Counting Down and Preparing for Pick Up

From BimmerWiki

Immediately after you order your European Delivery BMW you will discover a tear in the local space-time continuum. Suddenly Germany will seem much closer and you will find yourself remembering your high school German, or making it up. At the same time your calendar will develop a very obvious fault: it will slow down to a crawl or sometimes even stop.

Between repeatedly calculating how many days to go until you collect your car there are some important tasks to accomplish. You will find that those tasks dominate your thoughts.

1 Critical Tasks
2 Important Tasks
3 Typical Timeline

[edit] Critical Tasks

The following tasks are critical. They will be helpful in ensuring everything goes smoothly at your delivery at the BMW Welt.

[edit] Get your Production Number from your CA

Your CA should get a confirmation back that shows the production number for your vehicle. This is not the VIN, but is an assigned asset number from BMW and can be used to track your order with BMW if necessary.

[edit] Register your production number on BMW USA

Having the production number makes you an "owner" already. You can register on the BMW site and then add your new vehicle. It may take up to 48 hours before the BMW site is able to accept your new production number. The main reason to do this is to verify that what BMW shows online matches what you believe you have ordered. If it does not, do not expect that it will get fixed. Contact your CA and fix the problem now.

[edit] Passports and Visa

Make sure your passport has an expiration at least 3 months past your expected entry date into Germany. In common with all European counties Germany requires a valid passport for all visitors, including infants and children. Passports are further required to have a further three months validity beyond the date when your travel plans indicate you are leaving the country.

US citizens do not require a visa for stays of up to 90 days, starting on first entry to a Schengen Agreement country. Visitors travelling on non-U.S. passports should check with the German authorities.

If your passport will expire soon, there is time to fix it, but do it now!

[edit] Further Information

The US Department of State accepts home produced digital photography prints provided they meet certain easy to achieve criteria. A modern passport is produced by scanning the photographs provided and directly printing it to the identity page. As a result, requirments for ink and chemical stability have been relaxed. See the US Department of State's Photo Quality Requirements and other guidelines on their passport pages.

[edit] Confirm the time and date of your delivery

[edit] Plan your flight and book hotel rooms

[edit] Purchase Order

The Purchase Order has to be received by BMW of North America in New Jersey, signed and notarized, 30 days prior to delivery.

A copy of your current passport has to accompany the P.O.

[edit] Wait for your VIN

The VIN should appear about two weeks before production. It will not be possible to finance the car prior to receiving the VIN.

Once you've got it, immediately triple check the details listed on the owner's account on the BMW Web site, especially if you asked for any changes while waiting for the VIN.

[edit] Pay for your car

Not surprisingly, before you collect your car from BMW Welt and drive away, BMW requires payment for the vehicle. That payment comes from either yourself if you are just buying the car or BMW's Financial Services if you are either leasing or financing the car with BMW FS. This final pre-delivery transaction must occur through the dealer no later than 7 days before you collect the vehicle. If you purchase the car through BMW FS, you can use the car in Europe for a maximum of 90 days. If you purchase the car through BMW FS, you can use the car in Europe for a maximum of 30 days.

[edit] Purchasing

The simplest method with few complications except gathering together the money. It is fundamentally no different than buying a car with cash at a dealership or through a dealer order. Some dealers will request a modest deposit ($500 or $1000) when you place the initial order, with the remaining payment due 7 days before pickup. Often the deposit is simply a credit card slip that won't actually be charged, just held.

[edit] Financing

BMW's Financial Services (BMWFS) allow you to lock the financing rate in advance of your financing event. For West Coast dealerships the lock period is 90-days. (East Coast dealerships may enjoy a different lock period. Official statements of the 90-day period have often been qualified to the effect that this applies to the West Coast). This means that no earlier than the start of the lock period, counting back from the date of your final pre-delivery paperwork with the dealership, you are able to secure the financng rate against subsequent changes. Other offers, such as BMWFS making the first two payments for 'free', have no lock period and must be in effect when you finance the car. You will need your VIN for financing and this is usually the critical factor in choosing your financing date and thus deciding eligibility for certain offers beyond financing rates.

In recent times BMWFS makes offers which run to the end of the current or coming month, and of course never publicize in advance what terms or offers might be available in subsequent months. However, it is possible to re-lock before final paperwork is completed if you prefer new financing terms which come into effect during the lock period.

BMWFS operate independently of the two pertinent sales operations in the US - regular dealer sales and European Delivery sales - and work for the BMW 'mother ship' to promote and encourage movement of cars through the manufacturing divisions. This means that unless specifically excepted any special offer advertised by BMWFS is also available to European Delivery customers.

Very few banks will be willing to work with you to finance your European Delivery as it does not fit in their typical loan definition. The biggest potential pitfall here is that most banks would like to have the title in hand within about 3 months. As you are required to pay for your car 7 days prior to pick-up and it takes another 6-8 weeks to get back to you, it is quite possible that the bank will not receive the title quick enough. This is not the only problem but is probably the most common. There are a number of people that have paid for their car through a source other than BMW FS but it is suggested that you fully explain the situation with the bank to avoid any additional problems.

A common solution for European Delivery pick-ups is to initially finance through BMW FS to avoid any potential problems and simply re-finance the loan from a local bank or credit union when you take re-delivery. Most credit unions and some banks allow you to re-finance within a short period of time and still receive their "new car" loan rates. The Pentagon Federal Credit Union offers great rates to federal and non-federal employees and they will finance a Euro Delivery BMW.

[edit] Leasing and European Delivery

When you finance your lease through BMW Financial Services, you make the first month's payment and BMW makes the second payment as your car will most likely be on the boat during the second month. See the Supplement to Lease that applies to ED leases here The money factor is increased by 0.0003 for ED leases. The residual is calculated using US MSRP, not ED MSRP, which makes a huge difference in the monthly payments. It is not uncommon for a dealer to attempt to base the residual value on ED MSRP. This is wrong. As of September 1, 2007, the Acquisition Fee is $625. Dealers are permitted to charge up to $825, however this can often be negotiated back down to $625. Often the lease can be negotiated at the BMW Buy Rate without dealer mark-up.

Leases should be signed a minimum of seven (7) days prior to the delivery date in Munich, effective October 10, 2007. BMW Dealers routinely ask for payment 4 weeks or more in advance to build in extra profit. However this can easily be negotiated down 7 days. Because of BMW's new "just in time" vehicle manufacturing process, vehicles are no longer manufactured 30 days prior to delivery but ca. two weeks prior. The VIN will not be available until the car is in production; therefore lease paperwork cannot be prepared too far in advance. This policy went into effect in October 2007. Dealers may ask for you to sign well in advance of the seven days which translates to paying for additional lease payments without having use of the car.

For some models, BMW may offer an Owner Loyalty Program which further reduces the BMW Buy Rate. Occassionally BMW offers a Pull Ahead Program for existing BMW FS Customers.

Leasing math is quite abstruse and is infrequently checked by the consumer. It is important to do your homework by researching the pricing and plugging in those numbers into a software program, such as Lease Wizard. On-line leasing programs, such as Edmunds.com, are a poor substitute. It is not uncommon for a dealer to make errors in the lease math. If your monthly payment does not match their number exactly, it is always best to pull back and identify the discrepancy.

[edit] BMW Car Club of America Member Reward

The BMW CCA offers members a rebate that varies between $500 and $1500, depending upon the model, when your purchase or lease a new BMW after you have been a member for the prior 12 months. Eligibility is based on the retail date. For European Delivery, this is the date a person picks up the car in Munich. The annual membership fee is a modest amount and you also receive discounts on BMW parts and accessories.

[edit] Important Tasks

The following tasks are important inasmuch that failure to complete one or more of these tasks could lead to disappointment and mar your European Delivery experience.

[edit] International Driving Permit

Austria is the only country covered by BMW's European Delivery auto insurance which requires certified translation of your U.S. driver's license. This requirement can be met by acquiring an International Driving Permit, IDP. Other countries suggest or recommend that one be carried.

An IDP is evidence that on the date of its issue you had a driver licence in your own country, and presents that evidence in multiple languages to assist local authorities who may not be able to read or understand the language of the original driver license. It is not a driver license in its own right and must always be carried and presented with the driver license used.

The U.S. Department of State has authorized only the American Automobile Association andThe National Automobile Club to issue International Driving Permits. They do so for a small fee: $15 plus any postage and handling if requested by mail. Membership is not required. Beware of other sources.

A post-dated IDP may be obtained but no more than 6 months before the requested effective date. An IDP remains valid for three years, or until the stated expiration date (normally 1 year), or the expiration of the original driver license (whichever is sooner). Applicants must be at least 18 years old, possess a current driver license, and provide two passport style photographs. Prints of digital photographs are accepted provided that they conform to the same standards now accepted for passports.

[edit] Links

AAA application procedure.

NAC application procedure.

[edit] Emergency Road Service

Although you receive Roadside Assitance from BMW during your trip, it may be helpful to know that the AAA has a reciprocal agreement with the ADAC (http://www.adac.de) in Germany. You get free emergency road service, travel planning, and maps with your AAA membership. You can use the call boxes on the highways and ask for ADAC Service. You can also call 22 22 22 from your cell phone. Call ADAC at +49 (089) 76 76 0 for information. AAA also has reciprocal agreements with many other service organizations in other countries. See the AAA Web page (http://www.aaapublicaffairs.com/main/Default.asp?CategoryID=6&SubCategoryID=17) for details.

[edit] Alert Credit Card Provider(s)

If you don't travel frequently, you might want to tell your credit card companies that you will be travelling in Europe so they do not suspect fraudulent use.

[edit] Collect your iPod Cable (if appropriate)

When you visit your dealer to pay for your car don't forget to collect the special iPod cable you'll need if you have specified the iPod integration option on your car. You will not receive one at BMW Welt.

[edit] Entertainment and Time-Saving Tasks

These tasks are the icing on the cake. They will make your pick up at BMW Welt more enjoyable or improve your experience of European Delivery. Many are entertaining in themselves.

[edit] Useful information for first-time visitors to Germany and/or Europe

If you are a member, go to your local AAA office and get their "Planning Map of Europe". (If not a member, ask someone to get it for you.) It really helps to have an overview of the entire continent to see the spacial relationships of the major countries, mountains, etc.

Go to the German Tourist Office website and send in for some of their brochures and maps. (Some are available for download.) Particularly useful is the package "Welcome to Destination Germany". (It is item # 100100481.) There are also regional brochures, etc.

Get some additional information on Munich or Southern Bavarian, either via a guidebook or on the web.

[edit] Planning your trip

Google Maps; TripIt.com; new Wiki article on tried-and-tested hotels, best methods

There is a restriction on the countries that you can drive your Euro-delivered BMW: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway (Non EU but recognizes tourist license plates), Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland (Non EU but recognizes tourist licence plates). Source: bmwusa.com -> European Delivery -> FAQ country restrictions

[edit] Creating your European routes and importing them into iDrive Navigation Systems

All hard drive based iDrive navigation systems will be preloaded with European Maps before your pickup at the Welt. Upon re-delivery, during the Vehicle Preparation process, U.S. maps will be loaded onto the system and replace the European maps.

BMW has developed an online navigation aid based on Google Maps. That tool has been proven to create routes which may be saved to a USB stick and easily imported into an iDrive navigation system after you collect the car at BMW Welt.

For further details see:

Importing your European routes into iDrive Navigation Systems

[edit] Euro Delivery Navigation Disk Loaner

For those picking up a non-iDrive (as of 5/09 the X3 is the only remaining model w/o iDrive available for ED) BMW with navigation who would like to use the system while driving in Europe, Beewang, the Euro Delivery forum's moderator, will provide a European DVD disk to the renter with a complete return envelope. The renter must return the disk back to Beewang by dropping the package off at the nearest USPS mail box and include a check for the loaner shipping and packaging fee.

All DVD disks are original OEM Navteq BMW disks. To cover the cost evenly to everyone, the cost will be $50 to cover the shipping and handling. The shipping and handling fee includes roundtrip US Priority Mail shipping.

Cars equipped with the 4th generation iDrive system (Only one cd/dvd slot) utilize a hard drive for storage of the map data and they will be loaded with the EU maps from the factory.