All US-bound, non-ED production from South Africa? - BMW 3-Series Forum (F30 / F32)

joey8781 · 04-18-2012, 06:52 PM

I ordered my 335i at the end of March and was provided a production number that my CA claimed to be a Munich production slot. However, I just received the VIN from my CA and it is for a South African built vehicle. I (irrationally) wanted a Munich vehicle, which is why I specified wanting a Munich production slot. So, I have two questions for everyone:

1) Has anyone heard if ALL non-ED production for 335i has moved to the Rosslyn plant?

2) Would anyone here consider canceling an order due to the (apparent) dishonesty of their CA, if you were in this situation?

jgrasty · 04-18-2012, 07:15 PM

There is no difference in a South African made F30 and one made in Germany.

It is unlikely that the dealer had any input in where the car is built. The only way to guarantee a German made car is to take European delivery.

jziol2000 · 04-18-2012, 07:18 PM

Joe, we ordered a 335i on February 22, and the car just finished being built in South Africa. I think the most annoying part is the long wait for production, and then the shipping from South Africa. You are still getting the superior German engineering, or so says my husband, who is trying to keep me calm.

Our car was finished last week, but the automated phone system says it is still waiting for a carrier to be taken to the port of exit. Online tracking never worked for us. We are in California, and our salesperson says that there is shipping direct from the port in South Africa to Port Hueneme, but I have been trying to research this, and I'm not sure he's right.

Maybe someone out there knows more about shipping from South Africa to California?

RedlineSi · 04-18-2012, 09:07 PM

My slot is in Germany, but my CA mentioned there was another one available in Asia...Is this even possible? Was he talking about the SA cars?

matt_335Ci · 04-18-2012, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgrasty

There is no difference in a South African made F30 and one made in Germany.

sure there is a difference, the car is made by South Africans.

Pellik · 04-18-2012, 10:46 PM

I'm SA build here as well.. Been doing a lot of research and seems we are in for a wait guys.. My CA told me, and I read on another forum that a lot of customized ordered 335i are coming from Rosslyn. Haven't been able to find any shipping info and my dealership acts pretty clueless on the amount of time its going to take to get my car over from SA (Ordered on feb 22nd). I think a ship leaves Durban on the 28th headed to Port Hueneme with a scheduled ETA of 6/13/2012. Thats all I can find, Jziol2000 hopefully both of our cars make it on that ship! Mine seems to be roughly around the same stage as yours.

huskercubfan · 04-19-2012, 09:23 AM

SA 335i here myself...

Not to bum you guys out but I spent in excess of 14 days waiting for shipment at the port.

My car got on a ship either this past weekend or late last week and I'm currently awaiting delivery now.

How can we look up shipping schedules? I'm trying to figure out which boat I am on ...

alex2364 · 04-19-2012, 10:28 AM

Why do you want a Munich car? I'd prefer a SA car because it will have less likely hood of defects. http://www.f30post.com/forums/showpo...7&postcount=75

jziol2000 · 04-19-2012, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pellik

I'm SA build here as well.. Been doing a lot of research and seems we are in for a wait guys.. My CA told me, and I read on another forum that a lot of customized ordered 335i are coming from Rosslyn. Haven't been able to find any shipping info and my dealership acts pretty clueless on the amount of time its going to take to get my car over from SA (Ordered on feb 22nd). I think a ship leaves Durban on the 28th headed to Port Hueneme with a scheduled ETA of 6/13/2012. Thats all I can find, Jziol2000 hopefully both of our cars make it on that ship! Mine seems to be roughly around the same stage as yours.

Pellik, I sure hope we are on that ship! If it's a Wallenius ship, and I think they are the only line that ships BMWs to California, then I believe it goes up to Germany and then over to the US. Their website is easy to use, and shows upcoming ship schedules.

I was wondering if west coast cars coming from South Africa would be dropped off on the east coast and trucked over? I guess I could ask our salesperson, but I'm not sure he has all the answers!

Matbrach · 04-19-2012, 12:29 PM

We also have a custom 335i which was just completed (April 12th) in SA. My wife (it will be her car) was not to happy about the SA production, but I explained to her that I'm sure there are plenty of German Engineers supervising the early runs

Now we wait, we are in SOCAL, so hopefully we make the late April ship.

F30SD · 04-19-2012, 01:13 PM

I also have an ordered 335i coming from SA. Got my production # two weeks ago. I still do not have a scheduled production date. If the ship leaving the end of April is not arriving in CA until mid June, when can I expect my BMW? July? Later? So much for an 8 week delivery time. It might be worth it to cancel the order and wait until the MY 2013 starts production in July.

huskercubfan · 04-19-2012, 01:16 PM

Got a call from my CA today actually, basically right after I posted.

He said my car got on a boat in the 4/9-4/11 range and it is expected to be a 35 DAY journey to Baltimore.

WTF????????????????

SCBimmerKid · 04-19-2012, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huskercubfan

Got a call from my CA today actually, basically right after I posted.

He said my car got on a boat in the 4/9-4/11 range and it is expected to be a 35 DAY journey to Baltimore.

WTF????????????????

35 days??? Mine got here in less than 12. and went to Charleston, SC.

huskercubfan · 04-19-2012, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArkGroot

Which factory does your F30 come from? Look at the 11th letter in your VIN

A,F,G,K = Munich Germany
P,E,J = Regensburg Germany
N= Rosslyn South Africa

Since this is the South Africa thread, N for Rosslyn

_Vida_ · 04-19-2012, 04:31 PM

My custom 335 is also coming from SA.

3/10 - Order Placed
3/26 - Production # Issued
4/30 - Week 18 Production should start

I still cant track anything on the website.

I'm hoping to take delivery by mid June since my current lease expires 6/11

joey8781 · 04-27-2012, 09:39 PM

Well, it seems not ALL production for 335i is in South Africa. When I questioned my dealer, they were able to trade production slots with another dealer to get me a vehicle produced in Germany. Thanks for all of the replies.

Poor Knight · 04-29-2012, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Vida_

My custom 335 is also coming from SA.

3/10 - Order Placed
3/26 - Production # Issued
4/30 - Week 18 Production should start

I still cant track anything on the website.

I'm hoping to take delivery by mid June since my current lease expires 6/11

Looks like we are on the same schedule my custom 335i ordered 3/15 started production 4/26 and is on the website now. I am guessing June delivery?

_Vida_ · 04-30-2012, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poor Knight

Looks like we are on the same schedule my custom 335i ordered 3/15 started production 4/26 and is on the website now. I am guessing June delivery?

Looks like it. Mine began production on 4/23 and I was able to track it on the website that day. Considering how long this whole process is I would assume late June delivery for us

Ryan9095 · 04-30-2012, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huskercubfan

Got a call from my CA today actually, basically right after I posted.

He said my car got on a boat in the 4/9-4/11 range and it is expected to be a 35 DAY journey to Baltimore.

WTF????????????????

That actually makes sense. It took my car 16 days to get from Munich to the port in Charleston, SC. The waiting is certainly the worst part :/

huskercubfan · 04-30-2012, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan9095

That actually makes sense. It took my car 16 days to get from Munich to the port in Charleston, SC. The waiting is certainly the worst part :/

is the difference between Germany and the east coast really less than half of the journey from South Africa to the east coast?

I'm mostly frustrated because I could have actually customized my vehicle instead of buying one "pre off the lot" that my dealer had already ordered. However, he told me it would be 3 weeks when I placed the deposit and now it has been this long...

Guess I will ask for the upgraded carpet mats and maybe a polo or something as compensation lol

Pellik · 04-30-2012, 12:44 PM

I was anticpiating I would be on a ship by now since my 335i completed production on the 18th, though when I call and talk to a customer service rep they say my car is still at status 182 "released to carrier/ waiting on load assignment." My dealership last week said my car was at the port, now I'm not sure which one to believe. The Torino has left... anybody make it aboard? I'm going to go ahead and say the productivity at the SA plant has got to be far less in comparison to Germany. Hell, it took two weeks alone for my car to get completed with production and I still have no idea whether its at the port or still at the factory.. Frustrating

I'll be asking for some floor mats as well!

jgrasty · 04-30-2012, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pellik

I'll be asking for some floor mats as well!

Floor mats are standard equipment (in the USA).

04-18-2012, 06:52 PM	#1
joey8781 Joe Drives: 2006 325i Sedan Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 7 iTrader: (0)	All US-bound, non-ED production from South Africa? I ordered my 335i at the end of March and was provided a production number that my CA claimed to be a Munich production slot. However, I just received the VIN from my CA and it is for a South African built vehicle. I (irrationally) wanted a Munich vehicle, which is why I specified wanting a Munich production slot. So, I have two questions for everyone: 1) Has anyone heard if ALL non-ED production for 335i has moved to the Rosslyn plant? 2) Would anyone here consider canceling an order due to the (apparent) dishonesty of their CA, if you were in this situation?
	Tweet

04-19-2012, 12:29 PM	#10
Matbrach Trophy Husband - Honorable Mention Drives: Jet Black 330i. X5 4.8 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Manhattan Beach Posts: 60 iTrader: (0)	335i also from Rossylyn We also have a custom 335i which was just completed (April 12th) in SA. My wife (it will be her car) was not to happy about the SA production, but I explained to her that I'm sure there are plenty of German Engineers supervising the early runs Now we wait, we are in SOCAL, so hopefully we make the late April ship.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

04-18-2012, 07:15 PM	#2
jgrasty Second Lieutenant Drives: 2012 BMW 328i Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 262 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW 328i [0.00]	There is no difference in a South African made F30 and one made in Germany. It is unlikely that the dealer had any input in where the car is built. The only way to guarantee a German made car is to take European delivery.

04-18-2012, 07:18 PM	#3
jziol2000 New Member Drives: 2011 535i Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: So Cal Posts: 19 iTrader: (0)	Joe, we ordered a 335i on February 22, and the car just finished being built in South Africa. I think the most annoying part is the long wait for production, and then the shipping from South Africa. You are still getting the superior German engineering, or so says my husband, who is trying to keep me calm. Our car was finished last week, but the automated phone system says it is still waiting for a carrier to be taken to the port of exit. Online tracking never worked for us. We are in California, and our salesperson says that there is shipping direct from the port in South Africa to Port Hueneme, but I have been trying to research this, and I'm not sure he's right. Maybe someone out there knows more about shipping from South Africa to California?

04-18-2012, 09:07 PM	#4
RedlineSi Private First Class Drives: 2012 328i Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 100 iTrader: (0)	My slot is in Germany, but my CA mentioned there was another one available in Asia...Is this even possible? Was he talking about the SA cars?

04-18-2012, 10:46 PM	#6
Pellik Enlisted Member Drives: F30 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: PDX Posts: 36 iTrader: (0)	I'm SA build here as well.. Been doing a lot of research and seems we are in for a wait guys.. My CA told me, and I read on another forum that a lot of customized ordered 335i are coming from Rosslyn. Haven't been able to find any shipping info and my dealership acts pretty clueless on the amount of time its going to take to get my car over from SA (Ordered on feb 22nd). I think a ship leaves Durban on the 28th headed to Port Hueneme with a scheduled ETA of 6/13/2012. Thats all I can find, Jziol2000 hopefully both of our cars make it on that ship! Mine seems to be roughly around the same stage as yours.

04-19-2012, 09:23 AM	#7
huskercubfan STM TRPR Drives: 2012 335i MW Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 357 iTrader: (0)	SA 335i here myself... Not to bum you guys out but I spent in excess of 14 days waiting for shipment at the port. My car got on a ship either this past weekend or late last week and I'm currently awaiting delivery now. How can we look up shipping schedules? I'm trying to figure out which boat I am on ...

04-19-2012, 10:28 AM	#8
alex2364 Captain Drives: E90 335i M Sport Join Date: May 2005 Location: Northern VA Posts: 621 iTrader: (1) Garage List 2009 BMW 335i [5.00]	Why do you want a Munich car? I'd prefer a SA car because it will have less likely hood of defects. http://www.f30post.com/forums/showpo...7&postcount=75

04-19-2012, 01:13 PM	#11
F30SD Private Drives: Waiting on 335i MG Sportline Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: San Diego Posts: 99 iTrader: (0)	I also have an ordered 335i coming from SA. Got my production # two weeks ago. I still do not have a scheduled production date. If the ship leaving the end of April is not arriving in CA until mid June, when can I expect my BMW? July? Later? So much for an 8 week delivery time. It might be worth it to cancel the order and wait until the MY 2013 starts production in July.

04-19-2012, 01:16 PM	#12
huskercubfan STM TRPR Drives: 2012 335i MW Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 357 iTrader: (0)	Got a call from my CA today actually, basically right after I posted. He said my car got on a boat in the 4/9-4/11 range and it is expected to be a 35 DAY journey to Baltimore. WTF????????????????

04-19-2012, 04:31 PM	#15
_Vida_ New Member Drives: 2012 335 F30 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: NJ Posts: 29 iTrader: (0)	My custom 335 is also coming from SA. 3/10 - Order Placed 3/26 - Production # Issued 4/30 - Week 18 Production should start I still cant track anything on the website. I'm hoping to take delivery by mid June since my current lease expires 6/11

04-27-2012, 09:39 PM	#16
joey8781 Joe Drives: 2006 325i Sedan Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 7 iTrader: (0)	Well, it seems not ALL production for 335i is in South Africa. When I questioned my dealer, they were able to trade production slots with another dealer to get me a vehicle produced in Germany. Thanks for all of the replies.

04-30-2012, 12:44 PM	#21
Pellik Enlisted Member Drives: F30 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: PDX Posts: 36 iTrader: (0)	I was anticpiating I would be on a ship by now since my 335i completed production on the 18th, though when I call and talk to a customer service rep they say my car is still at status 182 "released to carrier/ waiting on load assignment." My dealership last week said my car was at the port, now I'm not sure which one to believe. The Torino has left... anybody make it aboard? I'm going to go ahead and say the productivity at the SA plant has got to be far less in comparison to Germany. Hell, it took two weeks alone for my car to get completed with production and I still have no idea whether its at the port or still at the factory.. Frustrating I'll be asking for some floor mats as well!