What Happens when You Order?

[Netsurfr]

I placed an order for a 2012 X5M on Friday w/ the dealer. He said he would enter it in the system on Saturday so curious as to what I should expect. I read about people knowing their production status and logging in to see where their cars production status is at.

My salesguy has said nothing about this so want to know what this is all about so I can go to him and ask. Thanks!

[alvam]

Originally Posted by Netsurfr

I placed an order for a 2012 X5M on Friday w/ the dealer. He said he would enter it in the system on Saturday so curious as to what I should expect. I read about people knowing their production status and logging in to see where their cars production status is at.

My salesguy has said nothing about this so want to know what this is all about so I can go to him and ask. Thanks!

Make sure he provides you with a production number and thats what you use when you log in to bmwusa.com to check the status or you can call the 800 number and either get an automated update or speak to a customer service agent. Also get a copy of your build sheet to ensure it has EXACTLY the options you agreed upon.

btw.. My experience on the bmwusa website was that the information wasn't accurate until it changed to production then it showed the exact color and options we ordered. That's whay the build sheet is so important.

[Netsurfr]

Ok thanks. I just shot him an email asking if he in fact placed the order in the system & when I should expect production number. So once I have that number I can go to mybmw to create an account & see the status?

Thanks!

[pacent]

The bmw website for tracking your order is awful. I took delivery of my X5 on May 2nd, and on the website, it still says my X5 is on order and has not started production as of yet.

The telephone number is much better.

[JoeA666]

I ordered an X5 xDrive50i about 2 weeks ago on Saturday. I got the production order number that day & was able to see the status that day on the BMW web site. Since then, the web site, the 800 number and the customer service agent all provide the same story. "Scheduled for production with no confirmed production date". Hope it changes soon!

[ard]

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

[Netsurfr]

Ard,

Thanks for the info. Makes sense so now I know what I need from the salesguy!

[Netsurfr]

So dealer gave me a production number today. They said it will go into production May 20th but not sure what that actually means or how long before I get it but it's progress.

[alistairg]

Wow - that's very specific of your dealer!

I ordered on 4/24 and got a production number for week 22 (last week of May). My car changed to "Status 112" last week.... I'm hopeful it'll get pulled forward, but who knows!

I'm intrigued tho - what's the last few digits of your prod #? Mine's xxx8266.

-Alistair

[ard]

Originally Posted by Netsurfr

So dealer gave me a production number today. They said it will go into production May 20th but not sure what that actually means or how long before I get it but it's progress.

Very cool.

I take it you figured out (and hence edited the post) that they typically have cars already 'on order', perhaps these would turn into 'lot offerings', that they will 'convert' to a specific owners' specs once someone places an order....this is why people panic when they get their production number and it is 'all wrong'. Dont worry, it takes a while for the configuration to change.

Typically the car is done within 4-5 days of the production start, then 3-4 days to get transport, then 3-4 day on a truck to WI.