Fewer people want to buy BMWs?

[tom2021]

This site has been quieter recently. Does that mean fewer people want to buy BMWs?

[tracer bullet]

Do you have the site metrics? The percentage of owners who visit the site?

Sales numbers are the only thing to go by, and didn't they sell a record # of cars last year?

This is a silly thread.

[chowser51]

more and more people are doing social media crap instead of coming to the forums. those coming are new and just scamming for free crap. lol

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by tom2021

This site has been quieter recently. Does that mean fewer people want to buy BMWs?

If you really believe that, run and short BMW stock ASAP!

a

[Sand]

a lot of people visit specific car forums to rant or seek help when their cars have problems.

I've noticed that there are a lot fewer such threads here on Bimmerpost in the last few years. BMW quality and reliability must have improved? (although there seems to be an increase in reported software issues, but I guess that's to be expected these days? )

[jaffles]

Originally Posted by chowser51

more and more people are doing social media crap instead of coming to the forums. those coming are new and just scamming for free crap. lol

too true, I can't stand social media. I just bought an E92 and 93 both 2010. I came hear to learn about them to work on them myself. The depth of info in a forum and chances of finding it again are at opposite poles for the use of my time.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by Sand

a lot of people visit specific car forums to rant or seek help when their cars have problems.

I've noticed that there are a lot fewer such threads here on Bimmerpost in the last few years. BMW quality and reliability must have improved? (although there seems to be an increase in reported software issues, but I guess that's to be expected these days? )

The fewer threads can also be an indicator of people ramping up the American way; which is to change cars like underwear. Many people these days don't keep their cars past the warranty period.

[jaffles]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

The fewer threads can also be an indicator of people ramping up the American way; which is to change cars like underwear. Many people these days don't keep their cars past the warranty period.

Yeh the notion to repair anything was lost a longtime ago, now people more than ever are cultured into out of warranty its worthless, to expansive to repair, or too complex. I was amazed last time i was down the wreckers, virtually no car was damaged. Just all abandoned trade-ins that can't be sold in povo dealerships.

Then this E93 that had brakes, guards front cowling (I bought) and bonnet gone, had the lights and doors removed then crushed. I thought wow, there is all that amazing hood mech, hydraulic pump, plastic clips, diffs etc. Seems people would rather go to work to pay off the loan than spend a bit of time learning something and fixing it for very little.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by jaffles

Yeh the notion to repair anything was lost a longtime ago, now people more than ever are cultured into out of warranty its worthless, to expansive to repair, or too complex. I was amazed last time i was down the wreckers, virtually no car was damaged. Just all abandoned trade-ins that can't be sold in povo dealerships.

Then this E93 that had brakes, guards front cowling (I bought) and bonnet gone, had the lights and doors removed then crushed. I thought wow, there is all that amazing hood mech, hydraulic pump, plastic clips, diffs etc. Seems people would rather go to work to pay off the loan than spend a bit of time learning something and fixing it for very little.

The problem is people are still ok with living beyond their means. They'll roll negative equity into the next car loan and not skip a beat. Or they'll just lease the car. You also saw the insanity during the beer bug years where people were willing to pay mark ups (many were substantial) just to get into a car that was really a want and not a need.

Then you have the manufacturers that are feeding into this culture with loading up fancy options which inflate prices and on the flip side making it difficult for people that do want to work on their own cars (or independent repair shops) to be able to do so. Whether that be forcing people to go to the dealership where the tool to program parts are only held by them to withholding repair/technical information. I experienced this first hand with my BMW Motorrad motorcycles. I have the factory service manuals for both of my bikes. But BMW pulled all the DVDs for sale so you can't buy one anymore and then shut down the servers they put online which provided the periodic updates to the tech manuals. They're all pushing things to the "you will own nothing and be happy" model. All of this falls under The Right to Repair battles that are happening.

[No one]

Originally Posted by tom2021

This site has been quieter recently. Does that mean fewer people want to buy BMWs?

That can mean fewer people have access to this site: https://f20.1addicts.com/forums/show....php?t=2180291.

[pbonsalb]

It is more that traditional message boards like this are not popular among the young. They are on Facebook groups, Instagram and similar — shorter posts fit their attention spans better. I tried those places, but did not like the lack of detail and lack of search-ability so I am still here….

[jaffles]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

The problem is people are still ok with living beyond their means. They'll roll negative equity into the next car loan and not skip a beat. Or they'll just lease the car. You also saw the insanity during the beer bug years where people were willing to pay mark ups (many were substantial) just to get into a car that was really a want and not a need.

Then you have the manufacturers that are feeding into this culture with loading up fancy options which inflate prices and on the flip side making it difficult for people that do want to work on their own cars (or independent repair shops) to be able to do so. Whether that be forcing people to go to the dealership where the tool to program parts are only held by them to withholding repair/technical information. I experienced this first hand with my BMW Motorrad motorcycles. I have the factory service manuals for both of my bikes. But BMW pulled all the DVDs for sale so you can't buy one anymore and then shut down the servers they put online which provided the periodic updates to the tech manuals. They're all pushing things to the "you will own nothing and be happy" model. All of this falls under The Right to Repair battles that are happening.

I'm afraid you are right, 100%. In my meandering life I hope by allowing and helping my son buy an 2010 E92 330D as his first car; he gets economy, appreciation, and education on how to own a luxury car that goes hard, didn't cost 100K, timeless, and it can be fun and possible to upkeep. Regardless of whatever career he ends up in, things are too expansive and too restrictively captive for nothing more than company profits.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

It is more that traditional message boards like this are not popular among the young. They are on Facebook groups, Instagram and similar — shorter posts fit their attention spans better. I tried those places, but did not like the lack of detail and lack of search-ability so I am still here….

You hit it big time with the stupid/weak search engine on FB. It's an exercise in futility. Plus the way things are organized in the groups don't lend topics to be categorized in specific sections that also make searching/browsing for specific things easier. If you want to ramble about random crap, FB and the like are fine for that. Being able to look up anything specific, it's going to be forums like this one.

[Janjohn]

It’s probably a combination of quite a number of things. First, new BMWs are leased about 46% of the time so there’s less upfront investment. Second, forums are old school, which I love, but I was born in the late Jurassic Period. Third, China makes up a nice portion of the BMW market and I’m thinking it might be difficult for them to post questions or pictures here.

I understand that BMW is building a plant in Hungary so sales and leases must be steady.

We just bought a 2026 X3 M50. I love the large touchscreen with the iDrive because it’s so much more intuitive for new owners. I would think the improved driver interface will increase sales across a larger market. Unfortunately, they might not be looking for a forum.

[Higgs Boson]

bmw sales are up month over month and year over year.

[erickonphoenix]

I can't speak for the rest of the country but our son loves to drive our BMWs but want's a pickup truck for himself. It's all about the ride height and street presence apparently.

[Mason Hatcher]

Originally Posted by jaffles

too true, I can't stand social media. I just bought an E92 and 93 both 2010. I came hear to learn about them to work on them myself. The depth of info in a forum and chances of finding it again are at opposite poles for the use of my time.

This is social media

[Mason Hatcher]

Originally Posted by tom2021

This site has been quieter recently. Does that mean fewer people want to buy BMWs?

I don’t think car sales and participation in forums are directly related.

[pbonsalb]

Originally Posted by Mason Hatcher

This is social media

This is old school message board social media. I prefer it, but understand the young are moving faster today and many don’t have the time or patience to write in sentences or read in depth content. I have been on Facebook BMW message groups before and a few people are doing more involved and impressive stuff than what you find the old people doing here. I would say there is more innovation and pushing the envelope there than here.

[Higgs Boson]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

This is old school message board social media. I prefer it, but understand the young are moving faster today and many don’t have the time or patience to write in sentences or read in depth content. I have been on Facebook BMW message groups before and a few people are doing more involved and impressive stuff than what you find the old people doing here. I would say there is more innovation and pushing the envelope there than here.

If you are talking about creating IG/FB posts and videos, that takes time that most older professionals don't have (to do without a production team) as they are already running companies or leading teams, they hire younger people to put the social media program together.

A lot of social media is turning into full blown television replacement, multiple cameras/people, editing teams, etc. It's not a "guy with a gopro" anymore.

These forums were a way for "older" people to enjoy, explore, and converse about their hobby, in this case cars (but there are forums for everything). Social Media, when youtube and IG, etc pay you to post, is a business platform.

My one hope is that forums and social media stay as separated as possible. IG is like standing in Times Square, the forum is like talking to your buddies at the country club or even on the back patio, grilling steaks, smoking cigars, and hanging out, which we could all probably do a little more of.

[Janjohn]

One of the things that I enjoy about a forum is that whether you’re a new to the brand owner or an owner that has enjoyed the BMW driving experience for years, there are a selection of sub forums that are applicable.

[heavyD^2]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

This is old school message board social media. I prefer it, but understand the young are moving faster today and many don’t have the time or patience to write in sentences or read in depth content. I have been on Facebook BMW message groups before and a few people are doing more involved and impressive stuff than what you find the old people doing here. I would say there is more innovation and pushing the envelope there than here.

My son is into cars but he uses FB groups for his information. Automotive online forums probably peaked in popularity 15-20 years ago.