Purchase experience through Irv Robinson – European Delivery

I signed up for ED about 6 weeks ago. During the course of my research I heard about Irv and contacted him. He was extremely helpful. He was entirely honest about the price and fees in the transaction and most willing to offer insights about te entire process. Ultimately, I chose to complete the transaction thru my local dealer. I have bought my last 3 BMWs thru the same dealer and thought that they would give me the best available "deal". I was wrong. After weeks of going back and forth with my dealer, who started the process by saying that their could be no discount from the ED retail price, they agreed to about 1500 over ED invoice. This was not as good a deal as Irv offered out of the box, but, because of the trade they offered on my 06 325xi (after much back and forth on that which resulted in a 3g increase from where they started) and my lack of flexibility on travel dates, I chose to go with the local dealer. If there was no trade involved, I would have gone with Irv in a heartbeat, and I would recomend him to anybody considering ED.
We take delivery on April 6. We will meet our daughter in Munic on the 5th.She is in is in Luxemburg for the semester. From there we are going to Tuscany for 5 days. We have decided to stop in either Garmische or around Innsbruck for a day of skiing on Easter Sunday before returning to Munich to drop off the car. Any thoughts on Innsbruck vs Garmische would be appreciated. Also, I have sent 2 emails to Rolf without a response if any body has any insights on alternative Vikase to Airport transportation, that would be appreciated.

We previously took European Delivery (ED) of a 2006 325xi 4dr., which we thoroughly enjoyed. However, because of the design and features of the E92 coupe', we traded in the '06 and leased a 2007 328xi coupe' from a local dealer. Then I was bit by the ED bug again, so I contemplated where to order the car. It was then that I saw an ad in the BMWCCA's ROUNDEL monthly magazine from Irv Robinson, Director of European Sales, of Motor Werks of Barrington, IL. At first, this seemed a bit unusual to go this route, but I decided to start a conversation with Irv, which was in March, 2008. His friendly and open style won me over that this was the way to go about the ED for a 2009 coupe'. We finalized on details for the 2009 335i xDrive coupe' by the summer (we were waiting for the new car information from BMW).

We arrived in Munich November 5, 2009 and took European Delivery (ED) of the 2009 BMW 335i xDrive after a train ride from the Munich Airport to the BMW Welt in Munich, next to the Olympiazentrum. The BMW Welt is an architectural masterpiece.

The delivery experience at the BMW Welt was very well organized (see photo) and we were on our way that afternoon, after breakfast and lunch.



Overall, we logged about 1400 miles (see map) driving from Munich to Regensburg and Passau, following the Danube River as much as possible, through Austria (Steyr, Melk, Krems, Klosterneuberg, and Vienna). We then drove to Hungary (Budapest), and Slovakia (Bratislavia), and back through Austria (Salzburg) to Germany (Chiemsee [see photo] and Berchtesgaden), with a drop-off of the car in Munich on November 15, for shipment back to the States.



Chiemsee:


Lots of fun, including a stint at the trip's end on the Austrian Autobahn at a very steady electronically-limited 130 mph (see photo) "with" a late model Porsche coupe (at that speed, I just kept my eyes on the road)! We returned from Munich on November 16.



After shipment to the States, we picked up the car at PC Spartanburg, SC the first part of January, 2009, which was a terrific experience, especially driving BMW's 335i cars, with expert guidance from PC's Donnie Isley, through braking, slalom and wet skid pad demonstrations. We also did some remarkable "off-road driving" in X5s.

All in all, with such a series of memorable experiences, we're seriously thinking of doing the ED with Irv again in a year, or so.

a few more:

who is Irv and how is it that everyone is using him all over the country???

Originally Posted by DonnaBlackson

who is Irv and how is it that everyone is using him all over the country???

Irv is one of several Bimmerfest sponsors (others incl. Ricki in the New York area, Adrian in Atlanta, Philippe in California, etc.).

You can purchase from any dealer you wish and many have chosen to work with Ricki, Irv, Adrian, etc. etc. etc.

So here's yet another raving testimonial for Irv...

We just did two simultaneous ED pickups (myself and a friend), and things could not possibly have gone smoother. Irv was a great resource, great to deal with, and great talk to, making for an all around perfect transaction. I'm not shy about complaining when I get crappy service, so I always try to make sure and go the extra mile to praise people who do give great service. Irv deserves every great thing said about him in this thread, and if you're anywhere within 1,000 miles of Chicago, he should be the first call you make.

Incidentally, I'm saying all this and I've never even laid eyes on the guy. We live in Pittsburgh, and this entire process has been done over phone and e-mail. So even a long distance relationship works just fine.

You can read all about our ED (and see pictures) in this thread here: (http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=352139), but I'll throw in a couple quick ones here at the bottom just to whet your appetite.

Thanks. And once again, Irv rocks.

One more pic of us at PCS when we picked up the '09 335i xDrive.

if Irv handles the finance part of the deal as well and how has that process gone, as I am not in his state.

If you buy remotely from Irv, (far from Chicago), what are the delivery options? Just the PDC and hopping a plane to Chicago? Or can Irv arrange for pickup at another BMW dealer location? Just wondering.

Originally Posted by Boondoggler

If you buy remotely from Irv, (far from Chicago), what are the delivery options? Just the PDC and hopping a plane to Chicago? Or can Irv arrange for pickup at another BMW dealer location? Just wondering.

Unless you are doing ED and/or PDC, you will need to get on a flight to Chicago.

If you are in South, West or East.. you may also try Adrian, Phillipek or Ricki respectively (for someone closer).

I am planning to do ED. But I do not want to pick it up at the PDC. I did just realize that Ricki is right here in NJ.

I am also looking to do buy from Irv and do ED, so are PDC or flight to Chicago my only options?

Originally Posted by Hummer

I am also looking to do buy from Irv and do ED, so are PDC or flight to Chicago my only options?

Those are the two most likely options, but you can try a courtesy delivery, if they still do them. For $500, the car will be delivered to the local dealer. However, that depends on how willing the dealer is to do the courtesy delivery. They don't have to, and if they don't, you have to find another way to get the car.

Irv can also get you a quote on shipping the car to you. When I bought my car through him, I wasn't counting on the local dealers to do courtesy delivery, and it would have cost about $1000 to ship the car to me. I ended up flying to IL, and driving it home (as Irv calls it, another nice road trip).

When I drove from MD to NV several years ago, I went through IL. Probably should take you 2-3 days, depending on how much you like to drive, and whether you like to stop and see the sights.

Originally Posted by jschulman

Those are the two most likely options, but you can try a courtesy delivery, if they still do them. For $500, the car will be delivered to the local dealer. However, that depends on how willing the dealer is to do the courtesy delivery. They don't have to, and if they don't, you have to find another way to get the car.

Irv can also get you a quote on shipping the car to you. When I bought my car through him, I wasn't counting on the local dealers to do courtesy delivery, and it would have cost about $1000 to ship the car to me. I ended up flying to IL, and driving it home (as Irv calls it, another nice road trip).

When I drove from MD to NV several years ago, I went through IL. Probably should take you 2-3 days, depending on how much you like to drive, and whether you like to stop and see the sights.

Thanks jschulman, will speak with Irv and see what can be worked out.

I wanted to purchase the new 335d via ED and coordinate it with my children's spring break. I planned on purchasing this through my local dealer but in early January when I tried to set this up I was first told that the diesel was not available or even on the BMWUSA website (it was), that a March ED was impossible and to contact them later in the year for a possible summer pickup and then they quoted me the MSRP for U. S. delivery. I had read about Irv Robinson on this forum, so after I had about given up I contacted him. Irv responded immediately to my e-mail, and I talked to him on the phone that night. When I told him my plans, he said that there would be no problems ordering a 335d ED, offered me a great price, and I placed my order for a 3/13/09 pickup in Munich.

I took delivery the same day I arrived in Munich. The magnificent architecture of the Welt enhances the whole delivery process. We hung out in the ED lounge, did the factory tour, took delivery, then drove the car out the building. The next few days we visited Munich seeing many churches, Schloss Nymphembourg, Dachau, and the Deutches Museum.

We headed out to Bern Switzerland by way of Schloss Neuschwanstein fitting 5 people and somehow 5 suitcases in the 335d. From Switzerland we stopped in Beaune France, before arriving in Paris and dropping the car off there.

It took about 8 weeks from drop off to my pickup date in Spartenburg at the Performance Center. For me this was the highlight of the whole experience. At the Performance Center they put us in new 335's where we did the braking and skid pad demonstrations. Our instructor, Donnie Isley was great. He was very informative but made the whole process non-intimidating and just great fun. Because we were a small group he let us drive the track after leading us through the turns, all the while explaining where we should be braking, accelerating, and what side of the track we should be on during each part. Then he let us loose on the track with only a request to try to stay on the track and off the grass. It was like an adult go-cart ride using twin turbo $40,000 carts. After this the fast lap with Donnie was even more impressive, seeing what these cars can really do. Without being able to drift around corners and having to stay roughly within the speed limit, the ride back home was anti-climactic.
Through this whole experience Irv has responded to all of my questions immediately and has frequently called just to check that things were on track and to make sure I didn't need anything. His knowledge of the european delivery process, and BMW's in general is impressive. This purchase though Irv Robinson is how I've always wanted to buy a car. I plan on buying from him in the future.

This is my 11th car purchase and 2nd M3, and I must say I am always a bit apprehensive about the whole new car purchase simply because of bad salesmen in the past. I really wanted the E90 M3 and was tempted by the ED for its savings and European experience but had a lot of questions. Thankfully I discovered this forum and want to thank its members for all of their helpful info on ED and PDC purchasing. It was thru this forum that I discovered Irv Robinson, and I must say, that he could teach many sales people not just in the auto business, but the sales business in general what it means to treat a customer with respect. I am at the waiting to go to Munich stage of my ED purchase and can say that Irv has been very responsive to all of my e-mails and phone calls, and always makes me feel like a special customer and not just another person to sell a BMW to. Anyone on the fence about buying a BMW should talk with Irv and I guarantee you will purchase from him. Keep up the great work Irv!!

Well, kind of off the Irv topic, but in the same vein, I highly recommend Alex Dytko at BMW of Peabody (also a board sponsor). We're very happy with our results so far (through ED and now awaiting redelivery).

Best regards,
George

Order date: March 6, 2009
Euro Pick-Up: May 4, 2009
US Delivery: June 29, 2009
Model: 2009 750i

This was my second European delivery with BMW (my first was a 2004 545i purchased through an Atlanta dealer where I live). I was given Irv Robinson's name at Motor Werks from a Chicago friend who spoke highly of Irv. Thanks to Irv, everything went smoothly. The price I paid for the car was the best I found after checking other Chicago area as well as Atlanta and Florida BMW dealers (in fact, several claimed to be able to beat Irv's price, but did the bait and switch when I tried to close the deal).

Irv made sure everything with my 750i delivery went like clockwork. He was always very accessible and knew every detail of what I'd experience. I bugged him a lot with minutia-type questions and he was always very attentive and patient.

I opted to have my 750 delivered to the BMW Performance Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina when it arrived in the US. That gave me the opportunity to experience the test track and tour the X3 and X5 manufacturing plant.

I highly recommend European Delivery and working through Irv. He is A++. If you would like additional information on the program, I recommend you contact Irv at (847) 304-3024 or irobinson@motorwerks.com. He'll be glad to help.

Hank

Originally Posted by FlyDeltaAir

Thanks to Irv, everything went smoothly.

Sounds great.

Originally Posted by FlyDeltaAir

I opted to have my 750 delivered to the BMW Performance Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina when it arrived in the US. That gave me the opportunity to experience the test track and tour the X3 and X5 manufacturing plant.

Sounds like fun but the X3 is made in Austria. The X5 and X6 are made in the U.S. are of now. The next generation X3 will be made in the U.S. when it comes out.

Had such a great experience working with Irv.

ED Journal, Pics, Video: http://www.logandc.com/andy

PCD Journal, Pics, Videos: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...300&highlight=

Ordered my car a few months back with Irv. He answered all of my questions in rapid time. I have to admit, I am one of those high-maintenance buyers. I must have changed my order 3 or 4 times for different options, and nothing was a problem with Irv. He made suggestions, he gave me all the resources I needed for my trip, and made the whole process so completely painless. Irv kept in great communication with me from day 1, up until now, and I already have my car! Irv was constantly making sure I was in the loop throughout the whole process, wished me a safe trip both when I went to Munich and SC.

This is just a quick little post, but I highly recommend Irv. I'm happy to speak with anyone that is considering purchasing from him.

Thanks Irv!

I know this is supposed to be about ED experiences, but I just wanted to chime in about Irv. I just took delivery last week of a 335i xDrive, and Irv was fantastic to deal with. His no pressure, fact filled approach was a pleasure. When I was just kicking tires, he willingly offered test drives. When it came time for the actual purchase, he had sound advice and worked with me for a fair price. This is how car buying should always be.

I highly recommend Irv and Motor Werks. Next time, it'll be an ED and PC delivery!!!

TIME LINE:

2009 335I CABRIO ED

TIM AND JILL (25 TH WEDDING ANNIVERSIY TRIP)

MUNICH 3 DAYS-ZURICH 2 DAYS-PARIS 5 DAYS

2007 START TO LOOK AT BMW (GM GUY)

2008 WEB….. 6 DEALERS….. IRV

2008 FALL…OVER PHONE….IRV

FALL 2008 DEAL SET (ALL OVER THE PHONE)

01/22/2009 DELIVERY DATE SET OF 4/29/09

JAN 2009 CC $500 DOWN

PAPERS SIGNED 4/25/09 VIA MAIL (WITHIN $100 OF ESTIMATE)

FLY TO MUNICH 4/27/09

Everything that I was told about the ED, paperwork, pickup at Munich, trip, drop off at Paris and pickup at Motor Werks in Chicago was correct.

Irv Robertson is the King of ED!!!!!!!

When picking up the car a MW we were able to talk to one of the owners, Jim Hub, he was totally right when he said that BWM will always produce a better car each year. I can see what he means by looking at the Cadillac (Catera) and Mustangs that look like a Pinto.

After careful discussion with dealers in three states I did make the correct decision to go with Irv.

The final price was very competitive.


TRIP ADVICE:

GET MICHELIN MAPS
DO NOT DEPEND ON GPS
USE INTERNATIONAL PHONE (WE USED VERIZON)
HAVE GOOGLE MAPS ON PHONE
GET EURO MICROSOFT ON COMPUTER
STAY AT MARRIOTT
DON’T WORRY IT IS ALL GOOD





THE TRIP:

DAY 1: TRAVEL DAY

Chicago to Munich…. Lufthansa …..No problem. Off plane…. airport not busy….Euro at ATM (You need Pin #)…..Metro ticket at counter……40 minutes to Marriott (one change over at Marienplatz). Took a rest then went back to Marienplatz and on to Hofbräuhaus. (LARGEST BEER HALL IN GERMANY) Nice meal and good beer. Took metro to BMW Welt. It was there. Went inside. WOW.

DAY 2: PICK UP CAR

Metro to BMW Welt. Hit info desk…..directed to check in area…..had nice breakfast…..Checked in 15 minutes…done…Tour displays downstairs…..10:00 started delivery sequence…..Nice man showed us BMW engineering of car….simulations…..walked down to pick up level…..was given tour of car…..pictures taken…..drove the loop and out to valet parking…..tour BMW production facility……had lunch with voucher……tour BMW museum……shopped at gift shop….valet retrieved car…..off to Munich Marriott. What a day!!!!!!!!!!!

DAY 3: DRIVE TO CASTLE

Took a nice drive in the German country side to visit Newschwanstein castle. Roads great….castle awesome. Return to Munich Marriott……took metro back to Marienplatz for dinner.

DAY 4: DRIVE TO ZURICH (5.5 HR)

Kept it under 200 MPH HAHA…….Alps great…..tunnels long…..ate lunch at Rosenberger autobahn chain……Arrived Zurich Marriott 4:00 PM…..NICE……rest……Walked to huge train station and found Bahnhofstrasse ……went to huge underground mall at train station…..return to Marriott.

DAY 5: TOUR ZURICH

Breakfast at Marriott executive lounge….excellent…..Lot’s of cheese…..Tour/shop Bahnhofstrasse …Used map and BB to find shops etc……..Was a Saturday and a lot of people out…..Big chain stores with great food stores in basement…..many food vendors on street…..many food and chocolate stores on street….ate lunch from food shop….see pictures….Then took water taxi round trip out on Lake Zurich and was dropped off near Marriott……..Evening meal at Swiss restaurant…..Swiss cheese inside potato GREAT!!!!

DAY 6: DRIVE TO PARIS (6 HR)

Great breakfast…..What are those yellow fields….Mustard seed!!!!! And a lot of them all over….Arrived Paris Marriott Rive Gauche Hotel & Conference Center and checked in…nice…..Metro 1 block……took metro to Notre Dame WOW exit ….walked awhile along Seine then took Metro to Eifel tower…light show great!!!!...about dusk so boarded Seine river cruise 1.5 HR trip only 20 ER for both of us……Nice ride at night the bridges and lights were beautiful……return to Marriott.

DAY 7: PARIS

Great breakfast at the Paris Marriott Rive Gauche Hotel . Took metro to
Louvre….prepaid internet tickets no wait…..Toured all the necessary items Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo ….******ping at the Galeries Lafayette department store……Mob at Louis Vuitton store……tour buses all over hauling Vuitton bags out of France……Hit the Hard Rock Cafe…..very good!!!!

DAY 8 PARIS:

Great breakfast…..…Metro to Notre Dame ……tour inside and outside….****** for souvenirs……metro to Champs-Elysées tour monument then strolled down the shopping district went to area where the Harry Winston jewelry robbery took place…..20 million $....Back to Marriott and diner at suggested café….Nice.


DAY 9 PARIS: PALACE OF VERSILLES, MONET’S GARDEN

Great breakfast at Marriott……Drove to the Palace of Versailles…..tour…..No wonder they wanted freedom…….then drove to Giverny to see Monet’s garden……I have to say this was the most relaxing day……Monet museum was nice the town was great the garden in spring was fantastic….do not miss this stop on a trip to Paris. Back to Marriott and had dinner two doors down very nice….Lemon liquor great.

DAY 10: TRAVEL

Up early……drive to Charles de Gaul airport…..just as BMW said…..hit car wash…..2 blocks to drop off….15 minute drop off……van ride to Lufthansa terminal…..on to Chicago….turned in Euros at airport.




Euro Trip Thoughts


GOOD:

Food: Swiss cheese in potato, pork knuckle, IT lemon liquor, cheeses, AB Rosenberg’s, bread and pastry in shops on street in Paris, EX lounge in Zurich Marriott, breakfast in Paris Marriott.
BMW WELT
Eifel tower light show.
Boat ride on Seine.
Giverny
Monet Garden
Palace of V
Louvre: Mona L. Venus, Bonaparte appt, Pyramid.


OK:

Take plenty of change for WC.
Road signs suck.
Paris Street signs small and on corner of buildings.
Ausfhart means exit.
Munich Marriott in bad place to get to.
Metro was OK after use.
A lot of people on road and Metro.
Get a good map or several.
Do not rely on Google or MS maps.
Too many road numbers for one road.

In mid-April, I decided to do European Delivery on June 23, 2009, in conjunction with a pre-planned trip. The buying experience was easy. Irv is very experienced in the European Delivery process, and he promptly responded to my emails and voicemail messages. I live in Texas, so all the paperwork was done via overnight mail. I paid Texas sales tax and my license plates were sent directly to me. The plan was to take redelivery at his dealership. Irv correctly predicted that the car would be redelivered in about five weeks. Unfortunately, a car accident derailed my plan to go up to Illinois, so, for a fee, Irv shipped the car to me on a Friday and I received it at my house three days later on Monday. Irv's experience gave much needed piece of mind for what was my first European Delivery. I highly recommend Irv Robinson.