Getting ready to order... - BMW 3-Series Forum (F30 / F32)

SkaTeeB · 06-20-2012, 05:03 PM

First post, but long time lurker.

I had a 2000 E46 323 that I loved but had to sell it a few years ago when it started the slow decline towards total breakdown. I drove that car EVERYWHERE and loved it.

I decided to go green when I replaced it, and I have to admit the replacement, a Ford Fusion Hybrid, has been pretty decent. I thought I was over needing to be excited when I drove. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the car until I test drove a 3 series again...

And now I'm getting ready to order one after having combed through all the boards that I could find. I've configured many 335s and 328s through bmwconfig and have finally gotten to the point where I know what I want and how much it costs.

Am I correct in thinking that if I live in Memphis and bought a car from a dealer in MD, we could conduct a lot of the business over the phone/fax/email and then I could pick the car up at the Performance Center in Spartanburg (Greer) SC?

If that's true, what's the best way to go about explaining to the sales guy (who's been pretty nice) here at my local dealership that I can (if I'm understanding correctly) send out my configuration to any number of remote BMW dealers and get pricing at (or below, since I've got my Team USA voucher) invoice?

I had originally wanted to wait to order (using the car as a reward for a weight loss goal and I still have 13lbs to go!) but the the sales guy says that you have to take delivery of the car by 10/31/2013 in order to use the TeamUSA voucher. The voucher does say it's only valid till then but doesn't explicitly say "take delivery of vehicle by"...

Thanks for any advice, and thanks for all the great threads! I've learned a lot!
Scott

gator15 · 06-20-2012, 08:45 PM

Yes, you can buy from any dealer in the country and take delivery at the Performance Center, which I highly recommend whether you are buying it local or from out-of-state. I live in Florida and purchased my F30 from a California dealer that does a lot of European Deliveries. After my ED, I did redelivery last week at the Performance Center, which was amazing.

In terms of how to go about the deal, I would talk to some dealers and get your best price. If you want to give your local guy a chance, show him what you are being offered and see if he can match it. With the internet, dealers must now compete nationally for deals, that is just the market today. Personally, I went to my local dealer first and then looked for better deals around the country. I never gave my local dealer an opportunity to match the deal because I thought that the dealer that gave me the best price the first time should be rewarded for doing so. Good luck!

chrisny · 06-20-2012, 11:14 PM

You have to take delivery of the car before voucher expires. Doesn't mean anything until you buy something (how else would you use it before it expires....), cant be used as a deposit and deposits/orders don't mean you've bought anything.

chrisny · 06-20-2012, 11:19 PM

Regarding the salesman, you have nothing to explain. They will and should expect you to shop around for the best price. I always give my local dealer a chance to match or beat best price, if for no other reason than because that's where you'll service it and sometimes it helps to have bought the car there when you need something, and maybe if you buy another one from them down the road, there won't need to be as much haggling for them to be your best price right off the bat.

johnofcross · 06-21-2012, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gator15

Yes, you can buy from any dealer in the country and take delivery at the Performance Center, which I highly recommend whether you are buying it local or from out-of-state. I live in Florida and purchased my F30 from a California dealer that does a lot of European Deliveries. After my ED, I did redelivery last week at the Performance Center, which was amazing.

In terms of how to go about the deal, I would talk to some dealers and get your best price. If you want to give your local guy a chance, show him what you are being offered and see if he can match it. With the internet, dealers must now compete nationally for deals, that is just the market today. Personally, I went to my local dealer first and then looked for better deals around the country. I never gave my local dealer an opportunity to match the deal because I thought that the dealer that gave me the best price the first time should be rewarded for doing so. Good luck!

I actually gave my local dealer a chance (which was Tom Bush btw) and because they are the only dealer in town, they had the monopoly. So when I asked for invoice pricing, they didn't have a clue. I feel kinda bad cause the agent I talked to was nice (he drove me to their satellite dealer just to test drive a 2012 335i), but I knew I wasn't going to go with them. And I'm with gator, first dealer to give me the best deal wins, so I chose Adrian Avila in Atlanta for a 2013 335i! And apparently I got a great deal because allocations for 335s are few and far between!

And congrats on the weight loss, I have a few more left myself!

SkaTeeB · 06-21-2012, 02:53 PM

Thanks for the advice! I sent an email to my local dealer to see what he'd do first...and then I my have a deal for Mr. Avila to beat!

SkaTeeB · 07-16-2012, 02:57 PM

I made a good deal with the local dealer (Roadshow BMW) and ordered a 335i EBII Msport with Venetian Beige interior on 6/26. It entered production 7/10 and has an estimated completion date of 7/19. I am now obsessively checking the 800 number to see if it's moved out of "production" yet.

I *really* wanted to do PCD, but my CA indicated that trying to do a PCD would likely delay when I could get the car. Since I ended up selling my current car (got a really good offer) I'm carless for the first time in my adult life and don't want to wait any longer than I have to!

Thank you guys for all the help!

06-20-2012, 05:03 PM	#1
SkaTeeB Enlisted Member Drives: 335i MSport Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Memphis Posts: 43 iTrader: (0)	Getting ready to order... First post, but long time lurker. I had a 2000 E46 323 that I loved but had to sell it a few years ago when it started the slow decline towards total breakdown. I drove that car EVERYWHERE and loved it. I decided to go green when I replaced it, and I have to admit the replacement, a Ford Fusion Hybrid, has been pretty decent. I thought I was over needing to be excited when I drove. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the car until I test drove a 3 series again... And now I'm getting ready to order one after having combed through all the boards that I could find. I've configured many 335s and 328s through bmwconfig and have finally gotten to the point where I know what I want and how much it costs. Am I correct in thinking that if I live in Memphis and bought a car from a dealer in MD, we could conduct a lot of the business over the phone/fax/email and then I could pick the car up at the Performance Center in Spartanburg (Greer) SC? If that's true, what's the best way to go about explaining to the sales guy (who's been pretty nice) here at my local dealership that I can (if I'm understanding correctly) send out my configuration to any number of remote BMW dealers and get pricing at (or below, since I've got my Team USA voucher) invoice? I had originally wanted to wait to order (using the car as a reward for a weight loss goal and I still have 13lbs to go!) but the the sales guy says that you have to take delivery of the car by 10/31/2013 in order to use the TeamUSA voucher. The voucher does say it's only valid till then but doesn't explicitly say "take delivery of vehicle by"... Thanks for any advice, and thanks for all the great threads! I've learned a lot! Scott
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06-20-2012, 08:45 PM	#2
gator15 Private First Class Drives: BMW Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 176 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW 328i [0.00] 2012 Porsche 911 Ca ... [5.00]	Yes, you can buy from any dealer in the country and take delivery at the Performance Center, which I highly recommend whether you are buying it local or from out-of-state. I live in Florida and purchased my F30 from a California dealer that does a lot of European Deliveries. After my ED, I did redelivery last week at the Performance Center, which was amazing. In terms of how to go about the deal, I would talk to some dealers and get your best price. If you want to give your local guy a chance, show him what you are being offered and see if he can match it. With the internet, dealers must now compete nationally for deals, that is just the market today. Personally, I went to my local dealer first and then looked for better deals around the country. I never gave my local dealer an opportunity to match the deal because I thought that the dealer that gave me the best price the first time should be rewarded for doing so. Good luck!

06-20-2012, 11:14 PM	#3
chrisny Captain Drives: '13 BSM 335xi M Sport Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: NY Posts: 822 iTrader: (0)	You have to take delivery of the car before voucher expires. Doesn't mean anything until you buy something (how else would you use it before it expires....), cant be used as a deposit and deposits/orders don't mean you've bought anything.

06-20-2012, 11:19 PM	#4
chrisny Captain Drives: '13 BSM 335xi M Sport Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: NY Posts: 822 iTrader: (0)	Regarding the salesman, you have nothing to explain. They will and should expect you to shop around for the best price. I always give my local dealer a chance to match or beat best price, if for no other reason than because that's where you'll service it and sometimes it helps to have bought the car there when you need something, and maybe if you buy another one from them down the road, there won't need to be as much haggling for them to be your best price right off the bat.

06-21-2012, 02:53 PM	#6
SkaTeeB Enlisted Member Drives: 335i MSport Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Memphis Posts: 43 iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the advice! I sent an email to my local dealer to see what he'd do first...and then I my have a deal for Mr. Avila to beat!

07-16-2012, 02:57 PM	#7
SkaTeeB Enlisted Member Drives: 335i MSport Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Memphis Posts: 43 iTrader: (0)	I made a good deal with the local dealer (Roadshow BMW) and ordered a 335i EBII Msport with Venetian Beige interior on 6/26. It entered production 7/10 and has an estimated completion date of 7/19. I am now obsessively checking the 800 number to see if it's moved out of "production" yet. I really wanted to do PCD, but my CA indicated that trying to do a PCD would likely delay when I could get the car. Since I ended up selling my current car (got a really good offer) I'm carless for the first time in my adult life and don't want to wait any longer than I have to! Thank you guys for all the help!