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      08-30-2011, 04:34 AM   #1
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Cool BMW Fanatic Benjamin Goh: From Green Hell in F10 M5 to Singapore

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BMW Fanatic Benjamin Goh: From Green Hell in F10 M5 to Singapore
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Earlier this month, M-Power.com invited six lucky customers from all-over the world to the Ring and let them experience and drive the new BMW M5 (see the video and our thread HERE). One of them was Benjamin Goh from Singapore. Judging from his enthusastic comments in said video, there was little doubt that Benjamin was a true car enthusiast. M-Power.com visited him in Singapore and chronicled the event, which leaves no doubt he's a car fanatic.

Just to name a few cars Benjamin owns, the following report includes photos of an M3 GTS, a 1M, a Lamborghini Gallardo and a just-delivered Ferrari 458. Oh yea, and he's got no less than two BMW M5s on order.

Enjoy the report and head over to M-Power.com for more photos. If you now think his invitation to the M5 event was set up, you'd be wrong. Benjamin registered at M-Power.com for the M5 fly-and-drive just like everyone else.

Also make sure to follow our complete BMW M5 coverage here: http://www.bimmerpost.com/m5/f10m5/


From Green Hell to Singapore: Benjamin Goh drove the new BMW M5 - we've visited him in his hometown Singapore.


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"It's my passion for cars that drives me." Benjamin Goh looks back at the road. "I'm a petrol head."

Ben was one of the participants in the "BMW M5 Green Hell Fly&Drive" event (see the video: CLICK)

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We wanted to find out more about Ben and after the event we visited him in Singapore.

Benjamin is 43 years of age and we begin to see what he means when he says he is driven by passion. Wherever we are, Ben is at work.

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Ben's iPhone rings constantly and he conducts his calls in any one of five languages. Even during a call we hear the "bling" of the phone to say a new message has been received which he then has to answer.

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Ben in front of his company Benz Pte Ltd. in Singapore.

Ben's IT company Benz Pte Ltd. employs six top-qualified experts and specialises in the complete conception and realisation of house automation. Ben's customers can press a button or use their iPhone ...

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... to access perfectly configured control programs for light, air conditioning etc. according to selected scenarios.

As we look around Ben's office, we again see evidence of Ben's passion.

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Ben shows us a picture of his first BMW M automobile, a BMW M3 of the "E46" series. He smiles, saying; "Since that one I have collected all the BMW M models in my garage."

One of the cars Ben currently drives is the BMW M 3 GTS with the serial number 66, as indicated by various accessory items in his office.

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On another floor of the building, Ben shows us the premises of another company of his, Benz Motorsport.

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It enters its own kart in the Singapore Karting Championships (SKC) series in Singapore, supporting up-and-coming young drivers.

Ben himself is also a passionate racing driver and proudly told us that he came in first in a rain race the previous weekend.

What does Ben's wife Cyntia think of his passion for cars and motor racing? "She worries when I get injured as I did in a race last year, and she thinks I spend too much money on cars," says Ben. "But she's a very good driver herself."

Ben's collection of cars is very impressive. In addition to a Lamborghini Gallado "Valentino Balboni" he also has a Ferrari 458 which arrives new during the course of our visit.

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"But the high-performance BMW M automobiles have the most special place in my heart," says Ben. As one would expect, he also takes his BMW M3 GTS out on the race track.

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At the moment Benjamin drives his BMW 1 Series M coupé most. "I love this car," says Ben. "It is small and compact but it has everything a sports car needs." Benjamin's BMW 1 Series M Coupé is black and dispenses with chrome parts entirely.

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He even convinced his partner to buy a BMW 1 Series M Coupé as well . Ben points to the white M automobile bearing stickers in BMW M Motorsport colours.

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While we are out and about in Singapore with Ben,...

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... we discover that a licence is required to purchase a car - the so-called COE (Certificate of Entitlement). State regulations make cars extremely expensive in Singapore. "A BMW 1 Series M Coupé costs 285,000 Singapore dollars (EUR 164,000), US $ 236,000), a BMW M3 costs SGD 400,000 and the BMW M3 GTS as much as SGD 650,000", says Ben to our surprise.

On the other hand, traffic in this city state situated on the equator is generally not too heavy.

Singapore offers a fascinating mixture of green space, impressive architecture - and beautiful cars.

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The new BMW 5 will be coming here in a few months time. "We have ordered two new BMW M5," Ben tells us, his eyes aglow. "They're both in Monte Carlo Blue with black interior fittings - one for myself and one on behalf of my god brother. The new BMW M5 is absolutely fascinating," says Ben enthusiastically He ought to know - he has already had the opportunity to drive one. (Video)

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      08-30-2011, 11:32 AM   #2
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Wow.. I'm not normally a fan of black on black.. but the 1m Black on Black (Glossy Rims) looks amazing.. I can't stop staring at it!!!! NICE!!!
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      08-30-2011, 11:37 AM   #3
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Man someone is loaded, those prices over there are insane! Anyways, beautiful pictures and cars!
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      08-30-2011, 11:41 AM   #4
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dam hes rich lol
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      08-30-2011, 11:51 AM   #5
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The man still needs two more (exotic) cars to enable him to drive a different car over the course of a week.
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      08-30-2011, 12:02 PM   #6
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Kudos to him for achieving such wealth, which has been appropriately spent on a true passion.
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      08-30-2011, 12:03 PM   #7
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He might be loaded, but more importantly, he has an excellent taste for performance cars. I approve! Glad to see he actually puts them to use, as well.
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      08-30-2011, 12:14 PM   #8
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It seems like all the people chosen to test drive the M5 are rich.

And congrats to him for living such a nice life.
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      08-30-2011, 12:36 PM   #9
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Very impressive
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      08-30-2011, 01:12 PM   #10
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I went to Singapore earlier this summer and boy..is it amazing there.

Saw a Buggatti and I can't imagine how much it would cost over there..maybe 5 million USD?
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      08-30-2011, 01:25 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jblack4083 View Post
It seems like all the people chosen to test drive the M5 are rich.
True, but highlighting wealthy, loyal BMW owners like Ben is a smart move. That is exactly the demographic for potential M5 owners. One of my good friends has had several M vehicles and the dealership calls him every time a new M is released because they know he will most likely purchase one. BMW is smart, and they know their customers well (especially the loyal ones with fat wallets).

Congrats to Ben on his success and ability to fund his passion.
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      08-30-2011, 01:27 PM   #12
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He is a proper car enthusiast. Wow. Baller. Glad he is able to afford his dream cars, even two at a time! F10 M5 must have been good for him to buy 2!
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      08-30-2011, 01:32 PM   #13
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Can we hear from ben a bit more about the m5? I have ordered one and am only really concerned with one thing - that the sound may not be up to much...? Anyone?
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      08-30-2011, 02:03 PM   #14
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Great garage and my congrats on balancing fun and success.

I wonder if Ben's "passion" - aka financial ability and sincere desire to collect - played into his selection to test drive the F10 M5?
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      08-30-2011, 02:48 PM   #15
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I need adoption Ben.
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      08-30-2011, 02:57 PM   #16
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Yeah, a petrol head indeed. WOWOWOW

1 M is €164,000 where he lives. Holy crap! Imagine the price of that Italia.
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      08-30-2011, 04:44 PM   #17
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Garage List
ok, so is this article about F10 M5 or some person?
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      08-30-2011, 05:19 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by njw View Post
True, but highlighting wealthy, loyal BMW owners like Ben is a smart move. That is exactly the demographic for potential M5 owners. One of my good friends has had several M vehicles and the dealership calls him every time a new M is released because they know he will most likely purchase one. BMW is smart, and they know their customers well (especially the loyal ones with fat wallets).

Congrats to Ben on his success and ability to fund his passion.
++1. Beat me to it. That was my thought when I saw the video. They know exactly what they are doing by honing in on a particular market niche that has a high probability of purchasing the vehicle while at the same time being able to appeal to everyone else as well.

Last edited by erio; 08-30-2011 at 08:28 PM..
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      08-30-2011, 06:23 PM   #19
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nice!
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      08-30-2011, 06:29 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by auggiem3 View Post
Great garage and my congrats on balancing fun and success.

I wonder if Ben's "passion" - aka financial ability and sincere desire to collect - played into his selection to test drive the F10 M5?
Of course it did. It is all marketing, there would be no point in putting someone that has to lease a 128i into a car that they can not afford. Rich people associate with other rich people, by letting him test drive one he not only bought two for himself but he is likely to tell his rich friends to buy one as well.
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      08-30-2011, 08:08 PM   #21
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Ben still has an RS5 which isn't mentioned here in the post. I'm from Singapore & have met Ben before a few times at our only karting track-our only permanent race track, actually- and he has a rather big ego.. Haha. A 458 italia here costs S$950000 (US$787000) bone stock while a 5 door 120i costs S$200000 ($165000) which is pretty scary.
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      08-30-2011, 08:45 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by phish_100 View Post
Can we hear from ben a bit more about the m5? I have ordered one and am only really concerned with one thing - that the sound may not be up to much...? Anyone?
I am not sure what you mean? Are you talking about the exhaust noise? Sounds good to me, especially with the Akra exhaust.
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