European Delivery

[dpnguyen]

Just got back from Europe (UK, France, and Italy). Missed by bed and Bimmer most!

Anyway, my wife and I are considering the European Delivery program for her next car. However, for those who have driven in Europe, was it intimidating driving on those roads, especially when you don't speak the language and can't understand the signs? Also, those roads sure are narrow. And in England, forget about it; my mind doesn't think stay left!


Also, I noticed that about half the Bimmers in Europe didn't have model numbers displayed in the rear. Is this nomal, or did the owners just remove them?

BTW, loved EUROPE and the people there.

 

[04_Euro_Delivery]

Just got back from my ED. It was great. As far as intimidation, I felt WAY safer driving over there. Even if you make a wrong turn, the likelyhood that you'll end up in the 'hood like in the US is far less. I was in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. They all spoke German (I don't) but the signs are usually pictures that are really easy to figure out. Exit signs are well marked. Back roads are well marked with directions when you get to circles. We bought a AAA road atlas. It has all towns in their native language so you can match up the signs. My wife did almost all the navigating, and I drove.

The drivers are very good (supposedly it's hard to get a license). You don't worry about some s-box dropping a muffler or some other junk in the road because for the most part all cars I saw were well-maintained. It's expensive to drive so if you can't afford it as a citizen you walk, bike or take the train. You also don't worry about show offs passing you on the right, highly illeagal. Poeple follow the speed limits (which are high) but when the "end of limits" sign comes up, you can fly. I was expecting to get blown by Porsches and such but it was mostly 5 series and E class Benzes. Lots of station wagons get moving too. When you're doing 100 or so you can really focus, it's really nice because there are much less distractions on the Autobahn than our interstates (no billboards, etc) just open road and azz-haulin'. Just watch out for the Sport bikes. They will pass you under any situation: "double yellow" line, in traffic, whatever. If it was a rental car, I would have opened the door on them !!!

I think most cars are "debadged" because they are 316's 318's and 320's masquerading as higher priced cars. I have also heard that people don't like to brag so they debadge nicer cars. I think you can actually order it that way. I have a nice 3 Series catalog in German, I can't read. It probably says in there

 

[pony_trekker]

Just got back from my ED. . . .
The drivers are very good (supposedly it's hard to get a license). You don't worry about some s-box dropping a muffler or some other junk in the road because for the most part all cars I saw were well-maintained. It's expensive to drive so if you can't afford it as a citizen you walk, bike or take the train. . . .

Maybe they have a point there.

 

[theBMWenthusiast]

they need so much more mass transit over where i live...trains, busses, anything...roads are crowded and accidents are a daily problem...i wish we had the system like the Germans...even though we dont have the freeways it would be worthwhile to have hte system, even though a large number of people couldn't afford it, we need their type of system but a cheaper way

 

[Kirby]

I wasn't intimidated at all. I also felt better on the roads in Germany and Austria than in the US. 04_ED is right, compared to Germany, the US is a bunch of self centered circus clowns driving in a destruction derby.

New bimmers LOVE the Autobahn - they were built for it! The key is to plan your trip well ahead of time. Mapquest your plans, learn the route, road numbers and town names along the way. Get the proper Euro road maps, they stock them at Barnes & Knoble or Borders.

In the larger cities and the tourist areas, MANY MANY Germans speak some english. Munich is very much an internation city - you will hear English occasionally just walking in a crowd.

Just Do It!!! Start planning now!!

 

[04_Euro_Delivery]

I wasn't intimidated at all. I also felt better on the roads in Germany and Austria than in the US. 04_ED is right, compared to Germany, the US is a bunch of self centered circus clowns driving in a destruction derby.

I had two jerks blow past me last night. Racing in traffic. One was a Mustang, ther other a white 5 series!! Who the hell races through traffic in a 5 series anyway?

The passes on my right cut accross two lanes to the left and then cut more people off and cut back to the right. I wish I coul say that I'd never seen anything like it, but I have.

They got the Fast and Furious in Germany (we saw it on TV - no kidding) but they don't act on it there.

 

[oregonbmw]

One thing I miss about driving in Europe... everybody sticks to the right lane except when they intednd to pass. Before passing, they check the mirrors to see if they aren't cutting somebody off in the left lane, even or especially when the other car is going 120mph. Generally drivers are friendly and will let you in and out of traffic much easier than on the I5.

I'm doing ED July 6th and can't wait.

Do it!

 

[theBMWenthusiast]

I wasn't intimidated at all. I also felt better on the roads in Germany and Austria than in the US. 04_ED is right, compared to Germany, the US is a bunch of self centered circus clowns driving in a destruction derby.


Just Do It!!! Start planning now!!

lol...i must start planning...i want to go now!

 

[Dutch]

I think most cars are "debadged" because they are 316's 318's and 320's masquerading as higher priced cars. I have also heard that people don't like to brag so they debadge nicer cars. I think you can actually order it that way. I have a nice 3 Series catalog in German, I can't read. It probably says in there

You´re right.
In Europe you can choose whether you want your new ordered Bimmer with or without badge when it is first built. Some people that have the cheaper 316´s and 318´s choose for that. That way non-BMW enthusiasts can´t see what type they have. I personally ordered my new 330 diesel without type badge because I think the car looks cleaner and nicer this way. And nobody knows how fast mine is except for the real BMW enthusiast. Same idea as the Audi S4/6/8 models (not that my 330 is that fast.....LOL).

Dutch

 

[sidney]

Did you take a tour or strike out on your own?

I saw on BMW USA that they have scheduled tours. Did onyone take any of the listed tours? If you did; pros and cons? If not why not? I am getting the bug to do a ED but, in my situation, I will have to wait until next June. I was planning on ordering a car in Sept or Oct but can't do the ED at that time.

 

[04_Euro_Delivery]

I saw on BMW USA that they have scheduled tours. Did onyone take any of the listed tours? If you did; pros and cons? If not why not? I am getting the bug to do a ED but, in my situation, I will have to wait until next June. I was planning on ordering a car in Sept or Oct but can't do the ED at that time.

I bought a car and couldn't get a tour. I went to the museum and it was closed - had been for 3 years !!! I prearranged a tour with Porsche and was like one of 10 prearranged people, so they added people idling in the museum. Great tour, probably better than seeing the same 3 series roll out every 5 minutes.

 

[sidney]

Sorry! Poorly Worded Question!!

I was talking about the driving tours sponsered by Conde Nast that are discussed on BMW USA. They include hotels etc.

 

[04_Euro_Delivery]

I think those tours are a rip. I planned the whole thing from here with a nice road atlass and expedia. Unless you're big into hotels (I'm not) you're wasting your money. That is for the 5 and 7 series crowd.

 

[dpnguyen]

How much do you save going with ED? Is it enough to cover the expenses to get over there (mini-vacation)? Is this savings negotiable (dealer dependent) or firm-fixed (no matter which dealer you go through for ED)?

Also, everyone who has done it seems to have only positives to note. Was there anything negative about the experience? Anything you would've done differently? Anything BMW could've been done better?

thanks! Much help on this forum.

 

[04_Euro_Delivery]

I saved about 4 large, but spend $1100 on airline tix, and about that much on hotels. Then add in gas, vignettes (if you leave Germany), food, souvenirs, etc. It's not really that compelling for savings. Check out Edmunds.com, some guy has figured out to the penny how cheaply to do it.

My thoughts are if you are planning to to ED just to be able to afford a BMW, you really can't afford a BMW. At least not a new one. I did it for the experience.

I looked at Volvo's packages as well. They pay your airfare and give you a night in a hotel, so it's a lot better savings. They have a nice video to pump you up. BMW doesn't seem to push ED that much and the support (before you pay) is marginal at best. It's only slightly better once you pay. Edmunds has a ton of info.

BTW: you save $2K right off the bat. Look around for the secret price sheet, I paid $1K over invoice, which was like $4200 off retail.

 

[sidney]

ED Invoice Price

Where can you find th ED Invoice price? I heard that Eurobuyers used to have it but I checked and they have the same figures that are on BMW USA.

 

[Kirby]

I bought a car and couldn't get a tour. I went to the museum and it was closed - had been for 3 years !!!

Huh?? I was in the BMW Museum in Munich last April.

I saved about 4 large, but spend $1100 on airline tix, and about that much on hotels. Then add in gas, vignettes (if you leave Germany), food, souvenirs, etc. It's not really that compelling for savings. Check out Edmunds.com, some guy has figured out to the penny how cheaply to do it.

My thoughts are if you are planning to to ED just to be able to afford a BMW, you really can't afford a BMW. At least not a new one. I did it for the experience.

I agree 100%. The savings helps pay for some of the trip, but you overall you spend more money that just buying a new one at the dealer. You do it for the trip, not for the savings.

 

[04_Euro_Delivery]

Huh?? I was in the BMW Museum in Munich last April.

They looked at me like I had a third eye. I came in through the side. Out front they had a sign that said it was closed for renovation. Didn't say when they closed. I walked a long way....then DENIED!