Why buy a BMW when I used to hate them?
I’ve worked for over 32 years in jobs associated with the motor industry from freelance photographer and magazine graphic designer, to corporate communications with component and car manufacturers in the UK and abroad. I experienced vehicles from the massively nasty Metro to the impressive Range Rover, ideal for autocross.

The TVR Griffith was introduced to me by the proprietor of this website. Back in 1997, I immediately fell in love with the raw power, driver appeal and unique design. I’ve owned two TVRs over the last 13 years as well as an Audi A4 during the last eight years.

I had started my own company in 2007 and needed to cut unnecessary costs. I had to make a business decision, rather than with my heart. I needed a car that would offer some of the TVR’s excitement, but also everyday practicality, like the Audi.

VERSATILE REPLACEMENT
I bagan looking at what cars fitted my specific requirements. I’ve always sworn I would never buy a BMW. Not for any reason other than their image, perhaps a little seedy. Mind you, Audi seem to be falling into the same mould, taking over from BMW. Both look good and are very well engineered, but they just had the wrong image.

The vital buying parameters were: convertible with metal roof, economical, good performance, SatNav, diesel, and Bluetooth phone connection. Unfortunately, I found there was only one real contender, the BMW 330d M Sport. So much for my prejudice!

I investigated used car options and began by visiting my nearest BMW dealer once I had decided what the specification of the car was I wanted. An employee told me: “You could look on the BMW website as easily as I could.” When I found something I was interested in, he would try to get it to his dealership for me to see. I visited him several times with details of cars I had seen on the BMW web site. Even sent him a specification of the car I would like, but he was not interested. All he wanted was for me to buy a car from his existing stock.

Trying other dealers saw a mixed bunch, but none as bad as the first one when it came to customer care. I mentioned my dissatisfaction to www.jwarthog’s Doc J section. They advised me to talk to Daniel Lingwood at Sytner High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, about 15 miles from me.

As with all sales people, Daniel tried to sell me a higher spec vehicle than I could afford, but I guess you expect that. At Sytner, or any vehicle group, the sales person wants to own the customer. If a vehicle is held at another branch, it can be a problem in making sure the original sales person is credited with the sale. This is an internal thing within the dealership and should not effect on the customer.

Daniel was fantastically conscientious, researching the total BMW network for a suitable vehicle. Weekly, he kept me well informed of progress, and his customer focus was excellent. Finally he found a BMW I liked and I visited another BMW dealership to see the vehicle. It was clarified that I was a customer of Sytner High Wycombe, as Daniel had done all the work.

I had sold my TVR at a good price to a guy in France, so I traded in my Audi A4 against the BMW. The A4’s insurance cover finished at the same time as the BMW cover started. Sytner provided insurance for a few days as part of the deal, covering the No Claims Bonus. Just as well, since a car wash incident inflicted notable damage on the unfortunate A4 on trade-in day!

PAYING
I asked my bank, Barclays, what would be the best way to pay? Cheques take five days to clear. Bankers draft cost £10 and also take five days to clear, although some banks will give clearance over the phone. whilst CHAPS (Clearing House Automated Payment System) can deliver same day payments.

At Barclays CHAPS cost £20 and guaranteed same day payment, if it’s between accounts within the same bank. They must be done before 3:30 pm, if it’s to another bank formalities to be completed before 2:30 pm to guarantee end of same day payment. If you intend to drive away the same day, this may not be the best option.

Surest way is by debit card, if you have the right credit limit and there are funds in the account. If you have a current account supported by a feeder account don’t assume it will automatically transfer, I told my bank two weeks before I intended to collect the car who I was buying the car from and how much needed to be in the account and they still failed to make the transfer in time. Having your card rejected in a busy showroom is embarrassing, so ensure the cash is current account-ready, if you are using a debit card.

Asset protection insurance is also worth considering. With the ever-increasing risk of theft for high-performance cars it’s worth considering. Basically, if a car costs £30k, and after a year it’s stolen or written off in an accident, the insurance will only pay the market value. Asset protection cover will make up the difference, up to the invoice value you paid for the car.

I hope some of my tips make the buying experience less stressful for you.

M.B, March 2010

by Mike Black
Having spent most of my life involved in the automotive industry, with the privilege (dubious if you worked for Leyland, as I did) of a company car, meant that buying my own car was daunting, especially as it was my cash!

Hopefully other ex-Corporate types will benefit from my experience, which included selling a TVR into Europe profitably (Another story we will soon tell).

Mike Black (left) takes delivery of his BMW
from Daniel Lingwood at Sytner, High Wycombe