http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/ Autoblog Comments for BMW still mulling selling engines to competitors http://www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/Apr 3rd 2008 8:14AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/
I don't know about this comment. You might think that, but definitely some other people might see it differently. How many times have you heard things like..."That Lexus is just a Toyota with leather?"...or "The Mini is just an overpriced retro hatchback with a Neon engine"?

Will some people make a similar connection and say "Why would I buy a bangle butt BMW when I can have the same engine in my stylish Saturn 325i?"]]>Apr 3rd 2008 10:50PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/Apr 3rd 2008 8:25AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/Apr 3rd 2008 9:32AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/I don't think BMW makes any of their own transmissions. The ones not made by GM are made by ZF, Borg-Warner, etc. I think of all the German makes, only Mercedes makes any of their own automatic transmissions.]]>Apr 3rd 2008 11:09AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/Apr 3rd 2008 8:21AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/Apr 3rd 2008 8:26AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/
Of the 4 companies you mention, two only two are their own entities at all. Mazda is a subsidiary of Ford and Kia is owned by Hyundai. That makes them both marques, not makers.

Subaru 17% owned by Toyota effective this week.

Mitsubishi is indeed independent, but just because they're a smaller maker than BMW doesn't mean BMW isn't small.

Find your faves on the chart:
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/automotive-family-tree-2008/725147/
]]>Apr 3rd 2008 11:14AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/Apr 3rd 2008 8:24AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/
Here is my issue with "Precision German Engineering", on paper it's sexy as hell. Sells tons of cars. A few years down the road however, Precision German Engineering burns a very precise and rather large hole in your wallet.

Face it, an out of warranty German car can become quite an expensive misterss.]]>Apr 3rd 2008 11:05AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/
I agree about German cars cost a lot to keep running, but I'm not sure dual-clutch gearboxes affect it much. They're expensive to run without a dual-clutch box.]]>Apr 3rd 2008 11:16AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/
bmw, by comparison, is a privately held car maker and not much else. GM, daimler and fiat are severe heavyweights compared to BMW. ]]>Apr 3rd 2008 8:28AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/Apr 3rd 2008 8:39AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/
As if small were a terrible thing anyway. BMW seems to make most of their money convincing people that BMWs are somewhat exclusive anyway.]]>Apr 3rd 2008 11:30AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/
By the way, BMW is not a privately held company. It is publicly traded. Look it up. It's BMW AG not BMW GmBH.

]]>Apr 5th 2008 12:20AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/Apr 3rd 2008 8:55AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/Apr 3rd 2008 9:08AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/
Given the packaging issues with Inline 6's, and the rest of the industry's almost wholesale shift away from them, it seems like it would be much more difficult to sell an inline than a V.
]]>Apr 8th 2008 3:22PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/Apr 3rd 2008 9:20AMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/bmw-still-mulling-selling-engines-to-competitors/Apr 3rd 2008 9:34AM