Welcome to the official blog of Tomkinson BMW

This site features topics of interest to BMW enthusiasts in and around Fort Wayne, Indiana. Please enjoy!

2011 5 Series Appetizer

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Thursday, May 13th, 2010

The first 2011 BMW 535 and 550 will be here within the next few days, and we couldn’t be more excited!  The members of our team who have had the chance to drive the new 5er are raving about it.  We’ll have plenty more on the launch once they arrive, but in the meantime check out this review from iMotor.  The words “best in class” are thrown around quite a bit.  Look out Mercedes!  Interestingly, the reviewer’s only quibble is with the design… consensus here, though, is that it’s a great looking car.  What do you think?  Eye of the beholder, I guess.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBd0RdoMfhQ

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Categories : New Models

BMW Service Shuttle Now Available

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Wednesday, April 28th, 2010

For our service customers who prefer not to wait at Tomkinson BMW while your vehicle is serviced, we proudly introduce our new service shuttle: a luxuriously equipped X5 Diesel.  Each day from 7:45 to 5:30, we will take our service customers wherever you please within a 15 mile radius.  (Customers with further to travel are of course welcome to a loaner BMW.)

If you prefer to be shuttled home or run an errand at Jefferson Pointe, we’ll deliver you in style!  Also, you’ll have the opportunity to experience firsthand the quietest, most environmentally friendly diesel engine on the road today.  Ask Service Advisor Doug Bontrager for more details!

Tomkinson BMW's 2010 BMW X5 Diesel Service Shuttle. All aboard!

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Categories : Service and Maintenance
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Feature spotlight: Active Cruise Control

By bmwfortwayne · Comments (0)
Thursday, April 8th, 2010

BMW is known for its ever-expanding array of innovations in safety, performance and styling.  We often hear customers request a “fully loaded” BMW – ie, with all the latest and greatest equipment – but find that most are not even aware of all the cool stuff available on a BMW.  We’ll begin to spotlight those features in this space in the weeks to come, starting with Active Cruise Control.

While cruising, your BMW maintains a safe distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you. No tailgating!

Active Cruise Control is an advanced version of conventional cruise control systems. After setting the chosen speed and pre-set distance, radar measurements allow you to maintain a pre-set distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead in highway driving. As soon as sensors determine you are closing in on a vehicle ahead, the system automatically slows down to retain your pre-set distance. Once the distance has increased back to the chosen limit, the system automatically accelerates to return your vehicle to its pre-set speed.

Improved convenience and safety.  Now that’s a cool feature.

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Categories : BMW Safety, Features and Equipment

Tomkinson BMW Showroom Makeover

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Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

Check out the new look for the Tomkinson BMW showroom: a mosaic and huge, sweeping banner that play off of BMW’s recent “Joy” campaign.

Joy Mosaic

The 28-foot Joy banner snakes across the Tomkinson showroom

OK, maybe it’s not newsworthy, but everyone here is excited about the new look!  Of course, it won’t be long before our showroom experiences a much more exciting makeover, as 2011 models begin production in April!

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Categories : Tomkinson BMW
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New Driver 101 for Fort Wayne Teens

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Saturday, February 13th, 2010

Tomkinson BMW recently hosted a free class for new drivers to cover “What You Didn’t Learn in Driver’s Ed.”  Several students and a few parents from a local Fort Wayne high school watched Service Manager Scott High present hands-on tutorials on topics such as basic maintenance, jump-starting a car, changing tires, and responding to accidents or breakdowns.  The class was well-received, and plans are already underway for regular future sessions.  Seems to us that there is a clear need for more teen instruction on these topics.

Tomkinson BMW Service Manager Scott High demonstrates basic maintenance techniques to aspiring Fort Wayne drivers.

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Categories : Fort Wayne Community

BMW 1 Series called “Best Long-Term Test Car of All Time”

By admin · Comments (0)
Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

OK, so the BMW 130i is admittedly not sold in the states.  Still, this story makes a good case for BMW’s engineering and the reliability of the 1 Series in particular.  From BMW: The 130i was recently named the big winner of the long-term test ranking by one of Germany’s leading car journals, Auto Bild.  Covering 100,000 kilometers (more than 62,000 miles) without the slightest problem, BMW’s sporting compact not only achieved the best result throughout the whole of 2009, but also took over overall leadership among all cars ever tested over this distance. In response, the professional car testers gave the BMW 130i their 1+ grade (equal to AAA) and acknowledged BMW’s sporting performer as the “Best Auto Bild Long-Term Test Car of All Time”.

Apart from highlighting the car’s supreme reliability, the testers also lauded the outstanding driving pleasure offered by their car, waxing lyrical time and again in particular about the powerful, fast-revving and very efficient straight-six power unit.

BMW 1 Series named all-time best

The Ultimate long distance runner

This immaculate result achieved by the BMW 130i is the most outstanding outcome of the numerous long-term tests conducted by Auto Bild in 2009. BMW’s five-door athlete completed its 100,000-km marathon within approximately 1 ½ years, covering both short trips and long journeys on the Autobahn. The car completed this demanding challenge without the slightest incident and with both oil con­sumption and brake pad wear remaining extremely low throughout the entire test period.

In their final report the testers also acknowledged the high level of quality they consistently enjoyed with the BMW 130i even after its ongoing stress test. Their bottom line was that this “zero-defect car” did not show even the slightest signs of wear and tear.

Another BMW also in production today already came right at the top of Auto Bild’s ranking in 2008, the BMW 320i Touring covering the entire distance of 100,000 kilometers without one single breakdown or any unscheduled visits to the workshop. Registering just three minor defects in the course of the entire test, the BMW 320i Touring likewise scored the top grade awarded by the editors, a “1”, thus currently ranking No 5 in Auto Bild’s eternal list of long-term test cars.

[Source: BMW]

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Categories : BMW Safety, Service and Maintenance
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BMW xDrive vs. Rear Wheel Drive with winter tires

By bmwfortwayne · Comments (0)
Friday, January 22nd, 2010

This isn’t exactly “new” news, but with the lovely Fort Wayne winter wreaking havoc on the roads we’ve had a few discussions around here lately about the benefit of BMW’s winter tires.  Rear Wheel Drive with snow tires are the standard in Germany, but here in Fort Wayne xDrive is always in demand.

Car and Driver recently published a brief article about this – not specific to BMW – that argues “the additional traction of winter tires allows a two-wheel-drive car to outbreak, outturn and generally outmaneuver its all-wheel-drive brethren.”  (That is, an AWD with all-season tires.  xDrive with winter tires offers the most potent combination.)

We regularly swap and store tires for our customers with the changing of the seasons.  Next time you are shopping for a BMW or any other vehicle that you will drive in Fort Wayne’s harsh conditions, take heart in Car and Driver‘s advice.  Like everyone else, we love our xDrive, but with the proper tires there’s no need to fear Rear Wheel Drive!

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Categories : BMW Safety

2011 BMW 740 takes center stage at Detroit Auto Show

By bmwfortwayne · Comments (0)
Wednesday, January 13th, 2010

Plenty of exciting stuff coming out of the Detroit Auto Show from BMW.  A new Z4 Roadster, Active Hybrid launches, and other advances in Efficient Dynamics.    Perhaps of more immediate excitement to Fort Wayne BMW enthusiasts is the 2011 BMW 740, available in both ‘i’ and ‘Li’ body styles.

2011 BMW 7 Series 740 Fort Wayne Indiana

2011 BMW 740, playfully splashing

Given the popularity of the flagship 7 Series in Fort Wayne, we expect that many will be intrigued by the space, luxury and styling of the 740, equipped under the hood with a 6 cylinder twin turbo that delivers 315 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque at a base MSRP right around $70,000.  Stay tuned.

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Categories : New Models

Driver, passenger survive 400 ft cliff dive in a BMW 335

By admin · Comments (0)
Monday, January 11th, 2010

OK, this obviously did not happen in Fort Wayne or even in Indiana.  Still, given our regular boasting about BMW’s safety innovations and awards, this makes for a fun story.  First, the story as posted by the driver elsewhere on the web (source http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=338301).

“was bout 2 am on a saturday night Jan.2nd, picked up a female friend who lives on angeles crest street and we headed up angeles crest mountain… was taking her to a view spot for, u know…neways. at mile marker 30.65, no speeding no nothing, max i went was 35mph.came up to a pretty bad ass turn…the second i turned i saw 3 animals of some sort kicking it on the road. i panicked, swirved, hit the brakes, hit dirt road which didnt help me from stopping. flew straight off the ledge… flips+turns+tree+flips+turns+flips and landed on 3 rocks 426 feet down the mountain…Both of us are okay…walked out clean…i just have a fractured collar bone and my whole left side is killing me like crazy. the female is perfectly fine, just a few cuts n bruises.”

Now, of course, the pics:

BMW 335 passengers survive tumble down a mountain.

The passengers were none the worse for wear. The BMW, on the other hand...

BMW 335

Can you imagine walking away from this scene?

It’s almost enough to make one thankful for Indiana’s flat landscapes.  Incidentally, the 3 Series was one of three models (joining the X3 and X5) to earn the “Top Safety Pick” in 2009 from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

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Categories : BMW Safety
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A one-of-a-kind BMW

By bmwfortwayne · Comments (0)
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

Personalized exclusive colors are starting to become more and more popular amongst BMW owners.  We’ve seen just a few in Fort Wayne so far, as these are not inexpensive to apply, but BMW indicates that interest is on the rise among enthusiasts who are truly looking for one of a kind.

Here’s an example from the Frankfurt Auto Show: Frozen Gray Metallic.  Pretty gorgeous, we think.

A "Frozen Gray" BMW M6 at the Frankfurt Auto Show

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Categories : New Models
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