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What’s It Like to Work for BMW?

When you think of luxury vehicles, BMW is probably one of the first brands that comes to mind. These German cars are among the most well known in the world, and in addition to dealerships, it maintains factories in the U.S., Germany and 12 other countries. If you’re a fan of the brand and what it does, you might even be considering a career with this company. Here’s what it’s like to work for BMW.

Starts Like Any Other Job

Getting started in a career with BMW is similar to most other jobs. You brush up your resume, send in your application and wait until you get a call for an interview. Seems pretty straightforward, right?

If BMW decided to offer you a job, you’d likely find yourself meeting with leadership at your local BMW headquarters. Depending on where you’re located, that could be an office, a factory or a dealership. This allows you to talk to your future bosses about your goals, experience and what you’re hoping to get out of your career.

Once You Get the Job

Once you accept a job offer at BMW, your path will depend greatly on your experience and the career you’ve chosen. If you’re working in one of the brand’s assembly plants, you can expect your first few weeks to be filled with technical training to learn the ins and outs of putting together one of the brand’s iconic cars. There are all sorts of classes to take to expand your knowledge base and improve your promotability. 

In rare cases, if you excel in your chosen field, you may get the opportunity to transfer to one of the brand’s home bases. There is even a possibility that you could be sent to Germany to work at the company’s first factory. 

BMW prides itself on its supportive leadership. If you’re interested in working for one of the most famous automotive brands in the world, it’s a great opportunity. 

A Great Company — but Not the Best

While BMW might be one of the best automotive brands to work for in the United States — and possibly the world — it isn’t the best. In the U.S., that title belongs to Ford, easily one of the most well-known domestic companies. If you want to work in an assembly plant for BMW, you’re limited to Spartanburg, South Carolina. Ford, on the other hand, has plants and facilities spread out across the country.

That’s not to discourage you from seeking out a career with BMW. Both brands have their pros and cons, but if you adore BMW’s cars and marvel at its engineering prowess, you likely won’t be happy at any other company. 

Working for BMW

Whether you enjoy working in the automotive sector or just love the idea of being able to include BMW on your resume, now is as good a time as ever to seek a career with the iconic company. Working for a brand you love can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life.

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Tips for Making Your BMW More Disability-Friendly

At present, 1 in every 4 Americans is living with a disability, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While it can certainly be challenging for individuals with disabilities to navigate daily life, limited mobility, however, does not put a damper on the passion a true BMW enthusiast has for their cars. Although merely viewing beautiful cars can be fulfilling, driving is important to anyone that wants to maintain a degree of independence. Thankfully, there are a number of vehicle accessories available on the market that will make a classic BMW more disability-friendly. Not only can accelerating and braking be made easier, but steering and even getting in and out of the car can be simplified for people with disabilities.

Simplified speed control

One of the biggest obstacles faced by drivers with disabilities is the use of the accelerator and brake pedals in a car. By installing an electronic accelerator your BMW instantly becomes more accessible. There is a wide range of accelerator and brake models, such as ring and trigger, available _ most of which are controlled with minor finger movements. For drivers who are still able to use the conventional pedals but have trouble reaching them, a simple extension of the pedal will make a world of difference in terms of comfort.

If you have limited mobility in your right leg, it is also possible to install a left-foot accelerator that is a simple, portable device that easily be moved from one vehicle to another. This is one of the easier and also more budget-friendly modifications available to make a car more disability-friendly. Affording some of the bigger modifications may depend on an individual’s ability to earn an income or on the availability of disability compensation.

Steering doesn’t need to be a difficult

Any BMW enthusiast knows that it steers like an absolute dream. An individual with mobility concerns may, unfortunately, need a bit more assistance in order to safely steer their beloved car. Thankfully, there are a number of technologies that can be utilized to make a vehicle easier to steer. A steering wheel ball can be fitted to give the driver more control over the car and comes highly recommended if other hand controls are also installed as it makes a lot easier and safer to steer the car with one hand.  Other steering wheels adjustments that won’t alter the appearance of the vehicle include steering column extensions, steering spinners, and a deep-dish steering wheel.

Small modifications make a big difference

Apart from modifying the steering, acceleration, and braking of a BMW, there are also a range of other modifications that can make it easier for a person with mobility concerns to drive.  While newer-model cars can be fitted with one-touch direction control buttons, extended indicator arms can benefit those with limited upper-body mobility, significantly.  Other useful modifications include swivel seats that make it easier to get in and out of the car, especially for wheelchair users.  Other worthy investments to make includes adapted mirrors, adapted seatbelts, electronic windows, and keyless entry to the car.

Being able to drive contributes greatly to the independence of a BMW enthusiast with mobility limitations. Thankfully, there are many great technologies that can be utilized to allow drivers with disabilities to pursue their passions and stay safe on the road.

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Why Leasing A BMW Could Be Your Best Move

Just because you cannot afford to purchase a bimmer does not mean you need to miss out on the sheer driving pleasure they offer. Leasing a BMW can be a cost-effective way of being able to drive a luxurious new car – and you may even have the option to purchase it when the lease is up.

However, much like property, leasing a vehicle is not something you should rush into. The commitment may not be as costly or for the length of financing a vehicle to purchase, but they’re still are important points to consider.

How A Vehicle Lease Works

Whether you lease a BMW or another luxury vehicle the principle is the same. You pay a monthly fee in exchange for the use of the car for an agreed-upon length of time.

In most, if not all, cases, the monthly fee you pay is less than the monthly installments you would pay when financing to purchase a cheaper make or car. For example, you could pay almost $100 less per month leasing a bimmer than you would if you were financing a Honda. This can be an important consideration at a time of uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

What Is The Cost Of Leasing A BMW?

Several factors are applied to calculating the cost of leasing a luxury vehicle such as a BMW. Basically, the size of the monthly payments depends on whether you put down a deposit, and on the size of that deposit. You can lower the size of your monthly payments by putting down a larger deposit.

However, luxury vehicles generally are not leased at a standard rate. The rates usually vary from customer to customer, and they’re not only based on the make and model of the car.

One of the factors that can determine the cost of leasing a BMW is the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), which is the cost of a new car. Being a suggested price, you may be able to negotiate a lower one with the agency or dealership. If you manage to bring the price down, the new price is known as the capitalized cost. 

Another factor involved in working out the cost of leasing the vehicle is the depreciation, which is the amount by which the car will decrease in value during the lease period. The interest rate or lease rate is also factored into the cost.

Will I Get My Deposit Back?

An important aspect of an agreement for a BMW is whether the deposit will be funded once the lease is up. Most leasing agencies and dealerships do refund deposits, provided any relevant conditions have been met. However, not all leases include refundable deposits, so make sure you clarify that point when signing the contract.

Is Vehicle Maintenance Covered By The Lease?

One of the benefits of leasing a new BMW is that the standard costs of maintenance are covered by the monthly fee. Being a new car, it will still be under warranty, which covers the cost of servicing, oil and other fluid changes, tune-ups, and more.

Again, the specifics can vary from lease to lease, and from dealership to dealerships, so it is important to clarify the specifics before proceeding with the agreement.

Are There Limitations Or Penalties?

Another important aspect of a lease for a BMW is the limitations placed on the use of the vehicle, as well as any penalties or other charges that may be incurred. One such limitation is the mileage allowance, which will be specified in the lease agreement.

The mileage allowance is the maximum number of miles you can drive the car in 12 months, which usually ranges between 10,000 and 15,000 miles. The dealership usually will impose a penalty fee if you exceed the allowance. Most leases also include the charging of penalties if a monthly payment is made late, if you terminate the agreement before the agreed-upon date, and for excessive wear and tear.

What Documents Do You Need When Leasing?

Whether you visit a dealership or agency once the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic has been lifted, or you find a dealership that is willing to collect them from you, you will need various documents and certified copies when leasing a BMW. 

Those documents usually include a valid driver’s license, proof of residence, an insurance card, trade documents, your two latest pay stubs, and a list of references. Your references cannot include people who live in the same dwelling as you.

Can A Leased Vehicle Be Purchased?

Many luxury vehicle leases include the option to purchase once the lease is up, or even before that date. The price that you would pay depends on various factors, such as the residual value, which is the vehicle’s wholesale value at the end of the lease period. If you decide to purchase the car before the end of the lease period, you may need to factor in a termination or cancellation fee.

How Do I Return A Leased Vehicle?

A situation such as the COVID-19 lockdown has made it difficult for customers whose leases expire at this time to return the vehicle. Usually, you would return the BMW to the dealership from which you leased it, although this may not be essential. Many dealerships will allow you to return it to another authorized BMW dealership.

Other options during lockdown situations include asking the dealership for an extension of your lease, or, asking the dealership for a replacement vehicle to be delivered. The latter would require a new lease.

Points To Remember

If you decide to lease a BMW you can improve the overall experience by doing the following: lease a new vehicle rather than one that has been pre-owned, negotiate the terms of the lease, make as accurate an estimate of your mileage as possible, improve your credit rating, and request the best trim package. 

Essentially, leasing puts behind the wheel of a brand new BMW at a much lower cost than buying one would. Plus, it could well put you in a position to trade-in for a newer model every few years with minimal hassle.

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