Three Generations of the Scharmach Family, One BMW Dealership
BMW Northwest traces back to 1968, when Werner Scharmach became BMW's first authorized retailer in western Washington. More than five decades later, it's still family-owned — now led by the second and third generations of the same family that started it.
The Fast Answer: Who Owns BMW Northwest?
BMW Northwest is owned by the Scharmach family, part of the family-owned Scharmach Automotive Group. Werner Scharmach, a German immigrant mechanic, became BMW's first authorized retailer in western Washington in 1968. His son, Manfred Scharmach, took over as owner and president in the early 2000s, and Manfred's daughter, Madeleine McEntyre, is now involved in the business as well — making BMW Northwest the only family-owned BMW dealership in western Washington and one of the oldest BMW dealerships in the country.
From a German Mechanic's Garage to BMW's First Western Washington Retailer
Werner Scharmach and his wife, Ida, emigrated from Germany and settled in the South Sound area in 1956. Werner worked as a mechanic before opening his own shop, European Motor Service, in Olympia — a garage that served British-made cars for the region's early import owners. In 1968, BMW approached Werner directly, asking him to become the brand's first authorized retailer in western Washington. That garage began selling new BMW 1600 and 2002 models out of downtown Olympia, and the dealership that would become BMW Northwest was born.
In 1979, Werner formally renamed the business BMW Northwest and relocated it to Lakewood. The dealership operated there until the early 1990s, when it moved to its current home along the I-5 corridor in Fife — the location BMW Northwest still serves Tacoma and South Puget Sound customers from today.
The lineup has changed a great deal since those first BMW 1600 and 2002 models rolled into the Olympia showroom — today's inventory spans everything from the compact 3 Series to the fully electric i5 — but the family running the dealership hasn't. Werner's granddaughter, Madeleine McEntyre, is now involved in the business her grandfather started nearly six decades ago, carrying the same family name into a very different era of BMW ownership.
Nearly Six Decades on One Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1956 | Werner and Ida Scharmach emigrate from Germany and settle in the South Sound area. |
| 1962 | Werner opens European Motor Service, a British car repair shop, in Olympia. |
| 1968 | BMW asks Werner to become its first authorized retailer in western Washington; the shop begins selling new BMW 1600 and 2002 models. |
| 1979 | The business is formally renamed BMW Northwest and relocates from Olympia to Lakewood. |
| Early 1990s | BMW Northwest relocates to its current location along the I-5 corridor in Fife. |
| Early 2000s | Manfred Scharmach, Werner's son, takes over as owner and president. |
| 2017 | BMW recognizes BMW Northwest's staff with its Center of Excellence designation for customer satisfaction and performance. |
| 2018 | BMW Northwest marks 50 years in business, remodels its Fife showroom into a 31,000+ square-foot Future Retail concept space, and is named Family Business of the Year by Seattle Business Magazine. |
| Today | Manfred's daughter, Madeleine McEntyre, is involved in the business — a third generation of the Scharmach family at BMW Northwest. |
Timeline reflects BMW Northwest's own published company history. Exact dates for early milestones are approximate, as documented by the dealership.
Why Family Ownership Still Matters Here
Most BMW dealerships in a market this size are owned by large multi-brand dealer groups. BMW Northwest is the exception: it's the only family-owned BMW dealership left in western Washington, run today by the same family that opened its doors as a BMW retailer in 1968. That continuity shows up in decisions a corporate-owned store doesn't always make the same way — from how long staff tend to stay, to how the dealership handles a customer relationship over years rather than a single transaction. Manfred Scharmach himself started at the dealership as a young salesman before eventually taking over as owner and president.
That long-term relationship style is also part of why BMW recognized BMW Northwest's staff with its Center of Excellence designation in 2017, an award tied specifically to customer satisfaction and service performance rather than sales volume alone.
BMW Northwest is also part of the wider Scharmach Automotive Group, which includes Seattle MINI and Tacoma MINI alongside BMW Northwest — all still under the same family's ownership across the Puget Sound region.
Family Owned Since 1968
One of the Oldest BMW Stores in the Country
BMW Northwest is one of the oldest continuously operating BMW dealerships in the United States, and the only family-owned BMW dealership in western Washington.
Community Roots
Rooted in the South Sound, Not Just Selling Cars There
When BMW Northwest marked its 50th anniversary in 2018, the family celebrated by donating $50,000 to local nonprofits chosen by their own employees — supporting causes from military veterans to homeless youth shelters.
Community Involvement Beyond the Showroom
Manfred and Lori Scharmach are personally active in the South Sound community, working with organizations including the Boys and Girls Club and Olive Crest, and they've launched a scholarship program through LeMay's RPM Foundation to support automotive students at Clover Park Technical College — a direct investment in the next generation of technicians in the region.
BMW Northwest also maintains a longstanding commitment to the area's military community, given its proximity to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, supporting service members and military families who make up a meaningful part of the South Puget Sound customer base.
What This History Means for You as a Customer
Factory-Trained, Long-Tenured Staff
A family-run dealership tends to keep its people longer, which means the sales and service advisors you work with today are often the same ones you'll see on your next visit.
German Roots, Local Focus
Werner Scharmach's own background as a German mechanic is baked into how the dealership approaches BMW ownership — genuine parts, factory procedures, and a straightforward relationship with the brand.
Accountable to the Community, Not a Distant Owner
Decisions here are made by a family that lives in the South Sound region, not a corporate office managing dozens of stores from out of state.
Curious What the Dealership Actually Sells Today?
The history above explains how BMW Northwest got here, but the current lineup is what most shoppers actually want to see. Our guide to the BMW 3 Series, 4 Series, and 5 Series is a good starting point if you're comparing sedans, and our full team is profiled on the Meet the Team page if you'd like to know who you'll actually be working with.
Meet the Family Behind BMW Northwest
Come see why a family-owned dealership with nearly six decades of history still does things a little differently. Reach out to our team or stop by our Fife showroom.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns BMW Northwest?
BMW Northwest is owned by the Scharmach family. Werner Scharmach became BMW's first authorized retailer in western Washington in 1968, and his son Manfred Scharmach is the current owner and president.
How long has BMW Northwest been in business?
BMW Northwest traces back to 1968, when Werner Scharmach became BMW's first authorized dealer in western Washington — making it nearly six decades old and one of the longest-running BMW dealerships in the United States.
Is BMW Northwest family-owned?
Yes. BMW Northwest is the only family-owned BMW dealership in western Washington, still run by the Scharmach family across three generations.
Is BMW Northwest part of a larger dealer group?
BMW Northwest is part of the family-owned Scharmach Automotive Group, which also includes Seattle MINI and Tacoma MINI, all under the same family's ownership.
Where is BMW Northwest located?
BMW Northwest is located along the I-5 corridor in Fife, Washington, serving the greater Tacoma and South Puget Sound area. See our hours and directions page for exact location and current hours.
Is BMW Northwest involved in the local community?
Yes. Manfred and Lori Scharmach are active with organizations including the Boys and Girls Club and Olive Crest, and the dealership has funded a scholarship program through LeMay's RPM Foundation for automotive students at Clover Park Technical College. BMW Northwest also maintains close ties to the military community around Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
Has BMW Northwest won any customer service awards?
Yes. BMW recognized BMW Northwest's staff with its Center of Excellence designation in 2017, an award tied to customer satisfaction and service performance. Seattle Business Magazine also named Scharmach Enterprises its Family Business of the Year in 2018.