Official BMW Accessories

The simplest ideas are sometimes the best and this is certainly the case with this ingeniously-designed 8GB USB stick. It looks exactly like an M Carbon key fob!

This official key fob includes BMW logo doming and comes with lanyard and an extra USB cable. It’s also packaged in a giftbox. Just make sure that your gift-receiver is clear – you’re NOT handing them the key to a new M3 (well, you don’t want them to be disappointed do you?)

This USB stick is priced £30 and can be ordered online from the BMW lifestyle shop at: http://shop.bmwgroup.com

Bluecol

If you’re looking for an ideal wrap-up that the discerning car fan will actually use (unlike those socks, which have been pushed to the back of the bottom draw) why not try Bluecol’s Winter Power Pack?

This kit has been put together with products that have been designed to make BMWs ‘winter-proof’. Inside, you’ll find a top-up bottle of Bluecol’s number one premium antifreeze, ‘Sub-Zero’ de-icer (which is said to melt ice fast and prevents freezing down to -36°C) and ‘Sub-Zero’ screenwash. In addition, there’s an air freshener and a highly-absorbent demister pad.

Banish winter blues by visiting: www.bluecol.co.uk

Meguiar’s

If you know someone who takes their car cleaning seriously then this is a tool that they can’t afford to be without – Meguiar’s version two, dual-action machine polisher.

Powered by a 220v motor, this lightweight and versatile polisher is said to greatly reduce the amount of time it takes to effectively apply paint cleaners, polishes and waxes. It’s perfect if the one thing between you and a fabulous finish is the thought of running out of elbow grease.

Inside this new polisher, the electronics have been upgraded to offer cruise control, which allows the set speed to be maintained even when pressure is applied. The newly-developed backing plate is also compatible with all of Meguiar’s existing pads.

Find out more by going online (www.meguiars.co.uk) where it’s priced £199.99.

Parrott

It wouldn’t be a Total BMW Christmas gift guide without including something cool and techy. That’s why we decided to include this nifty device from the wireless gadget maestros Parrot.

Named the Minikit+, this brand new voice-controlled, portable hands-free kit allows you to manage two mobile phones simultaneously via Bluetooth. The driver chooses one main telephone out of the two connected and the Minikit+ associates different ring tones to each. Cleverly, it also automatically synchronizes its phonebook book with the connected mobile phones and can store up to 2,000 different contacts.

For incoming calls, the driver just has to say the words ‘accept’ or ‘reject’ without touching the mobile phone. To make a call, the driver pushes a button on the device to launch voice recognition – say the name of the person you’re phoning and it will automatically dial the number. Brilliant.

The Parrot will be available later this month priced £64.99. Find out more by visiting: www.parrot.com

Turn Ten

The latest instalment of the very popular Forza Motorsport franchise, Forza 4, has just launched on the Xbox 360 and we couldn’t wait to get hold of a copy.
For those unfamiliar with these modern computer game shenanigans, bear with us as this is certainly something the younger aspiring car fans WILL want on their list to Santa…

It’s very much business as usual with the fourth instalment of Forza. Great visuals, tons of cars and tracks, although we are still waiting for some of Britain’s other circuits (not just Silverstone).

Unfortunately, Jeremy Clarkson seems to have got his greedy paws on this version of Forza, and his commentary and patronising intro won’t be to everyone’s taste. But, the level of tuning options and car makers is truly staggering and you can take things as far as you want, changing engines or just swapping spark plugs, or just getting in and racing.
 

Petrol-heads beware, you may not emerge until New Year! The standard edition retails at £49.99.