[ooiamryanoo]

so im planning to get an e90 soon

and i wanted to know how the ordering process works

like do you need to put in a deposit.. if so.. how much

and when do you start making payments for the car?

[puck724]

well my experiance was as follows-

i ordered the car on july 15th, there was no paperwork that needed to be done and no deposit was made. actually all this was done via email, even the negotiating. i think i talked to my CA twice and that was about it. 2 months later september 15th was when i picked up my car from my dealership. this was when all the paperwork and what not was done and the downpayment was given. the first car payment that i actually mailed in was for the month of october. the only paperwork that i gave them before i got my car was the application for the financing.

since you are in the states there is an 800 number you can call to check the status of your car, i used this number religiously..lol...

that was my experiance...other members i think have the same as well although i remember some of them actually having to put a deposit down.

[ooiamryanoo]

thanks!

[puck724]

thats what we are here for. keep asking if you need to know. the search feature is great too.

[erossen]

I had to put $1000 down to order to my specs. While the dealer's policy was that this was non-refundable, the sales person (with whom I have developed a good relationship) assured me that since the car's specs weren't too exotic (color and options wise), they would refund it if I couldn't make good on the deal. Fortunately, I'm picking it up this week (325i, mystic blue, black int. w/aluminum trim). Good luck.

[england1987]

I went to my dealership to talk about the car, with the intention of buying a 330i in the future. They told me about the 335i, so I didn't order the 330i. I "ordered" a 335i and placed a $500 deposit. The 335i has not been official released, so my order goes into a little black book for future use. I've been told I should have it sometime at the end of this year.

[TD]

Usually a delaership wants a $500-$1000 deposit to order to your specs. Generally, the more unusual the specs, the higher the deposit.

However, by law, they have to refund your deposit if you walk away from the deal. They may tell you it's non-refundable but taht's simply not true.

The fact that our laws prevent dealerships from collecting non-refundable deposits is the primary reason the US doesn't get BMW Individual as BMWNA and the dealerships are afraid of getting stuck with unusual and expensive options on cars sitting on their lots.

A few years back I recall my nearby dealership had a new 528iT (E39) stuck on their lot for almost two years as it had been ordered with cloth seats, black plastic trim (no wood), the sport package and a manual transmission. Plus it was Aspen Silver which is a silver with a mild purple hue to it. All of these options were standard US offerings at the time (all configurable via the BMWUSA.com Build-Your-Own tool).

They offered it to me at $6K below INVOICE just to get rid of it. But even I wanted leather and a sunroof. And I car I might be able to eventually resell within a lifetime

[TD]

The long and the short of it-

Go into your dealership and do the typical testdrive BS. After the drive, tell them what you're interested in buying (full specs - print off the Build-Your-Own page if necessary). If you actually want an automatic tranny and do not want an unusual color combo (say you want silver with black), the odds are they can find a car nearby or already have one in stock that matches your specs. And you don't need to bother to wait.

But if you want a stick and/or more unusal options (AFAIK, no dealer orders active steering for dealer stock), you're going to have to order.

So you put down a deposit and, in exchange, they promise to modify their first available modifiable production slot to match your specs. Depending on a number of variables, that slot might be for a build date only a few weeks away or it could be for a build date a couple of months away. Odds are somewhere in between.

Once it's entered, your salesperson will be able to give you your Production Order #" which you can use to track it's production status via the Owners Circle at bmwusa.com or by calling BMWUSA's 800# (800-831-1117).

In about 4 weeks (East Coast) or 5 weeks (West Coast) after the build date, the car will arrive at your dealer. At that time, you sign all of the paperwork and the car becomes yours. But up until that point, the car is no different than any other car ordered for dealer stock - except that it matches your specs. It's not yours, although all of us that have ordered cars have referred to them as "ours" through the build/transport process.

Just because you are ordering doesn't mean you can't negotiate the exact same hard bargain deal you would if you were buying off the lot. Pay no more than $1500 over invoice (less if possible) and, if you're leasing, don't let them mark up the money factor or acquisition fee.

It's best to negotiate EVERY term of your purchase at the time of order (BEFORE they put your order in) as that's when you have the most leverage. After you've waited 2+ months for a car and it's arrived, they know you want it. And they won't bend much if at all. Make sure to get your entire deal in writing on a purchase order, all teerms, and make sure it's signed. That way, they cannot come down with sudden amnesia once the car comes in.

[mikepinkerton]

Hrm, they made me put down 5% (which was about $2k) as a deposit. Oh well, they'll just have to refund me the chunk leftover for my driveoff when the car arrives.

-Mike

[TD]

Originally Posted by mikepinkerton

Hrm, they made me put down 5% (which was about $2k) as a deposit. Oh well, they'll just have to refund me the chunk leftover for my driveoff when the car arrives.

-Mike

LOL. They've invested it.

I've never put more than $500 down.

[CALIF65GM]

$1000 is typically the most that you have to put down as a deposit. You should use a credit card to make the deposit, in case the dealership tries to s&*ew you over then you can dispute the charge.

[gscone]

We put down the 1st month and sec. deposit before my dealer even ordered the car. IS this a normal case scenario?

[CALIF65GM]

Originally Posted by gscone

We put down the 1st month and sec. deposit before my dealer even ordered the car. IS this a normal case scenario?

No and was this a lease or purchase? Regardless, it's not SOP. What was their reason for wanting the 1st month and security deposit?

[gscone]

Originally Posted by CALIF65GM

No and was this a lease or purchase? Regardless, it's not SOP. What was their reason for wanting the 1st month and security deposit?

This was a lease. Seemed like most dealers would ask for something down so they can secure a car. Correct me If i am wrong here. BTW- What does SOP stand for/mean?

[CALIF65GM]

Originally Posted by gscone

This was a lease. Seemed like most dealers would ask for something down so they can secure a car. Correct me If i am wrong here. BTW- What does SOP stand for/mean?

Yes money as a deposit, but not 1st month payment and security deposit though. How can they even figure out the 1st payment as the MF and residual may be different by the time that you take delivery? It could be 4-5 weeks down the line, if you order.

SOP = standard operating procedure

[supernova]

Originally Posted by erossen

I had to put $1000 down to order to my specs. While the dealer's policy was that this was non-refundable, the sales person (with whom I have developed a good relationship) assured me that since the car's specs weren't too exotic (color and options wise), they would refund it if I couldn't make good on the deal. Fortunately, I'm picking it up this week (325i, mystic blue, black int. w/aluminum trim). Good luck.

i bet your excited, arent cha?!

[supernova]

Originally Posted by CALIF65GM

$1000 is typically the most that you have to put down as a deposit. You should use a credit card to make the deposit, in case the dealership tries to s&*ew you over then you can dispute the charge.

you're good!
haha. you know your stuff!!!