BMW News

Some news reports are calling what happened in New Zealand on April 1st a “reverse April Fool’s joke.” In reality, it was a straightforward April Fool’s joke, but the joke was on everyone who thought it really was an April Fool’s joke. Confused? Here’s what happened.

BMW New Zealand posted an ad in the New Zealand Herald newspaper for a certain BMW dealer’s trade-in “special,” which promised that the first person who showed up at the BMW Newmarket dealership with the ad in hand, asked for “Tom,” and brought a car to trade would receive a new BMW 1 Series.

The company hired extra security in case there was a massive rush to cash in on the offer, but it wasn’t needed, since most people thought the ad was an April Fool’s joke. It was. On them.

But not Tianna Marsh, who at 5:30 in the morning drove to the dealership in her fifteen-year-old Nissan Avenir, with her ad, and asked for Tom. She took a risk on looking foolish but in the end, she looked pretty smart as she drove off in her new BMW 1 Series worth about 50,000 New Zealand dollars. The license plates confirmed Tianna’s wisdom. They read, “NOF00L.”

A BMW spokesperson admitted the ad was meant to look like it was too good to be true. It worked. Most people stayed away.

Tianna’s Nissan Avenir was put on display at the BMW New Zealand headquarters. It will be put up for sale with the proceeds going to GoBabyGo, a charity that converts toy cars into mobility devices for young disabled children.

It was a great April Fool’s joke, perhaps the best ever. It’s probably a one-time stunt, however. The secret’s out.—Scott Blazey

Enjoy the video documenting the surprise.

[Photo and video courtesy of BMW New Zealand.