hopefully this isn't a repost.

"BMW On Demand" trial to begin in Munich

In a bold step that could create major changes in the whole concept of vehicle ownership, BMW has begun a pilot scheme: renting its vehicles on an hourly basis over the Internet.

Well, it makes sense: According to BMW, research shows that the average car is parked more than 90% of the time, which is a terrible waste of our personal resources to buy and maintain such an underutilized capital investment. So BMW?s decision to begin renting its entire model range of premium cars, including M cars and 7 Series,could accelerate big changes in the way we drive.


"Nah, it isn't really mine, I'm just renting it for a couple of hours to impress my date!"The cost of renting such a car will be $44.60 per hour, including insurance, cleaning, and servicing; but you can rent a 1 Series at half that rate.

The twelve-month "BMW On Demand" pilot project will begin at BMW Welt in Munich, with a second phase extending it to other locations.

The move brings a new twist to instant gratification, as customers can choose a different model for different purposes, instead of merely buying or leasing. Fancy a 7 Series sedan for an important meeting one day, a 1 Series for around-town shopping the next, and a Z4 for a weekend trip? No problem! Your desired model can be booked in the color you want, with the equipment the you choose, and the transaction will be handled by separate staff at a "BMW On Demand" counter in participating dealerships. Renting will be available three ways: online, by telephone, or in person. The hourly rate will vary, depending on the model and the time of day.

At the daytime rate, between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., a maximum of four hours will be charged, or a maximum of two hours at the nighttime rate between 6 p.m. and 9 a.m.? Paul Duchene

link: http://bmwcca.org/forum/showthread.p...ed=1#post45037

 

What the hell..... I'd rent an M! Does it say anything about trackin' 'em???

 

Interesting. I might give that a go.

? Trackin' 'em for what?

 

A bunch of BMW execs were probably sitting on a private jet (rented by the hour) and thought, "Why not do the same thing for cars?"

Either that, or they saw a Zipcar somewhere and figured they could do the same thing...

May be a good idea -- only time will tell!

 

Would love to be able to rent a BMW by the hour for some of the scenic drives / driver's roads: e.g. Pacific Coast Highway, Tail of the Dragon, Transfagarasan, etc.

Makes European Delivery more attractive too.

 

Interesting...

 

I personally think it's a terrible idea.

So you have to go to the dealership to rent? It seems like so much of a hassle. On top of that, $44 an hour?! So assume for whatever reason you need it for a full day, that comes out to $352. That's just one day out of a whole month. I don't see how the hell it would be more economically feasible to rent than to just pay the monthly payment.

It would be fun to drive different models for specific purpose, but this being mainstream? I can hardly imagine. I mean, seriously? Consider what is said in the OP. You go to the dealership to rent a 7 for a meeting, you go back to return it. Pick up a 1 series to go shopping, go back to the dealership to pick up a Z4. Seems like helluva lot of driving to dealership to me.

 

Wish they had that back when I lived near Munich. I could have been shaggin' chicks in the back seat and they would have never been able to track me by knowing what my car looked like