BIMMERPOST Guide to Ordering and Tracking your BMW

[mweine]

Originally Posted by 818M3

Wondering what the standard procedure is in regards to deposits on individual vehicles. Once a allocation is found and secured, an order is placed and the agreement is signed, at what point do we put down a deposit? Do we put anything up front or wait until we receive the actual car? Thanks

Dealers in Canada, at least where I live, require a deposit if the vehicle is a custom order with options that is not normally part of their inventory orders.

[///My5UV]

I had to put down a $2500 deposit on my individual color E90 to place the order. YMMV

[mweine]

Originally Posted by ///My5UV

I had to put down a $2500 deposit on my individual color E90 to place the order. YMMV

That makes sense.

[818M3]

Originally Posted by mweine

Dealers in Canada, at least where I live, require a deposit if the vehicle is a custom order with options that is not normally part of their inventory orders.

Originally Posted by ///My5UV

I had to put down a $2500 deposit on my individual color E90 to place the order. YMMV

Originally Posted by mweine

That makes sense.

So to clarify, the deposit is NOT considered or counted towards a down payment?

[///My5UV]

Deposits are almost always considered part of the down payment. Occasionally you’ll see a dealer charge a premium to hold an allocation for a hot new model and then it might be markup but I’ve never experienced that myself.
In fact on this non individual car I’m buying the dealer hasn’t even cashed my deposit check.

[DFW_M]

Originally Posted by ///My5UV

I had to put down a $2500 deposit on my individual color E90 to place the order. YMMV

got the tanzanite. My deposit was 1st month's payment ($959).
Other dealers asked for as much as $5k for individual color deposit.

Now the wait.

[818M3]

Would anyone be willing to walk through the whole process, from start to finish, when ordering individual I know there are sticky threads referencing this information but they seem a bit vague. I understand every order is unique and no two are the same, however this is something I am strongly considering in the near future so education myself would be paramount to a successful and smooth transaction. If any recommendations/shortcuts are out there, that would be great to make ease of ordering without doing tons of footwork. Another question is negotiating selling prices when it comes to individuals. How much leverage does one have? Any information would be much appreciated!

[HK4]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

What a long long wait for this special car. I cannot think of any other item I've highly anticipated in my entire life as I am at age 34 now.

Without this forum, the wait would have been even dreadfully longer. The tracking process was exactly on point, and I felt BMW genius was pretty accurate throughout the production process.

Nice job to BMWguy11 for this tracking post.

My advice is start early and search for dealer with allocation. Unfortunately when I placed the order, I did not even know what a production number or allocation was; however thankfully it only took just over a month before my dealer got their allocation for my vehicle.

Below is my timeline and a brief 50 mile review of my new M3.

July/August 2017 - inquired about the m3 at my local dealer over the phone, but at the time wasn't ready to commit (mind you he warned me of the 60-120 day process and encouraged me to start early - but I was stubborn)

Nov 24th - Went to my local dealer and placed order (no money down at this point, just signed a credit check application)

Dec 28th - Finally receive a production number
Jan 8th - Scheduled for production
Jan 12th - Production started
Jan 24th - Production completed
Feb 1st - Assigned and handed over to carrier (train from Regensberg)
Feb 5th - Arrived at port of Bremerhaven
Feb 7th - departed port of Bremerhaven on the "Dover Highway" (K-Line)
Feb 25th - arrived to port of Brunswick, GA
Feb 26th - at the VPC
Feb 27th - left VPC on truck to dealer
March 1st - arrived at dealer
March 2nd - picked up my new ride (Leased the vehicle)

M3, competition package, mineral grey metallic, sakir orange extended merino leather, manual transmission, stainless steel pedals, m performance door sills, blind spot assist, 437 black wheels.


Pictures do not do the vehicle justice until you actually sit inside and admire the finishing touches of the interior. Even the paint looks better in person and has this amazing luster I cannot get over.

Overall the MT M3 is incredible to drive. So much power and it just takes off.
This is my dream care and I am really, really impressed. Even my wife is impressed and see's why I was drooling over this car for months. I have two minor qualms, but don't read into it too much as this is my first luxury sports car. I drove a scion tc manual for 10 yrs and before that a 93 automatic Toyota corolla. So the way this car feels is entirely new.

My first qualms is about the overall ride. I got the 437 wheels not only for looks but for comfort and did not want low profile tires. Unfortunately I still am feeling a lot of the road underneath me no matter if it's in comfort, whether I'm driving aggressively, or taking it easy in the city. Maybe this will improve with time as the car continues the break in process.

Secondly while I love the sound of the engine, it's quite audible even at low RPMs. Didn't think the roar of the engine would be noticeable 60-80% of the time while driving.

These two qualms are very minute for me, and I absolutely love the vehicle. It stays planted, I don't sway on hard turns, it corners well, it's precise with steering, the clutch feels soft, the stick has that nice rubber click feeling, the interior smells fresh, and it's amazing to stare at. The software in the car is easy to use and not overly complicated. The i-drive system feels good in my hands. Oh and even while I'm governed at just over 300 hp for break in process, it's still wicked fast. Can't wait for that 1200 mile mark so they can let me loose.

[mike519]

In the original post, it was mentioned that once the car moves to 150 (build), things like options and colours may show as incorrect but that it would be corrected later. Might this apply to wheels?

I have an M240i that just hit build today I believe. Doing the VIN decoder thing shows the wheels as 436M's. I ordered 719M's and when I ask the dealer about it, they claim to have called Germany or someone to confirm the build shows 436M's but they insist they ordered 719M's correctly and have the docs to prove it.

Is it possible that these will be updated later as the OP indicated can happen with options?

Thx

[CachacoF80]

Can anyone explain what happens when the car is produced months ahead of ED? Does it simply sit in a lot cold, sad and lonely?

My Status is 150 and pick up date is in July!

[///M4ster Yoda]

Originally Posted by CachacoF80

Can anyone explain what happens when the car is produced months ahead of ED? Does it simply sit in a lot cold, sad and lonely?

My Status is 150 and pick up date is in July!

Yup. BMW stores the car in solitary confinement

[CachacoF80]

Originally Posted by ///M4ster Yoda

Yup. BMW stores the car in solitary confinement

Thanks! Hope it's covered and has good company 😀

[instarand]

Very excited about my new M3 on order. I called the GENIUS number, and they told me that my build date is "week 13" which was 3/25-3/31. I asked if this was completion date or start date, and the person told me start date.

The OP of this thread suggested that the build week was the completion date. Any idea what "week 13" really means?

Thanks all!

[Automotive Goals]

Originally Posted by instarand

Very excited about my new M3 on order. I called the GENIUS number, and they told me that my build date is "week 13" which was 3/25-3/31. I asked if this was completion date or start date, and the person told me start date.

The OP of this thread suggested that the build week was the completion date. Any idea what "week 13" really means?

Thanks all!

Its completion date! So your car should be done on Week 13. Some Genius personnel will tell you Start and some will say completion, but its always completion (at least for the past cars that I have ordered).

[///Mikey F80]

So my M3 ZCP is finished and was in port awaiting vessel (193) last Thursday or Friday (March 15th or 16th). All the M3s I have seen at my dealer and other dealers in the area have a Port of Entry of Baltimore so I assume mine will also be Baltimore (car was ordered from Zach @ Dreyer & Reinbold of Indianapolis).

After exploring schedules on all of the carrier websites, I believe my car will end up on a W&W vessel, most likely the Themis which departed Bremerhaven earlier today and will arrive in Baltimore on the 2nd of April. All the other companies don't have ships going to Baltimore leaving Bremerhaven until the 25th or early next week. I have a question for those whose vehicles have shipped via a W&W vessel...

In the original post in this thread he said on the W&W tracking website to enter the VIN in the "Cargo ID" field. But on the W&W website there is only Bill of Laiding number, Booking Number, and Customer Reference Number... Which of these is the correct one to use? So far my car isn't in the system yet and BMW Genius still has it in Port... So I'm hoping it made it out today or does on the next boat.

Thanks to anyone who can give clarification, I'm anxiously awaiting my childhood dream to come true here

///Mike

[Inhum4n]

Howdy,

Long time reader... first time poster!

Just got off the phone with BMW genius... My M4 is currently on the Orion Highway, en route to Galveston with estimated arrival of April 3. I'm getting some port-installed goodies (spoiler, lip, etc) and then it has to make it's way to Austin, TX.

My question is this... based on experience, when you do think it would arrive at the dealer? I have work travel in mid-April and I need to book my tickets this week... I can go either the week of 16th or 22nd. Trying to plan travel so that I have the highest likelihood of being in-town when the car gets here... Thought of it sitting at the dealer for a week while I am out of town makes me a sad panda :-(

Thanks,

- Ryan

[///My5UV]

It took a week for mine to get to Austin after the ship pulled into Galveston since they had to replace the bumper that was damaged in shipping. Then it took the dealer a day to prep it, and another day or two to get PPF and tint.
So the week of the 22nd is safest, but the 16th would also work fine if you have only one unexpected delay.

[smithf80]

Originally Posted by ///Mikey F80

In the original post in this thread he said on the W&W tracking website to enter the VIN in the "Cargo ID" field. But on the W&W website there is only Bill of Laiding number, Booking Number, and Customer Reference Number... Which of these is the correct one to use? So far my car isn't in the system yet and BMW Genius still has it in Port... So I'm hoping it made it out today or does on the next boat.

I noticed the same and then unfortunately found this on the WWL site:

Due to security concerns we have decided to remove the cargo id search functionality from our Track & Trace web page.

[///My5UV]

Yeah, they stopped doing that a long time ago. You basically have to wait for the ship name to hit the system. Or you can track every ship leaving Bremerhaven that stops at your port like I did

[scofflaw]

Originally Posted by drF80

got the tanzanite. My deposit was 1st month's payment ($959).
Other dealers asked for as much as $5k for individual color deposit.

Now the wait.

Good choice on the TB. I've had mine for about two months now and it's a beautiful color in all lights, and at night. Quite the head turner.

[smithf80]

Originally Posted by ///Mikey F80

In the original post in this thread he said on the W&W tracking website to enter the VIN in the "Cargo ID" field. But on the W&W website there is only Bill of Laiding number, Booking Number, and Customer Reference Number... Which of these is the correct one to use? So far my car isn't in the system yet and BMW Genius still has it in Port... So I'm hoping it made it out today or does on the next boat.


///Mike

Originally Posted by ///My5UV

Yeah, they stopped doing that a long time ago. You basically have to wait for the ship name to hit the system. Or you can track every ship leaving Bremerhaven that stops at your port like I did

I figured out a way to still track using Cargo ID.

[ksoze]

Originally Posted by smithf80

I figured out a way to still track using Cargo ID.

Mine sharing? I have the Vessel, Voyage No, bill of Lading and Xref No from dealer VIR.