First Texas Cars

[mduval1988]

Originally Posted by mhutchins14

I spoke to BMW Clearlake today at about 10 am and they still hadn't received the car they were supposed to get last week. My sales associate said that there is some sort of hold up at the port but couldn't expound. So.....no new M's in south Houston

I will let ya know if Midtown has any incoming. I know my sedan should be in before the end of the month and your more than welcome to take a peek.

[ronnie dobbs]

My CA at BMW Clear Lake called me last week and said that they're selling their demo and he won't have one to drive. I haven't checked back with him since then but will do so today.

I called every other dealer in the surrounding Houston area yesterday (the other five) pretending to be interested in putting down a deposit and inquiring about a demo car. I got stories all across the board including:

-we are selling our demo if we have one
-the only way we'd have a demo is if someone backs out of a purchase
-launch isn't until late March or early April
-(and my personal favorite) we don't test drive M cars because people who buy them just know they want them

Houston dealers never cease to amaze me. I did leave my name with a few in hopes that maybe they are just clueless and will give me a call when they see the demo arrive. I'll report back after I call Clear Lake today.

[mduval1988]

Originally Posted by ronnie dobbs

My CA at BMW Clear Lake called me last week and said that they're selling their demo and he won't have one to drive. I haven't checked back with him since then but will do so today.

I called every other dealer in the surrounding Houston area yesterday (the other five) pretending to be interested in putting down a deposit and inquiring about a demo car. I got stories all across the board including:

-we are selling our demo if we have one
-the only way we'd have a demo is if someone backs out of a purchase
-launch isn't until late March or early April
-(and my personal favorite) we don't test drive M cars because people who buy them just know they want them

Houston dealers never cease to amaze me. I did leave my name with a few in hopes that maybe they are just clueless and will give me a call when they see the demo arrive. I'll report back after I call Clear Lake today.

I will bet it was Momentum gave you your personal favorite.... A friend of mine had purchased two M3s in the past from Momentum and when he went to buy the third they would not even let him sit in the car that was available for sale. He explained he did not come to the dealership to just look and that he was ready to buy the car but wanted to test drive the car before he wrote the check. Momentum told him no and he in turn left went straight to Advantage and bought the car that day.

[gasman]

Originally Posted by SA_M3E92

Here in San Antonio, The BMW Center will have a Demo By Friday. And maybe mine will be ready by Saturday. I saw their Inventory report today and they have a Melborne Red coupe(DEMO)coming in this week. Both cars were released to the carrier's today 3-4-08.

Excellent...I know where I'll be on Friday!!!

[JR///M3]

Originally Posted by mduval1988

I will check Advantage Midtown and get the skinny there. My guess is that if Momentum has one you will be lucky to get within 25 feet of it. Not to be harsh on Momentum but they really don't get it when it comes to customer friendliness. SA do you think the BMW Center will let you do a hands on?

I don't know, But the what GM told me is that this demo was going to be only for viewing no test drives. But after as many M Cars that I have bought from them in the last 5-6 years they better let me drive it if mine is not ready.

[Mack211]

Originally Posted by mduval1988

I will bet it was Momentum gave you your personal favorite.... A friend of mine had purchased two M3s in the past from Momentum and when he went to buy the third they would not even let him sit in the car that was available for sale. He explained he did not come to the dealership to just look and that he was ready to buy the car but wanted to test drive the car before he wrote the check. Momentum told him no and he in turn left went straight to Advantage and bought the car that day.

God, I hate momentum. They used to be good like 6-7 years ago. My family and I had bought 5 BMWs from them over the years. Even with our loyalty they treated us like shit. The service center is horrible forget ever getting out of there without them trying to steal a couple grand in some B.S. "problem"!! Needless to say we have switched dealerships now.

[domer86]

Haha. Momentum by far has the worst rep out there. Who do they think they are. A friend of mine purchased an M6 and when it got to the states they gave it to some other guy who liked the options and was willing to pay over MSRP. UNREAL

[mduval1988]

Domer are you on a boat yet? If so what is it's name... answer your PMs!! lol

[mhutchins14]

Originally Posted by mduval1988

Domer are you on a boat yet? If so what is it's name... answer your PMs!! lol

Mine is awaiting transport...how do you find out which boat it is on?

[domer86]

Hutchins, go to the http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43692 so that you can track it.

[mduval1988]

Originally Posted by mhutchins14

Mine is awaiting transport...how do you find out which boat it is on?

When it actually gets on a boat your CA will know the ship line and boat name. I was impatient and started to look at the ship schedules for Wallenius Wilhelmsen who traditionally BMW uses to get the cars to Charleston. The Wilhelmsen site actually allows you to enter your VIN to see if your car is on one of its boats. I unfortunately was thrown a curve ball and put on K-Line's Emden which actually is a faster boat but I cannot enter my VIN# nor track the boat very easy. My guess is that from looking at the schedule you may make "Courage" a Wilhelmsen boat that leaves tomorrow if your car is at the dock now.

[///MArdor]

Originally Posted by mduval1988

When it actually gets on a boat your CA will know the ship line and boat name. I was impatient and started to look at the ship schedules for Wallenius Wilhelmsen who traditionally BMW uses to get the cars to Charleston. The Wilhelmsen site actually allows you to enter your VIN to see if your car is on one of its boats. I unfortunately was thrown a curve ball and put on K-Line's Emden which actually is a faster boat but I cannot enter my VIN# nor track the boat very easy. My guess is that from looking at the schedule you may make "Courage" a Wilhelmsen boat that leaves tomorrow if your car is at the dock now.

I can't enter my VIN either and my dealer said my boat is due on the 10th. When is your boat supposed to arrive at Charleston?

[domer86]

Mardor,

Once your boat leaves port it will let you enter your VIN so you can track it. It will let you track it from port to port and is typically accurate. Hope that helps. Mine is scheduled to arrive the 11th and Mduval's on the 15th. SOON Baby SOON

[mhutchins14]

Thanks for all the info on tracking the car. I spoke to my dealer yesterday and was informed that they are now supposed to get TWO demos next week that we can drive. A coupe and a sedan. I think I'm going to take a few days off from bugging them. Don't want to wear out my welcome.

[mhutchins14]

One more question on the shipping....Do cars that are destined for Texas get shipped to the port in Houston or are they dropped off somewhere on the East Coast and then transported to Texas on a truck?

[gasman]

Originally Posted by mhutchins14

One more question on the shipping....Do cars that are destined for Texas get shipped to the port in Houston or are they dropped off somewhere on the East Coast and then transported to Texas on a truck?

They go through Charleston from my understanding!

[Mack211]

So.... any news on any Texas dealerships receiving customer or demo M3s yet? I know East and West Coasts are getting theirs. Trucks just haven't made it to the center yet?

[domer86]

Doesn't seem like it yet on the demos but it has to be sometime soon...

[Mack211]

I just got an email from my CA here in Dallas.

"the first M3 did roll off the truck a couple minutes ago."

I will try to go by today or tomorrow and snap a few photos. I will post more info as I get it.

This was at Classic BMW.

[mduval1988]

Originally Posted by Mack211

I just got an email from my CA here in Dallas.

"the first M3 did roll off the truck a couple minutes ago."

I will try to go by today or tomorrow and snap a few photos. I will post more info as I get it.

This was at Classic BMW.

Why are you typing and not driving!! lol now get your ass over there and get us some pics!

[gasman]

BMW Woodlands in Houston just received their M3 sedan.....now one of you Houstonians get your ass on the road and get us some pics. I"m gonna call up SA and see if they got theirs.

EDIT: SA's cars left VPC today and are due in on Sat...Sun the latest.

[mduval1988]

Advantage Midtown is unloading a sedan as well... Ricardo just called. Charging the HD Vid Cam now...

PS. Domer they also told me you could look but not touch... they were afraid you might get too excited and hurt yourself.


Matt