BMW 2009 3-series coupe (e92) European Delivery Journey

Another quick update! And some VIN voodoo.

2009-02-22T22:05:00.002-05:00

Since Saturday, my calls to BMW NA always end with "Your vehicle is being transported to the point of exit." How long does it take to take a car 127 km (80 miles)? Three days? More? Geez, come on already! I want my car in Munich ready for delivery. Hehehe. Maybe I am a little impatient. Emphasize "a little".

I also did some research into the voodoo of VIN decoding. I found a few interesting websites:
This one didn't have any information about the new BMWs, but it can be useful for some.

Baueraihenarchiv also doesn't know about the youngest BMW offspring but I found it great for older VINs.

BMW VIN Equipment Codes had some nice info, but it has to be supplemented by the following info:
11th digit also denotes the following places of birth of a BMW:
A,F,K - Munich
E,J,P - Regensburg
V - Leipzig
N - Rosslyn South Africa

Autohaus Arizona can also help decipher your VIN. Great writeup! It is not BMW specific, and the description is color coded and features a great table!

Prodution completed!

2009-02-20T13:07:00.004-05:00

"Your vehicle production is complete and is waiting to be released to the carrier." - the voice on the other side of the telephone line made my heart race! It has been completed! Yay! The only thing left to do is to pick it up from Munich... and pay for it. :)

Other news: Purchase order has been signed and notarized (it is always great to have a Notary Public in your immediate family!). It has also been sent to my CA. The turnaround time: less than 20 hours.

Blog news: thanks to a friend of mine Peter, the blog has a new header image! Good job Peter, thanks!

Purchase Order arrived!

2009-02-19T13:54:00.004-05:00

Another day, another nice surprise from BMW!

I just got an email from my CA with a purchase order attached in a PDF format! It looks really official, with all the logos, fine print and my car with all the build options itemized. I have to sign it and notarize it before sending it snail-mail to my CA. There is only lease agreement left.

Quick update

2009-02-19T09:58:00.002-05:00

Just a quick post with a few details:

I just called BMW NA and here is what I heard: "Your vehicle is in the paint shop, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 19 2009" Yay, beautiful Crimson Red is being applied!

Yesterday I received a Fedex package from BMW NA with welcome materials for the European Delivery. Also included were some nice tags, for both of us. I am starting to feel like it is no longer smoke and mirrors, it is slowly materializing!

I have not signed any POs yet, but there is still time. I also have not finalized my lease through BMW FS. Two months MINUS one day from today...

Somebody pinch me, please!

[TRIP] Important Webites

2009-02-15T21:49:00.007-05:00

A few websites to keep handy:

1. At the very beginning, open an account with TripIt. It allows for tracking reservations, tickets and schedules by emailing them in and then viewing them online from anywhere, even when on the road, in Europe.

2. Plan your trip using an online map site, like Google Maps. An alternative to it is ViaMichelin, my personal favorite. It is in my opinion, more flexible, allowing choosing directions by the type of desired route: Recommended, Quickest, Shortest, Sightseeing and Economical. Just like Google Maps, it allows bookmarking trips, which can later be imported into TripIt.

3. When it is time to spend some money, it is best to spend as little as possible. First, the airfare, there are two options: Lufthansa offers 2-for-1 tickets, so during high season, it is most often the best option. Second ticket is free, only taxes and airport fees must be paid. Also, when booking with Lufthansa, using the promotion, the production number must be supplied and only 30 days before the departure the ticket will be issued and credit card charged.
The alternative is an aggregate fare search like Kayak. It searches through tens of websites, both wholesalers and individual airlines to find the best price. Highly recommended! All the reservations received can be forwarded to TripIt so they will be added nicely to the itinerary.

4. Now, that the groundwork is laid, tickets purchased, European Delivery scheduled, it is time to add some more content to the trip. Here are some websites: BMW own website with a section on European Delivery trips, Wikitravel is another favorite with facts and tips useful when traveling. Another one is TripAdvisor, an enormous community of travelers. Great source of information and subjective opinions, which sometimes need to be taken with a grain of salt.

It is just a beginning and a starting list of websites, I will be adding to it as the date gets near.

Got my VIN... and some doubts...

2009-02-13T22:19:00.002-05:00

I called BMW NA to check if they can tell me where my car is being built. The person on the other side apologized and said that this info was not available but, surprise surprise, he had my VIN which he gave me!

The problem arouse when I asked if it was normal to have my car being built so far in advance on this forum. The answers I got, especially from Irv made me worried. Unfortunately, Alex has his Blackberry turned off and the voicemail greeting says he is on vacation until next Wednesday. Oh well, while he enjoys his time off, I will be awaiting anxiously his return to confirm if everything is OK and on track. We will see, I am keeping my fingers crossed!

In production!

2009-02-13T15:19:00.004-05:00

I finally found my production number and re-enabled my BMW account. After typing in the number, the car of my choice popped up with a status just like you can see in the screen shot to the right. It turns out, my car is IN PRODUCTION already. Just to confirm, I called BMW NA at 1-800-831-1117 and asked a nice IVR system for "vehicle production status" and I was told that my car is in production since 2/11 and would be finished on 2/19. Just to confirm I opted to talk to the customer service representative who just confirmed what I just heard!

So, it is semi-assembled. Which is weird, as it is still over two months until pick-up. I guess they are not all that busy there and are my building my car as I type this! It also turned out what some say, that the car is built just a few days before Munich delivery. I will be calling daily to check on the status! I can't wait for the pickup.

I also decided to call a big family meeting (all two people) and dial-in the schedule, hotels and create a budget. I still have to find some time to do just that, but it is in the works!

Trip planning

2009-02-11T07:30:00.000-05:00

I am a bit behind in posting, but I will catch up so bear with me.

Now, that we are approved, we started putting together the itinerary. First, I opened an account with tripit. It turned out to be a good place to keep all your plans in one place. Also, using Google Maps and ViaMichelin we are putting together the trip with the following in mind:

- We leave on 4/16 on a non-stop from Newark, NJ.

- We pick up a car on 4/18.

- We drop it off on 5/2 and fly back to the States.

- I do not want to spend more than 6 hours behind a wheel on any given day.

- Every hotel should be less than 100 euro or less, with a good parking (covered preferred) and a breakfast! We figured, that is enough for a 3 star hotel with descent amenities. I will start a series of posts describing day-by-day plans.

I am still gathering ideas and searching form places to visit. If any of my readers has any recommendation, please leave a comment! Thanks!

Tickets!

2009-02-10T15:33:00.002-05:00

Tickets have been bought!

The time has come to block out vacations at work. We put our requests and got approved today. So, not to lose another minute, I called Lufthansa. I purchased two round-trip non-stop tickets from Newark, NJ to Munich, Germany. Yay! I still have to reconfirm them one month prior to departure and give Lufthansa the production number. If I decide to change anything, the tickets will get repriced. We got a great deal, about 40% cheaper than 2 non-stop, round-trip tickets on Orbitz.

Now, we can start packing.

How big is e92's trunk? Enough for my wife's luggage? I am totally unsure...

Third round

2009-02-10T07:30:00.003-05:00

Back in mid December '08 we decided to take another look at the BMW, since the 09s were in! We went to the local BMW dealer in Hartford, CT. After reading some disappointing reviews I didn't have high hopes when we arrived. It turned out I was right. The customer service was sub-par, car inventory was limited and we left the dealership with a bad vibe. The sales guy knew some facts about the car, but I got the feeling he was just doing his job, in fact didn't even drive a BMW (I guess he mentioned Porsche) and on top of this his communication skills were lacking.

We managed, however, to test drive the 328xi sedan and the 335xi coupe. We liked the sedan, it felt like a grown-up kind of car. And then there was a coupe. Great car for two people, wide doors, comfortable seats, awesome looking swooping roof line. It was much more hip and fun. We fell in love, my wife just nodded with a smile. I knew I was going to get it.

Then, on the New Year's eve I took a friend of mine, for a kind of peer review, and we test drove a BMW x-Series in the fresh, powdery, unplowed snow, and the combination of ABS, DSC and TC was magnificent. After about 20 minutes behind a wheel combined, we left with a great feel for the electronics in the vehicle in the snow. It felt playful and controllable. Predictable and safe. And I got an OK from my friend, he liked how it handled, praised tight turns and great grip.

We went back in and asked for a quote. I told I want to lease a 335xi coupe, with European Delivery, Premium, Sport and Cold Weather packages and some other little perks. The monthly payment came just shy of $1000. Way too much for me. I do not know how he arrived with that price, but in my opinion it was outrageous. I asked if there is any haggling possible, which met a firm "No" so I thanked politely and we were on our way. I haven't spoke with them since...

I guess, I appreciate Bimmerfest's philosophy, when it comes to choosing a dealer: try your local first, then try one of the board's sponsor. This is what I did and I am really satisfied.

Approved!

2009-02-09T10:33:00.007-05:00

Hehehe, I am so excited now.

On Saturday we learned that we got approved for a lease on a new 328xi with a delivery date of 4/18/2009.

On 1/12 I contacted Alex Dytko from BMW of Peabody, one of the sponsors of Bimmerfest. I have to admit, it was a slam dunk. After having such bad experience with the other guys, I didn't have high hopes, but Alex turned out to be very responsive, attentive to details and just plain down-to-earth guy. After exchanging couple emails and a few phone calls, we decided to go and check the place ourselves.

After about 1.5 hour drive we arrived at BMW of Peabody. Alex met us in the lobby, but he was with some other couple. We were invited to a beautiful waiting room with a flat screen TV and an unlimited supply of Coke and coffee. Then, Alex came and met us, we went to the parking lot, picked the color (Beige on Crimson Red) and returned to finish paperwork. We got our passports xeroxed and we filled out some paperwork, Credit Applications and such.

A week passes by with a few emails exchanged and couple documents scanned and emailed (BIG plus while working with a Internet/email/Blackberry addicted CA) and just last Saturday, I got an email you see above. We were on town, coming back from a dinner with friends and I decided to check my email. My heart skipped a bit, when I saw it. My wife smiled when she saw it, but we didn't spill the beans and we kept our mouths shut until the end of the night. Great news! Thanks Alex.

Accessorizing your BMW

2008-12-22T16:08:00.002-05:00

I know, I haven't written in a while. We abandoned the idea of doing European Delivery in 2008. First, 2008 e90 was not what I liked. I preferred to wait for the 2009. So, we did. And when it was available, it was too cold to pick it up in Europe. So, it has been rescheduled - for 2009, hopefully. With the economy in its current state I can't promise myself that. But I can hope. And I do.
Anyway, I know that there is nothing better than driving a BMW. Well, maybe one thing - driving a tricked-out Bimmer! And a really good place to get some OEM accessories for your 3-series is dealerfit. I have not purchased anything from them, but they look legit and I am planning on accessorizing my future ride. Leave a comment if you purchased from them before and what kind of experience you got out of it.

Post-delivery notes: Tracking your precious car

2008-07-08T13:59:00.002-04:00

Here is what I found on Bimmerfest. I can't wait when I will be able to use that website:

You can track your vehicle using the shipper's website. Then scroll down to Customer Tools, choose "Cargo Tracking". Once there, choose "Auto Cargo". Enter your complete VIN in the Cargo ID field and hit "Track". You will find the ship name and status of your car. You can then click on the ship (or voyage number, whichever it is) and you will see the schedule for your ship. If I remember, I think it takes anywhere from 18 to 21 days to reach the US. Your car will then go to the VPC and be processed and any minor defects repaired. I live in Maryland and my car arrived at my dealer just 2 days after it arrived at the port.

You can also search by ports. First choose "Schedules" under Customer Tools. Then click "Search by Ports". Origin country Germany, destination USA (of course). Choose Bremerhaven for origin, Baltimore for destination. Dates are specified in the European format dd/mm/yyyy. Today's date will be already there as the start date and you'll find the ships that are scheduled to leave Bremerhaven in the next week or so. Then if you click on the Voyage field it will show you the ship's schedule.

Places to see: Fuerstenfeldbruck Abbey

2008-07-08T13:41:00.004-04:00

I decided to post some places to see, while in Munich/Bavaria. I will expand on the selection, as time and my research progresses. Here is a first one:

A short 30-minute drive away from Munich lies Fuerstenfeldbruck. With its famous Fuerstenfeldbruck Abbey, it makes for a great, short drive. The main turist attraction is a cathedral, which supposedly is the best example of an European baroque. The number of ornaments is staggering, everything overburdened with colors and a light-color play. Can be interesting!

'09 e90 - worth waiting?

2008-07-08T12:33:00.006-04:00

Bimmerfile recently revealed some info about an upcoming 2009 LCI'd e90. It turns out a new e90 might get:
1. New iDrive - among a slew of new things, there are couple that I really crave:
- new iDrive Controller,
- high resolution Control Display,
- built in hard disc drive.

Current controller with two buttons and a knob is a little limiting, if not scary. I know you can get used to using it, but it is counter-intuitive and is more of an obstacle then a help. A new one is supposed to be accompanied by more buttons - acting as shortcuts to the most often-used functions: CD/cell phone/Navi. That is what I called: intuitive. Yet, anything is better than the current iNavi.

Another option that I am waiting for is a high resolution display, which should replace the current blurry, low-contrast LCD screen, which does not belong in an entry-level luxury car, where BMW positions e90 in. I got so used to my Axim's display, bright, clear and easily legible even in the full sun, that when I check out any OEM Navi I find them of inferior quality. Well, we will see, but it certainly looks promising.

A hard drive based navigation has became standard in the recent years, and it is a shame, that such a bread-and-butter model has just gotten a hard-drive based navi. Way to go BMW! Better late than never!

2. DCT - or dual-clutch transmission - I have driven a Jetta with their DSC and if BMW's version of a dual clutch is supposed be better and more refined - then it should be a blast to drive, especially with paddle shifters. Nearly instantaneous shifts with no momentum loss, mated with 230 hp under the hood should provide as much fun as you can only get, driving a BMW.

But, I need to confirm that with my CA. It would be worth waiting additional 1-2 weeks to get the LCI'd version of 328. I guess, I just need to wait and see.

Round Two

2008-06-23T13:12:00.003-04:00

Is it always a case where when you want to have everything done right away, you can't? Last week I called our CA at the local dealership and left a VM asking to call me back. I had a few questions regarding European Delivery program:

1. How long would I have to wait for a car? We were preliminarily planning on going to Europe in mid-September, just so we can say that we visited Oktoberfest (hello, Bier!), while the weather is still relatively mild but it is past the biggest tourist season there. I have been told 10-12 weeks, I haven't verified that information, but 10-12 weeks would put it around September 3-17. It seems like a good timing. But I was also told that it is still 'up in the air'.

2. I asked about the drop off points in Europe. I wanted to make sure, before I start dealing with Lufthansa that the drop-off point is reachable by air. I want to make sure I will be able to fly out and it would not cost me an arm and a leg. The answer I got was: "we will talk about it when you come in". We'll see...

3. I had a few questions about financing - most notably about fees associated with it. The answer I got was that it can be discussed when I sign the papers. That raised my eyebrow, but again, we will see...

4. I wanted my CA to confirm the free STEPTRONIC offer - I would be a great help, since that add-on is worth almost $1300. That has been confirmed. Good, that counts!

5. I also asked about any additional fees I might have overlooked: tax, title and license. I have been told, that the tax is regular 6% (CT), title and license fees are less than about a hundred dollars. But there was something else: A dealer conveyance fee of $399. Doesn't it look a bit outrageous? Then I checked Bimmerfest forums and found out that the $399 is pretty standard. I also found out that the law in CT is very precise as to what can be included. If they do not try a 'bait and switch' method and I know all the fees upfront, I will be happy. That is a big plus for me with using the Rizzo method.

6. Last question I had was about colors and trims combination. We wanted to make sure the choice we made looks as good on a computer screen as it does in person. I made an appointment to see my CA tomorrow. I will keep you posted!

1st post - Planning

2008-06-22T21:20:00.010-04:00

Greets!

Let's get introduced. My name is Dan and I live somewhere on the east coast of the US. I am married to Ela, my dearest wife. Anyway, enough of the formalities.

So we almost decided. On the car, of course. It was neither easy nor straightforward, but it was done.

First, I needed a new car. My trusted 2001 Nissan Sentra was already 7 years old and with 126,000 miles on the odometer I felt it was time to have it replaced. It was my first car and my daily driver since mile 37. I got it new, paid it off and put almost all the miles on that car. It still serves me well, but the time came.

First, I always admired diesel. For a little premium over regular gas, it provided great hp, excellent torque, while still achieving admirable MPG numbers. Unfortunately, the price of diesel went through the roof, and at present, you have only two models available with Diesel: an MB CDI and a VW Jetta. Mercedes is not anywhere close to my taste and the Jetta - well, all I have to say it was a disappointment. Recently posted MPG figures were not even in the ballpark of what I expected.

Before I settled on BMW, I tried various brands - I drove an Infinity FX, EX and G, and out of them all I liked FX the most, as both an EX and the G were way too small for me - I am over 6' 4" and of bigger frame. The FX was OK, but still felt like driving a beefed up Murano.

And then, one day - after I convinced my wife to go to a nearby BMW dealer - I test drove a 328xi and a 335xi back to back. I told the CA that I was not ready to purchase and he understood - surprisingly, he didn't push and we never spoke about any monetary figures. I went home and started doing more research - using Google. Soon, I found a great source - Bimmerfest forums.

After googling a bit, I found a wholesale price page that can be seen on the left here, and then, using the Rizzo method I priced my own BMW - a 328xi, with a few, very necessary options.

Ahhh, the Rizzo method - if you didn't know it existed, make yourself familiar now. It basically is a spreadsheet, like the one I attached to the right. It basically does what the CA is supposed to do - you list all the options, with prices, you add dealer profit on top of the invoice and you send it to as many dealerships as you can find. I see it as a double-edged sword: it puts a buyer in the drivers seat (pun not intended!), cause it is him who makes the rules. It also allows the buyer to control the 'rip-off' factor - check if the CA is not ripping him off. On the other hand, it prevents the buyer from establishing a partnership with a dealer, which can be beneficial. I think this method is beneficial to both parties - the buyer knows what he needs, and the CA is not bothered with strange questions from the buyer - it is either a 'yay' or a 'nay' answer. If it is 'yes' then the business can be done.

Anyway, here is the first post, please post your thoughts and your comments below. And in the next post I will try to justify my choice, why I chose 328 over 335, and then I will try to go into financing. See you soon!