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Good luck and have fun.
Some of you may remember too that I had previously shared my frustration over how long it was taking to get my car. Here's an update--nothing new really (and incredibly!).
Arrived stateside 3/27, PDI work-order (supposedly) completed 4/2, as of today (4/18) nothing new, still in NJ at the VPC! Repeated calls to BMW Customer Relations (1-800-831-1117, option "3") reveal a different story each time. Bottom line, do not trust BMW Customer Relations to tell you when you will get your car, they don't know! They really don't know anything other than your vehicle's status code (or whatever it is) as shown on their computer screen.
My salesman told me today the his dealer's rep at port told him that my car was waiting for a part. Funny thing though, he/she couldn't tell him what the part was (hmmmmmm!).
My car has been stuck in NJ for more than 3 weeks (a fate worse than death for a human--just kidding all you Garden Staters!) with no sign as to when it will leave. Does anyone else have a car there right now and are you experiencing the same problem?
Regarding how long it will take to get your car once it arrives in port, you never know, it could be quite a while, as with me!
DAve330i--vaguely recall that, yeah it pertained to xi's.
What is painfully obvious, however, is that nobody knows what the h*** they are talking about! Early this morning I'm told that it's waiting for a mysterious part that is supposed to arrive over the weekend, and early this afternoon I'm told that it was shipped today!
Needless to say, I'll believe it when I'm driving it home. It is disconcerting that you can't get accurate information out of them.
A word of advise to those of you who have recently ordered a new bimmer. Do not check its status on the Owner's Circle section of the BMWUSA web-site and do not call either your salesman or BMW NA to find out what its status is. Upon placing your order you should think that you will take delivery in 4 months and if your salesman calls you and tells you that it is in sooner, accept it and be happy!
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
"if there is ANY damage to your car, the law requires that the dealer be informed. This is usually done by e-mail, and if there is no damage ----- which is the case with 99.6% of the cars ----- there won't be a report... Also by law, if you ask the dealer for a disclosure report of any in-transit damage, they are required to provide you with one if any such report exists... I think you're worrying about a non-issue. The most common damage is a nicked wheel, which they replace at the VPC if it happens. In the rare case where a car 'gets loose' in the ship and needs body work/panel replacement, the car is 'removed from availability'. Basically, it disappears from the system and is used by BMWNA and not sold to the public..."
and the best advice of all... "Stop worrying and start dreaming." :-)
I have been reading and posting to this board for two years. It seems to have become customary for those with Steptronic's to apologize for that choice. There is no need to do so. We know that 60-80% are sold that way and they are all great cars. Some people here have a strong opinions for the 5 speed (me included), but don't let us make you hide in the background. What makes this place great is the diverse opinions we all share.
You should really get the VPC report from the dealer just to be sure the car has not been damaged. I believe it could take 3 weeks to get a part for your car especially if it's a "campaign" or a "recall". The parts go very quickly. A boat arrives from Bremerhaven almost every week and they could have been waiting for parts via those boats because I do not think they ship it by air.
To be fair, BMWNA(the 1-800 number) has been very accurate with my car's progress and status. I placed my order on 2/23 and I'm picking it up on 4/20. THAT'S JUST 2 MONTHS! It really depends on the production schedule, the transport, and the VPC inspection. If everything falls into place, then you'll get your car quickly.
Having said that the only thing I really miss is the sweet feeling of sliding into your favortie set of twisties and dropping a perfect heel-toe 3-2 to set up a corner. Yes I can come close with my Step, but nothing matches that perfect moment of harmony.
"She had a bum on her head and arms in her hair. She was no coherent and did not no name." Typos at their best!
BTW guys, I was away from the board for a while and there were like 1000 messages waiting for me . . . think you all could slow down a bit? Please?
Also, hows the little one brave? Gotta be coming up on 3 months as I recall (a month youger than mine)? How's the kids like the ride in the back of the 3er (to keep on topic)?
gas pedal; the pedal is closer to the brake than on most cars. I assume it was done purposely to facilitate heel-toe'ing.
I've heard the term double clutching numerous times. Can somebody describe the process in easy to understand and visualize terms?
It's Friday, so that is my reason for a dumb question. That's my story and I'm stickin to it.
Like you, I prefer the silver trim - wish it was real aluminum, like Audi's - in a car with Black interior. I think the wood looks beautiful with the tan. I hate gray interior, in any incarnation, so I can't even comment on that.
Are there any items of the PP you can live without? If you order just the power seats and the sunroof - IMO the best items in the PP - you can save $800 over the cost of the PP. That pays for the xenons, with $100 left over to put toward buying the armrest aftermarket, and installing it yourself. I think some on this Board say it cost them about $250. If you want the dealer to install it, figure a couple hours at probably $60-70 per hour. (Anybody out there had an armrest installed by the dealer)? Do you really think you'll miss the trip computer, the funky rear view mirror, and that passenger side mirror that automatically tilts down in reverse?
I decided to forgo the PP, so thatI can afford the SP, xenons and the HK stereo.
I believe you will be better served by holding the accelerator at the desired engine speed rather than blipping - you don't have to press (blip) the accelerator twice. It takes a little more practice and mental effort in the busy environment of shifting but the reward of a smooth shift is far greater.
BTW, Double clutching is used primarily when down-shifting and only rarely when up-shifting. When up-shifting, the gear-set on the engine side needs to spin down to match the speed of the next 'higher' gear on the differential side.
First part: Engage clutch and shift from present gear into neutral.
Second part: Engage clutch and shift from neutral into the desired gear.
Normally done with cold or balky shifter, worn syncros, or for older tranny that has all or some gears non-syncronized. I do it a lot when turning right or left from a road with higher speed onto a road with lower speed. Or when I want to slow down for a stoplight ahead but I believe I won't have to come to a complete stop (i.e., the light will change from red to green before I reach the intersection).
The process may seem to fall into two parts as pap5 indicated but those two actions should merge together: clutch petal down, shift into neutral, clutch petal up, press and hold accelerator petal at engine speed for next gear, clutch petal down, shift to next gear, clutch petal up, done. Holding engine speed near that needed for the next gear minimizes car lurch at the final clutch petal up.
As you can tell, I'm not a fan of blipping the throttle. If you are going to double-clutch, you should develop the skill of being able to get close to a desired engine speed with your accelerator petal.
http://stl_don.home.att.net/status_codes.htm
On the serious note: I feel like I got fed a bunch a bull by BMWNA today. I called to check out where my car is. They could not tell me if my car was still at the docks or at VPC or the way to Houston. They place blame on the personal handling the manual process. Anyway, I then ask how do the cars come off the boat. He told me first on, last out. Now I figured that my car did not get loaded in Bremerhaven but in Antwerp. So I figure my car should get off before all the Bremerhaven cars. He then said that my car could held up with the EPA. The answer get more and more created. So, you are not the only on going through this. Our cars were probably on the same boat. If this is of any consolation, you will probably get your car before me, mine has to come to Texas.
I'll be over there grabbing all the freebies from the nice folks from Meguiar's and misc other parts. I think I'll also get roped into doing the Car and Key memory clinic again. This basically involves being dragged around a few hundred 3 series (some 5s too) and changing their owners car and key preferences. GREAT !!
See you all there tomorrow, look for me in the 'doctors' white coat.
http://www.bimmerfest.com
Yeah, I've heard that one (although my wife had 6 months off so she's not due back until the end of May).
anyway, great to hear all is well. Our Jacob will be 4 months next week, and all is well (one cold, but no fever) other than we think is starting to get teeth. What's a little scary though is that Jacob also started to sleep though the night at 2 months (almost to the day). Unfortunately, we think he's ready for solids, and he now gets up once to nurse at night. we'll probably start rice cereal this week. they grow up so fast!
Told my salesman yesterday morning that BMWNA said that my car had been released to the carrier (called them again yesterday before talking to my salesman to make sure they'd give me the same story twice--which would be unusual--when they did I called him). Guess what? That was news to him! He said he'd check it out and get back to me. Haven't heard from him yet (Saturday afternoon)! Maybe the owner's kid's taking it to the spring formal this weekend. If so, maybe he'll Fabreeze(sp?) it for me!
No doubt it will be ready for pick-up next Wednesday, the first day of my mini- (through Saturday) vacation, making it, therefore, impossible for me to get it until a week from Monday, at the earliest.
They say patience is a virtue, well...no one's ever accused me of being virtuous.
I guess Shipo and ButMyWife are trying to keep their vehicles under 100 mph and 4000 rpm round about now. I got to do ED again.
Click image to view larger version
Click image to view larger version
Bimmerfest was unreal. It was amazing to see so many great looking 3 series (and 5s and at least 2 sevens). We (some friends and I) watched a convoy of about 40-50 just M3s all haul [non-permissible content removed] onto the freeway, along with about a few hundred others. I was stunned to see people come down from Canada and Washington state - with their cars !!!! See you all next year??!!