Hayden's F02 European Delivery

Updated with photos if any of you are too lazy to check out the full saga at:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=393550

Here are some of the pics:

I'll be back to post a full recap of the car, and some of the pros and cons...

Great pics, Hayden. We were there in April 2007, which unfortunately was before the new delivery center was up and running. I'd love to go back someday.

I look forward to your write-up on the car, too. I'm loving mine.

man...what a beauty! very nice 7!

Welcome back....things were getting kind of gloomy on this board.

A beautiful car! It must have been wonderous to take delivery and drive near where your car was made. Congratulations!

Here's my list...

The Good:

• Matte wood trim. Enough said.
• Head-up display is awesome. It's so good there's no need to look anywhere else.
• iDrive is great. Really really easy to use and full of useful features.
• The main screen is huge and very crisp.
• Forward Alert. One of my favorite features. I have it set to "late warning" and it's perfect. It only chimes when it's supposed to. A big safety plus.
• Dynamic memory buttons. Very cool and full of potential.
• Blind spot warning system. Works very well and is discreet with slight steering wheel vibration.
• The Navigation is far superior to anything else I've seen. For example, it even shows you if only 2 of the 5 lanes enable you to connect on the next freeway, etc. I also prefer the way it looks in the head-up display rather than the main cluster.
• Lots of power when you put the pedal down. (I wish the sound was a little deeper)
• Love the massaging feature on the driver's seat. It's especially appreciated on long drives. Wish it also massaged your back.
• "ALL" button on the climate control. Genius.
• Front center air vents are neat with the ability to provide indirect airflow.
• Integral Active Steering makes the car feel a lot smaller.
• Putting the car in sport mode improves handling and stability greatly... also makes the car feel a lot smaller.
• iPhone integration. Really easy. Keeps me from looking at the phone all the time. (good thing)
• Adaptive High Beam Assistant works perfectly.

The Bad:

• A little jerky to accelerate from a stop.
• Active Cruise Control could be a little smoother. Sometimes the braking and acceleration seem abrupt.
• Sound system is only adequate. (With the "Premium" package!) I can't imagine anyone not having at least that quality sound in a 7. The package should have provided more.
• Seats are nice... but why no active side bolsters?
• You should be able to tap the sunroof button back twice to get the shade and runroof to both retract automatically. Why do I have to wait for the then shade first?
• The digital screen below the speedometer is a little fuzzy... could be sharper.
• iPod glitch. It "forgets" the rest of the playlist after every 5-10 starts. I have to go in and reselect the playlist.
• Lane departure warning... not to be used regularly. It gets annoying. On a late night, however, it could be live saving.
• Why doesn't the passenger seat have a massage function?
• If you pull up the driver's window with one-click and then open the door... the window stops going up. Even with the car on and running. Huh?

I'm sure I'm missing a few things...

+1 on the Navigation being far superior to anything else I have seen. Regularly drive a Nissan 350Z and a Mercedes M320...both with navigation. Horrible in comparison.

In Sport or Sport +...don't you find acceleration to be better without a delay? Have you chosen Sport and then only set up the chassis and leave engine in normal? What do you think? Are you plotting your ship across the Atlantic?

Originally Posted by briansbimmer

In Sport or Sport +...don't you find acceleration to be better without a delay? Have you chosen Sport and then only set up the chassis and leave engine in normal? What do you think? Are you plotting your ship across the Atlantic?

I never really drove much in Sport +. The few times I drove in Sport I did notice everything seemed to tighten up and the power was more immediate.

I felt Normal was just right for me. We even set it to Comfort on some of the longer highway drives.

Yeah, I'm tracking it several times a day. Although my status wasn't updated with a Bill of Lading number, it should have been loaded on the Goliath Leader on the 15th. It's now exiting the English Channel into the Atlantic...

Originally Posted by hayden

[*]You should be able to tap the sunroof button back twice to get the shade and runroof to both retract automatically. Why do I have to wait for the then shade first?

Great lists, Hayden. The above is something that really sort of annoys me, too, although I was prepared for it because that's how the panorama roofs work(ed) in our previous X5 and our current 3er wagon.

Originally Posted by briansbimmer

Have you chosen Sport and then only set up the chassis and leave engine in normal?

That's what I do.

Originally Posted by hayden

I never really drove much in Sport +. The few times I drove in Sport I did notice everything seemed to tighten up and the power was more immediate.

I felt Normal was just right for me. We even set it to Comfort on some of the longer highway drives.

Yeah, I'm tracking it several times a day. Although my status wasn't updated with a Bill of Lading number, it should have been loaded on the Goliath Leader on the 15th. It's now exiting the English Channel into the Atlantic...

Can you get this information so you can do this with a normal states delivery?

Originally Posted by LovinM6

Can you get this information so you can do this with a normal states delivery?

Yes. Read this:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=383177

What are you driving as you wait for redelivery of your 7, Hayden? Missing the new car, I'm sure...

Love your new signature photo, BTW.

Originally Posted by XZLR8

What are you driving as you wait for redelivery of your 7, Hayden? Missing the new car, I'm sure...

Missing it dearly! I'm back to my E500 for the next 30 days (give or take)...

Originally Posted by hayden

Yes. Read this:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=383177

Great information, thank you very much.

The only other thought was that I was under the impression that the tracking section of the BMW website was really behind and not reliable.

When I tried to follow my M6 it wasn't even close.

What has been the experience of others?

Thanks,

Matthew

Originally Posted by LovinM6

The only other thought was that I was under the impression that the tracking section of the BMW website was really behind and not reliable.

That's true. The automated info by phone [(800) 831-1117] is much more reliable. You can also choose to talk to a rep for further info.

Also, an email to your CA may get you the ship name that its on... then you can track it to the port from there.

Originally Posted by hayden

That's true. The automated info by phone [(800) 831-1117] is much more reliable. You can also choose to talk to a rep for further info.

Also, an email to your CA may get you the ship name that its on... then you can track it to the port from there.

Thanks. I just did and it said scheduled for production with no production date. I was told by my CA that I am week 42 which is the second week in October.

I pickup the car at the dealer tomorrow morning! It's been a long 52 days since drop-off in Paris...

09/08/2009 Paris Dropoff
09/15/2009 Loaded on to Goliath Leader in Bremerhaven
10/12/2009 Unloaded at Port Hueneme, CA
10/21/2009 Cleared Customs/USDA - Moved to VPC
10/27/2009 Arrived at Dealer
10/30/2009 Redelivery

Originally Posted by hayden

I pickup the car at the dealer tomorrow morning! It's been a long 52 days since drop-off in Paris...

09/08/2009 Paris Dropoff
09/15/2009 Loaded on to Goliath Leader in Bremerhaven
10/12/2009 Unloaded at Port Hueneme, CA
10/21/2009 Cleared Customs/USDA - Moved to VPC
10/27/2009 Arrived at Dealer
10/30/2009 Redelivery

WOW Hayden that is a long time.

Good luck and have fun.

Congrats Hayden, Got mine (finally) on Friday 10/30/09 also!! Same pickup day at the Welt, Same redelivery day on East Coast (me) and West Coast (you)!

Munich Welt Pick Up - August 27

Harms Munich Drop Off - August 29

On Don Pasquale - September 10 - September 21 (Port NY/NJ)

Intensive Customs Audit - September 21 - October 15 (24 days)

BMW VPC (Front Bumper Replacement, 7 Series Spark Plug Recall/Replace, NAV System Upgrade...) - October 15 - October 29 (14 days)

Redelivery - October 30

Time from Harms Munich Drop Off to Redelivery - 62 days

It was sweet to reunite with my Bavarian friend!

Have fun with your new 7

Originally Posted by Guards Red Car

Congrats Hayden, Got mine (finally) on Friday 10/30/09 also!! Same pickup day at the Welt, Same redelivery day on East Coast (me) and West Coast (you)!

Spooky indeed. Sorry you had to undeservedly wait so long for your redelivery... but that's all history now. Congrats!

I picked up mine yesterday morning. Stange feeling - I almost forgot what the car felt like. Driving it again made me realize what a difference in ride quality and power it has over my E500.

I'm not sure what they did at the VPC, but they did upload the NA map data. I hope they also did the spark plug issue if needed. The rear bumper paint repair looks great... pictures after the next wash.

Well, alright Hayden. You got your car. That must be really weird given the last time you drove it was in Europe. The whole process is a little strange.

Originally Posted by Guards Red Car

BMW VPC (Front Bumper Replacement, 7 Series Spark Plug Recall/Replace, NAV System Upgrade...)

What is it with the front bumpers on the 7 series??? My car was held at VPC also due to front bumper replacement. It was finished Friday and will be released to trucking on Monday