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Any comments on the necessity would be great.
I remember reading an article in the British publication CAR maybe a year or so back on a 330d and the writers raved about the car and said they'd definitely take it over a 330i even if gas and diesel were the same price. I think a 530d would be a welcome addition to the BMW lineup (and to US shores). The other BMW that I think would sell very well in the US would be the X5 3.0d. Imagine an X5 3.0d (I hate SUVs in general, but they're not going anywhere so I guess we have to deal with it:) with its BMW-esq handling prowess, the towing capacity that probably exceeds that of the 4.4, great low end torque, that gets somewhere in the neighborhood of 30mpg on the highway. Pretty cool huh?
Unfortunately I think the majority of Americans wouldn't take well to the fact that diesel technology has come further and they'll think of their uncle's 1972 Diesel Mercedes Wagon (much like people who think the 4cylinder engines have no "pickup.").
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Please bring them here.
When I called BMWNA Friday morning (9 am), the lady that I spoke with said she would call the dealer right away and see if she could arrange for a representative to check it out. I was encouraged.
However, when I called the dealer Friday afternoon to follow up (3pm), the service advisor said he has yet to be contacted by BMWNA. I then called BMWNA back. Of course, the lady handling my claim had already left for the day. So I called back again and spoke to someone else. They said the claim is in the data base now and they were going to contact the dealer, but that the lady I spoke with is my contact and she is handling it and there is not much more they can do until Monday. This is frustrating, especially when the lady at BMWNA who is handling my claim tells me one thing and does not do it on a timely basis.
We will see what happens on Monday. However, I am not expecting an easy time at this.
div2 - Brian was only defending the statement that the LS wasn't being driven on the track, and that's all he said.
Since BMW is the acknowledged performance leader for sports sedans I think it's significant when an American car even comes close, much less outperforms it. At NO time did I say or imply anything troll like. What I expected was what kdshapiro posted, not lame grandma comments. However, I should have started a new topic under comparisons so for that I will apologize.
Bottom Line: Enjoy your LS; I hear that Ford won't be building them too much longer
Another thing you might consider if they are not willing to fix it for you. I'd tell them I'll tow it to an independent to be fixed & get a 2nd opinion as well. And if he finds a plain & simple defect I'll be taking them to small claims court. It'd probably be cheaper to fix it there anyhow which would pay for your tow & maybe rental car!
As long as you're 100% sure you did nothing that could have damaged it (& have no teenage son who had access to the car & keys while you're away!!) there is no way it's other than a defect. Surely they'd get that you're pissed & would do it, as a matter of principle, and not want to go thru the hassle themselves......that ought get it handled! Good luck.
The last Mercedes E300TD (1999) available in the US was very impressive. Acceleration equal to my old 1984 Toyota Supra and 34+ mpg on the highway. A business associate has one and has been offered in excess of $30k by the dealer to sell it back to them (i.e. not a trade, they would give her even more in that case). She (only) paid $43k for it in late 1998 and has 60k flawless miles on it.
My only concern is that one of the big appeals to me of BMW over Mercedes is the tighter handling and steering offered by BMW. Diesel engines are heavy (the Mercedes E300TD weighs about 200-300 lbs more than the otherwise identical E320 3.2 gas version. I would hope that the 330d and/or 530d still handles as competently as their gas counterparts.
P.S. Another business associate refers to his 1990 300D as his "$100,000" Mercedes. He paid $40k for it new, but has deducted over $100,000 in mileage on his taxes (he now has 300k miles on it and it still looks/runs new). After tax, he has actually made money on the car.
Seems like it'd make sense.. time will tell, doubt we'll see any E39s as that car is effectively DOA now.
I just got off the phone with BMWNA Customer Relations. When I dialed the extension for the representative that took my claim, I got a recording that she will not be in today for "personal" reasons and will be unable to take any calls or messages. So, I called back to speak with a different customer relations representative and they said that she is the only one that can move the claim along and that I have to wait until she returns to get anything done.
I called the BMW dealership, and the service advisor said that he has yet to hear from BMW. He says there is nothing he can do until he hears from BMWNA. So, I am stuck. I will loose another day waiting to hear from BMW. If this was Lexus or another car brand, I am sure I would be treated better.
I asked the service advisor if I were to take the car now to another repair place, how much work has been put in the car so far. He says $330.
pen: fight on. My boss recently lost the clutch in his M5 with only 6,000 miles. When the dealer asked "What did you do to it?" and he answered "Drove it!", they replaced at no cost and no fuss. Turns out the clutch was never fully disengaging. If that was the case in your car you would have smelled burning clutch from time to time. Sudden failure suggests something else anyway.
HiC
If you cant get her tomorrow, surely she has a boss. What dealer if I may ask? I might know someone there.. you never know.
Hic,
It's frustrating. For those of you who havent driven one.. WOW. It's made it to my top 10 list of "cars we can't have and have no idea what we're missing". (Others include Lotus Carlton/Omega, Alfa 156, etc...)
I really applaud the diesel cars on the road. Before I decided to go the CPO used car route and get my 528 I almost bought a new Jetta TDI. My only delima was that VW is suppose to be coming out with a more powerful diesel in a few years. I also heard that the lower sulfur fuel will be coming pretty soon, more like 2004 or 2005. I also heard that they are going to stagger the drop in sulfer, meaning that they will make is like 15% in 2004, and then something like 10% in 2005. That was the word on why VW was holding out on the more powerful diesel engine, something like 150 hp and 255 ft/lb of torque.
Second, I wanted to let the members of this board, especially those in the Detroit metro area, know that I have just ordered my second BMW, and both have been with Brad Hutto at Erhard BMW in Bloomfield Hills. Both purchases have been with an individual who has been knowledgeable and responsive. I have purchased many cars over the yaers and it is always a huge benefit to work with people like Brad. I share this only because I see others out there not having the best experiences with whom they are working.
I cannot help from being a little giddy in having placed my order for a 2003 M5. I really wanted it when I purchased the 540, but didn't feel comfortable making the stretch then. With the new 5 series coming out, I have been deliberating over this purchase for almost a year. I am concerned about the new design and have listened to many of you who have the same concerns, so I finally landed on the side of securing what I think may be a little piece of history for the BMW 5 series before it is no longer made. Yes, I could have opted for a used one, but there is nothing like being able to make choices about a car (colors and options) that are individual likes. Thanks to everyone who has given me input either directly or indirectly.
Lastly, if anyone is interested, or knows of someone interested, I am going to try to sell the 2000 540i6sp private party to "earn" a little more towards the new purchase. It is in mint condition. For more details please feel free to e-mail me directly at seichler@efafunding.com so as not to add any unnecessary congestion to this message board, unless other people are interested in the data points for their own reference.
Thank you again to all.
Thanks
"2000 BMW 528i Black/Black, leather, 95K miles, Sport Pkg (17 x 8.0 alloy wheels, M-Technic sport suspension; M-Technic sport steering wheel with multi-function controls; 12-way power front sport seats with adjustable thigh support, Premium Pkg (Montana leather upholstery and door trim; High-gloss Vavona Redwood trim; Automatic-dimming inside rear-view mirror; Rain-sensing windshield wipers and automatic headlight control; Upgraded on-board computer), Steptronic, Reverse Sensors, Sunshades, Moonroof, 17" wheels, xenon lights....loaded and very clean!!!"
www.edmunds.com prices it at $24.5k for that high of mileage. Seller is willing to let it go for $21k.
Would you buy a car with this mileage if the car was well-cared for? The story is that the first owner had long daily commutes. Current seller is the 2nd owner and is a BMW mechanic (for an independent shop) and got a good deal on the car cuz first owner was out of job for 1 1/2 years and finally decided to move back home and needed cash. Current owner does NOT think that Inspection II and 90k mile tuneup were done on the car (no service records).
He's selling cuz bought the car for wifey but she doesn't want it (too big, she wants a E46). He's owned it for only a month and has already replaced belts and new brake pads and discs.
CarFax gives a clean report. Couple minor dings and probably couple hundred dollars worth of repaint/touch ups.
Pictures are coming soon and I still need to see the car in person. Would really appreciate some feedback!
How many miles a year do you drive? How long do you think you'd keep this particular car?
Have you checked out other BMWs in your area, both CPO and non-CPO?
I wouldn't buy it unless I met the first owner. Ask that person for service records. If they don't have, then ask what BMW dealer they had all or most work done at. Then call that dealer to get service history information.
Price is nothing special really, about average retail with those miles. I'd say that if it DOES check out and you DO buy it $17-18K is closer to reality.
See, in my experience as a dealer, the online guides just don't properly punish cars with megamiles. If I could get $24,500 for 10 cars like that.. well.. I'd be making $75,000 a month! (It's a $15K wholesale car, maybe 16K soaking wet IMO)
Even if it is nice.. my suggestion is to either..
A) Go and buy one with about 45K miles for about 24-27K depending on miles/options or..
Go with a 98/99 with lower miles for that kind of money.
There's just oodles of 5ers out there, you can do better.
Bill
Thanks,
BigRob.
Yes. BMW already builds it. It's called an X5.
However, buying the car from a second owner is just enough to put me in suspicion. Especially given that he is a mechanic and has only owned the car for a month. The story that his "wifey" wants something smaller smells like horse____ to me. I'd guess that either he stole the car (figuratively, let's hope not literally) and is trying to make a speculative profit or that he bought it and now knows something he's not telling you.
No matter what, that's not the kind of seller I would buy a 90k mile 2000 528i from at any price.
P.S. At 90k miles, I would expect to pay no more than about 40% of what a new vehicle sells for. Given that you can get a fully loaded, more powerful 530i for about $42-$45k, the most I would pay for a used 528i with that kind of mileage is in the $16-17k range. And then, only from a reputable source.
TIA,
Spyderred.
I'll probably never get this past my wife, but would be interested in your thoughts anyway. Thanks.
I just checked Eurobuyers" and the ED invoice price for a 2003 540i 6-speed is $47,225. Add $1,300 gas guzzler, $695 destination and handling, $1,200-1,500 dealer profit, and $1,000 for the trip, and you are at $51.4 - $51.7k, not including options. But this is a 2003, with a few more horsepower and the upgraded wheels (suspension?) from the M5. The only options really left to consider are navigation and hi-fi stereo.
Buying a 3 year old car for $70-75% of the cost of a brand new one just doesn't make sense in my book. Especially given that you won't spend anything on maintenance and repairs on a new one for the next 4 years.
If you have a price limit (as I do), a new 530i 5-speed makes seems more prudent to me than a three year old 540i 6-speed. Besides, ever since I drove an M5, I realize that once you succumb to power, even the 540i 6-speed isn't enough.
As shipo stated in his previous post, the dealer will not advertise that there is new eng. software update for 530i. If they do then they will be very busy updating firmware on car modules!! Hnn
Pace Habitat1's erudite position, I completely DISAGREE with his Euro-buyer analysis. Add $4-5,000 in actual and opportunity costs. Even using his figure, that has the realized cost over $55,000. Not to mention time delay.
Better analysis is based looking at current MY 2003 540i6s actually sitting on dealers' lots today. What are the MSRPs? What are they asking? If you negotiated hard, what would you pay for one? Then use that figure to see what the depreciation is.
Too bad for us all, but 5 Series hold their value pretty darn well! Add CPO status to mix and your costs go up even more. But since they are truly great cars, they are worth it. CPO or new.
Have you thought about buying a MY 2003 525i with 5-speed manual and Sport Package? Still a great car! My local dealer has a nice black/black one. Thinking the MSRP is around $42,000. A good negotiator likely could get it down to around $40,000.
A 2000 540i 6-speed with 25k miles for $37,300 isn't a horrific deal. I sold mine with 37k miles for $39k in April, 2002 to a business associate when I traded up to an M5. He was recently offered $30k in trade-in on a new M3. The car now has 48k miles.
habitat,
I agree with your analysis completely. I too would not buy a 3 year old car for only a 30% discount off the price of a brand new one; especially a high performance, manual transmission car. That said, there are plenty of buyers in the market that have a lot more comfort writing a $35k check than a $50-$55k check.
As for your ED analysis, it's right on. One of my employees got a 2003 530i for exactly $1,400 over ED invoice and the total cost of her 3 day trip (booked well in advance) was $875. European airfares are very inexpensive nowadays.
riez,
Not sure what the "erudite position" remark was or why you seem so skeptical of ED. BMW's program is the last great deal out there of all the manufacturer's who used to have such programs. But if you insist on disbelieving, have habitat go get your car for you and pay him $2,000 over his quoted figure. You'll both end up happy!
I'm a bit confused about the pricing on a 2001 525 auto, premium, cold weather, sunroof. My gut tells me the TMV and KBB are overstated. Anyone care to share recent experience on a similair purchase? Happy motoring.
I remain a sceptic. Unconvinced by all the anectodal evidence. Why? 'cause no one has ever set out a detailed analysis of ALL actual and opportunity costs. No one sets forth how much time it takes. All the small costs. The delays.
I'm talking everything from passports, currency exchange, airfare, hotels, meals, insurance, misc hassles, etc. Lost work revenue. Burned up vacation time. Etc! The whole 9 yards!!! Add it all up and I do not think the economics works clearly and convincingly to its favor. Might be close, but if only a small amount in favor, then is it worth it?
And those extolling its virtues always seem to point to a select group of dealers, who appear to be few and far away, who willingly discount off ED price. But will that apply to all dealers? Mine? What if I don't want to go 1,000 miles to find that dealer? Let along go a couple thousand miles just to get the car.
And will I have hassle with my USAA car insurance? Can I get competitive financing? Or do I have to go thru BMW Financial Services?
All the extra time involved with ED, including that tied to travel, has to be calculated and then costed out. Will I sit around all day or days in a dealer's showroom? NO. I won't spend but a couple hours dealing with dealers. Buying a car shouldn't take too much time. Even if you get a good deal. I've done most of my recent car buying over internet and telephone. I do my research, show them I'm a qualified serious buyer, try to make a hard-nosed deal, and then make my best offer. If they don't take it, I pass. Often they call me back to take my deal. If not, we go our separate ways.
As an example, flying from the East Coast to Munich is a matter of only 8 hours over and 9 hours back (Lufthansa nonstop JFK-MUC $629, Note: Northwest/KLM have a flight that connects through AMS for $468, however, it takes a lot longer). If on the other hand, you are flying from Omaha, NE, the flight duration is more like 14 hours over and 16 hours back (OMA-MSP-AMS-MUC $598), so the economics of time change somewhat.
That said, for the "Quick and Dirty" ED trip from the East Coast, according to my accounting, the entire thing can be done for about $1,500 (see below for the accounting) cash out of pocket and a single day off work. Using my deal as an example, I saved $5,300 off MSRP plus another $408 in sales tax for a total savings of about $5,700 on the delivered vehicle. Not too bad for missing a day of work.
Consider the following itinerary:
17-Apr-2003 5:00 PM – Depart from office via Limo bound for JFK Airport ($65)
17-Apr-2003 8:15 PM – Lufthansa #411 Departs JFK ($629)
18-Apr-2003 10:05 AM – Lufthansa #411 Arrives MUC
18-Apr-2003 12:00 PM – Through Customs and have a bite to eat
18-Apr-2003 12:30 PM – Buy a 3 day Munich U-Bahn (Subway) Pass ($12)
18-Apr-2003 12:35 PM – Board the S8 train bound for Marienplatz station
18-Apr-2003 1:00 PM – Board the U6 train bound for Freimann (if memory serves)
18-Apr-2003 1:15 PM – Walk from Freimann station to the ED Center (1 Kilometer)
18-Apr-2003 1:30 PM – Arrive at the BMW ED Center, and check in
18-Apr-2003 2:15 PM – Advisor gives you a complete briefing on your car
18-Apr-2003 2:45 PM – Driving your new BMW all of 6 miles to E.H. Harms
18-Apr-2003 4:00 PM – Drop off process complete, walk back to the U-Bahn
18-Apr-2003 4:40 PM – Check into the Hotel Uhland for 2 nights ($150)
Between check-in and check-out on Sunday 20-Apr-2003, you are on your own to see the sights, shop, drink beer or just sleep. Regardless of what you do, and any money you spend, the costs cannot be added to the cost of the trip as these are discretionary expenditures, and for food, you have to eat anyway, so that does not count either.
20-Apr-2003 12:00 PM – Check out of the Hotel Uhland
20-Apr-2003 12:15 PM – Take a train from just outside the hotel to MUC Airport
20-Apr-2003 1:00 PM – Check in for Lufthansa #410
20-Apr-2003 3:30 PM – Lufthansa #410 Departs MUC
20-Apr-2003 6:25 PM – Lufthansa #410 Arrives JFK
20-Apr-2003 7:10 PM – Through Customs, find Limo and ride home ($65)
Beyond the above travel expenses, the only extra expense you will incur is an extra month of financing, which in my case is $558, so according to my above numbers and the extra payment, the total cost of the trip comes out to $1,479, yielding a net savings of $4,200 on a car configured like mine. Even if you are inclined to add your lost pay (or vacation time) for the single (Friday) day off of work, it is still unlikely that you will erase the entire savings.
If on the other hand you are already planning a trip to Europe, as I was, and if you were going to have to rent a car anyway (as I would have done), not only can you eliminate the travel expenses from the equation, but you can add back the cost of the car rental as well, which is about $300 per week for a VW Jetta class of car. Given that I spent a week over there, my total savings is more like $6,000 compared to what it would have been if I had paid MSRP here in the States AND taken the trip to Paris anyway.
Best Regards,
Shipo
I also asked the dealer to check if the car had the latest software available for throttle response and engine management. He told me that he checked and the car had the latest software versions. How could this be when my car was manufactured in 11/2001 and shipo and others are talking about more recent updates?
It is too bad about the lack of customer support. I have two customer satisfaction surveys in front of me, including one from J.D.Power, and I can tell you that BMW is not going to rate very high with me. However, when I took the car out for a drive today for the first time in a week, and downshifted into a turn (no clutch slippage of course), and then accelerated out of it, the reason why I purchased the car in the first place came back to me. I love the way it drives.
Your observation about the tension between the car's supreme driving dynamics and the often sub-par customer support network has echoed for years. It really is a shame, since anecdotally you always hear about how wonderful Lexus and Mercedes-Benz dealers (and national office support) are. It seems the only time BMW NA really responds is in widescale egregious and shameful gaffes, like the M3 engine fiasco. When you have many people bad-mouthing the company (who were right on, in my opinion, in light of BMW's arrogance), they eventually cave. Remember the guy who registered and publicized www.donotbuyabmw.com? Some of the stories there were either fake or submitted by complete morons, but BMW NA finally gave him a brand new M3 (in exchange for the site and his problematic M3) to shut him up.
Anyway, have fun going at it with the surveys, but you'd probably be better served directing your frustration with BMW NA, not your dealer. It might be worthwhile writing BMW NA a formal complaint letter about the whole ordeal, pointing out you've lost faith and now cannot recommend BMW's to your friends. It just may fall on a sympathetic ear.
Of course, ordering the "car" is more akin to commissioning a painting. But Mercedes smartly places even more emphasis on post-delivery customer care. Highly trained and capable "Personal Liaison Managers" are each responsible for a handful of Maybach owners. When an owner needs ANYTHING related to the car (oil change, feature upgrade, or just know how to stack a dozen grey poupons in the mini fridge), there's a button in the car which calls him directly, 24x7. And, if heaven forbid, the beast breaks down, Maybach will immediately deploy a closed-container tow truck and a specially-trained technician to oversee the repairs, even if he has to fly there. And the owner gets trip interruption services and accomodations, some lowly backup car like an S500, and the Liaison's deepest apologies.
I guess that's what a $350k car will get you.
You don't want to know what my hourly rate is for doing something that is "work". I happily pay my company attorneys $350/hr to cover some of those items. I guess I just don't consider a hop over to Europe to pick up a BMW and have a Heinekin or two with the Motorsport guys that much work. On the other hand, if you only discount your time at $30/hour, you probably should be looking at ED for your next BMW, even if it is painful "work". You should also pay shipo about $60 for his detailed analysis in response to your request for more than anectdotal evidence. I didn't keep as detailed records from my 1999 trip.
The bottom line of this is simple, if you (or others) don't think the "hassles" of getting a passport, etc. are worth the savings, that's fine. But you should refrain from suggesting to others that it isn't a great deal. Not only was my assistant able to upgrade from a 330i to a 530i for nearly the same price by going ED, she brought back some great photos and memories that she will enjoy for many years to come.
SergeyM,
I don't see anywhere in the above posts in which it was suggested that you could get a 540i 6-speed for $35k. Re-read.
Shipo,
Excellent accounting. I wish my CFO was as meticulous. Oops, I am the interim CFO. Want a job?
shipo... Again, you don't account for all expenses nor describe the amount of time it takes to do the negotiating with the dealer, trip planning, getting passports, exchanging currency, waiting in airports, meals & miscellaneous expenses, etc. (After your whirlwind little trip, think I'd need a couple days to recover from the jet lag, waiting in airports, and, in some cases, discomfort of cramped flying.) As for your price, was your dealer willing to negotiate ED list price down? Not all dealers will do that. Certainly not out here in the sticks where there aren't that many BMW dealers.
ED may or may not be such a good deal. Depends on each person's circumstances. Depends on all costs. Depends on time factors. Depends on hassle factors. There is no one right or wrong answer.
I have made the statement before that I regret not specifying my car to have the Sport Pkg and 5-speed. While it is still a great car, it could have been better. Anyway the dealer had a 03 525i Sterling Gray/Black with Sport & 5-speed on their showroom floor. Except that I have the 530i it was my exact car. Hmm, what could have been?
Chris M
epn -- Your 30% differential between a new 540i6 and the '00 I drove is spot on, assuming similar equipment and a $1,500 dealer profit (but not trip costs). That said, the $52,335 for the ED vehicle, bargain that it may be, is well beyond the realm of possibility. I'm curious about your misgivings regarding a "high performance, manual transmission car." I thought it was the BMW automatics that run the risk of failure above 100K miles. With a stick, under normal use you may replace a clutch once (pen101's screwing by BMWUSA notwithstanding), and that's about it.
riez -- Though a well-equipped 525i obtained via ED might be comparably priced, I'm not interested. Even with a stick, I would want more engine. I find even the 530i/Step combo to be wanting at times. As for ED, it seems that your main objections fall into the "time-is-money" category. If you're an entrepeneur or a commissioned salesman, where no work = no income, then the opportunity costs of a trip to Europe are indeed steep. For a salaryman like me who accrues vacation time (in fact, I have to forfeit unused hours above a certain cap), however, the only expenses that count are out-of-pocket, netted against costs such as meals that would be incurred at some level anyway. Assuming habitat's employee truly paid no more than $875 total for her trip, her cost was still $1,900 less than for a stateside deal at a similar $1,400 markup. And I'm not so jaded that I wouldn't consider even a short visit to Munich a plus, even given the hassles of travel nowadays.
You seem to want to subtract every conceivable minute of your time including a "recovery" period from the trip. And I don't fault you for looking at it that way, if for you, this would all be a significant no-enjoyment hassle. I racked up 750,000 United frequent flier miles back in 1988-1995, so I'm used to exchanging currency and getting my passport stamped. On the other hand, if I had to use time off from work that would infinge upon my ability to take a separate vacation with my wife and kids, I wouldn't do ED either.
It reminds me of the golf analogy: First question, What would someone have to pay you to carry a 40lb bag 5+ miles over 5+ hours on a hot summer day? Second question: How much would you pay to play Augusta National just once, even if it meant carrying your own bag in 90 degree weather?
P.S. The most convenient BMW dealer to me is notoriously very difficult to negotiate with on any car in high demand. I know of several people who have come away exhausted and / or empty handed when the 530i was a hot ticket. Even though they sell in excess of 1,500 BMW's a year, they wanted to maximize profit on their precious US delivery allocation. But as soon as I contacted their ED specialist with the $1,300 over ED invoice deal I could get elsewhere, his response was "no problem, we'll match it." It doesn't come out of their US allocation, but does count towards their sales bonuses. So, in my case, the dealer negotiations would be a lot cleaner and easier going the ED route.
I got on the BMWUSA web site, obtained the name and phone number of the four closest dealers (all within 15 miles), that took 10 minutes, tops. I then called the first dealer, got a salesman on the phone and said, "Will you sell me a 530i via the BMW European Delivery Program for $1,500 over ED Invoice?"
His response was, "Hmmm, we don't usually do that kind of deal. Can I call you back in 10 minutes?"
"Yes, my phone number is..."
Eight minutes later, he called me back and asked me, "If I agree to this deal, are you ready to buy right now?"
"If you agree, I will be there in less than an hour to sign the paperwork and pay you a deposit."
The entire transaction was over in less than two hours from the time when I first looked up the list of the dealerships.
Trip Planning:
In my case, this is less of an issue as we were going to Europe anyway; however, using Expedia.com, it took me about 20 minutes to make the plane reservations R/T to Munich and the hotel reservations in Paris. As we were going in April, I didn't figure on having too much of a problem finding hotel rooms while we were touring, and I didn't.
Passports:
I do not count this as a valid expense. Passports are good for 10 years, and can be renewed by mail. A new Passport costs $85 (regardless of whether it is a new issue or a renewal) to process. In addition, you need two "Passport Photographs" of yourself, so when I include my time to have the pictures taken, the time to print out the application (http://travel.state.gov/DS-0011.pdf), fill it out, lick the envelope, stamp it and mail it, we are still talking less than $200, which works out to $20 per year. Given that I used my Passport twice last year, the cost that can be allocated for my ED trip is $10.
Miscellaneous Expenses:
IMHO, expenses for meals and such are not valid as one must eat anyway, that and you are fed two meals (dinner and breakfast over, and lunch and a snack on the way back) each way. In Europe many hotels include a breakfast or offer one for a very nominal charge (the Hotel Uhland is no exception). Basically that means that you need to provide for your own dinner Friday and Saturday nights and you Lunch on Saturday, everything else is covered. Once again, you will need to eat anyway, will it cost you more to eat in Munich than here in the States? Probably not by much, if at all.
Exchanging Currency:
We now live in the era of the ATM, I haven't "Exchanged Currency" since 1991. These days, you simply walk up to the nearest ATM, stick in your card, and out pops local currency, debited directly to your account, and with no "Exchange Fees" associated, you get the EXACT prevailing exchange rate.
Waiting around in airports:
Hmmm, nobody can "Bill" all of the time, we all need some "Down time". I use airport and airplane time as the time to catch up on reading the latest Tom Clancy or Nelson Demille. Maybe I'm just wierd, however I actually look foreward to this time just so that I can relax. Needless to say, in my mind, this is "No Charge".
Final Thoughts:
Riez, you must understand, you and I sing from the same page of the BMW Hymnal on most things BMW. I know that I can count on you being my "Loyal Opposition" regarding the ED thing, as you can count upon me being the same for you. In the end, we are both right, it just depends upon what one's priorities are. ;-)
Best Regards,
Shipo