M4 - Water Damage while in transit to the Performance Center

[M4CLT]

Hi All,

I recently completed European Delivery in December 2017 and I appreciate all the great info on the forum, including the sticky on Places to visit near Munich, the discussion about speeding tickets (I just got an Austrian ticket in the mail yesterday for 45 Euro), and the pricing thread.

I need feedback from the board on my M4, since it looks like it will have to be replaced by BMW.

I was scheduled to do PCD on my M4 next week, but got a voicemail from BMW NA (not my Dealer or PC) to call them right away. When I called them back, they indicated that a work order was being opened, and my PCD for next week would have to be cancelled. They are in the process of gathering more details from the PC, but it looks like after my M4 was released to the carrier at Brunswick VPC (last Friday) the driver neglected to close a window, and the car got interior water damage while being transported to the PCD. There was also a storm this past weekend.

The BMW NA rep stated that she already left a message for the Regional Rep for my West Coast Dealer because it looks like they will need to replace the M4. My Dealer got the news of the damage from me and the PC would not provide details to my Dealer other than telling them to contact BMW NA.

The BMW NA rep indicated during our phone call that she would work on finding a transportation solution for me. However, since my Dealer is on the West Coast she mentioned that might pose some constraints to get me a temporary car, but perhaps she could arrange for me to pick up a temporary car at the PC.

Since this was European Delivery - my payments started in late November 2017 and I leased through BMW FS.

I need guidance on logistics - my first thought is BMW will payoff my lease and need me to paper a new deal. My Dealer doesn’t have an M4 allocation right now, but the assumption is BMW will give them an extra allocation due to the circumstances. I wonder if North America will actually come through with a temporary car to pickup at the PC?

The car made it from Bremerhaven to Brunswick VPC without damage, had the break-in service done at the port, and I thought I would have it next week...

I appreciate everyone's feedback

Thanks,

M4 CLT

[aerostar]

I mean it looks like they're going to give you free transportation while you wait.

You will probably have your payments pushed up to when you receive the new car.

I don't really see any negative. I guess you'll have to wait for your car for another 1.5 months but you get a free rental you can kick the shit out of while you wait.

[Encanto]

Looks like a plan... except, any particular reason of picking up the temporary car at the PCD instead of BMWNA telling your local dealer to give you a loaner and then your new car delivered at the PCD?

[M4CLT]

BMW NA made it seem like they could make arrangements at the PC rather than force the local dealer (who isn’t the selling dealer) to accommodate me.

[FirstF80InSpace]

That sucks. On the bright side, when you get your new car, it won't be winter anymore.

[jjrandorin]

Originally Posted by M4CLT

Hi All,

I recently completed European Delivery in December 2017 and I appreciate all the great info on the forum, including the sticky on Places to visit near Munich, the discussion about speeding tickets (I just got an Austrian ticket in the mail yesterday for 45 Euro), and the pricing thread.

I need feedback from the board on my M4, since it looks like it will have to be replaced by BMW.

I was scheduled to do PCD on my M4 next week, but got a voicemail from BMW NA (not my Dealer or PC) to call them right away. When I called them back, they indicated that a work order was being opened, and my PCD for next week would have to be cancelled. They are in the process of gathering more details from the PC, but it looks like after my M4 was released to the carrier at Brunswick VPC (last Friday) the driver neglected to close a window, and the car got interior water damage while being transported to the PCD. There was also a storm this past weekend.

The BMW NA rep stated that she already left a message for the Regional Rep for my West Coast Dealer because it looks like they will need to replace the M4. My Dealer got the news of the damage from me and the PC would not provide details to my Dealer other than telling them to contact BMW NA.

The BMW NA rep indicated during our phone call that she would work on finding a transportation solution for me. However, since my Dealer is on the West Coast she mentioned that might pose some constraints to get me a temporary car, but perhaps she could arrange for me to pick up a temporary car at the PC.

Since this was European Delivery - my payments started in late November 2017 and I leased through BMW FS.

I need guidance on logistics - my first thought is BMW will payoff my lease and need me to paper a new deal. My Dealer doesn’t have an M4 allocation right now, but the assumption is BMW will give them an extra allocation due to the circumstances. I wonder if North America will actually come through with a temporary car to pickup at the PC?

The car made it from Bremerhaven to Brunswick VPC without damage, had the break-in service done at the port, and I thought I would have it next week...

I appreciate everyone's feedback

Thanks,

M4 CLT

They might not make you paper a new deal. Since you did a lease, they will likely do what they did for me when I had to turn in my X5 that had less than 2k miles on it and had electrical issues that couldnt be fixed.

They didnt want to "lemon" it and I just asked for a replacement X5, so they did what is called a "substitution of collateral".

What that is, basically is swapping the new VIN number into your old deal. BMW FS handles that for them, once its approved by a regional rep, and in my case, they had the Sales manager at my local servicing dealer jump through a bunch of hoops to get it submitted.

Note, that my servicing dealer was NOT my selling dealer. I leased the X5 from Crevier, and was having it serviced at BMW of Vista because that was close to my work (and crevier was not.. only went there because they had the car I wanted and the deal I wanted).

Anyway, on a substitution of collateral, nothing in your deal changes except the VIN. Same payment, same terms (so when I got my replacement car, i still had the 30k miles I was contracted for, but was now about 9 months into the lease, so obviously less issue with worrying about going over on miles).

The RV changes but your terms dont change. In my case, we had a loaner car from the servicing dealership... but in your case it sounds like they might be able to get you a loaner from the Performance Center.

I found out it was easier for them to deal with on a lease because they could do this substitution of collateral thing, vs if it was a purchase, they would have had to buy back the car etc.

When you talk to the rep, tell them since you are leasing you heard you might be able to get a 'substitution of collateral" so that your deal does not change, and you would like that.

(In my case I had a 72k X5, and then ordered a replacement X5 that was 75k and there was no change in my payments etc.)

The substitution of collateral paperwork stipulates that the car must be equal to or greater than the cost of the car it is replacing. It can not be less. I also swapped an X5 35i for an X5D so I know changing at least model TYPE was possible under this program.

They also even handled DMV registration etc (since you already paid it on the car at contracting in my case).

Hope that information helps. There is a whole thread over at bimmerfest about my situation in 2016 that if you want I can link you to, if you want to read it in more detail that I put here. PM me if you want a link to it.

good luck.

[M4CLT]

Thanks - this information is very helpful.

[MN2///M]

Good to know BMW is stepping up for you; been my experience over the last 15 years. If you are reasonable with them, they will do just about anything you want.

Have you considered doing the ED again? I sure would.

[M4CLT]

They terminated my existing lease and will paper a new deal.

The initial offer is for me to obtain a rental until the replacement M4 is received and BMW NA will reimburse for the expense. BMW NA will also waive three payments of the new lease. They said the Region does not have an additional car available and reimbursing me for a rental would put me in a car faster.

The new lease will be based on the European Delivery structure lease (left unspoken is the higher MF and another Acquisition Fee of $925) but there will be no Munich pickup.

I indicated that not having the option to do Munich pickup was not acceptable - I need to formally get back to them on my plan, including other concerns like the acquisition fee.

[aerostar]

Originally Posted by M4CLT

They terminated my existing lease and will paper a new deal.

The initial offer is for me to obtain a rental until the replacement M4 is received and BMW NA will reimburse for the expense. BMW NA will also waive three payments of the new lease. They said the Region does not have an additional car available and reimbursing me for a rental would put me in a car faster.

The new lease will be based on the European Delivery structure lease (left unspoken is the higher MF and another Acquisition Fee of $925) but there will be no Munich pickup.

I indicated that not having the option to do Munich pickup was not acceptable - I need to formally get back to them on my plan, including other concerns like the acquisition fee.

Eating 3 payments and giving you a car until you get your car is pretty good deal.

Even if it's just 2 payments due to the acquisition fee that's still a good deal.

[IK6SPEED]

Originally Posted by jjrandorin

They might not make you paper a new deal. Since you did a lease, they will likely do what they did for me when I had to turn in my X5 that had less than 2k miles on it and had electrical issues that couldnt be fixed.

They didnt want to "lemon" it and I just asked for a replacement X5, so they did what is called a "substitution of collateral".

What that is, basically is swapping the new VIN number into your old deal. BMW FS handles that for them, once its approved by a regional rep, and in my case, they had the Sales manager at my local servicing dealer jump through a bunch of hoops to get it submitted.

Note, that my servicing dealer was NOT my selling dealer. I leased the X5 from Crevier, and was having it serviced at BMW of Vista because that was close to my work (and crevier was not.. only went there because they had the car I wanted and the deal I wanted).

Anyway, on a substitution of collateral, nothing in your deal changes except the VIN. Same payment, same terms (so when I got my replacement car, i still had the 30k miles I was contracted for, but was now about 9 months into the lease, so obviously less issue with worrying about going over on miles).

The RV changes but your terms dont change. In my case, we had a loaner car from the servicing dealership... but in your case it sounds like they might be able to get you a loaner from the Performance Center.

I found out it was easier for them to deal with on a lease because they could do this substitution of collateral thing, vs if it was a purchase, they would have had to buy back the car etc.

When you talk to the rep, tell them since you are leasing you heard you might be able to get a 'substitution of collateral" so that your deal does not change, and you would like that.

(In my case I had a 72k X5, and then ordered a replacement X5 that was 75k and there was no change in my payments etc.)

The substitution of collateral paperwork stipulates that the car must be equal to or greater than the cost of the car it is replacing. It can not be less. I also swapped an X5 35i for an X5D so I know changing at least model TYPE was possible under this program.

They also even handled DMV registration etc (since you already paid it on the car at contracting in my case).

Hope that information helps. There is a whole thread over at bimmerfest about my situation in 2016 that if you want I can link you to, if you want to read it in more detail that I put here. PM me if you want a link to it.

good luck.

And BMW does not have to show the Car was Lemon Law buyback, passing it off to the next unsuspecting buyer.

New buyer would be forced to be told that prior to purchase if it was listed a such.

BMW avoided that in your situation.

[drexplode]

Glad to hear that BMW took care of you but sorry to hear about your car. I'm sure there is some amount of sentimental value considering the European trip.

[jjrandorin]

Originally Posted by IK6SPEED

And BMW does not have to show the Car was Lemon Law buyback, passing it off to the next unsuspecting buyer.

New buyer would be forced to be told that prior to purchase if it was listed a such.

BMW avoided that in your situation.

Yep.. I knew that (I knew they wanted to avoid that as well). I was "politely insistent" on "I would like a replacement X5.. I am not sour on BMW, just THIS one... and what would make me very happy and continue my loyalty to BMW is...."


I am sure my problem vehicle was "repaired" and sold as a low mileage CPO.

[dkhm3]

Originally Posted by IK6SPEED

And BMW does not have to show the Car was Lemon Law buyback, passing it off to the next unsuspecting buyer.

New buyer would be forced to be told that prior to purchase if it was listed a such.

BMW avoided that in your situation.

It is important to get service records of all cpo cars.

Never assume anything.

[Ibiza]

Originally Posted by dkhm3

It is important to get service records of all cpo cars.

Never assume anything.

Or to avoid all low mileage CPO vehicles and low mileage M vehicles which have been tracked at the PC.