BMW Pulls out of Wichita and KC?

[Hayden]

Stopped by Mid America tonight as I was practicaly next door at the DMV getting my new Drivers license. I notice no BMWs on the Floor. Hit up the sales guy. Yep they pulled out at the first of the year. Something about BMW wanted them to be a BMW dealer ship only- nothing else. So I said guess I will have to go to KC to get parts. He said dont count on it. They were considering pulling out of KC also. He said OKC may be your best bet. I asked about parts still. He said other than an Oil Filter, no go on parts also.

I was hoping that since BMW and Husky were in bed with eachother now that maybe Husky parts would be available here in town. No go on that I guess. Plus Im now wondering what may be next. MAP has 3 year old KTMs still sitting on the floor. 4 LC8 Super Motards and 3 950 Adv. One an 04

Then you can walk over to the brand new Honda 450X and its on sale for $1300 off. Ouch. The 05 KTM 250XC is barely off MRP.


Hayden


PS. Thanks again for the Oil Filters for my Boxer MIKE. Saved my butt there dude..

[KC]

I was just chatting with the owner of Performance West in Coffeyville, KS. He has been at the same location and the first motorcylcle dealer in Coffeyville for 35 years. He almost went bankrupt in the late 80s, now he sells lawn mowers and Chinese atvs and mini-bikes. Anyway, the guy was full of knowledge and told me about BMW's new policy for their dealerships. The requirements are very similar to Harley-Davidson's... sell their bikes almost exclusively and the store has to be a certain size and design with brick/stone facades. He mentioned the Tulsa dealer was giving up BMW's because they couldn't afford to build a couple million dollar new building. I mentioned how Mid America carrys all the big names in one store and he said: "Just wait and see, I bet they pull the Beamers before too long." !! didn't think it would happen this soon.

[safiri]

Engle, in KC, sells Triumph and BMW. There webpage still shows both. Those two brands do complement one another. They do need to expand their shop ... but if BMW-NA closes them down, who is going to buy a BMW?

There was talk a few years ago about one of the BMW car dealers adding BMW motorcycles. That didn't go far.

Note that GM forced all of their Hummer dealers to open separate facilities (that look like an overgrown retro McDonalds) several years back. Now, with gas at $3+/gallon, they can't give Hummers away. Those dealerships might be regretting the decision to go along with GM's demand.

[The Harm]

So is BMW wanting o expand their product influence or just being stuck up??? It sounds like they want exclusivity but all that does is drive up prices not quality. If you look at the automotive field, brands like oldsmobile that sold great when popular but when popualrity and ability to stay cutting edge dealershis were force to add more brands to fill their floor plan and to make money. We all know were to go get a new Oldsmobile. NO WHERE!!!! Having knowledgeabe sales people who ride and a good product will sell the product not a specialty shop or resting on laurels.

Harley Davidson has a niche market for baby boomers I don't believe anyone my age is looking to Harleyor or BMW for their next bike. I'm 26, me and my friends hae been out of college for awhile and have decent paying jobs and can afford better bikes than our high school and college days. The value just isn't there for guys like us. So in conclusion this is the wrong step for BMW. Things they are doing right the X challenge, the 850 GS and purchasing Husky!!! crapping on their dealers bad!!

Sorry for the ramble

[BeemerBill]

You said it pretty much the way it is Harm.... I have been riding BMW's since 1985 and absolutely love the motorcycles. I personally have not had a problem with any local dealers, the only problems I have ever had has been caused by BMW of North America. The way BMW N.A., treats its dealers and the demands put on their dealers,are absurd. It pretty much, once again, shows that BMW N.A. could care less about it's customers/riders. It seems the only thing they care about is the "exclusivity" you mentioned, and that is going to end up smacking them in the face one day....

[Stu]

Perhaps BMW feels that their new products are so hot people will be storming the dealerships to put deposits on them. Just as they must feel that the blatantly laughable new styling on the 800 GS is in their minds a gorgeous body over which we will fight bitterly for possession. Have they been isolated on a slowly sinking island somewhere with nothing to do but denigrate shoddy dealers that refuse them exclusive new first class digs?

Hello! The economy's rigor mortis is pushing purchases of swanky toys away from tourist types and into the exclusive grasp of millionaires who don't set their shiny patent leather shoes into shops full of enthusiastic ruffians.

Just one of the clodhoppers speaking.

Stu