Does anyone has done this before? Does the total cost with handling come out to be the same as buying it in US?

link here

 

I think that if you opt for Euro delivery, the car comes out a little cheaper than purchasing it at the local dealer. Depending on the manufacturer, some include a factory tour, Euro auto insurance, hotel packages and the like.

At the end of the journey, you get to drop off the car at any authorized shipping agent in selected cities throught Europe and 2 months later (more or less) the car shows up at your local dealership for pickup.

This is a great idea for someone who wants to combine his/her new car purchase with an European drving vacation. What a better way to break in your car than in the turf where it was made!

I would not hesitate to do something like this in the future. Its way too cool!

MINI has made mention of Euro delivery on and off during the last several years, but for the most part, they have remained tight lipped about the subject. I Guess they are afraid of the liability created by crazy American customers attempting to drive off in their new left hand drive MINIs on Right hand oriented England!

 

I think you hit the nail on the head. The thought of driving a left hand car in right hand England is scary. I rode a scooter in Bermuda and you must constantly remind yourself of the different conditions.

 

Shoot, I've got your answer on that one.

Take delivery in Germany.

Let 'er rip. Hit the autobahn and open her wide up, full throttle. It's unlike anything else in this world.

Oh, and go see Bavaria. And the Alps. Also, they're unlike anything else in this world.

 

I agree...I think the best trips I had with the BMW was when I would take the car to Slovenia or Slovakia. Great places to travel (I was there every weekend). But, I sorta took the Euro delivery since I lived in Italy.

 

Since BMW is based in Munich (Munchen) the alps and sweet twisty roads are in the near vecinity.

But the MINI is made in Oxford, UK. I think it would be a little akward to take delivery of a "British" car in the heart of Bavaria...

But at the same time, that would be a very acceptable compromise to me.

 

I don't think you wanna take your car through the Alps during this time of year. It's pretty crazy. I would however buy a pass for the N ring.

 

Driving LHD cars in the UK is easy. I had a Renault Twingo (LHD) here for a few years, there's no real difference.

I also drive a RHD car in countires where you drive on the wrong side of the road and it's not a problem

 

I took a LHD to the UK and drove the crap out of it for 6 years and brought it back to the US. There’s absolutely nothing hard about driving the other side of the street, but you do have to be more than aware of what you are doing when you wish to pass some one on many of the smaller roads.

 

Moot point. BMW does not offer ED for MINIs; nor Z4s or X5s for that matter. Only US model German / Austrian manufactured cars are in the BMW lineup.

 

I assume this is aimed at US forces in Europe?

 

That's military sales, a totally different beast. US Army personnel stationed in Europe can purchase US Spec MINIs in Europe and driving them there until they are sent back home.

 

Military Sales and the Military Sales Program BMW/MINI offers is a different entity. I did it through BMW for my 3-Series when I was living in Italy. These programs are also different than a Euro delivery though your concept is correct.

 

Yeah exactly. Military sales is not Euro Delivery per se, at least not the "civilian" version.

 

For BMW, we "almost" did it on a BMW 320IS years ago. Not to great on low end cars. Better savings on 5 or 7 series cars. The savings can pay for the airfare. Get cheap vacation.

I've read lots of trip reports on this from both BMW and Porsche (they make you PAY unlike BMW).

For most ppl, this is a trip of a lifetime. There are only two major areas things screw up

1. Damage to the vehicle in transit to your dealer. Since you already drove the car, its harder to prove you didn't do the damage. Sometimes this can happen
2. Warranty work in Europe. I know of one recent trip report where warranty work on a Porsche was a horror story ruining a trip of a lifetime for a family.

Then you got to think about break-in. Are you going to observer the limits (like 90 mph) or just say the hell with it and go for it? All things to consider.

 

As far as the RHD vs. LHD debate goes, just go get some training by the local post office and you should do just fine, just reverse it once you reach their shores!

 

LETS ALL WRITE MINI AND DEMAND EUROPEAN DELIVERY PROGRAM. why? simple, delivery in Oxford will allow BMW/MINI to maintain and grow marketshare. Since there is no USA 1-series bimmer, MINI must step up - also, Audi has started their eurodelivery program for the A3, Volvo has perhaps the best program out there and are about to launch their C30, SAAB for the 9-3, and so on. this market niche is getting very crowded with fun
and high performing vehicles.

PLEASE EMAIL now to: mini.assistance@miniusa.com

we all thank you,
obc

 

Here's where my "numerically greater age" comes in handy. Back "in the day", European car makers had wonderful overseas delivery packages.

Triumph used to offer group tours of England in your brand-new TR3 which would be parked on the tarmac next to the plane that brought you (and the entire group) over.

The tour was a 4-star affair from start to finish with participants staying in upscale inns and eating in the best (that's a pretty questionable endorsement - you know what I mean if you've ever spent any time in England) restaurants. The tour was guided by luminaries from the Triumph company and there was a van - complete with factory mechanics - that was also part of the tour. Every night when the guests were eating / relaxing / sleeping the mechanics would wash all of the cars so they would be clean and shiny the next day.

The official tour lasted a week, and you could extend your stay if you wished. The cars were then put on the next transport ship headed to Bayonne and were then delivered to the owner's chosen dealership.

Such luxury! and the cost of the whole thing wasn't significantly more than just buying the car stateside. I think that's because the cars were then imported as "used" thus getting a lower tarriff.

I have heard rumors about similar packages being offered to high-end customers of high performance and "super" cars, but these old Triumph tours were for the "Joe Lunchbox" crowd.

 

Volvo still does their factory delivery option, I bet if BMW did a euro delivery package people would jump all over it.

 

With BMW you get 7% off the base price of the car before options if you opt for euro delivery