[mandrimac]

A bummer! Looks like the SA was wrong and now I will get it on Thursday or Friday instead. Well, at least I get to go on a long drive the weekend.

[fletcher969]

Originally Posted by KL2DC

Mr. Fletcher: The rank corresponds to the monitored sanity/obssesive compulsion level ... Seriously...when you set a custom user title, that goes up in place of the rank (which is tied in to the frequency of posts)

I kind of thought so, but instead of deleting my custom user message/title to test my notion, I thought I would ask.

So we are just about to wind down the voyage ... any ideas for future thread topics? Looking forward to pictures of our shipmates' cars, hope they remeber...

I'm sure, not speaking for everybody else, I'll chime in here and there in threads where I can be constructive as I have been thus far since joining e9post. And for sure...I'll be posting my pics as soon as I get my car. I've seen a few threads already where the person announced they "got the call" and never bothered to show up again to post pics.

By the way have you ever attended any of the BMW Ultimate Driving Experience events and/or Susan G Komen Drives. My dealer is having one on the 03/21, just booked myself a drive in a 650Cic and a Z4 3.0is. You should check it out. Have you been to any ride and drive events??

I've not been to any bimmer events yet, but I did check out the local area bimmer clubs to see what they have to offer. This being my first BMW, I've never been very interested in knowing what BMW owners do together.

Anyway, I checked the schedules of some of the clubs in this region, and I didn't see where any were sponsoring/hosting any UDE events. I'm only vaguely aware what they are, or if rides are provided, or one uses their own car for such things. Susan G Komen Drives...never heard of them. I'm wondering mostly if there are any good sites online where one like myself (not in the know) can get information about events, information, etc?

[fletcher969]

Anybody noticed AISLive doesn't provide any zoom capabilities for Charleston? I could have sworn I zoomed in a few days ago, but I can't now. Probably mistaken about doing it before....oh well...I'm used to my senior moments these days!

[fletcher969]

Originally Posted by KL2DC

I found some (dated) pictures at this site http://www.offworld.com/e46/images.html, but I'll post a few choice ones for the benefit of our shipmates.

Cool post! That link is as good as or better than the sticky in this section of the board where they describe VPC/VDC processes! Perhaps if it's not there already, you should post the link in there for others to discover.

[fletcher969]

Originally Posted by mandrimac

A bummer! Looks like the SA was wrong and now I will get it on Thursday or Friday instead. Well, at least I get to go on a long drive the weekend.

Well, I was no less happy for you when you reported such a quick turnaround from the VPC, but I was suuure wondering how on earth they were going to get it done. Hey! At least you'll be enjoying yours while we wait! Post those pics when you pick her up! We'll excuse you having a little alone with her first if you'd rather entertain yourself than us, but we'll be expecting you back with those pics!

[KL2DC]

Shipmate Fletcher: The ultimate drive (more info here: http://www.bmwusa.com/bmwexperience/...ms/ude/default) is a ride and drive event that BMW has hosted for ages. Its a free event where particpants get to push the limits of BMW NA's cars in a professional instructional setting. There's food and gifts as well as the charity drive where for every mile that you put on their fleet cars (on public streets) BMW donates a buck towards breast cance fund. I was there for the e46, X5 and X3 event. Pretty much sold me on my e90 today. Loads of fun with SEC's (someone else's car). Throughout the year GM, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and Mazda also hosts various iterations of the ride and drive.

[KL2DC]

Originally Posted by fletcher969

Cool post! That link is as good as or better than the sticky in this section of the board where they describe VPC/VDC processes! Perhaps if it's not there already, you should post the link in there for others to discover.

I thought they were cool pictures, sure answered a lot of my questions. It was never shown/explained how our cars are secured in the hold of the carrier ships and now we know!!

edit: I have posted the link (upon your recommendation) at the VPC/VDC writeup thread.

I thought I was pretty lucky with how fast my car got onto the boat (with the whole keg in the trunk business and all ) and how (relatively) fast the D J made it across. But it seems that if you were really, really nice to the folks in transport/shipping, they'll really make sure you get your car fast!!!

[fletcher969]

Originally Posted by KL2DC

Shipmate Fletcher: The ultimate drive (more info here: http://www.bmwusa.com/bmwexperience/...ms/ude/default) is a ride and drive event that BMW has hosted for ages. Its a free event where particpants get to push the limits of BMW NA's cars in a professional instructional setting. There's food and gifts as well as the charity drive where for every mile that you put on their fleet cars (on public streets) BMW donates a buck towards breast cance fund. I was there for the e46, X5 and X3 event. Pretty much sold me on my e90 today. Loads of fun with SEC's (someone else's car). Throughout the year GM, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and Mazda also hosts various iterations of the ride and drive.

Thanks for the info and link. I had seen the webpage before, but I only skimmed over it, and I assumed it was a pay-for event. I looked over upcoming events, and nothing even remotely close to me at this point. I'll keep an eye on that page, and look for something close. Definitely looks like fun!

[mandrimac]

Originally Posted by fletcher969

Well, I was no less happy for you when you reported such a quick turnaround from the VPC, but I was suuure wondering how on earth they were going to get it done. Hey! At least you'll be enjoying yours while we wait! Post those pics when you pick her up! We'll excuse you having a little alone with her first if you'd rather entertain yourself than us, but we'll be expecting you back with those pics!

Looks like I will take delivery on Friday morning. Still contemplating on the dent insurance.

[KL2DC]

Hmmmm...the Don Juan has yet to make an appearance (as of 09:00EST)...there goes my (optimistic) estimate of a pre-dawn ETD.

[KL2DC]

Shipmate Fletcher: Nice mugshot ...

It looks like the D J is on track to meet your noon ETD. That blows my earlier estimates out of the water. I really "don juan" to know why she could be that far off ...

shipmate mandrimac: awesome news...this Friday!! Just in time for the weekend ... Please remember to share delivery pictures, as I mentioned, looking forward to seeing your BR 325i (pretty color imho).

[KL2DC]

SHE'S HOME!!!!!!!

Incoming Schedule had her arrival at 06:30 EST (I guess there was a delay in the in the updates). Unloading/Loading Work started at 08:00EST!!!!

She's docked at the Union Pier Terminal, Berth 3 ....

Congratulations Everybody!!

[fletcher969]

Originally Posted by KL2DC

SHE'S HOME!!!!!!!

Incoming Schedule had her arrival at 06:30 EST (I guess there was a delay in the in the updates). Unloading/Loading Work started at 08:00EST!!!!

She's docked at the Union Pier Terminal, Berth 3 ....

Congratulations Everybody!!

WOOOHOOO!!!

Next week for me then???

[fletcher969]

Originally Posted by KL2DC

Shipmate Fletcher: Nice mugshot ...

I was playing around...but what I did notice only after doing so was your teddy bear is smoking something! I hadn't noticed that before!

[no_exit]

Originally Posted by KL2DC

SHE'S HOME!!!!!!!

Incoming Schedule had her arrival at 06:30 EST (I guess there was a delay in the in the updates). Unloading/Loading Work started at 08:00EST!!!!

She's docked at the Union Pier Terminal, Berth 3 ....

Congratulations Everybody!!

Perfect!! Exactly what I wanted to see when I checked this thread this morning!!

Grats all!!

Hopefully us Midwestern guys can get our rides by next weekend.

Me thinking about driving my new E90 for the first time -->

[b311lee]

Originally Posted by KL2DC

SHE'S HOME!!!!!!!

Incoming Schedule had her arrival at 06:30 EST (I guess there was a delay in the in the updates). Unloading/Loading Work started at 08:00EST!!!!

She's docked at the Union Pier Terminal, Berth 3 ....

Congratulations Everybody!!

time to mark this day in the books...our babies are on US land and here to stay!
so where is the VPC? What do they do there and how long does that take?

[fletcher969]

Originally Posted by b311lee

time to mark this day in the books...our babies are on US land and here to stay!
so where is the VPC? What do they do there and how long does that take?

To my knowledge, the VPC is in Greenville/Spartansburg, SC. I couldn't find anything specific on it online except references to the town(s) (I didn't check that long either), but I scanned Google Earth quickly in that area, and this where I believe it to be (the only real candidate in that area with so many cars, and such a large facility fed by railroad tracks directly...with an airport nearby).

[KL2DC]

Yes, the BMW VPC is in Greer, SC. BMWs (and Minis) arriving at the port are transported by rail to Greer (carrier: Norfolk Southern)...Anyone up for tracking the train??

edit: The cars are transported to a 'marshalling yard' in Charleston (Columbus Street Terminal) by the South Carolina Public Railroad system. At the marshalling yard, they cars are then routed/latched on to a Norfolk Southern train ride all the way to the VPC in Greer, SC.

[b311lee]

hahaha wow you guys never cease to amaze me with the detective skills! Thanks! Im sure tracking the train will be a piece of cake haha, then the tuck after that...?

[KL2DC]

Originally Posted by b311lee

hahaha wow you guys never cease to amaze me with the detective skills! Thanks! Im sure tracking the train will be a piece of cake haha, then the tuck after that...?

A bit obsessive?? Will try to work on the train tracking .... although I am quite sure AISlive won't pick it up Perhaps, shipmate fletcher can provide us with weather satellite images... and I will try to come up with an estimate etd As for tracking the trucks en-route ... hmmmm (thinking)

If I know shipmate fletcher, his gears are already grinding

[KL2DC]

For your further tracking consideration...Norfolk Southern's Route map ...

[fletcher969]

Originally Posted by b311lee

hahaha wow you guys never cease to amaze me with the detective skills! Thanks! Im sure tracking the train will be a piece of cake haha, then the tuck after that...?

Well...it looks like a no-go with respect to tracking Norfolk Southern (NS) trains/shipments unless one has a NS sponsor inside the company. I looked for other sources for tracking train movements, but I haven't yet found anything worthwhile. I wonder if our CA's have that information?