Cincy BMW Delaer Closing

[Zanotti2]

Seems like we are losing the entire dealer base in the Midwest.

Closing or closed:

South Bend
Indy
St Louis
Rockford
Cincinnati

This BMW marketing strategy is flawed and it will be a boutique brand on both coasts after a while.

I certainly wouldnt ride one coast to caost now. I love my 1150R, but its a 2002 and I am ready for a new bike. Dont want to leave BMW, but worry about buying another.

Comments?

Z

[peterbulgar]

BMW has never had as many dealers in the USA as Harley or Honda. The good news is that the remaining dealers will be exclusive to BMW and will have mechanics who are trained specifically on BMWs and a better parts inventory than a multi-brand shop. At least that is the theory.

If the bike is reliable and has relatively low mileage (what does your '02 have - 30 or 40K miles?) I wouldn't worry about riding across the country. You only need a dealer if something breaks. As to the likelihood of something breaking, well, at one time I would have said very slim... Keep reading the topics on the forum.
peter
'73 R75/5 (many cross-country trips back in the 70's and early 80's)
'04 R1150RA (a couple of medium-length trips far from dealers)

[Slipstream]

I just checked their website--no mention of closing--are you quite sure they're going out of business?

[solitario11]

in my area just north of nyc we lost the westchester county dealer and danbury is now also Ducati, aprilia and the place is about the same size, they added more show room but the rest is the same!

[scottybooj]

we lost BMWNY on Long Island. Now we have one long island dealer for about 3-4 million people. and he is very, very slow. good work, but very slow.

[gel9001]

I didn't know BMWNY closed. I know there Annex in NYC closed but not the main dealership, wow! We lost Garden State BMW in NJ over the summer. This is all quite sad, a dealer network is an attraction to buying any vehicle.

Gene

[TonyT607]

Rafael, Cliff's is actually moving the expanded business to a new facility - I've seen pictures of it at Cliffs and it's huge. It'll be somewhere near where they are now, I don't remember the address.

[rdsmith3]

Garden State BMW, the only dealer in Northern New Jersey, closed in September. New Jersey is the most densely populated state and some of the wealthiest areas in the whole country are in the northern part, yet we have to ride quite a bit to get to a dealer. I am NOT going into the city for service. I would rather go to Danbury CT than into the city.

[Zanotti2]

I just checked their website--no mention of closing--are you quite sure they're going out of business?

Yep, called them today and confirmed. Closing end of the week and everything is on fire sale.

[Biff's R]

I guess that I may have to ride down to Cincy later this week.

I am lucky and have about 5 dealerships within a 2 hour drive, and a great place for airheads/older BMW(Re-Psycle). 2 are BMW only and 3 are multibrand. 2 are in Columbus. It is hard buying a little from all of them, but I somehow manage.

[solitario11]

hey tony thanks,,thats good new!

[The Kurch Man]

I just checked their website--no mention of closing--are you quite sure they're going out of business?

BMW Cincy closed their doors yesterday. I know somebody that was in there. Sad but true. Seems like BMW is closing shops every time you turn around.

[Eqyn Dad]

Whenever I go into a non-BMW dealer, there are always numerous people looking and buying. When I go into any BMW shop I am usually the lone shopper. I don't think the dealers can drive the amount of traffic required to keep the doors open long term with only the BMW line. The demand is just not there.

[philm35]

As a Cincinnati resident and a Tristate BMW customer, this news really saddens me. They are good guys there, and I will miss them.

Now the bigger question is, who is going to service my 2004 R1150R? The next nearest dealership is 83 miles away from my house. I've been spoiled... I'm not looking forward to spending an entire day riding to Columbus, and spending several hours waiting around the shop every time I need an annual ABS service. And what happens on that dreaded day that the bike just won't run?

I asked BMWNA that exact question via their website. Their reply:

"We regret to confirm that this BMW Retailer will soon terminate or has already terminated business. BMW Retailers are independently owned and operated, and are therefore responsible for the operation of their business; as well as for meeting BMW’s operating guidelines. In addition, we are unable to prevent a retailer from closing their doors if they choose to do so."

IMHO, this is a BMW cop-out. How can BMW sell bikes all over the US, especially bikes that require very specialized maintenance, and then basically tell customers that we are on our own when their dealer network begins to implode? They need to do something to resolve this soon, or come spring, there may be another very nice 2004 Titan Silver R1150RA listed in the classifieds. And that will truly make me sad.

--Phil

[boxermania]

Motorcycle sales has not been a get rich scheme, those that have been in he business will attest to that. You work hard andlong to make ends meet.

BMW and for that matter all the OEM's have as of late wanted not only brand exclusivity but facilities that meet their corporate image.

This of course requires capital, part of the incentive to the dealers is better returns on sales and the ability to sell apparel.....did you know that if you weren't a prefered dealer you couldn't sell the BMW brand.....that is the most ridiculous policy that I have ever seen.

Actaully my hat goes off to the HD marketing department because they sure know how to sell verything nd then some under the HD banner.

That being said......I used to be a BMW brand loyalist, cars ad bikes.....let the cars after the new no identity....ugly.....models. Regarding the motorcycles it is my humble oppinion that the boxers will never reach the panache and long life of the Porsche 911 and will therefore become an exclusive brand just like Aston Martin and Lotus, with a handfull of bikes offered every year.

[Boxerboy]

Here in Melbourne, Oz, we have 2 BMW dealers. One is BM only, huge and very successful. It's centrally based in the city and is relatively new.

The other is 20 minutes away, in the middle of the 'burbs, and services Italian bikes also. They were previously an Italian service centre, selling small numbers also.

The next closest is 300 ks away in a rural city, a shared dealership also.

All seem to do OK. Melbourne has a 3-3.5mil pop.

Previously, we've had quite a few smaller bmw dealerships, in small showrooms, selling all sorts of bikes. Those Vic riders that frequent here will remember Clipstone Yamaha, Melbourne Suzuki, Frankston Yamaha, Geelong, Fern Tree Gully. If they've been riding long enough they'll even remember Peter Stevens selling bm's! Melbourne would usually have 3-4 dealer places to take bikes to.

Peppered around Melbourne there are a couple of places that aren't dealers but work on bmw bikes. They usually don't sell except on consignment. They seem to make a good living also, but they will do more of the airheads than the new stuff. One also does some police bikes servicing.

I'm lucky as I'm close to one of them, one of the non-dealer shops.
Melbourne is also lucky in that BMW Australia is also here, so urgent parts can usually be accessed within a day if not on the shelf. Then there's Motobins UK.

Online part's fiche and easier ph. or internet ordering has changed business markedly, but the face to face customer service has also changed, becoming more "corporate" in nature.

I can't see it going back to the little shops. It's how it now is.