bmw owners club

[fezzdav]

in the next month or 2 im going to be thinking about joining. what kind of benifits would i recieve from joining this kind of club?

cheers

[belleair302]

A bi monthly magazine, discounts off certain things such as parts, and the chance to do track days etc. They don't offer that much but for the money its not bad value. I saved more than my subscription when buying some detailing products and some tyres!!

[fezzdav]

seams like it may be a good idea. how much does it usualy cost?

[bob1179]

I joined earlier this year. It paid for itself when I took my 540i to France in May, as a BMW Club member, it saved me 70% on my RAC cover in Europe.

[Paul Drawmer]

Here you are, have a look round:
http://www.bmwcarclubgb.co.uk/index.html

[Mattt]

As an 'official' club, their website is a bit disappointing IMO.

[PPPPPP]

Mattt said:

As an 'official' club, their website is a bit disappointing IMO.

Very - difficult to navigate your way around, and this probably prevents making contributions to the site.

[fezzdav]

to be honest i did have a look aound and found it very poor in respect to other oc's. i suppose it does have the upsides of discounts and information on upcoming events

[insideout]

Just had a look at OC club site too, utter garbage, inexcusable in this day and age. Can't see them getting any people to sign up online!

Z

[Kinky]

I spoke to them on their stand at a show a few months ago. And although the guy was nice and friendly, there were two things that struck me - firstly it was aimed more at 'older' type Beemers - although all Beemers are welcome. And secondly, I could not see any benefits that made it worthwhile for me.

K

[Kerry540]

It's OK if you own an old E30, 6 series or Alpina, the rest of us are just membership revenue fillers. Club is run for the benefit of the organisers, not its members and its very, very "clicky". Flat cap and pipe required and their organisational skills are zero. Last year...Gaydon.....Major show with thousands in attendance and 1 burger van and drinks outlet!! Last Donnongton Show.......you can only display if you are a club member so that a club member always wins the show!

No thanks.

A desperate shame we lost the marvellous BMW Drivers Club.

[Paul Drawmer]

I was a member of the BMW drivers club, but it didn't do anything for me. Found the BMWCC has more events, wider range of activities, and a pretty good magazine which has been monthly for a couple of years now.

It has sections to cater for almost every BMW, not just E30 and 6ers.

Website is pretty tired though.

[fezzdav]

maybe we should get together and create a bmw oc that can be used by all owners an that has benifits that people could use on a regular basis. im not intirely sure how this would work but i think with enough people behind it and word of mouth i think it would become a good club

[Kinky]

fezzdav said:

maybe we should get together and create a bmw oc that can be used by all owners an that has benifits that people could use on a regular basis. im not intirely sure how this would work but i think with enough people behind it and word of mouth i think it would become a good club

Dave - an excellent idea - and one I support wholeheartedly. The only hesitance I'd have to something like this is that there was another (better) OC - but that closed down. I don't know why exactly - perhaps someone in the know could explain. That may (or may not) hinder any plans.

K

[Mattt]

I don't see what it would achieve personally, there are separate specialist forums for all the individual models - and this section on PH is decent enough if you have another other queries.

[fezzdav]

Mattt said:

I don't see what it would achieve personally, there are separate specialist forums for all the individual models - and this section on PH is decent enough if you have another other queries.

i agree...but if the current oc isnt up to the required standard for a majority of its members that should be a good enough reason for new 1. yes this website is good for general chit chat.....but what about other specialist sections?

[Kerry540]

Kinky said:

fezzdav said:

maybe we should get together and create a bmw oc that can be used by all owners an that has benifits that people could use on a regular basis. im not intirely sure how this would work but i think with enough people behind it and word of mouth i think it would become a good club

Dave - an excellent idea - and one I support wholeheartedly. The only hesitance I'd have to something like this is that there was another (better) OC - but that closed down. I don't know why exactly - perhaps someone in the know could explain. That may (or may not) hinder any plans.

K

The other club closed down because the chap who ran it and was the driving force behind it tragically died and his wife was unable to continue with the responsibilities involved. It was finally taken over and absorbed within the BMWOC. I really believe there is a desperate need for another BMW club thats not too snuggled-up to BMW GB and does not look down their noses at modified cars and younger owners. One that caters to the membership and not the establishment like the old BMW Drivers club would have my active support.

Kerry, xxx

[8Tech]

I was fairly involved with the BMW Drivers club and their Donnington Show was so much better than Gaydon you wouldn't believe it and their track days were like a cruise with racing!
Everything was organised so well and Graham, the organiser was mostly concerned that everyone was having FUN, he never worried about how much the door took. It was a devastating blow to lose his passion for the club and subsequently, the club.
We had a 3-Series on show with metalflake paint, no rear seats and 2 18" subs in the back next to concours E30 EVO's and not a frown in site from the club.
With the average age of BMW owners now dropped, we don't need a stuffy attitude to ownership.
I have zero computer knowledge but if we can get a small team together I will contribute technical and organisational support.

8Tech.

[Kinky]

Kerry540 said:

Kinky said:

fezzdav said:

maybe we should get together and create a bmw oc that can be used by all owners an that has benifits that people could use on a regular basis. im not intirely sure how this would work but i think with enough people behind it and word of mouth i think it would become a good club

Dave - an excellent idea - and one I support wholeheartedly. The only hesitance I'd have to something like this is that there was another (better) OC - but that closed down. I don't know why exactly - perhaps someone in the know could explain. That may (or may not) hinder any plans.

K

The other club closed down because the chap who ran it and was the driving force behind it tragically died and his wife was unable to continue with the responsibilities involved. It was finally taken over and absorbed within the BMWOC. I really believe there is a desperate need for another BMW club thats not too snuggled-up to BMW GB and does not look down their noses at modified cars and younger owners. One that caters to the membership and not the establishment like the old BMW Drivers club would have my active support.

Kerry, xxx

Kerry - thank you very much for that update. I was not aware of this at all - other than is had stopped for a reason.

K

[bob1179]

8Tech said:

I was fairly involved with the BMW Drivers club and their Donnington Show was so much better than Gaydon you wouldn't believe it and their track days were like a cruise with racing!
Everything was organised so well and Graham, the organiser was mostly concerned that everyone was having FUN, he never worried about how much the door took. It was a devastating blow to lose his passion for the club and subsequently, the club.
We had a 3-Series on show with metalflake paint, no rear seats and 2 18" subs in the back next to concours E30 EVO's and not a frown in site from the club.
With the average age of BMW owners now dropped, we don't need a stuffy attitude to ownership.
I have zero computer knowledge but if we can get a small team together I will contribute technical and organisational support.

8Tech.

I've got to admit, when I first went to see the BMWOC stand at the Bromley Pagaent a few years back I was quite suprised at their attitude towards me. I am hugely passionate about old M cars, especially the E28 M5 and M635CSi. They were quite rude and dismissive of me as I was only about 20 at the time.

I joined earlier this year and have founf the discounts I've got on various products and main dealer parts very good. I haven't however been to any of the meets yet, mainly due to work commitments, I'd like to go and see what they are like, basically to give the club the benefit of the doubt.

However if there was new club aimed more at having fun and having a chat over respective cars, I would certainly offer any support and help required.