[anuvrat]

Hi

I ordered a 2022 M550i in July this year. I was given a production start date of week-35 and my order was in status 112 for a month. Today I called my dealer and he informed me that my order went back to 105 status because of "parts shortage". Now the car is set for week 44 production.
The dealer refuses to give me the production number saying the other dealerships an transfer my order to their dealership if I make the production number public. So I have no other option other than emailing him every other week for status. I am not sure if my car should have VIN by now.

This is my first car so I am not sure if this is regular. I have attached the status image I received from the dealer today. Any comments/suggestions are highly appreciated.

Thank you
Anuvrat

-- Specs --
Bluestone metallic + Mocha Napa + Fine wood open pore Ash
19" AS RFT + Shadowline package
Premium + Parking assistance + Driving assistance prof
Heated and ventilated seats + heated steering + Space saver tire
Red calipers and Alcantara headliner

[StarrySky]

Hey anuvrat,

It is definitely because of parts shortage and there are other people that have experienced the same thing.
For me, it took two months for my car to start production.
Right now, if you got the B&W Speaker, that might be the reason why and taking that option out might move you up in schedule.
Also, your salesperson should give you your production number, that is BS but do not make it public.
Everyone gets their production number and you need it to track your car on the BMW website.
When your car starts production, then you'll get your VIN number.

[anuvrat]

Hi Starry sky
Thanks for your response. I ordered the factory HK speakers. The US M550i config page doesn't show the B&W speakers as an option now.

Also I'm not sure how to ask him about the production number. I too could sense the BS when he told me about the dealer stealing/transferring orders. I am okay waiting if there is a genuine delay but I can't understand why the salesperson is reluctant to share the prod number.

[StarrySky]

Originally Posted by anuvrat

Hi Starry sky
Thanks for your response. I ordered the factory HK speakers. The US M550i config page doesn't show the B&W speakers as an option now.

Also I'm not sure how to ask him about the production number. I too could sense the BS when he told me about the dealer stealing/transferring orders. I am okay waiting if there is a genuine delay but I can't understand why the salesperson is reluctant to share the prod number.

Hey,
It is a genuine delay and tell your salesperson that you need the production number to track your car on My BMW.
I'm not sure about dealers being able to steal transfer orders but then how are everyone else getting their production numbers then?
It is given as soon as an order is placed.
If he is reluctant to give it to you, I would find a different salesperson as he isn't the one and seems shady.
You want a salesperson that isn't like that and be able to confidently build a relationship for your future.

[claykin]

Dealers cannot just "steal" cars by having a production number. The dealer assigned that production number would have to release it to another dealer. BMW of Mountain View is BSing you.

[StarrySky]

Originally Posted by claykin

Dealers cannot just "steal" cars by having a production number. The dealer assigned that production number would have to release it to another dealer. BMW of Mountain View is BSing you.

That’s what I thought.
I second this

[anuvrat]

Thanks everyone, I am glad to hear that the delays are normal in these crazy times.

I will push my salesperson for the production number in my next email. Should I escalate this to his manager if he refuses to give me the number? I am asking because I will have to work with him when the car finally comes here (pricing discount etc).

[sauce25]

Same thing just happened to me. Was ready to go into production this week and it got pushed to week 43. They told me that it was a wheel shortage.

[5aber]

Originally Posted by sauce25

Same thing just happened to me. Was ready to go into production this week and it got pushed to week 43. They told me that it was a wheel shortage.

Which wheel do you have?

[sauce25]

Originally Posted by 5aber

Which wheel do you have?

845 all seasons. They said it does not matter if I change them. There was an M5 at the same dealership that it also happened to.

[5aber]

Originally Posted by sauce25

845 all seasons. They said it does not matter if I change them. There was an M5 at the same dealership that it also happened to.

Interesting, we don't get that style or AS tyres in the UK. We've got only 2 choice of 20" wheels and they are both on RF tyres.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by anuvrat

Thanks everyone, I am glad to hear that the delays are normal in these crazy times.

I will push my salesperson for the production number in my next email. Should I escalate this to his manager if he refuses to give me the number? I am asking because I will have to work with him when the car finally comes here (pricing discount etc).

I think your challenge will be this CA. Given the production number nonsense this person gave you, working with them on pricing, lease rates, etc may be equally as challenging.

I suggest you negotiate your discount off MSRP now and get it in writing. Incentives and lease rates are what they are and they're widely published so they can't hide much there. However if they're slick operators, do your own math using the leasehakr calculator to keep them "honest". Watch out for slick finance managers who play magic tricks with the numbers.

[calbears]

Originally Posted by claykin

Dealers cannot just "steal" cars by having a production number. The dealer assigned that production number would have to release it to another dealer. BMW of Mountain View is BSing you.

Sorry, but that's completely wrong. All you need is the production number and the store number to transfer a vehicle. There is no need to get consent from another dealer.

[calbears]

Originally Posted by anuvrat

Thanks everyone, I am glad to hear that the delays are normal in these crazy times.

I will push my salesperson for the production number in my next email. Should I escalate this to his manager if he refuses to give me the number? I am asking because I will have to work with him when the car finally comes here (pricing discount etc).

Many 5 series went from 111 or 112 to 105 a week or so ago and then shifted to November production (back to 111).

[AmooManiak]

Doesn't make sense. I ordered on July 2nd with nearly every option, and it's currently in transit on a ship to the U.S.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by calbears

Sorry, but that's completely wrong. All you need is the production number and the store number to transfer a vehicle. There is no need to get consent from another dealer.

Please transfer a vehicle without consent and let me know how that works out for you.

[LogicalApex]

Originally Posted by calbears

Sorry, but that's completely wrong. All you need is the production number and the store number to transfer a vehicle. There is no need to get consent from another dealer.

What happens in this case? I assume the customer’s car will show up at the dealership who stole the production number. I can’t see that going over well with either the customer, the original BMW center, or BMWNA who will definitely be involved thanks to an angry customer.

[calbears]

Originally Posted by LogicalApex

What happens in this case? I assume the customer’s car will show up at the dealership who stole the production number. I can’t see that going over well with either the customer, the original BMW center, or BMWNA who will definitely be involved thanks to an angry customer.

Not quite that scenario, but if a customer has the production number and let's say he/she would rather do business with another dealership, all the info that's needed to transfer the vehicle is the production number (or VIN) and the store number.

Usual transfers involve reaching out to another dealer to ask if X is available and then they'd say I want Y in return. All they have to do is send the production number/store number and vice versa to swap vehicles.

[anuvrat]

My M550i has FINALLY entered production, dealer shared both production number and VIN number.

So happy to see it enter the factory, now the daily tracking obsession begins. He told me that the car should be here by Feb first week.

[macdaddy_o]

From that state it's about 2 weeks before they actually begin working on it. I may be wrong, but my guess is they didn't have a production slot and only pushed it through end of September…

[calbears]

Originally Posted by macdaddy_o

From that state it's about 2 weeks before they actually begin working on it. I may be wrong, but my guess is they didn't have a production slot and only pushed it through end of September…

Nope. All sorts of issues with vehicles built at Dingolfing with vehicles being pushed way out. Original production slotted for September and pushed to November. One CS was originally supposed to be built in August and shifted to January. Other CS is still awaiting a new production week (original October).

[ScottieBoy66]

My M550i took 12 weeks from order to arriving at dealer. Four of those weeks were spent at the Port of New Jersey waiting for installation of a part (RAM) that wasn't available at time of production in Germany.

Order Date - August 12
Arrived Port of NJ - October 10
Arrived Dealer - November 11