siliconvalleyyuppie

We are just starting to make plans for a house exchange in Germany during May-June of 2002. Has anyone had experience with BMW's program whereby may be possible to order a car in the US, pick it up and drive it in Germany and then export to the US? I know it was possible to do this years ago, but what about now? I will definitely investigate through BMW, but if anyone has done this fairly recently, I would really appreciate it if you would share your experience. <BR> <BR>Danke

John

Go to the "virtual center" listing at http://www.bmwusa.com/start.cfm for info on European delivery. Savings around 7% off US list, plus a car while you're there. What's not to like? Similar programs for Saab, Volvo, Porsche, Mercedes.

Mary Ann

Hi Silicon Yuppie <BR>We did it in July 1997. It was terrific plus there was a 10% reduction in the base price. At that time you had to pick up the car in Munich, but you could drop it off for shipment in any one of 13 European locations, we used Amsterdam. Then you could not pick up in August, factory closed. We took a cab from the airport, had lunch at the distribution center. They spent about an hour with us explaining the car and about driving in Europe (do not speed in Switzerland!). They provided 90 days of insurance in Europe and a full tank of gas. At that time, we could not take the car into Eastern Europe (well we could but they would not insure it). Italy also had some restrictions so we avoided it on that trip. Also, you get an emergency triangle and a built in first aid kit because they are required in Europe. <BR> <BR>By the way when you drop off the car, gas should be low since they have to empty the tank for shipment. We put 2,800 miles on the car and it was <BR>really nice having such a terrific car to travel in, sun roof open, spacious, dependable (not that rental cars are not but this was special). <BR>We still have the Munich Germany plates on the car and it is the best souvenir to bring back, kind of like reminding you of a wonderful trip each time you get in it. <BR>The hardest part for my husband was waiting to get the car back here. I think it took about 6 weeks (it went from Amsterdam to Belgium, to the ship to East Coast USA to Michigan. <BR>They want you to have a good experience and will do their best to help. Enjoy!

x

Mary Ann-Could you be any more pretentious, leaving the Germany plates on your BMW?

kk

Mary Ann, personally, I equate your leaving the German plates on your BMW with keeping stickers on luggage....these equate with lovely mementos. Good for you. I would've done the same thing and not felt the least little bit pretentious.

x

Please. No one leaves foreign license plates on their car to please themselves. If that was the case, they would hang the plates in their house somewhere. This is pure and simply an attempt to impress other people. Of course, so is buying a BMW when there are several mechanically superior cars out there that don't have the same price tag or cache.

Dan

Yuppie: <BR> <BR>One thing to consider is that you may have to self finance the purchase. I looked at buying a Saab in Europe, and the dealership here told me that I would have to pay cash for it, that it could not be financed through a US source since it would not have a US title until arrival in the States. But I'm sure with all of your dot com stock options you could by the whole factory . <BR> <BR>Dan

Art

As usual we have a coward making nasty comments. <BR>

tom

So, when everything is added up, is it still cheaper than buying one in the U.S. and rent a car in Europe? I know some people will pay anything for 'good experience'. <BR>

Art

Tom, I've been looking into picking up my next car in Germany. You don't save near as much as you used to, but you can still save a couple of thousand in addition to having a car while your there without having to rent one. <BR>

Art

siliconvalleyyuppie, I forgot to add. Please let me(us) know how your exchange worked out. I'm interested in doing same in several countries in Europe. <BR>Thanks <BR>

John

I have bought 2 BMW's using the BMW Tourist European Delivery program, picking up the cars in Munich. As for savings, I could have purchased my last car and taken delivery in the US for $1000 more, hardly making it worth going over to Munich for that small saving. The cost of the trip would have wiped out that meager saving. I did it because I was being assigned to Germany for one year and the 2nd time to Paris for another year. So I had the extra benefit of avoiding all the messy paperwork and bureaucracy as well as the need for a European driver's license. BMW took care of all the paperwork. The also picked up the tab for insurance for 12 months the first time and for a month the 2nd time. The car is completely covered while in Europe for up to 12 months and the normal warrant does not begin until you take delivery back in the US. I think it is a great deal for anyone planning an extended visit to Europe for a month or more. Renting any car in Europe isn't cheap and renting a BMW is even more expensive. <BR> <BR>As for the comment of there being mechanically superior cars out there ... perhaps. I just don't know of any. I have been very happy with the BMW's I purchased and can't imagine any other car being mechanically superior. <BR> <BR>As for financing .... true, you can't get an auto loan from a bank, but they will give you a regular loan which I did. I had a 4 yr loan and could have converted it to a regular auto loan if I wanted to.

Mary Ann

I did not mean to cause a stir by leaving on our license plate. For me it is merely a fond memory of a wonderful trip. By the way, BMWs are a very safety conscious group. In 1986 while I was driving one a person ran a red light and hit us broadside on the passenger side. Had it not been for rear shoulder strap restraints, I am not sure our daughter who was 8 sitting in the rear, would have had such minimal injury with the car being totaled (still drivable but totaled). It would be hard to convince either one of us that there was a better car on the market since US cars at the time did not include shoulder straps in the rear. By the way also, it was our then grown up daughter that surprised us and met us at the airport in Munich to pick up the car making it even more memorable. <BR>Thank you for the comment, I would agree, it is like a luggage tag or a constant post card. <BR>Oh and we recently heard you can do the acquisition by lease, the draw back would be you still pay it during shipping. You still save over renting, the full tank of gas is worth it. Just watch out for the options you put on it due to the luxury tax. <BR>It is curious that most (shall we say nasty) comments come from anonymous signers. I hope most people who love traveling realize it for what it was, a nice trip souvenir that keeps on giving.

rand

For me there is great peace of mind driving in a foreign country knowing that I am driving someone else's car and that the insurance is not tied to my insurance rates at home. But then you haven't seen me drive.

John

We haven't bought a BMW through European delivery but we did a Saab a few years back (and left the delivery plates on 'cause it was fun, guess that makes us Snaabs, huh?) Car now long gone, and we can't afford another one. <BR> <BR>But..they are too financable through a bank provided the banker knows that s/he's doing. Ask the BMW (or other) dealer to identify lenders who've handled it. Don't re-invent the pneumatic tire. In our case we had to bring the MSO (Manufacturer's Statement of Origin) back from Europe to get the car titled properly, then assigned to the bank, but the lien was in place before that because we got the VIN (vehicle identification number) of our car from the dealer (ie factory) before we closed the loan and took off. We also had to show the bank that insurance was in place with them named as co-insured, but in all other respects it was a pretty normal transaction. <BR> <BR>For Rand in BC, I don't recall I ever told our local friendly insurance company (that's a joke) about the temporary insurance we got on the car for Europe. That was even after our car was broken into in a Paris garage and we had to draw a claim on the policy there (that was an interesting experience, I can assure you.) Our home policy wasn't affected. Don't ask, don't tell.

svyuppie

Thank you so much for your helpful, informative replies. Your willingness to share is what makes this board so great. <BR>Thanks, John, for the "virtual center" address and your input on financing. Unfortunately we are not part of the dot.com segment of the population here in the Valley, but we are careful fiscal managers who are already socking away funds for this potential purchase. Mary Ann, I'm sure we'll also leave our German plates on the car--nice trip reminder. <BR> <BR>Thanks again!