[The Libertine]

No longer including the hotel as part of the factory pick-up option?

Cheap and pathetic. While not the Four Seasons, was still a nice touch to add to the experience.

[dwwStL]

Originally Posted by CeEl

In all fairness, they do the same things dealer does, just maybe more and better (detailing, explaining the car to you, setting up key features) and of course getting a taste of driving on the Autocross course, skid pad, etc. So the fee is totally warranted in my opinion.

Agreed. I was just noting they they are not doing any of this for free.

[LDT]

Originally Posted by Shovelhead75

Grand Bohemian lodge looks great ! They honor the BMW corp code it appears. Got my email from the performance center recommending Hotel Hartness. What's funny is both those hotels aren't on the Performance Center's website as lodging partners. Go figure.
Anyone been to the Hotel Hartness?

I've not been to the Hartness. It looks nice on their website. It's not downtown. It's likely to be less expensive than the Bohemian. The Bohemian is THE Premier hotel in Greenville IMO.
If I were going to PCD alone, hell I'd stay at the Motel 6. But if you are going with your wife or significant other, one might as well make something special out of the trip in addition to the special X5 you'll be driving home.

[Shovelhead75]

ok, got my mybmw account and see the car showing, but no production started so like others here, I'll be checking...daily...lol

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by Shovelhead75

ok, got my mybmw account and see the car showing, but no production started so like others here, I'll be checking...daily...lol

You won't go into Production Begins until about two weeks prior to your assembly date. It does not mean that assembly has started but rather that a VIN has been assigned and parts ordered/allocated. At that time you can use the "F12" process to determine your assembly date.

Give Genius a call and they can give you your production week.

[jad03060]

Your dealer gets specific allocations for use for his vehicles to be built...he knew when he took your order what week it should be built. A production order means BMW accepted the order against his allocation.

[redhot47fla]

Originally Posted by LDT

I've not been to the Hartness. It looks nice on their website. It's not downtown. It's likely to be less expensive than the Bohemian. The Bohemian is THE Premier hotel in Greenville IMO.
If I were going to PCD alone, hell I'd stay at the Motel 6. But if you are going with your wife or significant other, one might as well make something special out of the trip in addition to the special X5 you'll be driving home.

Though we have a reservation in mid-February at the Greenville Marriott, I've been looking into these two options, which we are grateful to the board for having brought to our attention.

Here's what I know so far:

The Bohemian is gorgeous and is located in or very near downtown Greenville. According to Lydia at the front desk, the BMW rate includes pickup at the airport, complimentary breakfast, shuttle to BMW and, thoughtfully, complimentary parking after you obtain your vehicle. The potential problem: It's at least a half-hour away from BMW along I-85 during rush hour. Breakfast begins at 6:30 a.m., so that could barely leave enough time to get to BMW by the definitively required 8 a.m. That means there could be some anxiety involved. The rate for a nice room, with fees and taxes, comes to $547 for two nights.

https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotel...tion/overview/

The Hartness also is quite nice, maybe a tiny half-step below the Bohemian. It's much closer to BMW and the route there can avoid the highway, allowing for a 15-minute drive. It also provides complimentary breakfast, though the restaurant apparently doesn't open 7 a.m., again a little tight, schedule-wise. But...the Hartness is just beginning its relationship with BMW and the logistics are...unclear, at best. I was told that there currently is no pickup at the airport and no shuttle to BMW, but they are working on their plans even as we speak. I was told twice today that a manager would get back to me with more information, and hours later, no one has done so. There also is no BMW rate online, though I was told there soon would be. At the moment, the best refundable rate comes to $467 for two nights, including fees and taxes.

https://www.hotelhartness.com

Pending more info, we're sticking with the Marriott for now, but I have a feeling we'll end up at the Hartness, if it can get its act together. If/when I learn more, I'll post again here.

[Shovelhead75]

thanks reshot for doing that groundwork ! I'm torn between the three hotels discussed and since we are going to arrive on a Saturday before a Monday perf. center meet, I'm leaning toward splurging at the bohemian although I share your concern about getting to BMW on time. I got 200 a night approx on a military rate I believe so I have to go back and confirm once I confirm my delivery date is indeed locked in.

[Shovelhead75]

Was thinking of getting a room at the grand bohemian which looks very nice and has a great Bmw rate, but talked to a lady tonite that says their shuttle only goes 1 mile. So I guess no airport pickup or transportation to the performance center? It is late at night, so maybe I got the night shift. Anyone done the Bohemian recently and know any more details? thanks

[redhot47fla]

Originally Posted by Shovelhead75

Was thinking of getting a room at the grand bohemian which looks very nice and has a great Bmw rate, but talked to a lady tonite that says their shuttle only goes 1 mile. So I guess no airport pickup or transportation to the performance center? It is late at night, so maybe I got the night shift. Anyone done the Bohemian recently and know any more details? thanks

@[Shovelhead75](contact:860659, et al: I called the Grand Bohemian again this morning. This is how it works there, according to Jasmine, who basically confirmed what I heard from J.T. on Friday:

Under the BMW rate, the hotel will send a car to the airport to pick us up. Breakfast for two is complimentary and starts at 6:30 a.m. The hotel will shuttle us to the PCD the next morning, a drive that should take no more than 30 minutes. That's a little tight, but doable, imo. I forgot to reconfirm this, but I was told Friday that complimentary valet parking will be provided for the night after we pick up our vehicle.

We've made the decision and we've booked a room at the Grand Bohemian, two nights under the BMW rate for a total of $481.80. (If you do the military rate, few if any of these bennies might apply.)

https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotel...tion/overview/

(All of that said, I also would love to hear from someone who recently did the PCD and stayed at the Grand Bohemian. Is this how it worked for you?)

[chrisado]

Anyone know if Canadian owners can do delivery in Spartenburg?

[Ibiza]

Originally Posted by GerryC

Well put. I've done PCD twice - with BMW paying, and me paying for a second night. The Marriott did a good job. It's a decent room, the shuttle staff are great with the airport pickup and delivery to the PC in the morning. The meal was good, but it wasn't cheap. The cost to BMW was about $250.

I get it from BMW's view. Six or seven rooms, five nights a week for 50 weeks at $250 each is about $400k/year. Pushing that to the participants isn't likely to drive everyone away. It's been almost too popular in the last year or so. And they're still spending a pretty penny for the program at the center.

Paying for the room/dinner wouldn't deter me from doing it again.

Your analysis forgot that I, as the customer, is already paying a $995 destination fee. It does not cost $995 to transport a new build 1 mile from Hall 52 across route 101 to the performance center. I suspect that the deal fell through with the Marriott with the dinner cost increasing, as the BMW corporate room rate was $90 years ago and can presently be booked at around $125 under a non corporate rate.

BMW was “breaking even” after 14 weeks if there are 6 deliveries per day, as that is $5,970 daily destination fees and almost $30,000 per week for deliveries 5 days per week and close to $1.5 million for the year in customer paid delivery fees.

The Performance Center staff except for 2 people (whom I’m not going to name for privacy) are not BMW employees, as they are employeed by EventLink. Appears to me that BMWNA is using the $995 destination fee to now subsidize eventlink, and not coming out of the national marketing budget.

Just give it time for the negative reviews, decreased utilization of PCD and reduction of cars ordered/purchased.

EDIT: PC can do 8 deliveries per day, so collected destination fee is $11,960 daily, $59,800 weekly, and since I was told 2023 was fully booked most days this would have been $2,930,200 in destination fees (49 weeks).

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by Ibiza

Your analysis forgot that I, as the customer, is already paying a $995 destination fee. It does not cost $995 to transport a new build 1 mile from Hall 52 across route 101 to the performance center. I suspect that the deal fell through with the Marriott with the dinner cost increasing, as the BMW corporate room rate was $90 years ago and can presently be booked at around $125 under a non corporate rate.

BMW was “breaking even” after 14 weeks if there are 6 deliveries per day, as that is $5,970 daily destination fees and almost $30,000 per week for deliveries 5 days per week and close to $1.5 million for the year in customer paid delivery fees.

The Performance Center staff except for 2 people (whom I’m not going to name for privacy) are not BMW employees, as they are employeed by EventLink. Appears to me that BMWNA is using the $995 destination fee to now subsidize eventlink, and not coming out of the national marketing budget.

Just give it time for the negative reviews, decreased utilization of PCD and reduction of cars ordered/purchased.

Interesting theory, I'm pretty sure it does not come close to reality but that is fine, many folks are conspiracy theorists.

The change in PCD will have zero effect on sales. Only a very small percentage of buyers have even heard of PCD and I have never heard of anyone saying they wouldn't buy a BMW if they can't take PCD.

[Shovelhead75]

Share your thoughts Ibiza. But I am still going but yes it's frustrating you don't get a discount on the shipping and handling. Kind of hurt when I was all pumped for going and my dealer later told me he just found out they stopped the hotel and dinner and x5 rides from the airport and hotel etc. I talked to someone at the Marriott that told me the woman in charge of all that had just retired and it appears the changes were related to her departure. The staff at the Marriott even misses it and said it was very well done including BMW logos on the menu and nice welcome packet. Made you feel important and special. Maybe we'll get a nice gift from BMW like I read about on another thread here....lol

[Shovelhead75]

woohoo ! Got a production begins update and a VIN !
I also booked the Grand Bohemian and confirmed what Ibiza found out. Told Jasmine she is famous now. She said just notify shortly before arriving of flight arrival and such so they can ensure they have the vehicle and driver on board to come get us. Just make sure if you book there, do it online and use BMW to get the best rate. Better than the military rate, btw.

[redhot47fla]

Originally Posted by Shovelhead75

woohoo ! Got a production begins update and a VIN !
I also booked the Grand Bohemian and confirmed what Ibiza found out. Told Jasmine she is famous now. She said just notify shortly before arriving of flight arrival and such so they can ensure they have the vehicle and driver on board to come get us. Just make sure if you book there, do it online and use BMW to get the best rate. Better than the military rate, btw.

Fwiw, it was I who found Jasmine, but more importantly congrats on the VIN and production update. Not much will happen for a week or more and then - shazam - your car will be built in a flash.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by Shovelhead75

woohoo ! Got a production begins update and a VIN !
I also booked the Grand Bohemian and confirmed what Ibiza found out. Told Jasmine she is famous now. She said just notify shortly before arriving of flight arrival and such so they can ensure they have the vehicle and driver on board to come get us. Just make sure if you book there, do it online and use BMW to get the best rate. Better than the military rate, btw.

Now you can use the "F12" process to get your assembly date.

https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=2037104

[jad03060]

It is likely that the delivery fee also covers the prep work that is required to get the vehicle ready to deliver to the customer...that still has to be done when doing PC. Since the delivery fee is the same across the country, my guess is that it is an average, as the distance doesn't matter. Those living in say Spokane, WA pay the same as someone living in SC...

[Shovelhead75]

Right you are Redhot47 ! sorry bout that ! can't keep track of names when I get all stoked up about new Bmw.
And thanks Turtleboy, you are a wealth of information !
Redhot, are you going to be down at the performance center when I'm there first week of march? If so, I owe ya a beer at the Trappe Door Belgium pub downtown.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by Shovelhead75

And thanks Turtleboy, you are a wealth of information !

You're welcome. What part of PA? I grew up on the Eastern side about 5 miles outside Allentown.

[Shovelhead75]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

You're welcome. What part of PA? I grew up on the Eastern side about 5 miles outside Allentown.

Lancaster County farmland spitting distance from the Susquehanna

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by Shovelhead75

Lancaster County farmland spitting distance from the Susquehanna

A very nice area.