X-Drive Version - Not Happy About this

Ordered and took delivery of my new 2012 650ic in May only to learn two months later that there's an X-Drive version out now. Live in the Northeast so you can imagine how useful that would have been.

Previously owned a 2008 650ic and do the winter snow tire change every December. Could have done away with that.

Don't you think BMW sales folks should have told me that a winter/X-Drive version of this car was coming out within months? I could have waited another 3-6 months. I already had a 650ic for the summer.........is there anything you'd do in my position? Letter to BMW USA, talk with the Sales Manager.......anything?

They didn't tell me that they were going to sit on my car for almost two months after it arrived, either. There had been press coverage about the xi and the 640, but I thought it would be next year, too. They do stuff that suits them, customer be damned.

Sure is a nice car though. Get ya some Blizzaks and you'll be alright.

I personally don't drive my BMW's in the snow at all, I leave them in my garage and take my 4X4 with Blizzaks truck out. Too many idiots don't know how to drive in normal weather let alone when it snows, just not worth taking my 650i out in the snow and risk getting in an accident.

Originally Posted by Miggs21

Ordered and took delivery of my new 2012 650ic in May only to learn two months later that there's an X-Drive version out now. Live in the Northeast so you can imagine how useful that would have been.

Previously owned a 2008 650ic and do the winter snow tire change every December. Could have done away with that.

Don't you think BMW sales folks should have told me that a winter/X-Drive version of this car was coming out within months? I could have waited another 3-6 months. I already had a 650ic for the summer.........is there anything you'd do in my position? Letter to BMW USA, talk with the Sales Manager.......anything?

You're out of luck. If you had done some more homework before buying the car, you would have found out that BMW had been talking about an AWD model and a 6-cylinder model for a long time now. Also, it's not up to the dealer to tell you about something coming down the road-- how they are they supposed to know that you would have wanted it if you knew about it? It would be a different argument if you had at some point expressed concern about it. As far as they were concerned, they could have just as easily assumed that since you already had a RWD model you clearly were not concerned about it. It's not reasonable for you to expect them to be able to read your mind.

I still can't believe they came out with the ragtop in xDrive. The coupe, sure, but the convertible surprised me.

This same site released the launch dates of all the models at the same time...and as time has passed, the OP was almost right on... It surprised me they launched the convertible before the coupe...but I have no complaints. I have already requested an early 2013 ed date for an drive convertible...this way you have something to look forward to.

Originally Posted by Miggs21

Ordered and took delivery of my new 2012 650ic in May only to learn two months later that there's an X-Drive version out now. Live in the Northeast so you can imagine how useful that would have been.

Previously owned a 2008 650ic and do the winter snow tire change every December. Could have done away with that.

Don't you think BMW sales folks should have told me that a winter/X-Drive version of this car was coming out within months? I could have waited another 3-6 months. I already had a 650ic for the summer.........is there anything you'd do in my position? Letter to BMW USA, talk with the Sales Manager.......anything?

@Sarafil

I understand what your saying but I'm a long term customer of the dealer 8 cars in 20 years. I live in the northeast and the dealer/salesmen have always known my desire to have AWD. to say that the dealer/salesmen didn't know about the AWD version coming out is ludicrous, to say the least.....they knew. We are not talking about a version to be released 1-2 years later. It was made available 4 months after official launch of the 2012. They knew for sure and should have made mention that it was just around the corner. It's called customer/client service.

Good point, however, you presume that BMW is precise and forthcoming with info to dealers. As was seen with the recent delay for "launch event" BMWNA doesn't always provide its dealers clear information.

Well you would think that BMW would be given they would sell a substantial number of 650s to snow regions with an all wheel drive version.

I don't want to sound like sour grapes on this one but your buying a $100k car here.

One other point - BMW must have been pretty forthcoming to my dealer because my salesmen knew all the specs of the car before it was officially released. It was about timing and getting a sale now vs in 6 months. That's all.

I grew up in the car business, and my dad used to tell me not one of his salesman could tell you half of what was in the brochure yet they stood around for two thirds of the day with nothing to do. If you are expecting your salesman is an informed expert in his field...I think you are setting the bar a little high. Part of actively participating in these groups is knowing the facts before your dealership is privy to them.

Originally Posted by Miggs21

@Sarafil

I understand what your saying but I'm a long term customer of the dealer 8 cars in 20 years. I live in the northeast and the dealer/salesmen have always known my desire to have AWD. to say that the dealer/salesmen didn't know about the AWD version coming out is ludicrous, to say the least.....they knew. We are not talking about a version to be released 1-2 years later. It was made available 4 months after official launch of the 2012. They knew for sure and should have made mention that it was just around the corner. It's called customer/client service.

I knew about the x-drive versions coming later in the year when I bought my vert. I have two other cars to use in the snow so it wasn't really a consideration. I actually prefer rwd cars than awd or fwd. And my dealer knew they were coming and we discussed it but I chose to stick with rwd.

Originally Posted by anythingbuttime

I grew up in the car business, and my dad used to tell me not one of his salesman could tell you half of what was in the brochure yet they stood around for two thirds of the day with nothing to do. If you are expecting your salesman is an informed expert in his field...I think you are setting the bar a little high. Part of actively participating in these groups is knowing the facts before your dealership is privy to them.

I've met exactly one salesperson in my 16 years of owning Bimmers that knew everything about the car down to the gnat's-behind detail. That's Rick at BMW Manhattan. He was very impressive and knew more than I did (not an easy task, I assure you).

Originally Posted by Elias

I personally don't drive my BMW's in the snow at all, I leave them in my garage and take my 4X4 with Blizzaks truck out. Too many idiots don't know how to drive in normal weather let alone when it snows, just not worth taking my 650i out in the snow and risk getting in an accident.

+1 on that, and my 750i is an xDrive car. The news that there would be xDrive versions of the new 6 has been around since at least February. I think I posted information to that effect around that time.

Originally Posted by Miggs21

Well you would think that BMW would be given they would sell a substantial number of 650s to snow regions with an all wheel drive version.

I don't want to sound like sour grapes on this one but your buying a $100k car here.

First, xDrive is more about performance than driving in snow. Second, I do my own homework when I'm spending that kind of dough.

Originally Posted by Leslierc

First, xDrive is more about performance than driving in snow. Second, I do my own homework when I'm spending that kind of dough.

+1 This statement pretty much sums it up in a nut shell!

Originally Posted by Miggs21

@Sarafil

I understand what your saying but I'm a long term customer of the dealer 8 cars in 20 years. I live in the northeast and the dealer/salesmen have always known my desire to have AWD. to say that the dealer/salesmen didn't know about the AWD version coming out is ludicrous, to say the least.....they knew. We are not talking about a version to be released 1-2 years later. It was made available 4 months after official launch of the 2012. They knew for sure and should have made mention that it was just around the corner. It's called customer/client service.

don't take this is a personal attack (it isn't), but customers with this though process are one of the reasons I left the car business and never want to work in retail again.

BMW is going to make changes. Every company selling consumer products makes product updates on a regular basis (cars, electronics, etc.). It is their job to sell you what you ask for and what they have available, not to read your mind about you possibly wanting something that is coming out at some unknown time in the future.

Did you specifically ask about AWD? No. Take some personal responsibility here... you could have done an internet search and found out about the upcoming AWD too, so don't blame the sales rep for not telling you. The news about this model has been out there for a while now.