[Needbmwpartzz]

So I was driving on Canada finest motorway(401) and randomly saw a bmw Autohaus parts van that was a Toyota Sienna.....got me thinking that that's just odd.....bmw dealer buys Toyota to shuttle parts around....Hmm very odd.
Any thought on this business decision ...I just thought that is a bad business practice to have another manufacturer s vehicle as a parts vehicle.......doesn't look good to me.

[ASBSECU E93]

Might be contracted to a 3rd party - just a guess...

[Needbmwpartzz]

Originally Posted by ASBSECU E93

Might be contracted to a 3rd party - just a guess...

Maybe....but to have the dealers name on it...weird.....I thought bmw was about image like any unique brand....this is not typical bmw branding.....someone should get fired......I'm buying Toyota next they clearly have a more durable product.

[MrPrena]

Originally Posted by Needbmwpartzz

So I was driving on Canada finest motorway(401) and randomly saw a bmw Autohaus parts van that was a Toyota Sienna.....got me thinking that that's just odd.....bmw dealer buys Toyota to shuttle parts around....Hmm very odd.
Any thought on this business decision ...I just thought that is a bad business practice to have another manufacturer s vehicle as a parts vehicle.......doesn't look good to me.

I have a pic of a Ford f150 hauling a trailer of local BMW parts or some other things. Will post pic when I get home.

I

[gthal]

Likely the owner of the BMW dealership also owns a Toyota dealership. They need minivan space/convenience for the tasks required and BMW doesn't make a minivan. Seems to make good sense to me.

[gthal]

Originally Posted by Needbmwpartzz

Maybe....but to have the dealers name on it...weird.....I thought bmw was about image like any unique brand....this is not typical bmw branding.....someone should get fired......I'm buying Toyota next they clearly have a more durable product.

I think you are giving the BMW brand image too much credit

Also, keep in mind the dealership wants its name out their regardless of brand... for example, they sell a used Audi off trade and put their sticker on the back and their license plate frame on it. It's not a BMW but they still put their name on it

I think you are overthinking the exclusivity too much... and using a minivan from Toyota (when BMW doesn't even sell a minivan) doesn't suggest the dealer believes it is more durable. Most people could give a crap what other cars a BMW dealer might use for parts delivery, shuttle service, etc... unless they think the BMW brand means they are higher class and therefore it degrades them

[Needbmwpartzz]

Originally Posted by gthal

I think you are giving the BMW brand image too much credit

Also, keep in mind the dealership wants its name out their regardless of brand... for example, they sell a used Audi off trade and put their sticker on the back and their license plate frame on it. It's not a BMW but they still put their name on it

I think you are overthinking the exclusivity too much... and using a minivan from Toyota (when BMW doesn't even sell a minivan) doesn't suggest the dealer believes it is more durable. Most people could give a crap what other cars a BMW dealer might use for parts delivery, shuttle service, etc... unless they think the BMW brand means they are higher class and therefore it degrades them

This is just marketing basics(the medium is the message) and that is just not being conveyed here,they could have used a x5 or station wagon....you raise some good points however like I said "little rant" lol

[Needbmwpartzz]

Originally Posted by MrPrena

I have a pic of a Ford f150 hauling a trailer of local BMW parts or some other things. Will post pic when I get home.

I

I should of shamed and named with a pic too....but I was alone driving.

[N55]

At all 3 of my local BMW dealers, they have Mini Van Shuttle cars or Mercedes Sprinters Shuttle car. Yes... Merc... Lol

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by N55

At all 3 of my local BMW dealers, they have Mini Van Shuttle cars or Mercedes Sprinters Shuttle car. Yes... Merc... Lol

Wtf. My dealer uses x5d.

[dreamingat30fps]

WHAT???? Unbelievable! I demand all my parts be delivered in a 7 series.

[gthal]

Originally Posted by dreamingat30fps

WHAT???? Unbelievable! I demand all my parts be delivered in a 7 series.

M6 or nothing

[Needbmwpartzz]

Originally Posted by dreamingat30fps

WHAT???? Unbelievable! I demand all my parts be delivered in a 7 series.

Haha.....Gary approved

[Needbmwpartzz]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

Wtf. My dealer uses x5d.

That GM knows what's up....not that I'm a brand whore but geez rep your bread and butter.....do you see McDonald's advertise with kids in commercials eating whoppers and playing with Jared (subway man) now that he's fit and creeping them...just no.

[gthal]

Originally Posted by Needbmwpartzz

That GM knows what's up....not that I'm a brand whore but geez rep your bread and butter.....do you see McDonald's advertise with kids in commercials eating whoppers and playing with Jared (subway man) now that he's fit and creeping them...just no.

UNLESS

Likely the dealer has both a Toyota and BMW store. I also bet the Toyota store is more profitable (yes, hard to believe but just trust me on that one ). So, in some ways... driving a Toyota around with BMW badging might help promote business at the Toyota store MORE than it would cause people to avoid BMW. So, said dealer would be VERY smart to do this if it was about maximizing profit

[Needbmwpartzz]

Touché

[tony20009]

Originally Posted by Needbmwpartzz

So I was driving on Canada finest motorway(401) and randomly saw a bmw Autohaus parts van that was a Toyota Sienna.....got me thinking that that's just odd.....bmw dealer buys Toyota to shuttle parts around....Hmm very odd.
Any thought on this business decision ...I just thought that is a bad business practice to have another manufacturer s vehicle as a parts vehicle.......doesn't look good to me.

I think it's a business decision and as such the choice is driven by cost and functionality more than anything else. Were I the business owner, that's what would drive my choice. It doesn't take much to tell that the TCO for a basic Toyota is not higher than that of a BMW, particularly seeing as, unlike Mercedes, Volvo or Toyota for example, I don't believe BMW offer commercial vehicles. Also, BMW (AFAIK) don't offer anything that will have interior volume comparable to that of a minivan.

Besides, BMW Autohaus' customers are people who've already decided to buy a BMW and who need parts/repairs/service on it. I think if folks saw BMW Autohaus using a BMW vehicle in a commercial role, they'd think (illogically perhaps, but not suprisingly) the company also charges higher prices than necessary.

All the best.

[Needbmwpartzz]

Originally Posted by tony20009

I think it's a business decision and as such the choice is driven by cost and functionality more than anything else. Were I the business owner, that's what would drive my choice. It doesn't take much to tell that the TCO for a basic Toyota is not higher than that of a BMW, particularly seeing as, unlike Mercedes, Volvo or Toyota for example, I don't believe BMW offer commercial vehicles. Also, BMW (AFAIK) don't offer anything that will have interior volume comparable to that of a minivan.

Besides, BMW Autohaus' customers are people who've already decided to buy a BMW and who need parts/repairs/service on it. I think if folks saw BMW Autohaus using a BMW vehicle in a commercial role, they'd think (illogically perhaps, but not suprisingly) the company also charges higher prices that necessary.

All the best.

You may have hit the nail right on the head here,never thought about it from that perspective.

[V1.47fan]

Originally Posted by Needbmwpartzz

So I was driving on Canada finest motorway(401) and randomly saw a bmw Autohaus parts van that was a Toyota Sienna.....got me thinking that that's just odd.....bmw dealer buys Toyota to shuttle parts around....Hmm very odd.
Any thought on this business decision ...I just thought that is a bad business practice to have another manufacturer s vehicle as a parts vehicle.......doesn't look good to me.

SCOTT26 said, they're sorry for the inconvenience. They're working on a $100k BMW mini van that won't sell but will be used as parts van by BMW dealers.

[mookie45]

Braman Motorcars and The Collection, two high end dealerships here in Miami, use the Mercedes Sprinter but neither dealership sell new Mercedes. I wonder if the McLaren and Buggati guys get pissed their parts are in a paltry Benz, JK.

[tony20009]

Originally Posted by V1.47fan

SCOTT26 said, they're sorry for the inconvenience. They're working on a $100k BMW mini van that won't sell but will be used as parts van by BMW dealers.

[design pic of fictitious BMW minivan deleted]

[NEFARIOUS]

Also Toyota and BMW are working together too, kinda like how GM had NUMMI for certain Toyotas and even Geo, but way cooler: The Bimmer Z4, Toyota Supra and possibly others.

http://www.bmwgroup.com/e/0_0_www_bm...ta_Jan_13.html

http://blog.caranddriver.com/der-sup...r-partnership/