BMW goes custom too....

[catulle]

I just read in the local paper a bit of news about BMW, the German car manufacturer, having spotted an important niche in the business of offering custom cars. In particular, they have sold so far some 17,000 Z4 M cars with custom specifications, and plan to broaden their offer. Mercedes Benz plans to follow suit. According to the article, high-end car manufacturers have identified an important gold vein in a segment of the market willing to pay a significant premium for a car they perceive as uniquely suited to their needs.

[atmo]

gee that's awsesome iirc.
yesterday i had an ice cream sunday at james pharmacy
in old saybrook and they let me add an ingredient to the
mix, thereby making said treat a real one-of-a-kind. this
personal touch, custom stuff has a future atmo.

[catulle]

I just read in the local paper a bit of news about BMW, the German car manufacturer, having spotted an important niche in the business of offering custom cars. In particular, they have sold so far some 17,000 Z4 M cars with custom specifications, and plan to broaden their offer. Mercedes Benz plans to follow suit. According to the article, high-end car manufacturers have identified an important gold vein in a segment of the market willing to pay a significant premium for a car they perceive as uniquely suited to their needs.

Er, whatever...

[saab2000]

Customization in cars has always existed. BMW has not just invented the wheel, but rather they have put their name in print by trying to make people think they have.

The list of options on virtually all cars is incredibly long, and usually longer in that maker's home market. Both BMW and Mercedes have about 6 engine options on most of their vehicles in Europe. Different versions from small displacement, stripper 3-series all the way up to an M3, with options on the M3 not being just a few.

Just as I see it. There is nothing new under the sun.

[atmo]

Customization in cars has always existed. BMW has not just invented the wheel, but rather they have put their name in print by trying to make people think they have.

The list of options on virtually all cars is incredibly long, and usually longer in that maker's home market. Both BMW and Mercedes have about 6 engine options on most of their vehicles in Europe. Different versions from small displacement, stripper 3-series all the way up to an M3, with options on the M3 not being just a few.

Just as I see it. There is nothing new under the sun.

will any of these cure a 40 year old's back pain?

[saab2000]

will any of these cure a 40 year old's back pain?

Depends on what you're currently driving. German cars have the best seats IMHO.

[catulle]

gee that's awsesome iirc.
yesterday i had an ice cream sunday at james pharmacy
in old saybrook and they let me add an ingredient to the
mix, thereby making said treat a real one-of-a-kind. this
personal touch, custom stuff has a future atmo.

Been there, done that. Once in Old Saybrook I asked to hold the ketchup on my fries and they did. On the other hand, they let me have Tabasco on my chowder, iirc.

[saab2000]

Was that up where Chowder is not pronounced the way it is spelled?

[catulle]

Depends on what you're currently driving. German cars have the best seats IMHO.

I find them German seats slippery. My butt is never comfortable on those seats. Likely because my butt is used to sitting on hemp, atmo.

[ti_boi]

Depends on what you're currently driving. German cars have the best seats IMHO.

I tend to agree but with a caveat....over the long haul...trips over one hour or so, the BMW seats are pretty firm....my SAAB's seats (RIP) were firm, yet had enough softness to make long, long trips bearable...their shape was outstanding...the 'Viggen' seats, are what I am referring to....I now drive a 'more sensible' sedan...by BMW, optioned out of course...premium package, sport series (seats are pretty excellent)......

I will also add that the craze to modify BMWs and add performance and trim items is intense. I have never seen a bigger group of 'motorheads' than the owners of BMWs who love to add pieces and create that custom car. Perhaps BMW knows this and is trying to capture some of the revenue.

;)

[catulle]

We need more taxes. We need a tax for Africa, atmo.

[saab2000]

We need more taxes. We need a tax for Africa, atmo.

Huh?

[SoCalSteve]

The wait for a custom BMW is much shorter than the wait for an E-Richie/ATMO bike frame. What does that tell you?

Steve

PS: I special ordered a BMW 5 series back in 1998 and got it just the way I wanted it. It was the only one of its kind as it had a Nav system and it was a stick. That combo didnt exist back then. Only took 4 months too!

[scrooge]

Its not custom if I can't get one with whatever geo. I want....

[saab2000]

I want a 330d with the sport package. It is not available in the US. It is a conspiracy by the same people who don't want us to know about the UFOs.

[manet]

I just read in the local paper a bit of news about BMW, the German car manufacturer, having spotted an important niche in the business of offering custom cars. In particular, they have sold so far some 17,000 Z4 M cars with custom specifications, and plan to broaden their offer. Mercedes Benz plans to follow suit. According to the article, high-end car manufacturers have identified an important gold vein in a segment of the market willing to pay a significant premium for a car they perceive as uniquely suited to their needs.

oh boy! roof racks for our meivicisss

[Serotta PETE]

oh boy! roof racks for our meivicisss

glad to see you are getting a Serotta....................Sandy must have been a good influence on you!. Can I borrow your SPECTRUM? Will is make me as fast as You??? :beer:

[shaq-d]

oh boy! roof racks for our meivicisss

"meivicii"

:beer:

sd

[palincss]

will any of these cure a 40 year old's back pain?

I don't know about "cure" -- but I do know that if you have back problems you will probably be much more comfortable in the seats in a Volvo, Saab, BMW or Mercedes than you will in other cars. Back when I had Plymouths, about 5 hrs behind the wheel was all I could stand, and I'd be in misery at the end of the trip. Then we got a Volvo, then a Saab, and now a BMW - and I'm good for 9 hours driving, and no pain when I get to my destination.

Those soft, squishy seats that don't support you at all are hell on back pain, atmo.

[manet]

glad to see you are getting a Serotta....................Sandy must have been a good influence on you!. Can I borrow your SPECTRUM? Will is make me as fast as You??? :beer:

1) http://thomashawk.com/hello/305309/480/Nope-2005.06.15-22.07.02.jpg
2) http://www.zen32868.zen.co.uk/r/asset/nope.gif
3) http://www.nope.org/images/nope_logo2.gif
4) http://www.route66-clothing.com/images2/66no.gif

[Ginger]

For Pete's sake (no offense Pete) we would never buy a truck "off the lot" for the farm. We used to special order our Ford trucks "custom" from Ford way back in the 70s. If I remember right, took about 4-6 weeks to get those too.

Heavy half ton, three on the tree, extra heavy springs, and a heavy duty clutch (we'd swap the OEM out for a Hayes clutch after about 75,000 miles)...and an am/fm radio...sliding rear window, power steering...

People just don't *know* that you can order almost any car "custom" you just have to tell the dealer exactly what you want. It isn't like they're building a bespoke car from scratch. All the options are just that...options.


These OEMs are just dipping into that customization market that's already out there.



I just read in the local paper a bit of news about BMW, the German car manufacturer, having spotted an important niche in the business of offering custom cars. In particular, they have sold so far some 17,000 Z4 M cars with custom specifications, and plan to broaden their offer. Mercedes Benz plans to follow suit. According to the article, high-end car manufacturers have identified an important gold vein in a segment of the market willing to pay a significant premium for a car they perceive as uniquely suited to their needs.

[taz-t]

I want a 330d with the sport package. It is not available in the US. It is a conspiracy by the same people who don't want us to know about the UFOs.

I want a 3.0CSI. e-Richie will build me a frame with 1" tubes, will BMW? Can I get it with the Calder paint scheme?

- taz

[Grant McLean]

1) http://thomashawk.com/hello/305309/480/Nope-2005.06.15-22.07.02.jpg
2) http://www.zen32868.zen.co.uk/r/asset/nope.gif
3) http://www.nope.org/images/nope_logo2.gif
4) http://www.route66-clothing.com/images2/66no.gif

http://www.rocketboom.com/vlog/archives/2006/05/rb_06_may_26.html

http://www.thanksno.com/

g