BMW X3 WINS 2004 ALCAN WINTER RALLY

Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, March 4, 2004... BMW X3 Sports Activity Vehicles
finished first and second in the 20th anniversary 2004 Alcan Winter Rally, the
world's longest and coldest rally. The winning team, captained by Automobile
Magazine's Ronald Arhens included driver Gary Webb and navigator Peter J.
Schneider. The second place effort was lead by BMW CCA Roundel
editor-in-chief, Satch Carlson and included pilot Henry Joy and navigator Russ
Kraushaar. Given the harshness of the conditions, the third BMW X3 team
performed bravely and selflessly, led by Bimmer Magazine's Mike Miller and
included driver Paul Duchene and navigator Katy Wood. The BMW X3s jumped out
to an early lead on the first day and maintained that lead throughout the
eight-day competition.

This grueling contest covers some of the most treacherous roads in North
America. The teams began in Seattle, Washington on February 18th, included a
stop in Whitehorse, Yukon Territories, Canada and crossed the finish line
nearly 5,000 miles later in Anchorage, Alaska on February 26th. The contest
consisted of traditional rally time-speed-distance tests, steep hill-climbs and
descents as well as a number of ice-racing competitions. Through it all, the
BMW X3s took everything the teams asked of them in stride.

"Everybody in the BMW Brigade was impressed with the X3... the speed and
handling of the vehicles, especially on the ice, was phenomenal--that's what
let us take the lead from Day One," noted BMW CCA Roundel editor-in-chief Satch
Carlson. "With a three-person crew, other things become important after a few
thousand miles. We had room for three people, plus all the Arctic gear we'd
need for a week, plus photographic equipment, tools and safety equipment. In
fact, the luxury was an ironic contrast to the stark Arctic environment around
us; we were cocooned in warmth and safety in the middle of a vast, barren plain
of ice."
The BMW X3 is ready for any passion, any weather, any corner, any pace. The
Alcan Rally's blend of cold and icy conditions, torturous roads and test of
handling prowess proved perfect fodder for BMW's newest Sports Activity Vehicle
by providing all four in abundance. The X3 offers BMW levels of performance
and handling as well as outstanding traction thanks to its all-new xDrive
all-wheel drive system.

"Who but BMW would pluck vehicle's of this type off the showroom floor, enter
them into such a grueling contest... and win," noted Tom Purves, Chairman and
CEO of BMW (US) Holding Corp. "This remarkable accomplishment is a testament
to the ruggedness and handling capabilities of the X3, not to mention the skill
and determination of the teams."

This outstanding result would not have been possible without the generous
support of the team sponsors, BMW Original Parts, BMW Financial Services,
Snap-on Tools and Hella, Inc.

BMW Group In America
BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975.
ROLLS-ROYCE Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW
Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial
service organizations for the BMW brand, the MINI brand, and the ROLLS-ROYCE
brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, an industrial design firm in California; a
technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the
country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group's
global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all
Z4 roadster and X5 Sports Activity Vehicles. The BMW Group sales organization
is represented in the U.S. through networks of 340 BMW passenger car centers,
327 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 148 BMW motorcycle retailers, 76 MINI
passenger car dealers, and 25 ROLLS-ROYCE Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding
Corp., the BMW Group's sales headquarters for North, Central and South America,
is

located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

Information about BMW Group products is available to consumers via the Internet
at:

www.bmwusa.com
www.bmwmotorradusa.com
www.miniusa.com
www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com