[HellFish]

I have never seen high end cars on regular open air trailers being trucked cross country like lower end imports. How exactly does BMW transport our cars once they are in the states?

[jfulcher]

They go open air carrier. There just aren't as many sales as the cheaper imports/domestics.

[mags]

I think that is not correct, BMW NA contracts exclusively with Bavarian Motor Transport, and they only have enclosed transporters

[jfulcher]

You are right - I just did a little research.. I'm new around here and I guess I got confused because last time I was at my dealer they were dropping off some cars off an open air carrier - maybe they were used?

[SteveMD]

I work almost next door to a BMW dealer and see both. But, the dealership has two locations. Maybe the open air carrier is shuttling new and used cars between one and the other.

New cars tend to come in the closed up carrier.

Baltimore (Maryland Port actually) is the arrival port for all Benzs around this part of the country. They are unloaded and taken to their 'PDC' which is in Belcamp in Harford County.

They do not used enclosed carriers. I have never seen one and I see a lot.

If you live around here, seeing literally acres and acres of posh German metal is quite impressive, most of the facility is behind a simple mesh fence so you can look in.

It is (naturally) on Mercedes Drive in Balcamp MD. Worth a looksee.

[IrvRobinson]

Originally Posted by mags

I think that is not correct, BMW NA contracts exclusively with Bavarian Motor Transport, and they only have enclosed transporters

+ ! and Porsche goes to even greater lengths by wrapping the Cayenne's in Tyvek,Mercedes is shipped enclosed as well.

[jmonier]

Originally Posted by mags

I think that is not correct, BMW NA contracts exclusively with Bavarian Motor Transport, and they only have enclosed transporters

In the west it's actually Waggoners that has the contract but they also use enclosed (actually canvas sided) trucks that look almost identical to the one pictured.

When they unload at the dealers they roll up the sides so they may appear as open transport even though they are actually enclosed while they are on the road.