[StitChES37]

For those of us newbies to ordering a pre-release car (I suspect there are at least a few of us), would anyone mind sharing what your experience has been with the process in the past?

I've looked through resources I could find and here is my understanding, but please correct me where I'm mistaken.

(For US if that makes a difference)

• Place a deposit with a dealership and get your name on their 'list'
• [Production started early July]
• [Official debut at Speedfest mid-July]
• Dealer placed an order mid-July, and provides the Vehicle Inquiry Report (VIR), but no production # listed yet.

The next parts are where I'm not sure what happens and what the approx timeline will be:

• Dealers told about allocation - this depends on volume of dealership.. guessing 1 - 3 vehicles per dealer? (by when should this happen?)
• Dealers receive production number and shares that with the buyer (By when?)
• Buyer can track production after creating a mybmw account using the production number (can confirm the build with dealer up through pre-production)
• Initial allocation of vehicles for each dealership shipped and arrive at dealership (before the market launch so they're ready at the dealer for the market launch date?)
• Worldwide market launch early November (finalize payment, pickup day-of?)

Thanks very much for the help!

[StitChES37]

Got a bit more news today - Was told my M5 should go into production "week 37", which is the 2nd week of September.

Was also told production number doesn't happen until it is actually being built.

Still not sure whether it would be at the dealership by early November or not.

Anyone else heard about allocation / production timeline?

[Gfit]

If you have a production week they have your production number. Otherwise they are stringing you along. Most dealers will be lucky to get 1-2 a month and those are the high volume M dealers. The smaller dealers may get 2-3 a year.
Also the production week is the week it will finish production so it will probably start week before

[Next Level Auto Brokers]

as of now, still no actual production numbers
just a wait list at each dealer

I don't even see order bank requests for them just yet

Should be soon though

[Thatbmwguy2023]

Yeaa I work for a Bmw dealer in Texas and we still haven’t gotten any allocations yet but the first one we are getting is a black on black ( that’s what my manager said). Soo yea I hate when customers ask me 104737373 times when they can order and I tell them an approximate time frame then proceed to reword the question 5 different ways thinking they will get a different answer from me 😂 JUST BE PATIENT GET ON A WAITING LIST WITH A GOOD SALES REP AND THEY WILL CALL YOU !!!!!! trust me we want the sale haha.

[DHDCF]

Originally Posted by Thatbmwguy2023

Yeaa I work for a Bmw dealer in Texas and we still haven’t gotten any allocations yet but the first one we are getting is a black on black ( that’s what my manager said). Soo yea I hate when customers ask me 104737373 times when they can order and I tell them an approximate time frame then proceed to reword the question 5 different ways thinking they will get a different answer from me 😂 JUST BE PATIENT GET ON A WAITING LIST WITH A GOOD SALES REP AND THEY WILL CALL YOU !!!!!! trust me we want the sale haha.

You should just be at peace with it. Nothing wrong with someone asking an infinite numbers of times. Plus, we all know cars sell themselves these days.

How much is my sales rep really doing for me? I'm not saying he's not doing things behind the scenes - just that he is getting paid to answer my questions, even if he has to answer them differently. I'd not think it'd do him well by hating that I'm asking him the same things. But I understand what you mean.

No way would I trust some of the sales reps to call me - even the "good" ones - or always be quick with sharing info or required action. Thankfully I have an awesome rep - the best I've ever dealt with - but even he gets owned — he works for the biggest BMW dealership in the nation.

Not calling you out or anything like that at all. Just sharing thoughts from another perspective. Now...got any allocations?

[EUPremier]

I ordered mine on June 27th.
I specifically requested a November build as they ship with an 11Kw charging capability from this month.
It’s being built Wk 47 (W/c 18th Nov.) and due for delivery Wk 50 (W/c 9th Dec).
Based in Ireland so not sure how that affects slots Vs US.

[Ari98]

EUPremier Has your car started production or not yet? what status are you in? (I'm week 48 in status 112 currently, from Croatia).

[EUPremier]

Originally Posted by Ari98

EUPremier Has your car started production or not yet? what status are you in? (I'm week 48 in status 112 currently, from Croatia).

Hi, here is my unit’s progress update as of Sept 16th, see image.
So, goes to the factory floor during next week and will be at my dealer before Christmas. Our plates cycle per calender year so nobody reg’s new cars before Jan.
I ordered mine on June 28th …but I specifically requested a 2025 delivery and I also didn’t want it built until Nov when the 11kw chargers were to be fitted as standard (an increase from the 7kw standard).

What about you?

I heard there’s a 10month leadtime now for new orders.

[Ari98]

EUPremier Hello, thank you for the update, I think your car has already entered production if it is week 47, because it takes up to 2, if not 2 and a half weeks for production, as far as I have seen from others here on the forum, and in week 47 you should finish production and yes the car should be in Ireland by Christmas. Correct me if I am wrong.

As for me, I ordered the car on July 11th. Sales representative told me that production ends in week 48, which I think production could start sometime this week, then it takes about 2-3 weeks to transport to Zagreb, which tells me that I will have it before Christmas (week 50 or 51).
It is possible that we will receive the cars at a very similar time
I also won't be able to register it until early 2025.
I am also glad that my car is also built in Nov for the same reason as you.

[Ari98]

Hi everyone,
just got a message from the sales rep about moving to status 150 - Order scheduled for body shop and got a chassis number.
approx. 2-3 weeks until the end of production and another 2 for transport.

[Crazy1323]

Originally Posted by EUPremier

I ordered mine on June 28th …but I specifically requested a 2025 delivery and I also didn’t want it built until Nov when the 11kw chargers were to be fitted as standard

What kind of power do you all have over there? At least in the US, 99% of houses have single phase 240v. Under our rules to use an 11KW on board charger you would need a dedicated 60 amp circuit.

I’ll be surprised if many people in the US will utilize the full 11KW. That is a pretty big circuit to install with some thick wire. I know personally I have a 40 amp circuit (meaning I can pull 32), which only lets me feed the on board charger about 7.5KW.

If people are planning on using the full 11KW on board, you need to make sure your supply equipment can provide that much power.

[comebackbmw]

I thought you could just plug it into a normal outlet. I’m in the usa

[Crazy1323]

Originally Posted by comebackbmw

I thought you could just plug it into a normal outlet. I’m in the usa

Pm’d so it doesn’t divert the thread.

[Carac]

So, I'm at the stage where my dealer has my build, has put it into the system to order, but it hasn't been allocated yet. My question is whether allocations are a lottery based solely on volume or if a dealer having an standing order increases the chances of them getting an allocation. Mine is at a smaller, local dealer that I can't imagine will get more than 1, maybe 2 a year.

[Crazy1323]

Originally Posted by Carac

So, I'm at the stage where my dealer has my build, has put it into the system to order, but it hasn't been allocated yet. My question is whether allocations are a lottery based solely on volume or if a dealer having an standing order increases the chances of them getting an allocation. Mine is at a smaller, local dealer that I can't imagine will get more than 1, maybe 2 a year.

Volume certainly plays into it, but BMW keeps the actual allocation formula very close to the chest. Every manufacturer does their allocation process differently. Many times it will include other metrics like how quickly a dealer turn inventory, how the dealer does on customer satisfaction surveys, etc.

Controlling allocations is one of the few ways that a manufacturer can control a single dealership.

[EUPremier]

Originally Posted by Crazy1323

What kind of power do you all have over there? At least in the US, 99% of houses have single phase 240v. Under our rules to use an 11KW on board charger you would need a dedicated 60 amp circuit.

I’ll be surprised if many people in the US will utilize the full 11KW. That is a pretty big circuit to install with some thick wire. I know personally I have a 40 amp circuit (meaning I can pull 32), which only lets me feed the on board charger about 7.5KW.

If people are planning on using the full 11KW on board, you need to make sure your supply equipment can provide that much power.

Standard domestic supply in Ireland & EU is 230V single phase. You can opt for higher import capacity when building or have it retrofitted at additional cost.
I have three phase at home and in the office so could install 22Kw. At home, main feeds are in garage so no drama running appropriate gauge of cable. Adding an MCB to make the circuit safe is equally straightforward. Even if the consumer board was too full, could just add an auxilliary box beside it.

That said, we’re in midst of a renovation so I’m not going to worry about dedicated EV wall boxes just yet.

If it helps anyone… my 545e plug-in PHEV, which I’ve just sold to make way for January’s G90 (cannot wait!) charged perfectly well from the ‘Mode 2’ cable BMW sell as an accessory.

Just plug it in to a wall socket and off you go. That said, we have 230 as standard here so not sure how that plays with the US 110.

The advantage of the higher in-vehicle system is the capability to take charge faster when in the wild.

[EUPremier]

Originally Posted by Ari98

EUPremier Hello, thank you for the update, I think your car has already entered production if it is week 47, because it takes up to 2, if not 2 and a half weeks for production, as far as I have seen from others here on the forum, and in week 47 you should finish production and yes the car should be in Ireland by Christmas. Correct me if I am wrong.

As for me, I ordered the car on July 11th. Sales representative told me that production ends in week 48, which I think production could start sometime this week, then it takes about 2-3 weeks to transport to Zagreb, which tells me that I will have it before Christmas (week 50 or 51).
It is possible that we will receive the cars at a very similar time
I also won't be able to register it until early 2025.
I am also glad that my car is also built in Nov for the same reason as you.

That’s fantastic. I had no clue about the finer points of the production schedule.
I’ll check with my guy tomorrow and report back!

I have left very strict instructions with my dealer as to access to the vehicle during the two-week layover period… no test pilots!

What’s your spec? Mine: Irish base spec + Sophisto Grey / Silverstone, Alcantara roof, Dark wood inlays, Red calipers, Bi-colour rims w/ ‘lottery’ tyres, Driver Pro, Tow bar, Fast Charge prep.

I didn’t take ventilated seats as the pack they’re in has too much stuff I’d never use.

[EUPremier]

Originally Posted by Ari98

EUPremier Hello, thank you for the update, I think your car has already entered production if it is week 47, because it takes up to 2, if not 2 and a half weeks for production, as far as I have seen from others here on the forum, and in week 47 you should finish production and yes the car should be in Ireland by Christmas. Correct me if I am wrong.

As for me, I ordered the car on July 11th. Sales representative told me that production ends in week 48, which I think production could start sometime this week, then it takes about 2-3 weeks to transport to Zagreb, which tells me that I will have it before Christmas (week 50 or 51).
It is possible that we will receive the cars at a very similar time
I also won't be able to register it until early 2025.
I am also glad that my car is also built in Nov for the same reason as you.

You are correct. My car’s status has moved to: 150 - 155, In Production.

Any idea what happens during stages 150 - 155?

[StitChES37]

As an update for folks - my g90 is now "in transit" over to USA. It sat 'in production' for over a week, then very quickly went through the production steps (~4 days). Was sitting in the "ready for transport" for 9 days, and now says "in transit".

Hoping for mid-december delivery to east coast USA.. maybe early December? Not really sure how long trip across the pond takes (I assume at least a few stops along the way).... probably a week? then another 2 weeks to make it to dealer?

[Ari98]

Originally Posted by EUPremier

That’s fantastic. I had no clue about the finer points of the production schedule.
I’ll check with my guy tomorrow and report back!

I have left very strict instructions with my dealer as to access to the vehicle during the two-week layover period… no test pilots!

What’s your spec? Mine: Irish base spec + Sophisto Grey / Silverstone, Alcantara roof, Dark wood inlays, Red calipers, Bi-colour rims w/ ‘lottery’ tyres, Driver Pro, Tow bar, Fast Charge prep.

I didn’t take ventilated seats as the pack they’re in has too much stuff I’d never use.

Very nice spec. My spec is Marina bay blue with blue calipers, Silverstone, black wheels and all other option included. (Carbon ceramic no for me, I am not gonna track the car).
I will put the car on test plates where I can drive it for 2 weeks and then register it just after the new year.

[Ari98]

Originally Posted by EUPremier

You are correct. My car’s status has moved to: 150 - 155, In Production.

Any idea what happens during stages 150 - 155?

That's nice to hear. I honestly don't know exactly how it goes next, but I have week 48 and I know that the car will finish production in that week and probably leave the factory.
I think that the status 180 is the end of production, and 181/182 is the exit from the factory.
So I think you would have a finished car by the end of next week (assuming you are week 47).