Checkered Flag

There's just a few days left to take advantage of outstanding January BMW specials at your favorite Hampton Roads BMW dealer, Checkered Flag BMW.  In addition to the BMW Model Year End Clearance Event, your favorite VA Beach BMW store is also offering special 2011 BMW 328i Fleet Deals. 

The following specials are valid through January 31st.  Call Checkered Flag BMW at (757)490-1111 for full details or to set up a test drive. 

2012 New BMW Special

Rates as low as 0.9% APR for new 2012 BMW models!

Applies to 2012 new BMW models only.  Special interest rate with approved credit through BMW Financial Services.  Special APR varies by model.  See dealer for full details.
Offer expires: 01/31/2012





2012 BMW 5 Series Specials

Get your new 2012 BMW 5 Series for only $875 over invoice!

Offer applies to in-stock units only.  Tax, title, license, and $499 processing fee extra.  See dealer for full details.
Offer expires: 01/31/2012



2012 BMW 7 Series Specials

Get your new 2012 BMW 7 Series for only $975 over invoice!

Offer applies to in-stock units only.  Tax, title, license, and $499 processing fee extra.  See dealer for full details.
Offer expires: 01/31/2012

Is it too early to get a start on next year's Christmas list?  I don't think so. 

And, I've already found the first thing to put on mine.  Of course, I'd have to add a new or pre-owned BMW to the list as well, but, Checkered Flag BMW can help me with that.  Check out the new Yelp application for BMW ConnectDrive. 

Article and photo source: [autoblog.com]

In-car point-of-interest and Google searches are all well and good, but it's hard to decipher what restaurants, bars and other local businesses are worth your hard-earned bucks while you're on the go. Yelp for BMW ConnectedDrive solves that problem.

Whatever your view of Yelp is (and there are many), the crowd-sourced business rating site is still the go-to source for many looking for up-to-date, relevant rankings of what's nearby. And with the latest update from BMW Online, drivers of most 2009 and later models can benefit from the service.

Additionally, you can email business listings to yourself or a friend, and BMW's infotainment system can also read off the three latest reviews so you won't be staring at the screen while trying to find a suitable sushi joint.

BMW today announced that users of BMW Online in the US can now access Yelp in their vehicles. With Yelp on-board, customers can search for everything from the best local restaurants and boutiques to parking garages and banks. They are able to see ratings for those businesses while hearing reviews read out to them via the vehicle's text-to-speech feature. With the recent update to BMW Online's layout, BMW can seamlessly add new features (known as "applications") as they become available. Yelp is the first such application and there will be more to follow.

Customers who subscribe to the optional BMW Assist Convenience Plan and have a navigation-equipped vehicle capable of receiving the BMW Online service will be able to add the service today, without having to make any changes to their vehicle.

Yelp reviews can be accessed through the new Applications screen that is now part of BMW Online with the update which took place earlier this month.

BMW Online is just one of the many ConnectedDrive services available to BMW customers. BMW ConnectedDrive combines various elements from online applications, driver assistance, call center services and solutions for the integration of mobile devices. As a result, BMW customers are provided with an exceptional form of mobility, with more safety, more convenience, and more infotainment.

The BMW Online Yelp application has several exciting features - Category Search - Search by category for nearby restaurants, cafes, shopping, nightlife, and more. - Results Overview - Results are sorted by distance and star ratings, and also list category information and number of reviews. - Details - Selecting a particular place gives more details about it.

Customers can see the rating, address, distance, phone number, and information about reviews. Additionally, they can e-mail details of the business to themselves or any other e-mail address. - Reviews - The 3 latest reviews are available for the business. The customer can select one of those reviews and have it read back automatically.

BMW Online is available exclusively to Convenience Plan subscribers on BMW Assist with on-board Navigation system on the following models:

2009 and later Z4, 1, 3 and 7 Series
2010 and later 5 and 6 Series
2010 and later X5 and X6
2011 and later X3.

End of article.

Pretty cool, huh?  The best part of the Yelp application is that it is available for current Checkered Flag BMW drivers.  If you would like more information on BMW Online or BMW apps, contact your favorite Hampton Roads BMW store at (757)490-1111. 

Forget 335 horsepower.  This BMW Z4 is running on 6 squirrel power!

This story out of BMW is just too cute to keep to ourselves.  Take a look at the six most adorable stowaways to ever cross the border and spark a whole furry, I mean, flurry of BMW media buzz.



Article and photo source: [onehotlap.com]

After two BMW CCA driving school sessions at Watkins Glen Int'l, an event participant complained about the car feeling a bit "squirrely" out on the track. When he popped the hood open to investigate a possible cause, he found acorn leftovers and critter poop all over the engine bay. Upon further examination, it was determined that 6 baby squirrels had turned the car's airbox into their home and had been smuggled from Toronto through the U.S. border.

The event chair personally put on a squirrel rescue clinic getting all of the illegal immigrants out of the airbox by their tail and relocating them to a place where they won't have to experience threshold braking at 140 mph. BMW CCA is rumored to be putting together computer-based squirrel rescue training for other event chairs to follow. BMW North America is intrigued by the findings and is currently exploring options to replace its famous 6-cylinder inline engines with more eco-friendly 6-squirrels inline. Many animal rights groups have reportedly lined up to sponsor the driver's Team Flying Squirrels in honor of his support with providing luxury housing for the young family of squirrels. Because of the heightened interest in baby squirrels, it is now expected that Hollywood will be replacing Alvin & the Chipmunks with squirrels in its next squeakel. However, rumors that a Canadian goat was also found in the passenger seat of the vehicle and the driver ran over an instructor who tried to steal it and then dragged him all the way from the paddock to Turn 1 have been greatly exaggerated.

End of article.

  

I know, it's cheesy, but, I think these squirrels had some pretty good taste in choosing their home.  While I can't recommend any of our Checkered Flag BMW customers set up house under the hood, I can recommend dropping by and spending some time behind the wheel of the 2011 BMW Z4. 

To set up a test drive at your favorite Virginia Beach BMW dealer, Checkered Flag BMW, call (757)490-1111.