[Shovelhead75]

Got notified today of an early march delivery at the factory. I know they don't do the hotel and dinner anymore, but do they still pick you up at the airport and take you to the hotel and pick you up in the morning to transport you to the performance center? In my welcome letter they didn't address any of those things they used to do leaving me to believe I'm all on my own. and nothing on the website about it. Not as excited about going now as I was initially. Bummer

[TurtleBoy]

That should be taken care of by the hotel, assuming you are staying at the Marriott. Give them a call to verify though.

[Shovelhead75]

yeah turtle boy, I thought so too, but Greenville Marriott isn't a partner anymore and not showing on list of recommended hotels from the performance center. BMW customer servive just dropped down a bunch sadly from what I was lead to believe to expect. And no factory tours either...

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by Shovelhead75

yeah turtle boy, I thought so too, but Greenville Marriott isn't a partner anymore and not showing on list of recommended hotels from the performance center. BMW customer servive just dropped down a bunch sadly from what I was lead to believe to expect. And no factory tours either...

That is interesting as I thought I just read earlier this week they are still giving the BMW discounts and providing transportation.

[TurtleBoy]

Here you go:


"It is true that BMW no longer pays for the hotel and breakfast/dinner. But it retains a relationship with the Greenville Marriott, so if you book a room there, use the discount code of BMW and your rate will include breakfast. The Marriott also will pick you up at the airport and will drive you over to the Performance Center so that you arrive by the requested time of 8 a.m."

https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...4&postcount=25

[redhot47fla]

(Edit: I guess this is redundant now. See post right above.) We are set up to do it next month on Valentines Day. BMW does, indeed, retain a relationship with the Greenville Marriott. If booking a room, use the discount code “BMW.” That will, at minimum, get you free breakfasts. For ground transportation, the hotel will pick you up at the Greenville/Spartanburg airport and shuttle you to the PCD and, within reason, elsewhere. BMW provides lunch on the day of your PCD experience. We’re greatly looking forward to it. IMO, given the price of the vehicle, the cost of a night or two at the hotel and dinners is a rounding error.

[jad03060]

When they did Euro delivery for US customers, it did not cover a hotel stay, but did offer some other perks like a credit at the store, free entrance to the museum, and snacks in the customer center, free insurance and registration. It also got you a discount on the purchase price without haggling.

[GerryC]

Originally Posted by redhot47fla

(Edit: I guess this is redundant now. See post right above.) We are set up to do it next month on Valentines Day. BMW does, indeed, retain a relationship with the Greenville Marriott. If booking a room, use the discount code “BMW.” That will, at minimum, get you free breakfasts. For ground transportation, the hotel will pick you up at the Greenville/Spartanburg airport and shuttle you to the PCD and, within reason, elsewhere. BMW provides lunch on the day of your PCD experience. We’re greatly looking forward to it. IMO, given the price of the vehicle, the cost of a night or two at the hotel and dinners is a rounding error.

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.

[Shovelhead75]

Im still going, don't get me wrong. I talked to a nice woman at the Marriott tonite and she said they used to really do it up with new BMWs on display and rides to and from locations in a chauffeur driven x5. now its just a regular hotel shuttle bus that takes you and they do honor the bmw corporate code, but I managed a military discount for even less. It was just a let down when I purchased the car and was told how fabulous the experience was as soon as you arrive at the airport. surprised the dealer wasn't aware all that had been eliminated. I'll do a trip report afterwards as I'm really looking forward to getting on the track and learning from the performance staff

[Ibiza]

The Greenville Marriott is using the shuttle bus for airport pick-up?? BMW really pulled out if there are no longer two complimentary X5’s for the hotel.

I still haven’t booked my PC hotel for next month as I’m considering staying downtown Greenville instead. More dinner restaurant options, as I’m sure the Marriot is banking on PCD guests having dinner at the inflated onsite hotel prices.

[redhot47fla]

Originally Posted by Ibiza

More dinner restaurant options, as I’m sure the Marriot is banking on PCD guests having dinner at the inflated onsite hotel prices.

Tough crowd here tonight. . Dinner at the hotel? Not us. First night, Rick Erwin’s East Side, about 10 minutes away by hotel van. Second night, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse downtown for Valentines Day. Won’t be needing the hotel van for that one.🤞

[GerryC]

Originally Posted by redhot47fla

Tough crowd here tonight. . Dinner at the hotel? Not us. First night, Rick Erwin’s East Side, about 10 minutes away by hotel van. Second night, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse downtown for Valentines Day. Won’t be needing the hotel van for that one.🤞

No argument here. I was fine with dining at the Marriott with BMW picking up the tab. But at their prices, there are plenty of other options in the area where I'd prefer to spend my money. Even though we stayed a second night at the Marriott, we went elsewhere for dinner.

[mrjoed45]

Originally Posted by jad03060

When they did Euro delivery for US customers, it did not cover a hotel stay, but did offer some other perks like a credit at the store, free entrance to the museum, and snacks in the customer center, free insurance and registration. It also got you a discount on the purchase price without haggling.

Yes I did ED in 2014 & is was fantastic. You also got a free Munich factory tour in addition to what you mentioned. How sad it has ended.

[WagonFan]

Originally Posted by Shovelhead75

now its just a regular hotel shuttle bus that takes you

Last year September they still paid for dinner and the night. They had two X5 on display but it was the hotel shuttle bus doing the transportation.

[LDT]

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.

I'd estimate that BMW is saving an equivalent amount by not paying a carrier to deliver PCD vehicles to a dealership????

[LDT]

Originally Posted by Ibiza

The Greenville Marriott is using the shuttle bus for airport pick-up?? BMW really pulled out if there are no longer two complimentary X5’s for the hotel.

I still haven’t booked my PC hotel for next month as I’m considering staying downtown Greenville instead. More dinner restaurant options, as I’m sure the Marriot is banking on PCD guests having dinner at the inflated onsite hotel prices.

If you wanna spend a few bucks I can recommend the Grand Bohemian Lodge. It's spectacular and half of the rooms overlook Reedy River. UBER is widely available in Greenville.

[dwwStL]

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.

do they still charge the $995 delivery fee? Not shipping the car to the dealer is a significant saving for them.

A factory tour would be the biggest attraction for me, and it' sad they have discontinued this. The road trip home in a new BMW would also be fun.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by dwwStL

do they still charge the $995 delivery fee? Not shipping the car to the dealer is a significant saving for them.

A factory tour would be the biggest attraction for me, and it' sad they have discontinued this. The road trip home in a new BMW would also be fun.

Yes, you have to pay the Destination & Handling charge even when doing PCD.

[dwwStL]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

Yes, you have to pay the Destination & Handling charge even when doing PCD.

I assumed as much, so BMW is just earning their fee.

[CeEl]

Originally Posted by dwwStL

I assumed as much, so BMW is just earning their fee.

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.

[CeEl]

Is the factory tour discontinued or just postponed because of construction? When we did PCD they gave us a number to call and told us we could come back in 2024 for the tour once construction was completed.

Although I appreciated the Marriott, it’s a bit aged tbh. And maybe there are other negotiations going on for BMW’s own travel.

[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?