[mwh2009]

Finally pulled the trigger on my first BMW order! Doing the PCD option too.

340i xDrive
6MT
Estoril Blue Metallic
Saddle Brown w/ Dark Brown Highlight
Anthracite w/ Pearl Gloss Chrome Highlight
MSport
Track Handling
Cold Weather
Driver Assistance
Technology
Side / Rear Window Shades

Got my production number and VIN #, but can't see any details yet. So excited about it!
Order Date 3/8
Production start: 3/18 - Entered Status 151 today (3/18): Entry Body Shop/Serial # Assgn.
Production complete 3/23 - Status 190 (3/23): Released to carrier to transport to port
Update 3/28 - Status 193 - Arrival at port of compound in SA
Update 4/20 - Status ??? - In transit to Port Charleston via Bremerhaven, etc on vessel Prime Ace ETA 5/21 to South Carolina VPC
Update 5/5 - Prime Ace has made it to Bremerhaven - last EU port before heading for the States. Still showing 5/21 to Charelston
Update 5/15 - The Prime Ace has made it to North America. Docked in Halifax CA today. Should be in Charleston in a week.
Update 5/19 - arrived to port Brunswick GA tonight, last intermediate port of call before Charleston SC
Update 5/21 - The boat ride around the world is OVER!! The Prime Ace finally made it to Charleston!
Update 5/26 - finally was allowed to schedule my PCD. The soonest available was 6/8, but I had an unchangeable commitment that day. So I settled for the next open date which was 6/14. So 3 weeks more of a rental car and then a flight to Spartanburg and I can finally see my car!
Update 6/3 - bought a plane ticket, signed final paperwork, stroked a giant check for the down payment, added car to my insurance, and rec'd temp tags and paperwork to take to SC with me. BMW USA status says car is 'at dealer', which I guess is figuratively true.....

[cestbon]

Congratulations! My first BMW, too!! Details in signature...

Ordered: Feb 26
Production: Mar 8

Been driving 2009 Maxima for past 7 years - time to upgrade.

First set tires - 100,000+ miles
Second set tires - 89,000 miles
Replaced brake rotors & pads - 189,000 miles

....yea, things last for me! : )

And don't you LOVE that saddle brown?! Been wanting that color for YEARS!! I got fineline anthracite as well.

[mwh2009]

Originally Posted by cestbon

And don't you LOVE that saddle brown?! Been wanting that color for YEARS!! I got fineline anthracite as well.

I actually didn't care about the Dakota Leather, but wanted the Saddle Brown color - A couple of things I paid for but can't really explain:

Dakota Leather just for the saddle brown color - (I wouldve gotten the sensatec leather-ish stuff if it had come in the dark brown color) $1400 for a color?! I must be high.

Technology package - Don't need navigation (I use my phone typically) - but I HATE the way that the non-nav screen has those bars on the sides of the screen. Once I noticed it, I was never able to un-notice it! And once I was in for the Nav, I decided the HUD was actually worth the added cost over just the Nav to get the Tech package.

And finally Track Handling. I think I bought it mostly for the Michelin Tires. Doubt I will ever track this car, but I read the "must have the track package" magazine reviews one too many times.

So many options, and so much money. I'm an idiot, but hopefully a happy one soon!

[ErkanTR16]

Congrats on your purchase.

[bimmercar]

nice congrats! check to see if there is a "SA" after the 340i, to see if its Germany or S Africa build, or look up vin

[cestbon]

I'm sure we're all a bit crazy, mwh2009 haha!

1. I wouldn't have any other color - Saddle Brown it is!

2. You'll LOVE in-car navi! That's what I thought too when I got my maxima, but when I started using the in-car navi, I was hooked. It was really nice not to have to look at my phone all the time. I could just glance over at the screen and I know where I am and how much is left of the trip (mileage-wise). Also, I initially got the navi in the maxima for the same reason, haha!! The regular screen and the radio looked so dumb on the non-nav screen that it pushed me over the edge!

3. I had to stop somewhere so no track pkg for me

Just found out today that production should end Mar 14! Hopefully I'll get it by 1st or 2nd weekend of April.

[mwh2009]

Originally Posted by bimmercar

nice congrats! check to see if there is a "SA" after the 340i, to see if its Germany or S Africa build, or look up vin

It's SA - wasn't thrilled about that, but hoping that:

All the engines are built in the same place for either Germany or S Africa assemblies?

Either way that the build quality is similar? Haven't heard of a huge discrepancy in build quality between the two, but I'm new to the forums so I might not have seen it...

[mwh2009]

Originally Posted by cestbon

I'm sure we're all a bit crazy, mwh2009 haha!

1. I wouldn't have any other color - Saddle Brown it is!

2. You'll LOVE in-car navi! That's what I thought too when I got my maxima, but when I started using the in-car navi, I was hooked. It was really nice not to have to look at my phone all the time. I could just glance over at the screen and I know where I am and how much is left of the trip (mileage-wise). Also, I initially got the navi in the maxima for the same reason, haha!! The regular screen and the radio looked so dumb on the non-nav screen that it pushed me over the edge!

3. I had to stop somewhere so no track pkg for me

Just found out today that production should end Mar 14! Hopefully I'll get it by 1st or 2nd weekend of April.

So it sounds like I am about 2 weeks behind you from an order date perspective - don't know if that will work out to a 2 week lag on delivery stateside or not.

My CA did say that SA builds take longer in transport. He told me to expect a June delivery date - but I'm doing the PCD so I don't know if he factored that in or not.

Looking forward to when BMwUSA.com had the build listed correctly and not just what appears to be a placeholder car in the description!

[cestbon]

Anyone going to Bimmerfest East in NJ this July 30/31? I should be going! Just to check things out!

The most significant mod I'm thinking of right now is getting the LED halo headlights, but not really wanting to spend $2000 with Oneighty in NYC to do it.

[cestbon]

WOW!!!! I just read about your PCD option. I was like, "what's that?!"

Sounds amazing!! Had I known about that I would've done it!!

It's my very first BMW!!

[cmplaya]

must be exciting...

[mwh2009]

Originally Posted by cestbon

WOW!!!! I just read about your PCD option. I was like, "what's that?!"

Sounds amazing!! Had I known about that I would've done it!!

It's my very first BMW!!

I'm hoping it will be worth the trouble - I think it delays getting your car another 2 weeks or so.

I've heard good things, so I'll give it a shot.

[cestbon]

Let us all know how it goes. ; ) Excited for you!

[mwh2009]

Originally Posted by mwh2009

Finally pulled the trigger on my first BMW order! Doing the PCD option too.

340i xDrive
6MT
Estoril Blue Metallic
Saddle Brown w/ Dark Brown Highlight
Anthracite w/ Pearl Gloss Chrome Highlight
MSport
Track Handling
Cold Weather
Driver Assistance
Technology
Side / Rear Window Shades

Got my production number and VIN #, but can't see any details yet. So excited about it!

So I'm freaking out - it's been a week, and the mybmw tracking page still doesn't show any options. It shows the correct color paint and leather, but that is all. No options shown at all. And it says it's 'in production'.

Is there a way to make this thing refresh and show the right configuration? Or is there a problem with the order. My CA said that it takes a week to get set, but I just read a sad story of someone else on the forum who's car showed up with the wrong paint color, so I don't want to take accuracy for granted!

[nineofspades]

Originally Posted by cestbon

WOW!!!! I just read about your PCD option. I was like, "what's that?!"

Sounds amazing!! Had I known about that I would've done it!!

It's my very first BMW!!

You still have time to take the option of PCD probably. Until they actually ship the car it can likely be changed. Plus it's free!

[Goody4]

Originally Posted by cestbon

The most significant mod I'm thinking of right now is getting the LED halo headlights, but not really wanting to spend $2000 with Oneighty in NYC to do it.

The LED upgrade BMW offered as an option is totally badass (swivel headlights and highbeam assistant). For $800, you should have added the lighting package.

Your standard LED headlights will have Corona rings. You'll also have LED fogs.

I looked at the F30 photo album at oneighty and was completely underwhelmed. The offer nothing the factory doesn't already have (except for weird front turn signals which are a big *meh*).

[cestbon]

@nineofspades - I'll see!! Will my dealer be cut out of the process? Will the CA feel like I cheated him since I'm sure I'd be paying the SC people, right?

Goody4 The lighting pkg can only be ordered with the premium pkg, which I don't need (except the LED lights!!). I just wasn't willing to spend another $3200 on the whole thing! At this point - any decently good LED coronas will make me happy. I'm still considering the Oneighty option. I just don't know anyone else doing it in my area. And I don't really trust the ones on eBay either...

[Goody4]

Originally Posted by cestbon

@nineofspades - I'll see!! Will my dealer be cut out of the process? Will the CA feel like I cheated him since I'm sure I'd be paying the SC people, right?

Goody4 The lighting pkg can only be ordered with the premium pkg, which I don't need (except the LED lights!!). I just wasn't willing to spend another $3200 on the whole thing! At this point - any decently good LED coronas will make me happy. I'm still considering the Oneighty option. I just don't know anyone else doing it in my area. And I don't really trust the ones on eBay either...

There is no "premium package" offered on the 340iX.

Nothing is tied to the 340iX Lighting Package. It is a stand-alone option that requires no other options to be purchased. Someone has mislead you, if you believe you had to spend extra money to get this

On the other hand, I'll think you'll be pleasantly surprised with the standard lighting package on the 340iX.

[nineofspades]

Originally Posted by cestbon

@nineofspades - I'll see!! Will my dealer be cut out of the process? Will the CA feel like I cheated him since I'm sure I'd be paying the SC people, right?

Your CA will probably be happy, as they don't need to do all the new-car prep stuff. You will still pay the dealership. You'll fill out all paperwork about 2 weeks before you go to pick it up In South Carolina. It costs the dealer nothing extra.

The only "problem" is it will probably delay the car being delivered for 2-3 weeks. I have a F80 finishing production this week, and I'm scheduled for PCD on May 13th. If I just had it delivered to the dealer I could probably pick it up mid/late April... Just something you have to decide if it's worth the wait... (and perhaps the drive depending on how far you live away)

[mwh2009]

Originally Posted by nineofspades

Your CA will probably be happy, as they don't need to do all the new-car prep stuff. You will still pay the dealership. You'll fill out all paperwork about 2 weeks before you go to pick it up In South Carolina. It costs the dealer nothing extra.

The only "problem" is it will probably delay the car being delivered for 2-3 weeks. I have a F80 finishing production this week, and I'm scheduled for PCD on May 13th. If I just had it delivered to the dealer I could probably pick it up mid/late April... Just something you have to decide if it's worth the wait... (and perhaps the drive depending on how far you live away)

I ordered mine via PCD and the wait is excruciating.

Supposedly In production now? Code 150. Completion date of March 19, but my CA told me to expect a late May PCD experience

[cestbon]

Thanks nineofspades! Called CA today and since it's in production, he was told by 2 account mgrs that it was too late, but he still emailed a guy at the Performance Center to see if someone else can OK it.

Gee, I didn't know it could delay by that much, mwh2009! I suppose I can wait - just didn't realize it could be that long! And where do you get those status codes btw? They're not online or via the 800#!

Goody4 - I got the 328i. ; ) My FIRST BMW!! Can't wait!!

[Goody4]

Originally Posted by cestbon

Goody4 - I got the 328i. ; ) My FIRST BMW!! Can't wait!!

Sorry about that. I'm not following the thread very well.