The reason that it can be a problem to separate the different models is that, being a German vehicle producer, and having a German mentality. BMW seems to have avoided what it presumably see’s as unnecessary glamorous and evocative names for all of its vehicles.

Instead, this manufacturer of some of the finest luxury vehicles in the world opted, with great German logic, to simply number each of different series of models, with a complex set of numbers and letters.

We shall try to unravel the mysteries of the German car manufacturing mind, by listing the different models, so that hopefully you may comprehend the BMW range.

BMW currently produces the 1 Series, 3 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series, as well as SUVs that naturally to the German’s, have the letter X and two-seater roadsters, perhaps you guessed that these all use the letter Z.

Each of the BMW designations refer to either the first number or alternatively to the first letter of the name. A good example would be the 518, 520i or the 530i, obviously each model is one of the ‘5′ Series. As the Series numbers get higher, the vehicle will become not only physically larger in size, it will also become more expensive for BMW car leasing.

Therefore, now that we are starting to understand the numbering system, we can examine the subtle differences between each of the BMW series.

Beginning with the lowest number, the 1 Series are the company’s smaller vehicles, which are relatively less expensive when considering BMW car leasing. The luxury cars in this series were conceived to be in competition with cars such as the Volkswagen Golf, and cars of a similar size and stature. All the BMW cars for sale in this series are rear wheel drive models.

Going up to the next number, the 3 series of BMW’s luxury models, were originally designed and produced, to be the company’s most reasonably priced and smallest models. Which for many years they were, until the company designed the 1 Series models.

The ‘3′ models have a very clear and defined target market of younger professionals, on their way up in the world. However, for whom the more prestigious 5 or 7 series vehicles are financially out of reach. The 3 series has proved to be an incredibly successful model and is in fact the worlds best selling ‘Beemer’.

In what the company considers, to be in its mid-range of vehicles is the 5 series. This is the ultimate in junior executive to transportation. For many BMW fans, the 5 is the superior model, as they believe that this series can offer the best value for money, while still retaining the ‘wow’ factor.

The big boy of the group is the highly prestigious 7 Series, which just screams ‘the boss’s car’. For those that can afford this top of the range BMW contract hire executive saloon, they offer the ultimate in ‘I’ve made it’ driving status. These vehicles are clearly in the same range as the top of the tree, Mercedes and Jaguars cars. In addition, for those can have deep enough pockets BMW car leasing can be a serious statement of ownership, of a piece of high quality German engineering.

Luxury car leasing is different :It’s not that luxury cars for sale are more expensive, or that the leasing process is different, but because the consumer doing the leasing is typically different.

Luxury car consumer :
High-end automotive consumers have different priorities, different values, bigger bank accounts, and prefer to transact business differently than people acquiring less expensive vehicles. They have a tendency to lease rather than buy. “High-line” vehicles are leased at the rate of 50% - 70%, depending on brand, compared to only 20% - 30% for non-luxury models.

Luxury auto consumers tend to value time, efficiency, quality of service, and business relationship when dealing with financing. Spending a great deal of time shopping and haggling for bargain deals is less important that establishing a relationship with a company they can trust and depend on to genuinely look out for their interests. High-end customrs tend to be more loyal to a brand and a dealership over a long period of time.

Luxury automobiles make the best lease values, dollar for dollar, due to high lease-end residual values relative to MSRP. In fact, luxury vehicles, as a category, are leased significantly more often than vehicles in any other category. The best lease deals are for Lexus car, Mercedes car, Porsche car, Land Rover car, and BMW car, with the highest future resale values, or residual values, relative to their original cost. A high residual value creates a low monthly lease payment.

In fact, a better lease deal can often be obtained by leasing a high-residual luxury car than by leasing a car with a lower residual value, even though the price of the luxury car is the same or greater. This is the reason smart automotive consumers tend to lease a luxury vehicle. Being smart about money is a typical characteristic of high-end car leasers. High-line leasing consumers are not trying to save a few bucks — they have the money to buy the car they want. They simply know that it’s not smart to put money into depreciating assets (automobiles) when that money could be used for more productive purposes.

Independent lease companies and luxury cars :
More than 20% of luxury automobile consumers finance their loans and leases outside of car dealerships. Independent lease companies such as Primelease can, in most cases, beat luxury car dealers on prices and lease rates because high-end manufacturers don’t subsidize deals and offer incentives nearly to the extent that low-mid-range vehicle manufacturers do. Furthermore, luxury car dealers don’t like to be viewed as “discounters.”

Finance companies who lease luxury cars typically require their clients to have “prime” credit ratings. Lower credit scores can mean higher lease rates, large down payments, and security deposits — and possibly higher insurance rates. For high-line vehicle leases an independent lease company can be more flexible and responsive to customers’ needs than dealers, who are restrained by car manufacturers’ rules. For example, when new models come out and are limited in dealers’ inventories, independent lease companies can search the entire country for the exact car you want.

Benefits of leasing luxury cars :
People who lease high-line cars like the convenience of a quick easy business transaction, like having a new style car every two or three years, like avoiding maintenace and repair headaches, and like avoiding disposing of used cars. They also like the option of minimizing cash outlay.

In summary, luxury car leasing is different, the people who lease luxury cars are different, and the companies who lease luxury cars are different.

If you’re looking for a used car for sale in the Carolinas, you know the kind of vehicle you want. Maybe that last hurricane convinced you that you needed an SUV with a big wheel radius and clearance off the ground. Or maybe your last camping trip in the Smokies would have been more fun in a 4×4 that could have gone off-road.

To live in the Carolinas is to enjoy nature. God made some pretty fabulous scenery down here between the ocean and the mountains. It’s your vehicle that has to take you on all your excursions, from boating and fishing, to rock climbing and hiking, to off-roading and parasailing. It’s even going to take you to the great sport of eating barbecue!

You know your needs, and the web is a great place to match up your needs with a used car or used truck. Used cars and used pick up trucks in Carolina are featured on the Internet in recommended websites. These used car dealerships are close enough to test drive the car you want, and will charge the local taxes and fees you are accustomed to in your home state.

The supply of used cars, used trucks and used SUVs in the Carolinas has never been higher. There are a great variety of makes and models available like Chevrolet, Honda, Mercedes, BMW cars etc. If you go to a recommended website, you can scroll through the selection of used cars and trucks available and choose the best used car for you.

It is truly said that “A Luxury becomes a Necessity when your Neighbor owns it”.  Think of the term Luxury Vehicle and image which flashes in the mind is Convertible, Sports Utility Vehicle, Crossover …which has an appeal to aging Baby Boomers and Nouveau riche alike.

Tracking the history of luxury cars of 1920 and 1930 Duesenberg, and Mercedes-Benz were the forerunners in the race. They projected a dashing image to their respective owners ( film and  music stars , kings and gangsters)  due to their distinctive style, impeccable craftsmanship, and strong performance. But they were too heavy to be a truly sports car. The Great Depression of 1930’s and Second World War cast almost a death spell on these luxury car segment. The post war period saw Ferrari quietly making the mark in this luxury car segment. Ford ‘Thuderbird’ , a two seater convertible was  compact in size yet truly a sports car.

Towards the end of the 20th century, young buyers shifted their preferences towards imported European and Japanese cars or sports utility vehicles. European marques like BMW and Mercedes, Japanese manufacturers like Lexus SC and Infiniti have made a niche in the market. Simultaneously, the very term ‘Luxury’ has undergone drastic metamorphosis. Features like air conditioning, cruise control, electric windows, remote keyless entry and even a power-sliding sunroof are considered as basic amenities necessary for basic models.

Fortunately, for the luxury car manufacturers, most of the American’s believe that small, compact yet nicely loaded cars do not make the style statement they are looking forward to.  A Limousine, would be perfect for any special need that one may have taking into  consideration the number of people who are going to ride in it. Mercedes, Lincoln, Cadillac are a few traditional luxury sedans. But, for the truly fabulous look Rolls Royce is the final word.

Buying a Used luxury car has never been so easy with ‘Certified’ market expanding at unimaginable pace. Of course, there are many advantages of Used over New ones. It is prudent to consider the following aspects for taking the final plunge.

-Extended Warranties:
Today, luxury cars are engineered so well, that buying a used luxury car is becoming an popular option amongst car buyers. If enough homework is done from the buyer’s side, used car warranties can rival out new car warranty. As a general rule, first choose the dealership then shop for the car. Dealer’s warranty speaks volumes for the quality of vehicle they offer. There are plenty fly by night car warranty companies to accept money but would not be there to back up the claim. A used luxury car dealership with a long history of satisfied customers is always preferable to yet established ones.

-Certified Used Cars:
A Used car, which has been meticulously examined and found to be of outstandingly high standards by the manufacturer of the automobile, can only be certified. As an end user, the buyer has 3 days or 3000 miles to verify if the right is right for him or else pick a better one.

-Auto recall Information:
It is a good practice to check comprehensive auto recall information to know if there have any problems that have been reported by NHTSA. If so , one can get detailed information on how and where to fix the car defect.

To sum it up, a used, well maintained  , luxury vehicle would cost much less than buying a brand new one off the showroom floor. Besides lower cost of acquisition, these cars are extremely durable. Given a good treatment and maintained regularly, a late –model luxury car should run well beyond 1,00,000 miles trouble free. Besides, premium models have classic lines that do not change over years. And hence five to ten year old luxury model still looks very much like a brand new one at a much lesser price than the original.

Mercedes brings Hollywood glamour to Cobo with its ‘sexy’ Vision GLK compact SUV and upgraded SLK Roadster.

Mercedes brought Hollywood style to Cobo Hall when Sex in the City star Kim Cattrall and Daimler Benz Chairman Dieter Zetsche launched a new compact SUV, the Vision GLK.

The compact SUV has been labeled “sexy” after playing its own role in the forthcoming Sex in the City — The Movie. While not necessarily sexy, the SUV is refreshingly individual with its sharp lines, low hood line and bright interior styling. It has presence in a sector that doesn’t lend itself to eye-catching styling.

The GLK adds a fifth model to the Mercedes’ SUV range and offers customers a new entry point into the marque’s all-wheel-drive models. Two versions were introduced; the TOWNSIDE for “urban adventure” with a lowered chassis, more elegant streetwise design and sportier tires for on-road use and FREESIDE for more mixed on-/off-road driving.

Thomas Weber, board member for group research and development, said both Vision GLK models stand for new driving culture in their segment by offering “exciting design and compact format, distinctive driving enjoyment, both on and off-road; safety and comfort of the highest level as well as exemplary environmental compatibility.”

While the Vision GLK will be launched in January 2009 to the North American market with V6 engines and 4MATIC all-wheel-drive systems, it will eventually be offered with the BLUETEC diesel engines fitted to the show models.

The 2.2-liter engine delivers 204 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque at just 1600 rpm. Average fuel consumption achieved in testing is 35 mpg from the common-rail injection technology and two-stage turbocharging.

Mercedes also used the NAIAS for the worldwide debut of an updated SLK 350 Roadster. With an average market share of 30 percent, SLK has been the best-selling premium roadster of its class in the world since 2004.

It gets a more sporting look, enhanced interior and two new gas engines delivering more power than their predecessors, with a 10 percent improvement in fuel consumption. A new 3.5-liter V6 sports engine generates 305 horsepower (an increase of 33 horsepower) and gains an extra 2 miles to the gallon at 27 mpg.

The newly developed Direct Steer system with variable power assistance brings together agility and responsiveness on winding roads with greater ease during parking maneuvers and improved high-speed safety.