taillamps. The changes are subtle, but good. Inside, the new iDrive trickles down to the 3, which also gets BMW ConnectedDrive in-car internet, as well as an 80-gig hard drive. The 3 Series sedans and wagons are available with 6-speed manual or automatic transmissions. The 7-speed DCT doesn't make it into the four- and five-doors at this time, but it becomes available on the 335i coupe and convertible. Read on after the jump as we run down the model variants and engine offerings.
It looks like BMW will begin rolling out its in-car internet system to markets outside of Germany sooner than expected, according to Automotive News. ConnectedDrive offers unrestricted access to the Web through the EDGE network, one of the faster mobile connections on the planet, and while backseat passengers can surf while on the go, front seat occupants will have to keep their speed under 5 kph if they want to check their favorite websites. BMW is setting up the system so that unlimited access will cost customers 15 euros each month.
BMW will begin offering the service to German consumers this September, with ConnectedDrive (click link for video) coming to 'Net-addicted Bimmer owners throughout Europe and the U.S. soon afterwards. AN contacted Mercedes-Benz and Audi to ask if they intended to offer similar systems in the future. Both of automakers responded in the negative, saying that demand isn't sufficient enough to justify the expense. BMW obviously thinks otherwise, as does Chrysler, which is developing its own system, due out before the end of the year.
Promising to make automotive navigation systems "easier, faster, and more convenient to use," BMW is (finally) rolling out its Google-partnered "Myinfo" service in North America (Europeans received BMW's similar "ConnectedDrive" late last year). With a click of a mouse from the Google Maps web site on your computer, up to 10 destinations may be automatically sent to the navigation system of the BMW Assist-equipped model (yes, there is no need to use the iDrive controller to painstakingly plug them in). The telemetry may be sent while the vehicle is parked, or while driving if you have shared your Myinfo data with a relative, friend, or co-worker.
BMW is making Myinfo exclusive to the 2008 BMW X6 right now, however it plans to roll it out across the lineup in 2009. Inputting address and destination data into any navigation system has always been grievous, so we welcome any technology that allows remote, one-click, uploading. BMW's system joins the upcoming eNav feature for GM's OnStar service, which works with MapQuest instead of Google Maps.
BMW is touting itself as the world's first car maker to offer completely unrestricted in-car access to the World Wide Web. It's all part of "ConnectedDrive," BMW's own so-called intelligent network that connects the driver, the vehicle and their surroundings. Although innovative, this isn't entirely uncharted territory for BMW as you may recall they introduced limited access to online Google features last May, and Google navigation and RSS features in December.
The German automaker chose EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution) technology for the internet hook up because it's available on a broad scale (Apple uses it in the iPhone) though slower than what's known as a 3G connection. The user interface within the vehicle will be BMW's iDrive controller (please, refrain from making snappy comments until after we are done with the presentation). With unrestricted Internet access, users will be able to input URLs to surf the web, check e-mail, and BMW claims you can even complete online banking transactions while on the go. Realizing that surfing the web while driving a car isn't in the best interest of public safety, the web access will only work when the car is parked. Of course, BMW points out that if the vehicle is fitted with the optional DVD entertainment system, users in the rear seats may continue to surf while the vehicle is in motion.
As of right now, like most pioneering things in the automotive industry, BMW's in-car Internet access is only available in Europe. It appears, for now, that us Yanks will have to continue to focus on driving (and sipping Big-Gulps) while in our cars.
