Patrick cars recently opened its new showroom at its BMW dealership in Chicago (Patrick also unveiled a new MINI showroom recently).  I had seen inside the BMW facility briefly, but I decided to really pay a visit this past Saturday to take some photos and log in real time my experience inside the new home of the Chicagoland BMW dealer.

The sharp, sleek showroom floor

11:22 am: I’m walking into the new Patrick BMW showroom, and I am distracted.  These leather chairs look very comfortable, so I figure I should try one out.  This decision, of course, has nothing to do with the basketball game on one of two high-definition televisions in the customer lounges.  It’s just research.

11:56 am: After ensuring the seat was sufficiently comfy (again, research), and since it is halftime, I continue through the BMW gallery.

11:59 am: Ah, next distraction, I see a white 128i convertible, which I should probably sit in.

12:06 pm: After a brief disagreement with the car’s apparently-armed alarm system, the leather seat hugs me affectionately.  I make a few ‘vroooming’ noises, and some of the people around looked at me strangely, like that’s not the sound a car makes.

I needed a closer look

12:18 pm: I walk up to someone taking a look at a black 328i sedan.  He said he loved the new sales floor and was hoping to take a sedan out for a test drive.  What he liked best about the showroom was the clean, sleek look and the coffee, which he called “tasty.”

12:26 pm: I am looking at all the coffee and tea options available at the complimentary coffee bar.  There are so many, and I wish I could try them all.

12:51 pm: I tried them all and the sixth kind of coffee was the best.  The ambiance of the showroom had me feeling very relaxed, but now I feel abruptly alert.

12:55 pm: I’m heading into the new service drive, which is climate-controlled.  This is how it should be done.  No waiting outside with your car.  No crowded line of autos waiting to make it indoors.  This new facility has three long lanes able to fit any number of cars showing up for service.

1:15 pm: I think it’s time for me to call it a day.  I had a lot of fun visiting.  I’m really impressed with this Chicagoland BMW dealership – it’s new, clean, friendly and filled with alluring rides.

1:18 pm: I’m told it is not policy to give away new automobiles to someone just because he is writing a blog entry about the dealership.