Total BMW No More?

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Andy is set to be a school nurse!!

For those thinking about taking the reigns, for starters, a half decent editor, or someone with a spellchecker. Invite guest journos and photographers to to pieces in the mag. Hell there's enough eloquent feckers with a Encyclopaedic knowledge on here. Backed up with tech articles, DIY's and help sections. Pick up questions and answers from forums. Could be ran in conjunction with more popular forums that represent the various marques?

Like folks have said, forums have become a popular alternative. They could be used as a media to invite huest writers etc as it wouldn't cost anything to scour t'internet forums and invite people to do so.

The synergy between forum and mag will expand viewer base making it a more exciting prospect for advertisers, generating revenue for both mag and forum?

Budding Journos and camera jockeys would only be too glad as it would add credibility to their portfolios while giving the mag a cheap alternative to paid full time journos!

Anyways, that's enough input from me!!!!

[Andyboy]

How much are they looking for the mag?

cold be a plan for a an e28/30/32/34 specific mag, rather than the e36/46 turds......

Hmmm... I wonder.... (deep in thought)

If you can find Ԛ£12'000+ a month (up front) for printing and distribution, giving 40% of cover price of WH Smiths...........

Forget it. It's dead and gone, unlikely to return. It had 7 years and paid for my house! It's still a shame though - it was hard work getting it up and going in the early days.

I read Classic & Sportscar (brilliant) and Mojo. Occasionally buy BMW Car. That's it!

[Kos]

well, i heard about this a few days back and it its true to an extent

as pacerpete said, it will run for a few more issues

the problem seems to be that the mag doesnt break even, its always at a loss ant future media cant justify keeping it going

if a smaller group was to be interested the mag may carry on, which i think would be a good idea

BMW car and PBMW cover the complete opposit and of the BMW enthusiasts market, with TBMW fitting in nicley in between with some good tech article an i would love to see it keep going

all the writters know what they are on about, unlike the ED from other enthusiast magazines, and most of the time they do have the right ballnce of new cars, to modern modified through to old skool classics.

lets hope for the best and it carries on

[maxfield]

[quote="blatantarrogance"]Andy is set to be a school nurse!!
[quote]

He's very local to me and im still at school please do not say that

[Andyboy]

Don't worry - Pacerpete has a penchant for young boys. He's the Werthers King.

TBMW has a couple of issues left, not 'a few'. Take it from those who actually know, as opposed to guesswork.

[matthehat17]

Thanks for all the comments guys â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ I've surfed a few forums now and the feedback has been extremely positive. That means we were giving you readers pretty much what you wanted (albeit we're a small mag and can't cover everything each issue) and that pleases us, because we were providing a product for you and the vast majority of you liked it.

I'm interested by the negative feedback as well â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ we would have liked it before we closed so we could have worked on any inherent flaws, but that's the joy of hindsight, isn't it?

I'm really surprised some people think it is full of errors and that we can't write; I suppose everyone is entitled to an opinion but I think that view is unjustified. We have always been a very small team, and myself and the proof reader on the magazine have to check over 15,000 words of copy every issue, so I accept a few mistakes come through to print. But it happens, and it annoys me more than it does you as readers â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ however, I point to blatantarrogance's post earlier on where he mentioned "huest writers", whatever they are. As you can see, typos do occur (even with a "half-decent editor") and for that I apologise.

As for comparing us to Evo, I'm flattered we're even mentioned in the same breath â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ but as it sells over 70,000 copies a month and we sell less than a tenth of that, I wonder how some of you think we could possibly compete with their budgets and output. They have a bigger editorial team, much more cash and a much wider subject matter â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ it most certainly should be leagues ahead of the likes of us. It is an excellent mag, I will agree, but we have always made sure we strive for excellence with our publication.

Ste, the magazine is not closing because of the quality of the editorial copy, it is closing because our parent company is expecting small niche magazines to support large overheads, plus our distribution is limited (the main complaint from readers about Total BMW is normally that they can't find it for sale anywhere). With the industry struggling as a whole we've not been making the money we used to. This is very sad, but there's nothing we can do about it now. I wonder if you are actually a journalist or in the media industry (your posts are very well written and punctuated, I grant you), because if you're not it seems a bit rich that you feel justified to offer professional comment on our team of writers and their abilities (or lack thereof). I've always felt they (and myself) put a lot of effort into each piece; I wouldn't tolerate poorly-researched copy anyway.

I appreciate not everyone is going to like our mag, but some of the comments on here seem a bit harsh to me. And if this post has any grammatical or spelling errors in it, well... I apologise again. I can't do much more than that for any errors we may have printed.

I hope you all do well in the future â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ we've always liked the forums and we have supported this one in particular. Maybe the mag will keep going with a different publisher. On a personal level, I think it is sad for BMW fans as any reduction of choice/options is a bad thing, but maybe the mag will be bought; at the moment, we just don't know. What I will say is we've had fun producing it over the years, we've met some great people and we flew the flag for BMW enthusiasts.

All the best,

Matt Robinson, TBMW editor

[M5pilot]

We were just about to put in a years worth of advertising aswell!

Brilliant mag, sad to see it go if it doesn't get saved.

Sal

[Pal318is]

Thanks for all the comments guys â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ I've surfed a few forums now and the feedback has been extremely positive. That means we were giving you readers pretty much what you wanted (albeit we're a small mag and can't cover everything each issue) and that pleases us, because we were providing a product for you and the vast majority of you liked it.

I'm interested by the negative feedback as well â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ we would have liked it before we closed so we could have worked on any inherent flaws, but that's the joy of hindsight, isn't it?

I'm really surprised some people think it is full of errors and that we can't write; I suppose everyone is entitled to an opinion but I think that view is unjustified. We have always been a very small team, and myself and the proof reader on the magazine have to check over 15,000 words of copy every issue, so I accept a few mistakes come through to print. But it happens, and it annoys me more than it does you as readers â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ however, I point to blatantarrogance's post earlier on where he mentioned "huest writers", whatever they are. As you can see, typos do occur (even with a "half-decent editor") and for that I apologise.

As for comparing us to Evo, I'm flattered we're even mentioned in the same breath â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ but as it sells over 70,000 copies a month and we sell less than a tenth of that, I wonder how some of you think we could possibly compete with their budgets and output. They have a bigger editorial team, much more cash and a much wider subject matter â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ it most certainly should be leagues ahead of the likes of us. It is an excellent mag, I will agree, but we have always made sure we strive for excellence with our publication.

Ste, the magazine is not closing because of the quality of the editorial copy, it is closing because our parent company is expecting small niche magazines to support large overheads, plus our distribution is limited (the main complaint from readers about Total BMW is normally that they can't find it for sale anywhere). With the industry struggling as a whole we've not been making the money we used to. This is very sad, but there's nothing we can do about it now. I wonder if you are actually a journalist or in the media industry (your posts are very well written and punctuated, I grant you), because if you're not it seems a bit rich that you feel justified to offer professional comment on our team of writers and their abilities (or lack thereof). I've always felt they (and myself) put a lot of effort into each piece; I wouldn't tolerate poorly-researched copy anyway.

I appreciate not everyone is going to like our mag, but some of the comments on here seem a bit harsh to me. And if this post has any grammatical or spelling errors in it, well... I apologise again. I can't do much more than that for any errors we may have printed.

I hope you all do well in the future â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ we've always liked the forums and we have supported this one in particular. Maybe the mag will keep going with a different publisher. On a personal level, I think it is sad for BMW fans as any reduction of choice/options is a bad thing, but maybe the mag will be bought; at the moment, we just don't know. What I will say is we've had fun producing it over the years, we've met some great people and we flew the flag for BMW enthusiasts.

All the best,

Matt Robinson, TBMW editor

Never had any problems getting this mag and yes it will be missed, IF it does go. I for one, hope it doesn't, because as mentioned, it'll just reduce the few we have at the moment

Oh well, wait and see.

Pal

[Rosc0PColtrane]

I accept a few mistakes come through to print. But it happens, and it annoys me more than it does you as readers â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ however, I point to blatantarrogance's post earlier on where he mentioned "huest writers", whatever they are. As you can see, typos do occur (even with a "half-decent editor") and for that I apologise.

Thanks for taking the time to post on our forum.

The irony of my mistake has made me chuckle!! I am currently without proof reader or editor, so there appears to be a situation vacant. As an amateur poster, renumeration would be in gratitude and free photos, see my thread in Pictures from Meets.. or and a cup of tea if you're ever in the South West!

Interesting to hear about the issues you've had from your publishers. It seems, niggles aside (I mean, who can please all the people all the time?? Blair take note..), you have an audience for the magazine. Seems your distribution has contributed to some of your downfall? Frustrated customers, no magazines, no word of mouth.. to room for growth....

My post was in response to the consensus of posters on this thread and in no way was meant to offend or give the opinion that I am an editor. I have not had the pleasure of reading your publication, although I look for it when I go to a newsagent. I truly hope that there is a resolution for this magazine, especially as it seems to be denied the opportunity to reach its potential.

[bmpaul]

thanks matt. just gutted it has to go it was my religous read every month!!!

[DaveD]

as a subscriber i will be sad to see it go and will probably move to pbmw...at least its not staid.

With a circulation of 7k you were struggling..should have gone for more subs....it brings in more profit for less effort..at least that's what my daughter tells me and she is a senior subs manager at IPC

[Andyboy]

Well if nothing else it forced the other BMW mags to raise their game. BMW car is unashamedly focused on newer cars which outnumber old ones in sheer volume. Before TBMW turned up and that clown Armstrong-Wilson was in charge, BMW Car was awful rubbish. Over the last 6 years it's morphed into a very good mag indeed - maybe not your cup of tea but undeniably good and well turned out. Even PBMW has improved dramatically over the last year and it's not bad at all.

Maybe a new mag is needed - 'Total E30' features could include;

*Scott - put Helen down for five mins and get that bastard Sport finished! Isn't it?

*How to own a 7 grand 325i Convertible without working

*Reader's wheelarches

*Problem E30's - best lighters, matches and accelerants tested - get that claim right first time!

*Pacerpete's famous arse crack - top ten Zoner's pics!

*How to turn a B reg 4 door 316 into Ԛ£500 worth of desirable spares - JonB shows you how!

[DaveD]

[quote="Andyboy"]Maybe a new mag is needed - 'Total E30' [/quote

not a bad idea..but from e36 back...for people who are REALLY interested in their cars

[march109]

Andyboy good idea bout think you'd run dry of aricles in less than a year! Not a long term plan then.

Although with all the input people put into this site I reckon a months worth of articles (and crap) get submitted an hour thanks to some of the post whores around here!

[matthehat17]

Thanks again guys â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ blatant, I wasn't having a pop, I was just serving to highlight that these little errors can creep in! I'm not trying to start an argument, just telling you guys how it is when you're running a mag. But thanks for the response.

All the best peeps, I'm sure something will turn up!

Cheers

Matt

[Andyboy]

Andyboy good idea bout think you'd run dry of aricles in less than a year! Not a long term plan then.

Errr, I wasn't remotely serious! To do that though I'd need an E30 sympathetic computer. Something that doesn't always work properly, goes expensively wrong and which there is no real logic in owning........like an AppleMac.



Shit, that's what I've got. Bugger.

[320Touring]

G-BMW... cool.

N-BMW ya mean

[Geeman]

Andy... you can have my 'full colour' LC3 if you would like... 32mb of ram and a 250mb hard drive! That should set the magazine on fire!

[HartgeH27]

Thanks again guys â┚¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ blatant, I wasn't having a pop, I was just serving to highlight that these little errors can creep in! I'm not trying to start an argument, just telling you guys how it is when you're running a mag. But thanks for the response.

All the best peeps, I'm sure something will turn up!

Cheers

Matt

Will be a sad day if it does not get taken over and ultimately folds. The other 'Two' magazines dont get my vote purely because their content doesnt interest me.

I say well done TBMW team and good luck for finding a buyer.

You have provided an excellent mag with superb content.

Will be a big hole in the BMW magazine market.

Iain

[Simon13]

Such a shame, i've been reading with interest on here and other forums about what has happened. It was also my favourite and then bmw car, which i also like just to keep up with the new stuff. PBMW 99% full of tat and way to "council" for my liking.

Ste your quite quiet in real life but quite blunt/cutting on the computer

[garyp_E30_325i]

Sorry to hear about this, it was a good mag - although I didn't buy it every month I read it as much or more than the other BMW mags.

I hope it finds a buyer (or at least all the employees find 'new homes')

[Nick_TBMW]

Thanks for the kind words guys, it really means a lot

Personally, what with the eventual diminish of oil and the proceeding world crisis, I'm going to go live in a field living off berries and rabbits with a straw hat and some old copies of TBMW to keep me happy whilst the world around me crumbles

[325iRon]

I have every copy of Total BMW my car was in the first issue in the E30 buying guide. I do think things have slipped a bit just latlely not enought E30s! I did speak to Matt at Castle Combe about the photography, I know you need some what I call arty pics but what I would like to see is at least one front and rear 3/4 pic. Why have an out of focus close up of a gear knob? Olso if the writer is telling us about the leater interiour then show us a good clear pic. Of course we need the tech write up etc but a picture speaks a thousand words. I will miss it if it goes.

Ron

[Maxus]

As per most comments on here, this will be a big loss. I am an avid reader and have bought every copy since January 2002. They are neatly lined up on my bookshelf. Whenever I think about buying a particular BMW I will pull out a back copy with the relevant buyers guide or car feature.

With PBMW a bit over the top in terms of car modifications and BMW Car focusing on the newer stuff it is down to Total BMW to feature the cars that we like - Original or tastefully modified 80's and 90's BMW's.

I do have to search a bit to get my copy. It was only this week that I spent an hour driving around Cambridge at night trying to find the latest edition to keep me occupied in my hotel room. Couldn't find one so had to settle on Razzle!

Good luck in finding a buyer.

[Dan318-is]

Thanks for the kind words guys, it really means a lot

Personally, what with the eventual diminish of oil and the proceeding world crisis, I'm going to go live in a field living off berries and rabbits with a straw hat and some old copies of TBMW to keep me happy whilst the world around me crumbles

A-men to that brother!

[ste]

Ste, the magazine is not closing because of the quality of the editorial copy, it is closing because our parent company is expecting small niche magazines to support large overheads, plus our distribution is limited (the main complaint from readers about Total BMW is normally that they can't find it for sale anywhere). With the industry struggling as a whole we've not been making the money we used to. This is very sad, but there's nothing we can do about it now. I wonder if you are actually a journalist or in the media industry (your posts are very well written and punctuated, I grant you), because if you're not it seems a bit rich that you feel justified to offer professional comment on our team of writers and their abilities (or lack thereof). I've always felt they (and myself) put a lot of effort into each piece; I wouldn't tolerate poorly-researched copy anyway.

I didn't mean to come across as a bit of a twat so I apologise for that. I'm afraid I was just honestly speaking something I've thought for ages. I know you must work very hard on the magazine and I have worked in a similar deadline driven environment myself and know how difficult it can be.

I'm not a journalist - I know I haven't got the skill for it. I feel as a consumer and the target market for your magazine that I'm justified in offering constructive criticism though. I'll be really honest with you, I actually considered sending you an email with a list of all the errors in one issue but didn't ever get around to it. Maybe I should have.

I know that poor copy hasn't killed the magazine off, and that it's to do with the publishing house expecting a return on investment. However, by selling a product that was considered sub-standard you must have been killing sales? More sales = more advertisers = more return = happy publishing house = everybody's happy. No?

I also agree with the seperate point above about photo selection. It's annoying to have a paragraph dedicated to a leather retrim and the accompanying photo to show a close up of a gearknob. Likewise surely every feature with 5 or 6 pictures should have at least 1 showing the front or front three-quarter view and one showing the back or rear three-quarter view? The copy and spec sheet describes a bespoke exhaust and a subtle rear spoiler yet the pictures are 4 different angles of the front and sides for example.

Anyway Matt, best of luck with either the magazine if a buyer appears, or whatever you decide to do next.


Simon13 - how do you mean I'm quiet in real life? Did you expect me to jump about ranting when you came to collect that auto box?

[Splondike]

Sorry to see this too, only mag I buy on a regular basis as well

[d6dph]

Its the one I always look for first, I'm lucky in that my local newsagent stocks TBMW.

Will definately miss it

[Simon13]

No i wasn't having a big dig! just an observation thats all

[hammoj28]

Oh no. This is not good to hear at all. Much better than PBMW. More interesting stuff in it. Always buy a copy and always look very forward to reading it. Why do most good things come to an end.

[DaveD]

just out of curiosity what were the ABC figures for tbmw compared with say pbmw..in 2002 they quoted 40000...it must have gone downhill a bit since then?

[Rich_W]

Ste

I agree with EVERYTHING you have writen on this thread

[e36boy]

My first BMW magazine was total BMW. Im gutted to haer about this. Lets hope TBMW can be saved.

[Steve7]

My first BMW magazine was total BMW. Im gutted to haer about this. Lets hope TBMW can be saved.

Same here, back in 2003 sometime!

[Kos]

TBMW has a couple of issues left, not 'a few'. Take it from those who actually know, as opposed to guesswork.

a couple or a few they havent got many issues left as it stands, but i do know trust me !

end of the day it is a shame if this mag doesnt carry on in the same format with the same team