With F1 behind it, BMW planning return to DTM in 2012
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/motorsports/" rel="tag">Motorsports</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/coupes/" rel="tag">Coupe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/racing/" rel="tag">Racing</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-bmw-m3-gt2-at-mid-ohio/"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/m3-gt2.jpg" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><sma ll>BMW M3 GT2 in ALMS - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em></div>
<br />
After <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/bmw/">BMW</a> withdrew from Formula One at the end of the 2009 season, the automaker announced it would focus its motorsports efforts on production-based series. BMW announced this week that its board had approved a return to competition in the German Touring Car Championship (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM)) starting in 2012, provided certain conditions are met. Exactly what those conditions are is unclear right now, but they likely involves some rules changes. <br />
<br />
While BMW has been competing in other touring car classes including the World Touring Car Championship, it has not appeared in the DTM since the mid-1990s. Currently only <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/audi/">Audi</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/mercedes-benz/">Mercedes-Benz</a> compete in DTM. <br />
<br />
Technical development has begun on the DTM car and it will be based on the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/m3">M3</a>. With a 2012 DTM launch, BMW will likely use the next-generation M3, which is expected to debut sometime in 2011. The current M3 already competes in GT2 in North America and Europe and BMW recently launched a GT3 class <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/z4">Z4</a> racer. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><s trong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-bmw-m3-gt2-at-mid-ohio/">2009 BMW M3 GT2 at Mid-Ohio</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-bmw-m3-gt2-at-mid-ohio/#2945273"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/m3-gt2-mo--02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-bmw-m3-gt2-at-mid-ohio/#2945274"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/m3-gt2-mo--01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-bmw-m3-gt2-at-mid-ohio/#2945272"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/m3-gt2-mo--03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-bmw-m3-gt2-at-mid-ohio/#2945271"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/m3-gt2-mo--04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-bmw-m3-gt2-at-mid-ohio/#2945270"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/m3-gt2-mo--05_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
[Source: BMW]<br />
<em><strong><small> Photos Copyright (C)2010 Sam Abuelsamid / Max Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.</small></strong></em><br />
<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/01/with-f1-behind-it-bmw-planning-to-return-to-dtm-in-2012/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>With F1 behind it, BMW planning return to DTM in 2012</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/01/with-f1-behind-it-bmw-planning-to-return-to-dtm-in-2012/">With F1 behind it, BMW planning return to DTM in 2012</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Sat, 01 May 2010 14:36:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/01/with-f1-behind-it-bmw-planning-to-return-to-dtm-in-2012/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19461289/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/01/with-f1-behind-it-bmw-planning-to-return-to-dtm-in-2012/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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BMW Dynamic Car Identity reimagines Roundel [w/video]
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/etc/" rel="tag">Etc.</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/marketing-advertising/" rel="tag">Marketing/Advertising</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/videos/" rel="tag">Videos</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/03/bmw-dynamic-car-identity-reimagines-roundel/#continued"><img hspace="0" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/bmwnewroundel.jpg" alt="" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><sma ll>Proposal for a dynamic BMW roundel - Click above to watch video <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/03/bmw-dynamic-car-identity-reimagines-roundel/#continued">after the jump</a></small></strong></em></div>
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There's everything on the Internet, isn't that what they say? A company called Zafira Consulting & Trading has posted a proposal on YouTube for a dynamic re-envisioning of <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/bmw">BMW</a>'s roundel logo. It's got the usual form and colors but, to quote Galileo, "And yet it moves."<br />
<br />
The only other logos we know of that move on a car are on Rolls-Royces and Bentleys - the wheel caps rotate to stay centered, and the hood ornaments will retract. Zafira's idea isn't anything like that. It is neat, but... well, have a look at it for yourselves <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/03/bmw-dynamic-car-identity-reimagines-roundel/#continued">after the jump</a> and tell us if you can see it in BMW's future.<br />
<br />
[Source: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDp5Z9o1Ic0">YouT ube</a>]<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/03/bmw-dynamic-car-identity-reimagines-roundel/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>BMW Dynamic Car Identity reimagines Roundel [w/video]</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/03/bmw-dynamic-car-identity-reimagines-roundel/">BMW Dynamic Car Identity reimagines Roundel [w/video]</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Mon, 03 May 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDp5Z9o1Ic0>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/03/bmw-dynamic-car-identity-reimagines-roundel/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19459072/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/03/bmw-dynamic-car-identity-reimagines-roundel/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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Ready, Aim, Fire! BMW security cars take assasin's bullet, live to tell
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sedans/" rel="tag">Sedan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/suvs/" rel="tag">SUV</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/euro/" rel="tag">Europe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/plants-manufacturing/" rel="tag">Plants/Manufacturing</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/safety/" rel="tag">Safety</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/videos/" rel="tag">Videos</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/special-limited-editions/" rel="tag">Specialty</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/luxury/" rel="tag">Luxury</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/03/video-bmws-security-vehicles-in-action/#continued"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/armored-bmw-630.jpg" alt="" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><sma ll>Testing BMW's armor plating - Click above to watch video <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/03/video-bmws-security-vehicles-in-action/#continued">after the jump</a></small></strong></em></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/bmw/">BMW</a> has been manufacturing and selling premium security vehicles for clients around the world for over 30 years. The company's newest line-up of bullet-proof beasts includes the the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/x5">X5</a> Security, X5 Security Plus, the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/7+series">760Li</a> High Security and the 750Li High Security. Depending on which level of protection clients require, BMW can offer armor against everything from pistol fire to assault rifle rounds and small explosions.<br />
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The company has released a new video that shows off exactly what goes into creating an armored vehicle from the factory. According to BMW, the manufacturer takes time during development of the base models to ensure the platforms can handle the added weight of the armored plating and glass. The result is a car that can not only take a serious beating, but can also handle and perform while looking no different than standard BMW models.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/03/video-bmws-security-vehicles-in-action/#continued">Hop the jump</a> to see the video for yourself. But don't blame us if you have a sudden urge to dismantle an armored BMW with machine gun fire though.<br />
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<br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><s trong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-bmw-7-series-high-security/low/">2010 BMW 7 Series High Security</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-bmw-7-series-high-security/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/08/01-bmw-7-high-security_thumbnail.jpg" alt="01-bmw-7-high-security" title="01-bmw-7-high-security" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-bmw-7-series-high-security/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/08/02-bmw-7-high-security_thumbnail.jpg" alt="02-bmw-7-high-security" title="02-bmw-7-high-security" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-bmw-7-series-high-security/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/08/03-bmw-7-high-security_thumbnail.jpg" alt="03-bmw-7-high-security" title="03-bmw-7-high-security" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-bmw-7-series-high-security/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/08/04-bmw-7-high-security_thumbnail.jpg" alt="04-bmw-7-high-security" title="04-bmw-7-high-security" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-bmw-7-series-high-security/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/08/05-bmw-7-high-security_thumbnail.jpg" alt="05-bmw-7-high-security" title="05-bmw-7-high-security" /></a></div><br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><s trong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/bmw-x5-security-plus/">BMW X5 Security Plus</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/bmw-x5-security-plus/#1492157"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/bmwx5securityplus---01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/bmw-x5-security-plus/#1492158"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/bmwx5securityplus---02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/bmw-x5-security-plus/#1492204"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/bmwx5securityplus---03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/bmw-x5-security-plus/#1492181"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/bmwx5securityplus---04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/bmw-x5-security-plus/#1492199"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/bmwx5securityplus---05_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div> <br />
[Source: <a href="http://www.bmwblog.com/2010/05/03/video-bmw-high-security-vehicles/#more-34796">BMW Blog</a>]<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/03/ready-aim-fire-bmw-security-cars-take-assasins-bullet-live/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Ready, Aim, Fire! BMW security cars take assasin's bullet, live to tell</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/03/ready-aim-fire-bmw-security-cars-take-assasins-bullet-live/">Ready, Aim, Fire! BMW security cars take assasin's bullet, live to tell</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Mon, 03 May 2010 19:25:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/03/ready-aim-fire-bmw-security-cars-take-assasins-bullet-live/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19462491/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/03/ready-aim-fire-bmw-security-cars-take-assasins-bullet-live/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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RIM and BMW collaborate on iDrive-controlled BlackBerry integration [w/video]
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/tech/" rel="tag">Technology</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/04/rim-and-bmw-collaborate-on-idrive-controlled-blackberry-integrat/#continued"><img hspace="0" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/bmw-blackberry-idrive.jpg" alt="" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><sma ll>BMW iDrive BlackBerry connectivity - Click above to view the video <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/04/rim-and-bmw-collaborate-on-idrive-controlled-blackberry-integrat/#continued">after the jump</a></small></strong></em></div>
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Research In Motion has been hard at work bringing new ways to integrate the functionality of its <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/blackberry">BlackBerry</a> devices into the automobile. We recently brought you news of <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/13/rims-latest-acquisition-could-bring-blackberry-integration-to-t/">RIM's acquisition of QNX Software Systems</a>, but before that partnership comes to fruition, several automakers (most recently <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/20/2011-ford-fiesta-to-include-applink/">including Ford</a>, for example) have been working with the Canadian electronics firm - now one of the top five mobile phone-makers in the world - to bring the BlackBerry into the cabin in a distraction-free manner.<br />
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The latest collaboration revolves around <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/bmw">BMW</a>'s iDrive system, which has now been linked up with the BlackBerry to provide limited functionality while behind the wheel. Connecting through Bluetooth, the iDrive controller will now be able to read email messages aloud to the driver and occupants, and initiate calls either from the email sender or from the phone's contact list, displayed on the dash-top screen. The feature is being rolled out first on the new Pearl 3G, but is slated to arrive to all new devices running the new BlackBerry 6 mobile operating system.<br />
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<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/04/rim-and-bmw-collaborate-on-idrive-controlled-blackberry-integrat/#continued">Follow the jump</a> to watch a video of the feature in action, as demonstrated on a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/28/first-drive-2011-bmw-335is-munich-finally-builds-a-special-on/">335is</a>.<br />
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[Source: <a href="http://www.phonescoop.com/articles/article.php?a=361&p=2597" >Phone Scoop</a> via <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/03/rim-converts-bmws-idrive-into-a-remote-control-for-your-blackb/">Engadget</a>]<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/04/rim-and-bmw-collaborate-on-idrive-controlled-blackberry-integrat/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>RIM and BMW collaborate on iDrive-controlled BlackBerry integration [w/video]</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/04/rim-and-bmw-collaborate-on-idrive-controlled-blackberry-integrat/">RIM and BMW collaborate on iDrive-controlled BlackBerry integration [w/video]</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Tue, 04 May 2010 15:32:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.phonescoop.com/articles/article.php?a=361&p=2597> Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/04/rim-and-bmw-collaborate-on-idrive-controlled-blackberry-integrat/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19462267/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/04/rim-and-bmw-collaborate-on-idrive-controlled-blackberry-integrat/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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Lifelong BMW fan gets fitting headstone at death
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/etc/" rel="tag">Etc.</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a></p><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1273067/Car-lover-buried-ton-granite-carving---BMW.html"><img hspace="0" border="0" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/05/bmw-stone.jpg" alt="" /></a><br />
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Are you a fanboy? It's fine, you can admit it. While the term often carries a negative connotation, being a fan of one particular brand isn't really anything to be ashamed of, and we all have our built-in biases and preferences anyway. So strong was Steve Marsh's love of <a href="http://autoblog.com/make/bmw">BMW</a> automobiles that his family decided it would only be proper to bury him under one when he died at the young age of 51 years old.<br />
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Marsh, somewhat ironically an engineer at <a href="http://autoblog.com/make/ford">Ford</a>, apparently had a particular fondness for the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/m3">BMW M3</a> convertible. Nothing wrong with that, we say. And so wife and two children contracted a mason to help them design a headstone in the shape of that very automobile. No big deal, right? Wrong. This particular headstone happens to be life-size and was chiseled out of a single block of granite.<br />
<br />
So large is the M3-shaped stone that it cost a whopping &pound;50,000 (over $75,000 U.S.) and had to be shipped in from China. Total weight comes in at one ton, which meant it took a crane and 20 operators to lower the stone in position in its final resting place at the Manor Park Cemetery in East London.<br />
<br />
A tad offbeat, for sure... though not nearly as much as the Puerto Rican who was <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/27/puerto-rican-funeral-home-presents-shooting-victim-on-his-motorc/">embalmed atop his Honda CBR motorcycle</a>. As you might expect, the massive hewn BMW headstone is raised the ire of some locals. Local resident Rene Dryden commented:<br />
<blockquote>
<div><em>You have to admit it's totally different to everything else around it. It's definitely not my taste. I think some people will say it's tacky and it could end up as a target to be vandalised. It could open the floodgates for anything to be built in a cemetery. When I walked past it the other day, though, I have to admit it did make me smile.</em></div>
</blockquote>Honestly, it's not really our taste either. We'd have gone with a hardtop for all those rainy London days.<br />
<br />
[Source: <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1273067/Car-lover-buried-ton-granite-carving---BMW.html">Daily Mail</a>]<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/06/lifelong-bmw-fan-gets-fitting-headstone-at-death/">Lifelong BMW fan gets fitting headstone at death</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Thu, 06 May 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1273067/Car-lover-buried-ton-granite-carving---BMW.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/06/lifelong-bmw-fan-gets-fitting-headstone-at-death/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19466258/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/06/lifelong-bmw-fan-gets-fitting-headstone-at-death/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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