[FeelinBlessed]

Originally Posted by mhutchins14

Click on this link...and then select the cars button and enter your VIN. It should tell you what boat your car is on.

http://41.160.4.58:8080/apex/f?p=102:11:0::NO

Thanks!
I just ran it and it is indeed on Prominent Ace and it's left Durban port on August 7, 2016.
It's weird how the two reports have conflicting info. One says it's left the Durban port and the other is saying it's arriving at Durban
I guess all I can do at this point is cross my fingers until 9/30

[mhutchins14]

You're welcome. That is odd. I went back and looked at the previous voyage and see where it left Durban on 8/8 and got to Bremehaven on 9/2. It's possible that your car was off loaded there and put on another vessel. I've seen other threads about South Africa built cars and some get to the U.S. via Germany, while others bypass Germany and come directly to North America. I ordered my car on 8/2 and it was a South Africa build and it is on a voyage directly to North America and is scheduled to reach Galveston on 10/14. I hope you get your car soon!

[FeelinBlessed]

Just got confirmation my car is on Glorious Leader
Due to arrive 10/01
Weird thing is when I track my VIN it says it was loaded on Prominent Ace 8/8/2016...
But BMW is telling me it's on Glorious Leader now...
Anyone else confused by this?

10/3/2016
Car has arrived at Port Hueneme finally
It was on Glorious leader
At final vpc & dealer delivery date is 10/9/2016

[mhutchins14]

Time to add my build 2017 340i Msport, 6sp, SA build

8/2...ordered car
8/3...got production number
8/12...build began with scheduled completion of 8/25
8/22...called the automated line and said "car was in body shop with a completion date of 8/19". Soooo...maybe it's done.
8/25...CA emailed me and said car is built, going through final inspection and awaiting a boat.
8/30...Automated line says car is being transported to port of exit.
9/1...Automated line says car is at port of exit and awaiting a shipping vessel
9/16...Car was loaded on the Marvelous Ace
10/6...Marvelous Ace is moored in NY/NJ...currently scheduled to be in Galveston on 10/14, but I wonder if it will get delayed because of hurricane Matthew?

In going back and reading some of the previous time frames it seems that the biggest deal with SA builds is whether it gets on a boat that goes directly to the U.S., or gets on a boat that goes to Germany first and then the U.S.

I'll update the post as things happen.

[Araemo]

Those of you who have the status codes at various dates, how are you getting those? Is your dealer just that communicative, or do you call into the status line and talk to a real person?

[FeelinBlessed]

I called BMW genius everyday

[mhutchins14]

Originally Posted by Araemo

Those of you who have the status codes at various dates, how are you getting those? Is your dealer just that communicative, or do you call into the status line and talk to a real person?

I called the 1-800 number and/or genius until my car was loaded on a boat. Followed the shipping schedule after that.

[BillsGirlGina]

Originally Posted by mhutchins14

I called the 1-800 number and/or genius until my car was loaded on a boat. Followed the shipping schedule after that.

Same...and still tracking. Now I'm worried about Hurricane Mathew as my ship just left Baltimore & headed to the Panama Canal.

[chicagoshark]

Originally Posted by mhutchins14

Time to add my build 2017 340i Msport, 6sp, SA build

8/2...ordered car
8/3...got production number
8/12...build began with scheduled completion of 8/25
8/22...called the automated line and said "car was in body shop with a completion date of 8/19". Soooo...maybe it's done.
8/25...CA emailed me and said car is built, going through final inspection and awaiting a boat.
8/30...Automated line says car is being transported to port of exit.
9/1...Automated line says car is at port of exit and awaiting a shipping vessel
9/16...Car was loaded on the Marvelous Ace
10/6...Marvelous Ace is moored in NY/NJ...currently scheduled to be in Galveston on 10/14, but I wonder if it will get delayed because of hurricane Matthew?

In going back and reading some of the previous time frames it seems that the biggest deal with SA builds is whether it gets on a boat that goes directly to the U.S., or gets on a boat that goes to Germany first and then the U.S.

I'll update the post as things happen.

My advise is not to hold your breath. Not to be a bummer, but it doesn't seem like anybody's car came on any type a reasonable timeframe.

[FeelinBlessed]

My work order has been completed.
Car will be ready for pickup by Monday 10/10/2016.
That would be 3 months from start to finish.

[rak299]

How much detail is available from the automated status line? From reading the forum, it looks like the detailed status codes are no longer available. I ask because I have only ever heard one status I ordered a car on 9/21 and got an email on 9/22 giving me the production number. I found this site and called the BMW Genius number on 9/23 and was given the VIN number and was told it was already in production and there was an initial estimate of a 10/11 build-completion. I thought 19 days sounded long so I called the automated status a couple of times and it always says in-production with an estimated completion of 10/11. How many changes will there be before it gets on a boat? Is there a way to find out why the build will take almost 3 weeks, assuming it still gets done on the scheduled date?

[Araemo]

Originally Posted by rak299

How much detail is available from the automated status line? From reading the forum, it looks like the detailed status codes are no longer available. I ask because I have only ever heard one status I ordered a car on 9/21 and got an email on 9/22 giving me the production number. I found this site and called the BMW Genius number on 9/23 and was given the VIN number and was told it was already in production and there was an initial estimate of a 10/11 build-completion. I thought 19 days sounded long so I called the automated status a couple of times and it always says in-production with an estimated completion of 10/11. How many changes will there be before it gets on a boat? Is there a way to find out why the build will take almost 3 weeks, assuming it still gets done on the scheduled date?

I called and talked to the real person yesterday (thursday.. my build completion date was today (friday)... she said it basically didn't truly start production until earlier this week (even though it entered 'in production' on 9/22).

[cmplaya]

Originally Posted by Araemo

I called and talked to the real person yesterday (thursday.. my build completion date was today (friday)... she said it basically didn't truly start production until earlier this week (even though it entered 'in production' on 9/22).

mine has been saying "your vehicle is in production with an estimated completion date of october 7 2016" for the past 3 weeks. no change today still saying same thing even though we are several days past that date.

[Araemo]

Originally Posted by cmplaya

mine has been saying "your vehicle is in production with an estimated completion date of october 7 2016" for the past 3 weeks. no change today still saying same thing even though we are several days past that date.

Yep, mine still said that this morning, so after it said that, I hit 0, and gave them my prod # and got the info that it left production friday, and arrived at the port today, and is waiting to be assigned to and loaded on a ship.

[Araemo]

Has anyone had their car go backwards?

Mine was completed 10/7, and made it to the port this monday 10/10. However, today when I called the automated #, it said it was in the paint shop with an estimated completion date of 10/7?!?

This morning the status was 'waiting at port' or however it phrases it. tonight in paint shop?

[cmplaya]

is yours germany or south africa?

[Araemo]

Originally Posted by cmplaya

is yours germany or south africa?

Germany

[mhutchins14]

Originally Posted by mhutchins14

Time to add my build 2017 340i Msport, 6sp, SA build

8/2...ordered car
8/3...got production number
8/12...build began with scheduled completion of 8/25
8/22...called the automated line and said "car was in body shop with a completion date of 8/19". Soooo...maybe it's done.
8/25...CA emailed me and said car is built, going through final inspection and awaiting a boat.
8/30...Automated line says car is being transported to port of exit.
9/1...Automated line says car is at port of exit and awaiting a shipping vessel
9/16...Car was loaded on the Marvelous Ace
10/6...Marvelous Ace is moored in NY/NJ...currently scheduled to be in Galveston on 10/14, but I wonder if it will get delayed because of hurricane Matthew?

In going back and reading some of the previous time frames it seems that the biggest deal with SA builds is whether it gets on a boat that goes directly to the U.S., or gets on a boat that goes to Germany first and then the U.S.

I'll update the post as things happen.

10/15...Marvelous Ace is moored in Galveston!! Getting closer!!

[Araemo]

Originally Posted by Araemo

Has anyone had their car go backwards?

Mine was completed 10/7, and made it to the port this monday 10/10. However, today when I called the automated #, it said it was in the paint shop with an estimated completion date of 10/7?!?

This morning the status was 'waiting at port' or however it phrases it. tonight in paint shop?

Automated line still says in paint shop... but the human I spoke to said it is on a boat that departed Friday. Yay!

[FeelinBlessed]

Originally Posted by Araemo

Automated line still says in paint shop... but the human I spoke to said it is on a boat that departed Friday. Yay!

Yea don't trust the machines

[cmplaya]

Originally Posted by Araemo

Automated line still says in paint shop... but the human I spoke to said it is on a boat that departed Friday. Yay!

are you on the tosca? i just called and they said my car is on the tosca supposed to arrive in NJ next week finally

[Liquid_Ice]

2017 340i xDrive (German Build)

7/31/2016 - First contact with CA (entire deal was done via e-mail)
8/5/2016 - Placed the order (Production # received)
8/31/2016 - Production Started
9/13/2016 - Build Completed
9/22/2016 - Port of Bremerhaven and onto Asian Captain
9/23/2016 - Ship Leaves port
10/4/2016 - Arrives at Port of Baltimore
10/5/2016 - Car actually enters VPC
10/6/2016 - Work Begins @ VPC (Note: I had 2 PIA's - black kidney grill and MPPSK)
10/11/2016 - Work Ends @ VPC
***NOTE: BMW did not put the car on a truck until Friday (CA said they switched shipping companies and they only do 2 deliveries a week instead of one each day).
10/14/2016 - Car is loaded on Truck for delivery
10/15/2016 - Car is finally delivered to dealership and I picked it up the same day!

In total - it took about 120 emails back and forth between the CA and myself and maybe 3 or 4 phone conversations to work out the deal, get the PIA's on the order, provide tracking information, etc etc. But was absolutely one of the best car buying experiences ever!