OK guys...this is really old news, and you can read this on any of the 100 or so threads about "I ordered my car"...but let me 'splain it:

Dealers are LIMITED in how many cars they can order. THis it CRITICAL in understanding how long it will take. This process is not driven by some unknow "bmw system"... it is how the dealer will allocate YOUR order based on THEIR production slots.

For example..... the dealer will know they have 7 X5s in May, 8 in June and 8 in July.

They ALSO know they've sold all 7 of the May cars, they've sold 7 of the 8 June cars and 4 of the July cars (for example)...AND they will know that the 8th june car is reserved for the lot where they can get MSRP from a fool that needs a replacement for their lease and failed to plan ahead....so this leaves 4 July cars...they will know mid or end.

So when the dealer 'takes' your order they know- or should know- PRECISELY what month you car will be produced...there should be no "we need to enter it and see". (Maybe they dont tell the salesmen, so they don't need to lie...)

So to recap:

Skip waiting for a Production Number
Ask the month and week for the allocation they will be giving to you.
if they play hard to get, demand they spell it out...step...by...step (Home many this month, how many sold/allocated, how many next month, etc)

GL

A