1st post, 1st BMW, order process surprise - little help?
 

Hi All,
I've been lurking and learning. I posted this same over in Xbimmers and decided to post here in case someone here might have some other insights.

Could use a bit of help here. I ordered my X5 30i (for lease - 1st BMW too) on December 30 and was told by my Sales Consultant that it was ordered for delivery for the end of February (as I requested - to coincide with the end of my Inifiniti lease).

I never received any production updates or announcements, as the dealer had told me I would, and as I can clearly see form many posts here that customers ordering these vehicles receive. I never received a production number either. I have assumed such would be soon forthcoming for a build delivery end Feb.

I just received an email from my sales consultant telling me that my vehicle is now in production, will be finished on or about Jan 22 and should be at the dealership by the end of January. He further states that he knows I did not want it so soon but thought I would want to know this news.

From all I read here, and in other forums, this seems very out of the normal course of events and I am suspicious. On the one hand, I could easily be excited (even though I would have to return the Infiniti almost a month early and still have to pay for that month) and on the other hand this has me raising an eyebrow and not thrilled with the additional unexpected expense.

At the time of order, they told me the vehicle could be ready in 4 to 5 weeks. When I told them I did not want it until end Feb (reminding them that I told them at beginning of process - I am in a lease until end Feb), they told me it would be no problem and I would receive the production info when it got to that point. Given he is now telling me build finish 1/22 and at dealership by end Jan, I suspect they never scheduled the production order as promised. Perhaps they were just telling me what I wanted to hear and/or pushed it through immediately to get in one more before the year end.

I just received this email news tonight and have yet to respond.

Any thoughts, ideas, recommendations, etc.?? Never having dealt with this situation, I hope some of you with more experience in these matters might offer some advice. So far, in Xbimmers, advice is to ask for a price adjustment if delivery accepted a month early. Would greatly appreciate any other insights, ideas and/or suggestions.


T.I.A.

EDIT: I just looked back thru the first email from dealer confirming my order was approved. Within the attachment was an order number the sales consultant had not pointed out and I had missed it too. I just called the BMW line and the status report indicates the vehicle is scheduled for production with no production date yet. This only further confuses me about the email I received from the sales consultant today!

Someone may have cancelled their order, or given up their allotment.

Either way, it's up to you when to take delivery. If you don't want the car now, tell them you want to wait. It's up to you.

They can't keep your deposit, at least in any State I'm aware of.

There's nothing suspicious about it, and asking for a price cut for accepting the car early seems like a tactic that won't be very successful.

Then again, it's worth a try...

This happens occasionally, so nothing to be suspicious about. I would ask your sales advisor for the production #. If you have that information you can contact BMW for updates:

1-800-831-1117 press 2 to enter production #

Thanks ABMW. Did you see my edit to orig post?

:iagree:

You take delivery when you want. One word of caution, whatever you do, DO NOT DRIVE IT NOW! You'll be begging to ditch that Infiniti and pay the extra months lease payment.

Congrats and welcome!

Did you see this thread http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...-opinions.html

It sounds like the production of 2010 X5 is stopping soon and the 2011 models will have a number of improvements.

Thanks, saw that thread too. It is a tempting thought but I stretched to do this vehicle and got it for $250 over (edmunds) invoice less holiday. I fear the 2011 would be out of my reach or certainly stretching me further than I am already.
:rofl: already beggin! Test drove x5 and then drove it again when I ordered to remind me WHY I was stretching!:thumbup: But practicality IS practicality and a month's lease payment isn't chicken scratch.

Thanks all!

The next question the situation raises is: Last night the BMW status line said scheduled no date. Today it says anticipated completion 1/22. Other posts show various stages of production but I have yet to see one that indicates 9 days in production. Am I missing something? does a vehicle go from "scheduled - no date" to "anticipated completion" in 9 days?

I only ask because this looks different from what I read here in the forums about order status reports.

Thanks again!

You're fine. The scheduled for production just confirms that they have an order in house awaiting production. Once the status changes and the vehicle is actually in production, the process goes quickly.

Take a deep breath. :rofl:

Well. All because a car is finished with production, it doesn't mean it'll be immediately transported to the dealership. I had to wait 2-3 weeks after the system (and BMW representative) confirmed that the car was already built. Being out in the West Coast, the car needs to be railed to the PDC, then transported to the dealership.

Just make sure you inspect the car throughly before signing any paperwork.

If the car arrives early, go in as soon as you get a chance to see the car. Note the mileage and ask the dealer to NOT allow anyone to test drive / drive the car (unless you don't mind). Make sure that they know that if the mileage deviates by too much (ie: 2 miles). That you will decline the car. They should be able to hold it until the day that was intially agreed upon. If they insist on you taking it early, ask them for price reduction in the amount of the final lease payment.

Thanks all! here is the Salesman's reply:
So all looks good.

My Infiniti inspection has been done and the only issue is wear on the two rear tires (they want $200 ea. - Of course I can replace them cheaper). Frustrating as they have under 15k miles (2 yr lease and that car is too small for me to drive distances). But they are high performance tires and the highways here, over the past 5 or so years, have been very poorly repaved, now chipping and flaking causing excessive tire wear. I may try to see if Infiniti might take the car back early and drop the tire fee. If they agree, I could find the win/win/win (or pretty close!).

Thanks again for all the feedback and info! :beerchug:

question on ordering
 

I have never preorder a car before. I currently have the 05 X5 and wanting to upgrade to the new 2011 X5. I checked both local dealerships and they dont have the car I want. What do I do to order one? Do I just bring my configuration in and place an order? Is price negotiated when ordering? How much is the deposit to order a car? and Is it refundable if the car comes and it is not exactly what I want...ex: the steering wheel is the old style or the wheel are wrong?

Oh my. Do yourself a favor and read A LOT of posts here on the process.... it is nowhere near as linear and orderly as you might imagine (unless you just want to pay MSRP).

Yes, OF COURSE you negotiate BEFORE you accept an offer and order the car.

Yes, you just tell them everything you want and they order it. The put your name on it, they take a deposit. It is refundable UNLESS they give you a written agreement otherwise. USE A CREDIT CARD. You can cancel it any time, and they can cancel it. (Most people dont realize this.) $500-1000 is normal.

What model are you looking for?

Thanks for the advise. I just wasn't sure if you negotiate ahead of the time and then place the order and put $500-$1000 deposit. I guess I have to make sure that it is refundable if the car arrive not to my specs.
Do you negotiate the finance or lease options before you order as well?

O dear again.

OK, look at it this way:

You've negotiated the price at say $62k, and you arrive at the dealership with the wife and kids and your trade-in car. You sit down to close the deal, and the finance guy- all smiles- says "25% interest for financing". You smirk and say "I won't pay over 4.9%, which is what BMW advertises". He says "Not a problem, here's your $500 back, I've already got another buyer for your car at MSRP. Have a nice life"

You do not "need to make sure it is refundable" by ASKING the dealer. Assume everything they SAY is a lie: EVERYTHING. The will give you documents to sign that can be totally opposite to what they say- and the documents will explicitly say "I will not rely on any verbal statements from the dealer".

Simply stated you negotiate a deal as if the car is on the lot. Once you order the car all that is left is "wait 10 weeks, drive down, sign papers, hand them a check" ..there should be zero left to discuss after the order (other than listening to them lie about where the car is in the production process and when it will arrive)

But hey, aren't I the optimist?

;)

A

ard. I didn't realize that the dealership could back out of the deal too. In what situation can they do that? Anytime/any reason?

As far as the deposit being refundable, it also depends on the state that your in. In California, like what ard said, they cannot keep the deposit. But I believe in NY, it's a different story. Not sure about TX.

Negotiate everything before. Including the interest rate, etc before hand. By the time you get the car, the interest rate might be higher. So you'll need it locked in.

GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING, including free mats, etc. Don't let the sales make you feel guilty by not trusting them. As ard said, treat everything they say as a lie. Too many smooth talking sales that will say anything to get the deal and then leave you high and dry afterwards.

But I highly recommend ordering the car, get it the exact way you want it.

[this is not legal advice]

Without a written agreement that is binding on both parties, simply collecting $1000 and saying 'we'll put you name on a car' is not binding. I am not familar with state laws, but I would be surprised to hear that any state codifies an informal 'order taking plus deposit' and gives it 'non-refundable' status. So check YOUR state. :thumbup:

With some very popular cars (GT3RS, early M5 days) dealers would routinely sell the incoming car to the highest bidder no mater who was on the list- although arguably they may not have placed an individual's name on the order with the factory....

Dealers will almost never reverse themselves once a name is on a deal, but they can.

Also, dealers will leave a name on an order even after someone cancels just so they remain 'priority one'... indeed this can also result in dealers getting those priority one colors that never see lot time (ie that can only be sold to someone ordering...)

Finally, BMW has an "Individual" process by which european customers can order 'non-standard' or custom colors. But this is not (generally) available in the USA- for the simple reason that in europe your rights to cancel are very restricted, whereas in the USA they might find themselves with purple and pink M5s and owners that claim "I don't want it now". Some amazing combos (many tasteful :) ) in EU.

A