This is my car, the BMW X1 2.0 M-Sport Auto, (http://www.bmw.co.uk/en_GB/new-vehicles/x/x1/2015/introduction.html) which I got in March 2017.  I had chosen this after 8 years driving Audi A4’s, so a big change for both myself and family.

As expected I have had a few strange looks or questions to as why would I get one of these.  I always say that I wanted something different, an automatic and something ‘different’.

I do have to say that all the Audi’s I have driven have been excellent so it was a big decision to move away from a brand that I have enjoyed for many years.  The dealers, especially Bury St Edmunds Audi, have always been efficient and dealt with me in a professional manner.  The question would be, would the X1 and the dealer network be able to compete?

First the dealer network, so far I have only used Lancaster in Bury St Edmunds (http://www.lancasterburystedmundsbmw.co.uk), a joint BMW and Mini dealership.  They have been around for many years and to my knowledge enjoyed a good relationship.  My first visit was to have some work done under warranty. The passenger seat belt warning light/ping kept on going off with no-one on the seat, and at one point, it went off with only my wallet on there.  Trust me, its not that heavy when you have a wife, 2 teenagers and 3 cats!  Anyway I digress, the first visit was dealt with well and I felt valued as a new customer.  However, the layout of the service reception is not appealing and the staff are sitting down looking up at you.  With the reception desk being at waist/chest height, there is no where for you to sit.  Compared to the Bury St Edmunds Audi dealer, it is poor.  There, you are met at the door, greeted by name and offered a coffee/tea whilst being shown to the service reception.  You are seated and then the booking in process can begin.  Lancaster, have a look at what other dealers do and exceed it.

Going back to my experience, the car was booked in and I was given a Mini One as a courtesy car.  The gentleman showed me to it, ran through the controls and off I went.  One downside, was that the car was dirty, it had been sat under a tree so was covered in dust and bits, not a good start.  However, I cannot fault the mini and we had an enjoyable day together.  When I returned I was told that the sensor was faulty, which I knew, and that they would have to order one.  It was going to take a month!! Not what I was expecting as you can imagine.  So until the return visit a month later, I had to drive around with the passenger seat belt connected to stop the warning lights and pinging.

The 2nd visit to Lancaster was as before, good staff but let down by the surroundings which did not look like the image of a BMW dealership, maybe I have high standards?  Anyway car was taken away, a Mini Clubman this time, still dirty but again a nice little car.  Good news as on my return the car was fixed, happy days 🙂

The service light is coming on so this time I am taking the car to Barons in Cambourne, lets see how they do.