Ordered my E92 but now dealer doesn't have allocation? Does this make sense? Is it a big deal, do I need to be concerned, or is waiting another month no biggie?

I;m just on edge about this deal and I dunno why. :confused

I'm not sure what you are asking. If you're asking is it a problem? No, not really. The cars are in demand. I ordered mine in Novemeber of last year and it is just now coming to the States.

Find another dealer with an allocation available. Sometimes dealerships will trade allocations with one another.

All depends how hungry a dealer is to make a sale. If you want one, they'll get you one - or wait a month to put in an order.

I believe that allocation only applies to what the given dealer is able to order himself to put on the lot for speculation of sale. That dealer should be able to order for individual customers as many as needed. I wouldn't think that BMW would handicap a dealer from being able to order for his customers.

Al Wise

OK Yeah That's kinda what I was asking. Is the fact that my chosen dealership (or whatever the hell they want to be called) does not have an allocation for this month a big deal? Does that make sense, is it something that happens?

That's what I was looking for. I spoke to them and was told that they are trying to work a trade, otherwise it'll get ordered next month. The only reason I am concerned is that they didn't get ANY this month apparently, so why would they get some next month?

Just checking, that's all the order process with BMW is new to me and just wanted to make sure it's not all Smoke and Mirrors. I don't mind waiting, I just wanted to make sure that this isn't all that uncommon.

Thanks folks.

I had mine ordered and it was being delivered end of march. Thnemy salesman called me and said that they miss the allocation for the month and that my car was going to be here end may- beg june. I told him that's not acceptable and he found one for me and I'm pickingit up probably next week. So tell them to find out what is coming on the boat and if one is available, if so try to get it. they can swap with other dealers.
Good luck

Not uncommon on a hot car. If your dealership does not sell alot of high end BMW's on a regular basis they tend to be low man on the totem pole. Dealers get rewarded with the higher allocations if they sell more. Now your particular dealer might not have anything to trade to the bigger guys in order to get your car right away, so he has to wait until his turn comes back up. If your dealer really wants to, they can sell you to the bigger guy and just take a bye, so they can get you to stay with them. Now consider this, if you wait for your dealer's allocation slot he will get a better rating for the next allocation allotment. Get it.

I believe that allocation only applies to what the given dealer is able to order himself to put on the lot for speculation of sale. That dealer should be able to order for individual customers as many as needed. I wouldn't think that BMW would handicap a dealer from being able to order for his customers.

Al Wise

That's not true. It covers (on a model by model basis) every car ordered except ED.

They had 3 M5s an M6 and Two Z4 M Coupes... I dunno if that means anything but I got the impression that they weren't hurting. Mostly I just wanted to make sure that this sounds plausible.

I dunno, I don't mind waiting if I am being treated fairly and upfront. But I don't like waiting for nothing, and if I think I am being strung along I'll take my business elsewhere in a quick second. I don't like the games.

But from the sounds of it, it's pretty reasonable and I'll have a 335I ordered in March.

The e92 is a hot car, just be lucky it's not a Ferrari or something. Thats where the real allocation games begin.

some of you are way off base. the allocations are PER MODEL (ie 328i, 328xi, 328i cv, 328icp). there is no way to get more... they are decided by BMW. if your dealer doesn't have one he can't trade someone else to get one. depending on some stuff they can change within a model line (ie 328i to 328xi) but not from a sedan to coupe or convertible.

some of you are way off base. the allocations are PER MODEL (ie 328i, 328xi, 328i cv, 328icp). there is no way to get more... they are decided by BMW. if your dealer doesn't have one he can't trade someone else to get one. depending on some stuff they can change within a model line (ie 328i to 328xi) but not from a sedan to coupe or convertible.

I think they are talking about trading a slot with another dealer. Not swapping a 335 for a 328 for example. That you can not do.

I think they are talking about trading a slot with another dealer. Not swapping a 335 for a 328 for example. That you can not do.
You can do both. It's a little more complex than you think. It involves money. Dealer politics I'll call it. Leave it at that. There are allocations assigned, trust me. Nothing dishonest going on. Its business! BMW wants to sell these cars and some dealers sell better than others. Thats the best way I can explain it without getting deeper than most people would understand.

I think they are talking about trading a slot with another dealer. Not swapping a 335 for a 328 for example. That you can not do.

So it's likely that a dealer that did not have a February allocation will have one available in March? Or is it a Bunch of Smoke and Mirrors and they are stringing me along thinking I'll settle for a different color or something?

Cause what I am hearing is basically they have sold me a car that they don't have, and likely may or may not have access to in the future. Seems strange, though I suppose not a whole lot different than Bikes.

You can do both. It's a little more complex than you think. It involves money. Dealer politics I'll call it. Leave it at that. There are allocations assigned, trust me. Nothing dishonest going on. Its business! BMW wants to sell these cars and some dealers sell better than others. Thats the best way I can explain it without getting deeper than most people would understand.

Hmmm, :eek: Politics I do understand. Maybe I should just check with the other dealer in the area, see if they have something different to tell me.

I think they are talking about trading a slot with another dealer. Not swapping a 335 for a 328 for example. That you can not do.


They did it with me.THey had no 335i available. I think they made an arrangement to give them one on a later date, I'm not sur eand don't really care the deal they made cause My car ir almost here:alright

Take the allocation next month because the supply of 335's are going to go down very shortly and the "Order Bank" won't be allowed to grow anymore.

I think they are talking about trading a slot with another dealer. Not swapping a 335 for a 328 for example. That you can not do.
My 335i's production slot was for a 328i. The dealer was able to simply change that slot to be my 335i. As long as it is on the same line in the same factory (in this case Regensburg) they can apparently change it. :shifty

My 335i's production slot was for a 328i. The dealer was able to simply change that slot to be my 335i. As long as it is on the same line in the same factory (in this case Regensburg) they can apparently change it. :shifty


that used to work... but the april allocation matrix won't let us change anything to a 335 anymore due to shortages in the turbo engine supply chain.

OK Yeah That's kinda what I was asking. Is the fact that my chosen dealership (or whatever the hell they want to be called) does not have an allocation for this month a big deal? Does that make sense, is it something that happens?

That's what I was looking for. I spoke to them and was told that they are trying to work a trade, otherwise it'll get ordered next month. The only reason I am concerned is that they didn't get ANY this month apparently, so why would they get some next month?

Just checking, that's all the order process with BMW is new to me and just wanted to make sure it's not all Smoke and Mirrors. I don't mind waiting, I just wanted to make sure that this isn't all that uncommon.

Thanks folks.

Revlis,

We (BMW of Bellevue) usually have 50% of the market share on this side of the state (we sell more BMW's than Seattle/Northwest Tacoma) and we're BACK UP until May. It's not smoke and mirrors, its not deception, these are BMW dealerships, not domestic ones.

I just filled a 335i order today that we DONT have a build-slot for. We have 8-10 customers in the Order Bank that are waiting for their orders to even be accepted. This happens not only with 335i Coupes, but with X5 4.8's as well.

Revlis,

We (BMW of Bellevue) usually have 50% of the market share on this side of the state (we sell more BMW's than Seattle/Northwest Tacoma) and we're BACK UP until May. It's not smoke and mirrors, its not deception, these are BMW dealerships, not domestic ones.

I just filled a 335i order today that we DONT have a build-slot for. We have 8-10 customers in the Order Bank that are waiting for their orders to even be accepted. This happens not only with 335i Coupes, but with X5 4.8's as well.

+1. I put an x5 4.8 in today that won't enter production until may. crazy! surprisingly I have a few slots for 328i convertibles, which I expected to be gone last month. we'll see what happens when the first one shows up here though!

that used to work... but the april allocation matrix won't let us change anything to a 335 anymore due to shortages in the turbo engine supply chain.
That pretty well sux. I know that the "weakest link" in the supply chain with my order was the turbo engines. I think I got in right in under the wire. :shifty

Revlis,

We (BMW of Bellevue) usually have 50% of the market share on this side of the state (we sell more BMW's than Seattle/Northwest Tacoma) and we're BACK UP until May. It's not smoke and mirrors, its not deception, these are BMW dealerships, not domestic ones.

I just filled a 335i order today that we DONT have a build-slot for. We have 8-10 customers in the Order Bank that are waiting for their orders to even be accepted. This happens not only with 335i Coupes, but with X5 4.8's as well.
I knew this was going to happen. When I first saw this coupe in August 2006 I said this is it! This is going to be a hot car. You can buy mine, I'll just get another one.

My 335i's production slot was for a 328i. The dealer was able to simply change that slot to be my 335i. As long as it is on the same line in the same factory (in this case Regensburg) they can apparently change it. :shifty

This is what I am hearing. If there isn't a 335 Allocated or something like that, they can turn a 328 Coupe into a 335 Coupe. Makes sense I suppose, or at least I hope it makes sense.

Or should I say I am wishing that it's how it works. Means mine will be here sooner rather than later.:buttrock

Revlis,

We (BMW of Bellevue) usually have 50% of the market share on this side of the state (we sell more BMW's than Seattle/Northwest Tacoma) and we're BACK UP until May. It's not smoke and mirrors, its not deception, these are BMW dealerships, not domestic ones.

I just filled a 335i order today that we DONT have a build-slot for. We have 8-10 customers in the Order Bank that are waiting for their orders to even be accepted. This happens not only with 335i Coupes, but with X5 4.8's as well.

I appreciate it. Makes sense really, it's not like BMW and the Dealerships do NOT want to sell the cars. I can wait I suppose, OR I could always get the Sedan. Dynamically they are identical to the Coupe, so I am wondering WHY I should wait for the Coupe... Except of course that it's a coupe and therefore super cool.

I dunno, I'm driving an RX8 right now and I enjoy it a great deal, I just want a car that fits me better and is more of what I am looking for. I can wait...