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      08-09-2008, 10:02 PM   #1
BMW=BeggingMantoWife
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ED without the ED?

I have an ED situation that may be unique and I'd appreciate all the suggestions I can get on this. So, here goes....

Thinking I was prepared to do ED on a 09 128i vert, I cashed in 100K Frequent Flyer miles by making early reservations and luckly got two free RT tickets for 9/27/08. Yet due to financial reasons I would like to wait until 01/09 (at the earliest) to purchase my 128i. Natually, because of poor weather, I would not want to do ED in 01/09 .

So that brings me to the question: What to do with my free RT tickets. I do not want to redeposit these miles ($150 cost!) and because I have always wanted to do ED, I could do one of the following...

1. Still take the trip and "pretend" :biggrin:I am doing ED by flying to Munich on 9/27/08, take the factory tour and just rent a car for sightseeing, Then get the 128i in 01/09 or...
2. Wait until early Spring 09 and do a real ED then using maybe higher FF miles after paying the $100 Change Fee.

Now, most on this forum will probably say take option #2 and get the FULL ED experience and savings,......HOWEVER for those trying to use FF miles you all know the Airlines are making it increasing difficult, if not impossible, to use your miles (it was hard enough to get 2 tickets late 09/08 for 100K). And there is speculation that by 09 the Airlines may make FF impossible or too expensive an option. Thus, I am afraid FF for ED may be a thing of the past come 09. Finally, Missouri will give me a $1,100 tax credit towards a new 128i, provided I buy before end of 01/09.

The option of trying to get the car "early" in 09/08 is also not practical as we do not "need" the 128i as a 2nd car in 08, but we will in early 09 and I can avoid a MO 08 Property Tax on the 128i of about $1K if purchased 01/09 or later (an 01/09 purchase postpones this tax until 01/10!) Nevermind the 4 months of car ownership costs we will save on a car we don't "need".

So what do you think...does it make sense to enjoy a "fake" ED experience in 09/08 and get the 128i vert here in the U.S. in 01/09 or try to do full ED by taking the chance of getting new FF reservations and pay the Fees/additional taxes that will total an extra $1,250 if I go Spring 09?

Sorry this is so long and thanks again for all the recommendations.:smile:
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      08-09-2008, 11:45 PM   #2
WhiteOne
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Two trips would be twice as good as one.
A rental car would be fun in its own way.
To bad you can't go during Octoberfest.
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      08-10-2008, 12:11 AM   #3
e36chris
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i would go for the fake ED trip, seeing as there is alot of hassle with canceling and switching over the FF miles and all.

i would enjoy the whether, the rented car (try for the 128) and just go enjoy, do the who process and see how it all comes down.

imo
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      08-10-2008, 04:31 AM   #4
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Your going to be a Germany. You can get very fast rentals, blast down the autobahn, and still have an amazing time.
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saw you comment and i'd lay on my bed and cry, then i put some Yulio Iglesias music, no more problem.


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      08-10-2008, 05:05 AM   #5
Jack in Jax
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Obviously, these factors are yours to weigh (rather than ours to 'vote' on), given they have financial impact on you.

Seems to me you are w-a-y better off financially to do ED in January. The potential downside of this choice - not a certain one - from my reading of the ED Wiki is bad weather and consequent loss of insurance coverage. So...you have two options re: managing insurance coverage: 1) deliver the car straight to a drop-off center for shipping home, and use a rental for whatever sightseeing you want to do, or 2) if wx conditions are poor at times after taking delivery, park the car for those periods and use the extensive public transport wherever you happen to be while the roads are dicey. This latter option only requires you to have a flexible itinerary.

Given the weather in the area adjacent to Munich, you could make your choice between 1) and 2) based on the weather you are given at the time of your arrival. (See the BBC's description of the Central & Southern Hills region of Germany to understand why. http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/c...ml?tt=TT003650 ). And finally, you can shape your itinerary to minimize weather problems by grabbing a weather window to move the car to a warmer climate, if it's important to see some of Europe while driving your car.

As for your (premature) decision to committ FF miles, the cost of rescheduling their use, as you describe it, is far less than the much larger expense you describe if getting the car in the Fall.

Jack
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      08-10-2008, 06:18 AM   #6
MikeCCrutchfield
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Garage List
we were down at BMW Welt in July (just for the hell of it) and they said they no longer have the factory tour in English (that is what the people at the counter said) Any recent EDers chime in on this?
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      08-10-2008, 07:32 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WhiteOne View Post
Two trips would be twice as good as one.
A rental car would be fun in its own way.
To bad you can't go during Octoberfest.
If he goes at his scheduled date of 9/27 it will be during Oktoberfest: Sept 20-Oct 5th. I will be picking up a 135 on Sept 26th.

I would go for option one if you can afford both. You could go to Italy and places where you wouldn't really want to drive your car when you get it (i.e. small roads, some areas are unsafe). Then when you pick up your car, you could drive around Germany on the Autobahn and the Nurburgring.

Just my 2 cents
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      08-10-2008, 08:20 AM   #8
imported_mega
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do you have to put a certain amount of miles on the 1 to have it shipped and avoid extra costs?
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      08-10-2008, 08:22 AM   #9
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No - all you have to do is take delivery at the Welt and drop it off at Harms (a few miles up the road - in a Munich suburb).
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      08-10-2008, 09:02 AM   #10
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Take the trip as scheduled and enjoy a wonderful vacation. Take delivery at PDC in 09. That's a twofer if you ask me

Call
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      08-10-2008, 01:07 PM   #11
arrutled
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take the trip, i am almost certain you can find a 1er as a rental car, those things are everywhere over there!!!! only problem is youll be dying to have it when you get home!!!!
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AW 135i w/ blackette, performance short shift kit, BMW alarm, Performance rotors, APEX ARC-8 wheels, Direzza Star Spec 235/275, Dinan stage 3 suspension, M3 wishbones/tension rods/front sway/rear subframe bushings and thats all folks!
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