Hello All BMW Roadster Owners

[t-tony]

Ha,Ha. Says he

Tony.

 

[D R Oldfield]

Welcome from south cumbria uk

 

[Shieldz]

Hi from North Somerset.

 

[FRANKIE]

Hi, my name is Phil Wood and I reside in High Point, NC.

I currently own a 1998 BMW / Dinan M Roadster. It is imola red with imola red/black interior. It currently has less than 50,000 miles and is in all around excellent condition.

I also currently own a 1999 BMW M Roadster (for sale on BAT). It is estoril blue with estoril blue/black interior. It currently has less than 62,000 miles and is also in all around excellent condition.

My BMW passion started in 1983 when I was hired by BMW North America as a Fixed Operations Training Manager for the Corporate Sales and Management Training Department covering the entire United States. My first company car was a lapusblau 320i. Over the years I held numerous positions including Fixed Operations Filed Manager for North Carolina, Parts & Accessory Manager for Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina, Regional Training Manager for the Southeastern United States. National Sales & Marketing Manager for the entire United States. Took early retirement in 2000 and miss it dearly!

My most enjoyable job was being Regional Manager for the Southeastern US. In my department were three senior technical trainers responsible for teaching dealership technicians the theory and hands-on of how to repair almost any BMW with any problem – what a talented bunch of guys!

I also had two Parts & Service Training Managers that were responsible for teaching all non-technical dealership personnel how to run and operate the Parts Department and Service Department.

Next were my two Sales and Marketing Training Managers. These two men were exceptionally qualified sales people that had the ability to engage, articulate the material and motivate these dealership people into high producing sales men/women. We particularly enjoyed conducting the large ride and drive events introducing the new models each year

Finally and most importantly was our department coordinator. She literally kept it all together from planning the monthly events, arranging catering, ensuring materials were on site and that all needed equipment was ordered and in working condition. It could not have been done without her!

The 17 years afforded me the opportunity of having some of the coolest cars assigned to me as my company cars. The top of the list was the 1993 M5 a bullet fast grocery getter. 1994 850 CI, Wow! Back in those days there were no limitations on family members driving company cars. So imagine the impression made when my son picked up his high school prom date in a dark green over beige leather 850 Ci. The valet at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta parked it right out front all evening for everyone to see.

I loved the time I spent with BMWNA! Traveling the United States and Germany was such a perk that I felt like I was getting paid to do something I would have done for free. Working at the new BMW factory in South Carolina conducting training programs and tours of the manufacturing facility was a real treat.

Funny, the traveling is what caused me to take early retirement…it was responsible in part for causing me to burn out. But I assure you I would do it all again in a heartbeat!

Welcome to the forum from Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey....................Frankie

 

[Mint]

Hi @PhilMZ, to the forum from me too in Staffordshire, UK. Great intro thread

 

[PhilMZ]

Hello Everyone and thanks to all for the warm welcome. I am afraid my technical background has slowly eroded away as I have been gone from BMWNA for the past 18 years. I still have my shop in my basement and have managed to hold onto all of my tools. That last statement is one I would like to explore a bit. My son says he wants my large Snap-On toolbox (even though he does not know how to use all the various tools) but has not shown any interest in all of the other tools and equipment. Have any of you guys dealt with this issue?

Finally, I feel like I am posting this on the wrong thread so I apologize and will be happy to be corrected.

Cheers, Phil

 

[t-tony]

Well Phil, it's a case of "horses for courses" really. I also have a lifetime's collection of tools which even many of my work mates have little or no idea about these days. My son is a "Wood Butcher" (Carpenter to you) and I wouldn't have a clue how to use some of the tools of his trade either. Is your son a "Tradesman" ?

Tony.

 

[PhilMZ]

Hi Tony,

Not at all. Years ago when we were racing stand-up jet skis I taught him how to rebuild the engine & jet pump. He has also observed me working on various projects.

He did follow me into the car business but he is currently a senior district sales manager for American Honda Manufacturing. Very good job with good tenure.

You know, it very well may be that he just wants to hang onto a piece of his dad??

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Phil

 

[t-tony]

I get that Phil, I have already gifted Gary some bits and bobs because he is interested in how things work if not the actual how to keep them working. He is a hard working and very busy young man all the same, it's sometimes difficult for him to find time to do little jobs for us.
Speaking of the motor trade, most young lads these days have no idea about points gap and dwell angle and the like, and how could adjust the dwell angle on certain distributors using a meter while the engine was running. Or how to adjust fuel mixture "by ear" , they would call it Witchcraft!! But boy I do miss some of that simple stuff all the same. Even lawnmowers and chain saws are all solid state with little to repair .

Tony.

 

[PhilMZ]

Tony,

I still have my dwell meter and "dial-up" timing light, along with every feeler gauge know to man. Ah, the good old days.

Thanks for sharing with me, it puts a smile on my face to know I am not in this delima by myself.

Take care, Phil

 

[t-tony]

Bet there's more just waiting to crawl out of the woodwork now Phil.

Tony.