November 2007
BMW (UK) are trying to stop online reselling (i.e. 'brokering').
This is from Monday's Motor Trader:
"BMW is clamping down on dealers selling vehicles direct to online resellers not authorised by the brand who are then advertising new models at hugely discounted rates.
?It's destroying the retail market,? said BMW UK managing director Jim O'Donnell.
?This year has been the worst experience we have ever had.?
BMW said internet retailers have advertised new cars from the 3 Series range at discounts of more than £4,000, and buyers have been asking franchised dealers to match these prices.
Contract renewals at risk
O'Donnell implied that, come next September when dealer contracts are to be renewed, dealers found to have supplied the online traders may be left out in the cold.
A spokeswoman for BMW said that such a move would not be in violation of the current block exemption.
?I don't think that would be going against any block exemption issues,? she said.
In the meantime, the carmaker has issued warnings to its 155 UK sites, reminding them of restrictions stated in their contracts as selective dealers.
Manufacturer protected
Under current block exemption selective distribution agreements, the dealers are prevented from reselling vehicles to unnamed vendors ? they are only permitted to sell to end user customers or other members of the authorised dealer network.
The BMW spokeswoman added that all the manufacturer's dealerships were selective, and sellers could only be authorised by BMW directly.
A named end user
BMW UK sales director Tim Abbott stressed the importance of preventing unauthorised sales.
?It's infringing the dealer's contractual obligations,? he said.
?There must always be a named end user.?
The company has requested dealers to issue written confirmations that they are aware of this agreement.
As many as 4,000
While Abbott said he does not have exact figures for the number of cars sold through unauthorised resellers, he believes it could be as many as 4,000 of the new BMWs and Minis sold in the UK annually.
The UK is BMW's third largest market after the US and Germany."
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I'm currently blocking all pop ups on IE7 because of the current adverts on this site.
But every time a pop up is blocked the page jumps up and down.
Makes it difficult to type in dialogue boxes as well.
Ideas?
Moved in to Computers
On reflection, decided to move this back and lock it in accordance with site policy - read the small print. Read more
Thread locked in accordance with site policy on pop-ups. Any issues with pop-ups please e-mail the moderators as requested in the small print at the top of this page.
I was wondering if anyone has any tales of their best driving holidays to share ? Ours was our honeymoon 10 years ago when we took our much loved but rather ratty Westfield on a tour of France for three summer weeks. Luggage was limited to one soft bag bungeed on the back and we simply hooned around catching accomodation wherever. Some truly epic driving days in the Alps and Med coast with special mention to be given to the Verdun Gorges. Occasionally we would treat ourselves to a "posh" night in a decent hotel/restaurant and often arrived late with flies in our hair to be noticeably seated downwind from other customers ! Weather was great until we returned to Blighty when it threw it down all the way from Dover to Scotland where we lived at that time. This served mainly to illustrate how differently you can feel about a car depending on the weather ! What did surprise us was how much interest was shown in our car in the south of France where they are not unused to unusual cars. We enjoyed it so much that we subsequently did similar trips for a few years until the number of seats became an issue. Still do it in the faithful Mondy estate tho'. Just doesn't sound quite as good in the tunnels !
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Does anybody know the best places to buy Left Hand Drive cars please?
Are they cheaper/better in the UK or would France/Germany/Belgium be better.
I am looking for a car to use in Poland hwere my wife has connections and car hire is expensive a late Mark2 or early Mark3 Mondeo estate would be the sort of thing I would be looking for but would consider something like an Espace.
Also my neighbour is looking for two cars of about £1K each to send to her brother in Georgia (the country not the State) by container as cars there are apparently very expensive (they are currently just about cut off by Russia and we've all seen the political probs there). Apparently Honda are well thought of there.
In both cases tough cars would be best given road conditions.
All advice gratefully received.
George Read more
"Dont imagine you would have that problem in Poland though"
Don't be so sure, their MOT is fairly tough, I've had my car through it. I think I've posted this before, mine went on a production line jobbie, better than anything I've seen in the UK, they pay a lot of attention to VIN numbers and paper work, they laser-test the wheel alignment and they weigh it too.
Can anyone give me any advise on whether a volvo 940 2.3 lpt with about 120K on the clock are a decent second car?
Belt changed already seems a decent car, what is ownership like in terms of cost and driving?
Thank you Read more
These are great robust cars, probably last of the cars for life type.
One note of caution, they are not much fun to drive. dont expect to get out of a Ford Ka and then enjoy the Volvo. But heh thats not the point.
Just had 4 tyres changes on my Focus, and there was some wear on the insides of the front tyres. What's the best place to get tracking done CORRECTLY!
Anyone used www.alignmycar.co.uk/ ?
Cheers Read more
My sister's Bora (2004 04 I think) has had the emissions warning light illuminate. The dealer is saying the throttle body needs replacing. This is fine as the car is covered by an extended warranty, but the warranty company wants the thrttle body cleaned (at my sister's expense) to see if the fault clears before they authorise a part change.
Has anybody else had problems with emissions warning and the throttle body?
Does cleaning the throttle body cure the fault in the long-term?
Any comments on the warranty company's action?
Thanks in advance
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Hi,
Engine manegment light has come on and car is misfiring.
Does any body know where I can find the diagnostic socket on a 2001 zafira also is this a OBD2 system?
Many thanks for any help
James Read more
tis indeed under the handbrake lever under the trim, enjoy yourself removing it they are TIGHT
My son owns a 99 vreg Astra 1.7Td ( Vauxhall engine ) and it is really bad to start 10-15 secs on key,hot or cold,but once started it runs drives perfect.It has done only 75000mls with FSH.It has recently fitted glow plugs.Have noticed it blows alot of black smoke when it starts,but it clears after that.There is no engine management lit.Any ideas Guys ?
SLT to reflect year and version Read more
jc2,have made checks on fuel lines to pump/injectors,cant see anything looking like an air leak,could there be some type of air lock in the fuel system?Excuse my ignorance,i have,nt had much to do with diesels before lol.
Am I correct in remembering that at one one time the AA or RAC would not attend to a breakdown that happened actually within the bounds of a motorway services. IIRC it was policy to push the broken down vehicle out to the hard shoulder!
The subject came up because SWMBO was recovered with the school minibus from Newport Pagnell SS on a flat bed after the AA failed (or were not interested) in fixing a defective LDV starter motor.
The thought of a bunch of 14 yr old kids bump starting it down the exit slip just appeals to me! HSE eat your heart out.
I suspect that the rules changed when garage facilities disappeared from the service stations.
--
pmh (was peter)
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Mostly I've never had a problem when calling out whatever rescue service I've been with although there was one memorable phone call to one who have a pennant the colour of grass which went something like this (abridged version):
me: hi I've lost all my coolant
she: ok where are you?
me: M90, just south of Bridge of Earn
she: what junction is that?
me: (already wound up, in the pouring rain, kids up to high doh, missus upset) can't remember but it's just south of Bridge of Earn.
she: if you can't tell me the junction number I can't send a patrol 'cos they won't know where to look.
me: the motorway is only 25 miles long, how hard can it be?
she: junction number or no patrol
me: so you want me to walk 3 miles back down the hard shoulder to find out the last junction number?
she: yes
me:
fortunately I knew the number of the garage they would send out and called them myself once I'd hung up and out they came.
I'm now with a very nice man....
Browse
On checking one of the more driven discount sites today I was pleased to see that BMW has apparently dismounted from its lofty, but as predicted temporary, high horse and that attractive discounts have once again been restored.