Re: BMW individual for US-bound cars? (archive)

I have an '01 M3 and I don't know if BMW NA's policies on BMW Individual are the same for the M5 as they are for the M3. BMW NA does not allow BMW Individual on the M3. For the MY 2002, they just began allowing "Special Order" of certain colors, i.e., Estoril Blue, Avus Blue and Electric Red, although it appears you really have to "encourage" your dealer to go to bat for you with BMW NA.

Even if you could get it through BMWNA, many dealers are hesitant to do special orders or BMW Individual because, in the US it is too easy to back out of a car after ordering it, and dealers don't want to get stuck with a car they can't sell because it has an "unusual" option set. The ONLY way most dealers will do an unusual special order is if you agree to buy the car, (not lease it, because they would end up with the unsaleable car at the end of the lease), and you must be willing to put down a sizable, (and possibly non-refundable) deposit. If you can talk your dealer into this, you might be able to get him/her to go to bat for with BMW NA.

The availability of BMW Individual for the M5 is a question for someone more familiar with the M5 than I. Good luck, and,BTW, I think the car you describe sound like an intersting combination.

Craig
'97 ///M3 TV/Mulb.
'01 ///M3 IR/Bl.

PS. The other person who rsponded to your question had BMW Individual confused with "Special Ordering" or dealer trading. To eliminated the confusion, I have included a link to BMW Individual.

http://www.bmw.com/bmwe/products/individual/

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