The classic car restoration business is big business. While it used to be the domain of specialty shops, the skyrocketing appreciation for modern classics has convinced most carmakers themselves to launch inhouse restoration programmes. BMW is the latest to jump on this money-making bandwagon with their BMW Approved Bodyshop concept and Indonesia just opened the doors to welcome in your rust bucket of a Bimmer to bring it to showroom condition.
Since 2019, the BMW Group has introduced this concept to achieve a global standard for restoration work on classic BMWs by its subsidiaries. Earlier in 2021, they updated the guidelines and now Indonesia customers can access this service for their Bimmers.
BMW Ultima is the latest certified BMW Approved Bodyshop that can officially boast the same standards as BMW Germany.
Who better to restore your crumbling classic BMW than the people that made it right? Well, that’s the logic behind that anyways.
Located in South Tangerang City, it’s a collaboration between BMW Group Indonesia and PT Karya Prima Ultima. They’ll gladly welcome any of your BMW or Mini vehicles; so long as you include a blank cheque as well we’re guessing.
“BMW Ultima has now become the first BMW Approved Bodyshop in Indonesia. The BMW Ultima team has done a fantastic job meeting all requirements and following all guidelines to meet the global standards of the BMW Group. We appreciate the dedication and investment of PT Karya Prima Ultima to make this happen,” enthused Ramesh Divyanathan, President Director of BMW Group Indonesia, during the launch.
There are three levels of certification in terms of body repair and paint qualifications for BMW and Mini vehicles. The first is the BMW and Mini Approved Bodyshop that can only be granted via a very stringent audit process to be get certified. This is BMW Ultima.
Below it sits the “Accredited BMW – Mini Bodyshop.” This was introduced last year and is essentially partnerships with independent bodyshops such as Autoglad.
At the bottom of the pecking order sits independent repair bodyshops that are recommended by BMW and will only carry out cosmetic repairs as well as cases outside of Jabodetabek.
All work processes carried out at BMW Ultima will be supervised by BMW Germany right till the final product is completed. Of course, there’s a computerised chassis jig for the most accurate chassis repairs and restorations.
They claim light work will only require a maximum of 3 days to be completed. Don’t ask how long full restorations will take. In the case of the latter, the longer is probably for the better.
Making up the impressive and premium facility are the following key areas:
- customer lounge where customers can wait for their vehicles to be repaired with typical 5-star hotel service
- Reception at the Car (RATC) location for brake and suspension testing
- wheels and tyre area that accommodates the process of wheel alignment, wheel balancing, and tire changing
- mechanical work bay includes repair service as well as storage room for parts and tools
- body repair which includes welding area, aluminium and carbon repair, wheels repair, chassis/frame straightening
- paint area
“We also hope that the BMW community can come and spend time here because there’s a premium lounge and coffee shop as well as meeting rooms that can be used,” added Ramesh.
Lastly, BMW Ultima has stressed that it will also accommodate other premium vehicles that aren’t from the BMW or Mini stable for body repairs.
Keyword: BMW Ultima in Indonesia will restore your bucket of a classic BMW to standards approved by BMW Germany