[reu2]

The BMW Line switched to another familiar message this morning. “Your vehicle is in transit, please contact your center for additional tracking information."

At least this message indicates progress, and of course now I don't have to hear sitting at port messages.

Here's the updated timeline;

2015-02-14 - Order Placed [start]
2015-02-14 - Prod # / Est Start 2015-03-02
2015-02-24 - Production Start / BMW Est Completion 2015-03-02 [01]
2015-02-26 - Rec’d VIN WBA3B3G55FNXXXXXX from CA
2015-02-27 - Body Shop
2015-02-28 - Paint Shop
2015-03-02 - Production Complete
2015-03-03 - "Released to carrier waiting Transport to Port of Exit" [02]
2015-03-06 - "Transport to Port of Exit" (VIN on TransNet)
2015-03-06 - Arrival at Port by Road (TransNet 18:42)
2015-03-12 - "At the Port Waiting a Shipping Vessel, there is no shipping information available at this time"
2015-03-18 - Left the Port by Ship (TransNet 09:06) MOL Voyage 0009A
2015-03-24 - “Vehicle is in transit, please contact your center for additional tracking information." [03]
2015-04-09 - Prime Ace Arrival at port NJ/NY - Bayonne
2015-04-10 - Prime Ace Arrival at port Baltimore - Dundalk
2015-04-12 - Unloaded/Cleared Customs
2015-04-13 - Arrival at Final VPC
2015-04-14 - Process Confirmed - "At the Port Waiting a Shipping Vessel, there is no shipping information available at this time" [04]
2015-04-14 - Released to Carrier
2015-04-15 - Ship from VPC
2015-04-18 - “Vehicle is in transit, please contact your center for additional tracking information."
2015-04-19? - Dealer Delivery [Finish?]
2015-04-20? - Pick up

? = Estimated [] = BMW Web Step {} = Ship Tracking

So close....

[reu2]

No Bimmer today. While my CA said it arrives today, they won't be able to Prep it until Monday.

So I'll get it Monday Afternoon or Tuesday.

[reu2]

I just scheduled to pick up my car tomorrow

I thought it would be fun to compare my original timeline after learning it was an SA build to the nearly completed timeline.

Original Timeline from March 4th;

2015-02-14 - Order Placed [start]
2015-02-14 - Est Start 2015-03-02
2015-02-24 - Production Start / BMW Est Completion 2015-03-02 [01]
2015-02-26 - Rec’d VIN WBA3B3G55FNXXXXXX from CA
2015-02-27 - Body Shop
2015-02-28 - Paint Shop
2015-03-02 - Production Complete
2015-03-03 - Released to carrier waiting Transport to Port of Exit [02]
2015-03-07? - At Port/Waiting Carrier
2015-03-11? - Depart Port [03?]
2015-04-10? - Arrival at port
2015-04-11? - Cleared Customs
2015-04-12? - VCP (SC?) [04?]
2015-04-13? - Transport to Midwest
2015-04-19? - At Dealer [Finish?]
2015-04-21? - Pick up

? = Estimated [] = BMW Web Step

Here is the [nearly] complete Timeline;

2015-02-14 - Order Placed [start]
2015-02-14 - Prod # / Est Start 2015-03-02
2015-02-24 - Production Start / BMW Est Completion 2015-03-02 [01]
2015-02-26 - Rec’d VIN WBA3B3G55FNXXXXXX from CA (the N indicates the production facility, Rosslyn SA)
2015-02-27 - Body Shop
2015-02-28 - Paint Shop
2015-03-02 - Production Complete
2015-03-03 - "Released to carrier waiting Transport to Port of Exit" [02]
2015-03-06 - "Transport to Port of Exit" (VIN on TransNet)
2015-03-06 - Arrival at Port by Road (TransNet 18:42)
2015-03-12 - "At the Port Waiting a Shipping Vessel, there is no shipping information available at this time"
2015-03-18 - Left the Port by Ship (TransNet 09:06) MOL Voyage 0009A
2015-03-24 - “Vehicle is in transit, please contact your center for additional tracking information." [03]
2015-04-09 - Prime Ace Arrival at port NJ/NY - Bayonne
2015-04-10 - Prime Ace Arrival at port Baltimore - Dundalk
2015-04-12 - Unloaded/Cleared Customs
2015-04-13 - Arrival at Final VPC
2015-04-14 - Process Confirmed - "At the Port Waiting a Shipping Vessel, there is no shipping information available at this time" [04]
2015-04-14 - Released to Carrier
2015-04-15 - Ship from VPC
2015-04-18 - “Vehicle is in transit, please contact your center for additional tracking information."
2015-04-18 - Dealer Delivery
2015-04-20? - “Vehicle Delivered” [Finish?]
2015-04-21? - Pick up

? = Estimated [] = BMW Web Step {} = Ship Tracking " " = BMW Line

Interesting I nailed the delivery date, which was meant to be conservative. When I had first ordered it I expected it the week of April 6th, but that's before I found out it was a South Africa Build which added 2 Weeks to the original dealer estimate.

Well the car is real, and it's at my Dealership. Bimmer day is tomorrow!

Stay tuned....

[reu2]

I haven't picked up my yet, that's later today. No the BMW Line and Website have not changed, maybe they think it's in transit to my garage.

I'm curious as to what I should do after I get it (Other than drive it!). A few threads mention the BMW Detailing package. Is it recommended I get it detailed right away? I would use a third party, not the dealership.

[reu2]

It's here!!! Finally it's Bimmer Day!

Here are some quick pics of the new ride....


_RN88267-Edit by Reuben Neese, on Flickr


_RN88264-Edit by Reuben Neese, on Flickr


_RN88286 by Reuben Neese, on Flickr


_RN88291 by Reuben Neese, on Flickr


_RN88292 by Reuben Neese, on Flickr

[reu2]

Well, the Website updated today but not the Phone Line, and to honest I'm tired of calling it.

As exciting as it is to finally have this awesome car, I forget how awkward a new car can be. After driving my last car for 4 years everything was second nature. Now even skipping an audio track takes effort. It's going to take some time to get used to all the features this car has.

Still, it's awesome to drive and I doubt this will be my last German car.

The buying process was straight forward and well planned. I met with my CA who got all the paperwork in order while the BMW Genius walked me through the car. Then they had me sit with he Finance guy who was very straight forward and not at all pushy with the "protection" packages.

A few more minutes to order a couple accessories (at cost), shook hands with my CA and the BMW Genius and I was rollin'.

Overall an easy and well rehearsed process.

Here is the FINAL Time line;

2015-02-14 - Order Placed [start]
2015-02-14 - Prod # / Est Start 2015-03-02
2015-02-24 - Production Start / BMW Est Completion 2015-03-02 [01]
2015-02-26 - Rec’d VIN WBA3B3G55FNXXXXXX from CA
2015-02-27 - Body Shop
2015-02-28 - Paint Shop
2015-03-02 - Production Complete
2015-03-03 - "Released to carrier waiting Transport to Port of Exit" [02]
2015-03-06 - "Transport to Port of Exit" (VIN on TransNet)
2015-03-06 - Arrival at Port by Road (TransNet 18:42)
2015-03-12 - "At the Port Waiting a Shipping Vessel, there is no shipping information available at this time"
2015-03-18 - Left the Port by Ship (TransNet 09:06) MOL Voyage 0009A
2015-03-24 - “Vehicle is in transit, please contact your center for additional tracking information." [03]
2015-04-09 - Prime Ace Arrival at port NJ/NY - Bayonne
2015-04-10 - Prime Ace Arrival at port Baltimore - Dundalk
2015-04-12 - Unloaded/Cleared Customs
2015-04-13 - Arrival at Final VPC
2015-04-14 - Process Confirmed - "At the Port Waiting a Shipping Vessel, there is no shipping information available at this time" [04]
2015-04-14 - Released to Carrier
2015-04-15 - Ship from VPC
2015-04-18 - “Vehicle is in transit, please contact your center for additional tracking information."
2015-04-18 - Dealer Delivery
2015-04-21 - Picked up
2015-04-22 - [Finish]

? = Estimated [] = BMW Web Step {} = Ship Tracking " " = BMW Line

Now to install the dash cam and learn all the features. Maybe some coding in the near future.

[Craibat]

Originally Posted by reu2

It's here!!! Finally it's Bimmer Day!

Here are some quick pics of the new ride....


_RN88267-Edit by Reuben Neese, on Flickr


_RN88264-Edit by Reuben Neese, on Flickr


_RN88286 by Reuben Neese, on Flickr


_RN88291 by Reuben Neese, on Flickr


_RN88292 by Reuben Neese, on Flickr

Congratulations, it looks great! The kids look happy to finally be able to sit in the car. It must still be cold in the Midwest.

[reu2]

Originally Posted by Craibat

Congratulations, it looks great! The kids look happy to finally be able to sit in the car. It must still be cold in the Midwest.

Kids love the car, they seemed almost as excited as I was. Of course I involved them in picking it out and the tracking.

It actually snowed the last couple days. That's unusual even for the midwest this late in the year. It was interesting that when I drove to pick up car it was raining/sleeting/snowing and when I drove off the lot it was sunny. Even the heavens prefer BMW

[reu2]

I have an 18 mile commute, that takes about 30 minutes, which means I'm stuck in traffic a lot.

When I purchased my Lexus a number of years ago I passed on the Active Cruise. It was expensive and had limited functionality. It couldn't apply the brakes, and when I tested it on a test drive, the car was way to aggressive when it tried to "catch up". I also got to try it in a 2015 Lexus LS460L, which included braking, it also felt unsure and too aggressive to be comfortable.

Still, I wish I had gotten it.

When I specked my 328i on the BMWUSA's website, I saw that they offered it and my mind was made up. I even ended up arguing with the first BMW CA I worked with (whom I ultimately did not buy from) that it was even available on the 328i.

Now three days into having my Bimmer, I got to test it out on my commute.

I set the car to Eco-Pro to settle the throttle response and transmission, set my cruise control for 55 MPH (well over what traffic was doing, but I wanted to get to the speed limit if it cleared up). Then enabled the Adaptive Cruise....

At first there was too much distance between me and the car in front of me, I kept getting cut off. An easy couple of button pushes closed that distance.

The results, I drove ten minutes in stop and go traffic without touching the throttle or brake. I wasn't jerked around, and I got pretty good damn gas milage. Of course this depends on who you get behind in some ways.

Adaptive Cruise is awesome, worth every over priced penny it cost. If you're specking a 3 series, spend a lot of time in traffic, and like gadgets; add it to the list.

As it turns out, the 3 series gets the same BMW adaptive cruise that the Rolls-Royce Ghost is equipped with. Here is a youtube video on it.

[F30lolz]

Congrats on the purchase

[reu2]

I've been trying to use the BMW remote, part of the 6AP remote services option, with no luck.

During the overview of the car, the BMW Genius said it normally takes a couple days to be activated. This is wrong, they setup connected drive and BMW finance, but it doesn't activate BMW Assist.

I did some research and it turns out that you have to call BMW assist, the dealership can not set it up for you.

The easiest way is to use the SOS button and let them know you are doing your Activation or introduction call. If your too nervous to hit that button you can call BMW Assist Customer Care at 1-888-333-6118 and do initial setup, but at the end of the call they'll ask you to use the SOS button to finalize the setup anyway.

Another feature I thought was missing and the BMW Genius seemed unsure of, was HD Radio. I knew from the product material that the car was supposed to have it but it wasn't listed anywhere. This is where reading the manual comes in. While in Radio, hit the "options" button on the I-Drive control and you'll find it as an selection there. Odd that it wasn't in the general settings menu for the system anywhere.

The Harmon Kardon Speakers are pretty good. Better that most stock car radios, but not quite as good as the Mark Leveson Audio in the Lexus cars, but better than most. It lacks clarity, but that may get better as the speakers break in. There is also something odd between 100-500Hz resulting in the odd negative 200Hz setting. Normally I wouldn't cut a tone curve like that, but it works for the HK. The EQ settings get me to where I feel reference is, I then just bump the Bass and treble settings a notch or two depending on what I'm listening too.

This is where I like the L7 EQ settings so far;

100Hz +3
200Hz -3
500Hz +1
1kHz flat
2kHz flat
5kHz -1
10kHz -1

[reu2]

Auto Start and Stop

So here are my early thoughts on this;

Every car reviewer said that I'll want to just disable this feature and I can see why. Fortunately the 2015 BMW 328i "remembers" your last setting and you can essentially disable it and never look back.

I however kind of like it.... Settle down, I know, it's not the most polished feature. Here's the hook though, early independent testing shows an almost 10% decrease in fuel usage in city driving (the tester was a 428i). That translates to real world money and carbon savings. So I want to use it.

But when it sucks, it really sucks. When I'm coasting to a light where it has already turned green, the car often shuts off just before I switch to the gas to go. It also likes to shut off when I'm creeping into a tight garage space. If you need to go quickly, like when entering a busy road, there is an unnecessary hesitation. These issues kill the feature.

So what are the work arounds?

In the case of entering a busy road, you can pull the steering wheel and the engine will kick back up. Which is nice if you had time to prepare, but you're still F'd if you're stopping California style.

Anyone have any suggestions for making this feature work better?