Monthly Archives: December 2024

Editorial, Information

The 9 Best Stops for a BMW Road Trip in 2025

There’s nothing better than your BMW and the open road. A road trip this year is the perfect opportunity to make some incredible stops, take in sights and create powerful memories. Visit these nine best stops for you and your bimmer in 2025. 

1. Pacific Coast Highway 

Nothing beats a thrilling drive along this scenic California highway, which includes quaint stops and unique adventures at every mile. The route is a feast for the eyes from behind the wheel of your BMW. Look out for stunning cliffs, white beaches and the Pacific Ocean sighing up against the shore. 

Some of the excellent stops you have to make include:

  • Big Sur
  • Bixby Bridge 
  • Monterey Bay
  • Seaside towns like Carmel-by-the-Sea

2. Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Imagine the verdant treetops reflecting off your polished hood while traveling through North Carolina and Tennessee’s park sections. It’s an incredible drive, with the mist-covered mountains framing your windows at every turn. Enjoy some of the spectacular stops along the way, like:

  • More than 800 miles of hiking trails
  • Scenic waterfalls
  • Several historical sites 
  • Antique mills and quaint towns

3. Monument Valley

Monument Valley is a must-see stop if you’re a fan of Westerns. While driving through scenic Utah and Arizona, you’ll see the iconic landscape of the cowboy movie era slide past with sandstone formations and a starkly beautiful desert landscape. 

Check your BMW’s air conditioning before heading into this dusty part of the U.S., as you don’t want to get stuck with a busted compressor that blows hot air instead of cooling.  

Remember to snap some stunning sunset photos while on a guided Navajo tour or when visiting a historical monument. 

4. Route 66

The iconic Route 66 is a nostalgic 2,448-mile drive through historic towns, diners and other roadside attractions. Enjoy a comfortable road trip through Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma and five other states while soaking in rich cultural attractions like ranches and wigwam motels. The route starts in Chicago and ends in Santa Monica, but you don’t have to drive the entire road for an unforgettable experience.  

5. Iowa 80

You might wonder why a truck stop would make it onto this list, but Iowa 80 in Walcott, Iowa, is the world’s largest truck stop and a serious must-see. Imagine hundreds of powerful muscle engines gathered at the end of a long drive, with roaring air horns and brightly painted bodywork.

This exciting destination has a unique trucker culture and offers amenities like restaurants, barbershops and movie theaters. 

6. Stargazing at Grand Canyon National Park

If your road trip takes you through Arizona, you must stop at one of the nation’s most famous natural wonders and indulge in sky-watching. Start at sunset, enjoying the beauty around you. When night falls, it’s a perfect opportunity to take in a breathtaking view of the cosmos from the hood of your BMW in a certified International Dark Sky Park. 

Check out Mather Point, just behind the visitor center, where you can safely park for viewings about 90 minutes after sunset or 90 minutes before sunrise. 

7. Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe in California and Nevada should make your road trip list for a scenic drive. The lake’s crystal-clear water and pine forests with a backdrop of stunning mountains are a fantastic route to cruise around. When you take a break from driving, you can enjoy skiing and kayaking while you make memories. 

8. The Florida Keys

Follow the scenic Overseas Highway as you check out the iconic chain of tropical islands. The highway makes you feel like you’re driving on the water with the elevated roadway that skims the waves. Enjoy the sun, beaches, marinas, palm trees and beautiful people on the boardwalks. 

Head to Daytona Beach Boardwalk for uninterrupted ocean views and unique boardwalk culture. Do some dolphin watching, go on a snorkeling tour and get an authentic Florida Keys experience.  

9. Montana Sun Road

Going-to-the-Sun Road is a perfect summer drive in Big Sky Country, Montana. Though the magnificent drive closes in winter, it provides incredible views of Glacier National Park and the Rocky Mountains in warm weather. 

The 50-mile stretch may take longer to drive than you expect because of all the photo opportunities. Note the road condition before entering the park, as regular plowing can make portions impassible. Use your BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system to help with traction control on the plowed road sections.   

Time to Hit the Road

The hum of your tires on the road as you cruise along mountain and coastal highways is music to your soul. Add these nine stunning destinations to your bucket list for an unforgettable driving experience. 

Car Care

Protect Your BMW From Extreme Weather With These 6 Smart Precautions

Your BMW is an investment, so you should take excellent care of it to keep it in the best possible condition. When extreme weather conditions hit, you must take extra precautions to protect your car and minimize potential damage. 

Use these practical precautions to protect your vehicle and ensure it’s safe, whether it’s a rainy or sunny day. After all, your BMW is your baby, and you don’t want anything to happen to her. 

1. Check Tires for Skid Protection

Driving in wet or icy conditions increases your risk of losing control and drifting from your lane. The first thing you should do before winter hits is maintain your tires. Regularly check the tire pressure and ensure you have sufficient tread to stick to slippery roads. In extremely icy climates, you may need to fit a set of snow tires to ensure your prized BMW sticks to the road and doesn’t end up in a ditch. 

Consult your manufacturer’s manual for the recommended tire pressure for your vehicle in icy conditions. Remember that tire pressure drops in cold weather as the air contracts. Always check a cold car’s tires when the vehicle hasn’t traveled in three hours to ensure an accurate reading. 

2. Rely on Defensive Driving 

Consider taking a defensive driving course if you live in an area with extreme weather. Knowing how to control a skid before one happens in real life is essential for keeping you, your family and your vehicle safe. 

Learn how to handle a skid, what safe following distances are and how to drive securely on wet roads. Avoid driving through standing water puddles that could hide potholes, and do not drive in stormy weather if possible. 

It’s tempting to check your phone while driving in a storm, but distracted driving triples your accident risk, regardless of the weather. 

3. Use Flood Protection in the Garage

If you anticipate flooding, park your vehicle safely in your garage. Prevent water ingress by boarding windows and packing sandbags around the perimeter and outside the garage door. If your garage is below ground level, install a sump pump to avoid flooding and protect your vehicle from water damage. 

You’ll need a backup power system to keep the pump running, so consider long-lasting batteries with automatic charging features. A float switch ensures the sump pump doesn’t run dry and burn out. You can use a gas-powered generator in a power outage, but keep sufficient fuel stored to get you and your BMW through the storm.   

4. Protect Against Rats

Rats may be the last thing on your mind when protecting your car from extreme weather, but sudden heat spells and rainy weather can drive rodents indoors. Your garage may look like the perfect hiding place for a family of rats or mice, and they’ll love chewing on your precious BMW’s wiring and air filter material. 

To play it safe, spray your engine with a rodent-deterrent spray or use rodent tape to discourage them from eating your car’s wires and rubber tubing. Take the vehicle to a nearby mechanic and ask if you can quickly use their lift to jack up your BMW so you can adequately spray it from beneath. 

5. Use a Car Cover

If you don’t have a garage or carport, a car cover is one of the most efficient ways to protect your vehicle from debris and hail. The padded cover securely fits the car, staying in place even in high winds. If you expect a hurricane, keeping your BMW secured in your garage with a car cover firmly strapped over it is your best bet. The cover will keep flying objects from hitting your car if your garage experiences damage. 

Thanks to technology, car covers now include smart options that let you control them remotely according to changing weather conditions. 

6. Park Strategically

When a storm hits, the best thing you can do is park your car strategically at the side of buildings opposite the storm’s winds. You can also use tree shade to protect your vehicle from UV damage during severe heat waves. Even facing your car’s windshield toward a shady position can help prevent cracks forming on the dash and steering wheel. 

Extreme Weather Protection

Protecting your BMW from extreme weather requires foresight and planning. Avoid traveling when anticipating a storm, and prepare your tires for winter roads. Also, prepare your garage to protect your car from hail, rain, flooding and rodents. 

Ensure you are the best driver you can be with quality defensive driving courses that teach you how to drive during extreme weather. Familiarize yourself with your car’s handling capabilities before you drive in stormy weather, and slow down in the snow. 

White BMW driving down the roadWhite BMW driving down the road
Tech

Self-Driving BMWs Are Integrating AI for Emergency Vehicle Detection

Artificial intelligence (AI) is carving a significant role in the automotive industry. How has BMW approached this advanced technology and its subsets? Recently, the German automaker began integrating AI in its self-driving vehicle program to aid emergency detection. 

With this addition, BMW is enhancing the future of autonomous cars. 

BMW Leans Into AI for Emergency Detection

Most states require drivers to pull over for emergency vehicles. While humans know these laws, it may be more difficult for a self-driving car to hear the sirens and react quickly. If they don’t, transitioning to these autonomous vehicles could be more challenging. With this complication in mind, BMW has recruited reinforcements to help these futuristic cars. 

In June, BMW announced its partnership with Cerence, an AI company specializing in transportation solutions. With Cerence’s Emergency Vehicle Detection (EVD), cars can better detect when police, firetrucks or ambulances are approaching. BMW’s current autonomous capabilities are at level 3, prompting the driver to take action when emergency vehicles are nearby. 

How will Cerence’s technology work? Developers have trained the EVD system on the sound structure of emergency sirens, and it detects these vehicles from up to 1,968 feet away with exterior microphones. Upon hearing the sound, the EVD software turns down your music and tells you to pull over. This innovation could also benefit drivers with hearing problems. 

Where Can You Use the EVD System? 

Cerence’s EVD software is available in the BMW Personal Pilot L3. These vehicles operate in Germany on a limited basis and let you reach speeds up to 37 miles per hour on the highway. Last summer, the automaker became the world’s first to combine level 2 and level three via the Personal Pilot program. If you want to test this software, you can find it in the BMW 7 Series. 

While it was exclusive to Germany, the Personal Pilot L3 software has received approval in China. In December 2023, the Chinese government permitted BMW vehicles with this technology to drive on specific sections of Shanghai highways. With more development, this BMW software suite should be available in other major metropolitan areas. 

Currently, the BMW Personal Pilot L3 and the Cerence software are unavailable in the United States. The country’s laws for self-driving vehicles differ from Germany and China, so it may take a while for American drivers with Bimmers. The only level 3 cars in the U.S. come from BMW’s fellow German automaker, Mercedes-Benz. 

How Else Is BMW Incorporating AI? 

With Cerence, BMW has found ways to incorporate AI for increased safety. That said, it’s not the only way the German automaker uses AI. The Munich-based manufacturer has started using these technologies on the supply chain. For instance, you can see AI at work in facilities like the BMW iFACTORY and AIQX. 

With AI’s integration, BMW has had to be more conscious of security. In 2020, the manufacturer adopted a code of ethics for AI, and one of the principles included privacy and data governance. This section expanded its privacy and data security measures to include AI applications. With cars becoming more connected, these technological advancements are necessary. 

While security has traditionally applied to computers and phones, BMW drivers must be aware of it with their new vehicles. Outside threats have become more intelligent and savvy regarding car intrusion. So, how can AI help Bimmer owners? One option is using a modern surveillance system. Developers have combined surveillance systems and AI to make security cameras smarter. 

What Are Potential Uses of AI for Future BMWs? 

With AI, the future is bright for BMW and other automakers. How could you see it in the future? One of the significant implications could be fully self-driving cars. Industry experts are leveraging programming languages like C++ to make this technology more effective. Its versatility and integration with the automotive sector make it a natural choice in research and development. 

Besides the driving experience, AI is making vehicle assembly easier for manufacturers. Since GM’s robotic arm in the 1960s, the industry has gradually relied more on this advanced technology. For example, supply chain management has recently become more critical. AI’s integration will help automakers optimize material sourcing, inventory management and lead times. 

It’s also vital to consider AI for the middle of the supply chain. For instance, BMW dealerships will benefit from AI and machine learning (ML) as they progress. Future uses could include AI-predicted sales forecasting and dynamic pricing strategies. These advanced technologies could also improve customer experiences through enhanced personalization and recommendations. 

BMW’s AI Integration in 2024 and Beyond

Safety is among the key obstacles for self-driving cars. How are the automakers solving the issue? BMW’s partnership with Cerence is a significant first step in integrating autonomous automobiles. 

With this joint venture, self-driving BMWs are more aware of incoming emergency vehicles. AI is growing with the German manufacturer and has a bright future in other applications.