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Comments
The sales tax on cars up here is 7-8.75% and if you lease, you really get killed (IL is one of the few states that taxes the price of the car AND gives you no credit for the residual; if you live in Chicago, plan on an additional 6% sales tax on your lease payment). For that reason alone, you may be better buying down south and keeping your Texas plates.
have people had problems in the past with damage to the cars on the way over here? i know bmw is supposed to fix things up, but i'm wondering what people's experiences have been in the past.
My 330 CIC arrived in excellent condition but be sure to transport the first aid kit, front license plate, emergency triangle and glove box chargable light to ensure they arrive in the USA.
But, the countryside and Autobahns aren't that much different than U.S. roads, save for the faster speeds.
My recommendation is to take the country roads when possible, and to stay off the autobahn during break-in. This is because during break-in: (i) you should not keep the revs at the same speed, (ii) and you cannot go above 100 MPH in the 330. Plus, it is much more scenic off the autobahns. Having a nav is super useful, since you can program it to avoid major highways.
I went straight to the autobahn after taking delivery and was cursing all the cars blowing by me because I was limited to 100 mph
Above all, I wouldn't let any fears of driving in Europe dissuade one to go ED. Roads are roads...it's only unfamiliarity that is the difference. And GET THE NAV....you'll NEVER regret it.
you guys make a good point about how the car has to come here somehow on the boat. but are the ED cars shipped in the same fashion as the cars that are shipped directly to dealerships? i would think that the ED cars would have to go through additional processing. plus, the fact that a ED car takes much longer to get to the US versus a car headed straight for the dealership makes me think there is some difference in the process.
still, it's very tempting... hmm...
Even assuming you can negotiate an "above invoice" deal on ED (which is harder than on US deliveries as most BMW dealers are MSRP only on ED), you still have to cover all your travel expenses and pay for the car (or start making loan/lease payments) 30+ days befory delivery. And you will continue to make payments throughout the period the car is shipped back to you, another couple months. At $500/month, that is $1500-$2000 right there. Furthermore, most dealers will want your trade-in before you leave, perhaps at the 30-day point, so you potentially have to find another car for a several month period.
ED is a great deal provided you take some value in Euro visit part of the deal and if you have another car you can use during shipping period, can use freq flyer miles, etc., or have other things you can do to mitigate expenses. But if you're strictly making an apples-to-apples comparison of doing ED vs. going in to the dealer and trading for a new car you can take home today, then it doesn't pan out.
- Mark
First, I can practically guarantee that anyone who shops around (and, in some case, is willing to travel a couple of extra hours to a particular dealership) can swing 1,200-1,500 over ED invoice. The difference in standard US delivery and ED invoice prices for a 2003 330i is $2,360.
(all options should be invoice, so that factor becomes a wash)
Second, you pay no MACO fees (dealer advertising fees) for ED, which can an additional 300-500 savings.
Third, every car you purchase via ED is a custom order. A dealer is more willing to cut a deal for an on-the-lot car, as opposed to a custom order.
So, even assuming you can negotiate the same "over invoice" price on a custom order (I think this would be difficult), you're still in the hole $2,360 plus MACO fees (many dealers try to add MACO above and beyond the invoice price).
People have done the one or two day fly-in/fly-out. If a ticket, hotel and food cost $1,000, you've still saved $1,360.
True, you must begin your payment one-month in advance and wait six-eight weeks for Stateside delivery, but if you plan to keep the car until the end of the financing term, it's like finishing payments one month early (financing through BMWUSA often allows for deferral of first month's payment).
So, is the 6-8 week wait worth $1,360?
and don't forget the 10,000 or so FF miles for the trans-Atlantic flight ;-)
- Mark
2003 BMW 325 Pricing
2003 BMW 330 Pricing
2004 BMW 3 Series Coupes and Convertibles Pricing
- Mark
If you are out bargaining ED, please let us know what kind of offers you get. $1K-$1.5K over ED invoice seems doable, but most have to hunt around a bit to find a dealer willing.
- Mark
A US dealer can order a car from a Canadian dealer, but that's unlikely to happen.
I have never seen a BMW come in this way which may be just because there isn't enough demand or the economics aren't as favorable. Or perhaps BMW doesn't supply the appropriate paperwork to show the car meets US standards.
I know a person who bought an Odyssey this way and the discount seemed VERY modest to me - $1500 - for a car with 500 miles, no US warranty, a speedo with kmh as the primary display, and other oddities. I would bet resale value would be poor as well.
If you decide to pursue this, be sure you understand all the ins/outs - find someone how has done exactly what you want to do with both the dealer you're buying and the state registration folks. There is definitey some significant paperwork, hassles with customs, and some tricks to be sure you don't pay extra taxes. And you have to navigate the local DMV which will vary from state to state.
I doubt it is worth it.
- Mark
Surely someone has something to ask or say?
As for me, I dropped off my bimmer at E.H. Harms (Munich) on Feb. 7, and must endure that long, painful wait...
- Mark
specs are : 330ci manual, alpine white/sand 'ette/Sport pkg/Bi-xenons/myrtle wood.
will be in europe for a week and a half. woohoo!
2/28 (fri) go see neuschwanstein, return for bmw factory tour, see little more munich, start driving to vienna. sleep in salzburg or somewhere along the way?
3/1 (sat) arrive in vienna, see vienna, stay in vienna (hotel reserved)
3/2 (sun) Drive all day to Jungfrau area, sleep in jungfrau area
3/3 (mon) See Jungfrau area, start driving to paris in the afternoon, sleep somewhere along the way to paris
3/4 (tue) arrive in paris, see paris, stay in a local hotel in paris (reserved)
3/5 paris (reserved)
3/6 paris, start driving to munich in late afternoon, sleep along the way
3/7 arrive in munich, see munich, drop car off. sleep in renaissance marriott (reserved)
3/8 come home.
is it trying to do much in that time?
Is there a website with the hours of operation for the EH Harms GmbH and Co. in Munich?? If not does anybody reading this know their hours? I guess I should call them, but would appreciate the info if anybody knows.
This was a difficult time to make my first BMW buying decision. So many choices!! 2003 sedan with performance package (zoom!) or the 2004 coupe redesign??? I had originally ordered a sedan with ZHP, but the dealer was nice enough to let me change my mind and get the coupe!
you ordered a great bmw! Are you wondering about pick-up or drop-off times? EH Harms is the drop-off place. In Munich you can drop off the car as late as 4 pm M-Fri. Closed weekends, but I understand that for a fee, you could arrange for an after-hours or weekend drop off.
You pick up the car the ED center, which is some miles away from EH Harms. I cannot recall exactly, but I think you can arrive as early as 7:30 a.m. and take delivery as late as 3:30-4:00 p.m. Plan at least 1 hour for delivery. The delivery specialists are super people. Our rep., Bernhard, was so nice, we just sat and talked with him for a while.
have fun!
I will be arriving in Munich at 10:00 am. Expect to be at the Delivery Center by 11:30. Unfortunately I need to drop off car the same day. If I have enough time , I hope to stop by the BMW dealer in town before the drop off.
Ipatty13 I appreciate the positive feedback, I was a little nervous about ordering the silvergray without having seen it. I was asking specifically about drop off times. I would like to drive the car over the weekend of May 10-11, but wonder if I am cutting it to closely Monday morning. The weekend dropoff for a fee might be the way to go.
While I'm thinking of this, call Harms on Friday and tell them that you'll be dropping off on Monday with a time crunch. For me, the pre-prepared most of the paperwork.
Good luck.
If you're looking for a good day-trip, drive the Autobahn (A-95) down to Garmish and back.
Also had a European alarm system, with sensors, installed in my 330 CIC by the BMW factory team,it was operative when I picked up the vehicle at the delivery center.
Prices include VAT and are from a NON-Niederlassung dealership that is located in Munich: "Automag Buchner + Linse"
Landsberger Straße 143, 80339, München
direct: +49 89 5102-217
fax: +49 89 5102-277
email for Rep. Johannes Neumüller: hannes.neumueller@automag-gr.bmw-net.de
FYI, "Niederlassung" is German for "branch" (as in a branch of BMW AG). My ED dealer suggested contacting a non-NL dealer, because such independent dealers are rumored to be able to negotiate the price of parts/mods, unlike a NL. I have not tried to negotiate thus far, I've only faxed an inquiry:
clear lens, titanium trim: 63130141572 - 91€
clear lens, titanium trim: 63130152433 - 60 €
(one of the above is the turn signal/side kit; the other is the headlight lens. I cannot remember which is which)
CD changer : 82110026418 (or another BMW CD Changer that will work with US models) PRICE QUOTED IS FOR '0028760 - €490
umbrella w/case: 82 27 9 405 747 - 75€ (d@mn, that better keep you super dry for 75 smackers!)
e46cic Euro Alarm Kit: 65600021150 - 330€
Trim Piece - Black: 51167024827 - 11.37€
Trim Piece - Beige: 51167024828 - 11.37€
Wood Steering Wheel Trim/Cover: 32301097222 - 168.20€
Bluetooth Retrofit Kit for U.S. model e46: 84 64 0 152 501 - 461€
Further Caveats by this dealer: parts generally not in stock and require about 3 days notice (w/advance payment). For installation, appointment is necessary.