In the late 1980s Edmonton was not known as a hotspot for luxury vehicles. Most residents were more interested in economical cars or rugged pickups. That didn’t stop Dr. Hanns Maier and Klaus Maier, two men from Germany that saw a need for a BMW dealership in the Capital City. In honour of their heritage, they changed the name of the dealership to Bavaria. Today Bavaria BMW is one of the highest rated BMW dealerships in Alberta and has an almost perfect Google rating (4.4/5) from more than 780 customers.
“When you come into our dealership, our goal is to make you feel at home, like an invited guest,” smiles Lorente, dealer principal and general manager. Lorente looks to his faith-driven principles and uses that, along with a firm family focus, to inspire each member of his team. The result? A group of passionate individuals standing behind a brand with an impeccable reputation – a reputation that spans more than a century. Each person that walks through the doors of Bavaria BMW, whether they are there to buy their first luxury vehicle, upgrade to a model that fits their current lifestyle, or just there to browse the inventory, gets Bavaria BMW’s one-of-a-kind customer service. Those that have experienced it, know exactly how it feels.
However, it is not just the way you are treated at the west end dealership. It’s also the service offerings that make Bavaria BMW stand out.
“One of the things that is unique about our dealership is our exclusive rim repair,” Lorente continues. “Not just repairs for BMWs, but all high-end autos including Lamborghini, Porsche and Audi. With our rim repair we do the whole wheel, not only the damaged spot. We can match over 10,000 colours. We don’t sand out the damage. Our exclusive process uses a machine to strip the entire mag and refinish it like it is new. There is a two-year warranty on the repair and workmanship, which is unheard of in this industry; with most other rim repairs you are lucky to get 90 days. This is just one of the ways Bavaria BMW goes above and beyond for its customers.”
On-site services also include valet pick up and drop off, mechanical repair, and BMW Lifestyle products and apparel, but of course, it’s impossible to miss the spacious showroom that is filled with luxury vehicles.
BMW Group is relentless in its pursuit of perfection, and every year it produces vehicles that show the innovation and creativity of the brand. The latest debuts from BMW Group include specialized and individual colours, which allow drivers to completely customize the trim. The customizations do not stop with colour. One driver wanted wood grain that looked like salmon scales to show his love of salmon farming. BMW came up with a process to make that happen and complied with the request.
BMW is a major player on the automaker’s world stage when it comes to innovations in technology, safety and eco-friendliness. Just ask any Bavaria BMW team member to show you the all new BMW X7 – the brand’s largest SUV to date. BMW X7’s elongated windows give the Tesla Model X and its famous massive windshield a real run for its money when it comes to driver and passenger views. Add on the fact that BMW X7 debuts the largest kidney grill BMW has ever put on a car, and it’s hard not to fall in love with this truly unique design.
But a Bavaria BMW team member can also show you something very special if you are trying to reduce your carbon footprint. The BMW i8 has been unveiled, and Bavaria BMW has two electrical charging stations for the hybrid models in a prime position on their show lot.
How special is the i8? It’s far more than the brand simply competing with other eco-focused car manufacturers on the market. It’s the continuation of BMW’s lifelong commitment to future innovation and sustainability.
BMW Group’s Pieter Nota, member of the board of management of BMW AG, sales and brand BMW and aftersales BMW Group, has said of the i series, “BMW i is our incubator for visionary mobility. It’s where the major future technologies come together for the first time. Electromobility, autonomous driving, high-end connectivity and digital services are combined in BMW i to show how we’ll be travelling in the future, before these technologies are implemented in the other BMW Group brands.”
As you can see, between family-friendly SUVs, mid-size sedans, sport cars, and hybrids, customers have plenty to choose from while enjoying Bavaria BMW’s famous customer service; and for the ownership and management team these products and services are just as important as the staff that sells them.
“We treat our employees like family,” Lorente says benevolently. A family man himself, Lorente doesn’t take that sentiment lightly. “We create a warm and empowering environment for our team. Our staff are not just numbers. We know who they are, and we spend time with them. I don’t believe in absentee management and prefer to be actively involved with the team and the business.”
Also vitally important to the team is supporting the community – which is Lorente’s personal and professional passion.
“Yes, we are here to sell cars and give service and we always want to treat customers with respect, but our biggest joy is giving back,” says Lorente. “I’ve been a board member of the Special Olympics for three years and Bavaria BMW is a big supporter of charities in the city. We are involved in nearly 70 events each year. We give cash donations or cars for use. We go to people’s homes and do BBQ fundraisers. We support a fashion show fundraiser every year and have raised more than $150K over the last four years for programs at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital. It’s very important to be community orientated; if we can’t be that, we can’t be successful. With every car Bavaria BMW sells we put some of the profit into a special account so we can pay it forward. Our dealership doesn’t only care about the bottom line. We care passionately about our community.”
As Bavaria BMW celebrates its 30th anniversary in Edmonton, Lorente and his team thank their past and present clients, BMW Group, their suppliers, and the Maier family for making the dealership the success it is today. Lorente and his team are incredibly grateful to be in a position to give back to the community, and to represent an auto manufacturer that truly cares about drivers and the driver experience.
Are you ready to be excited by a brand that has been delighting drivers for 102 years? You can experience what makes BMW such a success by visiting Bavaria BMW on the west end of Edmonton.
Learn more about Bavaria BMW at www.bavariabmw.ca online, @bavariabmw on Facebook and Instagram and @BavariaBMW_YEG on Twitter.
