BMW Individual Program?

[butterm3]

Individual Program no longer available?

My sister is in the process of purchasing a new car and I somewhat have her convinced on a M3. When we went to the dealer thay had no information on the individual program (actually the salesman claimed he never heard of it) so I emailed BMWNA for info regarding the individual program and I got this email from them......

Dear Mr. Salazar,
Thank you for your interest in the BMW Individual Program. I'm sorry to say that since this program is not available through BMW of North America, LLC or its authorized retailers, I am unable to provide the information you request. You may review a complete list of available colors and features on each of our models at our website, www.bmwusa.com.



Kind Regards,

John Vanas
BMW Customer Relations Representative
800-831-1117


Why is it not available? I really wanted to get a sick combo (Dakar yellow on kiwi?) and dont mind waiting for the car. Also depending on when the car is ordered and built I would try to take advantage of the European Delivery Program. But it seems that if this is not available it is going to be a car already on the floor.

Juan

[Mikeini]

what was teh individual program? i've never heard of it.

[butterm3]

it's where you can pick color combinations that are not normally available for that model, the car then comes with a individual sticker in the strut tower and a plaque in the interior

btw mods can we move this to general discussion, I meant to put it there...

thanks:D

[extremeM3]

Hmm... call them up and pretend to be an extremely rich guy with tons of money upset that he cant buy what he wants to. Make sure u mention you have an M3, etc etc etc. Complain and ask to go all the way up to the top of the chain. I promise you that BMW N/A will accomodate you.... they just dont want to do it for everyone ( but you better have money ready to buy that darn car, lol)

[vodomagoo]

its technicaly not avaiable in the usa but it can be done but u need to pay to play

[butterm3]

I have no problem paying, but I want to know how much and as much info before I convince my sister about it...


Jaun

[extremeM3]

call them up bro and start bitchin about not being able to purchase what u want at a local dealer and how you are going to take your business to mercedes or something. They will listen, i promise you. They will call up your local dealer, and arrange everything out. :)

[Z3Jonathan]

Individual has never been available in the US... although someone rich/important enough could probably get an Individual car.

If you want a non-standard color, most dealers can order the car for you... although there is a surcharge for doing a non-standard color. Mind you, this is not Individual. It is simply ordering a non-std color combo.

Jonathan

[XOC]

Good call posting this in "Off Topic". :az:

[onrailsm3]

Here is a link to a story in European car about individual

http://www.europeancarweb.com/features/0305ec_bmwindiv/

For the true dreamers, design you own individual M car.
http://www.bmw.com/generic/com/en/products/equipment/individual/index.html


HTH,

Matt

[Ryan Stewart]

Start talking "performance delivery."

Basically go to Europe and buy a US spec BMW there. A lot of dealers set that up and the cost is about the same.

They are right that BMW Individual is not provided by the dealers here.

[OPTIMO]

Start talking "performance delivery."

Basically go to Europe and buy a US spec BMW there. A lot of dealers set that up and the cost is about the same.

They are right that BMW Individual is not provided by the dealers here.Yep, take delivery over seas of a NA spec car. Personalized isn't cheap but it's uber-pimp.

[butterm3]

Originally posted by Ryan Stewart
Start talking "performance delivery."

Basically go to Europe and buy a US spec BMW there. A lot of dealers set that up and the cost is about the same.

They are right that BMW Individual is not provided by the dealers here.

that's what I ultimately want to do but I cant get any info from the dealers or bmwna....

[AAM429]

There is an article in the November issue of Bimmer about the Individual program. It's actually been available in Europe for a number of years, but has never made it across the pond to North America.

BMW's reasoning (if you read between the lines) has been that U.S. car buyers are too ignorant to appreciate the program and that many, after seeing their cars in the metal, would back out of their deals if they didn't like the car.

Sounds like a bunch of BS, but the U.S. car market has never made any sense to me anyway...

[e30sd]

BULLSHIT!

tell that to the local guy who owns a dakar yellow e39 m5. ya just gotta find the right dealer and the right salesman.

IIRC, individual colors on an e46 m3 cost about $2k...

[BimmerDawg]

There's a guy that is interested in getting an M3 here...Dakar on Estoril. I swear to God, I couldn't make that up! We told him that it is a $5,000 premium over a standard M3, and he would have to put down half up front! :D

[iwannadinanm3]

Originally posted by BimmerDawg
There's a guy that is interested in getting an M3 here...Dakar on Estoril. I swear to God, I couldn't make that up! We told him that it is a $5,000 premium over a standard M3, and he would have to put down half up front! :D

whoa, is it dakar on estoril/black (like you see in m coupes/roadsters) or actual estoril leather?

[BimmerDawg]

Nope...straight-up ba-lue babee! :D

Not sure if he's gonna do it, I need to ask the salesman who was handling him.

[butterm3]

geordie, would you be able to get me any booklets so I know what the code numbers are for the different packages and options on the Individual

thanks
Juan

[iwannadinanm3]

whoa haha, that's gonna be interesting

[Evan e21]

BMW individual is usually done by there wealthiest of customers. Just act like one and they will beleive you and treat you much better:)

[hermunn123]

Got any pictures of that car Geordie?

[BimwadM42]

BMW NA doesn't like to import anything that falls outside of their standard set of offerings. Non-standard color combos, or things like cloth seats are possible if you try hard enough and are willing to pay extra.

They do have a point about the possibility of remorseful buyers who might want to back out of an 'odd' custom car and leave the dealer stuck with it, but they could easily work around that by demanding payment up front in a binding deal like they do with European Delivery.

The pisser is, the BMW factory is perfectly willing to build anything on the order list, so aside from drivetrain/safety stuff, choosing different colors is really no big deal. European buyers usually just order a car to spec and wait for delivery. BMW even boasts that they can change the spec up to 2 weeks before the build date.

[BimmerDawg]

Originally posted by butterm3
geordie, would you be able to get me any booklets so I know what the code numbers are for the different packages and options on the Individual

thanks
Juan

Actually, we don't have anything at the dealership here. Like others said, it "technically" doesn't exist in the U.S. :)


Originally posted by hermunn123
Got any pictures of that car Geordie?

Nope. The guy just inquired about it, so it's in the beginning stages. Trust me, if that car is made, I'll take lots of pics!

[inTgr8r]

For what its worth.....
BMW Individual is in the Canadian brochure for the '04 330ci.
I just finished my test drive:love1

Even though a Canadian option, this still goes through BMWNA

[butterm3]

Originally posted by inTgr8r
For what its worth.....
BMW Individual is in the Canadian brochure for the '04 330ci.
I just finished my test drive:love1

Even though a Canadian option, this still goes through BMWNA

could you get me brochures or more info, I will be more than happy to reinburse you any expenses...

thanks
Juan

[inTgr8r]

Just checked the online version of the brochure on the Canadian site..... it's not there.

PM me with your e-mail; I will scan the info & send it to you

[rupes001]

http://www.bmw.ca/individual/individual-fs.asp?lang=en

That link has the information about the Individual Program in Canada.

[inTgr8r]

Originally posted by rupes001
http://www.bmw.ca/individual/individual-fs.asp?lang=en

That link has the information about the Individual Program in Canada.

Thanks for the link.....

Juan;
There is more info at the above link than in the brochure.

[butterm3]

thanks guys but that link does not help me, I need cost so I can sell my sister the car:D can someone find out how much would a M3 coupe and vert be in Dakar yellow with kiwi interior, or with black interior and CF trim....

Juan

[PPower]

The kiwi leather you're looking for is a European factory option as opposed to the Individual program. Then again, I don't recall the brass color shown on the Canadian site. Also, CF isn't available through that as well, so it's best for you to look aftermarket for that. I'm having difficulty in downloading the pdf file with all of the options from www.bmw.com but maybe later. Have you looked at it yet? There is no Dakar yellow, but there is a nice Arizona yellow. Mix that with matching leather/alcantara seats and CF or yellow wood trim. Stellar.

Here in Panama, the dealer has a full Individual display area with all of the paint, wood, leather/alcantara samples. They currently have a 330Ci in Dakar yellow, so I'll see if I can take a pic of it. It does NOT look good at all IMO.

[butterm3]

I seen a individual built e46 M3 with Dakar yellow and kiwi interior and it was HOT!!!!!! I also know that you can order CF parts but I am not sure with what package it is available since the CSL has CF trim....

[PPower]

If you know what you're getting into, then go for it. Come to think of it, I don't recall Dakar yellow being on the standard Individual list. That must mean that you can get any of those colors OR any color that has been in production. Then you should be able to do the same if that's true, so it stands to reason that you could get kiwi. Why not contact a Canadian dealer to get it for you if it doesn't work in the US. Bringing it over that border shouldn't be too much of a problem. Would it?

[butterm3]

if the car was for me I would jump through hoops to get it, but since it's for my sister she really dont care about the individual package. I want this color combo because in the future I will take the car off her....