Bravo BMW New Zealand ! (advancd apologies to the forum - rant ins

[M3_Power 636]

I am curious to know what their reply to your email was (is) , make sure you put it up if you get one.

If the replies in this thread itself is any indication (as a public opinion response) then I can tell you there won't be a response to my last email at all. Quite simply because dealerships have better things to deal with - and I get that. Also they'd have considered a late offer is as good as an original - to me it might be substantively different, but to them, an invite is an invite, late or otherwise. I totally understand from their perspective obviously and I have no issue with it, but I am more than within my rights to voice my opinion to them, which they have no doubt received. Whether this puts me in their bad books is immaterial to me now, but you do run the risk of being put there when you act like a perceived brat haha ... oh well such is life.

And if they had invited you initially with the correct name would have you definitely brought a M4?

Also does this thread even need to be on the internet? its not really what this forum is for or about in my opinion..... correct me if I’m wrong i thought we were here to talk about maintaining, breaking, fixing, modifying, cleaning and taking photos of our BMW's. Not personal opinion attacks on a very commendable dealership, who were not personally spiting you. Just a paper work mistake i would have thought. They have inventory’s of thousands of names to sort through and these things can happen.

I am obviously not under the illusion that a post like this does me any good or helps with the cause or present some sort of a solution to what 99.9% of the population would consider as a non issue. It's a rant, and I've said it in the beginning, even titled it as a warning ...it's my freedom of speech, I thought still sort of related to BMW so I guess remotely valid in a forum like this (the admins of the forum are obviously free to delete or remove or whatever and they have not yet) - your choice was to not bother clicking on a ranting thread (titled as such) if you didn't care or want to know?? But hey, the flip side of freedom of speech is the freedom to respond, so I am all for your opinion.

So if it's any consolation for this transgression of a thread that is nothing but a rant (it's therapeutic sometimes to just voice stuff - I suggest you try it sometime, you might be surprised LOL) - I was actually about to post up another thread (as compensation for this rant haha) about MSS54 and MSS54HP DME tuning and how I was going to provide the community with the free service to flash their DME once I get the hang of it as I now have all the gear needed to do this and a practice DME that I am going to practice on first and trial stuff. So feel free to venture over to that much more interesting and perhaps more entertaining thread for you when I post that one up soon : )

How about they invite some of their die hard BMW fans. People from the race series. That you know. Is for BMW's only.

Spend thousands through them every year.

Not really just a skid session though.

Much like how Honda New Zealand contribute thousands of dollars each year to Honda Cup?? : P

Didn't the BMW Club (for which I am presuming most in the race series belong to) used to get some sort of sponsorship or exclusive events hosted by BMW NZ in the past??

Edited July 9, 2014 by M3_Power

[pldubs 308]

So what goes on at an event like this?

Do a bunch of shiny heads sip lattes and talk shop, then get let out for a real fang? Or do you have to crawl around the track with an instructor?

[M3_Power 636]

So what goes on at an event like this?

Do a bunch of shiny heads sip lattes and talk shop, then get let out for a real fang? Or do you have to crawl around the track with an instructor?

I'd like to answer that one myself haha .. but I guess we'll all have to wait for DaveO's review when it happens on the 25th this month.

[vtgts300kw 90]

How about they invite some of their die hard BMW fans. People from the race series. That you know. Is for BMW's only.

Spend thousands through them every year.

Not really just a skid session though.

It's fundamentally about selling cars.

So what goes on at an event like this?

Do a bunch of shiny heads sip lattes and talk shop, then get let out for a real fang? Or do you have to crawl around the track with an instructor?

For the E92 it was: Have morning tea, get shown an overall presentation on the car, go and see the car and get another presentation with more specific details, sit in the car etc. Get split into groups which then rotate through different activities on the track. Full speed laps behind an instructor ( 2 guests per car ) in various cars ( couple of M3's, M5, M6, Z4M and something else like a 550 ), slalom course and a high speed swerving thing between cones. The first car behind the instructor ( driving a 330 I think ) was the M3 and I only ever had to back of the throttle once because I was catching him on the fastest bit. But the other 2 laps he was far enough ahead.

That was at Taupo where they could split the track up. But at Hampton Downs you can use the skid pad whilst the track is being used. Plus the car park?

Edited July 9, 2014 by vtgts300kw

[pldubs 308]

For the E92 it was: Have morning tea, get shown an overall presentation on the car, go and see the car and get another presentation with more specific details, sit in the car etc. Get split into groups which then rotate through different activities on the track. Full speed laps behind an instructor ( 2 guests per car ) in various cars ( couple of M3's, M5, M6, Z4M and something else like a 550 ), slalom course and a high speed swerving thing between cones. The first car behind the instructor ( driving a 330 I think ) was the M3 and I only ever had to back of the throttle once because I was catching him on the fastest bit. But the other 2 laps he was far enough ahead.

That was at Taupo where they could split the track up. But at Hampton Downs you can use the skid pad whilst the track is being used. Plus the car park?

Sound awesome, I feel your pain of missing out Tom, but then again I dont cause im jealous you even get a mention. Hahah

[Driftit 1951]

Much like how Honda New Zealand contribute thousands of dollars each year to Honda Cup?? : P

Didn't the BMW Club (for which I am presuming most in the race series belong to) used to get some sort of sponsorship or exclusive events hosted by BMW NZ in the past??

They did. But that was all thanks to Gerry Hodges I think. It was for sponsored parts. But that sadly stopped a while back. Have to buy aftermarket and from overseas now. BMW don't seem to take much notice of the largest race series by far in NZ and possibly the Southern Hemisphere. They may sponsor some behind the scenes things I am unaware of but most support seems to come from employees who work there and are apart of the series.

Some of the dealers have offered some discounted parts. Trade prices.

But there is no current models racing. So other than parts and brand love they may not get much out of the series other than a ton of exposure which they may not really need as there is already plenty.

[Gaz 1042]

The whole customer service thing is a very interesting topic. A lot of the time you see companies trying to entice new customers to the brand, just look at telcos. A lot of their deals are targeted to getting new customers rather than retaining customers and it probably relates to BMW dealers as well.

My opinion is that most companies rely on brand loyality to hold onto customers. Talk to customers and all they want is some sort of recognition that they are respected customer.

I went into Jeff Gray here in Christchurch for PPI and got invited to all sorts of events, nothing like a track day but sales stuff, unveiling of this new car etc.

[vtgts300kw 90]

But there is no current models racing. So other than parts and brand love they may not get much out of the series other than a ton of exposure which they may not really need as there is already plenty.

That's the crux. What's in it for them? Nothing I would suggest.

[E30 325i Rag-Top 2915]

How about they invite some of their die hard BMW fans. People from the race series. That you know. Is for BMW's only.

That had a large donation to the scholarship car, thousands of dollars of prizes given out at the Prize Giving, plus parts support discount, spot prizes of lifestyle gear throughout the season, trophies donated, to mention a few...

And wait until the 30th August...

Edited July 10, 2014 by E30 325i Rag-Top

[isis 16]

A work collegue bought a second hand 320d and still gets bucket loads of freebies including wine these days and we bought an x5, twice as much as the e90 have gotten ziltch!

repeat customer, i think not!!!

[Driftracewake 22]

A work collegue bought a second hand 320d and still gets bucket loads of freebies including wine these days and we bought an x5, twice as much as the e90 have gotten ziltch!

repeat customer, i think not!!!

Did you buy the car to get invited to these extras?

Or did you buy the car because it's a good/great/amazing car that's right for you.

Not every customer can be taken along.

To the OP I don't know your back story, but I wouldn't agree with you idea that being the squeakiest wheel is a good ploy to getting invited to specialist, discretionary events. Especially those with a focus on sales. When selling to a large group, a person perceived to be outspoken could be considered to be at odds with the overall event goals. Certainly not saying that's what you would do, but in my personal experience with running similar customer focused sales events the type of customer is very highly critiqued and analysed before invites are sent out.

Hope you get a chance to attend one of the events as you are clearly passionate about the brand and cars.

[Driftit 1951]

That had a large donation to the scholarship car, thousands of dollars of prizes given out at the Prize Giving, plus parts support discount, spot prizes of lifestyle gear throughout the season, trophies donated, to mention a few...

And wait until the 30th August...

They can keep it all if the at cost parts is brought back

I do remember about the trophies now though. Other stuff I had no idea about.

[M3_Power 636]

It seems there are still dealers that actually care out there!

Thank you Continental Cars!

[vtgts300kw 90]

That is one event I wouldn't want to go to. I can just imagine the guests now.

[richard 384]

That is one event I wouldn't want to go to. I can just imagine the guests now.

yea,"mines the red one".

[mjh 26]

It seems there are still dealers that actually care out there!

Thank you Continental Cars!

I might see you there! I went to the F12 launch and that was a great event. I suspect the California one will be cool, but not as good as the f12.

[Zadkiel 41]

That is one event I wouldn't want to go to. I can just imagine the guests now.

To be honest a lot of the Ferrari owners and events are not nearly as bad as you would expect.

[vtgts300kw 90]

To be honest a lot of the Ferrari owners and events are not nearly as bad as you would expect.

I'm sure they're not. But I've dealt with enough of them to not want to risk it!

Also, whoever designed that "exclusive" invite should be shot.

[kiwi535 538]

They dont have unlimited resources.many of you complain about prices as it is!

For my part I bought the 120d of jeff gray (used)in Wellington,and was e-mailed regularly with offers,like alpine experience etc,no car launches though.overall I felt I was treated well.

[E30 325i Rag-Top 2915]

It seems there are still dealers that actually care out there!

Thank you Continental Cars!

So you're more interested in a Whine & Cheesy event at some restaurant than driving a car on a track??

Funny that Contis didn't care enough to invite you to their track day a month back though...

[M3_Power 636]

So you're more interested in a Whine & Cheesy event at some restaurant than driving a car on a track??

Funny that Contis didn't care enough to invite you to their track day a month back though...

I wouldn't expect a track day from them given that I've never spent money with them. So bloody nice of them to even actually care to send me an invite in the first place.

However I expect at least one actual sincere invite from BMW for an event that I have expressed interests in numerous times over the years in addition to the amount of loyalty, good will promotion I do for the brand and money I've spent there in the last 16 years, and that's not even taking into account of the various broken promises and assurances given (from those directly involved and from the top) that an invite was definitely coming my way for THIS particular event. To only then be lied to about all of it (and this is the part that REALLY gets me). So yes I am a little pissed about it all and they've just lost a customer or three forever.

My reason for declining the "false" after thought invite is simple ... these events are usually run in pairs ... two in a car ... can you imagine if I accepted and became the third guy in the car rubbing the other two legitimate invitees the proper opportunity to enjoy the day? I don't want to be that odd one out person at an event I was never even considered to be invited to.

Edited July 14, 2014 by M3_Power

[M3_Power 636]

All it would have taken was a sincere apology to say yes they've screwed up once again on the invite or to say no you were never on the intended invite list anyway (and perhaps an explanation as to why or why they lied) but please come and take a look at the car when it's in the showroom and take it for a drive and I'd have been a happy camper.

Edited July 15, 2014 by M3_Power

[Tristan 338]

Why so critical of Ferrari people ?

[M3_Power 636]

Why so critical of Ferrari people ?

I blame the movies

[Allanw 1051]

All it would have taken was a sincere apology to say yes they've screwed up once again on the invite or to say no you were never on the intended invite list anyway (and perhaps an explanation as to why or why they lied) but please come and take a look at the car when it's in the showroom and take it for a drive and I'd have been a happy camper.

They probably all drive BMW's - BMW drivers are wankers.