BMW Australia is currently rolling out a rapid expansion of its national vehicle repair programme that will repair BMWs to a structural integrity and quality of the factories where the vehicles were manufactured.
The company says the new globally-certified training programme for BMW body and paint repair can repair advanced components including carbon-fibre and the structural elements of electric vehicles. The multi-step training programme covers the following aspects:
- Carbon-fibre repair
- Insurance assessor training
- Structural repair
- Panel replacement
- Electric vehicle overview
- Model technology updates
- Painter training
- Glass replacement
BMW says the programme uses cutting-edge techniques in all body shops to provide a “peerless” final result. It includes aviation-standard methodologies to ensure the vehicle performs to its highest standard and also carries a superior finish following an accident or repair work. The company says it also has a training career pathway for specialists so they receive updated modules and training information.
“BMW Australia and its partnered body shop network employs the most progressive techniques for vehicle repair, including for the very latest BMW models,” said Dr Reiner Meierbeck, Head of Aftersales at BMW Group Australia. “Our aim is not to repair BMW vehicles to OEM standards, but actually repair to a much higher level so they can capably withstand another impact, ensuring superior cabin integrity for all occupants.”
BMW says its training programme was designed to future proof the work of local professionals in providing them knowledge and education of new generation automotive design, engineering, and construction techniques and how to deal with the intricacies of repairing highly complex vehicles.
“As we transition into more mainstream adoption of electric vehicles and autonomous technologies, we are seeing an increased requirement for chassis and bodies to balance strength, weight, flex and rigidity,” said Dr Meierbeck. “BMW vehicles now include increased levels of high strength steel, aluminium, aluminium-steel composites, carbon, plastics and thermal plastics, and we therefore need to ensure our people are educated and fully informed of every detail.
“This is where such a high-quality training programme plays such an important role, and when combined with our technical capability, further differentiates a BMW body shop from a conventional body shop.”