Monthly Archives: February 2022

Editorial

Should You Use Your BMW for a Rideshare Service?

Rideshare programs like Uber and Lyft have grown exponentially in popularity and value in the last decade. Despite the threat of a global pandemic, Uber’s sales have increased by 147% year over year since 2020. Lyft’s sales have climbed by 117% in the same period. People who don’t own cars prefer ridesharing to taxis, and on the other side of that transaction, you have the driver who is making money in their spare time by sharing a seat in their daily driver. 

If you’re considering adding Uber Driver to your resume as a side gig or a primary source of income, having the right car is essential. Should you use a BMW as a primary vehicle for your rideshare endeavors?

Meeting the Qualifications

If a BMW is your daily driver, and you’re considering taking up a part-time job as a rideshare driver, there are plenty of positives that you can enjoy, assuming your vehicle meets the app’s requirements. Older cars — though the number is arbitrary and depends on several factors that neither major rideshare company is keen to disclose — will not even be able to sign up to be a driver. It’s important to note that this is only for Uber or Lyft as a rideshare service. Other related services, such as UberEats and Door Dash, accept older vehicles. 

For argument, we’re going to assume that your vehicle meets all of the requirements outlined by the rideshare apps. 

Pros of Driving a BMW Rideshare

First, so we don’t scare you off too quickly, let’s take a look at the pros that come with using a luxury car like a BMW for a rideshare service. 

First, you will likely qualify for a higher tier of service. For Uber, that means working with UberSelect, which allows riders to choose a luxury car in exchange for a higher fare. A lovely BMW might even qualify you for UberBLACK, the app’s top-tier service. It is crucial to choose wisely — if you don’t live in an affluent neighborhood, you likely won’t have a lot of UberBLACK clients. On the other side of that coin, if your community is on the upper end of the income scale, it can be a great way to make more money for less time behind the wheel.

Lyft has similar levels, ranging from the standard option for up to three passengers up to Lyft Black, which connects passengers with luxury vehicles. If Uber isn’t as active in your area, there’s always the option to apply with Lyft and see if your BMW might qualify for the higher service tiers. 

Cons of Driving a BMW Rideshare

Having a nice car might seem like the perfect choice for a rideshare service, but it also has its downsides. Newer models offer better fuel economy than older options, but they still don’t have the best MPG rating compared to other cars in the same size class. Unless you’re doing a lot of rides for Uber’s higher service classes, you may find yourself putting a lot of your earnings right back into your gas tank. 

Driving for a rideshare app also increases the chances that you’ll get into an accident. A study that looked at the increase in rideshare usage since 2011 found that there’s been an increase in traffic deaths that could be connected. The increase is slight — between two and three percent — but it’s substantial enough that it could be cause for concern. Rideshare drivers are also more prone to distracted driving, between the navigation display on the app, trying to navigate unfamiliar roads, and the distraction created by having a stranger in the backseat. 

Driving for Uber or another ridesharing service also puts a lot of miles on your car. More miles means more maintenance, and for a BMW owner, that can be costly. The exact maintenance for a BMW can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars more than comparable tasks carried out on a Nissan or Honda of the same size. 

There is also the cost of insurance to consider. Insurance on a BMW is already reasonably costly, especially if you’ve got a new model in your garage. The chances are high that your insurance doesn’t apply if you’re logged into a rideshare app as a driver, so you’ll need to add rideshare coverage to your policy. It might not be a massive expense, but it is something that you’ll need to consider. 

Making The Right Decision

Ultimately, the decision as to whether you should use your BMW for a rideshare service or not falls to you. Take a look at the Uber options in your area. Is there a lot of demand or a lot of drivers? A luxury car like a BMW might give you an edge, but you also might end up putting a lot of extra miles on your car for minimal reward. 

Information

How BMW Owners Can Minimize The Impact of a Car Accident

Owning a BMW comes with many things, from the status that comes with owning one of these luxury cars to the comfort and power that you get sitting behind the wheel. There are a lot of positives that come with getting your hands on a set of BMW keys, but there are some negatives too. 

Anytime you head out on the road, you are at risk of getting into a car accident, even with the best driving skills. How can BMW owners — and drivers in general — work to minimize the impact of a car accident if it becomes unavoidable? 

Drive Defensively

There are plenty of aggressive drivers out there, and we don’t want to add to their numbers. When it comes to minimizing the impact of a car accident, driving defensively is the way to go. Driving defensively is simply using your observation and driving skills to reduce your chances of getting into an accident. You learn to anticipate how other drivers might move and react if they do something unexpected. 

It is important to note that this isn’t a foolproof method to prevent accidents. As soon as you call something foolproof, the universe creates a better fool. If the collision is unavoidable, the goal then becomes to make small changes to minimize the overall impact of the accident. 

Slow Down

The faster you’re moving, the more destructive an accident can become. This is when you’ll want to start tapping into your defensive driving skills. Stay constantly aware of the cars surrounding you. After a while, you may even be able to anticipate when they’re going to change lanes or cut you off, and that is when you know it’s time to slow down. Even by a little, reducing your speed can help reduce the resulting damage. Studies show that dropping just five mph can reduce accidents by 50%.

Be smart about this tip. Driving 15 or 20 mph below the posted speed limit can be dangerous on highways or other roads with a high speed limit. If you find yourself heading for an accident, slow down as much as you safely can or downshift if you’re driving a stick-shift. 

Aim Carefully: Terrain

Ideally, your defensive driving skills will allow you to avoid these accidents in the first place. Still, if it becomes unavoidable, the next best step is to try and redirect your car so you can hit a stationary object instead of another moving vehicle. Some freeways and other high-speed locations have impact attenuators designed to absorb the impact and bring vehicle safety to a stop. They used to utilize barrels of water or sandbags, but the technology has evolved. 

If there is no impact attenuators available, aim for the most forgiving object you can find. A stack of trash cans will do less overall damage than a concrete wall or a tree. Keep in mind that if you go off-road, it increases your vehicle’s chances to flip or roll. In this case, there is no reducing the impact of the accident — you will likely find yourself being cut out of your totaled vehicle with the jaws of life, assuming you are wearing your seatbelt and survive the initial collision. 

Aim Carefully: Car 

If you’re heading directly for a car and you can’t change direction enough to avoid it, it’s time to start considering where you’re going to aim. The point of contact can dramatically change the amount of damage that occurs. A straight rear-end collision will do more harm than aiming for the tail lights on one side or other. 

A t-bone collision that puts you in the center of the car will cause it to crumble, whereas aiming for the engine compartment or the trunk will allow it to absorb more of the impact. Head-on collisions can be deadly, so turn away from oncoming traffic — to the right if you’re in the United States or toward the left, if you’re anywhere else in the world. With luck, you’ll strike headlights and reduce the chances of significant damage or fatalities. 

Wear Your Seatbelt 

Whether you’re driving a BMW or a beater, the best thing you can do to protect yourself while you’re behind the wheel is to wear your seatbelt. You may not always be able to avoid accidents. 

You might be the most skilled driver on the road, but it’s not your skills that you need to worry about — it’s everyone else’s. If you find yourself in a situation where a collision is unavoidable, remember these tips to reduce the impact of the crash and help preserve your favorite daily driver for years to come.