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Daniel, Peter and all at PMW, Where do I start? I guess I’ll tell the whole story! At 31 years old and on my fifth BMW I can’t believe it has taken me so long to find you! Having been messed around previously by a major BMW dealership I knew it was time to consider other options. I was introduced to your firm by a friend that owns an E90 M3 and was impressed by your service. In the same week, another friend recommended you. Two recommendations in one week, it had to be a sign. Both could not speak highly enough of your attitude, professionalism and end product. Time to call!…………… I originally spoke to Jayne who was warm, friendly and personable. I was passed to Peter and immediately knew that my car was going to PMW and nowhere else. Car rental was arranged and so when I dropped the car off, I had a car to drive away with and with minimum fuss. Having been dealing with main dealerships for so long, I predicted a call either at the end of the first day it was in the garage or the next morning. So, it came as a surprise to hear from Peter whilst I was driving home, some 30 minutes to an hour after I had dropped the car off. Peter knew there were things I personally wanted to do to the car, but suggested we prioritise works in order to mitigate the total costs. Hang on a second… A car garage worrying about MY money? This was getting too good to be true, surely. By the end of the first day, Peter had pointed out issues which he felt needed attention and we agreed to start works, costs were made clear before a spanner had been picked up. Whilst in the garage, I never had to call to find out what stage the repairs were at, I was always called and kept updated. Again, in stark contrast to my usual dealings with BMW dealerships. I picked my car up a few days later and Peter asked if I wanted to drive the car with him. I was just amazed that he was willing to take 5 minutes out of his day to make sure I was satisfied. Every garage should do it, but it really made it clear to me that PMW care about their clients. They care about their reputation and it shows in everything they do. The car was a dream, it just drove beautifully. A few days after the service, I booked the car into a BMW dealership to get the alloys re-furbed and a dent taken out. Having just been serviced by PWM, I only wanted aesthetic work done. So it came as a surprise when they called me (a day later!) to say the diff seals and gearbox seals needed replacing. Alarm bells ringing. Firstly, why are they checking mechanics when I didn’t ask for this, and secondly did PMW not do this work? I called Peter and he confirmed the seals were changed so back on the phone to BMW. I asked the BMW dealership what gave them the impression this work needed doing and they pointed to oil residue. I asked them if they had actually checked the seals and they hadn’t. After inspecting again, they (BMW) admitted the work had already been done and that they would have charged me for work that already been carried out. What a f******g liberty. I asked BMW not to look at my car anymore and to carry out the works I originally asked them to do. I have lost all faith in them, they really should be taking a leaf out of PMW’s book. The car was in the garage for three days for this work and I was called twice. Owning a business myself, my feelings are that any business shows it true colours when things go wrong, not when they are going smoothly. This leads to chapter two!………. Two weeks later, the car came up with a transmission fault whilst my wife was driving home. Straight on the phone to Daniel. Daniel agreed a tow would be best so as not to cause anymore issues and said he would arrange this immediately. He called me back within 15 minutes and the car was collected within the hour. Unbelievably efficient.The fault was found that day; a faulty pin in the transmission electrical plug. No bullshit, no messing around. An apology and the problem fixed within 24 hours. The entire situation was dealt with perfectly.I really cannot sing your praises enough PMW. I can only try to put into words how impressed I am and have been with your service, communication and the overall experience. Even my wife smiles like a Cheshire cat now and has asked me not to change cars as I usually do every 12 months. My Wife! Someone who just does not care about cars. So, not only have you made my car drive like a dream and made me the happiest car owner in London but you’ve also managed to make the wife happy as well, that deserves a bonus point.All my staff are bringing their cars to you (as you know). If I meet anyone in the street that owns a BMW, will be sending them you way, PMW are just on a different level. You are in a league of your own.Genuinely, keep up the amazing work Guys & thank you very , very much for everything. My car will not be going anywhere else in future, even if I moved abroad!Though I guess that’ll be a good excuse for a long drive?
Hi just wanted to leave some feedback to say thanks for dealing with my request
for swirl flap blanks so quickly. I ordered these at 12pm and they were with me
in the Western Isles before 11am the next morning! I needed to ask for some
advice when putting everything back together which I was given immediately over
the phone. All in all, a fantastic company which offered a customer service
level that was second to none!
Thank You!
After a bodged repair by a local London garage to my swirl flaps and deep concerns about my 2001 BMW 530D Touring I consulted Peter from pmwltd about the condition of my car. My regular mechanic whom I have known for 20 years simply took out my swirl flaps and replaced the shafts with bolts. This at some time later, only (900 miles) caused an ingestion into the chamber and ruined my piston and valves and looked like a very time consuming and costly repair. After completion I took my car to peter at pmw and discussed the works. He had his guys strip out the existing bolts that were very unprofessional and replaced with his swirl flap blanking plates. Now I have heard a lot about these plates and swirl flap damage and I can tell you as an ex AA Patrol man that if not done correctly as Peter has done you will cause serious damage to your beloved engine. This is a guy with a great team and a wealth of knowledge behind them who know their stuff, not your usual bit mechanic who ”
knows a bit about engines”. I drove down from Lewisham London to his workshops in Chelmsford and it only took an hour and was easy to get to. If I was you I would call them for your piece of mind because you know like I do that you don’t want just anyone tinkering with your pride and joy. Its worth the drive knowing your car is in safe and knowledgeable hands at pmw. He,s not a rip off either, he is a very reasonable honest mechanic and cheaper than the main dealers out there. Thanks peter.
The BMW M6 Coupé is to be offered with a competition package aimed at offering enhanced driving dynamics. The new package features a revised suspension configuration comprising a 12mm lower front end and 10mm lower rear, retuned Dynamic Stability Control and ABS settings, and a modified Variable M differential for greater cornering capability.
Visually, a competition package-equipped M6 Coupé has a new bonnet with precision lines for an increased sporting look and M double-spoke light alloy wheels with wider rims that are shod with new Pirelli P Zero Corsa System tyres. The competition package costs £2,180 in addition to the £84,475 OTR price of a BMW M6 Coupé.
Following the announcement of the new BMW 3 Series Saloon and Touring, the M3 Saloon has also been updated for September. The pinnacle of 3 Series Saloon ownership now gets the same rear end enhancements as the ‘standard’ cars. A new light cluster with integrated LED indicators features alongside changes in the profile of the boot lid and the rear valance. Inside, and a light redesign of the centre console and the introduction of pearlescent chrome switchgear adds an additional tier of refinement.
Read more at Carpages news
Porsche is introducing a new model in the Cayman range. The new arrival, the Porsche Cayman S Sport, develops over 300 bhp from its tuned 3.4-litre flat-six engine and goes on sale this autumn.
Originally launched in November 2005, the Porsche Cayman S quickly became the benchmark sports car in the coupe segment, a position it has held ever since.
The latest Sport version combines the mid-engined dynamics of the Cayman S with the visual impact of the iconic 911 GT3 RS. In addition to a more powerful engine, the Cayman S Sport offers a high level of sports driving features and a bespoke range of colour combinations.
The appearance of the Cayman S Sport is striking, coming as standard in the 911 GT3 RS colours of Orange or Green and proudly bearing its model designation along its sides in black graphics. Further colours available on this special model are Black, Guards Red, Speed Yellow and Carrara White, as well as Arctic Silver Metallic available at extra cost.
Article continues at Carpages
The BMW 6 Series Coupé and Convertible are now offered with a new sports package aimed at enhancing driving dynamics and adding a more sporting appearance.
Available on all non-M derivatives, the Edition Sport package comprises a new contoured bonnet for an aggressive look, bespoke 19-inch light alloy wheels and M anti-roll stabilisation system for improved handling. The suspension enhancement will benefit Edition Sport model customers with the insertion of stiffer anti-roll bars for a 10 per cent firmer front axle and a 30 per cent firmer rear axle rear. This results in improved handling and a more composed ride during enthusiastic driving.
A Brushed Aluminium interior, Extended lighting and the opportunity to specify one of seven colours, of which Imola Red and Carbon Black are new to the 6 Series range, completes the offering. Building on this specification, BMW 650i Edition Sport Coupés and Convertibles also come with a Sports exhaust for enhanced engine breathing and aural pleasure.
Prices for the new derivative of BMW 6 Series start at £53,445 OTR for a 630i Edition Sport Coupé rising to £65,820 OTR for a 650i Edition Sport Convertible.
Read the full story at Carpages
New car sales in the UK fell by 13% last month, in what was the sharpest decline in the market since December 2006. This spells tough times indeed for the industry sector but, as with many of the economy’s recent downturns, there is one winner - the environment.
The news does not really carry significant implications for the number of cars on UK roads; the rate of increase will slow somewhat - but this is hardly significant when viewed as a whole (especially on a global scale).
However what could prove significant is the massively reduced use of energy and raw materials in the production of new cars for the UK market, that are not really needed - apart from maybe in the consumeristic sense of the word.
If the global market as a whole sees similar declines (which is largely the case - last week BMW issued a profit warning and GM announced losses of over $15bn) then the implications for global use of resources within that industry sector could be huge. Everything from use of raw materials to energy and transport costs would drop massively (maybe a carbon footprint reduction of somewhere in the region of 10%?).
No doubt this is good news for the planet when viewed from such an angle. However there is also the counter arguament that says that such companies are currently crucial in developing and improving technologies that make motoring healthier for the planet. BMW for example is at the forefront of reducing emissions with their Efficient Dynamics technologies, which certainly represent a step in the right direction - as well as a useful PR marketing tool.
Sadly one group who will prove to be victims of this downturn are the lower level company emplyees (GM intends to cut 15% of its American workforce for a start) - who will be sacked as companies sacrifice them to maintain profitability which, even for environmentalists rejoicing at the news, clouds the issue somewhat.
In any case car manufacturers can expect a difficulties ahead, whatever their status. Even ‘greener’ companies (like Toyota for example who make the popular Prius hybrid) who have ‘insured’ themselves to an extent against the effects of the economic downturn (by offerering greater efficiency) and growing environmental consciousness among drivers, will feel the heat.
On the other hand, those like GM who recklessly rode the wave of cheap petrol and big cars are now feeling the hangover - though sadly, as is often the way, it is the employees who will pay for management’s blind profiteering.
The old market was easy game for car manufacturers; today’s need for low carbon emissions, high fuel efficiency and modern design will stretch engineers and scientists to the limit, and it is now that we will see which companies are worth their salt…
Dejan Levi
automotive industry, bmw, Dejan Levi, Efficient Dynamics, green motoring
The New Mercedes Benz SL 65 AMG Black Series is the most powerful AMG to date. The performance figures are impressive – 0 – 62 mph in 3.9 seconds, then on to a top speed of an electronically restricted 199 mph (why not the magic 200 mph).
The AMG 6.0 litre V12 Bi-Turbo engine, is blessed with 670 hp and 1000 Nm of torque, which guarantees hyper sports car level performance. The two-seater SL was developed in the AMG PERFORMANCE STUDIO and represents the continuation of the highly successful Black Series strategy pursued by AMG, Mercedes-Benz specialist performance house.
Article continues at Carpages
Gentex Corporation, the leading supplier of automatic dimming rearview mirrors to the worldwide automotive industry, has announced that it is shipping auto-dimming mirrors with advanced electronic features for the all-new BMW X6 sports activity coupe (SAC).
The BMW X6, sold in Europe and other select regions, includes Gentex’s SmartBeam® high-beam headlamp assist technology as a stand-alone option. SmartBeam uses a miniature camera-on-a-chip combined with algorithmic decision making to automatically turn a vehicle’s high-beams on and off according to surrounding traffic conditions. The system is designed to maximise a vehicle’s forward lighting and to eliminate the repetitive and sometimes burdensome task of turning the high beams on and off.
BMW refers to SmartBeam as High-Beam Assist, or the German translation, Fernlichtassistent. A base auto-dimming mirror is standard on all trim levels.
Read more at Carpages
EfficientDynamics technologies responsible for CO2 reduction across the BMW and MINI ranges. MINI range now averages less than 140g/km.
BMW Group products are officially the cleanest premium cars following independent, industry-wide research into CO2 emissions. The data, compiled by www.cleangreencars.co.uk also shows that, through its EfficientDynamics programme, the BMW brand has the most improved average CO2 emissions of any premium manufacturer.
A report into average total model range emissions for car manufacturers found that from the period January 2008 to June 2008, BMW recorded an average of 161.64g/km. By comparison the model range averages for Audi and Mercedes were 177.36g/km and 192.85g/km respectively. Even Lexus with its hybrid-based model line-up only managed an average of 194.85g/km, while Jaguar topped 200g/km and Porsche recorded 275.64g/km.
Read more at BMW
Dean Baker in the Guardian has recently been espousing the values of pay-as-you-drive car insurance, both as a method of reducing motoring costs and also as an environmental measure, which would make driving fewer miles annually even more economically rewarding than it is now.
The logic is that those who drive less are also less likely to be involved in an accident, and hence should not pay the same insurance rates as those who spend much more time on the roads. It’s pretty hard to argue against his reasoning - someone who averages 2,000 miles per year on the road is clearly less likely to claim on their insurance than someone averaging 15,000 (all other factors being equal of course).
The whole idea is one which I would love to see implemented in the UK - both the environmental benefits and the improved fairness of the pay-as-you-drive system make it a highly attractive prospect. However, there are still tricky issues to be negotiated before it becomes truly viable…
Dean Baker’s article reasons that since insurance companies would make roughly the same amount of money as they do now (assuming they fixed the right price per mile) then there would be nobody opposed to the new system. However there are certain driver groups who would surely lose out heavily if the plans were introduced. Hauliers and taxi drivers for example would face enormous costs that would in all liklihood make their businesses redundant (either that or the cost would then be passed on their customers - in any case their business suffers).
Since the system must be standard accross the board (it could not be introduced as a concurrant alternative for example due to the negative implications for insurance companies’ profits); heavier users would surely oppose a system - which Dean Baker does not discuss. Imagine having to convince a haulier to accept that from now on their insurance would cost four times more than it did previously (especailly in the current economic climate with record fuel prices at the forecourt).
If this problem can be succesfully negotiated then the whole scheme would take a massive step closer to becoming reality - maybe a fixed upper price limit for heavier users could be one solution worth investigating?
The other issue that comes to mind relates to the practicalities of implementing the new system - how would your miles be counted and how would insurers collect payments? Would they send inspectors round each month or year to check milage clocks in order to produce an insurance invoice? What happens if milage clocks become unavailable before a payment is collected, through theft, fire or an accident for example?
If such hurdles can be effectively removed, then the whole system would become highly viable and perhaps provide some much-needed reforms to the pricing structure of automotive insurance in the UK, making it both fairer and more environmentally conscious.
Dejan Levi
