U.S. Production Slots

[dhoggm3]

BMW NA has made only 149 F8X M cars available for April production among its 339 U.S. dealerships. These cars are scheduled to be delivered in June. The entire U.S. Eastern Region has only 38 of those April production slots.

I learned this through a long and detailed conversation with my SA minutes ago while he was camped on his computer. I know, he's just a SA, but he had a very good command of the topic, and I'm convinced that his information was good.

[absoluteis350]

Correction.. There are 148 F8X M cars available.. because I have mine locked in so the rest of the clowns can fight over the remaining 148.

[mkoesel]

When you say M cars you are talking M3 and M4 right (not including M5, M6, X6M)?

I'll assume that's what you meant. Either way, wow, that's a lot fewer than I had figured awhile back.

I was originally thinking one of each per dealership per month which would put us at about 6800 cars for the year if you include launch cars. Later I revised that down to .75 of each per dealership per month which would be 5100 cars.

Your number would mean the total for the year is tracking at merely 1500 cars for 2014 if we assume it holds. However, I have to believe it will actually grow steadily for following months. That said, its slim pickings for these early days.

Now, for the other big question, anyone know how many launch cars were allocated? And will those all be built this month?

[Sir Loin]

So, all US dealers should have their first wave of allocations now?

[Suave]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Now, for the other big question, anyone know how many launch cars were allocated? And will those all be built this month?

I know from two dealers I am working with that Launch Cars are being built in March with some carryover into early April. My one dealer who is a high volume dealer received two M3s and two M4s while other Dealer only got one Launch Car.

[Black Gold]

Originally Posted by Suave

I know from two dealers I am working with that Launch Cars are being built in March with some carryover into early April. My one dealer who is a high volume dealer received two M3s and two M4s while other Dealer only got one Launch Car.

so basically, everything is being delayed a little longer (config, builds, etc)

disappointing, but not unexpected

[messm6]

Originally Posted by Suave

I know from two dealers I am working with that Launch Cars are being built in March with some carryover into early April. My one dealer who is a high volume dealer received two M3s and two M4s while other Dealer only got one Launch Car.

That sounds right.. My dealer only had one M4 and no M3's..

[Suave]

Originally Posted by Sir Loin

So, all US dealers should have their first wave of allocations now?

NO Dealers where only informed how many cars they will be receiving for the 2015 Model Year run so at least they can inform customers on waiting list who will be able to get cars through them in 2014. One of my dealers I am working with who is a lower volume dealer is getting the following cars so I expect all dealerships to at least be getting this many cars and some many more:

• 4 M4
• 2 M3
• 2 M4 Convertible

(NOTE: does not include Launch car allocations)

What we are waiting on now is for production slots to be assigned to those cars which will tell dealer which week the car will be built and when the car can be allocated to a customer with an assigned production number. I just talked with my dealer 1 hour ago and this information is still not available.

[Sir Loin]

Originally Posted by Suave

NO Dealers where only informed how many cars they will be receiving for the 2015 Model Year run so at least they can inform customers on waiting list who will be able to get cars through them in 2014. One of my dealers I am working with who is a lower volume dealer is getting the following cars so I expect all dealerships to at least be getting this many cars and some many more:

• 4 M4
• 2 M3
• 2 M4 Convertible

(NOTE: does not include Launch car allocations)

What we are waiting on now is for production slots to be assigned to those cars which will tell dealer which week the car will be built and when the car can be allocated to a customer with an assigned production number. I just talked with my dealer 1 hour ago and this information is still not available.

Ah, got it. Just how many cars they get for the entire model year. Thanks.

[Suave]

Originally Posted by KennyPowers

so basically, everything is being delayed a little longer (config, builds, etc)

disappointing, but not unexpected

Based on all the information I have been getting from multiple sources I can conclude the following educated predictions.

• Customer Builds will not begin until April for Late June/Early July US deliveries
• Online Configuration tool will not go live until the end of the month when Customer production begins
• I have not heard of anyone on the planet regardless of country of origin who has an ED delivery confirmed for June. Even for the Canadian group that was set for June 23rd none of them have received official confirmation packets or itineraries as of yet. I fear the ED's may not begin until July.

[PrometheusM3]

Originally Posted by absoluteis350

Correction.. There are 148 F8X M cars available.. because I have mine locked in so the rest of the clowns can fight over the remaining 148.

Did you give up on your quest for an Individual color?

[Kief]

Don't we already have a rough estimate of production dates from Jason...

Originally Posted by Jason

But we can now also provide a better timeline of what to expect through the next few months in terms of order/price guides, as well as order bank submission, deliveries and european delivery dates.


[clear]Important M3/M4 Dates:

January 18-25: auto show debut @ Detroit (public days).

End of January-February: Full Pricing-Ordering Guides released.

February: Dealers receive allocations and order bank opens for submission of customer orders (after Pricing-Ordering Guides are released).

March: Production begins for launch/demo cars.

Late April: Production begins for customer cars.

Late June: Customer deliveries (worldwide) and European Delivery begin.

Late June: Press drives / media launch.

* The timeline is of course subject to change, but we're getting pretty close to these dates, so they should not slide by far, if at all.

[01ON19]

Originally Posted by Suave

[*]I have not heard of anyone on the planet regardless of country of origin who has an ED delivery confirmed for June. Even for the Canadian group that was set for June 23rd none of them have received official confirmation packets or itineraries as of yet. I fear the ED's may not begin until July.[/LIST]

Not totally true. Itinerary has been sent by BMW showing June dates.

[Suave]

Originally Posted by Kanuck

Not totally true. Itinerary has been sent by BMW showing June dates.

Are you one of the group? Has your car or whoever you know been assigned a production number? Have travel arrangements been confirmed and booked? Just trying to get an Idea if there will be any Welt Deliveries in June at all. thanks

[Suave]

Originally Posted by Kief

Don't we already have a rough estimate of production dates from Jason...

Well this never happened ...

February: Dealers receive allocations and order bank opens for submission of customer orders (after Pricing-Ordering Guides are released).

which makes me question if the planned timeline is valid anymore as a result of whatever has caused delays. In addition no Configuration tool yet.

[Kief]

Originally Posted by Suave

Well this never happened ...

February: Dealers receive allocations and order bank opens for submission of customer orders (after Pricing-Ordering Guides are released).

which makes me question if the planned timeline is valid anymore as a result of whatever has caused delays. In addition no Configuration tool yet.

I think "allocations" is in reference to how many 2015MY Ms each dealership will receive (like you previously noted; my CA is getting 5/6). Order banks did open, but as we all know, our orders are just sitting there.

[01ON19]

Originally Posted by Suave

Are you one of the group? Has your car or whoever you know been assigned a production number? Have travel arrangements been confirmed and booked?

As I understand it, orders have gone in from dealers to BMW Canada for these 15 cars. As far as I know, no production numbers yet. BMW Canada has sent brief itinerary of trip to participants showing the original June dates. Based on that, we have booked flights, so if there has been some kind of production delay, that would be a problem. There is no reason to think it will not happen as they say, but I guess it is also not 100% guaranteed at this point.

It does seem like things are unfolding more slowly in the USA than I would have expected, but that is partially based on impatience of buyers and lack of hard info from BMW.