Notes from the other side of the fence
03-08-2009, 03:31 PM
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Yes - ordered the car from US dealer, but under BMW's European Delivery program, which saves on cost. Volvo, Saab, Audi, Mercedes and Porsche have similar programs, but you must pay extra with Porsche. Car was built to my spec (all from USA options list, no Euro-only parts allowed), and sent to BMW headquarters in Munich.
I picked up the car in Germany, drove it on vaca for 25 days, dropped it off at shipping agent back in Munich, Germany. They put the car on a ship with a bunch of brand new BMWs and a few ones like mine that had been delivered to their new USA owners in Europe. Ship drops off cars at normal entry points, and they're trucked to the destination dealerships. Dealer calls me to come get the car I ordered. Saved about 11% on cost of car, got a fun European vacation and a cool souvenir.
The cars cannot stay in Europe longer than six months after you take delivery of them due to export regulations (tax). We actually got pulled over by the German highway cops the first afternoon we had the car because they wanted to check our papers. Seems there's a black market in the special export plates used on Euro Delivery cars. Lots of Euro Delivery owners leave both plates on their car at turn-in. Locals buy the plates and stick 'em on their personal car in an effort to avoid paying hefty local license fees. The cops wanted to make sure we were legit foreign nationals driving a car that was really slated for export outside Germany. And they checked for the safety vests inside the car as well.
I picked up the car in Germany, drove it on vaca for 25 days, dropped it off at shipping agent back in Munich, Germany. They put the car on a ship with a bunch of brand new BMWs and a few ones like mine that had been delivered to their new USA owners in Europe. Ship drops off cars at normal entry points, and they're trucked to the destination dealerships. Dealer calls me to come get the car I ordered. Saved about 11% on cost of car, got a fun European vacation and a cool souvenir.
The cars cannot stay in Europe longer than six months after you take delivery of them due to export regulations (tax). We actually got pulled over by the German highway cops the first afternoon we had the car because they wanted to check our papers. Seems there's a black market in the special export plates used on Euro Delivery cars. Lots of Euro Delivery owners leave both plates on their car at turn-in. Locals buy the plates and stick 'em on their personal car in an effort to avoid paying hefty local license fees. The cops wanted to make sure we were legit foreign nationals driving a car that was really slated for export outside Germany. And they checked for the safety vests inside the car as well.
Last edited by boothguy; 03-08-2009 at 11:50 PM.
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