[Frzdrdhppy]

Hi All,

My new E90 335i is aboard the Patriot due to arrive at port in Baltimore on May 25th. Anyone else aboard? I didn't know that BMW was now using the Mercedes Benz facilities in Baltimore for some of their East Coast deliveries.
I hope they don't screw up and put an MB hood ornament on it!

[Frzdrdhppy]

Looks like the Patriot hit some rough seas earlier. Sailwx.info now shows it in the Scotia Sea after going through 47 knot winds and 9 meter waves earlier! Hope my new baby doesn't get seasick, haha! Now looks to be a little over halfway to Baltimore, and due in port on the 25th.

[vadim_s]

This is weird, I thought it's going to SC - http://www.sailwx.info/shiptrack/shi...html?call=WQVY

By the way out 335D is on that as well.

ETA: I was wrong it is going to Baltimore: http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/def...ntery=38.79716

[RFGuy_KCCO]

Originally Posted by Frzdrdhppy

Looks like the Patriot hit some rough seas earlier. Sailwx.info now shows it in the Scotia Sea after going through 47 knot winds and 9 meter waves earlier! Hope my new baby doesn't get seasick, haha! Now looks to be a little over halfway to Baltimore, and due in port on the 25th.

Pray your car doesn't get caught up in the power seat motor fiasco like mine has. My new 335i has been sitting in Baltimore since 5/8 and I still have no ETA to my dealership.

[Frzdrdhppy]

Originally Posted by BMWDude49120

Pray your car doesn't get caught up in the power seat motor fiasco like mine has. My new 335i has been sitting in Baltimore since 5/8 and I still have no ETA to my dealership.

My CA notified me last week that unfortunately BMW has notified him that the power seat module delay is going to affect my delivery. But, I'm in no hurry because I'm on a lease extension and hoping for lower MF or more incentives.

[ricerocket]

What is the power seat problem? Is that affecting e92's? My ride is on the Patriot. Thought 5/25 wouldn't come soon enough.

[Frzdrdhppy]

Originally Posted by ricerocket

What is the power seat problem? Is that affecting e92's? My ride is on the Patriot. Thought 5/25 wouldn't come soon enough.

Evidently, there's a shortage of the power seat controls and they are shipping the cars w/o them and instaling them at the VPC. Some people have been waiting weeks. From all the scuttlebutt, sounds like its a hit or miss as to each vehicle. My CA said the same company makes them for most of the German imports, so not just a BMW thing.

Its been fun watching the PATRIOT's track, even if there is a delay. Last ETA at Port Baltimore I saw was about now (early morning), guess we should know more soon.

[vadim_s]

Almost there. Looks to be just minutes from parking.
I wonder how much time they will spend at the Preparation Center. I heard estimates of 2 weeks. What do they do for 2 weeks in there?

[HPIA4v2]

Originally Posted by vadim_s

Almost there. Looks to be just minutes from parking.
I wonder how much time they will spend at the Preparation Center. I heard estimates of 2 weeks. What do they do for 2 weeks in there?

They have to clear customs then of to VPC where they'll fix, clean and do final assembly before getting loaded to truck for dealership. Not sure about 2 week, unless it has to travel like mine (on a train from Oxnard to Tacoma-WA before truck to dealership, my CA told me about 10 days before they recieve it once it clears customs).

[Frzdrdhppy]

Originally Posted by vadim_s

Almost there. Looks to be just minutes from parking.
I wonder how much time they will spend at the Preparation Center. I heard estimates of 2 weeks. What do they do for 2 weeks in there?

I have a feeling it will be a little longer than that. Have you zoomed in on the dock and all the cars waiting in the lots? Looks like hundreds if not a couple thousand! Check out all the "white" cars with moonroofs. (The white is the protective coverings)

[ricerocket]

Originally Posted by Frzdrdhppy

I have a feeling it will be a little longer than that. Have you zoomed in on the dock and all the cars waiting in the lots? Looks like hundreds if not a couple thousand! Check out all the "white" cars with moonroofs. (The white is the protective coverings)

Wow...can't believe the ship is finally at the Baltimore Port. Yippee

Can you send the link for the dock?

[vadim_s]

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/def...&type_color=7#

I am pretty sure the image of the dock is cached. I do see your point thought, that's a crap load of cars there.

[SteveMD]

Originally Posted by vadim_s

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/def...&type_color=7#

I am pretty sure the image of the dock is cached. I do see your point thought, that's a crap load of cars there.

Yup that would be a Google Earth image.

I find it interesting that the ship is docked where it is indicated. When it was announced that the Port of Baltimore would offload BMWs, the location given was the Fairfield terminal which has the VPC. It is about a mile west of the Patriot's location on the west bank of the Patapsco River - if you look for the tunnel toll booths on I95, the Fairfield terminal is right there north of the terminal.

Having said that, Mercedes were always offloaded at the Patriot's current location and then transported up to Belcamp for prep. That facility in Belcamp is closed so that Mercedes and BMW can share the VPC at the port.

I'll have to scoot down there and nose around. I have a pass to get onto the dock.

PS...The Patriot delivered my 06 330i

[Frzdrdhppy]

Originally Posted by SteveMD

Yup that would be a Google Earth image.


I'll have to scoot down there and nose around. I have a pass to get onto the dock.

PS...The Patriot delivered my 06 330i

Look for the E90 Blue Water/Oyster 335i, that will be mine.

It is odd that the cached pic looks right on, but it was shot in 2010 and BMW hasn't been using that port for very long...

[vadim_s]

Originally Posted by SteveMD

Yup that would be a Google Earth image.

I find it interesting that the ship is docked where it is indicated. When it was announced that the Port of Baltimore would offload BMWs, the location given was the Fairfield terminal which has the VPC. It is about a mile west of the Patriot's location on the west bank of the Patapsco River - if you look for the tunnel toll booths on I95, the Fairfield terminal is right there north of the terminal.

Having said that, Mercedes were always offloaded at the Patriot's current location and then transported up to Belcamp for prep. That facility in Belcamp is closed so that Mercedes and BMW can share the VPC at the port.

I'll have to scoot down there and nose around. I have a pass to get onto the dock.

PS...The Patriot delivered my 06 330i

You might be on to something as this morning the ship has re-anchored at a west terminal.

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/def...&type_color=7#

[SteveMD]

Originally Posted by vadim_s

You might be on to something as this morning the ship has re-anchored at a west terminal.

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/def...&type_color=7#

Yup that's it. That makes sense. It was probably dropping off Volvo cars, tractors and and trucks. I think Hyundai off loads there too.

The two buildings in that parking lot are the BMW/Benz VPC.

[Frzdrdhppy]

LOL! Looks the Captain forgot to unload some. PATRIOT has now returned to the docks she was at yesterday.

[vadim_s]

That's pretty funny. I wonder if they finished unloading all the BMWs?

[vadim_s]

And, it's out of Baltimore going elsewhere.

Surprisingly, my status says in transit.

[Frzdrdhppy]

Originally Posted by vadim_s

And, it's out of Baltimore going elsewhere.

Surprisingly, my status says in transit.

PATRIOT is now heading to Charleston and then on to Brunswick. The BMW CC site track showed at the VPC today, but BMW hotline said "still at port awaiting a shipping vessel", haha! I spoke with my CA and he verified that it was offloaded on the 26th and now at the VPC.

Now hopefully just another 2-3 weeks wait. I bet they are really stacked up since the DON CARLOS was also in port with BMWs at the same time. Yours might be quicker since you are local. A poster from the midwest, like me, had his hit Baltimore on the 8th and was transferred over to transport from the VPC yesterday.

Also, BMW is reporting an "Emissions validation check" that may cause some delay. Probably due to the new N55.

[marksjacks]

My Le Mans Blue 335is was on the Patriot too, now showing "At Preparation Center". Anyone know more about the power seat module situation? I was told early on there might be an issue with my car. My current lease is not up till early July, but I'm sure when I get the call I'll be heading over right away.

BMW's minimal tracking seems to be more accurate then it has been in the past. In the past I've picked up my car and the tracking still said "En Route".

[Frzdrdhppy]

Originally Posted by marksjacks

My Le Mans Blue 335is was on the Patriot too, now showing "At Preparation Center". Anyone know more about the power seat module situation? I was told early on there might be an issue with my car. My current lease is not up till early July, but I'm sure when I get the call I'll be heading over right away.

BMW's minimal tracking seems to be more accurate then it has been in the past. In the past I've picked up my car and the tracking still said "En Route".

You should be allright. From what I've been able to discern, the delay is 2-3 weeks for affected vehicles so delivery should still be in June. If not, BMW will extend your lease at same terms + extra mileage.