"heliochrome85" (heliochrome85)
07/24/2014 at 19:00 • Filed to: None
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"heliochrome85" (heliochrome85)
07/24/2014 at 19:00 • Filed to: None | 17
| 28 |
The final chapter of bringing my baby home after experiencing the BMW European Delivery Program ( !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ). As part of the perks of the program, you have the option of having the car delivered to any BMW dealer in the US, OR you can elect for a free Performance Center delivery. The !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! is in Spartanburg, SC and is adjacent to the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , and BMW Manufacturing, where the X3,X4,X5, and X6 are produced for global customers. The program consists of 1.) Night in a local hotel with dinner and drinks the night before, 2.) A day at the BMW Performance Center track with professional drivers helping you explore the limits of "your" car, 3.) Fairly extensive lunch with various members of the driving academy, 4.) A tour of the BMW Zentrum Museum, 5.) A factory tour, 6.) Offroading experience with a new X3 or X5, before finally 7.) delivery of your new car.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
The program starts the night before. Given that this was going to be a one way trip, I rented a car to drive up. It turned out to be a 2013 Kia Forte. I drove it to GSP and turned it back in. Where I awaited my chauffeur to the hotel.
After dropping it off, the driver showed up in a brand new fully loaded 2014 X5 with white full-leather interior.
BMW had made reservations for me at the Greenville Marriott Hotel. After checking in, I found personalized materials in my room with driver waiver forms, and an overview of the day.
That night, we had a pretty tasty dinner, and then went to bed early in preparation for a 730am departure to the Performance Center.
The next morning, we boarded a shuttle and headed for the center. After a 30 min orientation session, we were taken out to our cars. Because I was picking up a 3-series, I was given a red 335i Sportline. Any gas used or tires destroyed was going to be picked up by BMW, and so we were encouraged to really work the cars. One of the guys that day was picking up an M5, and so he had a similar one to drive. Behind the building, there are literally dozens of various M models, and motorcycles, used for the various driving classes, the Performance Center puts on. Our instructed that day, depicted below on the walkie-talkie, was in a 3 series, and communicated with us via walkie-talkies in our cars.
So we went out to the track. First up was the wet circle, to teach us how to control our cars in a spin.
After our spinouts, we went and learned how to properly use ABS under emergency braking. Then we did timed laps around the circuit. As you can imagine, no photos from those periods due to the need to actually drive. As a special treat, the drivers took us out in competition pack E93s for an extreme lap of the circuit. INCREDIBLE!
On the way back, I saw this trailer filled with gorgeous wheels and tires.
After our laps, we took brand new X5s across the street to the BMW Zentrum for a Museum tour.
A 2015 X4 Prototype.
FIRST SHOT OF THE CAR!!!!
Produced in SC.
Z4 Alpina!!!!!!
The Bond Z3.
Our Convoy!
As the Factory was closed due to tooling for the (then unannounced X4), we drove back to the Performance Center to try out the off road course in our X5s.
This was the first stateside 435i at the time.
After all these activities, we had a very hearty lunch with the staff and various professional drivers, I was told my car is ready for re-delivery. Since I had already the delivery walk through in Munich, I had a sit down with one of the delivery agents, who helped walk me through any paperwork and handed over the keys. When I googled his name, he was apparently an ex-LeMans driver. Who knew?
Driving away, we stopped at the Zentrum for souvenirs and various gift shop merch. and to grab this awesome 3D view on the Navi.
When I got home, I realized, there was an additional easter egg in the stuff I was given. Turns out the official window sticker of the car, has my name printed on it.
Overall, quite possibly the most incredible experience I've ever had. I can't imagine buying a car any other way now. Thanks for following along!
Ryanator122
> heliochrome85
07/24/2014 at 19:10 |
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What was his name?
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heliochrome85
> Ryanator122
07/24/2014 at 19:15 |
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good question. Let me see if I can pull it up. Paul Mazzacane was my instructor during the day. I can't seem to find the card of the guy who delivered my car.
http://www.bmwusa.com/performancecen…
Victorious Secret
> heliochrome85
07/24/2014 at 19:21 |
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Excellent read.
This is why I want to experience a local/Euro delivery.
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heliochrome85
> Victorious Secret
07/24/2014 at 19:22 |
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when i get in my car, this is why i love it. Its the greatest souvenir I could have imagined.
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Victorious Secret
> heliochrome85
07/24/2014 at 19:24 |
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The Euro delivery tempts me. For when I make a really stupid decision in getting a car.
If you aren't doing it often, why not make each time worth remembering?
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heliochrome85
> Victorious Secret
07/24/2014 at 19:26 |
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I ended up saving about 14-16% off the US MSRP. I could sell it at any point in the first year and make money.
ZiptieMcBumper
> heliochrome85
07/24/2014 at 19:39 |
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I'm sure you are gainfully employed, but to all Gawker Media folks out there:
If he has the time, give this man a freelancer job! He knows what he's doing!
Thanks for the link to the update, BTW!
BadMatt
> heliochrome85
07/24/2014 at 20:56 |
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You saved that much for opting for the euro delivery? Or is it because of your negotiating talent? ;)
Thanks for sharing!
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heliochrome85
> BadMatt
07/24/2014 at 21:07 |
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cross shopping and ED combined.
norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
> heliochrome85
07/24/2014 at 21:19 |
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Do you get to keep this Euro style plate on the car for the rest of your ownership or must you take it off once you get US registration?
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heliochrome85
> norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
07/24/2014 at 21:21 |
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i don't have a front plate requirement, so its currently on the car. If i move to a state where i Need a front plate, i have to figure out a way to take it off.
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norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
> heliochrome85
07/24/2014 at 21:26 |
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In NY it doesn't necessarily have to be "on" the car, it can be on the dash near the windshield and they won't say anything so you should be good here. Of course that is NY and I don't know how the other front platers are.
Vicente Esteve
> heliochrome85
07/24/2014 at 23:10 |
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All throughout this great post I said to myself. "One day. One day. One day, you'll do the same"
Amazing experience sir, I really liked both your posts.
Also, a question, were people who also bought cars as excited as (I think) you were? Or did they show lack of interest?
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heliochrome85
> Vicente Esteve
07/24/2014 at 23:15 |
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given how cool the overall experience is, id say everyone was equally excited. There are those who do EuroDelivery on a yearly basis.
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Vicente Esteve
> heliochrome85
07/24/2014 at 23:25 |
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Wow, I guess its the sort of people who go on the same cruise every year for 15 years and get to dine with the captain.
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heliochrome85
> Vicente Esteve
07/24/2014 at 23:26 |
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no better way of testing out your taste for the various methods of customization under BMW Individual program. for example:
http://www.bmwblog.com/2009/10/19/ver…
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Vicente Esteve
> heliochrome85
07/24/2014 at 23:49 |
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What a cool story! And kudos to BMW for having such rigorous customization level. That how you keep clients coming for your product.
SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
> heliochrome85
07/25/2014 at 01:46 |
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very well done!
Conan
> heliochrome85
07/25/2014 at 04:15 |
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Ah man. I had no idea about the off road too. That's awesome.
tehGnomeArmy
> heliochrome85
07/25/2014 at 13:31 |
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Epic write up, thx so much for this. Now I know what to expect. Next year cannot come quick enough so that I can follow in your footsteps.
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heliochrome85
> tehGnomeArmy
07/25/2014 at 15:48 |
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if I'm still here in SC, we should meet up!
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tehGnomeArmy
> heliochrome85
07/25/2014 at 15:53 |
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Would be cool. I am originally from Europe, have family and friends just east of Germany, so it will be a blast to drive the Bimmer there for a while. SC isn't that far form NY so I will probably do the same with the re-delivery there. 2 great trips is hard to pass up :)
Jimmy Tango
> heliochrome85
07/25/2014 at 18:54 |
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Awesome awesome journey! I wasn't planning on doing PCD, but now I am interested. Just need to figure out how to get the car back to the NW corner.
treesmakewater
> heliochrome85
08/04/2014 at 02:41 |
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one day in will be doing this (hopefully ) but I won't need a rental considering I'm 1.5 hours from the factory (google says two, but most of highway 25has 0 cops)
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heliochrome85
> treesmakewater
08/04/2014 at 07:35 |
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im 1.5 from the factory too. Columbia.
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treesmakewater
> heliochrome85
08/04/2014 at 07:50 |
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edgefield here (near Augusta ga)
Hardy-Girth
> heliochrome85
08/04/2014 at 12:58 |
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If I can swing it, I'm hoping to ED an M235i in about 3 years. I didn't really consider getting the Performance Center delivery, though. How long was the delay between when you dropped off your car at the port in Europe until it got to the PC? I take it you drove your 328i home from the PC? Is that the norm, or do some guys have it shipped home from South Carolina?
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heliochrome85
> Hardy-Girth
08/04/2014 at 18:04 |
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8-10 weeks til it arrived in the PC. I live in SC so it wasn't a big deal.