BMW Owner Reputation

tbird · 03-18-2010, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judge

So the first time you drove one was after you purchased it?

I test drove my car only once, and I was hooked. Dropped the top, drove along I395 going out from Miami to SoBe and then back. About 6 miles or so.

But that was it. Never driven any 1Series before, didn't drive it again till I bought it.

The car just hooked me that hard. No other new car every has.

dlmpesh · 03-18-2010, 12:20 PM

In Germany, it seems like BMWs are so prevalent over here, that no one seems very "impressed" with the 128i. I don't feel like we have the a$$hole reputation..I feel like we are equivalent to Honda drivers in the states...one every 2 miles. I get only mediocre service at the dealership, and most of the time, they send me out to a contracted smaller mechanic to get any type of work done. Am I missing out on anything special in the states?

spellbmw · 03-18-2010, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlmpesh

In Germany, it seems like BMWs are so prevalent over here, that no one seems very "impressed" with the 128i. I don't feel like we have the a$$hole reputation..I feel like we are equivalent to Honda drivers in the states...one every 2 miles. I get only mediocre service at the dealership, and most of the time, they send me out to a contracted smaller mechanic to get any type of work done. Am I missing out on anything special in the states?

Yea, BMWs are everywhere in Germany. Our local dealership - Kuni BMW - has amazing service and customer relations; then again, they're rated at #1 in the 21 centers of excellence in the States with good reason. Always fast, friendly, honest service with loaners to get you on the road. They also have periodic socials at the dealership: just had a wine, chocolate and appetizers social last week. Also hosts local BMW ACA meetings (and perhaps CCA soon?). They work hard to cultivate a local sense of community for owners, as does the local BMW motorcycle dealer (am a rider as well).

radiantm3 · 03-18-2010, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlmpesh

In Germany, it seems like BMWs are so prevalent over here, that no one seems very "impressed" with the 128i. I don't feel like we have the a$$hole reputation..I feel like we are equivalent to Honda drivers in the states...one every 2 miles. I get only mediocre service at the dealership, and most of the time, they send me out to a contracted smaller mechanic to get any type of work done. Am I missing out on anything special in the states?

BMW, Mercedes, and Audi are "luxury" car companies in the US. They are just normal car companies in Germany. Last time I was there I got picked up in an Audi A6 Wagon Taxi (it was a manual too) and another taxi was an E class. You'd never see that in the US.

It really sucks that there's so much elitism with these cars in the US. Real car enthusiasts get a bad rap for buying great cars.

TMR013 · 03-18-2010, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radiantm3

It really sucks that there's so much elitism with these cars in the US. Real car enthusiasts get a bad rap for buying great cars.

I'll take the 135 and the bad rap.

ennislaw · 03-18-2010, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judge

So the first time you drove one was after you purchased it?

Yes, and I thought I was alone, but they are many 1-ers who did the same thing. I suppose you could call it an "educated guess" on my part, but I love driving this car and all my expectations have been met or exceeded! And I was absolutely aware of all the problems the car could have when I purchased it. The first time I drove my car was at the ED this past November. My BMW personal rep at the Welt was taken aback for a few seconds when she said "Of course you've driven a ... " and I replied "No", and in fact I spent less than 5 minutes at a BMW dealer actually looking at one and/or sitting in one (because the dealer was next door to the Honda dealer). I was offered a test drive, and wisely refused it, since I would have bought it, no doubt on the spot, and my wife needed a new car that year. The 1-series is that kind of car!

pge

lavmugen · 03-18-2010, 08:22 PM

a few visits to this site.

several articles on the interwebz.

5 min in dealership. i've ordered my 2011 135i coupe.

TIL THIS DAY, I STILL HAVEN'T DRIVEN ONE. (in fact, i never sat in any 1 series)

bueller · 03-18-2010, 10:05 PM

I get it all the time, I live in a small town where people have balls dangling from the trailer hitches of their trucks, I get a lot of 'must be nice'. I love my car, I love the way it looks, smells, and mostly the way it drives. It makes me happy every time I drive it.

I could give a flying f#(k what people say. If that makes me a prick, cock or asshole in other peoples eyes, not really a problem of mine.

I don't judge people based on what they drive, I could care less. I think that making judgments about people based on the clothes they wear, the car they drive, or the color of their hair is pretty shallow.

I guess I don't really get it, in the whole scheme of things, if it makes you happy to drive a BMW, good for you, if you want to live in a big house, knock yourself out, life is too short to not do what makes you happy regardless of what strangers may think of you.

ABQBMW · 03-18-2010, 10:56 PM

I drove my new to me 2008 Water Blue Metallic 128i to work for the first time today (bought yesterday). All my co-workers were really positive, and I lost count of how many demo drives I gave.

At one point someone asked "so you paid like what, $60k?"

When I pointed out my payment was little more than the payment for my Jeep Liberty was, I could tell no one really believed it. A lot of people just really have no clue as to the reality of BMW, or German/performance cars in general.

justphil135 · 03-18-2010, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsjean

Particularly ignorant since the 135i fits nicely right into the 328 price range.

tell them to go ck the price on a 135i vert on a dealer lot!

dlmpesh · 03-19-2010, 01:29 AM

Never drove my 128i before it showed up. The dealer only had a 3 series on his lot, so I checked out the 128i online and ordered that day.

Jeffrey398 · 03-19-2010, 06:51 AM

I first drove a BMW 25 years ago... a friend's (because I couldn't afford it). Fast forward to a BMW rental in the Austrian Alps... 2 days of bliss. I came back to the U.S. and immediately bought the only one I could afford (318). It has been a never ending love affair since that has absolutely nothing to do with snobbery, ego, or class... ridiculous things to say about BMW owners. The cars are just simply wonderful to drive.... every time I drive my 128i vert I smile... to heck with all those who complain about us.

Bimmerle · 03-19-2010, 07:47 AM

I remember about 30 years ago seeing a cartoon in the German weekly magazine "Stern". It showed a guy walking in a very crowded shopping mall shouting "Get out of the way I'm a BMW driver!". I guess perceptions, like many other things, don't change. I can only suggest that in the face of insults and derogatory comments, we should just suck it up and enjoy our cars. Perhaps we should be like lawyers, who always have the best repertoire of lawyer jokes. Collect BMW driver jokes, and for every one you get thrown in your face, throw a worse one back. That's what lawyers do. It leaves your antagonist nowhere to go.

I'm a recent convert to the brand. I didn't buy my car to impress. The people who are impressed by what sort of car I drive I don't want to know. I bought my 125i because it was time to sell my RX-8. That was a fun car to drive, and I think that the 125i is actually more fun. I'm not even sure that even if I had more money I'd buy anything else. It suits us just fine.

Erik219 · 03-19-2010, 09:48 AM

Holy crap ... check out this site...
http://site.bmwsucks.com/index.php?u...c279ea80185e7e
these guys have some issues

Erik219 · 03-19-2010, 10:06 AM

Ow, and the site contains some nice jokes, too... a sample:

Buying a BMW

A lady walks into a BMW dealership. She browses around, spots the Top-of-the-line Beemer and walks over to inspect it. As she bends over to feel the fine leather upholstery, she inadvertently breaks Wind.

Very embarrassed, she looks around nervously to see if anyone has noticed her little accident and prays that a sales person doesn't pop up right now.

As she turns around, her worst nightmare materializes in the form of a salesman standing right behind her. Cool as a cucumber and displaying complete professionalism, the salesman greets the lady With, "Good day, Madame. How may we help you today?" Very uncomfortably, but hoping that the salesman may just not have been there at the time of her accident, she asks, "Sir, what is the price of this lovely vehicle?"

He answers, "Madam, if you farted just touching it, you are going to shit yourself when I tell you the price."

TMR013 · 03-19-2010, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erik219

Holy crap ... check out this site...
http://site.bmwsucks.com/index.php?u...c279ea80185e7e
these guys have some issues

No doubt. But it is funny. I like the do you have what it takes to drive a BMW test.

Bimmer-Bob · 03-19-2010, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erik219

Holy crap ... check out this site...
http://site.bmwsucks.com/index.php?u...c279ea80185e7e
these guys have some issues

Wow - that is a seriously bizarre site. The guy really seems to be personally offended that BMW seeks to compete and succeed in the marketplace. Mental issues, for sure.

NYC6 · 03-19-2010, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erik219

Holy crap ... check out this site...
http://site.bmwsucks.com/index.php?u...c279ea80185e7e
these guys have some issues

The guys mother must have gotten run over by a BMW.

2AD Tanker · 03-19-2010, 01:17 PM

A lot of my coworker either thought my 135i was an "entry level" BMW or thought it cost $80k or more.

Very amusing on both counts!

nordique14 · 03-19-2010, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erik219

Holy crap ... check out this site...
http://site.bmwsucks.com/index.php?u...c279ea80185e7e
these guys have some issues

Tell me this did not make you laugh...

spellbmw · 03-19-2010, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radiantm3

BMW, Mercedes, and Audi are "luxury" car companies in the US. They are just normal car companies in Germany. Last time I was there I got picked up in an Audi A6 Wagon Taxi (it was a manual too) and another taxi was an E class. You'd never see that in the US.

It really sucks that there's so much elitism with these cars in the US. Real car enthusiasts get a bad rap for buying great cars.

And in Germany and Austria, BMWs are used as cop cars. I was pulled over by Austrian police in the Alps back back in the late eighties: 5-series. While driving on the German autobahn in October 2009, two federal police cars - 5 series - passed me doing 120 MPH, so I jumped in behind them and zipped along for about 20 minutes. So, yea -- Mercedes, Audis and BMWs -- good taxis and cop cars.

NYC6 · 03-19-2010, 02:06 PM

In the Mitirary in the early 80's. Most of the taxis in W. Germany were BMW's. Couldnt believe it. I was used to NYC Checker Cabs.

03-18-2010, 12:20 PM	#68
dlmpesh Private 5 Rep 79 Posts Drives: 2010 128i Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO iTrader: (0)	In Germany, it seems like BMWs are so prevalent over here, that no one seems very "impressed" with the 128i. I don't feel like we have the a$$hole reputation..I feel like we are equivalent to Honda drivers in the states...one every 2 miles. I get only mediocre service at the dealership, and most of the time, they send me out to a contracted smaller mechanic to get any type of work done. Am I missing out on anything special in the states?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-18-2010, 08:22 PM	#73
lavmugen Private First Class 18 Rep 150 Posts Drives: 2011 Superman 135i Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC iTrader: (0)	a few visits to this site. several articles on the interwebz. 5 min in dealership. i've ordered my 2011 135i coupe. TIL THIS DAY, I STILL HAVEN'T DRIVEN ONE. (in fact, i never sat in any 1 series)
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-18-2010, 10:05 PM	#74
bueller First Lieutenant 174 Rep 310 Posts Drives: 2018 EB F31 2018 LG F80 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Ontario iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 BMW M2 CS [9.83] 2021 Porsche 718 Sp ... [8.50] 2021 BMW R1250GSA [0.00] 2014 Boxster S [0.00] 2013 BMW R1200GS [0.00] 2011 1 Series M Coupe [10.00]	I get it all the time, I live in a small town where people have balls dangling from the trailer hitches of their trucks, I get a lot of 'must be nice'. I love my car, I love the way it looks, smells, and mostly the way it drives. It makes me happy every time I drive it. I could give a flying f#(k what people say. If that makes me a prick, cock or asshole in other peoples eyes, not really a problem of mine. I don't judge people based on what they drive, I could care less. I think that making judgments about people based on the clothes they wear, the car they drive, or the color of their hair is pretty shallow. I guess I don't really get it, in the whole scheme of things, if it makes you happy to drive a BMW, good for you, if you want to live in a big house, knock yourself out, life is too short to not do what makes you happy regardless of what strangers may think of you.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-18-2010, 10:56 PM	#75
ABQBMW Enlisted Member 0 Rep 34 Posts Drives: 2008 128i: Blue Water Baby! Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NM iTrader: (0)	I drove my new to me 2008 Water Blue Metallic 128i to work for the first time today (bought yesterday). All my co-workers were really positive, and I lost count of how many demo drives I gave. At one point someone asked "so you paid like what, $60k?" When I pointed out my payment was little more than the payment for my Jeep Liberty was, I could tell no one really believed it. A lot of people just really have no clue as to the reality of BMW, or German/performance cars in general.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-19-2010, 01:29 AM	#77
dlmpesh Private 5 Rep 79 Posts Drives: 2010 128i Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO iTrader: (0)	Never drove my 128i before it showed up. The dealer only had a 3 series on his lot, so I checked out the 128i online and ordered that day.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-19-2010, 06:51 AM	#78
Jeffrey398 Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: 128i Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Philadelphia iTrader: (0)	get over it I first drove a BMW 25 years ago... a friend's (because I couldn't afford it). Fast forward to a BMW rental in the Austrian Alps... 2 days of bliss. I came back to the U.S. and immediately bought the only one I could afford (318). It has been a never ending love affair since that has absolutely nothing to do with snobbery, ego, or class... ridiculous things to say about BMW owners. The cars are just simply wonderful to drive.... every time I drive my 128i vert I smile... to heck with all those who complain about us.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-19-2010, 07:47 AM	#79
Bimmerle just a little Bimmer 1 Rep 37 Posts Drives: 125i M-Sport coupe Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Brisbane iTrader: (0)	I remember about 30 years ago seeing a cartoon in the German weekly magazine "Stern". It showed a guy walking in a very crowded shopping mall shouting "Get out of the way I'm a BMW driver!". I guess perceptions, like many other things, don't change. I can only suggest that in the face of insults and derogatory comments, we should just suck it up and enjoy our cars. Perhaps we should be like lawyers, who always have the best repertoire of lawyer jokes. Collect BMW driver jokes, and for every one you get thrown in your face, throw a worse one back. That's what lawyers do. It leaves your antagonist nowhere to go. I'm a recent convert to the brand. I didn't buy my car to impress. The people who are impressed by what sort of car I drive I don't want to know. I bought my 125i because it was time to sell my RX-8. That was a fun car to drive, and I think that the 125i is actually more fun. I'm not even sure that even if I had more money I'd buy anything else. It suits us just fine.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-19-2010, 09:48 AM	#80
Erik219 Statistical Consultancy (Medical / Pharma) 9 Rep 150 Posts Drives: BMW 6 GT Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Brussels iTrader: (0)	Holy crap ... check out this site... http://site.bmwsucks.com/index.php?u...c279ea80185e7e these guys have some issues
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-19-2010, 10:06 AM	#81
Erik219 Statistical Consultancy (Medical / Pharma) 9 Rep 150 Posts Drives: BMW 6 GT Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Brussels iTrader: (0)	Ow, and the site contains some nice jokes, too... a sample: Buying a BMW A lady walks into a BMW dealership. She browses around, spots the Top-of-the-line Beemer and walks over to inspect it. As she bends over to feel the fine leather upholstery, she inadvertently breaks Wind. Very embarrassed, she looks around nervously to see if anyone has noticed her little accident and prays that a sales person doesn't pop up right now. As she turns around, her worst nightmare materializes in the form of a salesman standing right behind her. Cool as a cucumber and displaying complete professionalism, the salesman greets the lady With, "Good day, Madame. How may we help you today?" Very uncomfortably, but hoping that the salesman may just not have been there at the time of her accident, she asks, "Sir, what is the price of this lovely vehicle?" He answers, "Madam, if you farted just touching it, you are going to shit yourself when I tell you the price."
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-19-2010, 01:17 PM	#85
2AD Tanker Second Lieutenant 7 Rep 242 Posts Drives: 135i Black Sapphire Metallic Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Beer town USA (Milwaukee) iTrader: (0)	A lot of my coworker either thought my 135i was an "entry level" BMW or thought it cost $80k or more. Very amusing on both counts! __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-19-2010, 02:06 PM	#88
NYC6 Banned 72 Rep 2,070 Posts Drives: '10 135i PPKI/06 C6 Z51 Vette Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: LI/NY iTrader: (0)	In the Mitirary in the early 80's. Most of the taxis in W. Germany were BMW's. Couldnt believe it. I was used to NYC Checker Cabs.
	Appreciate 0 Quote