BIMMERPOST Guide to Ordering and Tracking your BMW

Publius · 06-22-2021, 03:28 PM

There are several free websites where you can locate your ship when it's within ~20-40 nautical miles of a land station. Land-station AIS is only useful for telling you when the boat is moored or very near a port.

If you are a fanatic who wants to track your boat between ports—which it will be most of the journey—you need a satellite AIS service.

Others have mentioned:

Fleetmon: ~$300/month subscription, 14 day free trial. If your boat is traveling intercontinentally, 14 days isn't enough for the complete voyage, and the subscription price is prohibitive. But it works great for those 14 days.
MarineTraffic: The website isn't quite as informative as Fleetmon, but it does the job. To get the map to update properly, you have to re-search for your boat every time you want an update. A minor annoyance, but it works. They have a 7 day free trial, and for only $16.50/month (https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/onl...s/sat-flexible), you can track your boat by satellite.

If you sign up with these paid subscriptions just to get the free trial, don't forget to cancel your subscription before the trial ends. As others have mentioned, you can cancel the Fleetmon and MarineTraffic paid subscriptions immediately after you start the trials and still get the 14 or 7 days access.

If you're willing to pay $16.50-$33 for 1-2 months worth of subscription for stalking the boat carrying the vehicle you ordered, MarineTraffic is a great option.

If you are a true cheapskate (which your buying a BMW M argues against, unless you're spending your last $33 on the car), and your boat's going to be transiting for >14 days, free tracking requires you to sign up for multiple serial free trials. 14 days Fleetmon + 7 days MarineTraffic are probably enough for a voyage from Bremerhaven to the US East Coast, but won't get you through the Panama canal to the US West Coast. VTExplorer.com will give you a 3 day free trial, so now you're up to 20 days. Still not enough for many destinations.

I found a service that provides free satellite tracking, with no sign-up, no time limit, and no credit card required. MyShipTracking's free service provides only the most basic info, but does provide real-time satellite location updates. https://www.myshiptracking.com/

LukeM15 · 07-01-2021, 10:21 AM

Amazing post!!!

PinkIcculus · 07-26-2021, 11:13 AM

I have an X5 that entered production last week and says it will be complete "AUG 7th".

Hooray! - But I live in New Jersey / New York City area. So shipping from Europe is probably much longer than the U.S. Plant in South Carolina.

Anyone have insight? Or experience following this delivery on the East Coast US?

I REALLY can't wait. I have so many trips coming up and I need it.

LukeM15 · 07-26-2021, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PinkIcculus

I have an X5 that entered production last week and says it will be complete "AUG 7th".

Hooray! - But I live in New Jersey / New York City area. So shipping from Europe is probably much longer than the U.S. Plant in South Carolina.

Anyone have insight? Or experience following this delivery on the East Coast US?

I REALLY can't wait. I have so many trips coming up and I need it.

Should be fairly Quick since it’s build here in the US- congrats

PinkIcculus · 07-26-2021, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LukeM15

Should be fairly Quick since it’s build here in the US- congrats

Oh wow, you think? I assumed it was built here in the US but wasn't sure. I wonder how long it will take to get from South Carolina to NJ.

Wish I could fly down there and drive it up myself.

LukeM15 · 07-28-2021, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PinkIcculus

Oh wow, you think? I assumed it was built here in the US but wasn't sure. I wonder how long it will take to get from South Carolina to NJ.

Wish I could fly down there and drive it up myself.

Honestly not long since it only needs to be dispatched via truck to your dealer. That’s mostly a 1-2 day haul.

Ps. Idk if those cars need to stop at port also? Anyone knows

Arcades · 07-29-2021, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LukeM15

Honestly not long since it only needs to be dispatched via truck to your dealer. That’s mostly a 1-2 day haul.

Ps. Idk if those cars need to stop at port also? Anyone knows

There are some times reasons they are held at port for days or even a month plus. It is completely dependent on the car and the reason for it being held at port.

Some times they tell you the reason for it being held at port, some times they don't.

TitanNut88 · 10-26-2022, 10:41 AM

Guys, is this guide applicable for non-US cars? E.g. G87 M2 for Spain delivery.

Speeddemon96 · 03-29-2024, 04:19 AM

If we did not talk about pricing during ordering can we still negotiate pricing upon arrival? After all deposit is refundable when I asked. Not used to ordering cars lol last time I ordered one was an rs3 and only got 2k off.

leejak · 08-21-2025, 06:15 PM

I called BMW Genius today and was told my car left from the port in Zeebrugge....They did not yet have the name of the ship......anyone heard of Zeebrugge?....I guess I was expecting Bramerhaven.....

M3SQRD · 09-30-2025, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leejak

I called BMW Genius today and was told my car left from the port in Zeebrugge....They did not yet have the name of the ship......anyone heard of Zeebrugge?....I guess I was expecting Bramerhaven.....

FYI, you’re on the f80/f82/f83 forum and production ended with MY ‘20.

06-22-2021, 03:28 PM	#353
Publius New Member 29 Rep 23 Posts Drives: F93 M8 Comp, F10 M5, E39 M5 Join Date: May 2021 Location: California iTrader: (0)	Satellite ship tracking There are several free websites where you can locate your ship when it's within ~20-40 nautical miles of a land station. Land-station AIS is only useful for telling you when the boat is moored or very near a port. If you are a fanatic who wants to track your boat between ports—which it will be most of the journey—you need a satellite AIS service. Others have mentioned: Fleetmon: ~$300/month subscription, 14 day free trial. If your boat is traveling intercontinentally, 14 days isn't enough for the complete voyage, and the subscription price is prohibitive. But it works great for those 14 days. MarineTraffic: The website isn't quite as informative as Fleetmon, but it does the job. To get the map to update properly, you have to re-search for your boat every time you want an update. A minor annoyance, but it works. They have a 7 day free trial, and for only $16.50/month (https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/onl...s/sat-flexible), you can track your boat by satellite. If you sign up with these paid subscriptions just to get the free trial, don't forget to cancel your subscription before the trial ends. As others have mentioned, you can cancel the Fleetmon and MarineTraffic paid subscriptions immediately after you start the trials and still get the 14 or 7 days access. If you're willing to pay $16.50-$33 for 1-2 months worth of subscription for stalking the boat carrying the vehicle you ordered, MarineTraffic is a great option. If you are a true cheapskate (which your buying a BMW M argues against, unless you're spending your last $33 on the car), and your boat's going to be transiting for >14 days, free tracking requires you to sign up for multiple serial free trials. 14 days Fleetmon + 7 days MarineTraffic are probably enough for a voyage from Bremerhaven to the US East Coast, but won't get you through the Panama canal to the US West Coast. VTExplorer.com will give you a 3 day free trial, so now you're up to 20 days. Still not enough for many destinations. I found a service that provides free satellite tracking, with no sign-up, no time limit, and no credit card required. MyShipTracking's free service provides only the most basic info, but does provide real-time satellite location updates. https://www.myshiptracking.com/ Last edited by Publius; 06-23-2021 at 10:23 AM..
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07-01-2021, 10:21 AM	#354
LukeM15 Major 570 Rep 1,000 Posts Drives: M3 G80 Comp Xdrive Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Maryland iTrader: (5)	Amazing post!!!
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07-26-2021, 11:13 AM	#355
PinkIcculus New X5 Owner, Want To Mod It 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: X5, All the trims possible Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	Any way to tell if its built in US or Europe Plant? I have an X5 that entered production last week and says it will be complete "AUG 7th". Hooray! - But I live in New Jersey / New York City area. So shipping from Europe is probably much longer than the U.S. Plant in South Carolina. Anyone have insight? Or experience following this delivery on the East Coast US? I REALLY can't wait. I have so many trips coming up and I need it.
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10-26-2022, 10:41 AM	#360
TitanNut88 Private First Class 354 Rep 187 Posts Drives: M3Competition xDrive Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Barcelona iTrader: (0)	Guys, is this guide applicable for non-US cars? E.g. G87 M2 for Spain delivery.
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03-29-2024, 04:19 AM	#361
Speeddemon96 New Member 2 Rep 24 Posts Drives: Acura TLX TYPE S Join Date: Mar 2024 Location: Sfla iTrader: (0)	If we did not talk about pricing during ordering can we still negotiate pricing upon arrival? After all deposit is refundable when I asked. Not used to ordering cars lol last time I ordered one was an rs3 and only got 2k off.
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08-21-2025, 06:15 PM	#362
leejak Private First Class 65 Rep 178 Posts Drives: F12 6401ED, F32 428i, G22 M440 Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: So Cal iTrader: (0)	Zeebrugge? I called BMW Genius today and was told my car left from the port in Zeebrugge....They did not yet have the name of the ship......anyone heard of Zeebrugge?....I guess I was expecting Bramerhaven.....
	Appreciate 0 Quote