[JerrySch]

I ordered my M240i 12/22. Estoril Blue, Black soft top, Coral Red interior, Manual trans. Received Production Order Number 12/29. Production completed 01/31. Awaiting ship assignment at Bremerhaven 02/09. Began ocean voyage 02/18. Arrived on Mignon ship at Port Elizabeth 02/23.

So far, pretty good. BMW Service says the car is expected to be at the dealer on 02/28. Today, 03/05, it is still at the port. No one can tell me the cause of the delay, but Service says that the car might have been damaged in transit. I'm anxious and a bit worried.

[B58togo]

That sucks. I feel your pain this late in the process. Something is a bit off with the timeline however. It had to have left Bremerhaven way before 2/18 if it actually arrived in NJ 2/23. It's a good 13-14 day journey. I bet it actually left closer to 2/9. Have you tried calling Genius?

[Maynard]

Times my dealer was quoting were off by about 2 weeks, but they were trying to be good about it - I think there is some slack built in for a variety of potential delays, not all bad. Only way to really know is to go over it real carefully when it arrives, but I wouldn't get nervous (or any more nervous) just yet.

[BEM-S4]

It's only a week, there can be some lag in the systems of a day or two and also the car can get stuck in port for a few days. It's not like it just shows up and is immediately put on transport. Sometimes you have to wait for your ride out of port and it can take a while. I wouldn't freak out quite yet call dealer and if they can't help you with what's in their system have them call their rep at corporate. They can often times find out exactly what's going on.

[petegtsv10]

Have the dealer activate OnStar and you can track every movement the vehicle makes. Guys on the Corvette forum knew when their car wa moved in a parking lot.

[Pparana]

has it cleared customs? That can be a delay, but usually only for ED cars. It is really not that long, might just be waiting for a truckload to your dealer.

[JerrySch]

Thanks for your responses guys. Yes, my timeline is probably off, but I know the ship docked at Port Elizabeth the evening of 2/23 and BMW had it scheduled for dealer delivery on 2/28. I'm hoping I'm making too much of this, and bothering you unnecessarily. Maybe my next post will be pictures of my car!

[fbsm]

Originally Posted by JerrySch

I ordered my M240i 12/22. Estoril Blue, Black soft top, Coral Red interior, Manual trans. Received Production Order Number 12/29. Production completed 01/31. Awaiting ship assignment at Bremerhaven 02/09. Began ocean voyage 02/18. Arrived on Mignon ship at Port Elizabeth 02/23.

So far, pretty good. BMW Service says the car is expected to be at the dealer on 02/28. Today, 03/05, it is still at the port. No one can tell me the cause of the delay, but Service says that the car might have been damaged in transit. I'm anxious and a bit worried.

It could be something dumb like scratched wheels that have to be ordered/replaced

[BEM-S4]

OK I am going to ask a stupid question (stupid because I don't know if done at port in Germany, US, or dealer during prep) but did you order any port installed options? I could easily see that delaying progress if you ordered M Perf gear, LSD, etc. etc.

[pz619]

I wouldn't worry too much about it. It could be customs related or perhaps BMW found a problem that they are working to correct prior to delivery. Transport damage can occasionally happen as well. Either way your CA might be able to find out the delay.

[JerrySch]

Well, my sales guy spoke to his Inventory Manager and it seems that the car is waiting for a "trim" piece. Either it was missing or damaged. He says that he'll have the car delivered to his dealership and deal with the piece. Either way, I have to wait. He offered me a loaner (that was nice).

[JerrySch]

My M240i convertible has been sitting at Port Elizabeth for 2 weeks now. At first, the salesman told me that we were waiting for a "trim piece". Well, it's no trim piece.

The part that is missing is the "tunnel cover". From what I understand, it's the part of the convertible top mechanism that covers the hole that the top goes into. It seems that there was fire in a factory in Germany that makes this part. Because of this, there is a delay in the shipment of convertibles until BMW can get this part. Some cars (I guess those that completed production) got shipped anyway, without the part installed.

My salesman says that the delay will be "weeks".

[Maynard]

Bummer to wait, but at least it isn't damaged in shipping. I just saw a posting that they are not taking orders on new ones until they get more parts, so at least you snuck in under the wire. And the loaner is also a nice touch - hope they got you something decent, too bad the mileage can't somehow count towards break in miles.

[msej449]

Do you mean tonneau cover? This is the name for the 'C' shaped, black plastic-like piece of bodywork which opens and pivots, then folds down and covers the folded-in roof fabric. I only mention this because the right term might throw something useful up on a browser search .... There has been a post in the UK about BMW production being significantly affected by a massive fire at the Recticel factory in the Czeck Republic in January, affecting Peugeot, VW and BMW among others. Recticel have a patent on a particular technology that means they're sole supplier to many auto companies:

'Our renowned dashboard skins, cockpit and door panel trim parts on the basis of our unique, patented, pigmented light-stable PU compounds and certified Colo-Fast® and Colo-Sense® Lite spray technology are more and more used in the design-sensitive car interiors segment.'

If they make the convertible tonneau cover - and their product description sounds like this would be plausible - then they may be the only supplier.

[crabu2]

Originally Posted by JerrySch

My M240i convertible has been sitting at Port Elizabeth for 2 weeks now. At first, the salesman told me that we were waiting for a "trim piece". Well, it's no trim piece.

The part that is missing is the "tunnel cover". From what I understand, it's the part of the convertible top mechanism that covers the hole that the top goes into. It seems that there was fire in a factory in Germany that makes this part. Because of this, there is a delay in the shipment of convertibles until BMW can get this part. Some cars (I guess those that completed production) got shipped anyway, without the part installed.

My salesman says that the delay will be "weeks".

I call it the boot cover.. Regardless of what's it's called it's keeping my dealer from even enter my factory build order. I placed the order the other night. They tried to enter it yesterday and BMW stated they won't take the order till 4/1... if they start taking new 2 series convert orders by then... It seems strange to me how a plastic mold injected piece can take so long for them to get because I heard the fire happened in January.

[crabu2]

Originally Posted by msej449

Do you mean tonneau cover? This is the name for the 'C' shaped, black plastic-like piece of bodywork which opens and pivots, then folds down and covers the folded-in roof fabric. I only mention this because the right term might throw something useful up on a browser search .... There has been a post in the UK about BMW production being significantly affected by a massive fire at the Recticel factory in the Czeck Republic in January, affecting Peugeot, VW and BMW among others. Recticel have a patent on a particular technology that means they're sole supplier to many auto companies:

'Our renowned dashboard skins, cockpit and door panel trim parts on the basis of our unique, patented, pigmented light-stable PU compounds and certified Colo-Fast® and Colo-Sense® Lite spray technology are more and more used in the design-sensitive car interiors segment.'

If they make the convertible tonneau cover - and their product description sounds like this would be plausible - then they may be the only supplier.

Thanks for the info.. Based on this news article I was able to find, the supplier has resumed production at the plant, but they're still not 100%.

http://www.plasticsnews.com/article/...es-czech-plant

[brunoranger]

Question...why would I (in the US) be able to place my order 2/22 and it started build 3/3 scheduled to finish 3/15 if there is a problem acquiring this part?

I asked BMW Genius and my dealer and both have no knowledge of this issue. Why is it affecting some but not all?

[crabu2]

Originally Posted by brunoranger

Question...why would I (in the US) be able to place my order 2/22 and it started build 3/3 scheduled to finish 3/15 if there is a problem acquiring this part?

I asked BMW Genius and my dealer and both have no knowledge of this issue. Why is it affecting some but not all?

Maybe they had one already in the pipeline and they only needed to add a slight modification to meet your specs.

What I mean by this is that your dealer or another dealer already had placed an order to put on their lot. They took that order and just modified it to meet your specs... That's about the only thing I can think of... Ok there is one other option. My dealer told me they thought BMW might take orders and build them.. and when that part comes in, they'll add it. So yes, your order went in.. they build the rest of the car without the part .. And then it ends up just sitting until that last part can be installed.

[Deutsche-Broke]

Something probably got "bumped" on the way over..

Mine was delayed at the West Coast port for 18 days and needed a "Hey, WTF.." message from the dealer.. After that it was three days to delivery.

A quick phone call or a short email to your dealer contact usually does the trick as they all know that just about every customer tracks the crap out of the production and shipping and can "see" everything..

I sent my dealer a webcam shot of the boat in the harbor after they told me it would be another week and they, "Got things moving.."..

Good luck and congrats! The anticipation is the best part......

[JerrySch]

This is what my dealer sent me.
(Sorry, but I don't know how to cut and paste the actual BMW message)

Publish Date: March 08, 2017
From: National Automotive Sales
Expiration Date: May 31, 2017

Subject: Delivery Delay: 2 Series Convertible (F23)

Approximately 1000 F23 (2 Series Convertibles) have
been produced without the convertible top compartment
lid trim due to a severe parts shortage, which was caused
by a fire at the supplier's production facility.

Vehicles have been and will continue to be produced
without the convertible top compartment lid until early
April. As vehicles complete production they will be added
to the open campaign and will show campaign "F23
retrofitting the convertible top".

Parts should become available in the US for retrofit in mid
to late April. Until then, the vehicles are being held at the
VDC and will not be delivered to dealerships until the
campaign is complete.

National Automotive Sales

[brunoranger]

So weird. We'll have to see how this plays out. BMW Genius told me again yesterday that my car is 'unaffected' and he only said some cars have been affected but it would never leave the factory without a part and be held somewhere else.

[crabu2]

Originally Posted by JerrySch

This is what my dealer sent me.
(Sorry, but I don't know how to cut and paste the actual BMW message)

Publish Date: March 08, 2017
From: National Automotive Sales
Expiration Date: May 31, 2017

Subject: Delivery Delay: 2 Series Convertible (F23)

Approximately 1000 F23 (2 Series Convertibles) have
been produced without the convertible top compartment
lid trim due to a severe parts shortage, which was caused
by a fire at the supplier's production facility.

Vehicles have been and will continue to be produced
without the convertible top compartment lid until early
April. As vehicles complete production they will be added
to the open campaign and will show campaign "F23
retrofitting the convertible top".

Parts should become available in the US for retrofit in mid
to late April. Until then, the vehicles are being held at the
VDC and will not be delivered to dealerships until the
campaign is complete.

National Automotive Sales

Hmmm... If they're going to keep producing without the lid, I wonder why my dealer couldn't enter my order... I guess I'll have to stop by the dealership tomorrow to see what's up..