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Car Forum / BMW Cars / March 2005BMW UK threatens Dealers
Saw this article in yesterdays Daily Telegraph. http://tinyurl.com/4wpzc About time they kicked some of the dealers backsides! Jason Russell --? > http://tinyurl.com/4wpzc > About time they kicked some of the dealers backsides! Yeh - but it's about their performance in selling new cars. What little experience I've had of this has been ok - it's the servicing etc that's dreadful.  Signature*How many roads must a man travel down before he admits he is lost? Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound. >> http://tinyurl.com/4wpzc > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > experience I've had of this has been ok - it's the servicing etc that's > dreadful. What I found strange was that last year on this ng, I read British participants, it might even have been you, saying the demand for the new cars was so bad that dealers were heavily discounting them. Yet this article says last year BMW (GB) saw a 52% increase in sales and that BMW AG implied the cars were selling themselves so well that certain dealers had become complacent, neither of which point indicates there wasn't at least solid demand for the cars (unless all that increase was limited to e53's and e46's). In any case it could be that US dealers will see the face the same scrutiny in the future. BMW dealerships in the US are nicer than those which sell domestic models, but many aren't up to Mercedes or Lexus quality...which really provide a nice buying and servicing experience. Lexus is probably the best of any full line manufacturer in this country. > What I found strange was that last year on this ng, I read British > participants, it might even have been you, saying the demand for the new > cars was so bad that dealers were heavily discounting them. Yet this article That's really for the new 5 and 7 series. Other models are selling well. It's interesting to note that values of used 6 series are really taking a dive though. Normally a year old "new model" like that would be worth more than a brand new car to those eager to avoid the waiting list. SignatureWho needs a life when you've got Unix? :-) Email: john@unixnerd.demon.co.uk, John G.Burns B.Eng, Bonny Scotland Web : http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk - The Ultimate BMW Homepage! Need Sun or HP Unix kit? http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/unix.html > > What I found strange was that last year on this ng, I read British > > participants, it might even have been you, saying the demand for the > > new cars was so bad that dealers were heavily discounting them. Yet > > this article > That's really for the new 5 and 7 series. Other models are selling well. Yup. Although my *impression* is that 5 Series sales have picked up. Signature*Taxation WITH representation ain't much fun, either. Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound. >> What I found strange was that last year on this ng, I read British >> participants, it might even have been you, saying the demand for the new >> cars was so bad that dealers were heavily discounting them. Yet this >> article > > That's really for the new 5 and 7 series. Other models are selling well. > It's interesting to note that values of used 6 series are really taking > a dive though. Normally a year old "new model" like that would be worth > more than a brand new car to those eager to avoid the waiting list. It's maybe even more strange that a model with dropping resale prices after one year, has a waiting list for new builds. That is not the relationship that generally exists between new and used cars, their prices, and their availability. Something there isn't right. As is the assumption that BMW could make 50+% gains without the 5 selling well, let alone being heavily discounted because no one wants one. I haven't been able to find a site that specifically follows or reports BMW GB sales. Could you point me to the one you used to see the failing 5 and 7 series sales last year. Much appreciated. Best I have found is the SMMT website http://www.smmt.co.uk/dataservices/dsarchive.cfm?catid=1538&maincatid=551&sid=-2 &info=privacy&CFID=585293&CFTOKEN=82740000 At the bottom of each month's summary is a link to download a report. Unfortunately there's no breakdown by model. The Licensing Centre (DVLA) does not publish any data, as opposed to the German authorities, from whom model detail is available. DAS For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling --- [...] > I haven't been able to find a site that specifically follows or reports > BMW GB sales. Could you point me to the one you used to see the failing 5 > and 7 series sales last year. Much appreciated. > Best I have found is the SMMT website > http://www.smmt.co.uk/dataservices/dsarchive.cfm?catid=1538&maincatid=551&sid=-2 &info=privacy&CFID=585293&CFTOKEN=82740000 Thanks Dori, someone from the ng kindly sent these to me: http://www.carpages.co.uk/bmw/bmw-bmw-group-achieves-new-uk-sales-record-16-01-05.asp The station wagons (Touring) aren't a big deal in the US so they don't do much for increasing sales when available or decreasing sales when not. But apparently in the UK that is a desired option, so it doesn't seem too surprising that the year without the Touring would be a lesser year than the year the Touring became available. But in either case both years were better than the 2002 e39 year. http://www.carpages.co.uk/bmw/bmw_and_mini_record_highest_ever_uk_registrations_ 08_01_04.asp According to these two UK reports, in terms of 5 series, 2004 (e60) was much better (+27%) than 2003 (e60), which was better (+2%) than 2002 (e39). I don't see where BMW was under any sales duress to drastically cut prices on the e60 5 series in either 2003 or 2004. I don't know what to think. When it comes to these new designs, people's emotions are so torn I find it very hard to take anybody's word at face value anymore. I don't think they are untruthful, I just think their perspectives are so strongly skewed that all possibilities of close-to-objective comment have seemingly vaporized. Thanks for the links to this website. Also found a report which stated that the UK is BMW's third largest market after Germany and USA. Unsuprisingly, same applies to Mercedes-Benz. Yes, BMW estate cars (station wagons), even those based on the 3, are quite important, as are those derived from the Merc C-Class. Finally, I can sympathise about your sentiments about people's advice. When it comes to appearance and the driving 'feeling' only you can judge. Other people can only help with technical and other 'objective' matters. DAS For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling --- > Thanks Dori, someone from the ng kindly sent these to me: > [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > perspectives are so strongly skewed that all possibilities of > close-to-objective comment have seemingly vaporized. "Dori A Schmetterling" <ng@nospam.co.uk> haute in die Tasten: > Yes, BMW estate cars (station wagons), even those based on the 3, > are quite important, as are those derived from the Merc C-Class. In Germany, from my personal observation I expect the Touring models to be responsible for some 40% of the overall sales of the 5'series. I also expect that many buyers of an E60 have owned an E39 before. So it is very likely that those who owned an E39 Touring when the E60 sedan was launched, rested in patience to wait for the Touring. The same may be true for M5 drivers, who probably will not give away their E39 M5 for a 545i E60, but may very well consider an upgrade to the new M5. Frank Signatureplease replace spam-muelleimer with fk-newsgroups for e-mail contact Citroen - Made in Trance > Thanks for the links to this website. Also found a report which stated > that the UK is BMW's third largest market after Germany and USA. > Unsuprisingly, same applies to Mercedes-Benz. Dori, according to the latest Roundel, USA is actually the largest market for BMW (296,111 vs. 283,559). I presume that your listing Germany 1st was a slip of the mind? Of course, the reason the USA leads Germany is the large number of X5/X3 (especially X3) sales. Floyd It wasn't, but I'll check. Have to go somewhere now. DAS For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling --- >> Thanks for the links to this website. Also found a report which stated >> that the UK is BMW's third largest market after Germany and USA. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Floyd The report I read did not give numbers outside the UK but a senior UK manager was quoted as saying "after the USA and Germany", so this could, indeed mean that the US is the biggest, i.e. confirming the Roundel data. DAS For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling --- > It wasn't, but I'll check. Have to go somewhere now. > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >> >> Floyd > Thanks for the links to this website. Also found a report which > stated that the UK is BMW's third largest market after Germany and > USA. Unsuprisingly, same applies to Mercedes-Benz. > > Yes, BMW estate cars (station wagons), even those based on the 3, are > quite important, as are those derived from the Merc C-Class. A good friend of mine recently purchased a X (year 2000) 318i Estate for his missus and new baby on the basis of always wanting a bimmer, then driving my 1993 K reg 277K mile 525! Make of that what you will! They finally decided that their VW Golf V5, whilst powerful and more luxury than the BMW was not practical, and also build quailty of the BMW will last them till car is 10+ years old. Paid about ?8K for a SE spec will all the extra except leather - ex company car with 60K miles FBMWSH. Jason R > Saw this article in yesterdays Daily Telegraph. > > http://tinyurl.com/4wpzc > > About time they kicked some of the dealers backsides! Excellent, well overdue. A few bad apples are giving the rest a bad name in my opinion. SignatureWho needs a life when you've got Unix? :-) Email: john@unixnerd.demon.co.uk, John G.Burns B.Eng, Bonny Scotland Web : http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk - The Ultimate BMW Homepage! Need Sun or HP Unix kit? http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/unix.html Following Merc GB, who have bought out all the franchises in London, Birmingham, Manchester and, I think, Glasgow, in order to improve service (not sure if they mean retail and/or servicing or both)? DAS For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling --- [...] > Excellent, well overdue. A few bad apples are giving the rest a bad name > in my opinion. As far as I'm concerned, they can start with John Clark Ltd of Aberdeen. I've never met such a load of self-opinionated dickheads in one place. Smart showroom spoilt by the amount of bullshit flying about. Thanks to them it will be a very long time before I buy another BMW. Oldun > As far as I'm concerned, they can start with John Clark Ltd of Aberdeen. > I've never met such a load of self-opinionated dickheads in one place. > Smart showroom spoilt by the amount of bullshit flying about. Thanks to > them it will be a very long time before I buy another BMW. Strangely, I've used them twice for a service, although I live in London. On holiday visiting relations. Once when they were in Gray Street, and once at their current location. And both times they were ok - ish. The service wash at their new premises scratched the paint - as do all automatic car washes. But compared to my local Coopers Wimbledon and their predecessors using the same premises they were magic. Signature*Do infants enjoy infancy as much as adults enjoy adultery? Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound. > As far as I'm concerned, they can start with John Clark Ltd of Aberdeen. > I've never met such a load of self-opinionated dickheads in one place. Smart > showroom spoilt by the amount of bullshit flying about. > Thanks to them it will be a very long time before I buy another BMW. Their parts department and techies are excellent though. Find the older salesman with the moustache, he's one of the "old school" and is a real BMW guy. SignatureWho needs a life when you've got Unix? :-) Email: john@unixnerd.demon.co.uk, John G.Burns B.Eng, Bonny Scotland Web : http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk - The Ultimate BMW Homepage! Need Sun or HP Unix kit? http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/unix.html > As far as I'm concerned, they can start with John Clark Ltd of Aberdeen. > I've never met such a load of self-opinionated dickheads in one place. Ahh, come on. A bigger load of self-opinionated dickheads than exist on Usenet? :^) > Smart showroom spoilt by the amount of bullshit flying about. > Thanks to them it will be a very long time before I buy another BMW. Well, that's too bad. I wouldn't let a salesman's behavior prevent me from buying anything, though I would let it prevent me from buying from him or his place of business. |
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