M Festival & BMW Midrand Run

[TurboLlew]

I guess this has to start with a big thanks to our BMW Midrand sponsors and team that pulled together a nice special run for their clients in the morning. We gathered at the dealership quite early and it looked so 'imposing' that people en route to the track stopped and asked if it was the location of M Fest a few times

A huge turnout of amazing cars making you wonder if SA's economy really is that bad after all! We had breakfast and were able to see some great cars in various stages of restoration at M Town Customs

The M Fest experience itself...

Well if you haven't seen some of these vehicles in the flesh before, it was totally worth a trip. The parking lot alone was full of noteworthy photo opportunities

The classics were the ones that attracted alot of my attention as did some of the vids that I posted on instagram

In terms of new releases, the M2 was even worse in the flesh than I expected. I even snapped a pic of the M240i in the parking lot - how did it end up so far from 'good' when the base was already so good???... Pics don't do any justice to just how shit it looks in reality. Even that red colour won't help it. It looks like it suffered a front and back smash and then made it's way to someone's backyard for repair... using ice cream containers as moulds for the fibreglass repairs/additions to the bumpers... In fact the pics are probably as good as it is going to look IMHO. Even these pics below are absolutely flattering vs. how strikingly bad it looks in reality. I know I have said a lot about the M3/4, but they are works of art by comparison... and maybe that's what they were going for? I dunno...

I personally wasn't too interested in the test drives. It was quite cool to see some of the rarer colours in the flesh (and what some cars look good in).

Drifting was nice - all 10 minutes of it that I watched anyway.

There was a lot of entertainment and food... in fact that is the majority of activities. I was looking forward to some of the usual stalls (model cars, detailing stuff, akrapovic etc) - there was none of this: mostly food and drinks with a smattering of puma stores selling merch. Either way I didn't get to really even try to get into the food/drinks because howler is JUNK TIER. Top up stations are few and far between... and nobody can even direct you to one. Top up on the app? LOL... let's make the event secure by forcing you to log in with iffy connectivity to a shit platform that may or may not work with your card in full sight of anyone around making you a sitting duck... 🤝 Howler is truly a parasitic company that is a 'solution' to a problem that doesn't exist. I literally don't support any howler events (unless I am getting it for free and even then I would rather go and have lunch/breakfast before or plan for dinner after - sorry vendors.

I went with my kids so didn't spend too much time - they scored some nice puzzles from the guys walking around. I think BMW SA puts on such a good show despite it being essentially a 'big dealership' and it really was only howler's 'experience' that detracts from it. The only thing I didn't get to see that I had wanted to was the XM... but such is life - kids were quite tired by that point in the day so it is what it is. Maybe someone else can post some thoughts and pics.

 

[SUPAJAV340]

Damn should have made contact with you if I knew you were there also.

It was cracking hot in JHB today. Just reached durban.

 

[dvst8]

Huge thanks to ABM for hosting the Morning meet at the dealership and the run to M Town. Their events are always great.

Agree on that Howler crap, utter garbage.

While the actual M Fest event was well put together, my one gripe was all the Influencers and social media journalist that have zero respect for the crowd and just try and push their way infront of your when you trying to see the cars on display, then when they get into the cars, record a whole damn episode while you wait to get in

The new M2 - I actually like it, like it alot. It was one of the main reasons for me going, to see it in person and I was not dissapointed

 

[Nick]

The howler thing stopped me from going this year, i had been to a previous show and battled for weeks getting a credit for the cash i didnt spend.
A mate of mine was invited to the XM launch - his words " its cool,but not 4.4bar cool''

 

[Nukleuz]

I've never had an issue with howler, its one click a day or 2 after the event, and the refund is back in my account with in a day or 2.

 

[Quick///M]

Howler is utter rubbish why do they push this on us ? We have tap and pay cards these days. Why do i have to load money on another tap and pay card, and then go through a process to get the remaining money back ?

Someone's buddy at BMW SA is getting rich from this nonsense.

 

[TurboLlew]

Genuinely don't understand what the need is for howler. Even if their process has improved and it takes a day or two for a refund (which is only part of the problem)- why should you have to?

 

[Spanky]

Genuinely don't understand what the need is for howler. Even if their process has improved and it takes a day or two for a refund (which is only part of the problem)- why should you have to?

Also don't get it. Especially with the likes of Google Wallet, Samsung Pay and Apple Pay now being fully supported in the country.

I either use my phone or my watch to tap. Don't even carry cards any more.

 

[Quick///M]

I've never had an issue with howler, its one click a day or 2 after the event, and the refund is back in my account with in a day or 2.

Do you need a wallet to store your wallet ?

 

[Quick///M]

Also don't get it. Especially with the likes of Google Wallet, Samsung Pay and Apple Pay now being fully supported in the country.

I either use my phone or my watch to tap. Don't even carry cards any more.

More so even the banking apps FNB/Standard allow tap and pay,

 

[Nick]

BMW are making money off of the use, simple.

 

[Nukleuz]

Do you need a wallet to store your wallet ?

its 2022 bro, who carries around a wallet?

I haven't taken my wallet out my car for probably 2 years + now.

 

[Nick]

same, have a Magpul card holder for the licenses.

Iv not carried cash in years...

 

[TurboLlew]

its 2022 bro, who carries around a wallet?

I haven't taken my wallet out my car for probably 2 years + now.

But this is the whole point right? We are so used to the convenience of living in 2022 that this is stupid.

Howler is the 'solution' to a problem that doesn't exist (unless the 'problem' is how to make more money as a parasitic middle-man doing literally nothing and adding friction to the transaction itself.). There are extra steps to first load the money, then top up the money, then withdraw the money (which also has a time delay).

so yes, exactly: It's 2022.

 

[Quick///M]

But this is the whole point right? We are so used to the convenience of living in 2022 that this is stupid.

Howler is the 'solution' to a problem that doesn't exist (unless the 'problem' is how to make more money as a parasitic middle-man doing literally nothing and adding friction to the transaction itself.). There are extra steps to first load the money, then top up the money, then withdraw the money (which also has a time delay).

so yes, exactly: It's 2022.

They actually only allowed cash out today at 12pm, so 3 days after the event!!! Furthermore they say it can take up to 7 additional days for the money to reflect in your account.

That's 2022 convenience 🤣

 

[Spanky]

It's almost as if their business model is to crowdsource a large pool of money and then enjoy the interest earned off that. Would explain the long wait times 😁

 

[Quick///M]

In any case it was a good event bar the howler nonsense that annoyed many of us, managed to get a hot lap in the new M3 (RWD) boy does it stick to the track like glue, I was also quite surprised at the acceleration of the car. The rear of the car felt quite loose when the driver Jody was doing high speed cornering but then again I was in the back seat....

I dig the M240i they had on show with the M performance Parts, the M2 had mixed reactions but majority of people I spoke to seems to like it. So I guess BMW have their ways in getting people to like their cars.

Managed to do a walk around video of the M2