BMW of Bridgeport's billboard is scaring drivers into 911 calls

Mark · 01-22-2010, 06:00 PM

Its no secret BMW has a really great marketing machine, with really invetive ads on the internet, in print, and of course highway billboards. There were the famous BMW v Audi billboard ad wars of last year which many of us remember. This time around, theres not a war, but a very simple billboard ad to highlight a local Connecticut dealers offer of overnight test drives.

Whats happened since is that this story is spreading over the internet because the billboard is scaring local residents into calling 911 because they think that its a real person sitting on the billboard! I'm not sure what they think of the giant teddy bear next to him, but whatever. This is marketing gold because its working and the word is spreading.

I for one never knew BMW dealerships did overnight test drives, so on that front, this billboard really worked.

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Check out the entire collection of BMW of Bridgeport billboard ads here @Jalopnik

Source: AP News via Autoblog

southlight · 01-22-2010, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkE90M3

I never knew BMW dealerships did overnight test drives, so on that front, this billboard really worked.

Well, "Only at BMW of Bridgeport".

Best regards,
south

ptack · 01-22-2010, 09:14 PM

Yes, in Father Panik village.

Scorpion · 01-22-2010, 09:25 PM

Haha that's crazy, probably going to cause an accident.

positiveions · 01-23-2010, 10:48 AM

bravo, nice creative add. but that is hilarious

Vintage · 01-23-2010, 10:56 AM

people really think a guy and giant stuffed bear are real????

JoeyBananaz18 · 01-23-2010, 11:20 AM

whats so strage about that? i sleep with the same teddy bear lol.

GnokGnik · 01-23-2010, 12:12 PM

Any great ad requires some sex....I say have a naked female doll up there next time.

I mean any type of attention is good right?|

PDWebb · 01-23-2010, 12:32 PM

Crazy indeed.

Imola.ZHP · 01-23-2010, 01:17 PM

Saw a preview of that a few weeks back on the local (memphis) news, didn't pay attention to what MFG it was for and didn't watch the news long enough to find out...

Free press is the best!

Studntloan · 01-23-2010, 03:18 PM

That's absolutely amazing!!!

vAnt826 · 01-23-2010, 03:41 PM

Uh, T-Mobile does this all the time.

Nick340xi_qc · 01-23-2010, 04:46 PM

I'm working in a 9-1-1 center, and i would be laughing every time someone call for that

ZTZ1010 · 01-23-2010, 05:12 PM

haha this is the dealership I go to and seeing it in person was 10x better!

NewM3driver · 01-23-2010, 06:25 PM

BMW of Bridgeport is the absolute BEST for service, lunch, new car prices... you name it. If you live ANYWHERE CLOSE it is worth making the trip to do business with them.

The bill board in person is hilarious.

audioMeth · 01-23-2010, 07:39 PM

regardless if it works or not generating unneeded calls to 911 is a little to far.
potentially it could be costing someone their life. i hate to be that guy but its
true.

ebeem · 01-24-2010, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nuespeedgti

i hate to be that guy

at least you realize it yourself

I like it

and people freaking out because of stuff like that should be

ed each time they do it
sure,there is a man with 10 feet long legs standing on a billboard...
or a man and teddy bear sitting on that thing..

MEGA · 01-24-2010, 05:41 PM

awesome advertisement..

bavarian19 · 01-24-2010, 05:59 PM

Shazmonkee · 01-25-2010, 03:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nuespeedgti

regardless if it works or not generating unneeded calls to 911 is a little to far.
potentially it could be costing someone their life. i hate to be that guy but its
true.

Trust me. People call 911 for much more "unneeded" reasons than this. If we're to complain about how people are calling for bad reasons, this is not one of them

footie · 01-25-2010, 05:13 AM

You can't buy publicity like that.

Priceless.

135iUSN · 02-16-2010, 06:56 PM

almost as good as using the President for free advertising for a sport jacket LOL

01-22-2010, 06:00 PM	#1
Mark Administrator 7187 Rep 4,203 Posts Drives: 1M Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 BMW 1 Series M ... [8.36]	BMW of Bridgeport's billboard is scaring drivers into 911 calls Its no secret BMW has a really great marketing machine, with really invetive ads on the internet, in print, and of course highway billboards. There were the famous BMW v Audi billboard ad wars of last year which many of us remember. This time around, theres not a war, but a very simple billboard ad to highlight a local Connecticut dealers offer of overnight test drives. Whats happened since is that this story is spreading over the internet because the billboard is scaring local residents into calling 911 because they think that its a real person sitting on the billboard! I'm not sure what they think of the giant teddy bear next to him, but whatever. This is marketing gold because its working and the word is spreading. I for one never knew BMW dealerships did overnight test drives, so on that front, this billboard really worked. Check out the entire collection of BMW of Bridgeport billboard ads here @Jalopnik Source: AP News via Autoblog __________________ BMW 1M. BMW M2. BMW M2.
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01-22-2010, 09:14 PM	#3
ptack Brigadier General 313 Rep 4,484 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: May 2008 Location: NJ iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 135i [6.50]	Yes, in Father Panik village. __________________ 135i, SGM, Coral, Sport Package, Auto, Premium Hifi, USB/ipod, Apex EC-7s, PPK Stage II
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01-22-2010, 09:25 PM	#4
Scorpion Major 180 Rep 1,210 Posts Drives: Nothing Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Nowhere iTrader: (0)	Haha that's crazy, probably going to cause an accident.
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01-23-2010, 10:48 AM	#5
positiveions Lieutenant General 974 Rep 11,724 Posts Drives: 19 Tacoma, 16 Golf wagon Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Upland, CA iTrader: (2) Garage List 2019 Toyota Tacoma [0.00] 2016 VW Golf Sports ... [0.00] 1998 BMW M3 [0.00] 1990 BMW 325is [0.00]	bravo, nice creative add. but that is hilarious
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01-23-2010, 10:56 AM	#6
Vintage Colonel 382 Rep 2,588 Posts Drives: BMW G80 (MT), 718 Spyder Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Austin, Texas iTrader: (0)	people really think a guy and giant stuffed bear are real????
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01-23-2010, 11:20 AM	#7
JoeyBananaz18 Brigadier General 392 Rep 4,084 Posts Drives: metrocard Join Date: May 2009 Location: Whitestone, NY iTrader: (3)	whats so strage about that? i sleep with the same teddy bear lol. __________________ 7/18/09- I pick up my baby- 2009 E92 335i Xdrive, Space Gray over Coral Red. Premium Pkg, Cold Weather Pkg, M-Sport Pkg, 193Ms, Gloss Black grills, Custom Gloss Black Mirrors, Performance shift and E-brake boot, M3 spoiler, Euro fog switch, gloss black interior tim, Coco-Mats (red/black), H&R coilovers, 19'' Alufelgen SF-71s......
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01-23-2010, 12:12 PM	#8
GnokGnik Captain 18 Rep 936 Posts Drives: E92 335i, 997 C2S Join Date: May 2008 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Any great ad requires some sex....I say have a naked female doll up there next time. I mean any type of attention is good right?\|
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01-23-2010, 12:32 PM	#9
PDWebb New Member 0 Rep 17 Posts Drives: E70 3.0si, E36 M3 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Las Vegas, NV iTrader: (0)	Crazy indeed.
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01-23-2010, 01:17 PM	#10
Imola.ZHP Colonel 129 Rep 2,218 Posts Drives: 2014 BMW i3 BEV EE Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mud Island, TN iTrader: (0)	Saw a preview of that a few weeks back on the local (memphis) news, didn't pay attention to what MFG it was for and didn't watch the news long enough to find out... Free press is the best! __________________ - 2014 CPO i01 BEV Electronaut Edition Capparis White Tera World, '17- - 2015 CPO i01 BEV Laurel Grey Tera World, '17- - 2015 i01 REx Laurel Grey Tera World, '15-'17 - 2003 CPO 330i ZHP Imola Red Build 03/03/03, '06-'15
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01-23-2010, 03:18 PM	#11
Studntloan Studntloan 591 Rep 629 Posts Drives: M4 GTS / E30 M3 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: NY iTrader: (4)	That's absolutely amazing!!!
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01-23-2010, 03:41 PM	#12
vAnt826 Major 68 Rep 1,417 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Seattle iTrader: (3)	Uh, T-Mobile does this all the time.
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01-23-2010, 04:46 PM	#13
Nick340xi_qc EMT - Firefighter 93 Rep 418 Posts Drives: BMW f30 340xi mppsk Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Sainte-Julie, Qc , Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 328i [10.00] 2006 325I [0.00] 1988 ranger [0.00]	I'm working in a 9-1-1 center, and i would be laughing every time someone call for that __________________ BMW 2012 328i F30 Sport / Ext black / Mperf Front and Rear bumper / Front lip and rear diffusor Mperf / Oem Yellow BBK / Low kick carbon spoiler / Varrstoen ES1 / H&R coilover / 335i MPE / AA flash tune + burble / ER downpipe
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01-23-2010, 05:12 PM	#14
ZTZ1010 Aficionado of All Things Vroom 188 Rep 1,221 Posts Drives: 2024 G80 M3 xDrive Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (9)	haha this is the dealership I go to and seeing it in person was 10x better! __________________ Current: 2024 SMB G80 M3 xDrive Retired: 20' F97 X3M Competition \|'18 6MT AW F30 340x Drive \| '15 6MT F80 M3\| '11 AW DCT E92 M3\| '09 6MT AW E90 335i\| 08' 6MT E92 328xi
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01-23-2010, 06:25 PM	#15
NewM3driver Colonel 1112 Rep 2,007 Posts Drives: 2017 M3 ZCP Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	BMW of Bridgeport is the absolute BEST for service, lunch, new car prices... you name it. If you live ANYWHERE CLOSE it is worth making the trip to do business with them. The bill board in person is hilarious.
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01-23-2010, 07:39 PM	#16
audioMeth BTC maxi 223 Rep 1,125 Posts Drives: F80 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Rehoboth, MA iTrader: (8)	regardless if it works or not generating unneeded calls to 911 is a little to far. potentially it could be costing someone their life. i hate to be that guy but its true.
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01-24-2010, 05:41 PM	#18
MEGA Dieseasal 213 Rep 6,881 Posts Drives: LCI E92 335d M-Sport Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Harrow, London iTrader: (2)	awesome advertisement.. __________________ Previously: 2003 Peugeot 206 1.6 8v \| 2006 E90 320d M-Sport, 19" BBS CH, Full Ice-cold JL audio install, August 2010 Total BMW 6 page feature car. \| 2003 Nissan 350Z GT Coupe 286BHP Now:2010 E92 LCI 335d M-Sport
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01-24-2010, 05:59 PM	#19
bavarian19 General 558 Rep 18,849 Posts Drives: Car Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: VA iTrader: (23)
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01-25-2010, 05:13 AM	#21
footie Major General 1239 Rep 8,034 Posts Drives: i5M60 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: No where fast iTrader: (0) Garage List 2024 BMW i5M60 [0.00] 2022 BMW i4M50 [0.00] 2020 BMW M5 Competi ... [0.00] 2008 E92 M3 [0.00]	You can't buy publicity like that. Priceless.
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02-16-2010, 06:56 PM	#22
135iUSN 19 X5 1998 M Roadster 69 Rep 1,503 Posts Drives: 135i Alpine White / Terra Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: SW Florida iTrader: (1) Garage List 1998 BMW M Roadster [0.00] 2009 135i [0.00]	almost as good as using the President for free advertising for a sport jacket LOL __________________ '09 135i Dinan In BMW heaven 09.28.2022 - Stage 2/Alpine White w/Terracotta /High Gloss Black Trim/ZCW/ZPP/ZSP w/313's /CA/PDC/Steptronic/
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