| Stat 111 | Wait begins, but at least your Order Has Been Accepted (don't you feel special). |
| Stat 112 | Wait continues but can no longer change order because Production is Scheduled. |
| Stat 150 | Still waiting but at least Production Has Started - you grin because it is a week early. |
| Stat 155 | Trying to be patient, but bummed out because it took a week longer than you thought it would. At least Production Is Completed. |
| Stat 160 | Start thinking it will be here any time now because it is Released To Distribution. |
| No code | Consider calling Germany to see what the problem is because car is 160 for a few days. Can't understand what they could be doing with it. Start imagining all sorts of things but in reality it is just waiting for a train ride to the port. |
| Stat 180 | At the port and Waiting for Export
Dispatch (they're waiting - you've been waiting forever!). |
| Stat 190 | Think it must be on the way because it is Dispatched Export - start cleaning out the garage. |
| Stat 191 | Oh my GOD!! Your worst nightmare - Returned To BMW AG. Something is seriously wrong. This waiting may never end. |
| Stat 194 | Realize that the wait may go on forever because now it has only been Selected For Shipment |
| Stat 195 | Start jumping up and down because it finally has been Shipped From Port of Exit |
| No Code | Spend two weeks frequently checking news for reports of freighters lost at sea. Can't understand why there is no online site with GPS based map showing location of ship. Galley mates enjoy passing long North Atlantic nights doing unnatural acts in back seat while radio blasts ABBA CDs at full volume... at least until they notice some rattles coming from the rear speakers. Try to clean up spilled beer and other unmentionable drippings, but give up saying (in German) WTF - it's not our car. |
| At VPC | Car is finally in the USA. After longshoreman drives car off boat at full throttle they try to fix and clean up all the junk that broke on the way over, all the while complaining about Wallenius galley mates. Give up on getting rid of the speaker rattle. Punk janitor kid who is jealous of spoiled rich kids and their fancy BMWs whizzes under the trunk mat. |
| Released to Carrier | BMW feels the car looks good enough to get accepted by the average Joe so they turn it over to the trucking company. You get very excited because it will be here any time now, but they let it sit on their lot for a few days while they fill a truck. $6.75/hour night watchman whizzes on your tires. |
| In Transit | M3 is finally on a truck for the ride to your dealer, it will be here in a couple of days. Plenty of time for the mice in the trailer to chew on your wires and of course, whiz on the engine. You no longer sleep for fear of missing call from dealer. |
| At BMW Center |
Your dealer has the car!! After a day or two of using it for sales demos and joyrides he calls you to let you know it has arrived and will be ready tomorrow. Kid who does the final wash gets the idea that it would be cool to whiz in the gas tank... thinks he remembers some warning about this in 'safe sex class' and decides against it - uses the back seat instead. |
| Final Delivery | You finally get your baby! After agonizingly long time with the finance man you are ready for the keys. While salesman is showing you how everything works you can't help but comment on the unique scent of Napa leather. |
| Next Day | Start posting on M3 message boards questions and comments
like "should I change my oil?" - "Is the clunk
normal?" - "Why do my speakers rattle?" and of course ...
"What is that smell?"
RE: Smell - they'll tell you it is the Cosmolene burning off, but now you know better. |
Total elapsed time is about 2 1/2 months (varies with how long dealer uses it for personal driver)
Enjoy the wait - it is all worth it. Febreze will take care of the smell.