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First time, soon to be, BMW Owner who has a Quick question!

1381 Views 46 Replies 16 Participants Last post by  stryker
** EDIT 5/25/2023: I received a call yesterday, 5/24, saying that my car will be ready for pick-up today afternoon, 5/25!
Thank you ALL for your insight, patience, support! :giggle: **


Hi there~
My car was officially onboard vessel Leo Leader. ETA to Port Hueneme was originally 5/19/2023, Fri.
It arrived at Port Hueneme 5/20/2023, Sat.

Since tracking the vessel, it is already on it's way to Japan, so it's safe to say that for sure, 100%, that all the cars on that ship made their way off the ship, onto Port Hueneme grounds, over the weekend even when all business hours say they're closed weekends, correct?
I understand Sat-Sun the BMW center is closed, so I hope, starting yesterday, 5/22 Monday, that they're either transporting the cars from the port to their BMW center down the street, OR, that was all done over the weekend, and now the vehicles are physically on BMW VDC property and 1-by-1, being inspected and processed?

Mygarage BMW says my specific vehicle is only "At the port", so I'm a first-time soon-to-be bmw owner, so I'm taking this verbage literally and taking the phrase as-is, the car is literally still hanging out on the dock/port, waiting to be further moved.

I understand this is a long, unsure, waiting process, but man, this wait time is just ... atrocious.
Fingers crossed I'll get my i4 within the next 3 weeks or I'm hanging it up.

Anyone able to let me know what the average, destination port -> arrive on dealership lot, wait time is? Thank you~
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My car had a stop sale and took 15 days to get from the VDC at Port Hueneme to my dealership in Bellevue, WA.
Ok this just made me nervous all over again, fingers crossed there is no existing stop sale on the eDrive 35's.
I think that my car was also on that ship, and when i called the genius line on monday, they confirmed that my car is at the VDC and will be at the dealership (in Riverside, CA) by the 27th of this month. (but also said that these dates can be subject to. change)
Wow! Ok great. I'm hoping that the "ETA" for 5/27 on the dealership lot is also honored for me, as I am at the Buena Park BMW, honestly less than 2 hours away from Port Hueneme
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There are many stories of mysterious delays, and yours are not
hing unusual.

Mine was held in Bremerhaven for a month before they shipped it, because of a software update. Then it sailed up and down the East Coast before they offloaded it.

then it was held another week for another software update. Then they lost the car for ten days at the vpc, 75 miles from me and the dealer, so they hadn't ordered it shipped out.

I finally called the dealer that I would go to the vpc and get it myself.

the dealer got the car next day.

All these delays became forgotten the moment I saw my car. The few weeks of senseless delays count for nothing compared with the years of pleasure the car will give you.

If you decide to give it up at this point and hand it over to some other lucky buyer, you may come to count that as one of your significant regrets.
😉
Thank goodness, glad my car's journey is not out of the ordinary. I spoke with Genius & they let me know "ETA" to dealership is 5/27, so fingers crossed.
You're right, I need not be hasty and to practice patience and have positive hopes! Thank you :)
Perhaps I should also request for myself to make a pick-up at the VDC for my car, as i'm 2 hours away!
My latest experience was last week with Heritage Leader. The ship arrived in Port Hueneme on 5/17. Car was in transit (truck) on 5/19 and arrived in Sacramento Saturday morning 5/20.
Wow this is probably the fastest socal port to dealer delivery i've seen so far, and you're up in norcal!
My dealer is only 2 hours away from Port Hueneme, so I hope when Genius gave me ETA from in transit to dealer lot, they gave themselves extra insurance days.
Not to be rude, but not sure 3 days is necessary for a barely 2 hour drive south.

I understand other cars loaded with my car may need to be dropped off at other Los Angeles area dealers, but I mean, I'm in orange county.
I wish and would happily drive to BMW VDC and pick the car up myself and lessen time/man power on others if i could! lol
I wish you could pick up at the VPC, but it's just not in the cards. Only non dealership delivery available is the Performance Delivery Center in SC.
Port Hueneme to the Bay Area, ready to pick up, was 10 days. The wait was agonizing.
Wow this is probably the fastest socal port to dealer delivery i've seen so far, and you're up in norcal!
My dealer is only 2 hours away from Port Hueneme, so I hope when Genius gave me ETA from in transit to dealer lot, they gave themselves extra insurance days.
Not to be rude, but not sure 3 days is necessary for a barely 2 hour drive south.

I understand other cars loaded with my car may need to be dropped off at other Los Angeles area dealers, but I mean, I'm in orange county.
I wish and would happily drive to BMW VDC and pick the car up myself and lessen time/man power on others if i could! lol
My car was also on the Leo Leader and according to the info my dealer sent me (a Vehicle Delivery Sheet) the car is due at the dealer in Santa Barbara (40 miles north of Port Hueneme) tomorrow (May 25) and ready to pick up on Friday! He did qualify the timing by saying "if this is accurate."
My car was also on the Leo Leader and according to the info my dealer sent me (a Vehicle Delivery Sheet) the car is due at the dealer in Santa Barbara (40 miles north of Port Hueneme) tomorrow (May 25) and ready to pick up on Friday! He did qualify the timing by saying "if this is accurate."
WOW! Im shocked, in a good way, i am very happy for you! I haven't yet heard back from my salesman, which troubles me a little, since they say salesman normally let you know a few days ahead of an ETA arrival, and considering the fact that Genius told me eta dealer arrival is 5/27 and i have yet to hear from my salesman, i'm thinking that i probably won't be receiving the car 5/27. Bummer, but congrats to you!
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Port Hueneme to the Bay Area, ready to pick up, was 10 days. The wait was agonizing.
I agree, i'm agonized currently. If i may ask, 10 days including weekends, or 10 business days?
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I agree, i'm agonized currently. If i may ask, 10 days including weekends, or 10 business days?
10 calendar days, including weekends. I picked up my car on a Sunday. It was nice because I got the call before the system updated that it was ready for pickup which made for a nice surprise.
Port Hueneme to the Bay Area, ready to pick up, was 10 days. The wait was agonizing.
In my case, the same distance was less than a week. I was pleasantly surprised, and was able to take delivery, and drop the car off at the detailer for ppf while I went on vacation. It worked out well. I hope the OP's delivery works out as well.
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WOW! Im shocked, in a good way, i am very happy for you! I haven't yet heard back from my salesman, which troubles me a little, since they say salesman normally let you know a few days ahead of an ETA arrival, and considering the fact that Genius told me eta dealer arrival is 5/27 and i have yet to hear from my salesman, i'm thinking that i probably won't be receiving the car 5/27. Bummer, but congrats to you!
Now they're saying won't arrive at dealers until Sat. May 27 and if true, pick it up on Tues. May 30.
Now they're saying won't arrive at dealers until Sat. May 27 and if true, pick it up on Tues. May 30.
Oh goodness, well, i hope that we both receive our vehicles by the end of May
I gave myself until the end of May, then someone here recommended calling Genius for less of a guessing game, and i was told dealer ETA 5/27.
Let's hope it holds.
I first emailed Genius, they replied finally a few minutes ago. The info email Genius gave me is the same info relayed to me yesterday via Genius phone call!
Fingers crossed for you
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In my case, the same distance was less than a week. I was pleasantly surprised, and was able to take delivery, and drop the car off at the detailer for ppf while I went on vacation. It worked out well. I hope the OP's delivery works out as well.
that's awesome, love when everything just falls into place, lines up well. Congratulations!
Ok this just made me nervous all over again, fingers crossed there is no existing stop sale on the eDrive 35's.
Punch your VIN into the recall lookup tool (not the official BMW one) and it will show if there is an active recall or Stop Sale on your specific car. (In the Tools forum, under VIN Tools)

Also, a good chunk of that 15 days was waiting for the software to correct the stop sale to be issued. (The stop sale popped up before I even knew the car had made it onto a ship, and the software was available like a week - ten days after it arrived in California.
Punch your VIN into the recall lookup tool (not the official BMW one) and it will show if there is an active recall or Stop Sale on your specific car. (In the Tools forum, under VIN Tools)

Also, a good chunk of that 15 days was waiting for the software to correct the stop sale to be issued. (The stop sale popped up before I even knew the car had made it onto a ship, and the software was available like a week - ten days after it arrived in California.
This is great info for me to keep, in case i continuously drive bmw from here on out, thank you!
I got a call saying that i can actually pick up my car today, which is awesome to say the least, so i did all my anxious what-if's what-if-that scenario conjuring haha, so i appreciate EVERYONE here with their knowledge & their sharing, yay!
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2
This is great info for me to keep, in case i continuously drive bmw from here on out, thank you!
I got a call saying that i can actually pick up my car today, which is awesome to say the least, so i did all my anxious what-if's what-if-that scenario conjuring haha, so i appreciate EVERYONE here with their knowledge & their sharing, yay!
Just got a call from dealer that car arrived & asking if we can pick it up tomorrow or Saturday! Yes we can!

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Just got a message from the SA too! car is delivered at the dealer, and ready for pick up when I am available …now I can’t focus on work :/

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Just got a call from dealer that car arrived & asking if we can pick it up tomorrow or Saturday! Yes we can! View attachment 29089
View attachment 29090
GORGEOUS.
I picked my car up yesterday and i am so bad at photos but man are they gorgeous!
I wonder why my lights don't have the blue accents to them ):

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Just got a message from the SA too! car is delivered at the dealer, and ready for pick up when I am available …now I can’t focus on work :/

View attachment 29091
I couldnt concentrate either finding out that it was ready so early. CONGRATULATIONS!!! 🎉🎉🎉
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GORGEOUS.
I picked my car up yesterday and i am so bad at photos but man are they gorgeous!
I wonder why my lights don't have the blue accents to them ):

View attachment 29132
Woohoo! It’s gorgeous!
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