[claykin]

Originally Posted by azzurro

Per my Fleet manager here in San Diego, all builds currently destined for the west coast are all SA builds. I ordered last Thursday, got a production number but still haven't seen it go into production. How long does it take from getting a production number to the actual production date? I know it's takes roughly 24 hours for a complete build which would be roughly three days. Waiting..

I suspect your fleet manager is mistaken. Its more likely he's easily finding SA production slots so that's all the work he's willing to put into it. Tell him due to transit time, you are unwilling to accept an SA produced car. He can locate a German production slot if he tries hard enough.

Regarding the production week, each production slot/number a dealer has available to them has the production week already assigned. Typically it would say PWxx where xx is the two digit week.

[Sharp_Cai]

I placed my order on Sept 15th. My car is at port waiting for a boat right now, n I just confirmed with my CA that it takes 45days for its arrive at my dealership in SF area. That's a long wait! My car is not even on a boat yet!!!!!
I didn't find out my car is bulit at SA until I checked my VIN# today.

[Sharp_Cai]

Originally Posted by DarkTrigger

I didn't even know they had SA builds here. I just ordered it from the dealer assuming it was coming from Germany. To my dismay, it's a SA build. I need to take delivery before December otherwise my USAA discount is void.

Ordered placed 9/20/12
Planned for production 41st week
However, completed production on 40th week (10/6/12)
Current status "Released to Carrier"

I am about the same time.My car is at port right now!

[DarkTrigger]

Originally Posted by Sharp_Cai

I am about the same time.My car is at port right now!

So is mine, just checked. If it doesn't ship by end of the month...

[Sharp_Cai]

CA told me it takes 45 days to arrive at dealership after car load on a boat.

[claykin]

All depends on whether car stays on boat when it stops in Bremerhaven or if they offload, let it sit, then reload. This offload/sit/reload process can add a week+.

My MY10 E90 from SA stayed on the same boat when it hit Bremerhaven and went on to Brunswick, GA. If I recall correctly my vehicles transit time from Durban to Brunswick was about 35 days.

For what its worth, my MY10 E90 MSport has been awesome. One problem in 3 years, a failed LED tail lamp. My wife's MY11 E91 from Germany has had 2 problems in 18 months. One was the wagon hatch did not close correctly from day 1. Took dealer 2 visits to correct. That was a factory error that should have been caught. So, quality control in SA is quite good. Equal to or better than Germany.

Enjoy the wait, its half the fun!

[kerz]

Here's my schedule so far, for a west coast delivery:

8/22 Finished build
8/27 Released for shipment to port
8/29 Arrival at port
9/8 On boat
transit to germany
10/2 arrival Bremerhaven
10/5 depart Bremerhaven
10/15 Brunswick
10/19 start panama canal

Currently scheduled to get into Long Beach on the 29th, fingers crossed. At the dealer ~Nov 5.

jason

[azzurro]

Originally Posted by claykin

I suspect your fleet manager is mistaken. Its more likely he's easily finding SA production slots so that's all the work he's willing to put into it. Tell him due to transit time, you are unwilling to accept an SA produced car. He can locate a German production slot if he tries hard enough.

Regarding the production week, each production slot/number a dealer has available to them has the production week already assigned. Typically it would say PWxx where xx is the two digit week.

Thanks for the input. I am going to call him first thing in the AM to do a German build or look for a trade for something sooner.

[nsquared]

I'm another california resident (NorCal), SA build and waiting on my order. This is what I've gathered from all the information I've received from the dealerships I worked with to get the right car.

Most of the 335i orders are from SA, not sure why but the Euro allocations are hard to come by. Beyond that, its hard to even get a 335i on the lot. A few NorCal dealerships literally had none on the lot.

I was also told that the order takes about 60 days for completion. Meaning, paperwork to delivery is 60 days. We'll see if that holds true.

I've also read/heard that there are no differences in quality between SA and Euro builds. I hope someone else can chime in on this.

I've also noticed that the build time for the actual vehicle is pretty short but the traveling time is very lengthy.

[azzurro]

Originally Posted by nsquared

I'm another california resident (NorCal), SA build and waiting on my order. This is what I've gathered from all the information I've received from the dealerships I worked with to get the right car.

Most of the 335i orders are from SA, not sure why but the Euro allocations are hard to come by. Beyond that, its hard to even get a 335i on the lot. A few NorCal dealerships literally had none on the lot.

I was also told that the order takes about 60 days for completion. Meaning, paperwork to delivery is 60 days. We'll see if that holds true.

I've also read/heard that there are no differences in quality between SA and Euro builds. I hope someone else can chime in on this.

I've also noticed that the build time for the actual vehicle is pretty short but the traveling time is very lengthy.

I would bet that IF a company like BMW puts their name on it and spends the multi millions of dollars to set up another production location that the differences in builds will be close to identical or a negligible difference.

This is not something I am going to waste ANY time thinking about because I'm putting faith in BMW and know that the quailty to be what I expect. If it is not, I will bet that they are going to stand behind their product. End of story......

[clarence]

Originally Posted by azzurro

I would bet that IF a company like BMW puts their name on it and spends the multi millions of dollars to set up another production location that the differences in builds will be close to identical or a negligible difference.

Not forgetting that the SA plant has been owned by BMW since the early 70's, & they've been building some very special cars in that plant in the years past (M88 engined E23 745i, M30 engined E30 333i). They're no stranger to the 3er as they've been building them for export since the days of the E46. BMW has invested hundreds of millions of Euros on that plant for the past 10 yrs & they've just overhauled the line for F30 production.
With the high unempolyment rate in SA, I think it is in the workers' interest to build the cars properly & with care.

[Sharp_Cai]

My car is still at the port of exist!!!

[driver911]

Originally Posted by Sharp_Cai

My car is still at the port of exist!!!

My car was Build August 21 and only got on the boat OCT 3....good luck

[Sharp_Cai]

WWL has a boat leave from SA to Germany on the 28th. Hope my car will be loaded on it.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by driver911

My car was Build August 21 and only got on the boat OCT 3....good luck

Crazy! Did you check with your CA to see if car went into an exception status after production? I.E. Damage, etc..

Something is up if it took 5 weeks from production completion to be loaded.

[driver911]

Originally Posted by claykin

Crazy! Did you check with your CA to see if car went into an exception status after production? I.E. Damage, etc..

Something is up if it took 5 weeks from production completion to be loaded.

The ship leaves Avery 3-4 weeks

[autobahn75]

I keep reading about nightmarish wait times. I totally forgot about SA when I ordered my 335 xDrive. My car finished production. Where? I have no idea.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by autobahn75

I keep reading about nightmarish wait times. I totally forgot about SA when I ordered my 335 xDrive. My car finished production. Where? I have no idea.

Ask dealer for vehicle inquiry report. On it the model code will be 133Z if Germany or 1333 if SA.

[autobahn75]

Thanks claykin! I had no idea a 133Z was exclusive to Germany. I had that info the day I received my production number. I just got my VIN and it was produced in Munich. Hopefully I'm on the boat today.

[eljefe87]

I just found out today that the 335i M sport I want is going to be an SA built. I am really reconsidering the order as SA times are just way too long. I might have to go with a 328i with one of the local dealers if I can find one with my specs and have to settle for a color that is not EB. I have only found one 328 M sport with my specs but it is MG an I am not too sure of the color as I have not seen it in person.

[Sharp_Cai]

Originally Posted by eljefe87

I just found out today that the 335i M sport I want is going to be an SA built. I am really reconsidering the order as SA times are just way too long. I might have to go with a 328i with one of the local dealers if I can find one with my specs and have to settle for a color that is not EB. I have only found one 328 M sport with my specs but it is MG an I am not too sure of the color as I have not seen it in person.

MG is nice too. What is your 335i status?? Mine is at port already. I think it worth the wait! 15 more days than German delivery.

[eljefe87]

Originally Posted by Sharp_Cai

MG is nice too. What is your 335i status?? Mine is at port already. I think it worth the wait! 15 more days than German delivery.

Mine has not even started production. I think it is scheduled for week 45 (Nov 5th i think).