[painoz]

I'll make this as short as possible:

To preface the situation, I am military stationed in Korea, and ordered this car purposefully for arrival now so I would have it just long enough to not have to pay sales tax (state of Washington-90 days) or customs duties (120 days). I am due to leave korea in 4 months. I am your typical type A personality, plan everything, expect alot from a $42000 car.

In Sept ordered E90 335I Sparkling Graphite, Lemon/Black, Burl. PP, SP, CA, NAV, PDC. Went throught the agonizing wait until delivery today. I will have the first 335I E90 in Korea, as they don't sell them Korea specs yet. Mine is US specs.

Car arrived on the transport, love at first sight. Anyone second guessing SG with lemon.....don't........awesome. On closer inspection over the right rear fender, there was 7-8 3-4mm size light grey dots, like water spots, but obviously under the clear coat. There was a similar lesion on the hood right next to the roundel. I let my CA know and he came over and thougt it might be something that could be buffed out, I was skeptical, off we went to the service center.

In the midst of tint application the service advisor came out and told the CA that it is an imperfection in the paint from the factory. They can repaint the area if I want. I immediately told my CA that is unacceptable, a NEW $42000 should not need to have body work done to it. He proceeded to call his boss who offered me this:

1) They will order me a new car
2) Pay for shipping to anywhere in the states
3) Let me keep the car or one equivalent until I leave back to Fort Lewis Washington, since I had to sell a car to register this one (Army regulations-no more than 2 cars).

Now that all sounds reasonable, but I also think that they should foot the bill for sales tax and customs duties since that was the whole reason I ordered the car in the time frame I did (to not have to pay them). He said he would have to talk to BMW AG about that one.

I will post pictures once I get some in good light tomorrow. I do have some questions and observations:

Observations: I like nice cars......I was a previous owner of a 2001 330I, but this car is amazing.....scary fast, thought every other aspect was an upgrade from the 2001 330I x 5(except for cupholders). Sound system, interior, handling, braking, acceleration, ride, ergonomics.......top notch....I may be a novice in nice cars, but this car is incredible. Break-in...whatever.....don't know how you can not just try out the outlandish torque and HP this car puts out.........

Questions:

1) For you military sales guys.....did they provide the NA Nav disk for ya
2) Does anyone know approximate customs duties will run on this model
3) Is there a luxury tax on this model
4) Am I just in asking for all I am asking for......or being nit picky.
5) Any others with similar pain issues on delivery?

Sorry for the long post......

I'll add pictures of the jacked up paint tomorrow

:mad:

[krafty04]

Hey man, congrats on the car! Remember talking to you shortly back and the agonizing wait you were enduring... I did a overseas delivery before and went through your questions about delivery, taxes, customs, and I can answer those based on my previous situation.

1. No nav disk is provided on overseas delivery. Check e-bay or find a buddy with one and burn a copy, but it's illegal so don't do it.

2. customs duty are minimal. I paid $80 on import to my duty station from Germany to Portugal to register it to avoid taxes heading back to the states. On arrival of vehicle to states from Portugal, no duty is required.

3. No luxury tax, expired on 1 Jan 03. (http://www.autotrader.com/research/s...s&restype=sell)

4. I would have BMW document paint defect, and get it repainted stateside after you take delivery in the states. If you elect to take a new vehicle delivery in the states, you will only get a tax break if you take delivery in your home state, if they give you a military tax break.. (ny, fl, ohio, etc.)
I would also recommend to wait painting until back to the states in case there is any damage from shipment, I know the shipping company will be liable but if there was damage, you would be getting it painted twice in just a few weeks.

5. No problems in past two deliverys, looking forward to third overseas delivery.

Any specific questions you can PM me. Good luck with the PCS.
Krafty.

[teknochild]

be glad they offered you a new car, since you said that the car feels like ECT that meens you drove it off already, its your responsibility to find defects like that BEFORE you take delivery of the car, and reject it

[painoz]

Originally Posted by teknochild

be glad they offered you a new car, since you said that the car feels like ECT that meens you drove it off already, its your responsibility to find defects like that BEFORE you take delivery of the car, and reject it

So how does me inspecting it when its dropped off the transport mean that I already accepted the car?

[BuckJon]

That sucks man. So you are still going to have to pay sales tax? In CA it is going to run me $3800 with registration. Not sure about the whole customs things, I paid the $2150 which included all that crap and shipping and insurance.

[Russellnyc]

Sounds like they are doing right by you. When I got my e36 way back when, the idiot who drove it onto the flatbed skidded on some ice and scarred the driver's door. I had waited about 3 months for the car and was too desperate/impatient to turn it away, so I had them repaint it and then bought it. That stupid door always looked slightly different and always bothered me. Then when I went to sell the car later, everyone kept trying to ding me because the paint meter said the car had been repainted. If it had been my own accident I'd have been okay footing the bill, but this wasn't even my fault. So, get it right the first time if you can.

[E90T]

It'll buff right out

[m3power13]

My father was in the same situation back in 2001. He ordered a 330i and when it arrived there was a defect underneath the clearcoat from the factory. The dealer ordered him a new car, however they didn't offer to let him keep the defected car for the wait.

BTW: He had payed for the car and driven it 60 miles home before realizing the defect. It was only visible under the intense fluorescent lights of the garage.

[painoz]

Originally Posted by E90T

It'll buff right out

It won't buff right out.......well, I guess it would if you left the buffer on there for a few hours and stripped the clear coat off, and some of the paint.

[JSpira]

Where is the defect? Is it very noticeable?

I am beyond being a perfectionist but a car will only be new for a short period of time. My decision on this would be based on whether 1.) I would notice it and 2.) it would drive me crazy.

Otherwise, I would probably accept the car.

I don't keep cars that long so I would also figure that I won't have to worry in 23 months.

[painoz]

[IMG][/IMG]

[painoz]

[IMG][/IMG]

[JSpira]

Really hard to tell in the 2nd photo. The first photo seems minor; the second has reflections and all sorts of "noise" on it which I assume are not related to the defect.

[painoz]

In the second photo there are 9 light greyish dots. Neither one of these defects is minor on A NEW CAR.......

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by painoz

In the second photo there are 9 light greyish dots. Neither one of these defects is minor on A NEW CAR.......

As I said, there was a lot of "noise" on the 2nd photo.

The dots looked like reflections.

Those dots are certainly not acceptable.

I guess there is no alternative but having them order a properly painted car. Maybe there is an option code they can include for this.

At least they give you a loaner for the interim.

[urnuts]

a new car, and not a KIA might I add, is a NEW car. I would not accept a re-paint. That's just me- we both have "issues".
From those photos, it looks very noticeable.
I doubt BMW will cover your expenses, taxes, etc, as those are consequential damages- i.e. resulting from, but not related to the incident.
You have to make up your own mind as this is complicated on several levels- I will say this- stick to your guns, and listen to the other poster who said "that door bugged me for years" or something like that.
I think BMW is doing right by you- or at least trying- do what YOU feel is best for you. You can always order another car- I think that's what I'd do.
And how the hell does that leave the factory?

[painoz]

Originally Posted by urnuts

a new car, and not a KIA might I add, is a NEW car. I would not accept a re-paint. That's just me- we both have "issues".
From those photos, it looks very noticeable.
I doubt BMW will cover your expenses, taxes, etc, as those are consequential damages- i.e. resulting from, but not related to the incident.
You have to make up your own mind as this is complicated on several levels- I will say this- stick to your guns, and listen to the other poster who said "that door bugged me for years" or something like that.
I think BMW is doing right by you- or at least trying- do what YOU feel is best for you. You can always order another car- I think that's what I'd do.
And how the hell does that leave the factory?

Thanks for all the replies. Gonna stick to my guns, disappointing that BMW lets something like this leave the factory. Musta been made on a Friday. I'll let you know the final outcome.

[Fester]

Originally Posted by painoz

[IMG][/IMG]

This really sucks!!! How did they ever let it go like this? Must've happend during transportation I guess...

[txusa03]

Painoz, fwiw, here is my 2 cents. Let not mess with layer yet. I agreed with JSpira to a certain degree. A new car will only stay new for a while. With that said, I would leave the hood the way it is. Why, hood will gets lots of crap from daily use (rock chips everywhere later on in the car's life). Now you said the other impefection is in the rear bumper? If that is the case, I woul keep the car, pay for it and use it and not have to pay taxes while you are in korea. But allow bmw to repain just the bumper. If I miss understood and it is not the bumper, then you have to do what makes you happy.

btw, does the CA and SA in korea speak english or do you speak korean to them when you interact with them? (Just curious)

[needashower]

Keep the car and have the dealer pay you cash for the cost of repair. This is a depreciating asset, may as well have the dealer cover part of year 1s depreciation. Settle this and begin enjoying the ride. You are making out like a bandit by not having to pay taxes.

[painoz]

Here is the latest: I have agreed to sell the flawed 335I to BMW Used car sales in Korea for $45000 US ($2500 more than what I payed for it). Military sales Korea is going to order me a new 335I at their cost and ship it to the states for free. All in all, will have enough to cover the sales tax in the state of Washington, with a little left to spare.......BMW Military Sales Korea did right by me.

If anyone is in Korea and is going through military sales bump for Kevin Oh!

I wonder how much they are going to sell the car for on the Korean Economy; you cannot find a Korean spec BMW with a manual, and they don't even sell the 335I in Korea yet. Bet they are going to sell it upwards of $60,000+