BMW has signed the contracts for 150 dealerships - 95% of the network - to sell the forthcoming new Mini.
MG Rover is blaming a reduction in the volume of parts bought and the need to buy some items from BMW for a price increase.
MG Rover will begin repaying the £500m loan to BMW from 2004 - if it has moved into profit.
BMW dealers are being urged to view the internet as an additional selling opportunity amid reassurances that it does not pose a threat to their 'bricks and mortar' businesses.
Januarys' Detroit motor show will see four world premieres from BMW - plus the US debut of the Mini.
BMW's new Hams Hall engine plant will be starting production as planned in January, three years after construction started.
Prestons BMW in Colne, Lancs, reports that its website is now responsible for generating around 20% of its used car sales.
CarsDirect.com, the US online seller, has abandoned its plans for a European operation headed by Kevin Gaskell, former BMW GB managing director.
BMW's new car is set to arrive in the UK next summer.
##BMW 330d--left## BMW says it is continuing to set new records in vehicle sales, with the 3 Series continuning to take a lion's share of the glory.
##AM Awards 2000--left## Out of a family of coal merchants founded in Lancashire in 1906 has emerged Prestons BMW, winner of the gold award in the aftersales category.
BMW says more than 50 orders were placed by the public on each day of the recent two week Birmingham motor show.
BMW dealers have taken more than 1,200 orders for the X5 off-roader which is now on sale. It will be in short supply at least until late next year.
Volvo Car UK believes the new S60 will enable it to mount a challenge to the BMW 3 Series. Communications director John Lefley said: "The BMW is still the benchmark car worldwide but what Lexus has achieved with IS200 Volvo can achieve with this car.
BMW hopes to have an outline plan for its UK Mini network in place by the end of this month. A BMW team, led by Mini marketing manager Trevor Houghton-Berry, is visiting every applicant to assess whether their business is suitable to sell Mini as a separate brand.
BMW premiered the Mini Cooper, revealing that the UK would get the car first in the spring of 2001. It will be sold only through selected BMW dealers.
As motor show unveilings go, it was not among the most auspicious. BMW's latest model, the new Mini, was revealed to seated journalists at the Paris motor show, who, at best, caught sight of the Cooper's white roof.
BMW has accepted that it should have invested more money on marketing the C1 in the UK after it returned disappointing sales figures.
BMW GB believes it can challenge top-of-the-range Mondeo, Passat and Vectra after announcing a price realignment of up to 17%.
BMW's X5 'sports activity vehicle', on sale from next month's Birmingham motor show, marks the start of an assault on the 4x4 market.
