'MOTOR' IS OUR MIDDLE NAME

BMW has scooped five of the 12 gongs at the prestigious International Engine of
the Year Awards including the pinnacle accolade 'International Engine of the
Year 2001', the overall champion.

The awards, initiated by Engine Technology International magazine in 1999, were
judged by 38 automobile journalists representing 17 countries, thus making them
the only truly global awards.

The jury voted the new 3.2 litre 343 bhp M3 six cylinder engine as the overall
winner beating such worthy and varied competition as the Ferrari 5.5 litre,
Honda S200, Honda Insight and Volkswagen 1.4 litre Tdi engines. However its
sternest competition for top spot was from the same Bavarian stable - the new
BMW 1.8 litre Valvetronic unit which powers the new Compact.

The Valvetronic engine won the 1.4 to 1.8 litre category with almost double the
points of its nearest challenger - the Honda 1.8 litre VTEC. One juror's quote
says it all.
"A mechanical masterpiece of the type that gives us confidence that the
Internal Combustion Engine has plenty of life in it".

Moving up a category, the new 3 litre 231 bhp petrol engine which powers the
330i Saloon, Coupé, Convertible and Touring, 530i, Z3 and X5 just edged out its
3 litre diesel counterpart to take the 2.5 to 3.0 litre category.

"A unit that provides the perfect balance between power, torque, elasticity
and economy" said one judge.

The M3 engine won the 3 to 4 litre category ahead of engines in the Ferrari 360
Modena and Porsche GT3 engines, a class in which BMW's 4 litre diesel 'trounced
all diesel entrants in the category'.

The judge's view: "an exotic engine in a car that is reasonably priced" and
"it begs you to press the loud pedal".

The M3 engine went on to win the best new engine of the year and the overall
prize.

BMW have performed well in previous 'International Engine of the Year Awards'
winning three in 1999 and two in 2000.

BMW GB's Managing Director, Jim O'Donnell said "BMW prides itself in producing
world-beating engines. We are absolutely delighted with these independent
accolades which prove that 'Motor' * is still our middle name."
Ends

Note to Editors:
* BMW stands for Bayerische Motoren Werke or Bavarian Motor Works.

Pictures of both M3 3.2 litre 6 cylinder engine and 3.0 litre straight six
engine are available in downloadable format in addition to exterior shots of M3
coupé.