[Jon Shafer]

You know, I have a bit of experience in dealing with BMWNA & BMWAG with regards to special orders... I hate to be blunt about it, but there in no "Individual Program" in the USA. BMWNA dislikes special orders. The range of special order options (both paint and feature options) is extremely limited, causes extensive delays in production, and costs too darn much. Unless it's a simple request, I wouldn't bother with trying to get something that out of the ordinary accepted. Most of the time, you are just spinning wheels with a negative outcome...

...Just my $02...

 

[Guest84]

Jon, would your blanket statement also include finish colors not offered here in the USA in regards to the M3? That's probably the only extraordinary thing I would want to vary in a future M3 purchase...

Disregard, found my answer in your reply in another post

 

[bmw325]

I don't understand why it would cause production delays-- if you're ordering options that are regular option in other parts of the world, what's the problem? I've been to the Munich factory and have seen the cars on the line-- you'll see a red 318i w/ cloth seats bound of switzerland followed by a loaded silver 330i bound for the US followed by a sea green German bound 320i with special color leather. The factory guide spoke at great lenght on how BMW is able to handle this variety with ease.

I've heard that the real problem is that BMWNA gets special deals on their packages with BMW AG and therefore BMW AG doesn't like it when american orders come through with pieces of packages (like if you tried to just order the auto-dimming mirror). It screws up their pricing structure for the US. I also know how US dealers don't like to get stuck holding special order cars if the original customer backs out. That isn't a problem in the rest of the world.

It would be a great differentiator and I think people would really enjoy the possibility of ordering from BMW's complete menu a la carte. I don't see why BMW can't make some special forms to sign- in effect locking the buyer into the car before it arrives to accomdate these requests. They could charge a special order surcharge too-- but atleast give customers the possibility. Saying "no" to these types of things just isn't good customer service--especially when the parent company is so adept at handling and building these orders.

 

[Mr. The Edge]

BMWNA dislikes special orders. The range of special order options (both paint and feature options) is extremely limited, causes extensive delays in production, and costs too darn much.

But Jon, (and I know you may not have the answer) how does it affect BMWNA all that much? As far as production delays and cost, BMWAG does special orders EXTENSIVELY for the rest of the world, so why doesn't BMWNA want to go the extra mile and accomodate us?

Do you think it has to do with the nature of the U.S. consumer and backing out of orders that would be next to impossible to sell? If so, I would think they could easily mandate that special orders must be pruchased rather than leased.

(i know this was a response to another question, but I and a LOT of M3 owners would love to know)

 

[Jon Shafer]

As my law school professor used to say

As my law school professor used to say, "the question is the answer"... (The sum of) all of the point you have made are exactly the reason why...

 

[Clem]

You know, I have a bit of experience in dealing with BMWNA & BMWAG with regards to special orders... I hate to be blunt about it, but there in no "Individual Program" in the USA. BMWNA dislikes special orders. The range of special order options (both paint and feature options) is extremely limited, causes extensive delays in production, and costs too darn much. Unless it's a simple request, I wouldn't bother with trying to get something that out of the ordinary accepted. Most of the time, you are just spinning wheels with a negative outcome...

...Just my $02...

GOD BLESS CANADA!!!!!!!!!!!!! :thumb:

 

[Guest84]

Re: Re: The General Rule (A Basic Truth) about "Individual" Program...

GOD BLESS CANADA!!!!!!!!!!!!! :thumb:

Should we blame the government?
Should we blame society?
Should we blame the images on TV?
No! Blame Canada! Blame Canada!

 

[Kaz]

It definitely looks like its something on NA's end that prevents (or at least tries to) special orders.

Although I dind't have too many problems getting my 3 items, on delivery, the General Manager did say it wasn't easy, and it did take an additional week for me to get my production number. And I wasn't asked for any special deposit or anything, so obviously there is some give-and-take at the dealers' end as well.

That being said, I agree with all the possible reasons (backing out, leasing, etc.) that we've given for why NA doesn't offer it.

 

[Alex Baumann]

I don't understand why it would cause production delays--

Because they are built/painted in the BMW M Gesellschaft fur individuelle Automobile (BMW M GmbH) facilities. That means after the bodywork is done they are sending it to the M GmbH.

I'm planning an Individual order and according to my client advisor the delay is about 4 weeks.

 

[bmw325]

Alex-

Yeah- I knew that about real BMW Individual cars-- but I was actually just thinking about all the regular options you guys can get in Germany that BMWNA denies us--- like ahtracite headliner, M sports package, a la carte rain sensor, dimming mirror, rear shade, etc...

 

[Pete Teoh]

Companies definitely get much better economies of scale if they can standardize what's produced. It probably all started with Henry Ford's production of the Model T. You can get it in any color you want, as long as it's black.

Honda does the same thing with their cars. Interior/Exterior color combos are fixed. By doing this, manufacturers can produce a string of blue cars with tan interiors, and then switch over to producing white cars with grey interiors another day. It lowers the cost of changing the production line too many times during the day, and it eliminates cars being produced with the wrong color combos. Sale of options and extras are pushed out to the dealership level where the individualizing is more cost effective.

 

[joes325xi]

Here's something i don't understand: why are the 330s sold with more "options" as "standard" than the 325? That is, when you buy a 330, you get more things that come standard, along with the inflated price.

If what everyone above is saying is correct, then wouldn't it be easier to build one platform for all 325/330 cars (and i guess 320 too) with the same standard equipment, and just change the engine as needed (maybe brakes too, but i'd like the 330 brakes on a 325 nonetheless).

I'm guessing it's just a marketing thing, where you pay a lot more for a 330, and get a few extras that would have cost you had you opted with a 325, but in the end, i'd rather be able to get the 330 without having to pay for H/K, power seats, etc. I've heard it comes down to the American buyer thinking they get a better deal when stuff comes in packages, but i'd like to think that we're not all so naive as to believe that we're really getting a deal, when in fact wemay be forced to buy options we may not want.