German Car Forum

The "expression of joy" advert featuring the blue BMW Z4 making paint trails with it's wheels has been banned in Australia.

"BMW has been running an international television commercial in most major markets across the globe since the launch of its new Z4 roadster.

However the TV advert, which depicts a Z4 convertible driving around inside a warehouse with paint on its wheels, has drawn two complaints in Australia and has been subsequently removed.

The first complaint reads: "I would like to make a complain (sic) about and advertisement on Channel 9 screened on 12 May 09. I am referring to the BMW car advertisement that I believe would encourage car "Hoons" to spin and burn their tyres on public roads. You will have to see the full add to understand my complaint and argument. I have already complained to Channel 9."

The second complaint reads: "This is a formal complaint regarding the BMW Z4. It appeared over the weekend on Foxtel. The vehicle is shown doing 4-wheel drifts (sustained loss of traction). You can see the tyre marks in red in the second image. This is a very serious driving offence in all Australian jurisdictions. The offense attracts heavy penalties and Demerit Points."

Australia is the only television market in the world where the advert has been banned, a fact that BMW Australia's PR & Corporate Communications Manager Toni Andreevski said was not surprising, considering that it only takes one complaint to force the Advertising Standards Bureau to take action.

Andreevski said he believed the banning of the advert on Australian television was an "overreaction", adding that BMW has a strong history of driver training in Australia."


BMW advert banned ? Car Reviews, News & Advice - CarPoint Australia

Those Aussie road safety legislators are seriously strict. Any infraction and demerit points / license removal is instantly enforced.

The majority of Aussie drivers view any irresponsibility on public roads as socially unacceptable - hence the predictable reaction from some of the more pious (and possibly anal-retentive) members of the public.

OMG it's only a freaking commercial!?

What are they, 5 years old? It is people like this that makes the world a worse and more dangerous place...

Do not get me started on this !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Years ago, the government or some road safety group set up the legislation to forbid car companies from showing their products being driven in an 'irresponsible'' manner, for example, a Toyota ad was banned years ago because it showed a Corolla doing handbrake turns in the middle of nowhere, and a Holden ad was banned because it was showing a ute doing donuts in the middle of an empty farm land.

As a result, all TV car ads in Australia either show them driving at a steady slow speed on a straight road, or completely stationary.

For some completely unexplainable reason, the organization responsible for this ban thinks these ads will influence the behavior of a driver on the road. This is yet another half arsed attempted at appearing to do something while avoiding doing the hard work and actually solve the problem. eg better licensing system, better driver education, and better and safer designed roads.

My friend recently got her license despite not knowing how to reverse turn her car, or distinguish the difference between the brake light or normal tail light at night time driving, nor does she know how to adjust her mirrors. She also failed to keep her car between the white lines, or drive straight, or brake at at the appropriate distance.

I simply cannot see how banning remotely interesting car advertisement can help us be better drivers if the RTA (road transport authority) is handing out licenses to incompetent drivers like my friend.

I am hoping these nut bag extremists won't start banning motorsport on TV but I am sure they are thinking about it.

Yeah, such "purists" usually completely miss the point ...

Just like the associations for whom the most problematic part of an 2-hour action or horror movie (with body count of 10+ etc) is a naked titty shown for 2 second.

http://www.caradvice.com.au/33882/bm...ing-ad-banned/

To whoever complained, and the ones who decided to ban this ad, get f*cked


edit: Ok I found the people responsible for banning this ad, have a look if you feel like it http://www.adstandards.com.au/pages/page15.asp

Ads are suppose to be funny, out of the ordinary etc. This is bloody stupid!

Are you kidding me?

Well, it sounds like that fear of trafic in your country is pretty well founded after all.

Funny Aussies I could see the U.S. jump the gun on this...

I bet the ones writing the complaints are mothers that fear their son will start drifting and power sliding after watching that commercial.

I wish I was kidding, I had a massive bet with her because I was 100% confident that she won't get it. However, somehow, miraculously she passed her licence test and she is already collecting a few 'battle scars' on her car, and the scary thing is she didn’t even know she hit something.

I can't speak for the entire country, but I do know surveys have confirmed Sydney has the worst drivers in Australia.

I do understand, but still think it's completely retarded
In freaking Australia of all places, where they have more space than probably anyone else in this world....

BMW Z4 ad banned

The Daily Telegraph | 29 June 2009



The Herald Sun reports Australia's advertising watchdog outlawed the ad for a BMW convertible because driving stunts shown in the clip would break Australian road rule laws.

The ad features the BMW Z4 coupe creating a giant artwork in a warehouse by driving with painted tyres, and includes the vehicle spinning its wheels and skidding.

....

"The board noted that the advertisement does depict in a number of places the driver intentionally allowing the wheels of the car to lose traction and perform ... a four-wheel drift," the bureau's judgment said.

BMW hit back, claiming it was art, not hooning.

"We believe the audience can distinguish between fantasy and reality," a statement from BMW to the board said.


Link to Full Article

There's a lot of complaining going on. So let me join in.

I would like to complain about the people on this thread who are complaining about Australians complaining about a TV advert. Maybe my complaint will get this website banned in Australia.

Boo! You have an Audi, they are the worst when it comes to depict driving with a good deal of discrepancy between wheel speed and the speed at which the vehicle is travelling.

Woops, my bad... I see there's already a thread on this.. I just didn't see it because I thought such news would be posted in the Z4 thread.

Anyhow, could one of the mods lock this thread.

My apologies.

If that happens, I will declare war on the Australian government, I am sure PanterroR will help me out

Well, I almost started that thread in this forum but decided against it, mainly because the story is about a BMW advert being banned. The fact that it features the Z4 is purely incidental.