German Car Zone

cawimmer430 · 02-21-2008, 03:33 PM

Yesterday I paid a visit to BMW WORLD in Munich. I drove up to Munich in my sister's BMW 118i (I use it more than her!) and easily found the place during Munich's midday traffic. The parking garage was filled with mostly BMW's but also quite a few W204 Mercedes C-Classes. I also spotted a Lexus LS600h with Czech license plates. I was about to pull out my camera and snap a few pictures when the owners came out a door and approached the car. They were arguing amongst each other (probably pissed off that their LS600h returns such dismal fuel economy

) so I backed down.

I was a little dissapointed since the exhibition was very small considering the size of the building. You could actually go through it reading and listening to the audio guides in less than an hour, perhaps an hour and a half. The main exhibit was located on the ground floor in the center of the building. Visitors could view technological exhibits and as well as BMW engines or AWD technology in action with the help of computer animated graphics. They even had a driving simulator that allowed you to test the new BMW X5 on icy roads. It was pretty neat but I never got the chance to use it since a lot of people lined up for it.

The X5 AWD driving simulator.

The rest of the exhibit revolved around showcasing current BMW engines and future alternative fuel technology. What really was advertised was BMW's hydrogen power lead as well as Efficient Dynamics. They had a lovely BMW 1-Series 120i 2-Door in white (with Efficient Dynamics written all over it) on a revolving display. Very nice.

Also present was a Sauber-BMW Formula 1 car complete with the engine. For a V10, this motor was especially compact. It looked very lightweight but also very potent.

Most tourists were American and British and I also saw a few Japanese and Chinese tourists. Plenty of Germans and a couple of Spanish voices could also be heard. I spotted two older American tourists who were crazy about the 135i Coupe and kept asking one of the BMW employees when it would come to America. Isn't this thing already being sold in America? Here they are in the BMW Individual section talking to the salesman about the 135i Coupe. Um, hello!? You're in the BMW Individual section! On topic please!

Anyway, I derived the most pleasure from seeing the BMW 135i Coupe upclose. A few months ago I had snapped a spy shot of one of them in Munich without camaflouge as it passed my car (all I got was the rear). This car is extremely sexy and currently my favorite BMW. It's compact-looking and very dynamically styled. For a small car it also features an extremely aggressive stance when viewed head-on from the front or three-quarter-view. I want one!

Next up was the BMW M3 in white. Just sexy and gorgeous. Took quite a few shots of that baby. This reminds me, I need to see when I can testdrive it at the local dealer as promised by the salesman.

The last BMW worth mentioning was the 635d Coupe. It's not my favorite BMW design wise but the fact that BMW offers a diesel performance coupe made it interesting. Here it is with a 330d Coupe.

Z4 3.0i

The rest of the cars shown were your usual run-of-the-mill 318i's and 520i Touring's and stuff like that with base rims. I didn't photograph those in detail.

The BMW X3 and X5 were also present. Next to them was a white X5 3.0sd with what I believe was the sport package.

PHYBENZ · 02-21-2008, 03:46 PM

Since you have been to both, I think, which one is better the BMW Welt or the MB museum place?

cawimmer430 · 02-21-2008, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHYBENZ

Since you have been to both, I think, which one is better the BMW Welt or the MB museum place?

Right now, Mercedes-Benz Museum hands down.

Perhaps once the new BMW Museum is complete and it and BMW World can be visited on the same day the museum playing field will be more equal.

What BMW World lacked were some classic BMW's and perhaps the new X6 and more exhibits in my opinion. No offense to the BMW fans!

PanterroR · 02-21-2008, 04:57 PM

Karma given.

EnI · 02-21-2008, 05:10 PM

Mind that BMW Welt is more or less a huge fancy BMW showroom. The most important sight is the architecture of the building itself - beside the demonstration of some latest BMW tech.

While the BMW Museum is being reconstructed right now, and will be open in few weeks - heavily enlarged & modernized. And will be worth of being visited - seeing all the collections, BMW history time-line, etc.

I hope I'll have some time in the Summer to visit the place.

BVC500 · 02-21-2008, 05:25 PM

Do you happen to have a picture of the interior of the 3-series Individual interior? Is it blue? Thanks!

CorpusCallosum · 02-21-2008, 06:07 PM

Make this colour Space Grey and surprise, surprise, thats the 650i that I ordered

It arrives in Australia June, 27. Seeing these pictures makes me feel extremely happy with my choice!

Thanks wimmer awesome images from both BMW and Mercedes Benz land. You make me want to visit Germany now

CC

Just_me · 02-22-2008, 01:37 AM

Thanks for sharing! I want to go there myself. Is Munchen far away from Nurnburgring?

///K · 02-22-2008, 01:54 AM

JadeVetti · 02-22-2008, 02:34 AM

Beautiful pics! Splendid!

If it wasn't for this forum, I'd be asking the rep in the Individual Section about cars coming to the USA too.

I want to visit the Welt in my lifetime. I'll almost feel I'm home. I loved the 6er pics, and the M3 was to die for....

...Wait. Where's the X6? No X6? They had all other X models but The One and Only? ...

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German Car Zone

***Wimmer's BMW WORLD Visit (Part 1)***

Wimmer's BMW WORLD Visit (Part 1)