BMW European Delivery Program Ending for North American Customers!

[Liquid2.0T]

Uuff, glad I crossed this off the bucket list. Sad to see it go.

[Mrgunfun]

No way!
I was going to do ED next year due to COVID!!

[Poochie]

Originally Posted by Darth One

Well now that this is posted, I REALLY can't blame BMW. I run a corporate department and I think I would get fired if I refused to cancel a money losing program that had only 500 takers a year. I am, however, shocked at how few people have done this in "recent years" (like what, 2019?)

So I guess it's our fault that we didn't do this enough. Or bmw has lost the customers that do this kind of thing...

It's not that people don't want to opt for it but in my experience, twice, the dealership discouraged this option and for some strange reason, downplayed its advantage and benefits.

If someone knows the real reason why the franchise dealers are not too keen on pushing this program, please educate me..

I could see a lot of people not opting for this, simple because they wasn't aware it even existed, especially new BMW consumers, which accounts for a great number.

Some of us BMW fanatics are the outlier few holdovers, that are privy to this program and would still push for it.

I'm pretty sure the BMW beancounters were happy to let it withered away and slowly die off.

[M3GymNut]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

As previously stated, they went from 2000+ ED deliveries annually to under 500 ED deliveries annually. It was a losing proposition.

I get it, but barring everything is back to normal I don't see ED's more of a loss than of a gain for BMW which is why I'm thinking and hoping it will come back.

[Rvnmaniak]

As a BMWCCA member and owner of eight classic and current models, I am no longer getting the warm and fuzzy feeling I used to have for the brand. Let's see. In the last year ......... no more national Oktoberfest meeting for BMWCCA, the advent of overly large and ugly kidney grills in spite of NOBODY liking them, the inability to order a manual transmission on most cars, the placement of the M logo on every single damned car they make (looking forward to the ///M328i XDrive?) and the ending of the European delivery program.

What next? Having to be waterboarded, eat bugs, and a stay at Guantanamo Bay for the privilege of owning an all electric 3 series? Maybe its time to shop around.

[cactusjack]

Every week for the past few months I keep saying " BMW cant get anymore shitty." And without missing a beat, they prove me wrong every time.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

Every week for the past few months I keep saying " BMW cant get anymore shitty. And without missing a beat, they prove me wrong everytime.

This actually made me really laugh out loud.

Thanks for that. I haven't lost faith just yet.

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

This actually made me really laugh out loud.

Thanks for that. I haven't lost faith just yet.

Hahaha youre quite welcome my brotha! I think we all need a laugh during these times. Sometimes I find myself laughing at BMW's new choices a bit too much.

[GlazierGlaze]

Originally Posted by Rvnmaniak

As a BMWCCA member and owner of eight classic and current models, I am no longer getting the warm and fuzzy feeling I used to have for the brand. Let's see. In the last year ......... no more national Oktoberfest meeting for BMWCCA, the advent of overly large and ugly kidney grills in spite of NOBODY liking them, the inability to order a manual transmission on most cars, the placement of the M logo on every single damned car they make (looking forward to the ///M328i XDrive?) and the ending of the European delivery program.

What next? Having to be waterboarded, eat bugs, and a stay at Guantanamo Bay for the privilege of owning an all electric 3 series? Maybe its time to shop around.

This.

The brand is not for the purists anymore. The final nails are being put in the coffin.

I cancelled my CCA membership this year, don't get enough value out of it. 5+ years as a member. I just turned 30 and have owned three BMWs in a short period, with the expectation of adding another this fall.

[Mikecom32]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

Porsche should've already been attractive. If somebody can afford a Porsche comfortably (...and candidly tout that as so), why are they driving a BMW in the first place?!? Surely ED isn't enough incentive to forego the P-Car.

It's a combination of factors, and this certainly isn't the only reason I've been looking at stepping up. I'm in a different situation financially than I was three years ago, but I've also stuck with the brand for at least one of my cars since 2006. I own two BMWs and the wife's would make three. I'm generally not one for brand loyalty, but there's usually been enough pulling me back that I haven't been interested in changing.

Porsche also does ED, and their program doesn't look to be going away. Another checkbox in the P-car column

[Jadar]

Damn that sucks. As many on here This was on my to do list. I hope it comes back at some point.

[longbeachbluem2]

I get that NA traffic may be down, but is the program also canceled for Europeans as well? This press release from 2013 celebrates 100,000 cars having been delivered at Welt since 2007...

"The number of vehicle collections has steadily increased since the BMW Welt opened in 2007. In 2012, for the first time, more than 20,000 customers took delivery of their new car at the BMW Welt. Around 2,000 customers even made the trip from the US for the experience. In general, almost 90% of customers collecting their vehicles come from Germany, with a majority from Southern Germany; 10% have already taken delivery of more than one car."

https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/globa...ry?language=en

[Thescout13]

Originally Posted by longbeachbluem2

I get that NA traffic may be down, but is the program also canceled for Europeans as well? This press release from 2013 celebrates 100,000 cars having been delivered at Welt since 2007...

"The number of vehicle collections has steadily increased since the BMW Welt opened in 2007. In 2012, for the first time, more than 20,000 customers took delivery of their new car at the BMW Welt. Around 2,000 customers even made the trip from the US for the experience. In general, almost 90% of customers collecting their vehicles come from Germany, with a majority from Southern Germany; 10% have already taken delivery of more than one car."

https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/globa...ry?language=en

No, there is a separate article that delivery for EU customers continue but the pricing of the packages are going up.

[X2Board]

GOLFFRR
Thank you for my 2015 F80 M3 ED/PCD. You are second to none when it came to this program. I am very sorry to see it end. That first view of my car on the turntable is something I will never forget. I also feel sad for all of the BMW enthusiasts that will never get to experience this.

[MilehighM3]

Originally Posted by Poochie

It's not that people don't want to opt for it but in my experience, twice, the dealership discouraged this option and for some strange reason, downplayed its advantage and benefits.

If someone knows real reason why the franchise dealers are not too keen on pushing this program, please educate me..

IIRC the dealers are not incentivized by BMW. Either the dealer doesn't get a count for it towards their monthly target and/or the credit back from BMW (AVP) so there's nothing in it for the center or client advisor. Perhaps @GOLFFRR can clarify. The dealers will do it for certain customers, but they definitely won't go out of their way to recommend it. At least in my experience.

[Mikecom32]

Originally Posted by Rvnmaniak

As a BMWCCA member and owner of eight classic and current models, I am no longer getting the warm and fuzzy feeling I used to have for the brand. Let's see. In the last year ......... no more national Oktoberfest meeting for BMWCCA, the advent of overly large and ugly kidney grills in spite of NOBODY liking them, the inability to order a manual transmission on most cars, the placement of the M logo on every single damned car they make (looking forward to the ///M328i XDrive?) and the ending of the European delivery program.

What next? Having to be waterboarded, eat bugs, and a stay at Guantanamo Bay for the privilege of owning an all electric 3 series? Maybe its time to shop around.

Yeah this hasn't been a good year for enthusiasts.

Originally Posted by GlazierGlaze

This.

The brand is not for the purists anymore. The final nails are being put in the coffin.

I cancelled my CCA membership this year, don't get enough value out of it. 5+ years as a member. I just turned 30 and have owned three BMWs in a short period, with the expectation of adding another this fall.

I'm in a very similar boat. We were going to add an M440i this Summer and were considering another ED. Now that option is off the table. I don't get it.

[Tornado1M]

This is a sad sad state of affairs fellow enthusiasts 😩

[psuibmw]

I guess the other option if you want to drive in Europe is to go through the BMW rental program, drive around in Germany/EU and then return it. Even Sixt in Europe has some good and healthy inventory. Worked great for me before Why abuse your new ride when you can do the same to rentals

[KevinM]

Wow...did not see this coming, finances and COVID-19 non-withstanding. This program has been part of BMW heritage for as long as I can remember. The pilgrimage to the mecca to pick up my F80 in 2016 is certainly a cherished memory, and I (like many) had planned to do another ED in the future.

One more blow for enthusiasts. Still, having been driving BMWs since 1998, I have not given up completely, despite the lack of a MT in a 3 series (I still cannot believe I just typed that) and now the loss of ED. I WILL give up when M cars are no longer available with a MT.

[2011M3V8]

Originally Posted by drklion

This was back in 2007, before the Welt. After 8 European Deliveries since then I will miss my European trips with a brand new BMW.

Very sad day.

Glad they built the welt! This looks underwhelming!

[The Automotive Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by Ibiza

This is the entire announcement, as GOLFFRR left this out:

Ultimate Delivery Experience Continues in SC as Sun Sets on European Delivery

European Program to Begin Phasing Out Operations in May

As the global market has evolved and BMW NA sales volumes have shifted more heavily towards SAVs during the past serval years, the Performance Center Delivery in Spartanburg, South Carolina has seen continuing growth. Since its beginning in 1999, Performance Center Delivery has grown to more than 28,000 vehicle deliveries, while European Delivery, which has delivered approximately 30,000 vehicles since the 1970s, has experienced a significant decline in participation. Although BMW NA has historically represented an average of 2,000 European Deliveries annually, such deliveries have declined in recent years to under 500. Based on these trends and long-term evaluation, BMW Group will end the European Delivery Program in 2020 and cease accepting reservations as of May 18, 2020.

It's just not worth it anymore to run the program anymore at this time. That's what I thought.

[Chris Paul]

That is sad news. I was really hoping to do ED in the future for a G82.