BMW may be set to ask its UK dealers to establish separate Mini showrooms following the expansion of the brand's model range with the Mini One diesel and a convertible.

The rumour was circulating at last week's launch by BMW of its massive new £34m Used Car Centre in Munich – the largest used retail outlet the brand has yet opened.

Sited in a 18,000 m2 building with 4,000 m2 of outdoor display space, the new business aims to stock 1200 vehicles, mostly derived from BMW's own fleet.

BMW plans to offer used car buyers the same quality of experience offered in its other 11 wholly-owned new car retail centres in Germany.