Canadian Ghost BMW Dealership

[Guest Anonymous]

'In the small town of Oakville, Ontario there sits an abandoned BMW dealership. Inside the doors sit, frozen in time, two 20-year-old BMWs in seemingly mint condition. What happened? . . .'

http://www.endrasbmw.com/10/1988-bmw-dealership-left-untouched/

[Nicad]

what a neat story. I live about 40 miles away, so will try to figure out where the building is. I wonder if there are any tools left in the service area? Someone must be pumping up the tires.

[nbcbird]

Considering how BMW NA handles contracts for dealerships, I find this story hard to believe.

[TonyHavana]

This x-dealership does indeed exist, with cars in showroom.

I spoke to the owner who happened to be there doing something in the back shop a couple of years ago. He didn't let me in though, and was not very forthcoming with information. I was trying to rent the building for a film shoot, but he wasn't interested.

On another note Nicad, where are you located? There's a fairly strong 02 group in the GTA.

[Nicad]

Considering how BMW NA handles contracts for dealerships, I find this story hard to believe.

BMW screwed the main dealer that built their rep when they cancelled their contract in an effort to go big time in the Toronto market.

Beach auto was a family run dealer that was big into Motorsports and top level service. BMW owners would bring their cars from far away just to get them serviced there. All the best techs came from Beach. When BMW decided that they wanted a big showy 5 story showroom in Toronto, rather than the smaller auto dealership that was a pillar of the community they yanked their dealer status and shut down a nice family business. BMW's no longer come with Diff drain plugs, so that tells you what they think of the customer.

[TonyHavana]

Bought my first 2002 from Arnold at Beach in 1993. Was bought and serviced there from new. Best BMW service in the city. Great racing history. It was a sad, sad day when BMW forced them out. Fortunately some of the mechanics from Beach have their own shops now.

[jmr_1602]

This story reminds me of the the Toyotas on Cyprus abandoned in 1974 (link below.) Very cool. I wish I had access to the display cabinet with what looks like an '02 Alpina Deko kit.

http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/2011/07/25/more-nostalgic-toyotas-from-cyprus-un-buffer-zone/#more-16194

[roadhog0]

Thats crazy! I would love to see something like that.