Lucky

I just visited my dealer that showed to me the year 2006 spec for the Italian market. As before, the range is made up of three different versions, called ELETTA, ATTIVA, FUTURA. In addition, there is an ECCELSA version only available with the 4.8l v8 gasoline and 3.0l twin turbodiesel engines (550I and 535D).

New for Italy is the possibility to order a special MSport package, that is basically the same package offered in UK and other countries, featuring front and rear M bumpers, side skirts, 18" M style wheeels, sport seats, sport handwheel, sport suspension and interior M style aluminium trims.

What caught my attention is that the Active Steeering is not any more standard in any package (last year it was standard in the ATTIVA and ECCELSA version) but remains an option through the whole range. Moreover, Dynamic Drive is not compatible with the sport suspension option and IT'S NOT available with the MSport package.

So, BMW Italy is canceling the disputed AS from the standard dotation of the ATTIVA and ECCELSA. To balance it, in value, PRO NAV is now standard in the ATTIVA instead of the BUS NAV of last year.

Any changes in the dotations for USA and UK?

EBMCS03

Ya... AS has been taken out of packages and is a stand along option since I think Waaaaay back in March 2005, yes March 2005 here in the US as a Model Year 2006.

No such thing as a Business Navigation here... and its not standard on any model. its a stand alone option.

and as for M model we dont have that either. We only have the M-Tech appearance package to make the looks better. No M suspension no M steering wheel no M trim.

clarence

None of the UK option pack features AS as part of the pack. In UK, the M-pack is sold as a separate model, which is called 'M Sport'. Only 3 packs are available in UK - Luxury (not for M Sport), Media (Nav+Telematics), & Visibility (Xenon+adaptive lights). Again, M Sport models cannot be specified with Dynamic Drive.