monacobmw

It is strange to me that someone would publicly report that the cars would be repaired and sold as new. That is usually something that someone would not advertise when giving comments on the issue.

das

This is a minor incident compared to some...

A ship called the Tricolor sank in the English channel carrying almost 3000 new BMW, Volvo, and Saab vehicles:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/2713963.stm

The official salvage web site, with photos:

http://www.tricolorsalvage.com/

The ship was cut into pieces and removed because it was a danger to other vessels using the channel.

And for the record, there is NOTHING WRONG with vehicles with light damage being repaired by BMW itself and being sold as new vehicles.

What if a body panel was damaged during manufacturing, and replaced? What if an object struck a vehicle during shipping and the damage was repaired?

Could the vehicle no longer be sold as "new"? These things happen all the time. It is not necessary to disclose anything, and it is fine for vehicles with light damage that can be appropriately repaired to be sold as new. It's not like they're going to take severely damaged vehicles, such as in the pictures, and just cobble them together and sell them as new.

I know that doesn't make anyone with cars on that transport feel any better, but accidents can happen.

JSpira

The Tricolor not only had new cars on it but privately-owned (i.e. tourist delivery) vehicles. I know someone whose car was on it.

The Tricolor's cars was recovered by BMW and destroyed to ensure that they would not turn up anywhere.

kearflex

Oh my....

poleposition

scary

nicke60gre

Didn't you know that? About 1 among 10-15 cars of any brand, has got a slight damage during delivery process, that has been properly repaired and you will never know about that You also have the warranty covering, in case something's wrong.

Rudy

Exactly. Many cars are repaired at the VPC that incurred damgae during shipment. The VPC is capable of doing this kind of work and maintaining the standards set by the factory. It's not like they're sending the cars to some local body shop to have the repairs done.

It's entirely possible that some of the cars we took delivery of (new) were repaired at the VPC prior to arriving at the dealerships...

MiamiPhill

Jonathan, are cars anchored to some sort of immovable support on these ships........I always envisioned some sort of ratcheting hooks/tether like the ones they use on flatbed tow trucks.
The damage in some of pics look like the cars were tossed around totally untethered.

JSpira

Ja, they are tethered. In fact, here is a picture inside a vessel that I took recently in Bremerhaven. But they are not tethered against the forces of gravity. If the vessel tips to the side, the cars will move.

moschse

UPDATE: Spoke to dealer, and supposedly only 400 of 2000 on board were damaged. No word on mine. Owners circle still shows that its "en route" and the 1-800 number says its at the port awaiting a shipping vessel?... Anyway, I hope this fiasco doesn't delay my delivery...