WHAT DO YOU all care what someone else does to their car?

 

Of course the other side of the coin for all of those who ask why anyone should care...

why does anyone who doesn't care, care that we care?

 

I am not sure who told you this, but it is wrong... BMW NA has NO, NONE, ZERO oversite of the BMW CCA. We are a club that is brought togheter around the marque, but not owned or dicated to by the marque. BMW has never told the Club what cars to include or exclude in any Club event.

Have you read Roundel (the BMW CCA magazine) lately? My monthly column is 100% dedicated to the MINI and is run every month under the title Bimmer Lite (see early post re BMRLITE). We have also had columns on various MINIs and we are looking to even more content.

As a matter of fact, BMW CCA see MINI owners as the biggest growth opportunity for the Club.

BMW Club Racing has the MINI classified so it can race in our series too.

Our local Chapter even has a MINI day during our autocross series sponsored by the local MINI dealership which allows MINI to run free for the day.

We like and want MINI owners in the BMW CCA.

Vince

 

Vince- that's your column my new favorite part of the mag. I think you put it best that the MINI is the illigitimate offspring of the 2002 and E30 M3

 

Wow, that is incredibly helpful. I never even thought of joining the BMW club--I'm going to have to find out if they're as open minded about the Mini in Wisconsin; if so I'd love to join up and get involved in some of the driving schools/events, as they do some events out at Road America. I'd love to join up and get involved with the local group; keeping my fingers crossed it's possible.

 

If you get any grief, let me know. Wynn Smith is the Exec Director of BMW CCA and she fully supports the MINI. Of course there may be a few 2002 hangers on that still believe BMW went down hill after the 2002, but that's life

Our local chapter (Genesee Valley Chapter which is Western and Upstate NY) welcomes everyone no matter what you drive. OUr past Presidents have owned WXR STIs, Porsche, etc. We are car nuts and welcome anyone addicted to cars!!!

VInce

 

Yep, that's me. I try to keep it light and not just a running list of what mods you can do. So with that said, I am always looking for ideas for inspiration. Please give me ideas... I am not that bright to do it all on my own!

Vince

 

Thanks for that! I emailed them, and they said I could join, as long as I didn't put a BMW badge on my car...:D

I looked at the local (Milwaukee) website, and it looked favorable toward Mini's--there was some Mini info on the site, so I did go ahead and email them--it's looks like they've got a great club, with driving schools on occasion at Elkhart Lake and Rockford,as well as some other nice events--if they allow Mini's into their driving schools and other events, I'm joining ASAP--I've really been wanting to do something like this, but haven't found anything locally that approaches this. I'm just a novice driver, but long time enthusiast, looking to get involved in something like this for the fun of it, and to learn.

There are some Mini clubs in Wisconsin, but they've kind of taken off in fits and starts. It appears from the websites that there is a division within the BMW group called Milwaukee Mini's (It looks like it's just getting going, by the look of the website, but it looks promising), but I'm not sure how strong the affiliation is, and if it's a seperate group or a section of the BMW group. Thanks so much for posting earlier--I would have never thought of this; I'm keeping my fingers crossed Milwaukee's BMW branch is open to Cooper's, I can't wait to join if it is.

 

I don't want to put any individuals on the spot, but I can only say that they asked and about it and BMWNA, directly involved or not with the CCA (they do hold some sway) dissuaded the Mini oriented event and did not come forth with a Mini spokesperson for it, as I understand it. There was no problem getting a BMW speaker though. Perhaps it was a one time thing, and even if it was misinformation, overall when it comes to the BMWCCA and the BMW association with it I have not see the same support as there is with BMWs in tech articles, discounts and the member rewards program, among other things. There are not even any Mini special interest groups (http://www.bmwcca.org/SIG) nor does Mini have a presence or much of a mention/inclusion on the site.

As I said, the local clubs accept, even welcome, Minis, and I'm sure the club sees it as a large untapped market which could bolster membership, so perhaps it will change things (it certainly took awhile - you're right, I stopped reading Roundel for the most part, no time) but in all honestly the Mini has not been something outright promoted/supported as old or new BMW models are. Again, as I stated this might change (or is changing), the car has been out there for a long time now so perhaps there will be enough owners to warrant it. And actually it would be nice if there was to be a MINICCA, as it is a rather different car then the BMWs in many ways beyond branding.

And people, for the record, again, I do not "care" what anyone does to their car (unless it is a danger to me or impacts people in some way), but if the topic comes up and opinions are being traded I might just throw my 2 cents in

Edit: I take it back, I do remember a BMWCCA event that was Mini oriented - but it was prior to the release of the car and seemed to be an introduction and promotion to garner interest (it was at the Historics).

 

This is like MG owners wanting to join a Triumph club back in the days of British Leyland.

 

Hey - our BMW CCA chapter (Lone Star) has really been trying hard to get us involved and its working. It started with a MINI-only AX school back in January that was fantastic. It changed the 'regular' MINI participation in our AXes from two to around 10 and sometimes quite a few more. Spanking 3-Series cars and some M3's is a LOT of fun. The last HP DE the LSC BMWCCA hosted at the end of April had 12 MINIs participate - the most ever. In any case most of the BMW owners treat us well and it just makes the competition more fun.

 

No wonder they don't know what to do with us at the car shows:impatient

Oh well...I love my orphan Msfitoy...I know where she came from...the rest of you can struggle with that forever...

 

The NSX is a Honda.

Acura NSX's are just watered down version of the REAL cars from japan.

 

Yes, this is a wierd thread. So I may as well jump in.

I recently read an article in the business section of the news. It was about how the merger of Chrysler and Mercedes has helped Chrysler bring products to market much quicker. The two examples it gave were the Chrysler Crossfire which has a Mercedes engine and the 300C which is like 80% Mercedes (I am not 100% sure of that number). So if any Chrysler deserves a Mercedes badge it would be the 300C.

Also, has anyone noticed the new TV ad campaign of Chrysler with "Dr. Z". In some, they blatantly refer to the association with Mercedes and in others it is at a minimum implied.

The point being, regardless of MB's recent quality difficulties, the minds at Chrysler obviously think that the general public would like the implied prestige of the MB plate. So if they can't change the badge on the Chyslers, they seem to want to get the point across that Chryslers are now Mercedes Benz products.

I have never owned a BMW. I didn't know MINI was made by BMW until my first test drive. (By the way, I have to wonder if any unknowing test drivers are not told quite quickly by the sales staff that MINI is made by BMW.) I bought my MINI because I fell in love with it on that first test drive.

Since owning my MINI I have become a BMW fan and the next car I purchase is almost definitely going to be a BMW. I think this type of thing is exactly what BMW wants. The MINI is a gateway into BMW for some.

Otherwise, it seems to me that much of the arguments and disagreements in this thread stem from many people assuming or speculating that one would badge a MINI with BMW badges only as vanity and prestige move. First, I doubt that this is a rampant trend. Second, there could be many reasons to do it. I have become impressed with BMW as a maker of cars. It is not simply a prestige vehicle that is not necessarily a great car. So badging a BMW on your MINI could certainly be for the reason of letting people know that this isn't simply some fly by night British import and that in fact it is a car from a quality manufacturer. In my experience very few people know that BMW make MINI. So I would think of the re-badging as an attempt to educate the public as well as simply another way of making a person's MINI unique.

So put me down as being in the crowd that does not assume that one would re-badge for vanity or prestige. Therefore, if I ever saw a MINI with BMW badging, it would not bother me and I would actually think that it is cool.

Sorry for the long post.

To think this all started because someone simply had a front license plate with a BMW logo.

 

We may soon have the opportunity to find out the answer to that. I recently read that a Chinese firm (not sure if it was Chery) bought the rights to the recently defunct MG and anticipates bringing MG to the American market within a few years.

 

Wouldnt this seem better if it is was "The Ultimate MOTORING Machine"

 

Asian (particularly Japanese) cars tend to look the way they do because of space considerations.

I don't mean the space inside the car. I mean the space around the car.

Streets in major cities in Japan are packed. Cars are judged not from a distance, where they can rarely be seen in full, but from up close. They are designed to be viewed in sections, close up. This explains why many (if not all) of the early Japanese cars imported into the U.S. in the late 1960s through the '70s were criticized so heavily for being so gaudy, with so many tacked on chrome doo-dads. They were put there by designers from a different culture to offer up-close distinctive appeal to the viewing habits of people that live their lives like sardines.

Americans and Europeans tend to view cars as wholes. We see the entire picture, and design our vehicles accordingly. Of course, not every car designed in America or Europe is a masterpiece, but this all helps to explain why, when we see a japanese car, we almost instantly know it's a japanese car. It's only been in about the last 10 years or so that Japanese designers have gotten away from the 'Christmas ornament method' of designing cars, but, as we know, old habits and ways of thinking are hard to break, and tend to evolve slowly rather than change rapidly and all at once, so to speak.

Zip

 

Let me make it perfectly clear as a staff writer for the Club magazine, a local Chapter President, BMW Club Racer and friend to a few BMW CCA Board members, BMW NA dictates nothing to BMW CCA except requiring the space between BMW and CCA. Read the disclaimer in Roundel.

As for the rewards program keep in mind, BMW NA and MINI NA are deemed two seperate companies, so BMW NA is not going to give a rewards program for you to buy a MINI. That is up to MINI NA and until the dealers have too much inventory, I doubt MINI NA will provide any rebates. The BMW Rewards program is available to many corporations too. When I was with Arthur Andersen (RIP), we had the exact same rebates from BMW NA as I got with BMW CCA membership (and not you could not take them both).

One last thought on this. If you said someone asked BMW NA to provide a MINI head honcho, then I can see why they said they could not do it. Or if someone asked if they could take a MINI to the Spartenburg (sp?) or M school, I again could see them saying no. Again, two sep companies and they work hard not to dilute the BMW name. But there is no way that BMW NA or BMW AG told BMW CCA that a BMW CCA event could not inlcude a MINI or be based on a MINI.

Vince

 

I have always been fond of the original Minis but was never able to find one here in my part of the country (northeastern United States) that wasn't either terribly expensive, or in need of major work. And although I have wanted all manner of British cars, I also didn't want to own a car that was, er, unreliable.

When I first saw a new MINI at a car show in '02 (I think), I knew I'd have one eventually. I finally took the plunge in early '05, and am still thrilled with my car.

So, to the question, what do I think of re-badging? I am not for it. I would not do it to any vehicle I own, but others may obviously do whatever they want to do.

I have a Kawaski Vulcan Drifter. For those of you that know something about motorcycles, this bike's styling, based on a Kawasaki Vulcan, was created by Cobra Engineering to be reminiscent an original Indian, with a V-twin and those big, flowing fenders. Kawasaki liked what they saw, and began manufacturing and selling the bike as the Drifter.

I am on a couple of Drifter forums. I can't tell you how many guys strip off all references to their bikes' true identities and put on Indian head fender lights, and even the Indian tank emblem, including the word 'Indian' right
on their Kawasakis!

Would I do that? Or put 'BMW' badges on a MINI? No. The bikes are _not_ Indians. And MINIs are not BMWs, anymore than Acuras are Hondas, which they're not. I just think it's plain ol' wrong (for _me_) to 'rebadge,' and tasteless and classless, to boot. But would I tell someone that has
done it that it's wrong? No. If it's right for them, then that's fine. But it's wrong for me to do for my own reasons as stated above. My opinion is for me to act or not act upon for my own self.

When people ask me about my MINI (or my Drifter), I give them a short primer on BMW's acquisition and 'rescue' of the whole concept of the MINI, and Kawasaki's 'tribute' to the legendary Indian. I never tell people my belongings are anything but what they are.

And that's my .16 bit.

Zip

 

I'll rebadge all I want. I'll put orange damn wheels on my car if I want. If you have a problem with it, deposit your compalint in my circular filing cabinet.

 

 

And i like that! Especially the "M" 7 badge. I agree with you, i will do what i want to my car cause its mine. If you have a problem with what i do then you can make my car payments

 

 

Most of us know that the new Mini was started by Rover..... but it is the decisions about...handling, feel, brakes, etc...etc.... that were finally made by BMW employees/engineers/designers/whether out sourced or not..... I am glad it was BMW making the final call as opposed to several of the other companies mentioned.

get behind a Mini on the highway and look at how that proud little car just owns the road..... I don't see that in many of the monikers..JMO

edit... this belongs in the "would you buy" thread

 

I guess I always thought the badging was insignificant. I have a PT Cruiser (I like it, great car and nice folks, overall). While attending one of my first PT club get togethers, someone stuck a Triton V10 badge on the back of my car. Now, I know that's a no-no, but the guy who did it knew me well enough to know I'd find it funny. Anyway, I left it on the car for a couple of years and used to crack up at the number of people who would actually think I had a V10 in that car! I also ended up putting a bunch of other stuff all over my PT, most of it tongue in cheek stuff like you'd see on race cars or whatever. Just because I think it's funny how many people want to get upset about how it's not really a race car and confront me about it. DUH, it's a "cruiser".
So I have never had a problem with what anyone puts on their car, usually I smile and just appreciate that fact that they love their vehicle and have spent time doing something different to it. I guess that comes with age .
Annette