[jrstech]

Originally Posted by 1newbmwowner

My 2021 M550i has advanced to the paint booth today.
Bud

Mine went from paint booth on Monday to "Awaiting Carrier Assignment" today. That was quite fast but maybe the system doesn't update in real time.

[TomWinMD]

Originally Posted by jrstech

Mine went from paint booth on Monday to "Awaiting Carrier Assignment" today. That was quite fast but maybe the system doesn't update in real time.

I think it updates in intervals, and I'm a little surprised you didn't see at least one or two of the intermediate ones - I'm sure mine skipped (or I missed) a couple of the steps between assembly and awaiting carrier assignment.

[1newbmwowner]

Originally Posted by TomWinMD

I think it updates in intervals, and I'm a little surprised you didn't see at least one or two of the intermediate ones - I'm sure mine skipped (or I missed) a couple of the steps between assembly and awaiting carrier assignment.

I checked this morning (I'm in PA, USA) and my M550i build has advanced to "Assembly in Progress".

Regards,
Bud James

[carbo56]

My 2021 M550 is built and waiting to be loaded on the the ship to New Jersey. For reference, here is the timeline so far:

Order accepted: June 15
Scheduled for Production: June 19
Production begins: June 29 (phone system said scheduled for completion July 15)
Exterior Body Assembly: July 10
Paint Booth: July 13
Entering Assembly Line: July 14
Assembly in Process: July 14
Quality Check: July 15
Final Assembly: July 15
Ready for Transport: July 15
Awaiting Carrier Assignment: July 15
Dispatched From Factory: July 16
At The Port: July 17

[1newbmwowner]

On Thursday, 7/16, my car advanced to Waiting Carrier Assignment. It's in the same status this morning.
Regards,
Bud James

[TomWinMD]

Production Summary (as of 7/20/2020)

While I’m waiting for my car to make port in Charleston, SC for performance center delivery, it's time for another summary update - your times may vary.

Background: I originally ordered a MY 2020 car on 2/28. The Covid-19 production halt, and the impending LCI to the 5 series pushed things back three months. So, for the sake of trying to present a more routine timeline, I’ll start from when my MY 2020 order was rolled over into a MY 2021 car by BMW.

(Read: Event: Date - Elapsed days since production number assigned (Amplifying comments.)

Production number received (Status 111): 5/28 - Day 0 (BMW reflects some, but not all of the options from my original order.)

Scheduled for production (Status 112): 5/29 - 1 Day elapsed from production number.

(I made some changes to the configuration at this point due to the LCI dropping some options, but since the car hadn’t begun production, it did not impact the timeline. The changes were committed on 6/5/2020.)

The car entered production and a VIN was assigned (Status 150): 6/16 – Day 19 (Any changes to the options, etc. after this point would have delayed the build of the car.)

Exterior body assembly and painting (Status 151 & 152): 6/29 – Day 32

Entered the assembly line (Status 153): 6/30 – Day 33

Assembly in progress, quality check, final assembly, ready for transport, and awaiting carrier assignment (Status 155 & 182): 7/1 – Day 34 (A total of 3 days to build the car, including a 24 hour delay (probably for the paint to complete curing, the next dayshift, etc.)

On the train to Bremerhaven (Status 190): 7/2 – Day 35

****Note: I was able to download the owner's manuals for my new car using the VIN on 7/2, after the car was dispatched from the factory.********

At the Port of Bremerhaven (Status 193): 7/3 – Day 36

In transit (on the Ro Ro Ship HORIZON HIGHWAY – Status 195): 7/8 – Day 41

I lost updated tracking on the ship on 7/14 (Day 47) after it made a couple of port visits and headed out across the Atlantic. Rather than paying for the Satellite tracking (or playing the sign up for 7 days free, and sign up again), I’m waiting for the ship to get in range of a U.S. east coast shore AIS station, which should be by this Friday (7/24 or 7/25 – Day 57 or 58) as the ship gets closer to entrance to the Chesapeake Bay.

Then the car (still on the HORIZON HIGHWAY) will be heading to Charleston, SC, and is expected to dock on 7/30 (Day 63), where the car will be offloaded, processed through customs, pass an emissions check, and then processing at the BMW facility in port for final software updates, damage check and repair, etc., before being released to a carrier for the drive to the Performance Center.

At this point, I'm expecting delivery to be scheduled for the end of the second full week of August at the earliest (Day 76 or later since the production number was assigned).

(Information on the status codes, the production process, etc. can be found on this post: https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1181156)

Hope those of you ordering or who already have cars starting production find this useful.

[DBV1]

Hopefully, EPA is not too delayed in giving the 2021 approval, unless they already have. I have not see it though.

[TomWinMD]

Originally Posted by DBV1

Hopefully, EPA is not too delayed in giving the 2021 approval, unless they already have. I have not see it though.

I'm keeping a weather eye on the EPA site, but nothing yet.

Having said that, it's not BMW's first time at the rodeo, so they hopefully have their ducks lined up once the 2021s hit the port.

[DBV1]

Originally Posted by TomWinMD

I'm keeping a weather eye on the EPA site, but nothing yet.

Having said that, it's not BMW's first time at the rodeo, so they hopefully have their ducks lined up once the 2021s hit the port.

Sure hope so, but it is the first time with this Covid stuff, which seems to be delaying everything. Hope it does not, as I want mine delivered on time too.

[BimmerGeneral14]

Originally Posted by TomWinMD

I'm keeping a weather eye on the EPA site, but nothing yet.

Having said that, it's not BMW's first time at the rodeo, so they hopefully have their ducks lined up once the 2021s hit the port.

So, what do they do? Take the first 2021 5 series to hit the port, test it, then blanket approve the rest?

[TomWinMD]

Originally Posted by BimmerGeneral14

So, what do they do? Take the first 2021 5 series to hit the port, test it, then blanket approve the rest?

I'm not sure of the specifics, but I did a quick search for the EPA guidelines.

https://www.epa.gov/importing-vehicl...nes#procedures

According to what's in the PDF, and assuming I'm reading the correct documentation, the manufacturer needs to have a notice, in English, in the engine compartment that the vehicle is a U.S. version vehicle, manufactured IAW U.S. Federal emissions guidelines, and file the requisite forms, etc. with the EPA.

The manufacturer also must be able to prove, upon request, that the vehicle is a U.S. version.

It seems straightforward, but I won't be overly surprised if they do a random sample of the new model year cars to verify. We'll see how it plays out.

[1newbmwowner]

My M550i is now at the port this morning.
Regards,
Bud James

[DBV1]

As is mine. Guessing we will be on the same ship. Also - guessing we will have late Aug delivery, as long as EPA approves.

[BimmerGeneral14]

Anybody know how the "Port Installed Accessory Program" works? What's available for 2021 M550, if anything. Anything else about this? Thanks, in advance.

[TomWinMD]

Originally Posted by BimmerGeneral14

Anybody know how the "Port Installed Accessory Program" works? What's available for 2021 M550, if anything. Anything else about this? Thanks, in advance.

I hadn't heard about it before, but here's a thread you can look at if you haven't seen it yet.

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=859495

[TomWinMD]

Look like the ship my car is on has suffered a delay in transit.

Scheduled arrival in Charleston, SC is now 3 August, five days later than originally scheduled.

[BimmerGeneral14]

Originally Posted by TomWinMD

Look like the ship my car is on has suffered a delay in transit.

Scheduled arrival in Charleston, SC is now 3 August, five days later than originally scheduled.

Well Doc, that's a bummer.....easy to get lost in the north Atlantic I guess. My car slipped a production week for some reason, according to "The Genius"....I suspect they are running short on air to fill the tires.

[LogicalApex]

Originally Posted by BimmerGeneral14

Well Doc, that's a bummer.....easy to get lost in the north Atlantic I guess. My car slipped a production week for some reason, according to "The Genius"....I suspect they are running short on air to fill the tires.

Probably supply chain shortages.

Your car enters production a week before it starts getting built so they can order the parts for it from the supplier. The idea is that they have everything lined up so they can keep the assembly line moving without needing a huge parts warehouse. But if they can't get an order fulfilled by the supplier then they'll have to delay it.

Hopefully it moves along soon.

[carbo56]

Mine has been at the port now for eight days. Checking the schedules, there haven't been any departures to New York all week but there is one today and another on the 31st, so it should start moving soon and hopefully be at the dealer by end of August.

Still waiting to hear about what the lease program is and if there will be any incentives.

[1newbmwowner]

I'm in the Philadelphia suburbs. My car is still sitting at the port in Germany for the past four days.
Once the ship sails, does anyone know long it takes for get the US?

[TomWinMD]

The Horizon Highway is approaching Chesapeake Bay. Looks like it will dock in Baltimore later today.

It's showing up about two days earlier than the transport line's published schedule says it will.

Scheduled departure is the 28th for Brunswick, then on to Charleston, SC. Let's see when it really leaves.

[TomWinMD]

Originally Posted by 1newbmwowner

I'm in the Philadelphia suburbs. My car is still sitting at the port in Germany for the past four days.
Once the ship sails, does anyone know long it takes for get the US?

It's taken the ship with my car on it about 17 days since it left Bremerhaven to get to the port of Baltimore (assuming it docks on time this evening). That includes two stops in other ports in Europe/UK en route.

Actual crossing time from the last port (Southhampton) to Baltimore is about 14 days.