Gifts from the 70's.

[mr bump]

Hi all, can anyone worldwide shed any light on the free gifts received when purchasing a bmw in the 70's? Ive been told that in germany, when you purchased a brand new bmw you received 3 gifts, a pen, a watch and a beer tankard. But due to the drink drive laws, bmw stopped giving the tankard away. Has anyone got any of the said gifts? Some info would be great.
Thanks in advance
Joe

 

[mr bump]

Heres a few pics of the beer tankard that was a gift from bmw in germany. Has anyone else got one of these?

 

[CSteve]

I don't think that was a tradition here in the colonies. I paid almost full sticker price for my 1971 1600, $3,000. No free oil changes, etc. Of course I drove it 208,000 miles and sold it 15 years later for $2,000. Did the usual maintenance, no valves jobs, clutches, etc.
Drove like new the day I sold it.

Steve

 

[audiomagnate]

I don't think that was a tradition here in the colonies. I paid almost full sticker price for my 1971 1600, $3,000. No free oil changes, etc. Of course I drove it 208,000 miles and sold it 15 years later for $2,000. Did the usual maintenance, no valves jobs, clutches, etc.
Drove like new the day I sold it.

Steve

You're right. My dad bought three 2002s brand new in the 70s, a 72, a 73 and a 75. He got nothing but the owner's manuals. IIRC, the 72 had 39,000 miles on it when he traded it in.

 

[bill]

Free stuff with BMW in the 70s? I don't think so. To this day never anything cheap either... I will never forget the sales guy (ca.1973) at Markham Motors in Bernardsville, NJ who, when I complained that $2 for a sway bar bushing was way too much money, responded in his German accent "well, try to make it yourself..."

 

[Arde]

Free stuff with BMW in the 70s? I don't think so. To this day never anything cheap either... I will never forget the sales guy (ca.1973) at Markham Motors in Bernardsville, NJ who, when I complained that $2 for a sway bar bushing was way too much money, responded in his German accent "well, try to make it yourself..."

Maybe a free tie-dye in the glove box?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:TieDyeShirtMpegMan.jpg

 

[craterface]

I am not sure about the 70s, since I was in diapers, but I have had Germans tell me that when they buy a car, there is no negotiating on price. Therefore, they are offered a bunch of freebies to sweeten the deal, like logo jackets, etc, from the boutique in the parts department. So, probably a lot more of these promo items exist abroad than in the USA.
Scott

 

[mr bump]

I am not sure about the 70s, since I was in diapers, but I have had Germans tell me that when they buy a car, there is no negotiating on price. Therefore, they are offered a bunch of freebies to sweeten the deal, like logo jackets, etc, from the boutique in the parts department. So, probably a lot more of these promo items exist abroad than in the USA.
Scott

That seems to be the case craterface, i emailed bmw germany and they did give little gifts away when purchasing a car above entry level. This was done only for a few years then stopped. So im the owner of a very rare bmw sweetener then!! Thats cheered me up no end......EBAY HERE I COME!!