das

09/21/2005: 112 - Scheduled for Daily Production Pack (October/Week 40)
09/24/2005: 150 - Production started (Estimated completion: 10/05/05)
09/28/2005: 151 - Body shop started
09/29/2005: 152 - Paint shop started
09/30/2005: 153 - Assembly started
10/05/2005: 155 - Production completed (Confirmed production: October/Week 40)
10/07/2005: 160 - Released to distribution
10/08/2005: 180 - Waiting for export dispatch
10/10/2005: 193 - Arrived at port of exit
10/13/2005: 194 - Selected for shipment
10/14/2005: 195 - Shipped from port of exit (Aboard MV PATRIOT, ETA 10/28/05 at Port of Charleston)
10/22/2005: 196 - Shipment arrival ETA: 11/01/05 (at Charleston VPC)
10/29/2005: MV PATRIOT docked at Union Pier, Berth 4, at Port of Charleston for unloading!
10/29/2005: Unloaded from MV PATRIOT at 1630.

m630

here's to a great weekend for you

das

09/21/2005: 112 - Scheduled for Daily Production Pack (October/Week 40)
09/24/2005: 150 - Production started (Estimated completion: 10/05/05)
09/28/2005: 151 - Body shop started
09/29/2005: 152 - Paint shop started
09/30/2005: 153 - Assembly started
10/05/2005: 155 - Production completed (Confirmed production: October/Week 40)
10/07/2005: 160 - Released to distribution
10/08/2005: 180 - Waiting for export dispatch
10/10/2005: 193 - Arrived at port of exit
10/13/2005: 194 - Selected for shipment
10/14/2005: 195 - Shipped from port of exit (Aboard MV PATRIOT, ETA 10/28/05 at Port of Charleston)
10/22/2005: 196 - Shipment arrival ETA: 11/01/05 (at Charleston VPC)
10/29/2005: MV PATRIOT docked at Union Pier, Berth 4, at Port of Charleston for unloading!
10/29/2005: Unloaded from MV PATRIOT at 1630.
10/31/2005: At Charleston VPC
11/02/2005: VPC completed; released to carrier for departure to dealer on 11/03/05

das

So I get a message from my dealer today saying my vehicle left the VPC yesterday, and that it's estimated to arrive here on Saturday 11/05.

I'm having the dealer install an aux audio input and put on Style 124 wheels (which are already at the dealer), and also non-labor intensive things like rear reflectors and removing the model badge. But he says that doing their inspection and prep and doing the stuff I wanted will take "at least a few days".

If this thing is here and is sitting at the dealer on Saturday...then Sunday...then a few more days that next week, I think I'm going to go nuts!

iamanush

Hey Das - How much does the aux audio input cost. I did not ask my dealer for that.. my car is in the dealer.. I can ask him for this.. Thanks

das

I am getting it installed in its normal location in the glovebox, parts+labor, for $200.

iamanush

Thanks. I will talk to my dealer. I am picking up the car only next friday.

markt540i

das, where did you get so much detailed information about the production status of your car?

das

Well, from a few places.

First, the dealer has the most up-to-date information about the car throughout its entire production process, which they can access in their online ordering system. I got some of the information from there. But most salesmen get irritated if you call them twice a day to check on the production status.

What I used most was the BMWNA Customer Relations line, 800-831-1117. They have an automated voice response system that is usually fairly up-to-date, and correspond with the various production status codes. Of course, the automated system doesn't mind if you call it every five minutes.

You can also talk directly to an agent at BMWNA Customer Relations. They have access to essentially the same status information as the dealer does, but ONLY until the vehicle reaches the port of exit. Beyond that, they can't track it any more. Sure, BMWNA as an organization has the capability to do so, but they don't give the Customer Relations callcenter people access to any tools to do so; after it reaches the port of exit, your dealer and Owner's Circle (which itself is several days behind and not very detailed) are the only places to get status updates from BMW. So after it arrives at the port in Germany, the dealer is your best source.

However, there are also some non-BMW sources that can help. If your car boards a Wallenius Wilhemsen ship, you can track it via its VIN number at:

http://schedule.2wglobal.com/AppTracking/s...?trackType=Auto

This will show you when your car gets on the ship, and by clicking on the Voyage Number, you can see all the ports of call and dates. You can also see when your vehicle is unloaded from the ship.

If your car isn't on a Wallenius Wilhelmsen ship, there are still other ways to track it. Once your car gets on a ship, your dealer can tell you the name of the ship. You can then look it up by name on the following Coast Guard site to get its callsign:

http://cgmix.uscg.mil/PSIX/PSIX2/VesselSearch.asp

Once you have its callsign, you can track its progress using:

http://sailwx.info/shiptrack/

Here's an example for FREEDOM, a ship currently en route:

http://www.sailwx.info/shiptrack/shipposit...ml?call=WDB5483 (You can zoom out to get a bigger picture, and see its previous tracking information.)

Also, even though you can't track it with carriers other than Wallenius Wilhelmsen, other shippers still at least provide voyage data for the ship itself, in the form of dates of arrival at ports of call and so on. BMW uses 3 shippers:

Wallenius Wilhelmsen
K Line
NYK Line

Each of them has a Schedules link where you can look up ship schedules.

Many ports also have web pages operated by the port administration. Some of these sites show incoming vessel schedules, and up-to-the minute information about what vessels are docked, when unloading started and ended, and when the vessel left.

After your car arrives at the port, really the only source of information about the vehicles status the rest of the way is your dealer. The can tell you when your car arrives at the VPC, when it is finished at the VPC, when it is released to the carrier, and when it leaves the VPC (and an ETA at the dealer).

All of this, of course, is quite unnecessary. But tracking it along its way at least gives you something to do during the long wait.

markt540i

Wow, thanks for all the info. You are a great resource.

I have called the 800 number before but just today the automated response told me it was in the body shop. Before it had never given me that type of detail.

Thanks again.