[DrGP]

I was originally going to order the 335i coupe so that I would arrive at dealer in late May since my lease runs out 6/8/07 to give a little cushion of time for delivery. Previous post about European Delivery got me thinking. If I can get $2800 off of the price for taking ED, and round trip airfare can be had for about $500 from Newark, NJ. Is it worth it? Since I will lease, my sales rep says the lease term starts at car pick up in Germany. That would mean that I would have to pay for 2 months lease when I did not even have the car. I could extend the lease by 3 month to lower the payments since I will lose 2 months useage in a 36 month lease. Also Lufthansa is offering a 2 for 1 airfare deal until 1/1/07. Don't know if that will be available in 2007 but can also get a good rate through Expedia.com. I was thinking about leaving on a Thursday evening, arriving in Munich on Fri morning. Picking up the car on Friday ,then I could drive it arround on the autobahn and such and drop it back for shipment to US on Mon. Return home early Tues. Flying out Thurs and returning Mon or Tues gives the cheapest airfare. Any suggestions or feedback would be appreciated. BTW, my wife thinks it is stupid whether I take her along or not. Yes I have the vacation time.

[Ray]

I passed on the idea during my acquisition, for the same reasons. Why pay for two months of lease payments with no car to show for it?

Many other members loved their experience in Europe, so if I PURCHASE a BMW in the future, I would highly consider this option.

[Ghunger]

Best way to buy a car ever! They pay for one month of your lease when you do ED btw, so it's only 1 extra month you pay without the car. I did a much longer trip than you're considering (16 days) and I had such a good time. I'd still recommend it though. I guess I don't quite understand your wife. I don't know many women who would pass up a trip to europe.

[steve92]

You said

"If I can get $2800 off of the price for taking ED, and round trip airfare can be had for about $500 from Newark, NJ. Is it worth it? "

I am not sure where you got the $2800.00 but just so we are not talking apples to oranges, my car that I will pick-up in Munich on 1/15 had a stateside msrp of $ 51,240 and a euro msrp of $48,400 but 3 different dealers offered $45,535 which is $1000.00 over euro invoice. Make sure you at LEAST get that pricing. Good luck it is very cool in Germany.

Steve92

[DDTAN]

Elaborating on what Steve92 said. If you compare ED MSRP to US MSRP, then your calculated savings are correct. What makes ED even more compelling is the possibility that one can negotiate a deal for more off MSRP when it it is ED when compared to US price. And this is possible because ED cars do not come out of dealer allocation, so every ED car they can sell is an extra car they sell over their usual allocation. As said, it is fairly common to be able to secure a deal for $1000 over ED invoice, which saves about $5000.
If you belong to a frequent flyer plan, trying to get to Europe with miles is even greater savings. Many say that it's a waste to go to Germany and only stay 3-4 days, but to each his/her own.

[MB330]

We have our best vacation! EVER!
We pic up car in Munich and drop 14 days later in Madrid. What a great experience!!!

[IrvRobinson]

If you do an ED, the savings is really good,but watch the length of your trip.You get 14 days free insurance which starts from your pick up date and if you go over by one day,you will have to pay another 225 for an additional month.

[jxsanche]

Originally Posted by NIVKI89

We have our best vacation! EVER!
We pic up car in Munich and drop 14 days later in Madrid. What a great experience!!!

After you drop off the car in Madrid (which obviously doesn't have port) do they put the car on a truck to a port, or do they have a driver driving the car to the port?

...just curious as I'm thinking about doing the exact same thing.

Regards,
Julian

[MB330]

Originally Posted by jxsanche

After you drop off the car in Madrid (which obviously doesn't have port) do they put the car on a truck to a port, or do they have a driver driving the car to the port?

...just curious as I'm thinking about doing the exact same thing.

Regards,
Julian

No, only from Italy HARMs driver drive your car back to Munich. That why you lost 2 days of your free 14 days insurance and you have to make sure car has a gas in a tank.
They put car on flat bed and take to port Zeebrugge. Then from Zeebrugee take 2 month to get to Oxnard, CA.
Drop off my car on July 27 in Madrid and get this e-mail from HARMs on August 1:
"Your car is leaving Madrid today.
Name of the ship "Leo Leader" ETD from Zeebrugge: August 7th., 2007"

[stressdoc]

Take the wife and she will never question your wisdom again. The time of your life. Go for at least a week, a weekend is too short.

[liquid]

i had an awsome time i spend four days. i will do it agian in a heart beat. the only problem for my next car i think il go for an m model. also make sure your dealer sets up the factory tour. mine didnt.

james

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by liquid

i also make sure your dealer sets up the factory tour. mine didnt.

james

Dealerships don´t usually do this (arrange for a tour) unless you ask, so it´s not something you should just expect to happen. And a lot of people set up the tour themselves.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by DrGP

I was originally going to order the 335i coupe so that I would arrive at dealer in late May since my lease runs out 6/8/07 to give a little cushion of time for delivery. Previous post about European Delivery got me thinking. If I can get $2800 off of the price for taking ED, and round trip airfare can be had for about $500 from Newark, NJ. Is it worth it? Since I will lease, my sales rep says the lease term starts at car pick up in Germany. That would mean that I would have to pay for 2 months lease when I did not even have the car. I could extend the lease by 3 month to lower the payments since I will lose 2 months useage in a 36 month lease. Also Lufthansa is offering a 2 for 1 airfare deal until 1/1/07. Don't know if that will be available in 2007 but can also get a good rate through Expedia.com. I was thinking about leaving on a Thursday evening, arriving in Munich on Fri morning. Picking up the car on Friday ,then I could drive it arround on the autobahn and such and drop it back for shipment to US on Mon. Return home early Tues. Flying out Thurs and returning Mon or Tues gives the cheapest airfare. Any suggestions or feedback would be appreciated. BTW, my wife thinks it is stupid whether I take her along or not. Yes I have the vacation time.

You should definitely consider factory delivery and also consider staying longer. For more details on doing european delivery, you can refer back to my article in the March issue of the Roundel magazine

[MB330]

Originally Posted by JSpira

For more details on doing european delivery, you can refer back to my article in the March issue of the Roundel magazine

Sound to me like self advertising, mr. Spira!

DrGP, check JSPIRA link and read few post from Europe (http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=25) and we will wait from your posts from Munich. Good Luck, man!

[jwarea80]

i just came back from my ED yesterday. i say you go for it! it was awesome driving the car in europe besides the city traffic in paris. i am going through BMW FS for financing and dont have to make my first payment until 45days after i signed the papers. my CA told me that it's 60days for leases. i don't see where you can go wrong w/ ED besides the 6-8wks wait.

[Gripster]

Don't do it to save money. Do it for the European vacation of a lifetime.

Financially, it can make sense, but it's not about that.

[250XFOS]

I'LL never buy a BMW from the lot again. I saved 5,000 US from MSRP, and I can tell you I still have money left. Driving YOUR new BMW in the Alps and autobahn at 150 mph has no price.

Picked up in Munich and dropped in Zurich, after 13 days around Central Europe. Plane with AA miles. Only if you drop in Italy they will drive your car back to Munich. Also if you drop somewhere else, waiting time could be 7-10 days later than if you drop in Munich. You have to plan and order ahead. The only painful drawback is that after driving your baby in Europe, the wait of at least 5 weeks is seems like months. I dropped on Oct 30th, waiting for car next week, can wait anymore !!!!!.

[jxsanche]

Originally Posted by NIVKI89

No, only from Italy HARMs driver drive your car back to Munich. That why you lost 2 days of your free 14 days insurance and you have to make sure car has a gas in a tank.
They put car on flat bed and take to port Zeebrugge. Then from Zeebrugee take 2 month to get to Oxnard, CA.
Drop off my car on July 27 in Madrid and get this e-mail from HARMs on August 1:
"Your car is leaving Madrid today.
Name of the ship "Leo Leader" ETD from Zeebrugge: August 7th., 2007"

Thanks so much for the info. Although I live in Houston I'm originally from Madrid and all my family lives there, so for me it would be an opportunity to drop by, show off the car , and see the family before returning home.

So if I want to minimize the wait time (from the time I drop it off to the time I get it in Houston) is there such thing as an "optimal" drop-off location? (Munich again? maybe a city that has a port like Amsterdam?)

Regards,
Julian

[250XFOS]

If I am not mistaken, all cars have to go to Munich to be sent to Bremerhaven or the other port. Dropping directly at the port I think is not possible.

Trae un buen Jamon de vuelta, vale ? Metelo en el morro del auto.

Xavier

[jxsanche]

Originally Posted by 250XFOS

If I am not mistaken, all cars have to go to Munich to be sent to Bremerhaven or the other port. Dropping directly at the port I think is not possible.

Gotcha. That wouldn't be too bad either. After all most likely you get the cheapest plane ticket when you get it round trip, so Houston-Munich and back will be cheaper than two individual tickets (one Houston-Munich and a second Madrid-Houston).

Originally Posted by 250XFOS

Trae un buen Jamon de vuelta, vale ? Metelo en el morro del auto.

De morro nada, me lleno el maletero que para eso esta