Engraved Ignition Buttons Mark First BMW 1-Series Cars Bound for U.S.

Unlike other automakers, BMW’s not one to celebrate launches, anniversaries, or other convaluted milestones by slapping a bevy of badges onto its products (and don’t get us wrong, we’re thankful for that). Instead, the German automaker aims for subtle cues, like what we found while crawling inside one of the new U.S.-spec 1-series at the Detroit auto show. In celebrating the 1-series’ launch in America, early models will carry a start-button surround engraved with “Year One for the 1.”

Like we said, it’s a subtle touch - so much so, that the BMW reps we asked about it didn’t know a whole lot about it. Perhaps more confusing yet, we happened to find the ring on both the 2008 128i and 135i coupes and the 2009 convertible model. Seeing as the convertible should arrive at dealers in the later half of ‘08, perhaps BMW’s aiming to give all 1-ers sold this year that extra little touch.