[JBM]

Check out this

http://www.leftlanenews.com/?cat=3

BMW is planning to bring its ‘Individual’ program to the United States some time next year, according to Fast Company. Individual, a segment of the company’s broader M division, offers factory-installed mods and accessories. It offers a large menu of paint finishes, leather upholstery, antique wood facias, minifridges, DVD players, photocopiers and more. Currently, BMW Individual is only offered in Europe and parts of Asia. The report, which includes commentary from BMW executive Peter Löcker, also touches on the popularity of BMW’s M division as a whole. Columnist Ian Wylie likens the M following to the legions of Mac (and iPod) fans: “Like the cult of Mac, there’s a cult of M, complete with polo shirts, watches, and key fobs sporting the blue-and-red-striped M.”

Pretty exciting . . .

[ward]

sweet, now I can get that screaming yellow car with boat style wood trim and white ostrich leather

.............


that is cool though, all kidding aside

[RichReg]

Originally Posted by JBM

Check out this

http://www.leftlanenews.com/?cat=3

Pretty exciting . . .

Hmmm....let's see now...$1 multiplied by 934,567.....uh

DAMN! :mad:
Apparently, if I had one dollar for everytime I heard that one I'd be about $65k shy of being a millionaire.
Oh, well...at least I could afford a 750.

[wyrm11]

Rich, are you saying you don't believe the report?

Man I hope it's true. That'd be PERFECT timing for the 335.

Does BMW individual offer custom paintjobs too or just interior options?

[3aficionado]

Did LeftLane beat me to it? My post from earlier: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8316

[Jason]

Originally Posted by 3aficionado

Did LeftLane beat me to it? My post from earlier: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8316

No, you were first

[Jason]

Originally Posted by wyrm11

Rich, are you saying you don't believe the report?

Man I hope it's true. That'd be PERFECT timing for the 335.

Does BMW individual offer custom paintjobs too or just interior options?

Exterior colors and interior colors. Here's are two thread with pics showing what's capable under individual program

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=473

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5722

[SCA]

I'll believe it when I see it. American buyers can not be held to anything legally which is solely why the program has not be offered here. I'd guess we will see a large deposit if not full payment come with the program if it is offered in the US.

[modeno]

" It offers a large menu of paint finishes, leather upholstery, antique wood facias, minifridges, DVD players, photocopiers and more."

Photocopiers! Geez ...its about time!! I was getting fed up with hauling my Xerox machine around in the back seat!

[3aficionado]

Originally Posted by SCA

I'll believe it when I see it. American buyers can not be held to anything legally which is solely why the program has not be offered here. I'd guess we will see a large deposit if not full payment come with the program if it is offered in the US.

As someone posted in another thread, it is likely they will offer packages. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...t=8316&p=98832

[modeno]

I wonder if the minifridge will have an ice maker ...that'd be dope.

[SCA]

Originally Posted by 3aficionado

As someone posted in another thread, it is likely they will offer packages. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...t=8316&p=98832

Either way, I'll believe it when I see it.

[3aficionado]

Originally Posted by SCA

Either way, I'll believe it when I see it.

I believe it will happen for this reason... almost all other luxury manufacturers allow factory customizations. The 5, 6, 7 series needs to be competitive instead of shopping out all that work to independent shops. There’s money to be made in the US while delivering a service the consumer wants. If there were major problems with custom orders in the US all those competing luxury brands wouldn’t already be doing this in the US. I've used the factory custom options on MB and Range Rover. BMW is one of the last to step up. And its easy for BMW to make this happen since its a solid program in Europe.

Originally Posted by SCA

American buyers can not be held to anything legally which is solely why the program has not be offered here. I'd guess we will see a large deposit if not full payment come with the program if it is offered in the US.

This isn’t true. You sign a contract agreeing for payment for options just like any other deal. Its as binding as anything else. The only way you can get out of paying for it is if they do it wrong. I’ve been through this numerous times before with MB and Range Rover. Its not legal reasons that has kept the Individual Program out of the US. Granted, sometimes the dealer will eat a little cost but only because they know they can resell those parts. Case in point, a Range Rover I had ordered with wood trim. It was already on its way when I decided I wanted the black wood trim. I had to pay for it anyway (legally bound to pay). My dealer knew he could resell the wood so we agreed to swap with black wood for a reduced cost plus installation. Since I'm a great customer I was able to work a deal. But others would have been bound to pay.

These programs are almost all gravy for the manufacturers. There's a huge markup and the custom departments are one of the most profitable departments of any manufacturer. For those reasons I think BMW will bring it to the US before long.

[wyrm11]

What is the reason they haven't had it in the US anyway? I feel like US consumers are all about customization. We love personalizing things and getting "special" features. I'd jump all over getting an exterior color that not everyone else has.

[SCA]

Originally Posted by 3aficionado

This isn’t true. You sign a contract agreeing for payment for options just like any other deal. Its as binding as anything else.

False...a buyers order is not a binding contract in every state. It maybe in your state, but it is not in mine, along with many others.

Ex. If some random person walked into a US BMW Center, placed an individual order for an unusual color combo and later backed out, the BMW Center would have absolutely no recourse other than to keep the deposit that was given at the time of ordering. Then this dealer is stuck with a off the wall car that very well could be impossible to sell. This specific subject has been addressed in the Roundel several times in the past. BMW NA has always stated that the risk is too large for them and their dealers.

[THE JEDI]

Wow all I can say it's about F****K time......dude somebody at BMW german must have told BMW NA, get off the pot you idiots....wow, I live in asia...and let me tell ya some sweet M cars running around wow, this is really gonna help their sales.......I am so pumped......

[maq]

I think SCA is correct. In the US (at least in the states that I know of), a customer can refuse to take delivery of the car he/she ordered unconditionally. The customer might lose the deposit depending on what kind of agreement was signed, but because the car will not be delievered, the customer will not have to make the full payment.

As for Individual coming to the US, I don't think it's the real deal that we are getting. The writing on that leftlane site is just not convincing to me. Yes, BMW M Gmbh directing manager Ulrich Bruhnke has hinted over a year ago that he was interested in bringing the program to NA, but only partially.

The NA Individual Program has been in discussion ever since Bruhnke took the job. He's the force behind it, and expanding M is his ultimate goal. That is a very different approach from M's previous boss Adolf Prommesberger's. Prommesberger wanted to keep Individual as exclusive as possible. He wanted Individual to be an exotic brand serving no more than 10% of BMW's total sales. He was the sort of man who'd bring big-name designers such as Karl Lagerfeld to help creating an almost coachbuild-like brand.

I've been hearing the North American Individual will be pre-packaged on a few selected models only (it has been done before: E34 M540i, E36 M-tech 325is, E46 330i ZHP to name a few. We are just getting a wider range this time). In other words, you will still have a hard time trying to order an Individualized 3er at your average local dealer.

[lux.sh]

Sorry for off-topic, but I had to ask. maq, what building is that?

Originally Posted by nim

Photocopiers! Geez ...its about time!! I was getting fed up with hauling my Xerox machine around in the back seat!

lol. seriously though. Photocopier? I don't get it. am i missing something?
who the hell needs photocopier in the car..

[RichReg]

Originally Posted by maq

I think SCA is correct. In the US (at least in the states that I know of), a customer can refuse to take delivery of the car he/she ordered unconditionally. The customer might lose the deposit depending on what kind of agreement was signed, but because the car will not be delievered, the customer will not have to make the full payment.

As for Individual coming to the US, I don't think it's the real deal that we are getting. The writing on that leftlane site is just not convincing to me. Yes, BMW M Gmbh directing manager Ulrich Bruhnke has hinted over a year ago that he was interested in bringing the program to NA, but only partially.

The NA Individual Program has been in discussion ever since Bruhnke took the job. He's the force behind it, and expanding M is his ultimate goal. That is a very different approach from M's previous boss Adolf Prommesberger's. Prommesberger wanted to keep Individual as exclusive as possible. He wanted Individual to be an exotic brand serving no more than 10% of BMW's total sales. He was the sort of man who'd bring big-name designers such as Karl Lagerfeld to help creating an almost coachbuild-like brand.

I've been hearing the North American Individual will be pre-packaged on a few selected models only (it has been done before: E34 M540i, E36 M-tech 325is, E46 330i ZHP to name a few. We are just getting a wider range this time). In other words, you will still have a hard time trying to order an Individualized 3er at your average local dealer.

Thanks for summing this up quite nicely maq.
I was getting exhausted just thinking about the potential of the
length of this thread.

[jmcphillips1]

Sweet my next car will def be individual, but first I get to enjoy my new 330 which will be here in about 2 weeks.

[LEDZEP]

No easy-bake oven? What good is a mini-fridge if can't bake cookies too?

IMHO, if you want a photocopier and a friggin-fridge and all that crap buy a conversion van. I thought the 3 series was about driving? Are they going to make it in a pop-up camper model too?

[RichReg]

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

I thought the 3 series was about driving? Are they going to make it in a pop-up camper model too?

Didn't see that one on Panke's project chart.

But hey, you never know.....