Event date: 31 July 2021

At the start of this year at the age of 52 I decided I needed to live life a bit more courageously and among the list of things I have done included changing jobs, creating new friendship groups, buying my first BMW and then coming to the Come and Try Track day held at Broadford last month.  

I was terrified. I am not a car person.  I bought my brand new BMW XI M-Sport because the boot has push button close, it fits my two dogs comfortably, I love the heated seats and massive moon roof and feel at my age where I have put everyone in front of me (husband, kids etc) for the past 20 years that I deserved something nice.  I also had my 18 year-old son doing his best lobbying to direct my choice of car purchase.  Pester power just gets stronger as kids get old I am sure. But I am glad he did as I love it and I love driving my car. 

The night before Broadford though I finally really closely read through the fine print of the day’s requirements.  I totally freaked out.  What had I signed up for if you need a helmet, stickers on your car (what about my paint work?) and even fire extinguishers.  I thought the day would be a little zip around the track, a few chats with new friends, and the chance to buy some fun merchandise.   I called Jo Mawson, who has been so encouraging and supportive of me and she assured me all would be ok. 

My son Daniel and I had both signed up to attend.  He has only had his Red P Plates since January and is a confident driver so I was keen for him to have some coaching from the volunteers.  We were really thrilled at the start of the day that Daniel was announced as winner of the scholarship for the day.  He wrote about how he had strongly encouraged me to buy the BMW – we test drove dozens of cars across all brands over every weekend in January when I was looking.

I could not believe when I arrived how friendly, supportive and patient everyone was – and willing to help calm my nerves.  It was lovely and I felt welcome and my lack of car knowledge didn’t matter at all.  Daniel and I were coached by terrific volunteer Anton (thank you) who taught us both how to manoeuvre around the track, forgetting traditional road rule standards (ie you can drive anywhere on the road if there isn’t a blue flag) but focussing heavily on keeping us safe on a race track.  By my third lap session I was feeling a lot more confident.  I loved it totally. It was amazing how exhausting driving for 15 minutes can be though – and in normal times I commute 40 minutes along the Calder Freeway and Bulla Road to work each day so didn’t think it would affect me at all. 

Taking part in Broadford was a bucket list achievement for me but I am adding it back on and now have a goal to drive all of the tracks for Come and Try days.

If you haven’t done a Come and Try day and if you aren’t a car enthusiast, or even own at BMW you should still give it a go – just like us.  There’s young people who are building up their own cars they are making themselves, real car pros, people who just love getting out and about, people who love BMW and people like me who just bought a car and wanted to do something different in their life this year.  I hope to meet you there at the next Come and Try day. 

Nicole Laurie | Member #690
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne 

Today I enjoyed some of the extra benefits that being a member of the BMWDCM brings.  I will start by letting you all know that I am that 50+ year old that loves these cars, doesn't need a GPS (it's in my head), will have a go at fixing most things, and suffers from very high testosterone levels which leads to male pattern baldness, so no blonde moments here.

Anyway I was at my local service station this morning and taking my red rocket for a run to stretch her legs as the day was what can only be described as a beautiful spring day in winter.  Removing the nozzle from the pump housing I attempted to open the fuel latch but it would not budge.  I spent 15 embarrassing minutes trying to open the bloody thing.  I ended up giving up my manhood and made a call to those that should know. 

Firstly I went right to the top to ask some troubleshooting advice from our president.  I think he must have my number in his phone and when I call it comes up with "pest".  He chose not to answer.  Not letting this deter me I made a call to the V.P who answered my mayday call.  Jo made "the pres" talk to me after I explained my predicament.  The conversations that transpired and instructions following I have been asked to tone down to a "G rating" for the wider reading group. 

Anyway, the solution was to manually override the locking mechanism for the fuel flap.  To do this, I was advised to open the boot, look for a small cut out on the drivers side boot liner at the rear of the wheel arch just behind the line of the fuel flap.  Anyway,  so I merely had to insert my finger into the hole and press the magic little button (the override button) which resulted in "the release of the flap".  

Success and a beautiful day cruising around.

Thank you both very much.

Andrew Dickson | Member #248
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne 

idrive magazine

CLUB PARTNERS

Members are welcome to submit their business to be shared on the Club Partners page on our website and idrive magazine. 

We believe in supporting those who support us.  If you would like your business listed email us with your details.

____________________

As always - thanks for reading, we look forward to seeing you at an event soon!

President | Graeme Bell 0407 186 296
Vice President | Jo Mawson 0412 661 900
Secretary | Lawrence Glynn 0414 563 290 
Treasurer | Shaaron Glynn

Proudly supported by:

All Commercial/All Residential Real Estate
Bell Motorsport

Berwick BMW

BM Tech

Creative Custom Cars
German Auto Haus

Mornington BMW

Shannons Insurance
South Yarra BMW

Southern BM

Traction Tyres

Waverley BMW

Zagame Autobody

Dear Members,

Hi and welcome back again for another report just out of lockdown.

Sadly, we are getting used to these snap lockdowns and they are playing havoc with our social and motorsport schedules.

July started with our Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship Round 6 at Philip Island, and we had a fabulous turnout considering we had every season in one on the day as well. Thank you to all who attended, as it was a wild and woolly day, with breaks of sunshine interspersed with arctic winds and rain but everyone stuck it out and still had a lot of fun.

6 July was our members meeting at Waverley BMW with the BMW 540d touring Highway Patrol car on display for our members to get up close and personal with.  We had some items for sale and raffle care of the Blue-Ribbon Foundation and by the end of the night the tin was full.  We raised over $300 on the night so thank you all to our very generous members who helped support another worthy charity. The presentation by Sergeant Mark was very interesting and informative. You cannot hide from them these days, they can see you and know who you are long before you can see them.

Then the incursion from north of the Border brought us to a screeching halt and dropped us into a 5-day circuit breaker lockdown, which ended up being 2 weeks. I guess we should be thankful that we are so used to following the lockdown rules and it did end up being a short stop, as we see our NSW friends aren't having the same luck. I feel for them, we did it last year for months on end and I'm sure none of us would want to go through that again.

Christmas in July had to be postponed again, which was a shame but we do say postponed, not cancelled.  We will try to do this event later in the year.  Christmas in August or September possibly - watch out for event notices. Once we see what happens over the next few weeks we will try and squeeze it in somewhere.

We wrapped up July with our Broadford Come and Try/Driver Training Day, which was supposed to be earlier in the month, but was moved due to lockdown.  Luckily we managed to secure 31 July.  We had good registration numbers, and it was a fun day as always.  Similarly, our Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship Round 7, that was to be on 18 July following our Come and Try Day, was pushed back two weeks as well and will be happening on 1 August.

August is pretty well booked out and will be a very exciting month, with lots to keep us all busy and give you plenty of events to choose from, if you’d like to come and join us at one or more of them.

On 7 August we have Winton Festival of Speed display (pending COVID rules allowing spectators). Keep an eye on event notice emails if you want to come to this, as we know, things can change pretty quickly.  This is a prime example of why you should register your interest in events so that if we need to change things, we know you are planning on coming and we can let you know.

8 August is a one-day Race Meeting at Phillip Island for Round 5 of the E30 Racing Championship. Quite a few of our members will be down at the Island racing with the E30 Racing club and looks like a bumper field of entries for the one-day meeting. It was to be a normal two-day race meeting but due to restrictions in place at the moment the organisers decided to shorten it to one day, with the same number of races. It will be a very busy day for us!  

On 10 August we have our August members meeting via Zoom. This will be a nice catch up meeting for a chat on Zoom.  We always try to get out and about for our meetings where we can but we thought it might be nice to do another zoom meeting to enable those that can’t get to physical meeting to attend and catch up with everyone too.

On 15 August we have Coffee & Cars at Beaumaris (take two!). This was bumped back during Lockdown V4, looking forward to catching up with Christopher and sampling some of his delicious cakes!

On 21 August we have Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship Round 8 back at Phillip Island again, entries opened last Friday, so get in quick, it always fills up very quickly! 

On 22 August we have Maling Road Car Show, with very limited spots to display.  If you want to display in Maling Road send in your expression of interest as soon as possible.

We'll finish August with German Auto Show on 29 August.  This is going to be HUGE! If you have a German car, bike, truck, plane, tank, race car, what-ever, bring it along and show the world. We will have trade stands, food and drink vendors, Shannons will be there, you name, it will be there.  We are even trying to organise some WW2 planes to do a fly-over. The German Auto Show has outgrown the space at St Kilda Road and we are running it this year for the VW Club so come along and help make it a fantastic day. All proceeds on the day go to Beyond Blue and thanks must go to Shannons for helping cover the cost of the day so that everything we make on the day will go to the very worth charity.

If you are unable to attend but still want to donate, please use this link. 

Other events to look out for:

• 4 September - Traction Tyres/Yokohama Drivers Championship Round 9 at Sandown, entries will be out soon.
• 10 September - Port Fairy Whale watching weekend. Take 3, due to being postponed twice, we will try again to go and see some whales whilst they are still around. 
• 23 October - Scenic Drive and Karting at Stony Creek, always a fun drive and afternoon on the go-kart track.
• 26 October - Tassie tour. Looking forward to getting down to Tassie for a burn around the Island, it’s been too long, and if you have never been down there, you should com along. It is very beautiful, and the roads are amazing fun. There are a lot of people coming already, so it will be a fun week with a fantastic bunch of people, as always.

As you can see above there is a lot to look forward to and we hope to see you all at one or more of them over the next few months.

Coffee & cars will be at one of our club members’ cafe, so be sure to pop in and say hi to Chris and we will have vouchers for discount coffee and yummies.

Our Tassie trip is filling up quickly so if you want to join us on this please register as soon as possible.

We have some great new items in the online store, such as our new full size umbrellas and UHF radios with accessories to go with them too.  We thought it would make life easer for our members if we had the radio of choice in our store for you to order and pick up on the morning of the drive, or earlier if you wish.  Check out our store for other great items too.

Our welfare team is up a ready to help anyone who might need help.  We would like to thank Shannon Cooper and family for supporting our team and enabling them to be able to offer as much support as we can moving forward. If you need someone to talk to or a shoulder to lean on, talk to one of our welfare team, they are available for anything you need help with.

We would like to thank Makulu Storage for supporting our Come and Try days this year and sponsoring one driver each round. Nella Santisi was awarded the prize for our Sandown Come and Try day and Daniel Laurie won the prize for today's Broadford Come and Try day.  Well done both Nella and Daniel. 

Membership is still growing, currently we have 624 members and we are so happy to see new faces out at our events each month, as well as the regulars.  It is fantastic to see the Club healthy and growing.

You may have heard that our wonderful Vice President/Event Organiser/Energiser Bunny, Jo has been laid up lately. Jo had her second hip replacement two weeks ago and is slowly on the mend now.  It won’t be long and she will be back on her feet running and around again. We wish you all the best Jo, we all look forward to your recovery.

I look forward to seeing you at an event soon and, as always, drive careful out there and take care.

Graeme Bell | President
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne Inc.

P.O. Box 81, TYABB   VIC   3913
Incorporated in Victoria #A0102695G
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne Inc is a member of: BMW Clubs Australia and the BMW Clubs International Council
Motorsport Australia Affiliated Motorsport Club

The BMW Drivers Club of Melbourne has been given the green light to run its Driver Training and Come & Try Day this weekend at the Broadford Motorcycle Complex.

While it has been a fortnight of uncertainty surrounding whether the event will go ahead due to Victoria’s lockdown, the recent easing of the state’s restrictions has allowed the club to push on with its plans.

Around 35 participants are locked in for the event, which aims at helping individuals get involved in the sport behind the wheel for the first time, as well as build the confidence of those who have already completed a number of come and try days.

The day will see drivers split into multiple groups based on their experience and each group will enjoy multiple sessions on the complex’s short circuit, with the rookies to run with instructors.

Club President Graeme Bell was thrilled the event could continue this weekend.

“We’re really excited to be able to go ahead this weekend, especially since we had been planning on running it. It’s great to be able to put that hard work to use now,” Bell said.

“These events are really good at bringing new people into motorsport and teaching them the fundamentals in a controlled environment where they drive safely at a speed that’s not too fast.

“They also get the opportunity to go for a few laps with the instructors so they can get a real taste on racing lines, breaking points and other skills required to race.

“We love doing these sorts of days because they have proven quite successful in the past and generally result in people joining the club to get into motorsport either as an official or as a competitor.”

The day isn’t just focused on drivers. It’s also used as an opportunity to train officials who are looking to join the sport on the other side of the fence.

Throughout the event, individuals will get an insight into many of the different roles required at race meetings, for which they use as a foundation in building a pathway through the sport.

It isn’t just first-timers who utilise the club’s come and try day with the Victorian Flag Association often sending members to continue development and get necessary training in a stress-free environment.

With 25 officials already part of the event, Bell was confident that events like this were instrumental in helping grassroots motorsport grow.

“We use this day to train officials and give people a chance to taste life as an official,” Bell added.

“Because it’s not timed or there isn’t anything riding on it, we can spend a little bit more time on all the areas of officiating and really help the participants. We quite often get people who loved it and come back again to be flaggies or scrutineers.

“Events like this are really important for both sides of motorsport because at a meeting, it’s fairly hard to train officials as it’s always a busy environment, so if you can start them off in a more relaxed setting, then it gives them a taste without lots of pressure.

“It’s fantastic that the Victorian Flag Association believes in these days and has trust in us to train their new members. It gives us plenty of confidence that we’re doing a good job.

“The club has also had a focus on inviting junior drivers and women to these events. Earlier this year, we ran it in conjunction with International Women’s Day and a lot of those same women will be coming back again this weekend.”

The event will run in line with current COVID restrictions and Motorsport Australia’s Return to Race Document. 

Click here for more information on the event and how to attend. 

The BMW Drivers Club of Melbourne’s Driver Training and Come & Try Day takes place at the Broadford Motorcycle Complex on Saturday 31 August.

Motorsport Australia

Article above as it appeared on the Motorsport Australia website here.

Event date: 6 July 2021

When Ford and Holden announced an end to local manufacturing, the search was on for Victoria Police to replace the ubiquitous Falcon and Commodore.  After detailed technical and commercial evaluations, combined with availability of BMW factory ‘police packs’, the BMW 530d joined the fleet.  “The Ultimate Driving Machine” and “Sheer Driving Pleasure” are iconic tag lines forever linked to BMW.  A natural fit for Victoria Police Highway Patrol to have BMW vehicles in the fleet.

At July’s Members’ Meeting, we were treated to an up-close and personal look at a Highway Patrol BMW 530d wagon, and a presentation from an officer who sits behind the wheel.

Victoria Police Highway Patrol have a roving brief for road law enforcement across the entire state.  Mainstays of enforcement are random drug and alcohol tests, speed detection, mobile phone use, and recently COVID-19 compliance.

BMW’s advanced technology built into the 530d is a given.  Equally advanced is the technology which makes this car fit for Highway Patrol duty: 2-way speed cameras (front and back), license plate recognition, specialist red and blue LED lighting, mobile fridge for drug samples, electronic roof-mounted signs with programmable messaging and much more.  For those young enough to remember David Hasselhoff’s Knight 2000 Trans Am, the fit-out would make him blush.  All up, the technology and kit to get a base 530d into Highway Patrol mode costs around $100 thousand, nearly as much as the car.

BMW deliver vehicles to Victoria Police with factory paint, and decals are applied locally.  In BMW 2002 Turbo tradition, ‘Police’ is spelt backwards on the bonnet, so there is no doubt in the rear-view mirror about what is coming up behind you.  

BMW 530d sedans, wagons and X5’s are in the fleet, together with vehicles from other brands which we won’t mention.  Victoria Police lease the cars and turn them over after 90,000 kilometres.

The Highway Patrol officer shared a few war stories and dispelled a few myths.  A driver caught doing 109km/h in a 100km/h zone, detected to be under the influence of many substances, and a menace to other road users.  Some argue that isn’t too much over the limit, though you never know what is causing the behaviour.  Another driver, caught at the lights head down in their mobile phone, despite a fully decked out Highway Patrol car pulling up next to them.  Also, an emphatic no to the myth that speed enforcement is influenced by revenue raising.

An informative Q & A session wrapped up the presentation, followed by time to appreciate the 530d star of the show.

When you next see a BMW Highway Patrol car, admire the machinery, and know BMW play an integral part in safety for all road users.

Thanks to Victoria Highway Patrol for this behind-the-scenes look, and our hosts for the evening, Waverley BMW.

Jean-Dominique Abraham | Member #681
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne 

Event date: 24 July 2021

“Greame has a solution for everything, doesn’t he..?”

That was Payton, my  seven year old daughter after I told her about our day of racing at the AROCA Super Sprint Day at Phillip Island on 4 July.

If you imagine Phillip Island in July as being cold, windy and wet - then you have imagined the weather on that day perfectly.  It was all of those things.  Squared.

It was our first time with the new E30 (you can read about our first day out here) at Phillip Island.  Dad (Wayne) and I were both excited and a little scared- the track and conditions on that day were sure to be a challenge for even experienced steerers, let alone newbies like us.

We had attended the BMWDCM Come and Try Day and learned a lot about our car and how to drive it, so we were looking forward to Phillip Island as we continued to learn about the car.  We were looking forward to the dry version of the Island though, not so much the Antarctic version that was served up to us!

Anyway, with the preliminaries done, and some advice from Graeme about how to tackle the first practice session,  I doddled out and gingerly lurched from corner to corner getting familiar with the conditions, the car and the track.  Trying not to get too over enthusiastic and keep the car on the black stuff.  Easier said than done!

I did enjoy the challenge though of driving in those conditions though and tried to focus on learning the track and lines.

Next it was Dad’s turn. Buckled in, again some advice from Graeme, and off he went…

Graeme, Tim and I waited on the pit apron - huddled up to keep warm - for him to come around and complete his first lap… which he did.  And then we waited patiently again.  And waited and waited.  “Where’s Dad?”

Then the red flag came out. “Ah, that’s why he hasn’t come back around!”  As we started to walk back to the pit area, expecting Dad to meet us there, we noticed the Ambulance go out onto the track.  Never good.

My heart sank.  My pulse raced.  Dad’s not back.  The Ambulance is out on the track.  It’s wet.  It’s our first time here…

“But it might not be him.” II tried to reassure myself. 

At this point, no one knew which car or driver was involved, or even what they had been involved in.  So, it was a tense few minutes, until we were told that it was indeed our car that had caused the red flag,  It had been in an accident.  And of course it was my Dad in the car.

Still, I didn’t know how bad the incident was, or how Dad was.  All I could do was wait.  And wait I did.  It was a really worrying and nervous 10minutes or so. 

The AROCA team at race control, gave me as much information as they could, assuring me that Dad was ok, and the damage wasn’t too bad either.  He had hit a fence they said…  Reassuring?  Hardly.  Until I saw Dad in person, I couldn’t relax.

Soon enough, the ambulance escorted Dad back and he was fine.  His ego was bruised, he was embarrassed and worried about how bad the car was.  But medically he was fine, which is always the main thing.

Dad explained that he had hit some standing water coming out of Siberia and slid off the track and into the safety fence.  Ouch!  He was very worried about the car and how bad the damage was.

We didn’t have to wait too long to find out.  The car arrived back on a tilt tray soon enough.  And, just like the AROCA crew had told me, the damage wasn’t too bad.  The left-hand side front guard had peeled back, and it had some front spoiler damage.  No mechanical or structural damage that we could see.

As we stared at it and listened to Dad tell his post-mortem, the next thing I remember hearing was Graeme saying “Righto, let’s get it fixed.”

And before I could blink, he had started getting the front panel off…. Over the next hour, our garage was a flurry of tools, hammering and race-taping.  And coffee, of course.  And we mended the E30 as best we could.

Graeme was determined to get us back out there- more ‘backside in the car’ time he said. 

His resolve and help were amazing and to be frank, quite unexpected.  He had come down to the track to support the competing BMWDCM members.  Given the weather, I wouldn’t have blamed him if he stayed home in bed!   But that’s not the kind of bloke he is- and his dedication to all of us in the club was there for all to see in that cold Phillip Island garage.

Remarkably, we only missed one run each and I was back out there for my next run in the patched-up car.  By this time, it was really raining, sideways and all ways.  It was horrible weather… but again I was determined to get out there, see how the car felt and keep learning.

The car felt great, as much as you can get a sense in near blizzard track conditions, no noticeable impact from Dad’s incident. So, it was valuable track time.

And next it was Dad’s turn again.  Not surprisingly he was bloody nervous about getting back in the car but determined to do so.  Oh, and the weather just kept getting worse….  Some coaching from Graeme and instructions to Dad just to drive around, rather than race around- and off he went.

Like the first run we all waited patiently on the pit apron for Dad to complete each lap.  I was really nervous.  Graeme explained that feeling is similar to the one he has when any of his kids are racing.

Dad completed a few laps, then brought the car back.  Safely and straight this time.  No ambulance or tilt tray required.

After Dad’s run, the weather had deteriorated so much that they cancelled the rest of the day.  So that was that.  Our first racing experience at Phillip Island.

Clearly, it didn’t go to plan… but the experience was valuable.

The reason we decided to go E30 Racing was because of the camaraderie of the people involved, and the real level of care they have for each other.  And if we needed any more proof of it, we got it down at the Island.

To everyone who helped and supported that day; Rod Martin, Darryl O'Neill, Alan Rodgers,  Jim Tucker, Tim Oh and especially Graeme- Dad and I say “thank you.”

A shout out too to the AROCA team, the ambulance crew and all the flag marshals for showing care and doing such a great job in tough conditions.

So yeah, Payton, even if your E30 is a crinkled mess in a pit garage, Graeme does have a solution for it- and will do everything get it back on the track for you. 

Shannon Cooper | Member #599
BMW Drivers Club Melbourne 

BMW X5, BMW X6 and BMW X7 combine a high level of comfort and luxury, supreme performance and pronounced dynamic handling capabilities with an equally dynamic, elegant and unmistakably distinctive design. New highlights are the BMW X5 and BMW X6 Black Vermilion editions featuring exclusive equipment details. The BMW X7 edition in Frozen Black metallic combines impressive options into an exclusive package.

As spearheads of the BMW X model range, the BMW X5, BMW X6 and BMW X7 impress with a high level of comfort and luxury, supreme performance and pronounced dynamic handling capabilities. The two Sports Activity Vehicles (SAV) and the Sports Activity Coupe (SAC) combine these attributes with an equally dynamic, elegant and unmistakably distinctive design. New highlights are the BMW X5 and BMW X6 Black Vermilion editions featuring exclusive equipment details. The BMW X7 edition in Frozen Black metallic combines impressive options into an exclusive package.

In 2020 alone and with almost 250,000 units sold worldwide, the SAV/SAC trio from Spartanburg, USA, contributed decisively towards the success of the BMW brand. Around every eighth newly delivered BMW model was a BMW X5, X6 or X7.

All three edition models go on sale with all engines available for each of their original models. They can be ordered with immediate effect, with the market launch beginning in August 2021. Prices in Germany start at 93,200 Euros for the BMW X5 Black Vermilion, 100,700 Euros for the BMW X6 Black Vermilion and 108,700 Euros for the BMW X7 in Frozen Black metallic (each including 19% sales tax).

Particularly striking: BMW X5 and X6 Black Vermilion edition.

The central focus of the Black Vermilion edition is the interplay between the colours black and red. For example, the BMW double kidney grille with model-specific red bars creates an effective contrast to the BMW Individual special paint finish Frozen Black metallic. On the BMW X6 Black Vermilion this visual highlight is expressed in a particularly impressive way in combination with its kidney grille Iconic Glow. The M headlights Shadow Line with BMW laser light, including accented lighting with blue X signature, complete the distinctive look of the front end. Moreover, on the exterior, the M Sport Package emphasises the dynamic character of the BMW X5 and X6 Black Vermilion editions. It comprises, among other things, specific front and rear aprons as well as the M high-gloss Shadow Line with extended options. Behind the Orbit Grey matt, 22-inch, double-spoke 742 M light alloy wheels with mixed tyres designed exclusively for these edition models, red high-gloss M Sport brake callipers stand out as a striking visual highlight.

In the interior of the BMW X5 and BMW X6 Black Vermilion editions the M Alcantara Anthracite roof liner provides for an exceptionally sophisticated ambience. A finely crafted Edition logo on the cupholder cover in BMW Individual black piano finish emphasises the limited model’s exclusiveness. The glass application Crafted Clarity on the iDrive Controller, the automatic gear selector and Start/Stop button, as well as the BMW Individual precious wood interior trim Fineline Black with aluminium inlays provide additional sophisticated accents. Driver and front seat passenger travel in comfort seats offering a multitude of adjustment options. The BMW Individual full leather trim Merino Black is additionally enhanced by edition-specific red contrast stitching for both the driver’s seat and front passenger seat. Inside the BMW X5 Black Vermilion, the red accents are also to be found on the rear seats. Likewise, the edging on both the front and rear floor mats is finished in red. Sun-protective glass with more deeply tinted rear windows beyond the B-pillar enhances passenger privacy whilst blending in harmoniously with the sporty and dynamic exterior design.

BMW X7 edition in Frozen Black metallic – individual and expressive.

Like the Black Vermilion editions, the new BMW X7 edition also has the BMW Individual special paint finish Frozen Black metallic, dispensing, however, with details in contrasting colour. The BMW M Sport brake callipers of the edition-specific, 22-inch BMW Individual Y-spoke 758 I alloy wheels in Orbit Grey matt are finished in high gloss black. Combined with the M Sport Package and the M High Gloss Shadow Line with extended options, it is this colour restraint in particular that make the 5.15-metre long and over 2-metre wide seven-seater look even more impressive. The interior of the BMW X7 edition in Frozen Black metallic provides for an elegantly discreet atmosphere thanks to the M Alcantara Anthracite roof liner, the glass application Crafted Clarity and sun-protection glass.

BMW PRESS

The new BMW CE 04 – the silent revolution: A new chapter in electrically powered urban two-wheel mobility.

Urban freedom

“It's early in the morning. The city is awakening. On the way to my garage I breathe in the still cool air. I’m wear a casually cut parka that’s both fashionable and functional at the same time. The protectors are inconspicuous but give me a sense of security. I’m ready for the day to start.

My BMW CE 04 is in the garage. I am thrilled by its futuristic design style. The low position of the battery gives the scooter an entirely new geometry – a complete departure from previous conventions. I’m glad to see it again. It’s a great feeling – every day.

For me, it’s the symbol of a new era – the era of the silent revolution.

The first birds are chirping, the urban jungle is awakening. The sounds of the city begin to swell. Everything is set in motion. People move – with each other and in parallel. Paths cross.

What will the new day bring? Tapas with friends at the little bar by the river? Or the exhibition at the modern art museum? First of all there are appointments at the office. Workshops, meetings, customer visits. This is what life feels like.

I pair my smartphone with the scooter, and with a flick of my wrist I activate the parka. Its LEDs light up. I’m quiet, but I want to be seen. It’s all so simple and smooth.

We’re off again at last. Even when I was having my breakfast, I couldn’t wait. Not even the birds notice me. I glide almost silently through my neighbourhood. I’m a part of the city again.

People start to look at me at the traffic lights. My sitting position is upright, relaxed. A new message flashes on the display, my smartphone is charging in the storage compartment.

Green light. With the scooter’s torque, I can float away ahead of the rest. I’m a rocket. But a silent one.

I feel as if I was on the Bonanza bike back in the day – cool and superior, but now connected to the world and one step ahead. Technology and style. Is this freedom? Yes – only better. No traffic jams, no having to search for a parking space. For me, it’s all time I save.

Acceleration, speed, bends – the BMW CE 04 doesn’t just master them, it redefines them. I glide through the traffic – the seat itself seems to float. It feels just right. Surfing bends is superbly enjoyable. Pure fun, from wave to wave.

The evening was beautiful, down by the river. We laughed a lot. The city motorway doesn’t forgive mistakes – my scooter sprints away and my parka glows in the dark of night. I’m clearly visible and arrive safely at my destination. Quietly, I glide into the driveway to my garage, again almost unnoticed by the birds. Good night, my city. We’ll be in touch.”

“The BMW CE 04 is our new electric star for the city. It combines an e-drive with emotion and motorcycling fun. The latest technology, and the best battery cells, which also provide power in the BMW iX. Just like the CE 04, all future new BMW Motorrad models for urban mobility will be pure electric.”
- Oliver Zipse, CEO of BMW AG.

The new BMW CE 04 – the silent revolution: A new chapter in electrically powered urban two-wheel mobility.

With the new BMW CE 04, BMW Motorrad continues to consistently pursue its electromobility strategy for urban conurbations. As the final series production vehicle of the BMW Motorrad Concept Link originally showcased in 2017 and the near-series BMW Motorrad Definition CE 04 unveiled in 2020, the BMW CE 04 opens up a whole new chapter in two-wheel urban mobility. With its electric drive, forward-looking design and innovative connectivity solutions, the new scooter merges transport and communication functions for a new brand of mobility in the urban environment.

Plenty of power and ample range for supreme riding in the city and in urban areas.

With a maximum output of 31 kW (42 hp), the new BMW CE 04 has a powerful motor and offers outstanding riding pleasure. For the classic “traffic light start” discipline from 0 to 50 km/h, it takes just fast 2.6 seconds. Even in the reduced output L3e-A1 vehicle class, 23 kW (31 hp) drive power is available. The maximum speed of both versions is 120 km/h – for speedy progress not just in the city but on main roads and motorway sections, too.

The new BMW CE 04 has an ample battery cell capacity of 60.6 Ah (8.9 kWh), providing a range of some 130 kilometres (reduced output version: 100 km). This enables day-to-day emission-free riding in the city, in an urban setting and for smaller-scale fun tours after work or at the weekend – with complete peace of mind.

Innovative electric drive with liquid-cooled electric motor.

The new BMW CE 04 has a permanent magnet electric motor mounted in the frame between the battery and the rear wheel, as used in a similar form in BMW cars such as the 225xe Active Tourer. BMW Motorrad conducted extensive riding tests to develop a specific type of recuperation for each riding mode, giving the rider a high-level convenience. This means that optimum performance and riding characteristics are available in every situation on the road.

Short charging times and charging technology based on the system used in cars.

The lithium-ion battery is charged using the integrated charging device either at a regular household socket, a wallbox or a public charging station. When the battery is completely flat, charging time ideally lasts 4 hours and 20 minutes. With the quick charger available as an optional extra with an output of up to 6.9 kW (2.3 kW is the standard level), charging time is reduced to just 1 hour and 40 minutes when the battery is completely flat. If the battery level is only 20 per cent and the battery is charged to 80 per cent, the charging time is reduced to just 45 minutes with the optional quick charger. Depending on the market, the standard charging cable with a charging capacity of 2.3 kW comes as standard with the BMW CE 04.

A Mode 3 charging cable is required for fast charging at the wallbox at home or at a public charging station. In the same way as with BMW automobiles, BMW Charging solutions are available for the BMW CE 04, too – for maximum flexibility based on numerous customised programmes for charging at home, on the road and at work.

Increased riding stability through slip control by means of ASC (Automatic Stability Control). DTC (Dynamic Traction Control) as an ex works option.

This traction control system is available on the new BMW CE 04, comparable to the Automatic Stability Control in BMW motorcycles with combustion engine. ASC limits engine torque in relation to rear wheel slip. Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), available as an optional extra, provides even greater riding safety. DTC enables even more safe acceleration, especially in banking position.

Three riding modes “ECO”, “Rain” and “Road” for efficient, day-to-day use as standard. “Dynamic” riding mode for further enhanced riding pleasure as an ex works option.

In developing the BMW CE 04, BMW Motorrad attached particular importance to providing opportunities for the rider to make an individual choice between maximum efficiency and maximum riding fun. Accordingly, the new BMW CE 04 features the three riding modes “ECO”, “Rain” and “Road” as standard. The additional “Dynamic” riding mode is also available as an ex works option, enabling the scooter to accelerate at an even swifter pace.

Directionally stable suspension with one-piece tubular steel main frame for smooth handling and a high level of ride comfort.

The main frame is a tubular steel construction. The front wheel is controlled by a telescopic fork with a slider tube diameter of 35 mm. Rear wheel control consists of a single-sided swing arm. At the rear, suspension and damping are performed by a directly controlled, fully covered spring strut. The new BMW CE 04 is fitted with generously sized tyres, with 120/70 R15 67H at the front and 160/60 R15 56H at the rear.

Powerful brake system with latest-generation ABS. ABS Pro with banking capability as an ex works option.

At the front, a twin disc brake ensures secure deceleration, supported by a single-disc system at the rear. In addition, BMW Motorrad ABS ensures a high level of active safety. ABS Pro, available as an optional extra, goes even further: By means of a banking sensor, ABS Pro also controls braking on bends, thereby offering the greatest possible safety.

10.25” TFT colour screen with integrated map navigation for convenient route planning and extensive connectivity as standard.

The new BMW CE 04 comes fitted as standard with a 10.25-inch TFT colour screen with integrated map navigation and connectivity. Its excellent readability, clear menu navigation and highly integrated operating concept put the new BMW CE 04 at the top of the scooter segment. For the first time, the new 10.25-inch colour screen makes it possible to display a navigation map in the instrument cluster, so no additional display is needed.

Powerful LED lighting units all round. Adaptive Headlight Pro and light functions as ex works options.

The lighting units on the new BMW CE 04 are based on state-of-the-art LED technology. They include a headlamp for high beam and low beam at the front. In addition to a rear light featuring LED technology, there are also LED turn indicators. The indicator lamps likewise use LED technology. Even greater safety at night is offered by the adaptive turning light Headlight Pro, available as an ex works option. Here, the rider benefits from further improved illumination of the road when cornering for even safer riding at night. Special light functions such as “Welcome” and “Good Bye” are also available as ex works options.

Future-oriented design and colour scheme.

The new BMW CE 04 embodies a new, forward-looking form of urban two-wheeled mobility in its design as well, featuring an innovative style that arouses emotions for this new drive technology while instantly identifying the scooter as a member of the BMW Motorrad family. The modern surface finish is in a striking Light White, complemented by matt black sections in the front and side areas as well as the “floating” seat. In addition, there are trend-setting wheels (solid wheels) featuring a disc-wheel look and a side stand that is integrated in the design styling. The new BMW CE 04 in Avantgarde Style (ex works option) is a striking, colourful statement of contemporary urban mobility. In this style, the colour Magellan Grey metallic is supplemented with a black/orange seat, an orange wind deflector and various graphics.

“The new BMW CE 04 is the logical and at the same time rethought continuation of BMW Motorrad’s electromobility strategy. Urban conurbations are its element. This is where it sets a new benchmark – in terms of both technology and visual style.”

- Florian Roemhild, Project Manager BMW CE 04.

The highlights of the new BMW CE 04:

• Rated output 15 kW (20 hp). Maximum output 31 kW (42 hp).
  Reduced output version: 11 kW (15 hp) or 23 kW (31 hp).
• Ample cell capacity in the battery of 60.6 Ah (8.9 kWh).
• Range of approximately 130 kilometres (reduced output version: 100 km).
• Short charging times and charging technology based on the system used in cars.
• Increased riding stability due to slip control by means of ASC (Automatic Stability Control). DTC (Dynamic Traction Control) as an ex works option.
• Three riding modes “ECO”, “Rain” and “Road” for efficient, day-to-day use as standard. “Dynamic” riding mode for further enhanced riding pleasure as an ex works option.
• Directionally stable suspension with one-piece tubular steel main frame.
• Powerful braking system with ABS. ABS Pro with banking capability as an ex-works option.
• 10.25-inch TFT colour screen with integrated map navigation and extensive connectivity as standard.
• Powerful LED lighting units all round. Adaptive Headlight Pro and light functions as ex works options.
• Storage compartments at the side and front. The side helmet compartment can now be operated while seated.
• Actively ventilated mobile phone charging compartment with USB-C charging port.
• Future-oriented design and colour scheme.
• Extensive range of optional extras and original BMW Motorrad Accessories as well as rider equipment.

BMW PRESS