Euro Delivery F80 M3

[Maddict3]

very cool, congrats

[stressdoc]

So another cool thing was getting my car delivered at the Welt With a FULL TANK OF GAS!

[stressdoc]

Looks like the Independence II for me...
Voyage Information
Shipping Line
WWL
Booking Number
DEBRH1240131
Voyage ID
CA436
Vessel
INDEPENDENCE II
Port Of Loading
BREMERHAVEN
Departure Date (dd/mm/yyyy)
02/09/2014
Bill Of Lading
DE1459669
Destination Date (dd/mm/yyyy)

[stressdoc]

Cargo ID : WBS3C9C5XFP803293 Current Status:
(DD-MM-YYYY HH:MM:SS) LOADED ON VESSEL 01-09-2014 18:47:32 Location: BREMERHAVEN

DEBRH1240131 INDEPENDENCE II CA436-INC BREMERHAVEN 02-09-2014 NEW YORK, NY 17-09-2014 1

LOADED ON VESSEL BREMERHAVEN 01-09-2014 18:47:32 1
RECEIVED AT TERMINAL BREMERHAVEN 29-08-2014 07:56:04 1
BOOKED BREMERHAVEN 22-08-2014 22:25:34 1

Update: Independence II left Bremerhaven, half-way to Gothenburg by 8AM CDT.
Update: Docked at Gothenburg, soon to be putting Volvo trucks and the like beneath her decks. Off to Verbrugge late afternoon.
Update: Thurs Sept 4 6PM CDT almost to Zerbrugge, hope it is a quick stop!
Update: Tues Sept 9 6AM CDT out of Southampton, into the Atlantic! Godspeed to Halifax... Due in Sept 16, then NY on the 18th...
Update: Monday Sept 15 4PM CDT just outside Halifax!
Update: Thurs Sept 18 2AM CDT almost into NY/NJ harbor. Not long now baby!
Update: Thurs Sept 18 11AM CDT in the Hudson, waiting for tug to take her to dock.
Update: Sat Sept 21 logged in as "in finishing touches" at VPC, scheduled dealer arrival Sept 28.
Update: Mon Sept 29 still no car... waiting to hear where it is.
Update: Oct 4 dealer told car needed tiny scratch on rim (my bad) fixed at VPC -- maybe replaced wheel? Grrr I am getting antsy, how long can it take to replace a wheel? Ten minutes? Surely not two weeks...
Update: Oct 15 problem with 19" wheel supply delayed release. Unfortunate that it had to spend over three weeks at VPC...

[Diver]

Great travel photo series.

[Powerbeast]

The food

[stressdoc]

Originally Posted by Powerbeast

The food

The wine

[stressdoc]

Originally Posted by Powerbeast

The food

The Beast!

[woltersjason]

Small world, Clayton at Machens was telling me not too long ago someone is doing a YMB M3 ED through them, I was curious if I'd see it on here. Congrats on the M3!

[stressdoc]

Originally Posted by woltersjason

Small world, Clayton at Machens was telling me not too long ago someone is doing a YMB M3 ED through them, I was curious if I'd see it on here. Congrats on the M3!

Thanks! We should get the Columbia crew together at some point.

[Damasconian]

Well done Stressdoc! I cant wait for my trip, we leave in 19 days.

My question is about the NAV system. In my welcome package, they said cars bound for the US will be given a flashdisk with the European maps on them. Does that mean you have to actually download them into the GPS system during pick-up or did your car already come with the maps in place? Also, I was told the US cars would get the US maps put back in at the port of import, in my case Georgia.

Im nervous and excited all at once. Your pictures we're great.

[John Tanglewood]

My finacee keeps telling me I am ridiculous for wanting to have European delivery. However she loves wine, cheese, and castles. I will now show her this thread and victory will be mine.

Thank you and great pics!

[Sektion9]

^haha, should make for an easy win!

[StealYourFace]

I love it. Some day! This is the only way I can justify a new car!

[stressdoc]

There is a new system: the Euro maps are loaded directly, so no more hassle with flashdrive. And while I am no expert on NAV, my experience with it was phenomenal. Exact, precise, clear, timing spot on. Then when your car gets back to USA, they reprogram. That has been slowing flow through the VPC, but hopefully that is getting sorted out.

In regard to being excited/nervous, I highly recommend spending a couple days minimum in Munich before you pick up your car. Take the time to recover from jet lag -- never ever drive groggy!!! -- relax, get used to the new environment, pick up a few phrases in German, eat like royalty, walk and walk, tour museums, hang out in Englischergarten, whatever. Munich is an incredible place. There are great deals on airbnb or if you want a hotel there are lots of affordable options.

Originally Posted by Damasconian

Well done Stressdoc! I cant wait for my trip, we leave in 19 days.

My question is about the NAV system. In my welcome package, they said cars bound for the US will be given a flashdisk with the European maps on them. Does that mean you have to actually download them into the GPS system during pick-up or did your car already come with the maps in place? Also, I was told the US cars would get the US maps put back in at the port of import, in my case Georgia.

Im nervous and excited all at once. Your pictures we're great.

[L27]

Congratulations!
Thanks for sharing these amazing pictures

[dclowd9901]

Originally Posted by stressdoc

So another cool thing was getting my car delivered at the Welt With a FULL TANK OF GAS!

Do they do this with every car?

Also, I'm hearing some murmurings of delays returning the car because of trouble getting the US maps back on the Nav -- have you heard anything from VDC or your CA about that?

[stressdoc]

Originally Posted by John Tanglewood

My finacee keeps telling me I am ridiculous for wanting to have European delivery. However she loves wine, cheese, and castles. I will now show her this thread and victory will be mine.

Thank you and great pics!

Ooooh yeah, and long term win win win! She will love you even more for providing such a cool time. Key is do not ever allow your anxieties to mess with a fun time. Scrape a rim? Don't worry. Traffic intense? Just enjoy some Mozart. Can't find little street at airport to Kempinski / Loginout? Just relax, it's all OK. And for sure give yourself time to try out surfing at the airport. Just do it as a team, be a confident risk-taking fun guy.

[stressdoc]

Originally Posted by StealYourFace

I love it. Some day! This is the only way I can justify a new car!

Me too - it takes a great new model at the right time, then the savings.

[Damasconian]

Originally Posted by stressdoc

There is a new system: the Euro maps are loaded directly, so no more hassle with flashdrive. And while I am no expert on NAV, my experience with it was phenomenal. Exact, precise, clear, timing spot on. Then when your car gets back to USA, they reprogram. That has been slowing flow through the VPC, but hopefully that is getting sorted out.

In regard to being excited/nervous, I highly recommend spending a couple days minimum in Munich before you pick up your car. Take the time to recover from jet lag -- never ever drive groggy!!! -- relax, get used to the new environment, pick up a few phrases in German, eat like royalty, walk and walk, tour museums, hang out in Englischergarten, whatever. Munich is an incredible place. There are great deals on airbnb or if you want a hotel there are lots of affordable options.

Great info, thanks for sharing. I am happy you had such a good time.

We didn't realize it when we planned the trip, but we will be flying into Munich right in the middle of Octoberfest. We land Wednesday morning and plan to explore Munich. Hotel is in the Olympic park, 850 meters away from BMW (not planned btw, just lucky). Pick up the car Thursday afternoon and plan on spending most of that day with BMW. We leave to Fussen on Friday, then two days in Lucerne, Switzerland. From Lucerne we drive to Paris where I have a conference Oct 1 & 2. That is where the car will get dropped off, hopefully will be back home safe by Dec 1st.

I really wanted to stay in Salzburg Austria but couldn't squeeze in the time. I guess we can save that for ED #2 many years away.

I also read your review and while it was very informative, it didnt seem like you LOVED the car. Did I get the wrong vibe or is it not what you expected?

[Denk]

Awesome trip, makes me miss Europe! Thanks for posting and congrats on your new M3!

[jskrilla]

Phenomenal post, great pictures. Glad you enjoyed yourself and goodluck with your YMB m3!