do we in australia get access to the same online info regarding our orders that US customers do? my sales bloke has no info on anything we can use online to check how our orders are progressing

The only thing you can do is contact your dealer as he will have which week the build date is in. Once its built, usually the next day your will get a VIN number.

Put the VIN number into the Auto Cargo section at this website and you can then track your car to Australia.

http://www.2wglobal.com/www/WEP/index.jsp

After it arrives here it takes 10-14 days to get it out of bond and pre-delivery.

Robert

thanks for the info

How much longer...
 

Hi Rob

I got my VIN number today for my new SD but how did you check the ship that your car would travel on ?

Does a VIN number indicate that the car is finished or it could possibly still be in production.

The print out i got from my dealer says Prod Week 3/1/08 so how long does it take for the Yanks to slap it together ?

thanks

I just tried this is the VIN number i got and nothing comes up. I'm suspecting something fishy...:confused:

Hello everyone. We saw them at the Oct08 Sydney Motor Show. We were looking at the new ML to replace the w163 we had. The 7 seats sold my wife; not an option on the W164 ML's. The whole X5 package sold me. We ended up picking one up end Oct08 in sapphire black, 4.8i, 20" wheels & runflats and flares, 7 seats, premium sound system, cd stacker,black interior, comfort seats, bamboo trim, reverse camera, heads up display, sunroof, BMW fixed shades for rear doors and rear area, rear climate control, xenon lights. This car was put on the road by the dealer 2 days before we bought it; we took delivery with 110km on clock, and a small discount.
The car's great to drive, though i'm not happy with the tyres. Am considering changing to non-run-flats. The other criticism is that the vehicle gets hot very easily in black and would suggest other colours more suitable for Australian sun. Did not have 6FL USB option and am currently making enquiries. Have been told that a new USB retrofit may be coming up in 2 months time with video capabilities though not clear as to whether it's proper USB or in replacement of cd stacker. Can any one confirm or deny this advice? It came from the service advisor at the dealer. With the 3rd row seats the car has self levelling ofcourse, however if i had the option i would have specified the active suspension. The active steer i'm not sure about- have driven a 5er that didn't impress!
It's in the dealer at the moment who's attending to some warranty issues, namely:- driveability/economy-(software upgrade); leaking rear driveshaft-(replacement); door trim issues-(damaged by dealer fitted window tinting installer); reverse camera intermittent failure/poor quality image-(replacement-1st failure recorded by BMW Aust apparently); cornering lights failure on turns-(repair not specified)
Beautiful car, lovely to drive; the V8 is luscious and on a different level to the diesels and the 6's

It will only come up when it has been accepted at the port ... be patient it will turn up eventually...

Thanks clearing that up.

By the way would you know what a VIN number actually means ?
Is a VIN issued only when a car is finally built or as soon as you have a chassis and therefore possibly still unfinished eg no engine etc ?

I sure wish we could track these details like the Yanks

The vin number means the car has been built. Mine showed up on the Cargo website on the 3/1/2008 as booked in. Then showed up as arrived at the shipping terminal on the 7/1/2008.

The next boat leaving for Australia is on the 20th Jan 2008 the "Texas" and arrives around the 17th Feb 2008 in Brisbane and arrives in Melb first on the 11th Jan.

Sydney cars will be unload in Brisbane I hear and then road transported to Sydney once they clear Customs & Bonds.

You can also trace the vessel on this website as well. So if your car gets built right up to about the 16th Jan it should get on the Texas.

Yeah, thats the thing, I type the VIN code in and nothing comes up not even booked or something like that. I noticed on my print out that the dealer gave me that Status = RS.

I have no idea what that means. I should just go to bed but I'm gonna try the 1800 number and ask. Failing that I will just ask the dealer tomorrow.