Step 1 – Ordering Your BMW

It was only a short time ago that Horatiu, my friend and Editor-in-Chief called me with exciting news: we’re going to Germany. But this isn’t another trip to an International auto show, or tour of BMW’s head quarters or manufacturing facilities; this is a trip to pick up a dream car – BMW’s new 1M.

As you can imagine, my ears were somewhat perked, and at the mention of the ‘N’ word (Nurburgring), I was into a full fledged salivation and drool-fest, usually indicative of rabies. Just the thought of wringing out an M car on the famed German racetrack is enough to get most enthusiasts’ hearts pumping. Of course there is more to this process than meets the eye – a little bit of foot-work is required behind the scenes, and that is exactly what this series of articles is purposed to layout: the European Delivery Process.


Step one happens somewhere in your heart. The point at which you finally decide to ‘pull the trigger’ and purchase a new BMW. Once that decision has been made, it’s time to consider how you will take delivery of your new car. There is the traditional way: pick it up from the local dealership, drive home, and savor. Or the bold and adventurous way: experience the European road trip of a lifetime, unleash on the Autobahn, drive home, and savor.

Now that I have your attention, let’s get into the nitty gritty. Once you’ve chosen which vehicle and options you will purchase, it’s time to head down to your local BMW dealership to complete paperwork. The typical vehicle purchasing documents will be filled and signed, and a deposit will likely be required by the dealership. Now it’s time to talk about a delivery date from BMW’s famed BMW Welt. The amount of time required before your vehicle is built and ready for pickup from the factory in Munich will depend on several factors, including its popularity, speed of production, and how many others are ahead of you in line. In BMWBLOG’s case, the vehicle was purchased with Manny Antunes at JMK BMW dealership on April 7th, 2011, and an assigned pickup date of June 21st was arranged. The 1M is a limited production car, and requires a bit of M specific tender loving care along the production line – chances are your BMW will be ready for pickup in a shorter period of time. But oh, is an M car worth the wait…Besides the incredible experience you’re sure to enjoy when pickup up your BMW in its natural habitat, another benefit awaits. Through the European Delivery process, cars are typically discounted up to 7% off of the MSRP. The money you save from the purchase price should go a long way to cover your hotel and travel expenses to Germany, as well as a little petrol for your new machine. For example, on a $50,000 MSRP, you would save an expected $3,500 dollars which could then be spent on airfare and hotels. How much you save will depend partly on your negotiation skills with your dealership, as well as how ‘in demand’ your new BMW is. When buying in North America, you will notice a disparity in the pricing and discount offered through the European Delivery process between American and Canadian dealerships.

Typically, the American dealerships will offer far greater discounts when purchasing through European Delivery, thus making the trip more affordable – and the decision to go, obvious. BMW Canada has recently improved their European Delivery process, and while a discount is not directly offered through their program, all other expenses incurred during the process are now covered, including overseas shipment of the car, import duty and customs clearance, shipment from the landing point in Canada to the respective BMW dealership where the car was purchased, European tourist licenses, European car insurance, marine insurance, vehicle preparation / PDI and local licensing. Previously, all of the aforementioned was charged to the Canadian customer in addition to the vehicle price. We’re happy to see BMW Canada moving in the right direction, to match the American program and help many more Canadians enjoy the bliss that is European Delivery.

In USD, our 1M lists for $47,010 with Destination and Handling fee, and the European Delivery price is shown on the www.bmwusa.com website as $43,830 for a savings of $3,180 dollars. A compelling discount, no doubt.

After your vehicle delivery date from BMW Welt has been set, it’s time to make travel plans. When booking your airfare, it is best to land at the Franz Josef Strauss Airport in Munich (airport code: MUC). The BMW Welt is located South West of the airport, about a 30 to 45 minute drive by taxi or rental car. For a look at the airport and trip to BMW Welt in Google maps, hit the jump.

The address and contact information of BMW Welt is as follows:

BMW Welt, Am Olympiapark 1, 80809 Munich
BMW Welt Info Service: +49 (0) 180 2 118822*
infowelt@bmw-welt.com, www.bmw-welt.com
Opening times Monday – Sunday 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. (GMT +1)

As per BMW’s website, you have the following travel options from the airport to BMW Welt.

By train and subway:

There is a convenient connection from the airport via urban railway and underground. Take the S1 or S8 urban railway lines to Munich and exit at “Marienplatz.” Change at “Marienplatz” and take the U3 underground line to “OEZ,” exiting at “Olympiazentrum” underground station. When you exit here, it is just a few metres to the North entrance of BMW Welt.

By shuttle service:

When you arrive plane, you can book a shuttle service to be picked up at the the airport. The driver will take you directly to the BMW Welt. This service is available at extra charge and can be booked via our travel partner, phone: +49 (0) 18 05-22 20 25.

If you plan arrive in Europe and make travel plans prior to taking delivery of your car, you may decide to take the train to Munich instead of flying there. In this case, the trip from Munich Central Station by rental car or taxi takes approximately 30 minutes. From Central Station, you have a convenient underground connection to the BMW Welt. The trip takes approximately 20 minutes. Take the U2 line in direction “Feldmoching” and change at “Scheidplatz.” From there, take the U3 line to “Olympiazentrum.” When you exit here, you will find yourself only a few metres to the North entrance of BMW Welt.

You’ve arrived! In our next edition of “Ordering Your Dream: The European Delivery Process,” we will walk you through check-in at the Welt, what to expect upon arrival, and what should make your “must see” list once you arrive. Follow BMWBLOG on Twitter and Facebook as we take delivery of our latest BMW, and be part of our adventure.

More good news just arrived from my doctor – the rabies test came back negative. We’re going to pick up an M car.

Special thanks to Manny Antunes of JMKBMW for making the 1M dream possible, and also to Simone Zaccardi, BMWNA European Delivery.