What's the best way to ship X5 from CA to VA?

[bigfish]

FYI.....I shipped my X out from Palm Beach FL to CA in 2006, I flew out and took it to a drop off point in Miami for a shipping company named DAS (Dependable Auto Shippers). I did the research and they were the best bang for the buck, with a believable web-site with lots of industry affiliations.

It was the WORST business decision I have made in my adult life! This company claims they have transponders on the truck that your vehicle is transported in so that you can track it on their web-site 24 hours a day in real time. On three separate occasions it sat in one place for more then five days. I was told it would take 10 days to two weeks to ship it from FL to CA. It took 37 days and at one point they lost track of the truck that my X was on, the WHOLE truck.

It was to the point that I thought I had been scammed and I feared that my X was already in a shipping container on a cargo ship headed to Eastern Europe. They claim to be a large organization, but it turns out to be only a motley crew in Texas, that sub-contracts out their Trucks and drivers. I paid extra to have my X shipped in an enclosed trailer and on the top rack (so no leakey tranny pan above would drip onto my X). It was not shipped in enclosed trailer although it was on the top rack of an open trailer, so that it could be sand blasted as it transported across central TX. My X arrived with two dents in the hood and one on the driver side door that it didn't have when it left FL for CA, that they would not take responsibility for.

STAY AS FAR AWAY FROM DAS AS YOU CAN!!!! You would get better service and safe transport of your vehicle if paid an illegal alien, a hitch hiker and a goat herder $750 a piece to take turns joy riding your X across the country. I hope you found my rant helpful?! I wish someone would have warned me about DAS before I dropped off baby with them, good luck with your search and I hope you find safe transport for your X.

BF

PS. I'm also cutting, pasting and e-mailing this thread to everyone at DAS in TX that I managed to get an e-mail address for. As I have done every time I have shared my experiences with others about this company. At this point I have been in contact with at least 7 people that were looking for a cross country auto shipper. I wonder what that has cost DAS $$$ over the past 2 years?!

[PersonaNonGrata]

Absolutely agree with having the buyer pick and assume responsibility. Tell him you are responsible until the X5 is on the truck but then it's between the driver and the buyer. That's what I did when I sold my M3 and shipped it to Chicago. Also, take lots of pictures of it at the time it is being loaded - inside and out. If it arrives damaged you can show that it was fine when it went on the truck. The interior shots are important because I have seen many cars on transporters with windows open. Dust? Rain?

Most places you see advertising as auto transporters/shippers are simply brokers who will tell you all kinds of wonderful things about how conscientious they are, etc, but then sell off the job to some random trucker. There aren't that many companies that keep it all in-house. Just FYI.

[Kris@modmynav]

Thank you very much again guys, I'll let the buyer pick up the shipping company.

[tims210]

I'm with Bigfish. DAS sucks genitals. Your vehicle will disappear from the planet for at least a month only to return abducted.


Try Minuteman out of Florida. Enclosed, their own trucks, personalized concierge service. George is the owner. I had an M6 shipped from Atlanta to NJ and could not have been happier. You will get the drivers cell number to keep in touch.

Good luck.

[pseto]

definitely make the buyer responsible for this transaction. have them pick the transport company to limit your liability.

I used Express Auto Transport when I bought my M Roady from a guy in CA (they also do a lot of transports for eBay Motors). It was $1100 cross country, uncovered, which I thought was a very good price, especially when gas prices were a lot higher in the summer (i think close to $2k if covered). for something this long of a trip, just be patient when they give you estimated pickup and dropoff times b/c it can be difficult to find a driver actually going on this route. I had to wait an extra few days for a driver to be found, although the guy made it cross country in only 2 days. Car was dirty, but cleaned up very well.

[Hal88]

I have used DAS 3 times, I shipped from CA to NJ, as well as from NJ to CA, the first two times it took about 16 days like they had said, the third time it took almost a month due to bad weather in middle of the country, that being said, my cars always arrived in good shape and their prices were reasonable. I think the average was around $900. I also used Autolog once and their prices were good also.

[bigfish]

Hal88,

I'm envious, I wish my experience with them had been uneventful & similar.

BF

[4MoJoe]

I used DAS to ship my 2001 X5 from New Jersey to Salt Lake City about 3 years ago. Once it was on the truck it took less than 10 days to get there. It was in a covered carrier as well as having insurance on my car. I couldn't get anything to come to Idaho at that time of year so I flew to SLC and drove the 4 1/2 hours home. Insurance is critical and I believe having covered transport is the best. When I got the 2004 X5 from Texas a year ago I had it shipped by an independent contractor. It came in it's own enclosed car carrier he towed behind a big dodge diesel truck. Older couple and my car was spotless, they were really great people. Was $1,200 to ship. The DAS trip from NJ to SLC was $1,495. I was happy with DAS and the car was in perfect shape when I got it.