[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by Supernaut

She's still maneuvering around the storm, but maybe heading back this way

Indeed she is. Right now she's cruising at 16.1 knots and heading straight for the Chesapeake's mouth. She should pass Norfolk about this time tomorrow!

[Supernaut]

Originally Posted by Viffermike

Indeed she is. Right now she's cruising at 16.1 knots and heading straight for the Chesapeake's mouth. She should pass Norfolk about this time tomorrow!

If she comes through in the morning, I might get a look. It's going to start raining later in the morning, so visibility will drop. I'll try to track it and see if I can get pics from shore. If anyone gets a good sense of the timing, post it!

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by Supernaut

If she comes through in the morning, I might get a look. It's going to start raining later in the morning, so visibility will drop. I'll try to track it and see if I can get pics from shore. If anyone gets a good sense of the timing, post it!

Just checked up on her; she's almost in range of coastal radar, about 12 hours out of Norfolk.

Currently, two vehicle carriers are moored in Baltimore, and a third bound for Baltimore just got underway after being anchored offshore due east of Norfolk. However, that ship has a scheduled arrival time about 6 hours after the OH -- which tells me that our day-behind-schedule ship likely won't have to wait to dock and offload. Schweeeeeet.

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by Supernaut

If she comes through in the morning, I might get a look. It's going to start raining later in the morning, so visibility will drop. I'll try to track it and see if I can get pics from shore. If anyone gets a good sense of the timing, post it!

Well heck: the OH got to Virginia Beach a lot quicker than I thought ... passing it now!

[gaijin]

[Supernaut]

Yeah, I almost missed her. My quick Dunkin' Donuts stop was almost problematic. I saw a glimpse through some buildings as I drove up, recognized the hull right away and had to scoot to get to the photo spot. Those car carriers are distinctive, but I swear, I don't ever remember seeing them offshore in the past.

I'm also not used to seeing snow on the beach here, but, thank goodness, the rain held off. My wife thought I was a total idiot for going out to a cold, windy beach at 7:30 on a Sunday morning to take a picture of a ship. LOL

[Inline_Six]

Originally Posted by Supernaut

My wife thought I was a total idiot for going out to a cold, windy beach at 7:30 on a Sunday morning to take a picture of a ship. LOL

I don't blame her

Anyway, nice snap, chief And more importantly, congrats on making it to shore through the storm n everything ! And on getting your car soon.

[wjones14]

Thanks for confirming the ship made it to the U.S. Really getting excited now!

[Supernaut]

She docked at about 1830, so Viffermike, yours will be rolling off at least. I think the rest of us are PCD, so we're just getting excited about waiting longer.

A composite of the route from Zeebrugge to Baltimore

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by Supernaut

She docked at about 1830, so Viffermike, yours will be rolling off at least. I think the rest of us are PCD, so we're just getting excited about waiting longer.

A composite of the route from Zeebrugge to Baltimore

No, actually, mine and a years-long pal of mine's (we ordered near-identical cars unbeknownst to each other ... yep: freaky) are being offloaded in Brunswick, too. Not sure why, other than a possible regional logistics shift (though one DFW 2-series owner had his offloaded in Baltimore in January, then got it 6 days later). I'm sure there's a reason ...

[Supernaut]

Originally Posted by Viffermike

No, actually, mine and a years-long pal of mine's (we ordered near-identical cars unbeknownst to each other ... yep: freaky) are being offloaded in Brunswick, too. Not sure why, other than a possible regional logistics shift (though one DFW 2-series owner had his offloaded in Baltimore in January, then got it 6 days later). I'm sure there's a reason ...

Ah, so the gang's all together still.

It looks like she moved to the Dundalk terminal overnight (where the BMW area is), so they must have offloaded Mercedes first.

[gaijin]

[gaijin]

Originally Posted by Supernaut

My wife thought I was a total idiot for going out to a cold, windy beach at 7:30 on a Sunday morning to take a picture of a ship. LOL

This M235i is a gift for her. She's excited about her new car but I'm the one playing the expectant dad to the hilt.

[Supernaut]

The Oregon Highway has left the building. ETA Brunswick 0800 on March 4.

[davefromfla]

Originally Posted by Supernaut

The Oregon Highway has left the building. ETA Brunswick 0800 on March 4.

Unreal! Can't wait. Could not squeeze in another PCD due to business travel. Did it before with the E46 M3- it was great. However, having the MPE, diffuser, and grills port installed. Hope to have it by 3/15.

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by Supernaut

The Oregon Highway has left the building. ETA Brunswick 0800 on March 4.

HELL YEAH! COME TO PAPA!

[gaijin]

Originally Posted by Supernaut

The Oregon Highway has left the building. ETA Brunswick 0800 on March 4.

Looks like it on schedule for its final US port call, Charleston, SC March 5th. If that's the case, then it'll be PCD next for our M235i.

[wjones14]

Originally Posted by gaijin

Looks like it on schedule for its final US port call, Charleston, SC March 5th. If that's the case, then it'll be PCD next for our M235i.

For some reason, I though the PCD cars would be off-loaded at Baltimore and trucked to Greenville SC. So I take it all the PCD cars will be on the ship for another 3 days?

[Supernaut]

Originally Posted by wjones14

For some reason, I though the PCD cars would be off-loaded at Baltimore and trucked to Greenville SC. So I take it all the PCD cars will be on the ship for another 3 days?

I was under the impression that we would offload at Brunswick since the BMW vehicle distribution center is there. However, the port on my Vehicle Inquiry form is CHSPOA (Charleston) and I've read other posts saying it goes to PCD from there by train. So, it should be the 5th like Gaijin said.

[gaijin]

Yes. Charleston is the debarkation point for PCD cars. From the port, they are transported by rail. It makes sense since the rail cars go with products from Deutschland like our BMWs and return to Charleston with X and Z cars for export RoW.

[Supernaut]

Originally Posted by gaijin

Yes. Charleston is the debarkation point for PCD cars. From the port, they are transported by rail. It makes sense since the rail cars go with products from Deutschland like our BMWs and return to Charleston with X and Z cars for export RoW.

We should be the last guys off the boat. I guess the prep is done at the Performance Center, right? I've been looking at satellite shots trying to figure out where they store the cars. It looks like there are some lots between the center and the tracks - maybe there?

As an aside, the BMW plant is even indicated on the Norfolk Southern rail map (upper left), with Charleston on the lower right (the "A").

[gaijin]

Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) is done at PDC. Your car is first "awakened" at PDC. Port installation work is done at the VPC (Charleston, Brunswick, Baltimore, etc.). If port installation cannot be done at the VPC due to parts shortage, etc., it will be deferred to the ordering BMW Center or one that is close to the registered owner. There are no aftermarket installations (this includes port installations) at PDC.

If you look at the back side of PDC, you'll note a small building and some cars parked next to it. This is the staging area and car wash for delivery cars.

The cars destined for PDC are trucked from the Assembly Plant to the Center.