[nick707]

Originally Posted by budjames

Anybody know what the MY 2021 ZHO Shadowline Package for $550 is on the US pricing guide? My dealer rep doesn't know what this is (disappointing).

I placed my preliminary order for a 2021 M550i in bluestone metallic with red brake calipers and every option except for the Executive package that includes the rear window shades. I had to build it on the BMW Germany Visualizer because the US website still shows the 2020 models.

My dealer rep estimates a mid to late August delivery. This means that I will have to extend my 2017 Audi S6 lease for two more months. Not a problem as I love the S6, my second one. However, the 2020 S6 only has a V6 biturbo so I took the 2020 M550i for a test and loved it. Fortunately, I could not place an order due to the Wuhan virus shut down, so now I'm getting the refreshed 2021.

Regards,
Bud James

Please check out my fine art and travel photography at www.budjames.photography or on Instagram at www.instagram.com/budjamesphoto.

In the US, the headlights become "individual shadow line lights". I don't think your German configuration is showing the shadow line headlights. On the German configurator, you can select the shadowline headlights as an a la carte option so you can see what it looks like.

[1newbmwowner]

Originally Posted by nick707

In the US, the headlights become "individual shadow line lights". I don't think your German configuration is showing the shadow line headlights. On the German configurator, you can select the shadowline headlights as an a la carte option so you can see what it looks like.

I was able to do that, I discovered, before your post. But thanks for the tip.

Still waiting to hear what the ZHO Shadowline Package adds to the MY2021 build.

Regards,
Bud

[TomWinMD]

Still waiting to see my car's production status change to 'Exterior Body Assembly Begins'.

The car is still expected to complete production on July 1st.

[BimmerGeneral14]

I've been enjoying this thread. So much that I ordered a 2021 M550. Been ruminating on this for a year or more. Will trade my 2014 650 GC but ready to upgrade, especially the technology. Already got production number with build week 34. Have already done PCD twice so am opting out with Covid...loved it though! So, going with the Advertine Red and Mocha, and most options. Looking forward to watching build and transport...hoping for a pre-snow delivery. Cheers.

[TomWinMD]

Originally Posted by BimmerGeneral14

I've been enjoying this thread. So much that I ordered a 2021 M550. Been ruminating on this for a year or more. Will trade my 2014 650 GC but ready to upgrade, especially the technology. Already got production number with build week 34. Have already done PCD twice so am opting out with Covid...loved it though! So, going with the Advertine Red and Mocha, and most options. Looking forward to watching build and transport...hoping for a pre-snow delivery. Cheers.

Congrats on the new buy, and thanks for enjoying the thread.

I'm still up in the air about the PCD - haven't cancelled it yet, but I'm watching the situation in SC with interest. If I don't feel its worth the risk, I'll have my CA put the car on a a transport and bring it to me. That will be disappointing, but I can always go back for a two-day M class later.

Best of luck with the new car.

[TomWinMD]

I just realized I never posted the build sheet for the car, in spite of having the screenshots up of all the options.

So here you are.

[nick707]

Originally Posted by BimmerGeneral14

I've been enjoying this thread. So much that I ordered a 2021 M550. Been ruminating on this for a year or more. Will trade my 2014 650 GC but ready to upgrade, especially the technology. Already got production number with build week 34. Have already done PCD twice so am opting out with Covid...loved it though! So, going with the Advertine Red and Mocha, and most options. Looking forward to watching build and transport...hoping for a pre-snow delivery. Cheers.

What is build week 34? I need to place my order for a 2021 M550i and want to take delivery in October. Not sure if I should place it now or wait a couple more weeks? Any tips? I have a 2015 650 GC I will be trading in as well. Also is the Aventurin Red pushing the order back a bit since it is an individual color? I am doing bernina Grey (which is not an individual color) but I am planning on doing the alcantara headliner. Per the build sheets, the alcantara headliner is not individual, but it does say that it is a priority 1 options.

[TomWinMD]

Originally Posted by nick707

What is build week 34? I need to place my order for a 2021 M550i and want to take delivery in October. Not sure if I should place it now or wait a couple more weeks? Any tips? I have a 2015 650 GC I will be trading in as well. Also is the Aventurin Red pushing the order back a bit since it is an individual color? I am doing bernina Grey (which is not an individual color) but I am planning on doing the alcantara headliner. Per the build sheets, the alcantara headliner is not individual, but it does say that it is a priority 1 options.

That should be the week starting August 16th.

You can find the week number here: https://www.calendar-365.com/week-number.html

One caveat, it's possible BMW's production weeks don't align perfectly with the week number from that site - so far, so good though.

WRT you wanting to take delivery in October, I'm not sure how much control you'll have with that. It's related to the build allocation your dealer has, and the production week that goes with the build allocation. I'd work with your client advisor to try and time out the order for an October delivery - he/she may be able to tell you when they have an allocation for a build week in late August/early September (possibly later), that should result in an October delivery (if we also consider the shipping time). Once the CA tells you that, it will likely be first come, first allocated, so you'll need to commit to the order as soon as the allocation is available. I think you're looking at Week 35 or later.

You can find details about the ordering/production process here: https://g30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1315141

There is also a post about the timeline for a build here: https://g30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1649123

Best of luck with the order timing.

[BimmerGeneral14]

To Nick, my Dealership owner says not to expect my "build week 34" M550 before October. Special paints get lumped together so allocated build week can change. Also, "priority one" just means that a customer is building/buying the car, not a dealer requested floor car....not supposed to delay anything. I think your timing will be all about using an existing dealer allocation. I found an allocation, then my CA changed it to my build...no additional changes allowed then. Good Luck

[BimmerGeneral14]

Originally Posted by TomWinMD

I just realized I never posted the build sheet for the car, in spite of having the screenshots up of all the options.

So here you are.

Don't see a build sheet?

[TomWinMD]

Originally Posted by BimmerGeneral14

Don't see a build sheet?

I attached it as a PDF. If it's not showing up I can upload the images.

[LogicalApex]

Originally Posted by BimmerGeneral14

To Nick, my Dealership owner says not to expect my "build week 34" M550 before October. Special paints get lumped together so allocated build week can change. Also, "priority one" just means that a customer is building/buying the car, not a dealer requested floor car....not supposed to delay anything. I think your timing will be all about using an existing dealer allocation. I found an allocation, then my CA changed it to my build...no additional changes allowed then. Good Luck

The other wrinkle in everything is they can't actually "sell" the car before it clears EPA certification. There is risk that those certifications could be delayed due to COVID and cars can spend more time at the port or VPC.

Originally Posted by BimmerGeneral14

Don't see a build sheet?

Build Sheet shows for me.

[TomWinMD]

It looks like they've started assembling my car.

As of 8:00 AM EDT they were working on the body.

[TomWinMD]

The body is in the paint booth as of 9:30AM today.

[BimmerGeneral14]

Originally Posted by TomWinMD

It looks like they've started assembling my car.

As of 8:00 AM EDT they were working on the body.

Very exciting.....I think I'll be about a month behind you.

[TomWinMD]

I guess the paint is dry. The car is now entering the assembly line.

[LogicalApex]

Originally Posted by TomWinMD

I guess the paint is dry. The car is now entering the assembly line.

Nice! Looks like you have a 7/1 build date exactly

[TomWinMD]

Originally Posted by LogicalApex

Nice! Looks like you have a 7/1 build date exactly

Yep. Our German friends do like to stick to schedules - and I like that.

[TomWinMD]

The car is being assembled.

[TomWinMD]

First quality check in progress.

[TomWinMD]

Woo-hoo! The new car is built and is now awaiting carrier transport.

[TomWinMD]

While I’m waiting for my car to be transported from Dingolfing to Bremerhaven for loading on a Ro-Ro ship, here’s a brief summary of the timeline so far.

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, and I received a new production number.

(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.)

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

A couple of thoughts:

The actual build process seems to have gone pretty quickly, and the car was completed on the scheduled date during the expected build week.

I’m not going to assume it was the first 2021 MY on the line, but I do think that the assembly stages went quickly due to BMW’s current focus of building only Priority 1 (customer ordered) cars as part of their re-start after the production halt, and whatever re-tooling or supply line re-start was needed to provide parts for the LCI MY 2021 cars.

As a result, as they get back to a more normal production run (customer sold and inventory cars), I wouldn’t be surprised to see the actual assembly line time stretch a little, until they are back to running all shifts with a full staff.
I’d be interested to know if anyone has any concrete information about how many shifts BMW is currently running at their plants, and how fully staffed those shifts are – my internet searches on the subject have come up with less than informative news.