Ordered a stick, was delivered an automatic

Originally Posted by kjboyd

Curious how they are going to get xenon without premium?

2013s don't require premium.

This is a sad story and an unfortunate reminder that It is very important to be a well educated consumer. I've read about this same mistake a handful of times over the last few months. In each case, it appears that the CA made a mistake and was able to convince the purchaser that no mistake occurred until it was too late. I would suggest to anyone that wants a 6 speed, get a VIR and make sure ZMT is listed. And read these forums.

Wonderful attitude and approach, Sunil. I hope everything works out well for you and quickly.

Originally Posted by sunnyd13

2013s don't require premium.

Oh cool

If you go on any car configuration site, such as carsdirect.com and BMW's own US site, the default configuration is now the auto transmission. Manual is a no charge option.

Most dealers are incredibly incompetent. When I search for manual cars on such inventory sites as cars.com and autotrader.com, sometimes I see cars listed as manual, only to later find their first listed option to be the auto transmission

Originally Posted by sunnyd13

So I just went to pick up my stripped 2012 328. It has heated seats, BMW Assist and a manual transmission. That's it. Alpine White.

We filled out the paperwork and walked out to the car. It looked beautiful. We walked around it and got in to get the rundown from the dealer guy. He said, "So go ahead and start it.". I put my foot down, looking for the clutch. Nothing. I look right to the center console and see the auto transmission. F**k.

Needless to say, we didn't take delivery. They are looking to make good by us. They're looking for a similar vehicle, but I know that not a lot of people order a stripped F30 like we did.

After 8 weeks of waiting... I am disappointed to say the least.

I also extend my condolences. But this is one of my favorite themes: idiot salespeople who don't know their products. In this case, idiot salespeople selling fifty-thousand dollar cars.

The only way -- the ONLY way -- to make sure you get what you want is to not rely on the dealer. Instead, insist on getting a complete vehicle inquiry report when the car goes to status 112 (order accepted at AG). Couple that with a detailed walkthrough of the options list for the car. The downloadable specs clearly show that an AT is standard and an MT is an option.

That would mean any buyer would need to make sure that ZMT was on the build sheet because it is an option.

The dealer bozos talk a lot about service and product knowledge. Most of them don't know jack. They want you to think they do; they want to be respected as if they do. But they don't know squat.

It's a $50K game of caveat emptor.

I ran into a similar problem on my E92. I got one of the early ones, and it turns out the brochure was wrong about the shift paddles. The car was supposed to automatically include the steering wheel paddles when you chose the AT with the Sport Package. Mine didn't have the paddles when delivered. So, I ended up waiting 4 more weeks for another car with paddles which was otherwise identical to mine and my dealer managed to get on a swap. The only upside was that this car also had Sirius, which the dealer threw in for my trouble. I'll never regret waiting a little longer to get what I wanted. Of course, your dealer screwup was much worse than mine, but the sinking feeling at delivery was basically the same. To solve the brochure error, BMW ended up changing the order sheet so that the paddles, which were a $100 option, were now a "mandatory option" when you ordered AT with sport.

Wow, unbelievable. What is this, three or four times that this has happened now?

Out of curiosity, what would happen if this were an ED? Would you just be screwed out of a car to drive in Europe? Or I guess they'd just give you a loaner?

Originally Posted by desertpilot

Out of curiosity, what would happen if this were an ED? Would you just be screwed out of a car to drive in Europe? Or I guess they'd just give you a loaner?

I was actually wondering the same thing. I did ED for my e90. That would have been a complete nightmare (while this is just a plain old nightmare).

Originally Posted by desertpilot

Wow, unbelievable. What is this, three or four times that this has happened now?

Out of curiosity, what would happen if this were an ED? Would you just be screwed out of a car to drive in Europe? Or I guess they'd just give you a loaner?

From my memory of ED threads through the years, they will give you a loaner, build a car to your specs, and deliver it stateside ASAP.

extra $3000 for mucking you around

Originally Posted by voip-ninja

Obviously it was not what you ordered, but the 8AT is a really nice transmission. The dealer probably would have gotten corporate support to give you a ferocious discount on it, and that would be to their advantage too, because a stripped down car is harder for them to sell.

Can't see how it would be hard for them to sell. I'd imagine Someone stretching really far to get into an F30 would be willing to get it.

One other thing, as I'm the other guy in the Pittsburgh area that this happened to...
Once you get the VIN, use this VIN decoder:
http://www.rubmw.ru/vincode/eng/

Check specifically for the manual/auto component.

Originally Posted by Slythex

One other thing, as I'm the other guy in the Pittsburgh area that this happened to...
Once you get the VIN, use this VIN decoder:
http://www.rubmw.ru/vincode/eng/

Check specifically for the manual/auto component.

Awesome! Thanks for the link.

Originally Posted by jocamryn

Can't see how it would be hard for them to sell. I'd imagine Someone stretching really far to get into an F30 would be willing to get it.

My local dealer reports that they only ever order in cars with leather, moonroof, etc, (premium) at a minimum, and that they have a hard time selling stripped down cars.

In the US it is extremely uncommon to see a $40K car with manual seats, which is the case for the 2012 F30.

Oh man, that's terrible, I feel for ya. Awesome that your dealer seems to be cool about trying to do the right thing. I've never bought a new car, so I think I'd have a hard time avoiding options creep -- after all, if I were to buy a new car, it would be heavier than anything I had ever owned, and it already has all the wiring for all them fancy electronics, so what's a few thousand more for this and that, right? But I definitely understand wanting a stripped-down model.

I do wish BMW let us have cloth seats instead of the non-choice between fake leather and real leather.

It blows my mind that some dealers think they can order you the *wrong effing car* and that you'll just roll over and accept it, like it's not your money -- like they're doing you a FAVOR by selling you a car.

I guess it just means there are too many people out there with too much money who know nothing about cars, treat them as appliances, don't care how they drive, etc. Not to mention the status seekers who need to have the latest thing TODAY, want to be the first one on the block to have the right car, who cares if the color or transmission or options are wrong. On the other hand, I guess it's those yahoos with too much money that help fund development of cool cars we can enjoy too.

Originally Posted by voip-ninja

My local dealer reports that they only ever order in cars with leather, moonroof, etc, (premium) at a minimum, and that they have a hard time selling stripped down cars.

In the US it is extremely uncommon to see a $40K car with manual seats, which is the case for the 2012 F30.

I guess every market is different. My local dealer only sales stripped out, base F30s. Besides their initial allotment, they have only had base models on their lot. I guess their niche are cheap leases. When I talked with the dealer about 50 miles away he said he loved their policy, as he gets business from anyone wanting something more than a base model.

Originally Posted by gator15

I guess every market is different. My local dealer only sales stripped out, base F30s. Besides their initial allotment, they have only had base models on their lot. I guess their niche are cheap leases. When I talked with the dealer about 50 miles away he said he loved their policy, as he gets business from anyone wanting something more than a base model.

Even the advertised $399 lease special that BMW was running for the 328i was a base model + premium, which got you to leather power seats and a moon roof... I'm not sure why they would order models without premium since it will work out to something like a $35 a month price difference on a 36 month 36,000 mile lease.

Usually someone who is ordering a base model is someone who is buying the car for the long haul, doesn't appreciate the extras and sees little sense in paying for them.

I drove a base base 328i for a day in California and the low-rent manual adjustment seats were the single worst part of the experience.

Originally Posted by voip-ninja

Even the advertised $399 lease special that BMW was running for the 328i was a base model + premium, which got you to leather power seats and a moon roof... I'm not sure why they would order models without premium since it will work out to something like a $35 a month price difference on a 36 month 36,000 mile lease.

Usually someone who is ordering a base model is someone who is buying the car for the long haul, doesn't appreciate the extras and sees little sense in paying for them.

I drove a base base 328i for a day in California and the low-rent manual adjustment seats were the single worst part of the experience.

I think the most wanted 328 is generally a mid-spec'd model.

My dealer has a loaded 328 that has been on their lot since the first day they had F30s. It was part of their initial allotment. They said no one wants to pay $50k for a loaded 328. Most of those people are buying 335s.

I think the same is true of the stripped end of the spectrum. I think most people want something in the middle.

I can definitely afford something more in the sweet spot, but I also had to convince my wife that we needed this when she's happy with us just getting a GTI. As an past e90 owner, I know that the most important thing was the engine, transmission and build quality. I got that at the level I bought at.

Originally Posted by voip-ninja

I drove a base base 328i for a day in California and the low-rent manual adjustment seats were the single worst part of the experience.

Are they any different from the non-sport power seats?

My M Coupe is the only car I've ever owned with 'power' seats, and even then, it's only the seat bottom forward/back, and some up-down (the recline is manual).

I definitely like *good* seats (sport seats are a must... the M Coupe seats are pretty good, the Miata seats are flat as a board.. grr), but power is not a necessity.

I admit if it was my $50k I'd opt for the power seats, but honestly, I just set it and forget it. The best part of power seats is seat memory, but I'd never pay a valet to drive my car for me, and the girlfriend doesn't seem to want to drive anything I own..

For those who worry about reliability, though... well, the only seat failure I've ever had was in the recline on the M Coupe! That's right, the manual adjusters failed, while the electric motors are still going strong.

Originally Posted by reidconti

I guess it just means there are too many people out there with too much money who know nothing about cars, treat them as appliances, don't care how they drive, etc.

So true. I used to work for a company in London where most staff could choose a company car of any make/spec within a certain budget. I would spend months researching mine, but many of my colleagues just told told the fleet manager to just pick something for them!

Originally Posted by reidconti

Are they any different from the non-sport power seats?

My M Coupe is the only car I've ever owned with 'power' seats, and even then, it's only the seat bottom forward/back, and some up-down (the recline is manual).

I definitely like *good* seats (sport seats are a must... the M Coupe seats are pretty good, the Miata seats are flat as a board.. grr), but power is not a necessity.

I admit if it was my $50k I'd opt for the power seats, but honestly, I just set it and forget it. The best part of power seats is seat memory, but I'd never pay a valet to drive my car for me, and the girlfriend doesn't seem to want to drive anything I own..

For those who worry about reliability, though... well, the only seat failure I've ever had was in the recline on the M Coupe! That's right, the manual adjusters failed, while the electric motors are still going strong.

Interestingly the manual driver's seat on the rental F30 was broken the incline latch adjustment didn't work properly, you had to force the whole seat to get it to move, which was pretty lousy in a $40,000 car.

Originally Posted by sunnyd13

I think the most wanted 328 is generally a mid-spec'd model.

My dealer has a loaded 328 that has been on their lot since the first day they had F30s. It was part of their initial allotment. They said no one wants to pay $50k for a loaded 328. Most of those people are buying 335s.

I think the same is true of the stripped end of the spectrum. I think most people want something in the middle.

I can definitely afford something more in the sweet spot, but I also had to convince my wife that we needed this when she's happy with us just getting a GTI. As an past e90 owner, I know that the most important thing was the engine, transmission and build quality. I got that at the level I bought at.

No question you are absolutely correct. People want their heated leather seats, moonroof and Nav, and that's about it.

I will more than happily pay for adaptive suspension, parking sensors, etc, but the average person either doesn't care about those things, or can't handle an eight week weight to get them on a special order.

I am still amazed that there are people out there that go into a dealership and pick from what is on the lot. Ick.

Originally Posted by voip-ninja

I am still amazed that there are people out there that go into a dealership and pick from what is on the lot. Ick.

Precisely this. It blows my mind that people care *so little* about where their $50k goes that they'll take the "this is all we have" line. And for what, a bit of a break on the price, and to have your new status symbol sooner?

Hell, from what I've seen here, people are able to negotiate the price on their ordered cars to.. well, pretty much the same as an off-the-lot special.

Well, I was talking to my CA when I put my order in and he was explaining that one of his clients has been leasing a new 3 series every 3 years for the past 12 years. Recently her lease was up, she had completely forgotten about it, and simply asked him what color cars he had on the lot and then picked one based on that.

I'm sure if she had worked with BMW Finance they would have let her go month to month on her lease for at least another 2-3 months while a new car came in, but whatever.