ED delivery - custom order tires?

Does anyone know if BMW will fit all-season rubber on a sports pkg wheel (style 161 on the E90) through the ED program? I'd like to order the sports pkg because I am not fond of the 16 inch rims that come standard on the 325i (dumb reason, I know). I live in the midwest, and even though we don't get a ton of snow, for my purposes the all season tire would probably be a better fit for my driving. Just curious...if BMW doesn't do this out of the factory, I suppose I would just end up buying a set of winter rubber, and switch back and forth.

Originally Posted by E90 Enthusiast

1)Does anyone know if BMW will fit all-season rubber on a sports pkg wheel (style 161 on the E90) through the ED program? 2) I'd like to order the sports pkg because I am not fond of the 16 inch rims that come standard on the 325i (dumb reason, I know). I live in the midwest, and even though we don't get a ton of snow, for my purposes the all season tire would probably be a better fit for my driving. Just curious...if 3) BMW doesn't do this out of the factory, I suppose I would just end up buying a set of winter rubber, and switch back and forth.

Answers:

1) Yes, we know the answer.

2) No they will not do it.

3) That is your best option IMHO.

Hope this helps,

beewang

When I leased my 2002 530i, I got the sport package. It came with Dunlop SP Sport 2000 (summer perf. tires). I replaced those right away with Dunlop SP Sport 5000 (M+S perf tires). These worked well enough for year round driving in St. Louis, and when I turned the lease in three years later, I just threw the orignal tires back in the car so I wouldn't get charged for worn tires. I didn't even remount them - just tossed them in garbage bags in the trunk and back seat.

So if you're leasing, that's a possible option.

Thanks, dwette and beewang, good insights. I will be leasing so that is not a half bad idea about the tires...

found this old thread & thought it was worth asking again to see if any change in policy. if not, why not? it would seem if the car is being built to personals specs, putting a different oem tire on should be easy. i'm thinking of an Ed on a z4 but will need to use a winter tire if all seasons can't be oem at munich. i will be leasing so an investment of well over a grand for 3 seasons of use ddoesn't seem very cost effective.

Nothing has changed in 7 years - if it isn't on the list of BMW NA options,ie, on the website, you can't have it** As to why not, 1) the car was not certified for import with our DOT with your choice of tires and 2) BMW doesn't want/need/allow the complexity of your request.
If expense is your concern, do ED, have the car transported to LogInOut for 70 euro and rent a car with appropriate rubber while in Europe, rent the winter rubber for your Z4 while in Europe...or do USA delivery. ED isn't a one size fits all program; some personal situations dictate standard US delivery.

** there are a couple of exceptions, like special paint or upholstery but not tires or wheels. After the fiasco with "Mr I'm a Big Shot's" custom ED order you'd 1) better be able to pay cash up front and 2) have street cred.

dk

thanks for info. many CA's have merely shrugged their shoulders when i havs asked in the past. concern in not for driving in europe...it is for t he northeast winter commute as my daily driver. i can afford to buy a winter tire package but it seems a costly indulgence for a lease. i know, just grin & bear it if the z4 is what i want. maybe i''l do another 3 cab as long as there still is no definitive release date for 4 series

Originally Posted by gekisai29

found this old thread & thought it was worth asking again to see if any change in policy. if not, why not? it would seem if the car is being built to personals specs, putting a different oem tire on should be easy.....

Yes, but you may not take delivery of the car after it is built. BMW USA must be careful to order cars they can sell to someone else. Substituting all season tires might not help. On the other hand, I could well believe that special colors and upholstery would make a car more generally desirable.

Is BMW even allowing special orders these days with European Delivery? There's no mention of that in the ED wiki. I'm just curious.

Originally Posted by johnf

...
Is BMW even allowing special orders these days with European Delivery? There's no mention of that in the ED wiki. I'm just curious...

Nope!! No changes..

Originally Posted by gekisai29

found this old thread & thought it was worth asking again to see if any change in policy. if not, why not? it would seem if the car is being built to personals specs, putting a different oem tire on should be easy. i'm thinking of an Ed on a z4 but will need to use a winter tire if all seasons can't be oem at munich. i will be leasing so an investment of well over a grand for 3 seasons of use ddoesn't seem very cost effective.

Do you know if it's possible to get all-seasons on an ED F30?

As in, on the car as it came from the factory?

If all season tires are not standard, or an option in the price list, that would take a special order. As mentioned earlier, ED doesn't allow special orders.

Originally Posted by johnf

As mentioned earlier, ED doesn't allow special orders.

How do you explain this? - http://www.bimmerfest.com/news/64559...rozen-gray-m5/

It's not impossible, but it depends a lot on what you want. Colors and interiors are sometimes possible. Tires, wheels, cloth seats, electrical, etc. are usually not.

American English is apparently mutating before my eyes. Earlier, someone who I thought would know, said "Nope!!" to ED special orders, but that sometimes means "Yep!"?

Originally Posted by johnf

American English is apparently mutating before my eyes. Earlier, someone who I thought would know, said "Nope!!" to ED special orders, but that sometimes means "Yep!"?

The simple answer is there are no ED special orders in that any "special order" available is there for both ED and non-ED cars.

A better way to look at it, is ED cars can't be picked up at Welt with dealer-installed equipment, such as different tires or other accessories, because the car needs to be exactly as it rolled off the assembly line to match its customs paperwork.

There are 3 things in motion with special orders - what, when, who.

What - what you want to order; When - the policy changes with time it seems; Who - the level of expertise of who you are placing your order with.

At the end of the day, a great person to ask first is your CA. Post on the board as well what you want to do, and someone may have experience or information.

Originally Posted by cwsqbm

The simple answer is there are no ED special orders in that any "special order" available is there for both ED and non-ED cars.

Good rule of thumb.

except as indicated above i have asked several CAs on different occasions & all said they did not know but would ask. as to assembly line comment it makes sense but it would be that way with an ED

Originally Posted by chrischeung

There are 3 things in motion with special orders - what, when, who.

What - what you want to order; When - the policy changes with time it seems; Who - the level of expertise of who you are placing your order with.

At the end of the day, a great person to ask first is your CA. Post on the board as well what you want to do, and someone may have experience or information.

You need to understand the first response to a special order will likely be "NO". As stated above; you need a CA with a lot of experience, patience and connections to get it approved...and you will need a lot of $$$ and time.

I've done special colors on 2 ED's and minor interior changes; it took about 7 months from first discussion to Munich delivery so you really need to plan ahead.

The current policy seems stricter than it was a few years ago - in 2008/9 AG really needed to sell cars.

Or just be damn persistent like this guy. Looks like if you want to pull out all the stops, go directly to Garching. Apparently, BMW of Honolulu is up to speed on how to get it like you want it.



http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e63...vidual-m6.html

I think it's great that BMW USA is offering a Individual program, but really, I and probably and others don't need anything so fancy or demanding. I just wish I could order a car with particular options, rather than having someone else choose and bundle options they think I might want, and order for me. I gather my wish still can't be easily done.

As to tires, we discovered during my first ED that getting the car delivered with the tires I wanted, both in Munich and later in the U.S., was no problem. Getting everyone to approve was another matter! By then, I was running short of time, so I went with a quicker and more certain solution.

Never mind. I just realized that I was replying to the OP's 7 year old thread!

Originally Posted by johnf

I just wish I could order a car with particular options, rather than having someone else choose and bundle options they think I might want, and order for me. I gather my wish still can't be easily done.

I think you're only looking at this from your point of view.

At what cost? If BMW allowed a fully customized car, even with just parts off their worldwide shelf, that was fully developed, tested, supported by their tech systems, parts, dealerships regulations, training etc., for every market, the price would be astronomical. It's cheaper to get the car "off the shelf" then customize it yourself after delivery.

Put yourself in BMW's shoes. Every part on that car is something they are responsible for not just up to delivery, but until that car gets scrapped, and for every potential user, issue, and environment down the road.

Bottom line - we both have an opinion. But at the end of the day, we have to work with what is currently possible, not what is ideally possible.

while i appreciate all opinions & info i still am at a loss as to why a substitution of tires during assembly/delivery at theWelt should be a problem at my prior Ed the tire brand was done to suit my preference

Originally Posted by gekisai29

while i appreciate all opinions & info i still am at a loss as to why a substitution of tires during assembly/delivery at theWelt should be a problem at my prior Ed the tire brand was done to suit my preference

People, Process, Technology. Those things change - any one of them could have affected things. I doubt you'll get the exact reason.

Anything that was "custom" in the past, should not be taken as being available now. But it can be a good starting point to have the same thing occur now. The converse is also true - what was impossible before, may now be possible. I recall one example when I ordered my E93 - a lot of folks could delete the rear satellite antenna on their cars. But my CA couldn't make it happen for my ED.

Look at it this way - the further away you are from the person who can make the change, the less likely it will happen. If some dirt on the car, the delivery person is right there, they can get it cleaned. But if you want something done to the car that involves say a purchasing manager, production line computer updates, etc. then that is some serious effort that needs to be navigated. Do you know the right people to get to those things that need to be changed? I doubt a CA, or even BMWNA ED department can get that deep in their computer system.

Originally Posted by chrischeung

I think you're only looking at this from your point of view.

At what cost? If BMW allowed a fully customized car, even with just parts off their worldwide shelf, that was fully developed, tested, supported by their tech systems, parts, dealerships regulations, training etc., for every market, the price would be astronomical. It's cheaper to get the car "off the shelf" then customize it yourself after delivery.

Put yourself in BMW's shoes. Every part on that car is something they are responsible for not just up to delivery, but until that car gets scrapped, and for every potential user, issue, and environment down the road.

Bottom line - we both have an opinion. But at the end of the day, we have to work with what is currently possible, not what is ideally possible.

I won't bore you with particulars, but I can safely state, when it comes to ordering, if anything, I have been too aware and accommodating of BMW's point of view. The ED cars I have known have been built entirely with US-market parts, or parts listed as such in the BMW parts catalog.

Getting exotic options or equipment is something else and not what I care or wrote about. I just wish I could order the individual options on a car rather than have someone else (pre-)order options and offer a car that is close but not quite what I want or need. BMW offers that for other markets, why not for the U.S.?