[Bimmer-Mac]

Hey guys! After countless hours reading, I finally decided to start my first thread regarding my 335i order.

Specs are in sig, but are as follows:
2013 335i xDrive
Glacier Silver/Black Dakota
-M-Sport w/ 18"s (all-seasons)
-Premium
-Cold weather
-Tech
-Driver Assistance
-Dynamic Handling
-Sport Auto
-HK Sound


In order to get the car, it had to be custom ordered. The order was placed on 4/12, the vehicle went into production 4/22, the vehicle finished production on 4/30. On 5/1 the automated phone system said that the vehicle was being transported to the port of exit, but then on 5/2 it changed to "released to carrier, and awaiting transport to port of exit", which seems to be going backwards...

Now, the fun part...the vehicle is being produced at the Rossyln plant in South Africa...so I am fully expecting a long transport to the NJ port. The lease of my current car is expiring on June 1st, so I am hoping that the 335i comes in not too long after that. Once the vehicle arrives at my dealer in CT, I will post a full review and my opinion of the car, because I know those reviews really helped me when I was making the decision on what car I would be leasing.

My question for all of you experts concerns the shipping. I would like to know more information about the process of the vehicle leaving the factory and getting on the boat. Also, how do I get a schedule for boats leaving South Africa (checked WW website, but couldn't find a schedule for boats leaving SA bound for the East Coast. Also, for those who had their 3s built in SA, how long was your shipping??

Thanks in advance for your help, and I look forward to sharing photos and a review of my new ride soon (hopefully!).

[FeeBear]

From everything I have heard, it is 4 to 5 weeks to get to the East Coast of the US. I believe then actually go to Germany before America.

Fee

[Bimmer-Mac]

Thanks for the response Fee.

I spoke with a rep on the 800# and she said that my vehicle had arrived at the port of exit this morning.

I checked the WW website, and could not find a schedule that left Durban and arrived in USA (east coast). Since I couldn't find a source that said which shipping company BMW/South Africa uses, I did some searching. Looks like Mitsui OSK Line leaves SA, heads to Bremerhaven, switches ships, then comes to the port in NYC (with several stops along the way). With my luck, a boat arrived in port Durban TODAY! Now, the question is if my vehicle made it on the boat, or if it missed it...the schedule shows that it will take 38 days to get here....June 15th...feels like so long!

Any other comments/advice is much appreciated!

[64-bit]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Mac

Thanks for the response Fee.

I spoke with a rep on the 800# and she said that my vehicle had arrived at the port of exit this morning.

I checked the WW website, and could not find a schedule that left Durban and arrived in USA (east coast). Since I couldn't find a source that said which shipping company BMW/South Africa uses, I did some searching. Looks like Mitsui OSK Line leaves SA, heads to Bremerhaven, switches ships, then comes to the port in NYC (with several stops along the way). With my luck, a boat arrived in port Durban TODAY! Now, the question is if my vehicle made it on the boat, or if it missed it...the schedule shows that it will take 38 days to get here....June 15th...feels like so long!

Any other comments/advice is much appreciated!

Man I have to wait 3 months till my car gets here, and you are complaining about 30 days?!!!

LOL, just messing with you...

It is painful, I know.

Silver with M sport and blk interior is a great combo, congrats.

Please, please share pics and reviews once you get it.

Thank you

[R12ax7]

All of my previous builds were in Germany so I cant help you on how long it takes to get from SA to Bremerhaven; I do know ships are departing from Bremerhaven tomorrow, next Tuesday and the following Wednesday. So maybe your car will get switched into one of those ships.

(btw...nice color choice!)

[Bimmer-Mac]

Originally Posted by 64-bit

Silver with M sport and blk interior is a great combo, congrats.

Please, please share pics and reviews once you get it.

Thank you

Thank you, I think the color combo is both sporty and sophisticated!

And of course, pics and review within a few days of getting the car!!

[Bimmer-Mac]

Originally Posted by R12ax7

(btw...nice color choice!)

Thanks! In my area I have only seen one M-Sport (EBII), and no Glacier Silvers of any line.

Is you GS black interior or red?

[R12ax7]

Ive seen a couple Glacier Silver base-line cars (I had a loaner once), but no Msports - thats partially why I went with it. I went black interior. I was on the fence and sat in a coral red, loved it from the drivers seat but i felt like the back seat in all red was a little much. Cant really go wrong with silver/black - classic bmw combo.

[Bimmer-Mac]

Hey guys, just a quick update...

As of yesterday, the BMW 800# says that my vehicle is in transit!!! From my research on shipping schedules, it looks like it made it on the Maersk Gateshead out of Durban, SA. When I check the cargo on the Maersk Line website I can't track the cargo. Do any of you have advice about how to track my car?

Thank you!

[FeeBear]

Try http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais and type in the vessel name.

Fee

[Bimmer-Mac]

Thanks Fee! Do you know where I can track the specific vehicle? O know the Maersk Gateshead was in the port of Durban and is going to Bremerhaven, but I'm not sure that the car is actually on that specific vessel...

[Bimmer-Mac]

Update: Car is going on a different path than I thought. First I thought it would leave Durban, transfer ships in Germany, then come to USA.

Instead it is on the GENUINE ACE, which crosses the Atlantic, and bypasses Europe. This ship leaves Durban on the 16th of every month...thats it! Glad I made it on! So it seems the furthest north the ship goes is Baltimore, in which case it will be trucked a few days to my dealership in CT! Getting excited!!!! Only a few more weeks!!!

On the Mitsu OSK Line (MOL) site, it says that the track and trace comes up with no results...oh well...

Anyone else on this ship???

[escaport]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Mac

Instead it is on the GENUINE ACE, which crosses the Atlantic, and bypasses Europe. This ship leaves Durban on the 16th of every month...thats it! Glad I made it on! So it seems the furthest north the ship goes is Baltimore, in which case it will be trucked a few days to my dealership in CT! Getting excited!!!! Only a few more weeks!!!

On the Mitsu OSK Line (MOL) site, it says that the track and trace comes up with no results...oh well...

Anyone else on this ship???

My wife's is on the Genuine Ace as well, but headed to Jacksonville, FL a bit after NJ. Should hit there on June 13th.

Ordered March 20th.
335i M-Sport
Estoril Blue/Venetian Beige
Cold Weather/Tech/Premium/HK

Supposedly they are going to install the M Performance Power Kit at the port prior to shipping to the dealer here in Dallas as well. Hope that doesn't take too long.

That said, this car might be on it's way to CT as well in not too long. My wife's from CT and want to move back up to Fairfield.

Here is a pic I got off another tracking site. Last known position on May 21st.

[Bimmer-Mac]

Thanks escaport!!! Glad to have someone else on the same ship! Yeah, I think sometimes CT gets a bad wrap, but I really enjoy it here. Good choice on the cold weather package...will come in quite handy (no pun intended) for getting your hands toasty come winter time!

[Bimmer-Mac]

Also, escaport, are you able to use your VIN to get info on the mol website?

[Bimmer-Mac]

Vehicle is arriving at the port in NJ tomorrow morning at 5am. Hopefully it gets through the VPC quickly, and arrives at my dealer for PDI, and can be delivered by Tuesday-Wednesday.

Starting to get excited!

[1bad335]

Great news. Congrats.

[Bimmer-Mac]

Picking up the new car Thursday morning!!

[Bimmer-Mac]

In my 1 hour drive so far, I love it! Look for a review in the main F30 section soon!

[phx08]

Pictures? From your cell even....we need the fix man!

[328iGurl]

Congrats!!! Pics please!

[bringonthenite]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Mac

In my 1 hour drive so far, I love it! Look for a review in the main F30 section soon!

Congrats!