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Comments
It is certainly in a dealerships' best interest to sell as many ED cars as possible, even at a minimal profit.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Hmmm, I am fairly certain that my lease initiation date is exactly one month prior to the delivery date of my car in Munich. Essentially, that means that you do have to make two payments prior to delivery, however, starting with the second payment, the car is technically in your possession.
Reiz,
I forgot to include Insurance in my ED discussions. You do not need to insure you car until you take delivery of it here in the States. While in Europe and on the water, BMW covers the insurance for you.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Given my druthers, I would rather break in any new car myself. But given that the 540i 6-speed appeals to the more enthusiastic driver, there is a slightly higher probabilty of abuse or less careful break-in than with, say, an E300 diesel. That's why I would be particularly prudent about checking the ownership and service history of a 540i 6-speed. Fortunately, it's sheer cost rules out most of the Mustang / Camaro drag racing set.
I would also be wary of short term leases. When I bought my 540i in 1999, I fully intended to keep it a long time and took care of it accordingly. Someone who acquires a 540i 6-speed on a 3-year lease has little incentive to be as careful as I was. You know, the owners vs. renters issue in real estate.
First, it was right after 9/11 and my wife did not want me to fly unnecessarily (she has since mellowed but is still against it). Second, the delay between ordering and delivery in US (California) was close to 3 months and since I was leasing, over $1,600 was lost to lease payments without the car in my garage. Third, my car at the time needed expensive repairs to stay drivable and I could not wait the three months until delivery of the BMW.
These personal factors (other than the lost lease payment issue) were not considered by shipo and other posts on the subject.
Like was previously said, the situation will determine the cost. Most of my ED costs involved travel.
I did not haggle much. I contacted (emailed) 7 dealers in Texas and let them call me. I was already willing to pay the ED MSRP because it was lower than the regular MSRP. Only two dealers offered a discount. I coersed the closest dealer into a price cut. Filled out the paper work. Made final changes over the phone. Paid deposit over the phone. Did not dealer with the dealer until I came home. in real time, I probably spent a day.
I go home to England every other year. So the plane tickets would have been purchased. I have the expense of buying gifts for my father, stepmother, nieces and cousins. These expenses would have been made without a BMW.
Travel costs for me involved one plane ticket from Houston to MUC via LGW. Buy gifts at MUC. U-Bahn and S-Bahn to Delivery Center. Eat the food at the delivery center. Pickup the car. Drive from Munich to Spangdahlem (one gas stop). My brother paid for dinner. No hotel costs for three days. Paid for lunch for my nieces twice. Split the cost of meals out with my brother. Leave Spangdahlem and drive to Zeebrugge with my brother. I paid the ferry cost for my brother and I (about $112). Bought breakfast on the ferry. Got to Dover and drove to Ipswich. Toll tunnel cost and gas stop. Got to Ipswich, my family had plenty of food (again no cost). Stayed three days, bought gifts.
Had to pickup my wife at Gatwick, because she did not fly to MUC with me. Drove to my father's house. More food, no cost. From this point until I returned to the States, I bought three more meals. My gas expense was high, but it was no higher than the last time that I went home and had to rent two cars and travel with the rest of my clan.
If I had my own business or went to Germany just to pick up a car, I probably would not do it. Unless, I could get a business expense out of it.
Best Regards,
Shipo
It's very kind (which is to say consistent) of you to use "no-brainer" in such a way as to imply that it excludes all present company.
Some enjoy travel, whether it's in a performance sedan, an aircraft, or a ferry boat. Some do it often enough to have learned ways of dealing with the niggling details of (especially international) air travel. Some feel that it's routine and consider an ED BMW a bonus to an otherwise routine trip, or at the very least, an endeavour that doesn't inspire dread and loathing.
Others don't.
FWIW, if an individual living on the East Coast is even remotely considering the ED Program, I think it is a "No Brainer". That said, if someone dosen't like to travel, they won't consider that option, and that too is a "No Brainer".
Best Regards,
Shipo
If there is another forum about ED here at Edmunds, then that is the place for the discussion.
If there isn't, then shipo and others who advocate ED should start the thread. Then, in that place, they can praise ED as much and as often as they like.
Now back to cars?
There is an ED thread in the 3-Series Owners Club. Seems like maybe that thread should be linked to all BMW Owners Club boards. I will make that suggestion and see if we can work that out.
It would make sense to have this conversation there - that way six months or a year from now when someone is looking for info on ED, they will have a logical place to look it up. It would be difficult at that point to find it here.
So I'll see what I can do about getting the 3-Series ED discussion linked across all BMW Owners boards. I'll get back to you.
Meanwhile, anyone not interested in ED should probably exercise their Edmunds-given-right to just SKIP it! No comment is required, honest! :-)
I'm not sure what exactly your concern is, but let's don't hijack this topic - email me if you want to pursue this.
I'd definitely put a formal complaint letter in writing (not via phone or email) to document all the steps taken and how you are very dissatisfied...Blah, blah, blah...
Shipo & Riez: Definitely more interesting and longer lasting than last week's Tyson fight. You both make very strong (and convincing) arguments for your preferred way of buying BMWs either via ED or CPO. I say we call it a draw.
Shipo has shown us a beneficial example of living in New Jersey:)
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Meanwhile, my production date is 03/07 and I can't wait until I get in my car...
Hope you took none.
Given time and sufficient additional unpleasant experiences with my present vehicle, I'll follow your ED example. Having been to Germany three times over the past couple of years on business, it'll be a very pleasant add-on to otherwise-scheduled travel.
Hope you're enjoying New England. It's definitely my favourite part of North America.
I was actually hoping to reprise my ED trip from last year again this April as my wife and I will once again find ourselves in Paris. We are planning on replacing our venerable Caravan this spring and I was trying to talk her into a 525iT 5-Speed, PP, CWP, Xenon Audio, Heated Steering Wheel and Premium Audio, however, she has decided that a new Town & Country (with the full DVD A/V system) is the better fit for her needs as well as those of our children. :-(
Oh well, at least I will have something to drive if ever I break another leg (third time is a charm?). By the way, I have been out of my cast for just over a week now, and I am hoping to start driving my 530i by next weekend. ;-)
Best Regards,
Shipo
First and foremost, I am a car nut, then, to put a finer point on it, I am very fond of the BMW marque, and the E39 5-Series in particular. That said, I am also a vocal advocate of the European Delivery program that BMW offers. The reasons for such advocacy are numerous, and a partial list, in no particular order, include the experience of driving these fine machines upon the roadways that they were designed to be driven on, as a cost savings measure should one find oneself over in Europe for what ever reason and need a rental car, or just as a way to save a few bucks on the car of one's dreams.
Given that not everyone shares my enthusiasm for the ED experience, I have done as suggested, and found the "3-Series Owners: European Delivery" (Pat, if you have your "Ears On", would it make sense to change the title of that topic to "BMW Owners: European Delivery"?), and added it to my "Subscription List". In that way, we will have a place to discuss ED for only those folks who are considering taking advantage of this wonderful program.
Once again, please accept my most sincere apology if my words have offended.
And now, back to our regularly scheduled discussion. ;-)
Best Regards,
Shipo
I am trying to convince my wife to take over my LS so that I can get a 540i6 or even an M5!
I love BMWs, ED or no ED.
I have been car shopping and I'm strongly considering an 03 E320 MB with the Sport Package. Yesterday I stopped at the local BMW dealer and looked at a preowned 2002 540i with sport pkg, 17", auto, step up stereo, etc. Car is like new @8k miles, a BMW executive car. The original MSRP was 59k and the used book price is 49 to 50k. Here is the deal, the color is "slate green" with sand interior. Not ugly, just weird but that's where the comprimise comes in, I can buy the car for probably as little as 44k! Nice car, bad color. A new 530i with the same options has an msrp of 49k. Any opinions on what you would recommend? Don't trash me on the MB!
Thanks!
Thanks guys, I appreciate it. ;-)
2ndMB,
First off, I think that the new W211 E-Class is a wonderful looking car, inside and out. That said, it seems that much if its new "High Tech" engineering is, at best, still a little "Half Baked". The first question you need to ask yourself is, "How important is the feel of the car to me?" If you answer, "Not too important", then the E320 is probably a very good choice.
On the other hand, if you want to feel connected with what the car is doing and the road that you are driving over, then of the two, the 5-Series is probably the better choice. Then the question becomes, "Used 540iA or new 530iA?" From my perspective, if you can actually get the Slate Green 540iA for 44K, I would go for it, color and all, that is a pretty darned good deal. If in the end, it turns out that you will need to pay closer to TMV, then you need to determine whether the power of the 540iA is worth more than the color of a 530iA built to your specs.
Of course if it was me, a 44K 540iA is nowhere near enough enticement to buy a car with an automatic transmission, so the decision would be easy. ;-)
Best Regards,
Shipo
Regarding your daily driver, go for the 540i, great machine. One thing to keep in mind, I had the tan interior in my previous BMW (1999 328i), and it is something of a pain to keep clean in the winter, that and scuff marks on door sills and seat edges are difficult to remove.
Best Regards,
Shipo
My friend went for the E500 for two reasons - First, the Mercedes dealer gave him a much better deal on trading the E55 (they had a prospective buyer lined up in advance). Second, he is 6"4", his wife is 5'8" and they have three teenage kids all pushing 6'. The 5-series would have been a tight fit. I assume you have checked this out to your satisfaction.
Good luck on your decision. If you decide to go with a new 530iA, check up above for the latest on the never ending ED vs. US debate. As a Mercedes and Porsche owner (I've had both as well), you could lend some legitimacy to the claim that the BMW program / discounts are by far and away, the best in the industry.
BMW Owners: European Delivery
Shipo and others - may I suggest you either copy or link your recent ED posts into the discussion Karen links in her message?
That way, as I mentioned earlier, somone looking for information on ED sometime in the future will be able to find all that great information in one place.
:-)
Good luck...JL
I'm thinking that it is unlikely that the Type 37 wheels from the older 740i will fit on your 530i. As it turns out, BMW does make that wheel style to fit the E39 Sedan (not the wagon), however, they are a different part number than the ones that fit the 7-Series.
Type 37 E39 5-Series Front: 36 11 2 229 635
Type 37 E38 7-Series Front: 36 11 2 227 631
Type 37 E39 5-Series Rear: 36 11 2 229 640
Type 37 E38 7-Series Rear: 36 11 2 229 633
So, if you found a set from a 7-Series, you are probably out of luck.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Times are tough, new cars are not selling like dealers would like them, it is snowing in the midwest - has anyone purchased a NEW 530 at less than 2K over invoice?
Yes, I know about ED!!!
Thanks
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Is there a luxury tax on a new 530?
Best Regards,
Shipo
When I wrote, "The Luxury tax expired on 31-Dec-2003. ;-)"
What I really meant to write is:
The Luxury tax expired on 31-Dec-2002. ;-)
Nice catch.
Best Regards,
Shipo
2ndMB,
Bonne Chance!
Thanks to both Edward and Daan.
Best Regards,
Shipo