BMW NIGHT VISION AVAILABLE IN THE 5 AND 6 SERIES AS OF MARCH

BMW Night Vision Becomes Available in the U.S.

Munich. BMW Night Vision, the innovative driver assistance system, will be
available from March 2006 in the 5 Series Sedan, 5 Series Sports Wagon as well
as the 6 Series Coupe and Convertible.

Infra-red technology incorporating a thermal imaging camera for extra safety in
the dark. Driver support and active partner protection in one.
BMW Night Vision provides a new dimension of optical perception when driving at
night. A thermal imaging camera detects human beings, animals and objects in
front of the car before they become visible to the human eye in the headlights.
The image generated by the system is transmitted to the central Control Display
within the car presenting objects detected with increasing brightness as a
function of the heat detected by the camera - and therefore making human beings
and animals particularly conspicuous.

The thermal imaging camera covers a range of up to 300 meters or almost 1,000
feet ahead of the car. BMW Night Vision offers the customer particular benefits
when driving over land, down narrow lanes, through gateways leading into
courtyards, and into dark underground garages, significantly enhancing driving
safety at night.

BMW opts for Far Infra-Red technology (FIR). Thermal imaging camera for
enhanced detection of human beings and animals.

Conducting comparative studies and carefully observing independent scientific
examinations, BMW's engineers have opted in favor of innovative far infra-red
technology (FIR), most efficient in detecting people, animals and objects at
night. FIR offers the following benefits:

* Reduction to the essential:
Far infra-red technology uses a thermal imaging camera highlighting in
particular persons, animals and objects irradiating higher temperatures. FIR
intentionally does not present a detailed image of the respective traffic
situation, which would only delay the recognition of a human being within the
overall image. In other words, insignificant details are cancelled out and do
not distract the driver.

* FIR enables the driver "to look further":
Covering a range of approximately 300 meters or almost 1,000 feet, FIR "looks"
about twice as far as other systems. Hence, the driver is informed earlier on
possible hazards - indeed, up to 5 seconds earlier at a speed of 100 km/h (62
mph).

* FIR cannot be "dazzled":
FIR cannot be dazzled by the headlights of oncoming traffic, by traffic lights,
road lights and highly reflective surfaces such as traffic signs. And vehicles
with FIR technology do not dazzle each other.

Over and above the advantages offered by the FIR principle from the start, BMW
has enhanced this technology by adding further functions: The image presented
follows the road in a panning process and distant objects can be shown larger
as a function of speed (zooming).

Convenient use of BMW Night Vision like looking in the interior mirror.
BMW Night Vision presents a high-contrast black-and-white night image to the
driver on the Control Display in the middle of the instrument panel. Benefiting
from FIR technology, the driver only has to briefly check out the Display in
order to recognize a hazard. So using BMW Night Vision is comparable to looking
into the interior mirror in the car.

Examining the new system, BMW also considered the option to present the image
in the driver's primary field of vision, for example in the Head-Up Display or
in the instrument cluster, but this option was rejected for ergonomic reasons.
Tests have shown that the combination of real-life and virtual images irritates
the driver and is not the best solution.

For questions, please contact:

Corporate Communications

Frank Schlöder, Product Communications, Cars
Tel: +49 89 382 20840, Fax: +49 89 382 7020840

Rudolf-Andreas Probst, Product Communications
Tel: +49 89 382 22088, Fax: +49 89 382 20626