Bringing my car to DC

AlburriaE90 · 07-10-2015, 08:50 PM

New to E90post, but a frequent reader here. Used to be on Bimmerforums frequently when I daily drove my E21.

After three years in DC car-free, I have decided to ship my car out east from Southern California.

Car: 2006 325i, TiAg on Grey.

I am looking for a reputable, affordable independent shop either in DC (if possible) or in MoCo or Arlington, preferably. Some shops I've seen online have very mixed reviews (CJ Foreign Car service, Alexandria Bavarian) but Georgetown Auto Services seems good.

Need advice the most on a good auto shipper. I haven't been able to find one just by searching online and I do not want to use a broker. I got a quote for $1040 from Patriot Transport in LA but for an open carrier that seems expensive.

Lastly, any tips on how to prepare my car for winter? It's been a southern California car since new, so in great shape minus some cosmetic damage to the front bumper. Has 170k miles yet so far so good except for an oil leak last summer. Is there preventative maintenance I should take care of before DD'ing this car once it gets cold/roads get salty?

PSUSMU · 07-11-2015, 10:44 AM

Get a set of winter wheels with snow tires (Blizzaks)

AlburriaE90 · 07-11-2015, 01:29 PM

Yea my thinking is put snow tires on my existing style 156 and then pick up a set of style 162 or something like that for the warmer weather.

B335T E92 · 07-12-2015, 09:17 PM

Great INDY shop and super honest. Has 20 BMWs he is working on at any given time....Pinecrest Shell in Annandale...see Moustafa. Reliable, fast, and most importantly, honest.

TitanLH8 · 07-16-2015, 01:04 PM

I used a company called Transport 123 when I relocated from SoCal to the DC area last year. It took about 7 days from the day they came to pick my car up to the day they dropped it off. The good thing about their company is that they won't move your car from truck to truck and they give you the driver's cell so you can check up on their location. Cost was around $1075. No complaints from me.

AlburriaE90 · 07-21-2015, 06:53 PM

That seems to be the going rate for cross country shipping. Was your car on an enclosed trailer or an open one?

TitanLH8 · 07-22-2015, 10:49 AM

Open trailer

infidel335 · 07-22-2015, 11:09 AM

I'm also moving to the Metro DC area and am now kicking myself for selling my stock wheels with Blizzacks.

OP - where in the 805 are/were you from? I lived in Ventura for a bit!

AlburriaE90 · 07-22-2015, 06:48 PM

Lived in Santa Barbara, sometimes I wonder why I bothered to come out here...

07-10-2015, 08:50 PM	#1
AlburriaE90 New Member 5 Rep 12 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 325i Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: 805/202 iTrader: (0)	Bringing my car to DC - Need advice New to E90post, but a frequent reader here. Used to be on Bimmerforums frequently when I daily drove my E21. After three years in DC car-free, I have decided to ship my car out east from Southern California. Car: 2006 325i, TiAg on Grey. I am looking for a reputable, affordable independent shop either in DC (if possible) or in MoCo or Arlington, preferably. Some shops I've seen online have very mixed reviews (CJ Foreign Car service, Alexandria Bavarian) but Georgetown Auto Services seems good. Need advice the most on a good auto shipper. I haven't been able to find one just by searching online and I do not want to use a broker. I got a quote for $1040 from Patriot Transport in LA but for an open carrier that seems expensive. Lastly, any tips on how to prepare my car for winter? It's been a southern California car since new, so in great shape minus some cosmetic damage to the front bumper. Has 170k miles yet so far so good except for an oil leak last summer. Is there preventative maintenance I should take care of before DD'ing this car once it gets cold/roads get salty?
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07-11-2015, 10:44 AM	#2
PSUSMU Captain 95 Rep 985 Posts Drives: 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera S Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Falls Church/Merrifield, VA iTrader: (3)	Get a set of winter wheels with snow tires (Blizzaks) __________________ RSI, LLC \| Fender Rolling \| Suspension \| Engine \| Other Stuff
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07-11-2015, 01:29 PM	#3
AlburriaE90 New Member 5 Rep 12 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 325i Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: 805/202 iTrader: (0)	Yea my thinking is put snow tires on my existing style 156 and then pick up a set of style 162 or something like that for the warmer weather.
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07-12-2015, 09:17 PM	#4
B335T E92 Enlisted Member 4 Rep 40 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW 335xi E92 Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Washington, DC iTrader: (1)	Great INDY shop and super honest. Has 20 BMWs he is working on at any given time....Pinecrest Shell in Annandale...see Moustafa. Reliable, fast, and most importantly, honest.
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07-16-2015, 01:04 PM	#5
TitanLH8 Captain 144 Rep 776 Posts Drives: 2011 E91 328xi Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Raleigh, NC iTrader: (6)	I used a company called Transport 123 when I relocated from SoCal to the DC area last year. It took about 7 days from the day they came to pick my car up to the day they dropped it off. The good thing about their company is that they won't move your car from truck to truck and they give you the driver's cell so you can check up on their location. Cost was around $1075. No complaints from me.
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07-21-2015, 06:53 PM	#6
AlburriaE90 New Member 5 Rep 12 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 325i Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: 805/202 iTrader: (0)	That seems to be the going rate for cross country shipping. Was your car on an enclosed trailer or an open one?
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07-22-2015, 10:49 AM	#7
TitanLH8 Captain 144 Rep 776 Posts Drives: 2011 E91 328xi Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Raleigh, NC iTrader: (6)	Open trailer
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07-22-2015, 11:09 AM	#8
infidel335 Lieutenant 29 Rep 454 Posts Drives: 2009 335xi Join Date: May 2012 Location: NoVA iTrader: (0)	I'm also moving to the Metro DC area and am now kicking myself for selling my stock wheels with Blizzacks. OP - where in the 805 are/were you from? I lived in Ventura for a bit! __________________ 335xi: JB4 G5 \| KW V1s \| muffler delete \| BMS DCI \| VRSF 7" FMIC \| VMR v703 18x8 \| and your mom
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07-22-2015, 06:48 PM	#9
AlburriaE90 New Member 5 Rep 12 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 325i Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: 805/202 iTrader: (0)	Lived in Santa Barbara, sometimes I wonder why I bothered to come out here...
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