BMW First

[dergside]

I had a promotional email from BMW last night about BMW First. Has anyone subscribed to this, and if so, what are your thoughts or experiences?

It doesn't appear that there are age restrictions, etc., so I'm contemplating if it might be useful for the 530i. With a monthly hand car wash (being a lazy bugger the thought of someone else doing this appeals ) and fluid top-ups it could justify the monthly price of the highest level of offering on their own, anything extra such as wiper blades, etc. would be a bonus.

[Big H]

Was discussed HERE already....

[IRISHD M3]

I had a promotional email from BMW last night about BMW First. Has anyone subscribed to this, and if so, what are your thoughts or experiences?

It doesn't appear that there are age restrictions, etc., so I'm contemplating if it might be useful for the 530i. With a monthly hand car wash (being a lazy bugger the thought of someone else doing this appeals ) and fluid top-ups it could justify the monthly price of the highest level of offering on their own, anything extra such as wiper blades, etc. would be a bonus.

I'm a member at the upper level, here are my pros and cons:


Pro: 5c off per litre in Topaz/Circle K

Con: You have to sign up to a fuel card account with them which bills your account by direct debit. Also Circle K and Topaz tend to be more expensive than Applegreen anyway.....

Pro: Free top level car wash with Topaz/Circle K once a month.

Con: Its a brush wash, i'd never take a nice car through one of those. Fine for my X5 hack though.

Pro: Free BMW mini-valet once a month.

Con: You have to book it in with your local dealer which for me (Frank Keane Blackrock) meant waiting three weeks. Then they wont confirm a time slot so you can be waiting around the dealer for hours. The first one I got was also really poor, they never dried the car with a chamois and missed lots of ingrained dirt. You would get a better job at one of those dodgy side of the road washes for a tenner.

Pro: Free Bulbs. There is no con here, if you need a Xenon headlight bulb you get it, fitted and all. I havent needed one of those yet but they replaced a reg plate bulb while I waited.

Pro: Discount on parts and lifestyle from main dealer - you can probably negotiate that yourself but its good to know its guaranteed.


Overall I definitely think it is worth it and I have heard that there will also be some form of loyalty events maybe launches or something like that for members. I recommend it to anyone and I think the Black Friday promo gives 3 months free which is nice!

[davep]

I signed up for it when they were doing a tener a month for the top level one. Got the car serviced last week and got the free wipers. The 20% off applies to all parts so could be a big saving if you've something on your shopping list(performance exhaust anyone )

Not proven but I'm reasonably sure if you were to cancel you could still keep using the fuel card, so the lady in the Circle K call centre said.

The Topaz car wash is a waste for me, my OCD would go nuts looking at the scrapy brushes and even not pushed about the BMW one.

They must have big plans for it wih the constant push, get folks used to subscription paying.

They have a friend referral so make sure to let one of us 'friends' know if you are signing up https://www.bmw-first.ie/home?openref

[Mac]

I signed up for it. As luck would have it, both headlights had blown within a day of each other so it needed doing fairly promptly. Called to the local dealer thinking it'd be just a 10 minute job. Not the case. Make an appointment, key read.. etc...

When I explained that I hadn't the time to wait around that I was going to go to a motor factor's, they fitted me in. Took about an hour, didnt wait around for the valet.

[NickThePartsGuy]

good service im on the basic package myself (I bribe the lads with chicken fillet rolls to get a valet so no need for the bigger option)
for 5 quid a month it covers a change of wipers once a year and any bulbs that go so it will pay for itself over the year

[NickThePartsGuy]

the free bulb deal doesn't include xenon bulbs
just had it confirmed earlier on today after I had a customer asking

a lot of people are annoyed over this (myself included as it was one of the big reasons I got the basic package)

[Don B]

If that's true, then BMW needs to change the website description...from the site;

'We will replace any defective bulbs in your headlights, indicators or tail lamps (excluding external LED lamps)."

[NickThePartsGuy]

yea I said that to them
new lad came in to take over the running of it

this is what happens when the accountants take over

[Don B]

Sounds just like the typical carry on from BMW to me - making promises, then doing an about turn.

My experience with a premium selection car has been so poor, I'm not likely to buy another BMW...and we have 2 approved used cars at the moment.

Edit: thinking about it, we've had zero issues with the AUC car bought in an NI main dealer...but nothing but issues with the AUC car bought from an Irish main dealer. Dealer in the north is professional to deal with...all I've dealt with in the south haven't been the same unfortunately.