KEEPING THE BMW SPIRIT ALIVE
With the sheer volume of BMWS on the road, it is important that we keep the good ones in perfect health. That there are so many in New Zealand also means that there is good access to parts and plenty of expertise around our wee nation of Bavarian-motoring fans.
We spoke to BMW New Zealand about what it sees as the most vital elements to keeping your BMW on the road. New Zealand Classic Car: What’s the most important part of keeping a BMW alive and well for years to come? When it comes to keeping BMWS on the road, a lot of factors come into play — in particular, keeping the scheduled maintenance up to date, as well as using BMW Genuine Parts.
With increased technology in our engines and our longer and condition-based servicing intervals, not only is it important to maintain your vehicle with BMW Genuine Parts, [but also] the correct oil grade/type must be used.
Quality, efficiency, and innovation are the three cornerstones of the expertise delivered by our authorized BMW Dealer Network throughout New Zealand. How do genuine BMW parts differ from the non-oem products? All BMWS provide top performance day after day, and it is the interaction of the parts that is so important for the full functionality. Perfect performance is only achieved by precisely matching all of the approved BMW parts to the requirements of each individual BMW model. All BMW Genuine Parts come with a two-year factory-backed warranty, and this warranty includes the replacement of any defective/faulty parts at any of our dealerships, nationwide. Many BMWS wear the M-badge. Is it important to use M-parts on M-spec cars? Should they be used on M-spec cars only? Many of our M-parts can be used across all our models. Genuine BMW M-vehicles should always use genuine BMW M-parts and accessories.
BMW M-parts are precisely engineered to achieve the highest performance and reliability due to the unique requirements of BMW M-products. Is BMW New Zealand looking at how to keep and preserve a number of classic BMWS on our roads? BMW is a company steeped in its history, and even the latest models of today incorporate aspects of the previous generations, especially in [terms of] design and the famous kidney grilles.
We actively support the BMW Car Club of New Zealand, with its club members consisting of BMW enthusiasts [of BMWS] ranging from rare classics to new and improved models.
Not many BMW enthusiasts are aware [that] … BMW AG [Germany] still produces OEM original parts for most classic BMWS. This means [that] BMW New Zealand and its dealer network can source parts for most BMWS, keeping the BMW classic heritage alive.
BMW Group has a department dedicated to maintaining older models — BMW Group Classic ( bmwgroup-classic.com/en.html). In your opinion, what is the most important BMW ever built? There is a shift coming in the automotive industry, in particular with electric vehicles such as the BMW i3. This vehicle is embracing the way of the future [not only] with its electric-powertrain technology but also [its] carbon-fibre lightweight construction. The next steps are autonomous vehicles, but it’s safe to say [that] we will always keep the driver as a key part of our models.
On a more historic level, there have been lots of influential models of BMWS made. Some of these include the 328; 507; Neu Klasse 2000; M1; and the M-range, starting with the E24 M6 — but everyone’s all-time favourite is the iconic E30 M3.
“BMW is a company steeped in its history, and even the latest models of today incorporate aspects of the previous generations”