BMW Taking Notes From GM!

German automaker BMW said it would install sensors in most of its 2009 cars that tell rescue operators the potential severity of crash injuries.

On board sensors will calculate the angle of impact, the speed of deceleration, and whether the crash involved one or a series of impacts, USA Today reported Friday.

The system will then calculate the risk of injury using a scale of 1 to 100 and relay this to emergency responders.

BMW's product analyst manager Peter Baur said the system is being installed in part because 14 percent of all accidents result in a driver's inability to use the two-way communication system.

The information is similar to data provided after an accident by General Motors Corp.'s OnStar system. OnStar President Chet Huber said he welcomed any effort to make cars safer.

At the Center for Disease Control's Injury Center, Richard Hunt, director of the Division of Injury Response, said the goal was to "make sure the (victim) gets to the right place in the right amount of time," the newspaper reported.
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Intensity007 - 1/9/2009 10:14:44 PM

+1 Boost

Here is what Autospies member "TECHGEEK" stated in a recent post: "American Muscle is great but I will rather take Euro Brains". My response: It looks like us ole' farm boys aren't so dumb after all LOL!

Intensity007 - 1/9/2009 11:47:43 PM

+1 Boost

http://www.autospies.com/news/Hennessey-HPE700-bastard-love-child-of-Camaro-SS-and-CorvetteZR1-39647/

TECHGEEK - 1/10/2009 2:02:16 AM

0 Boost

Never mentioned that we are dumb now, did I ?
However, who are the people who have all the smart jobs in our country ? Europeans & Asians -> Fact
Most doctors & High level IT-employees-> Indians
Most Scientists -> Jews, mostly Israelis,European and Russian
Brains for Business -> Chinese & Koreans

Besides, Europe has just got a better educational system -> Fact

Intensity007 - 1/10/2009 2:13:26 AM

+1 Boost

You're right TECHGEEK. I was just having a little fun when I posted. Hopefully, there wont be a "flame war" in here with the other members LOL!

neutral - 1/10/2009 12:12:32 PM

+2 Boost

BimmerMike46,

There is cooperation and technical things industry wide that the OEM's copy/share/compete with eachother. Mercedes just hired Hyundai's design boss. Is that going to be some massively shameful thing that people associate with Mercedes...hell no. MB saw a guy who was good at what he does (just look at Hyundai's lineup) and made an offer. As for BMW's using GM transmissions, I haven't heard a thing about anything going wrong at all. Its a good deal for GM (makes money and keeps factories running) and its a good deal for BMW (they get a great transmission for a good price from a manufacturer that easy to deal with). Sometimes people on this site just make me laugh...

neutral - 1/10/2009 12:17:57 PM

+3 Boost

BimmerMike46,

The E30 & E36 are your examples of why GM makes bad transmissions for the current 3-series? The E30 and E36 --- were talking about cars that haven't been made for over a decade.... come on now. If there's one thing GM does right, its Powertrains. My only HUGE fault with GM powertrain is the fact that GM sat on these stupid 4-speed autos when everyone else went to 5-speeds. Then GM was like "oh sh*t, what do we do... we're late" and just built 6-speeds. So... they're making up.. either way, BMW would never use GM's 6speed in the 328i if it were a poor quality transmission. In this day'n'age of the internet and snooty know-it-all yuppies, BMW cannot afford to have a poor quality transmission.

neutral - 1/10/2009 6:28:08 PM

+1 Boost

BimmerMike46,

I am an electrical engineer specializing electronic controls systems. I went to a top 10 engineering university (http://www.graduateshotline.com/ranks/). For anonymity sake, I won't say where. Good to know you're just spewing your opinion. At least you're honest about it.

neutral - 1/12/2009 1:59:09 PM

+1 Boost

oh no offense taken, dont worry.

veyron1001 - 1/10/2009 11:09:53 AM

-2 Boost

Why would the company known as the ultimate driving experience sell out to a company that begs for bailouts. Its bad enough Opel and Saab had to suffer.

neutral - 1/10/2009 12:02:38 PM

+2 Boost

BimmerMike46, veyron1001, all of you out there...

You make me laugh sometimes. You think there is some ideological battle out there and GM does this, BMW does that, GM has poor quality, BMW only uses GM for its quantity... blah blah blah. Firstly, GM powertrains are top notch. GM has great quality vehicles which are loaded with technology your average moron will never see. BMW is the same way, but BMW can infuse more gadgetry in all of their vehicles and make more money off it. If you guys were REAL industry insiders, you'd know that there is cooperation and joint efforts industry wide. Enough with whining about "bailout" (cough cough.. its a loan) and who should buy who. Case & point: GM's 2-Mode hybrid.. or shall I say GM/Dodge/BMW/Mercedes 2-mode hybrid.

neutral - 1/10/2009 6:28:32 PM

+2 Boost

Why thank you.

huntr - 1/16/2009 10:30:36 AM

+1 Boost

BMW has no partnership with GM. BMW could easily survive with out them!! BMW has had many problems with GM trannies and they are not using them nearly as much anymore. The early GM trannies in the E-36 were quite problematic, that is for sure!! And as far as the newer models even those from GM have shift quality issues. The car is still a great car but the trannies from GM are far from perfect.