The BMW European Delivery Process
John and I have taken delivery of 5 cars through the BWM European Delivery Program.
Why would you do that?
How on earth do you make all those arrangements?
Isn’t it really expensive?
These are the questions we get every time this topic comes up in conversation. The good news is the answers are easy.
Why? It’s an Adventure!
Meeting your new car for the first time at BMW Welt is very cool.
The BMW staff will plan a full day of VIP factory tours and wining and dining you before introducing you to your car.
With keys in hand, you’ll then drive down the ramp and out of The Welt to begin your journey.
All of Europe is waiting for you, and making those memories in your own car just makes it, well, more memorable!
How?
They do Everything. To the customer, the process is nearly identical to placing an order for US delivery.
Insurance? Licensing in Europe?
It’s all included in the program.
Dropping the car off when you’re ready to come home?
Choose from 12 drop-off locations in major cities throughout Europe.
Transport to the port? Shipping to the US? Marine cargo insurance? US Customs duty and clearance? Transport to your local dealer?
ALL of this is included in the program!
How much?
It’s Cheaper!
The whole process is easy, well organized and, best of all, provided to you at no additional cost.
In 2003 we picked a car up in Munich at Freimann, the old BMW Delivery Center.
We drove through Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Italy, and the south of France before dropping it off in Nice.
In 2006 we were able to take John’s kids with us.
The delivery center was closed for the Christmas holiday, so we actually took delivery at the drop off location in Munich.
We spent a couple of days exploring Liechtenstein, a tiny country between Switzerland and Austria, and then drove to Zurich.
Since sport tires don’t do very well in the snow, we dropped the car off in Zurich and explored Grindelwald and Luzern by train.
In 2009 we took delivery at BMW Welt in Munich.
We drove through Switzerland and France making stops in Walzenhausen, Gruyères, the Bourgogne / Rhone area, the Auvergne Region, the Loire Valley, and then dropped the car off in Paris.
In 2012 we took delivery at BMW Welt in Munich again, but dropped the car off in Vienna.
For two weeks explored Slovenia, Hungary, Slovakia, Czechia, and Austria.
In 2015 we took delivery at BMW Welt in Munich and dropped the car back off in Munich.
For two weeks we explored Munich, Lake Starnberg, Lake Garda, Panzano in Chianti, Florence, and Venice.
I guess it’s safe to say that we’re a big fan of BMW’s European Delivery program.
Many of the European auto manufacturers have similar programs: Mercedes Benz, Audi, Porsche, Volvo. Over the years, these companies have found that this type of buying experience is a powerful marketing tool.
So it’s not just a different way to take delivery of your new car, for BMW in particular it is a powerful incentive program.
Using these incentives, we save about 15% off the sticker price of the car.
Combining European Delivery with leasing is even more dramatic, reducing the depreciation amount (the part of the car you actually pay for in a lease) over 3 years by nearly 37%!
So, why not?
Fun, easy and cheaper! What’s not to like? Make it a romantic getaway, or bring the kids and make it a family vacation.
The car, as fun as it is, is inconsequential in the end. It’s just more of the stuff we accumulate too much of.
But the experience? That’s everything.
John’s mom always said, “Years from now, all the stuff you’ve owned will mean little to you; but you will become the sum of your life’s experiences.”
She’s right.
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You can read more about the cities we’ve been to on our BMW European Delivery adventures HERE.