how much did your european delivery trip cost you?

[roastbeef]

i'm not quite ready to pull the trigger on a new m3 yet, but i'm contemplating taking european delivery.
i know theres a small price break (i think about $4k), but i'm wondering how much a realistic trip over to germany would cost.
-air fare
-lodging for a few days
-food
-rental car?

i know someone had a good thread on their experience, but i'm trying to gauge an approximate cost of about a 2-4 day trip.
also, i can't remember if the trip recap was on this site or another site...

thanks guys.

[immiketoo]

$1000 airfare
$500 (Euro) per day if you do it right
plus gas depending on how much you drive
It's usually 2 to 4 K for me.

[H2887]

Did air on mileage,got the renaissance on price line for 65 dollars a night ,no rental car,(had my M) and the rest was beer and pretzels.the Whole trip was less than 1000.anyway the trip was on my bucket lįsti anyway(ED) so į dirbt really figure it against the cost of the car.

[roastbeef]

yea, i'm hoping to price it both ways (with and without euro delivery). if i can get a cool trip to germany for the same price as ordering a car in the states, then why the hell not?

[Nelrock]

I'm kinda sorry I didn't look in to ED more closely.

Are there any price savings on the cost of the car or is the trip costs on top of what you'd normally pay?
Thinking this is a "must" next time around.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by Nelrock

I'm kinda sorry I didn't look in to ED more closely.

Are there any price savings on the cost of the car or is the trip costs on top of what you'd normally pay?
Thinking this is a "must" next time around.

Figure it like this:

Invoice price on a BMW is typically roughly 7% below MSRP. But, if you do European Delivery, the invoice price for that is another 7% below the normal traditional-delivery invoice price. So, on a $55k base-MSRP M3, figure you can get that car for right around $47k or so, vs. about $51k if you had it delivered state-side. If you go easy on the trip, it easily pays for itself and then some (assuming you have some paid vacation days you need to use anyway). Also, you have to buy from the right place to get that deal - search the forum for who to go to, or just wait until someone chimes in here with the usual well-deserved praise for the individuals who make these deals happen.

(BTW, those numbers are very rough and are not intended to reflect an actual real life scenario. Search around to find out actual transaction prices.)

[Crazy Bimmer]

I was super lucky. I went in May of 09 when swine flu was all over the news and the economy tanked. I was able to get a ticket to Munich for around $485 round trip!

Priceline gave me a price of around $60 a night for Kings hotel. Nothing nice but it was livable. I have a picture of the room if interested.

Food and petrol is where it gets pricey.

Honestly dont look at it as saving a lot of money, look it as more of getting a free European vacation from the savings you getting from the car. Well worth it.

[tlp]

It's actually more than 4k when you factor in the taxes that you won't have to pay. I believe I saved 4,800. I spent $800 on airfare and used hotel points for free lodging. I stayed a week and my total cost was $1,500. if you only break even it's still worth it. Awesome experience and makes the car even more special.

[Undertow]

I just got back from Germany/Italy/Austria. I got my car for about ED invoice cost. All of the savings on the car plus a couple extra grand were spent over 8 days.

Life is too short for cheap hotels. If you're going to go...go big.

[Crazy Bimmer]

Cheap hotels are fine as long as they clean for me. You hardly in them anyways.

Now for food.. i dont mind splurging there.

[NYCMCBM3]

^+1

[donovan]

If your going to do a bit of traveling before getting the car to stateside, then do just that...other than traveling around I dont see the big hype about the euro delivery

[SamS]

Originally Posted by donovan

...other than traveling around I dont see the big hype about the euro delivery

To Americans, it's a rather nice vacation. I don't know if you've been to the states, but Texas (in particular) is pretty boring and not-pretty. A week in the German country side is a beautiful experience that not many Americans can take advantage of.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by donovan

If your going to do a bit of traveling before getting the car to stateside, then do just that...other than traveling around I dont see the big hype about the euro delivery

14% savings is not peanuts, dude... you can literally get a round trip right now for $1100, take delivery of the car, drive around the block, turn it in and fly back that same morning and save at least $8000 right there. You can eat all you want in the Welt, so you will not be spending any money in food either. Pay only the taxi from and to the airport...

Ask for a $4000 below invoice deal to any dealer in the USA today and you will be accused of indecent proposal.

[Crazy Bimmer]

pssh dont even have to pay for the taxi. Their train system is amazing and is in walking distance.

I just love all things BMW and visiting the BMW museum and watching the production line made it worth the trip for me. That and seeing my car with zero miles gave me a chubby. Like a virgin for the taking!

Next week will be exactly two years since i went. Yet the memories still feel fresh.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by Crazy Bimmer

pssh dont even have to pay for the taxi. Their train system is amazing and is in walking distance.

I just love all things BMW and visiting the BMW museum and watching the production line made it worth the trip for me. That and seeing my car with zero miles gave me a chubby. Like a virgin for the taking!

Next week will be exactly two years since i went. Yet the memories still feel fresh.

x1000

[immiketoo]

Originally Posted by m3inwaiting

I just got back from Germany/Italy/Austria. I got my car for about ED invoice cost. All of the savings on the car plus a couple extra grand were spent over 8 days.

Life is too short for cheap hotels. If you're going to go...go big.

This is exactly how I feel. I love nice hotels in Europe. I had a bad experience the first time so now its 4 stars or higher!!!

[rye m3]

I'm not doing it for my car - not sure why not when I read this - but here is something else to consider. You don't NEED to deliver the car in Munich. You can deliver the car to other delivery centers in Europe. Zurich, Amsterdam and others, I believe. Adds a whole other set of options. The negatives are that it does add some time to the process though and since you are breaking it in, max speed on the Autobahn is not possible.

[jeeter]

Originally Posted by rye m3

I'm not doing it for my car - not sure why not when I read this - but here is something else to consider. You don't NEED to deliver the car in Munich. You can deliver the car to other delivery centers in Europe. Zurich, Amsterdam and others, I believe. Adds a whole other set of options. The negatives are that it does add some time to the process though and since you are breaking it in, max speed on the Autobahn is not possible.

You have to take delivery of you car in Munich but you can turn it back over to BMW at like 10-12 different cities. This can be cool if you can get air tickets to fly into Munich but fly out another city.

I'm up around $6000.00 for my planned 14 day delivery vacation. $2400 is two high season air tickets, $2600 in hotels and a guess of $1000.00 in gas. Food and booze will be extra.

jeeter

[Nautik]

Originally Posted by jeeter

You have to take delivery of you car in Munich but you can turn it back over to BMW at like 10-12 different cities. This can be cool if you can get air tickets to fly into Munich but fly out another city.

I'm up around $6000.00 for my planned 14 day delivery vacation. $2400 is two high season air tickets, $2600 in hotels and a guess of $1000.00 in gas. Food and booze will be extra.

jeeter

Isn't Lufthansa offering a 2 for 1 discount on plane tickets available to ED customers? Or did that actually expire?

[ADV.1 Matt]

I didn't know it discounted the price when you did ED... seems like a no brainer!

[Technic]

Originally Posted by Nautik

Isn't Lufthansa offering a 2 for 1 discount on plane tickets available to ED customers? Or did that actually expire?

That's a Jedi mind trick... the total price of that "2 for 1" offer is always the same or even slightly more than two plain tickets in another airline. So the actual savings are around $0...

The only benefits of booking thru Lufthansa are that there are no flight changes fees (in case your production date/pickup delivery date changes) and that you pay the tickets 30 days prior to the actual flight date.