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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.
Apparently, since the release of the new BMW 650i convertible, it had won unofficial beauty pageant for the aficionados and fans of all the things BMW. The spring 2011 will be remember by the appearance of the new and irresistible BMW convertible model. Across the internet there is a spate of positive reviews, praising the muscular design of BMW 650i convertible.
In 650i convertible performance and class really walk hand in hand and one should expect to see quite a few of them on the road. The engine is one of the strongest BMW produced so far, with a 4.8 liter V8 and 360 horsepower. One can get about 21 miles per gallon, which is worth taking note of, as prices of gasoline are currently going through the roof.
Like most of the new BMW models, the 650i convertible has automatic rain sensing windshield wiper and fog lights. The climate controlled seating can keep everyone happy no matter what the weather is like outside. The security systems built into this convertible is near the top for this class of vehicle. Knee protection systems, head restraints, airbags, driveway protection, rollover system and remote key-less entry, all make a nice set of useful extras. Out of all of BMW’s convertibles this is the one that really grabs your attention and holds it. The MRP on this bad boy, will cost you right around $85,000, so be prepared to shell out a good chunk of change but according to all of the online reviews , it is well worth it.
After a few millennia spent in shadows, China is finally emerging to the international stage and all the big multinational corporations are looking up. BMW is no exception. And there is a good reason why BMW should not be an exception. In 2009, BMW’s worldwide net profits fell 36%, with Chine being the only exception. In 2010, sales of BMW cars in China doubled in comparison with year before. This year BMW is looking to expand its sales capacity in China, from 40,000 vehicles to 300,000. That is more than seven fold increase.
And, being an emerging economy, China boasts a smallest chauffeur-driven cars. While in the rest of the world one would expect Rolls-Royce to be chauffeur driven, in Chine it is quite normal to demonstrate business prowess of this kind, with a humble 5-Series sedan. So, no wander that BMW will be producing a long-wheelbase version of BMW 5-Series to meet this somewhat special, if ever growing demand.
If you want to drive a car that will turn heads, then you have to be ready to dress to impress. Not yourself, the car. This is exactly what BMW’s design team, lead by Chris Bangle, has achieved with BMW’s GINA roadster. This concept car ventures further than many petrol head’s imagination will ever go, so we might safely say that it will never see serial production. But we are sure that it will be very popular with car magazine editors.
The fabric that is used is water resistant and translucent, polyurethane coated Spandex. Spandex is well known for its durability and resistance to stretching even if exposed to either low or high temperatures. Actually, Spandex is used in a clothing industry under the different name, known as Lycra. So, most people who are interested in outdoor sports will know about it.
In the features department, GINA’s skin offers some surprises. It is not simply a roadster that is covered by fabric, it is a car that can change shape as well, James Bond style. Although not yet on a level of the Transformers, but more in kind of semi-practical way. For example, fabric and frames around headlights form the shapes similar to eyelids. So when you turn the headlights on, hidden electrical and hydro-electrical actuators get into action until those ‘eyelids’ open. Another feature is, that depending on the speed, you can raise a rear wing, to get a more speed hungry look.
As well, doors are shaped like scissors and they literally roll up, as you open them. And fittingly enough, if you are possibly looking for any indicators or brake lights, they are only available in a hide-and-seek mode. That is to say, they are hidden under the fabric, which is translucent enough. Whatever was the design brief, but it looks very cool.
The times when you had to depend on a few old cassette tapes to add to that feeling of freedom that fast driving gives you, had long gone. Now, your BMW is fully compatible with a panoply of indoor and outdoor portable entertainment systems, like iPod, iPhone, MP3 player and USB sticks. With a flick of few switches, you can choose amongst thousands of your favorite songs. The main advantage of this system is that they have a very similar user interfaces it is really easy to transfer from one device to another.
Actually BMW is actively working on evolving the iDrive into ConnectedDrive technology, which is a type of a networked car intelligently integrated into the services available in the outside world, like GPS and Internet. What this means in relationship to iPhone and Ipad, is that one will be able to not just listen to the preselected music from these devices, but he will be able to download and exchange the software applications between the car and his mobile devices. Also, according to BMW’s US Technology Offices senior engineer Robert Passaro, we will not need to wait longer than 2011 to see these goodies in action. System is going to be completely upgradeable, so users will have a complete access to the latest features and applications.
If there is such a thing as small BMW, it must be a BMW Mini. Fortunately for the famous Mini, however you repackage and re-brand it; is cool and will always be of the distinctly British origin. And as far as BMW’s Mini stable of models is concerned, there is new kid on the block: Mini Cooper D (D for diesel).
With such a small and light car, one wouldn’t worry about fuel economy, but with 74.3mpg and 99g/km CO2 Mini Cooper D stands up even to Toyota’s Prius. This brilliant performance is mostly owed to a new turbocharged direct-injection 1.6 liter engine which produces more of everything. More power, more torque, more economy and less pollution.
If you are just pulling away and your engine is still in 1st gear, the characteristic agricultural shudder will definitely betray the fact that there is a diesel engine under the bonnet. But as soon you change into the 2nd and 3rd gear, things considerably improve in the audio department. You could be fooled into thinking that you were driving a ‘noisy’ petrol powered vehicle!
There are many cosmetic improvements all around: Bumpers are new, there is a new black cross-piece bellow the numberplate, look of the rear lights had been changed and there are new wheels and choice of paint colors. BMW has taken care of those who must have Internet wherever they are, with Mini Connected in-mini infotainment suite of gadgets, which is a version of BMW’s own iDrive. Practically you just plug your Mini D into your iPhone and you are good to surf the Net. Definitely do not use this feature while you are driving!
Nobody likes to be involved in a car crash and very few people can say that they have trained for such a situation. It is no wonder that technology is slowly taking over this hazardous situation. Taking into the account the speed with which modern electronics react, versus the speed with which an average human can react, it is no wonder that BMW started experimenting with those systems many years ago.
In the recent world premiere, the BMW 530d equipped with anticipatory assistance system successfully passed a so called “offset crash”. This system was integrated into an upgraded Active Cruse Control, which was extended with new sensors, like a radar. The whole system is designed in such a way that it doesn’t interfere with driver’s control of the vehicle until it is absolutely necessary to do something. So one doesn’t need to fear that car will suddenly start breaking, on its own.
The way it is done: a collision threatening situation is divided into several stages. First system will just pass a visual warning in a form of a lit up symbol on a dashboard or a small head up display. If situation continues to worsen, still without any reaction from driver, an audible alarm will sound off and at that point brakes will be pretensioned. Basically braking system will be prefiled with braking fluid and brake trigger level will be automatically lowered, all in order to reduce the time that is needed to engage the brakes. If finally, car enters into the third and last stage; where collision is imminent and unavoidable, the car will take over and activate brakes as required.
In the tests run at DEKRA, near Neumunster near Hamburg, the speed of BMW 530d that was approaching an offset obstacle was reduced, at the point of collision, from 60 km/h down to 40 km/h. That is great success for the new system since it reduces a kinetic energy absorbed by passengers by 33%.
I you wanted to drive something elegant like Porsche or Ferrari, you would naturally expect to pay premium for all kinds of parts and services. But in spite of that, would you expect a bill for £7,000 after just a car wash? Most likely you wouldn’t, but the kind of car wash that Mr Gurcharn Sahota does, is by no means ordinary one. For starters, you will need to part with your favorite possession for at least four weeks. And what is involved is not just standard splash with hot jet of steam and some bubbly foam. Mr Sahota uses special pH neutral shampoo and citrus degreaser, which is more or less an orange extract. When you realize that your supercar will be washed with orange juice, you will start understanding why the price is so steep.
Furthermore, every stage of the process requires water that is warmed to a different temperature, from 40 to 140C. And the set of tools are very close to what NASA engineers will be proud of having. Super strong hear dryer is just for starters, as it will be followed by electronic scanner, connected to a laptop, that will scan the paintwork down to 1/1000th of an inch. Scanner’s software than creates a detailed map of the paint-work’s topography and when Mr Sahota finally reaches for a super fine sand paper, he will be looking at removing just 3/1000th of an inch of paint.
And consumables that are involved, are nothing to sneeze at. In order to cover dents and scratches a special brand of natural wax, imported from Brazil at a cost of £8,000 per tin is used.
So, you must ask yourself, having in mind a steep price of his services, how Mr Sahota ever gets any business? As a mater of fact Mr Sahota’s workshop is always full and his team is really busy one. If an owner of a supercar wants to sell his it, and there are few dings and dents on the bodywork, he would be looking at a £100,000 bill for respraying. Instead he can live the car in the Mr Sahota’s workshop and few weeks later, for a fraction of the cost of respraying, he can his car back in a state that is actually possibly better than when it was new, right out of the factory. That is the secret of Mr Sahota’s business success.
There is a wisdom in buying a second hand car, that in its own day was a class leader. Solidly built cars like BMWs, Audis and Volvos have engines that were very well made and can easily do more than 200,000 miles. So, buying a luxurious car that had only one ‘careful’ owner and possibly had spent most of its mileage on the motorway, in the 4th gear, is quite sensible idea.
Lets, for example, have a look into 5-Series BMW E39, that came to the market 14 years ago and, at that time, was seriously praised and wanted car. Although the whole series was replaced in 2003, with a new models, it is still mighty good looker with lots of space in the cabin, large boot and hefty 400 bhp. It boasts particularly good acceleration in a mid speed range, which is just lending itself for cruising and overtaking on the motorway.
So how does economics stuck up? Nowadays, for about £2,500 you can get any 1997 O-reg 520i with a shade over 100,000 miles to its clock. If you want to spend £4,000, you can have a good choice of lower spec high-milers. A 2000 U-reg 530d diesel is more, with a sub-100,000 car closer to £7,000. Certain specs demand higher price like SE or Sport specs. Expect to pay extra £1,000 for estates.
If you really have bias towards buying this kind of a secondhand car, than you might look into what is available in a £10,000 to £15,000 price bracket. There you can choose some 02 and 03-platers that are still in a very good nick. Low-mileage 530i and 540i saloons and estates, or the 525d and 530d four-door can cost around £17,000. Expect to pay extra £5,000 for M5.
Running costs
BMW 5-Series are truly modern cars and they have a light built into the dashboard that alerts you about the need for service. Manufacturer recommends three types of service: regular oil service, inspection level one and inspection level two. Those inspection are usually spaced out at 10,000 miles or once a year. At a time of writing, inspections costs were like this: £220 for oil service, £300 for inspection level I and £400 for inspection level II.
But these are main dealer prices, if you bring your car to PMW Ltd. for servicing, we ca give you up to 50% discount on servicing, compared to main dealer prices.
bmw, BMW 5-Series, bmw 525d, bmw 530d, bmw 530i, bmw 540i, BMW secondhand
Yet to be confirmed by our own sources, apparently the recently unveiled BMW Gran Coupe will go into production in the second quarter of 2012 and will carry the 6 Series badge. The information comes from the UK magazine Autocar citing a BMW source.
The new concept from BMW is built on the ‘backbone’ platform that underpins the current 5-series, 7-series and 5 GT. Design wise, despite having an unique look, the BMW Gran Coupe takes some design cues from the now defunct CS Concept, the beautiful four door sporty car that was unveiled in 2008 at another Chinese motor show, Shanghai Auto Show, and canceled two years later when BMW decided to pursue their EfficientDynamics plans.
Article continues over at BMW blog online
BimmerToday magazine and its own Managing Editor, Benny, participated at the official launch of the new BMW 5 Series Touring. Along with some exclusive photos, we are bringing some behind the scene news around the 2011 5 Series Sedan and Touring.
The sales of the new 5er Sedan have been nothing but excellent for BMW. Since its launch in Germany on March 18, BMW sold over 13,000 units and new customers anticipate delays up to three months, despite the Dingolfing plant working at full load.
Also, BMW confirmed that the 5 Series full hybrid will come to market in 2011. This fall, BMW will also launch the 535d, a twin-turbo diesel developing 300 horsepower.
Full article contines over at BMW blog
