For 2011, the Jetta has a sleek, new look that further differentiates it from the pack. It’s 2.9 inches longer and that translates to more room for the rear occupants as well as a more substantial appearance.  It’s definitely an upscale look (think Audi) and it is one that should resonate with VW purists and German car fans alike.

The Jetta’s new – and lower – price, however, will attract Civic and Corolla buyers, Volkswagen hopes. For 2011, the base Jetta S starts at $15,995 (the 2010 Jetta S started at $17,605) and comes with a 115-hp, 2.0-liter petrol engine that once powered the third-generation Jetta back in 1993.  It’s nicely equipped for that price, with a five-speed manual transmission, air conditioning, power windows and mirrors, anti-lock brakes, cloth upholstery, stability control, split folding rear seat, remote keyless entry, a four-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo with auxiliary input, and free maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles.

We recently spent several days driving the new Jetta in the Bay Area, first driving the petrol-powered SEL version and then the diesel-powered TDI.  For both drives I started in San Francisco and headed north on the Shoreline Highway, a winding two-lane road north of the Golden Gate Bridge.  It passes through the Marin Hills and then intersects with Muir Beach, continuing past the Point Reyes National Seashore and Tomales Bay.  This was the perfect route to drive the new Jetta on.

On the first drive, with the SEL, I found the five-cylinder,2.5-liter engine smooth and happy to provide sufficient power on demand.  The five-speed transmission shifted precisely. The SEL comes with lots of standard equipment including 17-inch aluminum wheels, a touch-screen navigation system, chrome exterior trim, all-wheel disc brakes (the S and SE have drum brakes in the rear), and keyless access and push-button start.  Options include a sunroof and a touch-screen stereo with an SD card reader and built-in six-disc CD changer.  It can go from 0-60 in 8.2 seconds (8.5 for the automatic) and the 177 pound-feet of torque under the hood comes in quite handy.  The base Jetta S goes from 0-60 mph in 9.8 seconds (the automatic needs 11 seconds to get there).

In terms of fuel economy, the SEL uses 10.2 l/100 km (23 mpg) in the city and 7.1 l/100 km (33 mpg) on the highway (all figures cited thus far are for the manual gearbox).  The S uses 9.8 l/100 km (24 mpg) in the city and 6.9 l/100 km (34 mpg) on the highway.

Click here for page two – Driving the Jetta Diesel

Despite its heft, handling is still reasonably nimble if the optional adaptive air suspension is present.

This largest Audi comes standard with superb leather upholstery, 18” wheels, dual-zone climate control, and of course the quattro all-wheel drive system. Useful options include the third-row seat, rearview camera, Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity, satellite navigation, and four-zone climate control. The good news is that the Q7 has a third row of seats; the bad news is that it’s a bit snug back there. Nonetheless, with room for seven, it’s good for moving bulky cargo or large groups.

Safety features include a blind-spot warning system that works quite well and alerts the driver via flashing yellow LEDs to possible problems were one to start switching lanes at an inopportune moment, a lane departure warning system, keyless entry and ignition, and the magnificent panoramic sunroof.

Audi is introducing its fourth generation MMI cockpit controller system on certain models but the Q7 retains the older system for the time being. The controller is conveniently positioned but the driver still has to look down to find the right button to push.

The Q7 is also available as a turbo-diesel, a model that features considerably improved fuel economy and is worth looking into.

The latest four-door coupe, the Volkswagen CC, continues a trend from German manufacturers, namely Mercedes with the CLS and BMW with the X6.

The CC is also a very expensive looking Volkswagen

Volkswagen tried expensive before, with the Phaeton.  Although it was a superbly crafted übersedan, customers in the U.S. simply weren’t prepared to come into a Volkswagen dealership and spend between $60,000 to $100,000.  Volkswagen is hoping that they’ll be more likely to spend half as much on a CC.

Built on the same platform as the VW Passat, it drives like a Passat, from the inside looks just like a Passat, costs more than a Passat, and carries one fewer passenger than a Passat.

One look at the car, however, and you will know it’s no Passat.  CC stands for “Comfort Coupe,“ but it is no Carbon Copy of any other car on the road.  Its radically sloped roof line is more Porsche and it is by far the most striking and unusually styled VW to come out of Wolfsburg.

The CC comes well-equipped and the fit and finish of the dashboard materials, door panels, and upholstery was better than average.  The thick, leather-wrapped steering wheel feels good; the leather sport seats (standard in all but the base configuration) were reasonably comfortable up front but somewhat less so in the rear.  The rear seats only two, and the trunk is a bit on the small side.

The optional Dynaudio Premium Sound System was ok but we’ve heard better.   The optional navigation system, Volkswagen calls it the Media Device Interface (MDI) has its pluses (the use of the instrument cluster onboard computer display to indicate turns and street names; a 32 GB hard drive) and minuses (the touchscreen does not respond consistently to your touch) but it led me to my destinations without much trouble.

A few quirks.  VW does not offer keyless ignition; rather, the driver must insert the keyfob and then push it in further to start the car.  Sometimes this process took two to three attempts.  The front driver would also benefit greatly from a kneepad on the front console. The roofline adversely impacts visibility but the rear camera somewhat makes up for it.

The CC exhibited excellent road manners. The car politely went in the direction I pointed it and provided decent feedback to the driver.  In hard cornering, it stuck to the pavement but did not shake up its passengers, thanks to an ultra-sophisticated suspension.

CC also stands for “come closer” in online chat and the Volkswagen CC is worth a closer look without a doubt.

–Jonathan B. Spira is the Editor of Executive Road Warrior and Chief Analyst at Basex, a knowledge economy research firm.

The ultimate souvenir: our 3er Series parked in front of the Hilton Budapest WestEnd

In recent years, savvy business travelers have joined the thousands of Americans who each year take a trip to Munich, Germany with one goal in mind.  Unlike other tourists, they are not there for the beer, the Schnitzel, the museums, and art galleries.  The real reason for the trip: to pick up a new BMW at BMW’s factory delivery center.

Some business travelers are en route to or from a meeting; others simply hop over to Munich for the day to garner the savings. Still others, including myself, integrate the European Delivery experience into a business trip cum holiday.

For years, BMW has offered its customers the option of picking up their cars at the factory.  After delivery, and being driven on the Autobahnen, Bundesstraßen, Landstraßen, and Autostrade of Europe, the car is shipped by the manufacturer back to the United States.  The trip has almost become a ritual for some; indeed a third of BMW’s customers have picked up a car at the factory in previous years. I am a member of that group, having joined the club in January 1982.

2363 BMWs were sold through BMW’s European Delivery program in 2005; BMW expects the number for 2006 to be even higher. European Delivery packages can include significant discounts (published discounts are seven percent on most models; individual dealers will frequently offer even better pricing), discounted or free airfare, meals, and the thrill of a factory tour that is the birthplace of the car being picked up.

For many, the opportunity to drive a BMW in its native habitat, the German Autobahn, is a major draw.  And for the business traveler who might be driving between cities for meetings, there is no need for a rental car.

EARLY DAYS

The European Delivery program has its roots in the 1950s when members of the U.S. armed forces returning from Europe brought with them a taste for smaller, sportier European cars. Many shipped their own cars to the States.

At the time, other than the occasional Volkswagen Käfer (Beetle), a non-U.S. manufactured vehicle was an unusual sight in the United States.  The eventual appearance of foreign cars was mostly due to Max Hoffman, the Austrian emigrant automotive entrepreneur who, starting in 1948, single-handedly created the imported car business in the United States and during his career marketed Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Porsche, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Jaguar, and BMW vehicles.

The author's 1982 BMW 320iS near his residence in Munich at the Studentenstadt Freimann

In the mid 1960s, with the advent of the jet age, Hoffman saw an opportunity to boost both sales and mindshare for BMW by offering prospective buyers the opportunity to take their first European vacation and drive around Europe in their own car (naturally, a BMW), which would follow them back to the U.S., giving the traveler a unique experience, saving money on the car purchase, and eliminating rental charges.

Hoffman was not alone. By the end of the decade, Mercedes, Saab, Volvo, Porsche, and Volkswagen all offered factory delivery for tourists.

ARRANGING YOUR EUROPEAN DELIVERY

European Delivery sales are arranged through dealers in the United States.  Many dealerships have one salesperson as a designated specialist.  Buyers should expect more paperwork (after all, buying a car usually doesn’t involve one’s passport) and need to be aware that the wait time for redelivery can be six to eight weeks.

Each BMW comes with premium auto insurance with no deductible for 14 days.  It can be extended at extra cost.  Each car is custom built; orders should be placed at least two months prior to the desired delivery date but depending on scheduling, a month in advance might work in some cases.  Buyers need to be aware of German (and other national) holidays when making travel plans; the delivery center is closed on German holidays and drop-off centers (over a dozen throughout Europe) are also likely to be closed on local holidays.

THE PROCESS

In the past ten months, I ordered two BMWs for factory delivery (one for me, one for my partner).  Placing the orders was easy.  The first car was a 2006 330xi in Sparkling Graphite, delivered in November 2005; the second was a 2006 325i in Japanrot (“Electric Red” in the U.S.) picked up in August 2006.

THE TRIPS

In November 2005, I combined a BMW factory delivery with client meetings in Munich and Vienna.  In 5 days, I covered 2426 km and four countries (Austria, Germany, Hungary, and Italy). I crossed international borders 22 times.   I only had meetings on the first and final days of my trip so I was able to plan each day’s drive the night before, choosing my destination primarily based on the promise of good weather.

Alongside the Donau (Danube) River in the Wachau Valley, Niederösterreich (Lower Austria)

After picking up my 330xi in Munich last November, my partner Dan Lafler decided he would like a new Japanrot (“Electric Red” in the U.S.) 3er .  I had a client meeting in Vienna planned so we planned a trip that would have us visiting three major cities on the Danube: Budapest, where the river is called the Duna; Bratislava (Preßburg), where it is called the Dunaj; and Vienna, where it is the Donau.  The Danube, the longest river in continental Europe, is a crucial link between the east and the west.  It has served as a frontier, separating warring parties, and as a blue artery of life, carrying food and people.

We arrived on 31. July around noon and were met by Rolf Raffelsieper (see resources).  Rolf brought us to our hotel, the Holiday Inn on the Leopoldstraße, but wasn’t inclined to let us relax from the trip; instead, we immediately headed out to the Biergarten at Kloster Andechs, one of the best breweries in Bavaria.

The next morning we were off to the factory delivery center and soon were on the way to Budapest via Austria.

Before crossing the border into Austria, we stopped at a Raststation and purchased a Mautvignette (toll sticker) valid for 10 days at a cost of €7,60. This is required on the Autobahn in Austria  (another is needed for Hungary, where they call it a Matrica).

Driving on the autópálya (highway or Autobahn) in Hungary

We entered Hungary at the border crossing Nickelsdorf/Hegyeshalom.  Hungary, although now part of the European Union, does not yet have a Schengen border (countries that have signed the Schengen agreement have removed border checks between participating countries), so passports are checked and stamped.

After a 700 kilometers drive, we arrived at the Hilton West End in Budapest.

For the next two and a half days, the 3er sat and we walked. We walked across the Lanchid(Chain Bridge) to Castle Hill, taking the cog railway up, and explored the hills of Buda including the spectacular views from Gellérthegy (Gellert Hill).

Budapest is one of the most beautiful cities on the Danube, a place that was intellectually and culturally drawn by the river toward Vienna and the West.   The Duna (Danube) divides the city into its two component parts, Buda and Pest, flowing beneath the famous bridges that link the two halves.  The river itself is the heart of the city, passing before the neo-Gothic Parliament building and the great castle of the Hungarian kings.

The view from Bratislava Castle

Finally, it was time to leave Budapest and get back in the BMW.  After 190 rainy kilometers and two hours of driving, we arrived in central Bratislava, parking in the Old City.  As we walked to Bratislava Castle, overlooking the Dunaj, it drizzled on and off. However, it was worth the walk since the views of the city were magnificent.

Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, is situated near the borders of Austria, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.  Bratislava was closely linked with Vienna, only 60 kilometers away, and was an important center of economic, political, and cultural life similar to other European capitals.

Soon it was time to continue to Vienna, our last Danubian city.  Vienna, an opulent city with a stubborn majesty as the capital of a long-gone empire, is a city of palaces, museums, concert halls, opera houses, and parks, the capital of a country that has what may very well be the largest per capita cultural budget in the world.  Of course, Johann Strauß II composed what has become the unofficial Austrian anthem, An der schönen blauen Donau, reflecting the Blue Danube’s importance to Vienna.

The next day, despite the rain, we still made it to the top of Stephansdom for incredible views of the city, walked through the Stadtpark, where the presence of Strauß and Beethoven is felt everywhere and shopped appropriately.  The afternoon and evening were reserved for meetings.  After all, this was business travel.

A Beisl, or small restaurant, at the Old Danube (Alte Donau)

The next day, the sun came out as we drove to Schloß Schönbrunn, the Habsburg summer palace.  After touring the castle and grounds, we drove 84 kilometers to Dürnstein (the town where Richard Löwenherz (Lionhearted) was held captive; it was too rainy to hike up to the ruins where he had been imprisoned so we “settled” for dining a local restaurant (which featured the local wines from the Wachau region, such as Grüner Veltliner).

The final full day in Vienna included a trip to the Alte Donau (Old Danube), a beach/resort area.  The following morning, we drove to the offices of Auto-Service Wien, the local agent for E.H. Harms, BMW’s shipper, where we turned in the car with 1416 kilometers on the clock.

A quick taxi ride to the airport and we were on our way back to New York. The car wouldn’t be far behind.

–Jonathan B. Spira is the Editor of Executive Road Warrior and Chief Analyst at Basex, a knowledge economy research firm.

10 STEPS TO EUROPEAN DELIVERY

1.) Ca. three months before the desired date, pick out the color and options, and negotiate the price.

2.) Sign the purchase order, which your dealer then submits to the European Delivery department with your desired delivery date.

3.) Your car is manufactured ca. 30 days prior to delivery.

4.) You pay for the car, usually 14 days before scheduled pick up day; if you are leasing, your lease starts on this day.

5.) You pick up the car in Munich.

6.) You drop the car off in Europe (within 30 days for BMWFS lease, 90 days for BMWFS finance, 6 months otherwise; insurance for 14 days is included).

7.) Car is transported to port and then put on board ship.

8.) Your car reaches USA (from drop-off, this takes up to 3-4 weeks for the East Coast, 5-6 weeks for the West Coast)

9.) Vehicle clears customs, is processed at the VDC and shipped to the dealer. (Depending on a variety of factors, including how backed up U.S. Customs is, this can take 1-2 weeks.)

10.) Redelivery.

ADVICE

Some suggestions to make the European Delivery experience more fun and less stressful for American visitors:

• Order Satellite Navigation and get the DVD for Europe.  Arriving hours late for a business meeting is bad for business. Getting lost on the byways can spoil your fun.
• Learn a few phrases in German and the language(s) of any countries you will be visiting.  “Danke” (thank you), “bitte” (please and you’re welcome), and “Guten Morgen” (good morning) will go a long way.
• Plan for local weather.  Don’t order a car with summer (performance) tires for a mid-December delivery.
• Don’t overplan.  Many first-time visitors to Europe try to see everything.  Pick a few destinations and get to know them well.
• Verify the location and hours for your intended drop-off location when you are at the Delivery Center.

EUROPEAN DELIVERY RESOURCES

BMW NA Web Site

BMW presents an overview of European Delivery, including pricing, at http://www.bmwusa.com/bmwexperience/europeandelivery/

European Delivery forum at Bimmerfest.

Over 10% of BMW’s European Delivery customers utilize this online forum, asking questions and making travel plans, www.bimmerfest.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=25

Rolf Raffelsieper – BMW Pick-up Service

Herr Raffelsieper started working at BMW in 1967.  For a very reasonable fee, he will pick you up at Flughafen München Franz Josef Strauß and take you directly to the BMW European Delivery Center or to your hotel.  He can also arrange various tours, including visits to BMW facilities of interest.  E-mail Rolf at rolf.raffelsieper@web.de

Ricki Shamen, DiFeo BMW

I have worked with Ricki on multiple European Deliveries (and several U.S. deliveries) over the past 16 years. rshamen@unitedauto.com

European Delivery 2006 Calendar

As a fun project, I created this calendar with photographs from Germany and Austria along with all U.S., German, and Austrian holidays.  Available at http://www.lulu.com/content/198766.

EUROPEAN DELIVERY PROGRAMS

Since the 1960s, several thousand Americans each year have taken a trip to Munich, Germany with one goal in mind.  Unlike the other American tourists, they are not there for the beer, the Schnitzel, the museums and art galleries, and the Gemütlichkeit alone.  The real reason for the trip: to pick up a new BMW at BMW’s factory delivery center.

The author's new BMW 330xi at the InterContinental Hotel and Resort in Berchtesgaden

For years, BMW has been among a handful of European automakers that offer Americans the option of picking up their cars at the factory.  The Americans take delivery, drive on the Autobahnen, Bundesstraßen, Landstraßen, and Autostrade of Europe for several weeks, and have the cars shipped back to the United States.  The trip has become almost an annual ritual for some; indeed a third of the customers have picked up a car at the factory in previous years. I am a member of that group, having joined the club in January 1982

2363 BMWs were sold through BMW’s European Delivery program in 2005; in 2004, the number was 1999. Customers are drawn by packages that can include significant discounts (published discounts are seven percent on most models; individual dealers will frequently offer even better pricing), discounted or free airfare, meals, and the thrill of a factory tour that is the birthplace of the car being picked up.

Just as legend tells us that the Loreley bewitched the hearts of sailors on the Rhine, the Autobahn bewitches the hearts of American drivers.  The opportunity to drive a BMW in its native habitat, the German Autobahn, is a major draw.

The European Delivery program has its roots in the 1950s when members of the U.S. armed forces returning from Europe brought with them a taste for smaller, sportier European cars. Many shipped their own cars to the States with the help of E.H. Harms Auto Forwarding & Shipping.   Harms was founded by Egon H. Harms, a German soldier who had been captured by the Americans at the Battle of the Bulge.  After he was released, he started moving military vehicles back to different ports; as more U.S. bases were built in Europe, he began shipping soldiers’ cars stateside as well.

At the time, other than the occasional Volkswagen Käfer (Beetle), a non-U.S. manufactured vehicle was an unusual sight in the United States.  Their appearance was mostly due to U.S. soldiers and to Max Hoffman, the Austrian emigrant automotive entrepreneur who, starting in 1948, single-handedly created the imported car business in the United States and during his career marketed Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Porsche, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Jaguar, and BMW vehicles.

Most of his energy was focused on BMW. Hoffman started importing BMWs in the 1950s, and he was the exclusive importer from 1960 until March 1975, when BMW of North America was formed, reportedly buying Hoffman out for $16 million.  Hoffman remained co-chairman and a member of the design committee (he was instrumental in the creation of the BMW 507).

In the mid 1960s, with the advent of the jet age, Hoffman saw an opportunity to boost both sales and mindshare for BMW by offering prospective buyers the opportunity to take their first European vacation and drive around Europe in their own car (naturally, a BMW), which would follow them back to the U.S., giving the traveler a unique experience, saving money on the car purchase, and eliminating rental charges.

Hoffman was not alone. By the end of the decade, Mercedes, Saab, Volvo, Porsche, and Volkswagen all offered factory delivery for tourists.

European Delivery sales are arranged through BMW dealers in the United States.  Many dealerships have one salesperson as a designated specialist.  With minor exceptions, the cars do not come out of the dealer’s allocation so there is no floor cost to the dealer; essentially, it’s like selling an extra car.  Buyers should expect more paperwork (after all, buying a car usually doesn’t involve one’s passport) and buyers need to be aware that the wait time for redelivery can be six weeks to eight weeks.

Buyers receive premium auto insurance with no deductible for 14 days.  It can be extended at extra cost.  Each car is custom built, and needs to be ordered at least three months prior to the desired delivery date.  Buyers need to be aware of German (and other national) holidays when making travel plans; the delivery center is closed on German holidays and drop-off centers (over a dozen throughout Europe) are likely to be closed on local holidays.

European Delivery also has a “season” which runs from mid-March to mid-November.  Deliveries in the off season, after mid-November, are not recommended if your car comes with summer or performance tires.  German law requires the use of winter tires (tires must be designated with M+S, and all season tires do qualify).

THE PROCESS

Despite multiple prior European Deliveries, this is the first time I was to go through the entire process, starting with ordering a car from scratch.  For previous deliveries, I had selected a car from the pool of cars BMW maintains for those customers who decide to pickup their car at the factory on short notice.  Fortunately, they always seemed to have the exact car I wanted.

Placing the order with Ricki Shamen at DiFeo BMW

But this time was different: I went to meet with Ricki Shamen at DiFeo BMW on 27 August to place my order.  I had already reviewed all of the colors and options available, so placing the actual order was easy.  Ricki had obtained a production number for me rather quickly, and soon we were tracking my car through the manufacturing process, from 112 (effectively, “about to be built”) to 155 (production completed) to 170 (“at Delivery Center in Freimann for pre-delivery inspection”).  The car I ordered was a 2006 330xi, in Sparkling Graphite with a black leather interior.  Options included the Premium Package (which includes BMW Assist with Bluetooth Wireless Technology), Parking Distance Control, the Sport Package, Styling 162 wheels, iDrive and satellite navigation, Comfort Access, the Cold Weather Package, and power rear sunshades with manual side window shades – pretty much everything but Active Cruise Control, automatic transmission, and Active Steering.

We set a date for the delivery: 10. November.  That meant my car would be manufactured in mid October, ca. one month prior.  And it was, on 11. October.

As the date drew closer, I finalized an itinerary.  I would fly directly to Munich on the ninth and stay the first night in Munich.  After that, I would stay four nights at the InterContinental Resort in Berchtesgaden and make day trips from there.  I would drop off my car in Garching bei München on the 15th, and fly back to New York later that day.

The ninth of November arrived more quickly than I had anticipated.  I had set my alarm for three hours earlier than usual to get a jump on Central European Time (this works every time, ensuring I will be quite sleepy by the time we are aloft).  By coincidence, two acquaintances from the BMW Car Club of American, Rich and Jill Zimmer were to be on my flight as they were picking up an Electric Red E90 325i.

By the time I arrived at JFK, that evening, I was ready to settle in for a long, comfortable flight.  Rich and Jill were waiting for me in the Lufthansa Senator Lounge.  Due to inclement weather, our departure time was repeatedly delayed.  This gave us lots of time to enjoy sandwiches, Brezeln, and Spaten Oktoberfest Bier vom Faß.

After a comfortable flight (Lufthansa’s seats do fold into completely flat beds that are quite comfortable) and multiple delays due to weather conditions on both sides of the Atlantic, we finally arrived at Flughafen München Franz Josef Strauß at 11:45.

Rich and Jill joined me for a quick ride to the Delivery Center.  Upon arrival we headed upstairs to the café, where Thomas Roller, manager of the BMW Delivery Center, was waiting to meet with me.  Rich and Jill completed their paperwork and were brought to their new Electric Red 325i.

The BMW Welt under construction in November 2005

My next meeting was at BMW Welt  with Helmut Pöschl and his colleagues who are planning BMW Welt (more on BMW Welt in an upcoming article but I can promise it will make European Delivery even more of an experience).  Herr Roller offered to accompany me to my meetings, but allowed me to see my new car for a few seconds before we sped off in a very fast 130i.  We didn’t make it back until 17:30 and the Center was empty.  Herr Roller himself did the delivery and off I went to my “Stammhotel” on the Leopoldstraße, the Holiday Inn. This hotel is highly recommended for BMW owners doing European Delivery for one reason (besides the enormous breakfast buffet): the very safe underground parking garage.

The adventure had only begun.  See a related article, Journeys: Austria, Germany, Hungary, and Italy by Car, for details on the 2426 km drive.

HERR ROLLER’S ADVICE

Diplom-Kaufmann Thomas Roller is the manager of the BMW Delivery Center where European Delivery cars are delivered.  He has some suggestions to make the European Delivery experience more fun and less stressful for American visitors.

• Order Satellite Navigation and get the DVD for Europe.  Having navigation in the car will allow you to enjoy your trip without going astray.  Asking for directions in a language you don’t speak and reading a map for an unfamiliar city takes away one’s enjoyment of the places you came to enjoy.  Arriving hours late for a once-a-day tour can ruin a vacation.
• Learn a few phrases German and the language(s) of any countries you will be visiting.  “Danke” (thank you), “bitte” (please and you’re welcome), and “Guten Morgen” (good morning) will go a long way.
• Plan for local weather.  Don’t order a car with summer (performance) tires for a mid-December delivery.  You (and your car) won’t get very far.
• Read the materials BMW provides, including information about drop-off locations and hours. Ask questions at the delivery center before leaving.
• Don’t overplan.  Many first-time visitors to Europe try to see everything.  Pick a few destinations and get to know them well.
• Verify the location and hours for your intended drop-off location when you pick-up the car at the Delivery Center.

EUROPEAN DELIVERY RESOURCES

The BMW of North America Web site presents an overview of European Delivery, including pricing.

Driving along the Autobahn towards Innsbruck with friends right behind (visible in side-view mirror).

The European Delivery forum at Bimmerfest attracts over 10% of BMW’s European Delivery customers.  They spend time in this online forum, asking questions, making vacation plans, even learning important phrases in German.  Moderated by Bernard Wang, the European Delivery forum at Bimmerfest is a time-tested resource for novice and experienced purchasers.

Rolf Raffelsieper – BMW Pick-up Service.  Herr Raffelsieper started working at BMW in 1967.  He will pick you up at Flughafen München Franz Josef Strauß (airport) and take you directly to the BMW European Delivery Center in Freimann or to your hotel.  He will gladly pick you up from your hotel and take you to the Delivery Center and can also meet you at E.H. Harms and take you to the airport after your drop-off. He can also arrange various tours, including visits to BMW facilities of interest.  E-mail Rolf at rolf.raffelsieper@web.de

Ricki Shamen, DiFeo BMW.  It is rare to work with the same BMW Client Advisor for 16 years.  I have worked with Ricki on multiple European Deliveries (and several U.S. deliveries) over the past 16 years. She enjoys each customer’s trip as much as if she were along for the ride.   Contact her at rshamen@penskeautomotive.com.

European Delivery Calendar.  Photographs from Germany and Austria along with all U.S., German, and Austrian holidays make the European Delivery 2006 calendar a valuable reference and keepsake.

Lufthansa. Lufthansa, German’s flagship airline, serves Munich from 16 cities, offering non-stop service from New York City (JFK and Newark), Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Charlotte, and Boston (in the summertime).  Most flights are operated with Airbus A340 aircraft, configured in a two- or three-class configuration.  Newark flights offer a 44-seat all business class alternative using a Boeing 737-700 corporate jet.  Lufthansa just opened up a new first class lounge in Munich with limousine service to the plane.  For European Delivery customers, Lufthansa offers a special two-for-one package. Visit Lufthansa at www.lufthansa-usa.com/241bmw.

InterContinental Resort Berchtesgaden.  The InterContinental Resort Berchtesgaden is located close to the Bavarian/Austrian border some 150 km from Munich and 35 km from Salzburg, making it an excellent destination for a European Delivery trip. The mountain resort sits ca. 1,000 m above sea level on the Eckerbichl Mountain range, offering spectacular views of Berchtesgadener Land.   Visit the hotel’s Web site for more information.

Holiday Inn Munich City-North  The Holiday Inn, located in the heart of Schwabing, is a short distance from the Englischer Garten and the many shops and cafés on the Leopoldstraße.  It is also situated within minutes of the A9 and has a safe, self-park garage ideal for a brand new BMW.  Visit the hotel’s Web site for more information

EUROPEAN DELIVERY TIMELINE

1.) Ca. three months before the desired date, decide the color and options, and negotiate the price.

2.) Sign the purchase order which your dealer then submits to the European Delivery department with your desired delivery date

3.) Your car is manufactured ca. 30 days prior to delivery

4.) You pay for the car, usually 14 days before scheduled pick up day; if you are leasing, your lease starts on this day.

5.) You pick up the car in Munich.

6.) You drop the car off in Europe (within 30 days for BMWFS lease, 90 days for BMWFS finance, 6 months otherwise; insurance for 14 days is included).

7.) Car is transported to port and then put on board ship

8.) Your car reaches USA (from drop-off, this takes up 3-4 weeks for the East Coast, 5-6 weeks for the West Coast)

9.) Vehicle clears customs, is processed at the VDC and shipped to the dealer (depending on a variety of factors, including how backed up U.S. Customs is, this can take 1-2 weeks)

10.) Redelivery

FROM DROP-OFF TO REDELIVERY

Once a BMW owner drops off his car at one of the authorized drop-off points, what happens to it?  For many, the four to eight week block of time is a black box during which all the owner can do is obsess and try to track the vehicle using fairly rudimentary tools.   Once a car is dropped off, it goes by truck to Bremerhaven, Zeebrugge (if the car is dropped off in Amsterdam, Madrid or Paris) or Southampton.  If a car is dropped off in Italy, it is driven to Munich for further transport.

All cars are loaded on the same vessels in the same manner; the only difference is that privately-owned vehicles (the European Delivery cars) have priority over new vehicles if there is a space limitation.

New cars are cleared through customs electronically before the ship reaches port; privately-owned vehicles are cleared individually and manually (paper forms must be sent to customs).

The author's car being checked over at BMW's Vehicle Distribution Center (VDC) in New Jersey

The VDC, or vehicle delivery center (previously known as the VPC), is where your car will be received upon its entry into the United States.  Most cars go to the Port of New York, where they are received at the North East Auto-Marine Terminal.  Cars destined for the west coast go to the VDC at the Port of Hueneme in the Oxnard Harbor District.

When the ship arrives, cars are offloaded by stevedores to the first point of rest, also called the pier, which is part of the Northeast Auto Terminal.  European Delivery cars are segregated on the pier until they are cleared by customs inspectors, who physically inspect each car.

Once the cars are cleared and released by customs, the cars are inspected by AVI (Automotive Visual Inspections) for any damage. Northeast Auto Terminal personnel then shuttles the cars, a ca. 2.4 km trip on a private road, to the VDC.  Once the cars arrive at the VDC, barring the removal of the cosmoline (which European Delivery cars do not have), the process is the same.  Upon arrival, the cars are taken into inventory, washed, and taken into the facility.  Each vehicle is visually inspected for damage.  Damage might have occurred during use in Europe and during transport.  The VDC is especially concerned with safety-related damage or defects such as broken lights or gouges in wheels.  They also check for any factory defects such as “airbag light on.”  Any campaigns (normal updates) are performed and the car’s paper trail is reviewed.

From there, the cars go to your local BMW dealer for redelivery.

EUROPEAN ROAD WARRIOR’S ARSENAL

Keeping in touch with friends and family nowadays during a trip doesn’t mean sending a postcard, unless it’s a digital one.   Given the ubiquity of Wi-Fi, a traveler has little excuse but to e-mail a few pictures of his new BMW within hours of delivery. Having the right arsenal of tools can make this a lot easier.

For this trip, I assembled the following:

• Camera – Sony CyberShot DSC-V3 (7 megapixel)
• Mobile phone – tri-band Sony Ericsson S710a for use with the BMW’s built-in Bluetooth system (phone has with built-in 1.3 megapixel camera)
• Laptop – Lenovo (née IBM) ThinkPad T42 with built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity
• Internet Connectivity – Most hotels (including the InterContinental) have wired if not wireless Internet access.  At rates of $20-30 per 24 hours, it is expensive compared to the U.S. standard of $10 per day. Internet cafés and wardriving offer an inexpensive alternative.
• Skype – Skype’s voice-over-IP (VoIP) services allow users to make free calls to each other; a call to a landline phone in the United States from Germany costs € 0.017 per minute.  Skype can be used to place phone calls from Lufthansa flights with FlyNet at the same rates.

–Jonathan B. Spira is the Editor of Executive Road Warrior and Chief Analyst at Basex, a knowledge economy research firm.