FURSTRATED with Bimmerfest staff!

Just to open up, I'd like to say that today's bimmerfest gathering is great, I'm currently at the festival enjoying all the wonderful vehicles. I'd also like to state that I've been part of the BMW community for many years, I've been going to the fest for a few years but I'm quiet on the forums. I've owned multiple BMWs: E36s, E34s, E39s, E92s, etc...
I recently acquired a Mini Cooper S, which is considered part of the BMW family. Hell, my cooper is more of a sports car than a ton of the bloated 5/7 series cars that are at the fest right now... (Sorry for the hostility).

Well last night, a detailed my car, got my two-way radio ready, and got pumped about being at the fest today... Well, I arrive to the fest with a small caravan of cars and I pull up to the entrance gate and guess what... I GET DENIED ENTRANCE

According to the mindless gate attendee "if it doesn't have a BMW badge, you can't come in" and he made me turn around. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. This makes my blood boil, myself and a few other minis were forced to park on the street, and pay the per person entrance fee as opposed to 20 bucks per car...

This has left a sour taste in my mouth in regards to the bimmerfest organization, I think either you need to have better communication or education, or someone needs to pull their head out of their rear-end.

/endrant, enjoy the fest, I'll probably save myself the trouble and not attend next year...

Originally Posted by hb arab

Just to open up, I'd like to say that today's bimmerfest gathering is great, I'm currently at the festival enjoying all the wonderful vehicles. I'd also like to state that I've been part of the BMW community for many years, I've been going to the fest for a few years but I'm quiet on the forums. I've owned multiple BMWs: E36s, E34s, E39s, E92s, etc...
I recently acquired a Mini Cooper S, which is considered part of the BMW family. Hell, my cooper is more of a sports car than a ton of the bloated 5/7 series cars that are at the fest right now... (Sorry for the hostility).

Well last night, a detailed my car, got my two-way radio ready, and got pumped about being at the fest today... Well, I arrive to the fest with a small caravan of cars and I pull up to the entrance gate and guess what... I GET DENIED ENTRANCE

According to the mindless gate attendee "if it doesn't have a BMW badge, you can't come in" and he made me turn around. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. This makes my blood boil, myself and a few other minis were forced to park on the street, and pay the per person entrance fee as opposed to 20 bucks per car...

This has left a sour taste in my mouth in regards to the bimmerfest organization, I think either you need to have better communication or education, or someone needs to pull their head out of their rear-end.

/endrant, enjoy the fest, I'll probably save myself the trouble and not attend next year...

Damn, this is wrong. John! Did you read this????

They didn't deny you entrance. You just had to park in the area for non BMW cars instead of on the grass. So you had to walk 50 feet and park next to a Buick is that what you're pissed about? A Mini is not a BMW. An Audi is not a Lamborghini. Yes they may share technologies and ownership umbrella but the companies are operated as completely separate entities.

Originally Posted by TJPark01

They didn't deny you entrance. You just had to park in the area for non BMW cars instead of on the grass. So you had to walk 50 feet and park next to a Buick is that what you're pissed about? A Mini is not a BMW. An Audi is not a Lamborghini. Yes they may share technologies and ownership umbrella but the companies are operated as completely separate entities.

Incorrect sir, I was actually denied, made me turn around and park outside on the street. Only after walking around the fest for a couple of hours and raising hell with the staff did they let me bring my car onto the grass. Besides, a mini is more of a bmw than a buick... AND I saw numerous Benzes and a couple of Audis parked on the grass...

Originally Posted by hb arab

Incorrect sir, I was actually denied, made me turn around and park outside on the street. Only after walking around the fest for a couple of hours and raising hell with the staff did they let me bring my car onto the grass. Besides, a mini is more of a bmw than a buick... AND I saw numerous Benzes and a couple of Audis parked on the grass...

First of all there's no street parking around the Rosebowl, it's completely residential. There are designated parking lots for non BMW's. It's 20 bucks either way. How do you know the other non BMW cars parked on the grass were not the cars of the organizers? Instead of going there and having a good time you pissed and whined so you could part 50 feet closer to the main event and posted it here. Time well spent, nice job.

OP, Why did not you take a picture of Audis and Mercedez among the bimmers on the grass? You could have posted it here to back up your arguement and prove that bimmerfest staff and event sucks monkey balls.
But without a picture, this is nothing but fluff.

Yes, I parked in a residential area off of Seco/Mountain. Its not about walking 50 feet, its about the feeling of the BMW community not being such a community anymore.

And as for pictures, I didn't think it would be necessary to play inspector gadget, I could point out the the silver CL65 parked in the back close to the food court, the flat white escalade somewhat near the Seco entrance, The black Evo X parked in the far/back side of the grass next to all the E30s, the blue Audi B6 S4 and then navy blue E55 that rolled in at around noon...

And btw: you flaming me isn't helping the image of a united BMW family. Thanks.

I saw a few Minis on the grounds and there was even a Mini entered in the "Battle of the Bimmers" Content. The gatekeeper was clueless. Probably doesn't even own a BMW himself, just paid to do a job that was apparently poorly defined.

Sorry you had a bad experience, this should not have happened. There were several entry points, you could have tried another gate, but this is clearly not your fault.

Here we go. The gatekeeper was an @$$hole for sure.

that sucks, i saw a few audi and even a chevy truck parked inside the grass area

Originally Posted by wippenberg

Here we go. The gatekeeper was an @$$hole for sure.

Haha, thank you for the proof... That B6 was pretty clean though, can't even lie...

Sympathizing with you OP

Next time, talk to Jon directly! I agree it's a no-brainer Minis should have been allowed on premises. Probably just a kid they hired off the street to do a job.

Originally Posted by DrivenByF30

There's one of those smart cars parked in the background.

Sorry to hear you had a bad experience OP.

The B6 was right by me. No way he should have gotten in and you get denied. Saw the R8, GT-R, some busted civic was insdie the fence too, mercedes, porsche.

Never been to one before, but must say that it could have been organized a little better.

there was a lot of non bmw cars on the grass parking I even saw a ****ty jeep lol. they should have a non bmw parking area

There was a lot of non BMW cars parked on the grass. I also saw a good amount of minis.

Thy should have let you park on the grass

I cannot speak for the administration, but I ask that you guys be patient with a response from one. Remember that this event takes several months to plan and several days afterwards to wrap everything and get settled back in to their normal lives.

What I can say is that a lot of effort is put into these events and it's only 3 of them that make this happen with the help of others. There are going to be mistakes, but they are always willing to listen. Every event improves ever year in some sort of shape or way.

Thanks!

I agree with The Raven. I know Tim, Mark,and Jon. If they were aware of the MINI situation, I am sure you would have been let in. It was probably some rogue parking lot guy that didn't know his head from his butt.

Originally Posted by e39 dave

I agree with The Raven. I know Tim, Mark,and Jon. If they were aware of the MINI situation, I am sure you would have been let in. It was probably some rogue parking lot guy that didn't know his head from his butt.

Since you know those guys...see if one of em can help you out and change your bimmerfest screen name to "e60 dave"

Originally Posted by TJPark01

They didn't deny you entrance. You just had to park in the area for non BMW cars instead of on the grass. So you had to walk 50 feet and park next to a Buick is that what you're pissed about? A Mini is not a BMW. An Audi is not a Lamborghini. Yes they may share technologies and ownership umbrella but the companies are operated as completely separate entities.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=529169

Minis have a place on this forum too. Sorry to hear OP.

Hey Road Warrior,
Good point. Although I have an E60 now, I still kind of like my E39 name. One day I will get around to changing my name.