[SpeedyATL]

I'm having a dispute with my dealer about the inclusion/availability of certain options when my car was built. They claim an option I specifically requested was not available at the time my car was built.

With just a little bit of research, I've already identified several M440CV built within a few weeks before/after mine that included the option they claim was 'not available' at the time mine was built.

But I want to put a finer point on this if reasonably possible, because even with the above cars I've identified for them, they refuse to acknowledge that they fouled up the build of my car.

So, is there any way to determine the VINs of the US M440CV made just before mine and/or just after mine on the assembly line? Or maybe all the US M440CVs made on a certain day?

Presumably coupes and convertibles (and maybe GC) in both 430 and 440 trim levels as well as RWD and AWD run on the same line, so just adding or subtracting 1, 5, 10, etc from my VIN does not work (at least in a reasonable amount of time/effort).

Any tips would be appreciated.

Thanks

[M8Bimmer]

What did they miss ordering for you?

[BMWCCA1]

I don't know any dealership that would order a car for a customer without having the customer sign and approve the build sheet for the car. I always send a new "MSRP Report" to my customers whenever they make a change so we all agree on what we're doing.

And again, what are you missing?

[SpeedyATL]

The package that they failed to spec/request is the parking assistance package.

Just before my build went firm (12/2), they said it was unequivocally "Not Available". Then about 8 days later from some research here and comments from some of our very knowledgeable members (thanks Calbears), I learned that it was indeed available and that the inexperienced person who orders the cars simply did not look in the right place in the ordering system. Obviously at that point I was well past the ability to change the build.

Apparently it was no longer listed as an option, but just needed to be requested by the dealer to be added to the car. And, in many cases it has been a NC option, but I was happy to pay the $700.

So now I'm on a mission to at least get them to admit that they made a mistake and to come up with a reasonable solution.

Every time I put the car in reverse, I'll be reminded of their error by not having the 360 camera. I'm a nut over not curbing my wheels, so its really a bummer to pay close to MSRP, wait 5+ months and not get what I want and was available because someone is not good at their job.

As it turns out (and this really gets me going...), with a little research, I found a M440cv very similar to mine that was ordered by my very same dealership and was built ONE DAY after mine, and it was built with the NC parking assistance package. I've also found several others built within a couple of weeks with it.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by SpeedyATL

... Every time I put the car in reverse, I'll be reminded of their error by not having the 360 camera...

Well, I hate to tell you this but I see a new car in the near future for you...

I sold a fully loaded MKX and bought a X3 M401 demo that was short on options including the 360 but it was love at 1st sight. I regretted the next day and burned me for 9 months until I ordered the LCI version fully loaded. Luckily no ordered options were missing but I was ready not to take the SAV if any were (was in my contract).

During the 9 months I look for all kind of fixes. Someone here did a retrofit but was a bit short on details.

Good luck.

[BMWCCA1]

I don't remember that option package not being available for the 4GC but I can check. Again, not sure how they ordered a car for you without showing you the build sheet for confirmation and approval. It's not an option/package that's hidden in a long list on the ordering screen. Pretty simple, actually. It has actually not been offered for the 5-series for this entire model year, which is pretty odd.

It was never a no-charge option. Seems you got bad information from the start but it also seems like you were aware it was being ordered without the option quite early on in the process. We did have an issue where for a while trailer hitches were not "available" on the X5 but I found some on order with the option and had to ask Distribution why that was and they told me to email a request for that option on my sold car. In that respect you can't really fault the dealership for giving you the information available to you at that time, if that was the case. We also received one 4-series without touch-screen and weren't told about it until after it was produced. It shows just how BMW is struggling to keep up with their own changing availability. We got three X5s in one week without touch-screen and the next week it was back as standard. I find this inexcusable on BMW's end. But if you knew the car wasn't being built with the PA package when you agreed to it, I can understand your disappointment now but it's not like you didn't know about it from the start.

[Mason Hatcher]

Neck warmer? What the heck is that?

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by SpeedyATL

... I'm not clear on the NC option piece of this, but I have seen maybe 6 monroney labels from M440CV that show the option and there is no cost associated with it (see below). It doesn't appear to indicate a cost for it and if you total the listed price, it adds up at the bottom so its not a mis-print.

Strange, it does not have a cost but it does not list either Included, N/C or show a credit against that package.

[SpeedyATL]

Originally Posted by BMWCCA1

I don't remember that option package not being available for the 4GC but I can check. Again, not sure how they ordered a car for you without showing you the build sheet for confirmation and approval. It's not an option/package that's hidden in a long list on the ordering screen. Pretty simple, actually. It has actually not been offered for the 5-series for this entire model year, which is pretty odd.

It was never a no-charge option. Seems you got bad information from the start but it also seems like you were aware it was being ordered without the option quite early on in the process. We did have an issue where for a while trailer hitches were not "available" on the X5 but I found some on order with the option and had to ask Distribution why that was and they told me to email a request for that option on my sold car. In that respect you can't really fault the dealership for giving you the information available to you at that time, if that was the case. We also received one 4-series without touch-screen and weren't told about it until after it was produced. It shows just how BMW is struggling to keep up with their own changing availability. We got three X5s in one week without touch-screen and the next week it was back as standard. I find this inexcusable on BMW's end. But if you knew the car wasn't being built with the PA package when you agreed to it, I can understand your disappointment now but it's not like you didn't know about it from the start.

Thanks for all of your thoughtful feedback/comments.

With respect to me not seeing a build sheet, I absolutely did see it and was told the package was NOT AVAILABLE, so I accepted that as a fact of this supply-chain limited environment we are living in. I did not have any reason to doubt them as this was my 3rd purchase and the first 2 went very well.

However, just 10 days after my car went firm, I found out here that it was indeed available at the time of placing my order. I have found several cars like mine (m440CV) built within weeks (before and after), days and now even the exact same day as mine that included the package. Not to mention the one at my same dealer built one day after mine with the package. So from where I sit, this is an error on their part as it clearly was available and yet they said it was not. I don't have access to the dealer system to check their work...that's why they are getting paid about $8k gross profit on the order - to do their job.

Also, below is a partial list of the M440cv built around the same time as mine that included the parking package I wanted. My car is highlighted and they are sorted by production date.

I'm not clear on the NC option piece of this, but I have seen maybe 6 monroney labels from M440CV that show the option and there is no cost associated with it (see 2 below). They don't appear to indicate a cost for it and if you total the listed price, it adds up at the bottom so its not a mis-print.

In summary, I understand that mistakes are made every day. Hell, I make plenty of them myself. But own it, and do what you can to make it right, don't just ignore it.

[SpeedyATL]

Originally Posted by Mason Hatcher

Neck warmer? What the heck is that?

It's a convertible, so its the little vent in the headrest that blows warm air on your neck.

[SpeedyATL]

Originally Posted by JJ 911SC

Strange, it does not have a cost but it does not list either Included, N/C or show a credit against that package.

Agreed, it is odd. I wanted it for $700, but I REALLY wanted it for $0....

[micvite]

Originally Posted by SpeedyATL

Agreed, it is odd. I wanted it for $700, but I REALLY wanted it for $0....

So, first of all, just to clear something up, you looking at build dates will not help, it's what's available at time of order and when the car was "locked in" for production...

Example: I placed my m5 order in July, it "locked" early August because it was an individual color, 2 months before production date vs some that lock merely 3-4 weeks out. Those that locked after mine did, lost the option of bowers and Wilkins audio, because bmw said hey no more new cars are gonna have this! But since mine was "locked in" they couldn't change it.

So now what you have to see is if any cars that went into damn I don't remember the exact status code, but it's the one where the build is locked in and can no longer be changed (scheduled for production I think) after yours did have that option, and specifically cars that had orders placed after yours did. Either way not much that can be done aside from you ordering another car at this point... if you placed a deposit they might fight you on it, but I'd just get bmw NA involved and see if they can mediate for you.

[SpeedyATL]

Thanks. Mine locked on 12/2 and rolled out of the factory 2 weeks later on 12/16.

No individual colors or options. I suspect most non-m cars are the same.

But that's why i looked at about a month on either side for the production window.

[RN4Ever]

Originally Posted by SpeedyATL

The package that they failed to spec/request is the parking assistance package.

Just before my build went firm (12/2), they said it was unequivocally "Not Available". Then about 8 days later from some research here and comments from some of our very knowledgeable members (thanks Calbears), I learned that it was indeed available and that the inexperienced person who orders the cars simply did not look in the right place in the ordering system. Obviously at that point I was well past the ability to change the build.

Apparently it was no longer listed as an option, but just needed to be requested by the dealer to be added to the car. And, in many cases it has been a NC option, but I was happy to pay the $700.

So now I'm on a mission to at least get them to admit that they made a mistake and to come up with a reasonable solution.

Every time I put the car in reverse, I'll be reminded of their error by not having the 360 camera. I'm a nut over not curbing my wheels, so its really a bummer to pay close to MSRP, wait 5+ months and not get what I want and was available because someone is not good at their job.

As it turns out (and this really gets me going...), with a little research, I found a M440cv very similar to mine that was ordered by my very same dealership and was built ONE DAY after mine, and it was built with the NC parking assistance package. I've also found several others built within a couple of weeks with it.

Ugh Speedy!

Supposedly my M440CV has the parking assistance plus - that I requested the dealer to add at NC. According to Mdecoder it has it but my production date is 2/10.

The fact that we had to call them to add it and that is should be NC makes me crazy. Like WTAF. But like you would pay the 700 - begrudgingly of course.

I agree with you I could have lived without it but would be pissed every time I put it in reverse. 🤨 without it.

My sales guy had no clue until I called to have him add it. He was like oh wow. 😑😑

Until I actually take delivery- I'm reserving my skepticism.

[micvite]

Originally Posted by SpeedyATL

Thanks. Mine locked on 12/2 and rolled out of the factory 2 weeks later on 12/16.

No individual colors or options. I suspect most non-m cars are the same.

But that's why i looked at about a month on either side for the production window.

I mean something as simple as (don't quote me I'm not familiar with 4 series) but on the m5 piano black trim is an individual option which would lock your car in months in advance.


Either way it's pretty shitty and your only real option is to reorder another car or retrofit it

[BMWCCA1]

The current Order Guide which came out for the 440CV is dated "effective January 7, 2022" shows no availability for the ZPK package. For instance the VIN ending in 9274 was built in July of 2021. Can't tell yours because you blocked it the one just before and just after do show the ZPK at no charge. Sounds like a good question for BMW. I can't say it's the dealer's fault if BMW was telling them it wasn't available at the time.

Not that it's any consolation, but I haven't been able to order ZPK on 5-series cars from that same plant since last year, either.

[SpeedyATL]

Originally Posted by BMWCCA1

The current Order Guide which came out for the 440CV is dated "effective January 7, 2022" shows no availability for the ZPK package. For instance the VIN ending in 9274 was built in July of 2021. Can't tell yours because you blocked it the one just before and just after do show the ZPK at no charge. Sounds like a good question for BMW. I can't say it's the dealer's fault if BMW was telling them it wasn't available at the time.

Not that it's any consolation, but I haven't been able to order ZPK on 5-series cars from that same plant since last year, either.

Thanks, CCA1.

I know mine does not have it. My dealer did not bother to call anyone. They looked at the system and looked where they thought it would be if available, they claim it was not there so that was the end of it.

While that might well be true, many other dealers were able to order the same car with the PAP (free or not, at this point that is not the issue). On this list, no more than 2 cars were ordered by the same dealer, so this was something that apparently was fairly easy to figure out to anyone that actually made an effort.

In my opinion (and the facts sure seem to support this from where I stand), the package was indeed available and my dealer did not make an effort to search for the package or even pick up the phone to support their customer's request.

[BMWCCA1]

Originally Posted by SpeedyATL

In my opinion (and the facts sure seem to support this from where I stand), the package was indeed available and my dealer did not make an effort to search for the package or even pick up the phone to support their customer's request.

Your facts only support that other cars built around the same time had the package. That doesn't show or even imply that your dealership was at fault for BMW not including it on your car. These are strange times. BMW has a six-page document showing what standard and optional equipment has been deleted from which models and which production month. When we got our three X5s without touch-screen, BMW didn't let us know until the cars were shipped. It was quite apparent they weren't even aware of it until then. I wouldn't be so quick to blame your dealership or claim incompetence on the part of your advisor. You'd be better off letting them go to work for you with BMW to do what they can retroactively, though given the current situation, I'm not sure what that would be.

[SpeedyATL]

Originally Posted by BMWCCA1

Your facts only support that other cars built around the same time had the package. That doesn't show or even imply that your dealership was at fault for BMW not including it on your car. These are strange times. BMW has a six-page document showing what standard and optional equipment has been deleted from which models and which production month. When we got our three X5s without touch-screen, BMW didn't let us know until the cars were shipped. It was quite apparent they weren't even aware of it until then. I wouldn't be so quick to blame your dealership or claim incompetence on the part of your advisor. You'd be better off letting them go to work for you with BMW to do what they can retroactively, though given the current situation, I'm not sure what that would be.

That's just it. They haven't done a thing. Ive emailed the owner, General manager, sales manager and the ca. It's two weeks tomorrow and i haven't heard anything from anyone.
As I've said I understand mistakes can happen. But its what you do to fix the situation that is your measure.

Before you dismiss my "evidence", keep in mind, the list of cars i put together built with PAP are only those being advertised for sale. I suspect there are many many other presold cars with PAP that are not being advertised.

[alex2364]

Originally Posted by SpeedyATL

That's just it. They haven't done a thing. Ive emailed the owner, General manager, sales manager and the ca. It's two weeks tomorrow and i haven't heard anything from anyone.
As I've said I understand mistakes can happen. But its what you do to fix the situation that is your measure.

They're not going to do anything to "fix" the situation. Why did you accept the car if this bothered you so much? You could have re-ordered or tried to get another car that matched what you wanted.

[Opie55]

It kind of surprises me how easily BMW seems to be able to sell high-end cars that are missing things that make them high-end cars. Is this mostly because a lease term is ending and people need another car? I wonder if Levi's could sell jeans without zippers.

Anyway, I feel your pain because even though it seems like a minor thing, the ability to see curbs when I park is the one must-have option I have decided I will always include on future cars. I would have walked and waited, but I own my cars.

[SpeedyATL]

Originally Posted by alex2364

They're not going to do anything to "fix" the situation. Why did you accept the car if this bothered you so much? You could have re-ordered or tried to get another car that matched what you wanted.

Well, I kept what I had because I was fully expecting my convertible to be here for spring, not that it would spend 83 days in the factory parking lot. A convertible in the summer is not much fun. Spring and fall are it's prime times.

I also believed them that it was not available at the time I ordered, which was my mistake to believe anyone trying to sell you something, even a car.

Clearly it was available and they just failed.