Customs intensive audit - ED

[Voltigeur]

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Have to remind myself, periodically, that I did possess an M3

Entering the 7th week of M3 abstinence now (4th induced by Customs). What is an M3 'monk'? An ///M-Monk?

Voltigeur's M drei at BMW Welt:

[Hans Delbruck]

Perhaps some joker planted some contraband in your car between drop off and loading onto the ship

Ouuuuuu M3! So PIMP!



Keep us posted!

[Voltigeur]

Originally Posted by Hans Delbruck

Perhaps some joker planted some contraband in your car between drop off and loading onto the ship

Ouuuuuu M3! So PIMP!

Keep us posted!

G'day Hans, good to 'see' you!

My FB page 'mates' say things liike: "you know you know better than to try and bring in hero in".

Your smiley 'line' does a nice job of summarizing my emotional range

Originally Posted by Hans Delbruck

I do run the gamut of anger/regret/hope/self-reflection/hope again.

And hopefully (operative word) the next week will bring some progress - ANY would be good.

[zenderm3]

V-man, It will soon come. Pray to the ///M-Gods that your car will clear customs tomorrow (Monday) and that you will be granted your time with your wonderful wonderful car.....

Which leads me to a tangent... did you always want a red leather interior?

[Voltigeur]

Originally Posted by zenderm3

V-man, It will soon come. Pray to the ///M-Gods that your car will clear customs tomorrow (Monday) and that you will be granted your time with your wonderful wonderful car.....

Which leads me to a tangent... did you always want a red leather interior?

Patience is a virtue eh, mate. Or I can just swear a lot?

Re your queston: On a sports car, yes. On a BMW sports coupé: absolutely! It's integral to the marque's design DNA:

[took this photo last month at the BMW Museum]



BMW 507 Red Leder

[zenderm3]

Thanks mate... yes patience is a virtue.. F*%$ing frustrating though.... hehe.

PM sent regarding Fox Red Interior

[MTROIS]

Voltigeur, any news??

[zenderm3]

I'm thinking that V-man hasn't gotten his M-yet...

[Voltigeur]

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Over 4 weeks and no news: sucks!!

[Hans Delbruck]

Originally Posted by Voltigeur

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4 weeks today and no news: sucks!!

This is just wrong.

"Government sucks"

I'm sure they're very, very busily searching thru your car.

Actually, they probably just parked it somewhere for 30 days as part of their quota. The actual time spent dealing with it will be approx 30 seconds.

Our tax dollars at work.

[RowanBuds]

I believe it would make you a...... ///M-onk.

This has to be AWFUL after getting a taste for a little while. I can only say that the wait will make the payoff that much better.

Enjoy.

[MTROIS]

...this is really ridiculous!!

I feel bad for you, Voltigeur. Good luck!

[TLud]

Originally Posted by Voltigeur

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4 weeks today and no news: sucks!!

Makes you love paying taxes. What a load of crap. Hope you get 'er back soon!

[JohnnyRoaster]

Nice pictures of the 507. That was one of my favorite cars in the museum.

I hope your car gets released soon!

[Voltigeur]

Originally Posted by Hans Delbruck

This is just wrong.

I'm sure they're very, very busily searching thru your car.

Actually, they probably just parked it somewhere for 30 days as part of their quota. The actual time spent dealing with it will be approx 30 seconds.

BMW ED called me today and said that it was probably parked w/ 20-30 other cars awaiting the check - and of course they can't do anything about it. So your guess of 30 days' parking is likely on the money, mate.

I keep cleaving to the idea that 5 weeks (another poster 2 years ago on bimmerfest) may be the the likely time frame before it gets seen by someone & be able to be released to VDC.

BMW ED said once it was released then the VDC would move it up the queue to get sent on to the dealer.

Thanks, as always, for the support to all above.

[Voltigeur]

Originally Posted by JohnnyRoaster

Nice pictures of the 507. That was one of my favorite cars in the museum.

I hope your car gets released soon!

Yes, I love the 507: one of my all-time fav Bimmers!

[lucid]

Originally Posted by Voltigeur

BMW ED called me today and said that it was probably parked w/ 20-30 other cars awaiting the check - and of course they can't do anything about it. So your guess of 30 days' parking is likely on the money, mate.

I keep cleaving to the idea that 5 weeks (another poster 2 years ago on bimmerfest) may be the the likely time frame before it gets seen by someone & be able to be released to VDC.

BMW ED said once it was released then the VDC would move it up the queue to get sent on to the dealer.

Thanks, as always, for the support to all above.

This really sucks. Sorry man...

[MTROIS]

Originally Posted by lucid

This really sucks. Sorry man...

+1!!

[Voltigeur]

lucid, mtrois, RowanBuds, TLud, Hans D, & JohnnyR: appreciate the commiserations!

BMW ED called me Wed as they realized it had now been 4 weeks since my M3 landed and Customs took it over.

They suggested I'd had the bad luck for my car to be the 1st (or near 1st) selected for the next batch of random audit cars. Customs may then hold back 20-30 cars in the ensuing days (weeks?) until they are ready to examine the cars for contraband / correct VINs etc. en bloc.

BMW ED then told me that they would query Customs again about getting the car processed. Once released they said that the M would be prioritized by the VDC (ie placed near the front of the queue).

Finally, they said if I did not have my M3 in another 2 weeks (from last Wed) then they would contemplate making a partial payment. No mention of how "partial" that payment contribution is.

Frankly, I don't care as much about the payment as getting the car ASAP.

Still, I won't knock a partial payment back as it could be applied to offset a UUC short-shift upgrade
__________________

[Crazy Bimmer]

Hate to see my M3 production buddy go through this.

Im sending good vibes over that it gets released soon!

[zenderm3]

Originally Posted by Voltigeur

lucid, mtrois, RowanBuds, TLud, Hans D, & JohnnyR: appreciate the commiserations!

BMW ED called me Wed as they realized it had now been 4 weeks since my M3 landed and Customs took it over.

They suggested I'd had the bad luck for my car to be the 1st (or near 1st) selected for the next batch of random audit cars. Customs may then hold back 20-30 cars in the ensuing days (weeks?) until they are ready to examine the cars for contraband / correct VINs etc. en bloc.

BMW ED then told me that they would query Customs again about getting the car processed. Once released they said that the M would be prioritized by the VDC (ie placed near the front of the queue).

Finally, they said if I did not have my M3 in another 2 weeks (from last Wed) then they would contemplate making a partial payment. No mention of how "partial" that payment contribution is.

Frankly, I don't care as much about the payment as getting the car ASAP.

Still, I won't knock a partial payment back as it could be applied to offset a UUC short-shift upgrade
__________________

Mate sorry to hear that you're still going through all of this crap... it really is ridiculous how customs can't be more efficient! Anyway... I really do hope that you get your car soon - because I really want to hear all of those fun stories and exciting things with your new ///M that I will be able to dream of when mine comes

[Dntlvet]

Originally Posted by Voltigeur

As stated in the reply above, Customs does not like to disclose methods. But with the power of almighty GOOG I think I have identified a few:

• optical fiber to peer into nooks and crannies

• mobile X-ray: "Mobile Vehicle and Container Inspection System (M-VACIS); employs a gamma ray source to produce images within commercial trucks and tractor-trailers revealing contraband such as drugs, weapons and currency."

• Buster density meter: Buster K9, and

• trusty canines' olfactory receptors

Clearly, if these relatively non-invasive checks turn up anything then they can delve further. Interesting how much tech is brought to bear, but is logical given the scale of the task - the volumes must be daunting.

Voltiguer,
Where is this at now?