[Crazy1323]

The Sedan production began back in July, but I don’t think US allocations started until mid-August. With the Touring production expected to begin in November, when will we start to see allocations going out in the US?

Have allocations for Tourings been released in any markets yet?

I’m first on the list at my local dealer, but I’m not expecting my car until early Spring next year probably.

[Moewron]

Follow-up question- how are allocations actually... you know... allocated? How many allocations/month (if it is even done by month, I dunno) does a dealership get? Like, I'm sure the SoCal dealerships and Miami dealerships get more than, like, Ashley Schaeffer BMW.

[TXSchnee]

Originally Posted by Moewron

Follow-up question- how are allocations actually... you know... allocated? How many allocations/month (if it is even done by month, I dunno) does a dealership get? Like, I'm sure the SoCal dealerships and Miami dealerships get more than, like, Ashley Schaeffer BMW.

Internal BMWNA algorithms. Likely to do with sales volumes of M vehicles and sales volume in general. If you are near a busy dealer, and want a faster allocation, go there.

[Moewron]

Originally Posted by TXSchnee

Internal BMWNA algorithms. Likely to do with sales volumes of M vehicles and sales volume in general. If you are near a busy dealer, and want a faster allocation, go there.

Well, yeah, I mean that's definitely how it works. I'm just curious what the actual numbers are... like for previous M cars, maybe? What allocation numbers were people for previous M5 waiting lists and how long did it take to get to them? Hard to answer, I know. But curious to hear some anecdotes. If I'm #14 on a list at a big dealership but #3 at a smaller dealership, that kind of thing.

[Ex_Stig]

Originally Posted by Crazy1323

The Sedan production began back in July, but I don’t think US allocations started until mid-August. With the Touring production expected to begin in November, when will we start to see allocations going out in the US?

Have allocations for Tourings been released in any markets yet?

I’m first on the list at my local dealer, but I’m not expecting my car until early Spring next year probably.

I had the first allocation at my dealership and they sent me the order guides on September 25th. Production was slated to begin in November and, had I ordered, I was expecting the car in February.

I passed on the slot and gave it to the next person on the list.

[Crazy1323]

Originally Posted by Ex_Stig

I had the first allocation at my dealership and they sent me the order guides on September 25th. Production was slated to begin in November and, had I ordered, I was expecting the car in February.

I passed on the slot and gave it to the next person on the list.

I think Sept 25th was when order banks opened in the US for Tourings, so orders could be submitted then. But these orders, like mine, would be sitting at status 047. This status means the order has been submitted to the order bank, but no production slot has been assigned. Once an allocation is received, that order gets a production number and production time. A dealer can submit as many orders as they want, but those cars may never be built if the dealer doesn’t get enough allocations.

So a dealer being able to submit an order doesn’t mean that dealer has an allocation available, or even will get an allocation, for that vehicle.

How and when dealers get allocations is one of the black magic of the car world. Each manufacturer does it a little differently, but they don’t tell the dealers the exact formula so they can’t game the system.

But generally sales volume (not order volume) is the biggest driver of allocations, specifically M volume when it comes to M car allocations. Im sure other factors like inventory turn rate, service scores, etc. go into it, but manufactures keep that exact formula pretty close to the chest.

For example, I know with Land Rover if a dealership sells a vehicle to a customer in another dealers territory then the selling dealer can lose an allocation while the dealer in the customers territory may get an extra allocation.

Since manufacturers cannot control how dealers sell cars, they use allocations to keep the dealers in check. For example, a manufacturer cannot tell a dealer “you cannot charge ADM”, but a car with ADM might sit on the lot longer. If the dealer charges an ADM and the manufacturer uses days in inventory for assigning allocations, then the manufacturer effective punishes the dealer for charging ADM.

[Ex_Stig]

Originally Posted by Crazy1323

I think Sept 25th was when order banks opened in the US for Tourings, so orders could be submitted then. But these orders, like mine, would be sitting at status 047. This status means the order has been submitted to the order bank, but no production slot has been assigned. Once an allocation is received, that order gets a production number and production time. A dealer can submit as many orders as they want, but those cars may never be built if the dealer doesn’t get enough allocations.

So a dealer being able to submit an order doesn’t mean that dealer has an allocation available, or even will get an allocation, for that vehicle.

How and when dealers get allocations is one of the black magic of the car world. Each manufacturer does it a little differently, but they don’t tell the dealers the exact formula so they can’t game the system.

But generally sales volume (not order volume) is the biggest driver of allocations, specifically M volume when it comes to M car allocations. Im sure other factors like inventory turn rate, service scores, etc. go into it, but manufactures keep that exact formula pretty close to the chest.

For example, I know with Land Rover if a dealership sells a vehicle to a customer in another dealers territory then the selling dealer can lose an allocation while the dealer in the customers territory may get an extra allocation.

Since manufacturers cannot control how dealers sell cars, they use allocations to keep the dealers in check. For example, a manufacturer cannot tell a dealer “you cannot charge ADM”, but a car with ADM [...]

When I ordered my M5CS I got the specs in the day the order banks opened. I had the first slot. I had the car 3-4 months later.
I had no reason to think that timing would have been any different had I ordered the G99.

[B-1Pilot]

Originally Posted by Ex_Stig

I had the first allocation at my dealership and they sent me the order guides on September 25th. Production was slated to begin in November and, had I ordered, I was expecting the car in February.

I passed on the slot and gave it to the next person on the list.

Passed for good, or for later when there are more options?

I want full leather and potentially a color outside of the normal individualizer selections. If I knew for sure they were going to do more than a one year run on the touring, I would pass right now.

[chicagofan00]

Originally Posted by B-1Pilot

Passed for good, or for later when there are more options?

I want full leather and potentially a color outside of the normal individualizer selections. If I knew for sure they were going to do more than a one year run on the touring, I would pass right now.

There is almost zero chance that the Touring is a one year and done thing.

[Moewron]

Originally Posted by Crazy1323

I think Sept 25th was when order banks opened in the US for Tourings, so orders could be submitted then. But these orders, like mine, would be sitting at status 047. This status means the order has been submitted to the order bank, but no production slot has been assigned. Once an allocation is received, that order gets a production number and production time. A dealer can submit as many orders as they want, but those cars may never be built if the dealer doesn’t get enough allocations.

So a dealer being able to submit an order doesn’t mean that dealer has an allocation available, or even will get an allocation, for that vehicle.

How and when dealers get allocations is one of the black magic of the car world. Each manufacturer does it a little differently, but they don’t tell the dealers the exact formula so they can’t game the system.

But generally sales volume (not order volume) is the biggest driver of allocations, specifically M volume when it comes to M car allocations. Im sure other factors like inventory turn rate, service scores, etc. go into it, but manufactures keep that exact formula pretty close to the chest.

For example, I know with Land Rover if a dealership sells a vehicle to a customer in another dealers territory then the selling dealer can lose an allocation while the dealer in the customers territory may get an extra allocation.

Since manufacturers cannot control how dealers sell cars, they use allocations to keep the dealers in check. For example, a manufacturer cannot tell a dealer “you cannot charge ADM”, but a car with ADM might sit on the lot longer. If the dealer charges an ADM and the manufacturer uses days in inventory for assigning allocations, then the manufacturer effective punishes the dealer for charging ADM.

Thank you, this is extremely helpful!! Much appreciated.

[Moewron]

Originally Posted by Ex_Stig

When I ordered my M5CS I got the specs in the day the order banks opened. I had the first slot. I had the car 3-4 months later.
I had no reason to think that timing would have been any different had I ordered the G99.

Fantastic, thank you- this is exactly the kind of info I was hoping someone would post.

[evanevery]

Originally Posted by Ex_Stig

When I ordered my M5CS I got the specs in the day the order banks opened. I had the first slot. I had the car 3-4 months later.
I had no reason to think that timing would have been any different had I ordered the G99.

The allocations simply have not yet been released for the G99. I don't know what your previous experience was, but "placing an order" is somewhat meaningless unless/until and allocation has been assigned to it.

I also have my G99 order "submitted" to the order bank. But nothing will happen with it until it gets paired with an allocation. You can create all the orders you want, but if you don't have an allocation to match them to they wont go anywhere...

Allocations simply have not yet been released for the G99. I know this because BMWNA has one specifically in my name and we (myself and BMWNA) are waiting for it to get released to my dealer (who is also watching for it).

So, "Not Yet", but soon...

[Crazy1323]

Originally Posted by Ex_Stig

When I ordered my M5CS I got the specs in the day the order banks opened. I had the first slot. I had the car 3-4 months later.
I had no reason to think that timing would have been any different had I ordered the G99.

Order banks for the M5 CS opened in January of 2021 with the first US customer deliver in late July/early August of 2021, so 6-7 months after orders opened.

Production for the M5 CS started in March of 2021, so the first US deliveries were 4-5 months later.

This timeline was pretty similar on the new M5 Sedan. Production began this past July and we should start seeing US deliveries in November and December, about 4-5 months after production began.

If the same holds true for the M5 Touring with production beginning in November, we should start seeing US deliveries in April and May of 2025 (4-5 months later). I’d love for them to be here sooner, but that is the timeline of the last two M5’s in the US.

[Ex_Stig]

Originally Posted by Crazy1323

Order banks for the M5 CS opened in January of 2021 with the first US customer deliver in late July/early August of 2021, so 6-7 months after orders opened.

Production for the M5 CS started in March of 2021, so the first US deliveries were 4-5 months later.

This timeline was pretty similar on the new M5 Sedan. Production began this past July and we should start seeing US deliveries in November and December, about 4-5 months after production began.

If the same holds true for the M5 Touring with production beginning in November, we should start seeing US deliveries in April and May of 2025 (4-5 months later). I’d love for them to be here sooner, but that is the timeline of the last two M5’s in the US.

Okay, I went back through my emails. I sent my specs to my dealer on April 15th, 2021. I had their first spot. I took delivery on August 13th, 2021. So, roughly 4 months. So, yeah, my initial comment of February for the G99 was probably wrong.

[Ex_Stig]

Originally Posted by B-1Pilot

Passed for good, or for later when there are more options?

I want full leather and potentially a color outside of the normal individualizer selections. If I knew for sure they were going to do more than a one year run on the touring, I would pass right now.

As of now, I have passed for good. I don't want to derail this thread by talking about styling and stuff. I just couldn't get on board with the car.

[Stockholmarn]

Originally Posted by Crazy1323

For example, I know with Land Rover if a dealership sells a vehicle to a customer in another dealers territory then the selling dealer can lose an allocation while the dealer in the customers territory may get an extra allocation.

Punishing good dealers and rewarding bad ones. I suppose in order to maintain the regional network but this doesn't seem like the best strategy.

[subterFUSE]

I always wondered how buying from out of state dealers affected your locals.

My area is not a large market and the car dealerships here are small, mostly owned locally, and do not tend to get high allocations of cool cars. As a result, I almost always buy cars from out of state by almost pure necessity.

[Crazy1323]

Originally Posted by Stockholmarn

Punishing good dealers and rewarding bad ones. I suppose in order to maintain the regional network but this doesn't seem like the best strategy.

It is done to protect each dealer’s territory, but I am not a big fan of the program.

I do not know of any other than JLR that have such strict territory rules. But I would bet a few have in-market vs out-of-market percentages as part of their allocation methodology.

[Stockholmarn]

Originally Posted by subterFUSE

I always wondered how buying from out of state dealers affected your locals.

My area is not a large market and the car dealerships here are small, mostly owned locally, and do not tend to get high allocations of cool cars. As a result, I almost always buy cars from out of state by almost pure necessity.

For me it's the opposite, I prefer to purchase from dealers in smaller towns for better service. Even though the lead time may be 1-2 months longer. Also I dress like a hillbilly and tend to be ignored whenever I browse the M department here in Stockholm