Today, not only did Jay purchase one of his favorite BMWs, as a client advisor for Hendrick BMW Southpoint in Durham, North Carolina, he helps others turn their dreams into a reality as well. 
Jay Patel is a certified BMW enthusiast. He loves the car. Even at 10 years old, Jay knew he was going to have one of his own.
“Ever since I was a kid, (when) I saw an E46 M3 (2000-2006). I was maybe in fifth grade and I was like, ‘I need that car,’” Patel fondly remembered. “Obviously, being 10 years old, I couldn’t afford it. Ever since then, I have really, really been into BMWs. I was big into racing games, and I would drive the M3s and M5s in these games. I love how they handled and sounded.”
The “Ultimate Driving Machine” has become an oft repeated ‘bucket list’ item for many an auto enthusiast throughout the world. Patel readily shares that passion, having owned several throughout the years. His most-recent purchase, an Alpine White 2023 BMW 340i xDrive, is his latest automotive crush.
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“Once I got into middle school, right around when the E90 (2007-2013) generation came out, I truly wanted a 335i for my first car,” said Patel. “So, I started learning everything about BMWs. I mean everything.”
The 335i is the fourth generation’s version of the 340i, which is at the top of BMW’s flagship 3-Series lineup. With its 3.0-liter, turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine producing 382 horsepower at 369-foot-pounds of torque, the 340i is a favorite among 3-Series aficionados. A Zero-to-60 mph time rated by the manufacturer at 4.1 seconds and an eight-speed transmission to get it there, the 340i compares favorably to the M3 when it comes to performance and fun. Its performance lineage is now legendary.
“For me, it’s sticking to the roots,” Patel said. “Back when the E36 (third-generation 3-Series produced from 1990 to 2000) came out, they focused on handling and it’s something they do to this day. Comparing cars in its class, there’s nothing setup in this way -- as far as weight distribution and power delivery. Nothing handles like a BMW.
“I did want all wheel drive because of the xDrive (AWD) system,” Patel continued. “I initially thought about rear-wheel drive, but the xDrive is pretty playful and it does hook up when you need it too. I also wanted the white, specifically Alpine White. It has always been a favorite color of mine, since I was little. It was (what) I gravitated to the most when I was building those cars while I was in middle school. My car had to have that.”
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Bringing Enthusiasts Together
One unique aspect of Patel’s career is how he is able to share the passion with his friends. Not only do they enjoy each other’s vehicles when they get together, Patel actually sold many of those vehicles to them along the way. An unforgettable experience for the entire group.
“My friends and I do get together with each other, and I have actually sold them; M3s, 340s and (others), and we call just kind of hang out,” Patel said. “We’ll meet up at my house, everyone parks along the driveway. We have a bunch of individual spec (M3s) and my car. We’ll go out and do photo shoots. It is just fun. Cool. Looking at (the) cars I have sold.
“It’s kind of like buying a car again, especially when talking with my friends,” Patel continued. “They are super excited and I am excited with them. I’ll go and send them in-depth videos. One of my buddies -- I took a video of (his) car arriving on the transport truck, getting offloaded, and hopping into the car and driving it to the dealership. The whole process. It’s so cool to be able to do that.”
While every Hendrick Automotive Group dealership focuses on the dealership experience, Patel loves highlighting his passion for the brand with customers. He looks at every experience as a chance to share what he loves about the brand.
“I get to share everything I know and geek out on cars – especially with (my 340i), G80s and everything like that,” Patel added. “I get to go into detail about the motors, weight, the handling, and nerd out on everything. It’s so fun.”
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He described how he wants to serve a customer.
“I want to make (customers) feel welcome,” Patel continued. “Especially with an enthusiast. I (will) pull up a car for them; let them check it out. If we have one inside, I show them things before we even get to the car. People have a lot of technical questions; motor, horsepower, torque, wheel sizes, tire width – everything. Options to choose, individual spec colors …
“Being able to answer those questions and being able to give them that level of service which helps make the choice to buy with Hendrick is tremendously satisfying,” Patel added. “To me, that’s going above and beyond. We’re here to meet all their requirements and more.”
A Special Moment
One such satisfied customer was looking at another brand when he decided to stop at Hendrick BMW Southpoint. Patel remembers the moment like it was yesterday, as it was one of his favorite thus far.
“A gentleman walked in, (who had) initially wanted to buy a 911,” Patel recalls. “There was a two-year wait time. So, he came here and we drove an M4 rear wheel drive. Literally, as soon as we took the right turn (for) the test drive and as soon as he got on the throttle, he said, ‘Yeah, I’m going to order this.’
“I sat with him for like two hours, and he had never really been a BMW person,” Patel continued. “I was like, pick this option, take that option -- don’t take that one. I had helped him option everything and he went with them, it felt like I was getting the car. I did tell him, if I were to order one, he was pretty spot on (with what I would have ordered). It was a super cool experience. Even today, we still talk. He just told me he’s upgrading the pads for track use, and he’s enjoying the car like how it’s meant to be.”
It was one of many, special moments Patel has had throughout his career. A Hendrick Automotive Group teammate who’s thankful he is able to live out his dreams on a daily basis.
“It’s a privilege to work here,” Patel said. “Being able to get these cars, drive them on a daily basis, sell them to people. I hardly have words for it.
“This never gets old,” Patel continued. “I have always loved cars from day one. Ever since I was little, all I did was play around with toy cars. That’s all I ever asked for.”
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Thank you for sharing your story with us, Jay!
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