Press car ? Means?
- Thread starter polaxgr
- Start date
Liverpool
It can mean anything from it being used for photo shoots, to being used for track testing for a magazine - you will never know unless you see photos of it somewhere.
It can also mean that it was simply put through another stange of quality control to make sure nothing fell off in the reviewer's hand - which wouldn't go down well in the article.
It can also mean that it was simply put through another stange of quality control to make sure nothing fell off in the reviewer's hand - which wouldn't go down well in the article.
I took a look at an MR that was "press prepared". When quizzed the dealer (who I eventually bought off and thought reasonably honest) he said that basically it would have been used for press purposes but that as a result it would represent the best 10% of that production run. Could be a good thing...
One of my earlier Zeds had 'press preparation' listed as one of it's options. The dealers do not normally know what it means (or won't say). However, I have been told that the cars are effectively scrutinised for perfect fit/finish. etc and undergo a more through roadtest for rattles/quality.
They are often in the colour/spec that you see in the brochure (for obvious reasons).
(there's also a 'rumour' that carpets/sound-proofing etc is very slightly (subtly) different (read 'better')).
Mine had a mega-spec and probably was the best zed that i've owned in terms of overall quality... 8)
... for Rover, press-prep usually meant 'honda gearbox' :wink:
They are often in the colour/spec that you see in the brochure (for obvious reasons).
(there's also a 'rumour' that carpets/sound-proofing etc is very slightly (subtly) different (read 'better')).
Mine had a mega-spec and probably was the best zed that i've owned in terms of overall quality... 8)
... for Rover, press-prep usually meant 'honda gearbox' :wink:
lacroupade
Veteran
//Mmmmmm....//Masturbation..... 
One of my previous cars - a Honda Civic Type R (EP3) - was an ex-Honda press car, and was none the worse for it. It was wearing the registration "R200 REV" which was initially what raised my attention, and when I asked the dealer they researched it and found it was registered to Honda UK. Had been used as a static press shots car and hadn't been thrashed around tracks as I initially feared! I managed to pick up a back issue of one magazine that used the car for a buyer's guide, featuring the registration too - was quite a unique thing when it came to selling the car on 
Basically what I'm saying is it might not be a bad thing being a press car. Initially I expected press cars would be abused to within an inch of their life, but that's not always the case.
Basically what I'm saying is it might not be a bad thing being a press car. Initially I expected press cars would be abused to within an inch of their life, but that's not always the case.
If its a true press car it either means the car has been used for static photo work or stand duty at shows/events ( which you can possibly check by looking for excessive wear at the edges of your bolsters, pedals , around the 10-3 position on the wheel , no shipping label marks on the screen when it mists) and if it has been used in this area of work replace the pads as the cleaning materials used soak into the pads.
or
used by the press office for demo to the press. Now these cars are - by most manufacturers and certainly BMW - fitted with 'golden' parts that are generally not enhanced but are at least the best tolerancing.As mentioned all squeaks and rattles would have been sorted. They're often very well equipped. It would have been prepared well and any faults rectified asap and it would have been driven hard but looked after for doing so. Sometimes the cars are better than standard , but mostly they have been prepped like we think all our cars should be by the dealer.
HTH
Stu
or
used by the press office for demo to the press. Now these cars are - by most manufacturers and certainly BMW - fitted with 'golden' parts that are generally not enhanced but are at least the best tolerancing.As mentioned all squeaks and rattles would have been sorted. They're often very well equipped. It would have been prepared well and any faults rectified asap and it would have been driven hard but looked after for doing so. Sometimes the cars are better than standard , but mostly they have been prepped like we think all our cars should be by the dealer.
HTH
Stu
My last hot hatch (before the Z4) was a 206GTi that was noted as 'Press/Show Prepared'.
Only found out when someone chipped the door and a bodyshop looked at it and found the car had in excess of 10 coats of paint and lacquer on the entire car. Each had been flatted and perfected.
Here it is 7 years old before being handed to my daughter. Never saw anything in it's life beyond a wash hose and wax
Toyota - down the road from me swap out key components for higher tolerence of the same part - typically suspension and ensure panel fit is perfect
Def a good thing to have a press car
Only found out when someone chipped the door and a bodyshop looked at it and found the car had in excess of 10 coats of paint and lacquer on the entire car. Each had been flatted and perfected.
Here it is 7 years old before being handed to my daughter. Never saw anything in it's life beyond a wash hose and wax
Toyota - down the road from me swap out key components for higher tolerence of the same part - typically suspension and ensure panel fit is perfect
Def a good thing to have a press car
Mines a press car and after a really interesting conversation with Elliot on here he's told me that some were used in America at launch, with proper US plates.. obviously mine is now a UK car.
He said they were run around until the 1200m service which was then done by them, before any members of the press got hold of them
He said they were run around until the 1200m service which was then done by them, before any members of the press got hold of them
lacroupade
Veteran
I take it, therefore, that the very first time these vehicles were sold, it was as a used car with appropriate history?
not sure why they'd be cheaper, i have assurances that they weren't over revved before the 1200m service, which was obviously then done to spec too.
Let's face it, any Z4M is going to be thrashed hard once it's safe to do so, whether it's by the press or the first owner.
But yes, I got mine at 1350 miles with all the correct history and it's never missed a beat.
I did wonder when I first looked that there were marks on the wheels where weights had been previously, and wondered why it may have had a second set of tyres at 1300 miles, lol. 8)
Let's face it, any Z4M is going to be thrashed hard once it's safe to do so, whether it's by the press or the first owner.
But yes, I got mine at 1350 miles with all the correct history and it's never missed a beat.
I did wonder when I first looked that there were marks on the wheels where weights had been previously, and wondered why it may have had a second set of tyres at 1300 miles, lol. 8)
Andy said:
I agree that there shouldn't be any difference in cost, as even if it was treated harshly in the first few thousand miles you'll be getting a supposedly better built one.
Don't know how they can assure you it wasn't over-revved unless they had some logging equipment in the car at all times - assuming you mean 'revved above the recommended limit for running in', rather than 'revved at over 7900rpm'?
When I got my new engine I was told to keep it under 3500rpm for the first 500 miles, then 5000rpm until the running in service at 1200 miles. Luckily it only took two weeks to do that and then I was allowed to use the full rev range. However I built the revs up much slower than that, and only raised my self-imposed limit by 1000rpm per 1000 miles (so can now use the full range).
yes, i kinda mean both actually, but also above the "warm" orange bit - my thought process being that the guys driving them were also responsible for the lauch being successful, therefore it was too much of a risk to blow an engine before the press turned up.
sounds like you treated yours wisely, fingers crossed this one is a bit more lasting for you.
I'm about to email the guy that Elliot told me about to see if he has any more history on my car, it's just far too cold to go out and get the VIN.
sounds like you treated yours wisely, fingers crossed this one is a bit more lasting for you.
I'm about to email the guy that Elliot told me about to see if he has any more history on my car, it's just far too cold to go out and get the VIN.
Im also 90% certain mine is BMW UK Previously owned for press purposes. The paint is mega thick and had every optional extra available at the time. Come winter time though, the rattles have started to appear though 
It couldnt have been ragged too hard either, as it was still on its original front tyres at 38,000miles!! 
It couldnt have been ragged too hard either, as it was still on its original front tyres at 38,000miles!!