[shimshimhada]

Originally Posted by bavarian19

Well, you will need your rainy day sports car... The AWD will help you drive through those puddles...

Sigh...

[MoreCowbell]

Does anybody know a good resource for finding existing automobile dealerships that are currently for sale? Doesn't even necessarily have to be BMW...

[gscone]

Originally Posted by gluck75

Does anybody know a good resource for finding existing automobile dealerships that are currently for sale? Doesn't even necessarily have to be BMW...

My buddy has an uncle whom owns a Lincoln/Mercury dealership in Oklahoma. I'll give him a shout out..

[MoreCowbell]

Much appreciated

[SignHere]

Originally Posted by gluck75

Does anybody know a good resource for finding existing automobile dealerships that are currently for sale? Doesn't even necessarily have to be BMW...

Just go to Borders or B&N and get a copy of the Automotive News, there is always a bunch for sale and you can see brokers sometimes that have websites you can go to.

The problem is not getting the money or backing, it's manufacturer's approval.

[MoreCowbell]

I am confident I can finance with cash with some investors, family and such, but what does the approval consist of?

[Explorer3253]

Originally Posted by bavarian19

Make it a BMW/Ferrari/Lambo dealership and Im all in...


Ive got $20 in the bank account to give us a start...

Yeah throw is Masarti and you got your sed World Wide Cars in NY..haha..They have Ferarri, BMW, Masarti all in one, so when you're waiting for service, you can go look around....too bad they aren't my dealership

[shimshimhada]

Originally Posted by gluck75

I am confident I can finance with cash with some investors, family and such, but what does the approval consist of?

Send BMW NA an email.

[SignHere]

Originally Posted by gluck75

I am confident I can finance with cash with some investors, family and such, but what does the approval consist of?

I'll tell you, but you'd have to let me steal your avatar. ;-)

(BOC Baby!- I got a fever and the only prescription is more cowbell!!!)

It's more political than you could ever imagine. But essentially BMW is looking for dealers that would support their vision of how the retail side should be run. Which (Thank God!) is heavy customer service focus and an outstanding parts and service department. Previous high line experience and years of high CSI scores are imperative. Scumbag operators need not apply.

[sarafil]

Originally Posted by SignHere

I'll tell you, but you'd have to let me steal your avatar. ;-)

(BOC Baby!- I got a fever and the only prescription is more cowbell!!!)

It's more political than you could ever imagine. But essentially BMW is looking for dealers that would support their vision of how the retail side should be run. Which (Thank God!) is heavy customer service focus and an outstanding parts and service department. Previous high line experience and years of high CSI scores are imperative. Scumbag operators need not apply.

Ideally, the candidate currently owns a BMW or other highline dealership with strong credentials and strong financials. Short of that, the potential candidate would be a General Manager of a successful BMW or other highline dealership with a strong track record.

If you have no automotive retail management experience, you need not apply. If you don't have the experience and still want to do it, find someone to go in on the business with you that does have the experience.

[KL2DC]

How about the next best thing...open up an Alpina dealership. Remember, Alpina is a stand alone marque/manufacturer in the same lines as RUF. I'd suppose this is 1 way of getting around BMW NA and still deal what is essentially BMW vehicles...

[shimshimhada]

Originally Posted by KL2DC

How about the next best thing...open up an Alpina dealership. Remember, Alpina is a stand alone marque/manufacturer in the same lines as RUF. I'd suppose this is 1 way of getting around BMW NA and still deal what is essentially BMW vehicles...

Nah, I'm not really a fan of Alpina.

[KL2DC]

Originally Posted by shimshimhada

Nah, I'm not really a fan of Alpina.

Well keeping it within BMWs, its 1 way to circumvent the politics around BMW NA... if we can tailor packages specific to the US so that the premium for an Alpina model is not too much over a comparable stock BMW then maybe it might work...

[MoreCowbell]

-That's my plan. I am interested in owning a dealership, but I am aware that my background is not suited for it. There is no doubt I would fnd somebody with heavy industry experience to be GM/Partner. There is no other way to go.

-What is Alpina?

[KL2DC]

Gluck,

Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH is an automobile tuning company based in Buchloe, in the Ostallgäu district of Bavaria, Germany specialising in BMW cars. Alpina was founded by Burkard Bovensiepen,(b. 1936) who is still the CEO.

BMW vehicles modified by Alpina retain their entire BMW warranty. A distinctive feature of Alpina cars are their 20 spoke alloy wheels.

Most recently Alpina have produced a version of the current BMW E60 5 Series called the B5, which rivals the BMW M5. The B5 offers a different take on performance and how to get it: unlike the V10 M5, the Alpina B5 uses a supercharged V8 which produces similar power but has far greater torque.

If I am not mistaken they have their own VIN as they are registered as an automobile manufacturer, just like RUF. Complete Alpina models are based on white bodies supplied by BMW.

[shimshimhada]

We should run a Alpina/RUF dealer, then I'm down with it.

[KL2DC]

shimshimhada: Wait...just to be 100% sure, Alpina has achieved manufacturer status, right? I am sure it is, I know I read it somewhere...please confirm.

[shimshimhada]

Originally Posted by KL2DC

shimshimhada: Wait...just to be 100% sure, Alpina has achieved manufacturer status, right? I am sure it is, I know I read it somewhere...please confirm.

They became a manufacturer in 1983.

[KL2DC]

I thought so! Was a bit thrown off by Wikipedia's reference to them as a tuner...thanks

[gscone]

Originally Posted by KL2DC

Gluck,

Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH is an automobile tuning company based in Buchloe, in the Ostallgäu district of Bavaria, Germany specialising in BMW cars. Alpina was founded by Burkard Bovensiepen,(b. 1936) who is still the CEO.

BMW vehicles modified by Alpina retain their entire BMW warranty. A distinctive feature of Alpina cars are their 20 spoke alloy wheels.

Most recently Alpina have produced a version of the current BMW E60 5 Series called the B5, which rivals the BMW M5. The B5 offers a different take on performance and how to get it: unlike the V10 M5, the Alpina B5 uses a supercharged V8 which produces similar power but has far greater torque.

If I am not mistaken they have their own VIN as they are registered as an automobile manufacturer, just like RUF. Complete Alpina models are based on white bodies supplied by BMW.

You do realize there is very little demand for the Alpina line of cars. The premiums they charge are ridiculous.

[gscone]

Originally Posted by shimshimhada

They became a manufacturer in 1983.

How many cars do they produce yearly, globally?

[KL2DC]

Originally Posted by gscone

You do realize there is very little demand for the Alpina line of cars. The premiums they charge are ridiculous.

Yes I realize that...that's why I mentioned if we do this, we need to work on a US spec version with tuning/spec levels ranging from very light to full-boat. Appealing to them with volume, we might be able to work out models that are about 10-20% above what a comparable stock BMW model might be? Its not impossible.

Again, this is just to circumvent any politics/hurdles/obstacles with BMW NA to bring in BMW vehicles. I think they have good products that is recognized by BMW enthusiasts with much reverence and are saleable here in the US.