Open Letter to Matt Russell - BMW NA M Marketing

nachob · 06-29-2011, 01:26 PM

Dear Mr. Russell:

I am not sure if you are aware of how difficult the process has been in getting a 1M. Starting over a year ago, no one at a dealership knew what a 1M was. Once they were announced to dealers, many would not want to deal with it. They would tell us not to bother, they would only get 1 or 2. Then they would tell us NO European delivery. Some of us have not been getting any sleep trying to buy one and putting deposits and never hearing back from sales people or rejected, laughed at when asking about a 1M. For me personally, this has been the least pleasant car buying experience ever. Finally through sheer determination and paying a few thousand dollars over MSRP, I have been able to acquire one. I understand that in December produciton will end.

I am grateful that BMW did not set a fixed production run for the US like they did in other countries but I believe that US owners should be able to get a similar 1 of X (example: 39 of 680) built plaque like the one seen in French cars? I am asking on behalf of myself and many other owners that BMW track the total number of units built for US and the order they were built, then after production ends, send owners the same style plaque the French get. I believe most owners would like BMW to do that as would I. I would even consider paying a small fee for the plaque to offset the costs.

I believe this car warrants that and ask you to consider this.

Sincerely,

Ignacio Barragan
San Diego, CA

PS: If someone knows how to pass this on to Mr. Russell, please let me know or share this with him.
Thank you.

IB

Papethova · 06-29-2011, 01:40 PM

Balls in your court BMWNA

richb811 · 06-29-2011, 02:16 PM

I will sign my name on this if you want to send the actual letter.

Grey Dove · 06-29-2011, 02:19 PM

Yeah and while you're at it wake up your equals all over the world and make them move.

WE ALL LOVE YOU MATT

Red135 · 06-29-2011, 02:23 PM

You don't necessarily have to send it anywhere, he reads this forum.

richb811 · 06-29-2011, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red135

You don't necessarily have to send it anywhere, he reads this forum.

o'rly?

Nice to know he is in touch with his customer base

///1M · 06-29-2011, 02:26 PM

Even if the serial number plate doesn't state the total number produced for the US (i.e. 1 "of 650"), it would still be very nice just to have the number (i.e. "147").

Red135 · 06-29-2011, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbrown81

o'rly?

Nice to know he is in touch with his customer base

I will guess that means 'oh, really'.

He is: BMWNA_MGuy

as7920 · 06-29-2011, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbrown81

o'rly?

Nice to know he is in touch with his customer base

Indeed.

Other than maybe one or two undercover dealer SAs, there's no sign of BMW GB on the forums representing the UK.

HALOTHANE · 06-29-2011, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbrown81

I will sign my name on this if you want to send the actual letter.

As will I. Cheers!

theblackangus · 06-29-2011, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red135

You don't necessarily have to send it anywhere, he reads this forum.

I agree here, and will give Matt (or BMW) 5K to get a blue 1M instead of the white one Im waiting on! =)

Hmm, I have time this week, I wonder what a letter writing campaign would do there!

Denso · 06-29-2011, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by as7920

Indeed.

Other than maybe one or two undercover dealer SAs, there's no sign of BMW GB on the forums representing the UK.

Agreed, you would think after all the rave reviews and big Jezza giving it the thumbs up on top gear that BMW UK would waken up

nachob · 06-29-2011, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///1M

Even if the serial number plate doesn't state the total number produced for the US (i.e. 1 "of 650"), it would still be very nice just to have the number (i.e. "147").

Yes, that would be nice but we have to wait until December for final figure anyway, so it would be best if it was 39 of 680. I'm sure they have the quantity, sequence and VIN numbers. It could even be optional. We could send our VIN, pay a fee and get the plaque. If someone doesn't care about it, then no harm done. But I think this would be a great step to ease some of the pain many have gone through (and are still going through today) to get this car. I think the French plaque in the car is the classiest and way to do it and probably the least expensive.

Mr. Russell, I won't take too much of your time, just drop me a note or a call!

: )

IB

///1M · 06-29-2011, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nachob

Yes, that would be nice but we have to wait until December for final figure anyway, so it would be best if it was 39 of 680. I'm sure they have the quantity, sequence and VIN numbers. It could even be optional. We could send our VIN, pay a fee and get the plaque. If someone doesn't care about it, then no harm done. But I think this would be a great step to ease some of the pain many have gone through (and are still going through today) to get this car. I think the French plaque in the car is the classiest and way to do it and probably the least expensive.

Mr. Russell, I won't take too much of your time, just drop me a note or a call!

: )

IB

Works for me!

mPlasticDesign · 06-29-2011, 03:47 PM

I think something will come to fruition, we just have to be patient. Wait till production ends....

analogue · 06-29-2011, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theblackangus

I agree here, and will give Matt (or BMW) 5K to get a blue 1M instead of the white one Im waiting on! =)

Hmm, I have time this week, I wonder what a letter writing campaign would do there!

I've already went down that road. While Matt was exceedingly helpful and honest, he is at the mercy of BMW AG for these type of requests. You need to direct your efforts to Germany, not New Jersey.

And in the case of the paint color, until you hear that Leipzig is capable of doing individual orders, you can save yourself the effort.

b33g33 · 06-29-2011, 03:50 PM

I'm in and Matt, if you're reading, here's the note I send via bmwusa.com 'contact us':

Hello,

I recently purchased a 1 Series M coupe and have been told that my production will be in week 31.

I, along with many other US 1M owners, have been enviously eyeing the various special gifts and plaques being provided to UK/French 1M owners.

Is there any intent by BMWNA to provide something similar to this to your largest customer base? Most of us are paying MSRP or above and putting up with the inconvenience of waiting months for our cars and a little gesture of appreciation would go a long, long way toward ensuring our loyalty to the BMW brand even further.

Kind Regards,

ESC OFF · 06-29-2011, 05:09 PM

I thought the US had a fixed production run of 600??

nachob · 06-29-2011, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ESC OFF

I thought the US had a fixed production run of 600??

It was dependent on production capacity. It was not artificially capped but pretty much what was expected.

Red135 · 06-29-2011, 06:01 PM

The Jalopnik link in the Pacific BMW thread mentions 800 cars for US.

TunedM2C · 06-29-2011, 07:01 PM

If we do get a plaque it should come with placement instructions.

b33g33 · 06-29-2011, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red135

The Jalopnik link in the Pacific BMW thread mentions 800 cars for US.

Jalopnik, as much as I love the blog, knows Jack when it comes to the 1M. Just read some of their comment threads.

06-29-2011, 01:26 PM	#1
nachob Brigadier General 2314 Rep 4,341 Posts Drives: 2004 330i ZHP, 2022 Cayman T Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California iTrader: (5)	Open Letter to Matt Russell - BMW NA M Marketing - Serializing 1Ms Dear Mr. Russell: I am not sure if you are aware of how difficult the process has been in getting a 1M. Starting over a year ago, no one at a dealership knew what a 1M was. Once they were announced to dealers, many would not want to deal with it. They would tell us not to bother, they would only get 1 or 2. Then they would tell us NO European delivery. Some of us have not been getting any sleep trying to buy one and putting deposits and never hearing back from sales people or rejected, laughed at when asking about a 1M. For me personally, this has been the least pleasant car buying experience ever. Finally through sheer determination and paying a few thousand dollars over MSRP, I have been able to acquire one. I understand that in December produciton will end. I am grateful that BMW did not set a fixed production run for the US like they did in other countries but I believe that US owners should be able to get a similar 1 of X (example: 39 of 680) built plaque like the one seen in French cars? I am asking on behalf of myself and many other owners that BMW track the total number of units built for US and the order they were built, then after production ends, send owners the same style plaque the French get. I believe most owners would like BMW to do that as would I. I would even consider paying a small fee for the plaque to offset the costs. I believe this car warrants that and ask you to consider this. Sincerely, Ignacio Barragan San Diego, CA PS: If someone knows how to pass this on to Mr. Russell, please let me know or share this with him. Thank you. IB Last edited by nachob; 06-29-2011 at 03:08 PM..
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06-29-2011, 01:40 PM	#2
Papethova Banned 225 Rep 3,094 Posts Drives: '08 135/ '11 1M Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: at Death Valley 127 iTrader: (1)	Balls in your court BMWNA
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06-29-2011, 02:16 PM	#3
richb811 455 Rep 4,592 Posts Drives: 2020 G20 330i M Sport Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: NJ iTrader: (21)	I will sign my name on this if you want to send the actual letter.
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06-29-2011, 02:19 PM	#4
Grey Dove Major 125 Rep 1,297 Posts Drives: Sold for a reptile Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Here & There iTrader: (0)	Yeah and while you're at it wake up your equals all over the world and make them move. WE ALL LOVE YOU MATT
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06-29-2011, 02:23 PM	#5
Red135 La Flama Blanca 27 Rep 1,545 Posts Drives: 1-series Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Abq, NM iTrader: (1)	You don't necessarily have to send it anywhere, he reads this forum.
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06-29-2011, 02:26 PM	#7
///1M Captain 25 Rep 612 Posts Drives: On a good day, AW 1M coupe Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: between Indiana and the alley iTrader: (0)	Even if the serial number plate doesn't state the total number produced for the US (i.e. 1 "of 650"), it would still be very nice just to have the number (i.e. "147").
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06-29-2011, 03:47 PM	#15
mPlasticDesign Major General 684 Rep 5,069 Posts Drives: BMW 230i Msport w/LSD Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Astral Projecting: ∞ 23.516 -122 02.625 0242.101 ĕv'rē-hwâr' iTrader: (16) Garage List 2009 Porsche 911 997.2 [10.00] 2019 Hyundai N (Sold) [10.00] 2013 BMW M3 (Sold) [10.00] 2011 1M Coupe (Sold) [8.78] 2008 E90 M3 (Sold) [8.60] 2007 Z4 Mcpe (Sold) [9.50] 2005 BMW M3 (Sold) [10.00]	I think something will come to fruition, we just have to be patient. Wait till production ends.... __________________
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06-29-2011, 03:50 PM	#17
b33g33 Give '///M' Hell! 125 Rep 1,325 Posts Drives: Einser Rex Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (0)	I'm in and Matt, if you're reading, here's the note I send via bmwusa.com 'contact us': Hello, I recently purchased a 1 Series M coupe and have been told that my production will be in week 31. I, along with many other US 1M owners, have been enviously eyeing the various special gifts and plaques being provided to UK/French 1M owners. Is there any intent by BMWNA to provide something similar to this to your largest customer base? Most of us are paying MSRP or above and putting up with the inconvenience of waiting months for our cars and a little gesture of appreciation would go a long, long way toward ensuring our loyalty to the BMW brand even further. Kind Regards,
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06-29-2011, 05:09 PM	#18
ESC OFF Major 40 Rep 1,058 Posts Drives: 1M, CaymanS, 914, 500 Abarth Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	I thought the US had a fixed production run of 600?? __________________ The faster you go, the better it feels
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06-29-2011, 06:01 PM	#20
Red135 La Flama Blanca 27 Rep 1,545 Posts Drives: 1-series Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Abq, NM iTrader: (1)	The Jalopnik link in the Pacific BMW thread mentions 800 cars for US.
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06-29-2011, 07:01 PM	#21
TunedM2C Brigadier General 829 Rep 4,190 Posts Drives: 2016 LBB M2 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Earth iTrader: (2)	If we do get a plaque it should come with placement instructions.
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