[Westside Guy]

Many people have complained about the fact that the BMW USA website had limited you to a 100 mile radius for inventory searches. I was just checking something out for a friend and noticed they just added "Nationwide" to their search engine.

Perhaps with the shrinking inventory because of the chip shortage they woke up and smelled the roses?

[COKen]

I don't get the "Nationwide" option.

Still limited to a max of 100 miles.

[mdoneinvt]

Doesn’t work for me either.

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

Many people have complained about the fact that the BMW USA website had limited you to a 100 mile radius for inventory searches. I was just checking something out for a friend and noticed they just added "Nationwide" to their search engine.

Perhaps with the shrinking inventory because of the chip shortage they woke up and smelled the roses?

[Westside Guy]

Maybe it is based on state or regional shortages?

[COKen]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

Maybe it is based on state or regional shortages?

I even used your Zip Code and didn't get Nationwide. What URL did you use?

[ZedM2020]

try
https://kilter.com/search?brand=BMW&...ve30i+Roadster

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by COKen

I even used your Zip Code and didn't get Nationwide. What URL did you use?

Good morning, I just clicked on the link in my Safari's history from where I took that screenshot and the "Nationwide" search option no longer appears.

I then closed my browser and tried doing a search both logged out and logged into my BMW account and was also unsuccessful.

I don't believe that this was a glitch, perhaps their web department was testing the feature but it did exist. When I took that screenshot I was able to search for cars as far away as California and my zip code is in Florida.

[TAZ007]

Originally Posted by ZedM2020

try
https://kilter.com/search?brand=BMW&...ve30i+Roadster

Pretty awesome website, thanks.

[COKen]

Originally Posted by ZedM2020

try
https://kilter.com/search?brand=BMW&...ve30i+Roadster

Great find! Thanks for the link.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by ZedM2020

try
https://kilter.com/search?brand=BMW&...ve30i+Roadster

That is a great search tool, thanks for sharing!!!

[COKen]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

Good morning, I just clicked on the link in my Safari's history from where I took that screenshot and the "Nationwide" search option no longer appears.

I then closed my browser and tried doing a search both logged out and logged into my BMW account and was also unsuccessful.

I don't believe that this was a glitch, perhaps their web department was testing the feature but it did exist. When I took that screenshot I was able to search for cars as far away as California and my zip code is in Florida.

I'm not surprised at what you are seeing. It doesn't seem that BMW has a process for designing or maintaining their web sites.

Let us know if "Nationwide" every comes back.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by COKen

I'm not surprised at what you are seeing. It doesn't seem that BMW has a process for designing or maintaining their web sites.

Let us know if "Nationwide" every comes back.

The way it appeared reminded me a little of when airlines make a programming error and have offered online really low priced air fares. Usually they fix those mistakes in a few hours. The screen shot I shared proves that they have the capability of doing a nationwide search but for some reason don't want to do it. Maybe they are simply trying to protect the sales at their local dealers?

100 miles seems like a strange distance to limit you to as in some parts of the country 100 miles is the distance from one cactus to another.

If it appears against I will definitely post the information.

[pinky2022]

I don't have it

[Horseman]

So. I noticed searches for used cars I get the "Nationwide," but for NEW cars, no Nationwide shows up.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by Horseman

So. I noticed searches for used cars I get the "Nationwide," but for NEW cars, no Nationwide shows up.

That is very strange because when appeared in my search it was for new cars and I saw results for dealers as far as California.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by Horseman

So. I noticed searches for used cars I get the "Nationwide," but for NEW cars, no Nationwide shows up.

I just double checked and also see a "Nationwide" option in the search engine for used cars but when I switched the search to new cars I was once again limited to a 100 mile radius. .

[Westside Guy]

So I think I have the answer as to why a "Nationwide" search is not available for new inventory. My contact at BMW's Customer Experience Team called me back yesterday because I asked why the "Nationwide" search was not available. Based on what I was told during the call the "Dealer's Council" told the national sales team at BMW that they wanted the search distance limited so that other dealers would not be able to advertise their new inventory to the local dealer's customers.

That being said, if you walked into a dealer more than 100 miles away you could still buy a new car. You could buy a car anywhere in the US you wanted to.

I asked why it was "Nationwide" for the used cars and apparently the answer was that with all of the private used car dealers around they considered it a different type of issue.

[TAZ007]

Sounds reasonable.

[CaboM4]

Originally Posted by TAZ007

Sounds reasonable.

sounds like they should remove the "Nationwide" option and stop at 100 miles Very misleading

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by CaboM4

sounds like they should remove the "Nationwide" option and stop at 100 miles Very misleading

They use the same software for the pre-owned cars which is why Nationwide still appears.

[CaboM4]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

They use the same software for the pre-owned cars which is why Nationwide still appears.

I understand, but when I'm searching for a new car, it shouldn't come up. I'm pretty sure this happened a few months ago when I was on the prowl for an iXM60

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by CaboM4

I understand, but when I'm searching for a new car, it shouldn't come up. I'm pretty sure this happened a few months ago when I was on the prowl for an iXM60

I totally agree it shouldn't be offered for new car searches. The sad part is that they were probably do more business if they offered it for people looking for particular models, colors and options, etc.