[speeddeacon]

     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

As promised in previous threads, here is the write up and pictures from our PCD this week.


With our 750i lease ending, we decided to order an X3 M40i rather than wait for an X3M as we had initially planned. This is my wife's daily so the full on M version is not important to her anyway. We waited until February to order to lock in those incentives, but couldn't get to Spartanburg until the second week in April to pick her up despite the car being completed on February 27th. It was worth the wait.

The PCD is free and includes one night at the Marriott Greenville, including dinner, wine/beer the night before and breakfast the morning of the delivery. They shuttle you to the PC and the day begins promptly at 0800 with a quick driving school session by one of the instructor. On our day we had the Chief Driving Instructor Matt Mullins. Having done the school before, it was a review for my wife and I and was pretty basic but informative for newbies no doubt.

From the classroom we went directly on track, where they had a well broken in X3 M40i waiting for us and appropriate vehicles for the three other participants picking up their new BMWs. The weather had been terrible on the previous two days, but it was absolutely perfect on our day. We did on road braking maneuvers, including ABS turning while hard braking from 60 mph, a short road racing course and the always entertaining wet and polished concrete skid pad to demonstrate DSC (stability or traction control). At the end, Matt Mullins offered to take any of us on a hot lap with in the new M5, which of course I jumped at the opportunity. He drifted the entire mid length course, leaving the entire course shrouded in smoke at the end. Other than bruised ribs from the massive g's smashing me from side bolster to side bolster, it was about as much fun as being a passenger could be this side of a ring taxi!

From there, we got a guided tour of theentire X3/4 assembly line. They assemble all X3/4 there, including European models. We saw right hand drive models, diesels and yes, even X3M and X4Ms being built. The whole process is what they describe as "right sequence at the right time". The parts, or chassis, are brought in sequence for each unit Iin the queue at just the right time. An X4 rhd diesel might be in front of a lhd X3 M40i, etc. The whole vehicle, with specific build specs and options are put into a sequence and then as it goes down the line each part is exactly ready at the right time for the right unit. The workers literally take the parts out of the bin and assemble it without looking at any vehicle specific paperwork or anything. Despite this, there are rarely any mistakes, such as a black seat on a Canberra interior, for example. Each worker is cross trained on at least six different assembly stations and will do up to four different stations per 10 hour shift to reduce repetitive injury, increase efficiency and accuracy and reduce job "boredom". They have only a 3% job turnover rate. The shortest tenured person we met had been there 14 years and the was our PC "genius" delivery specialist, Nick. Matt, the driving instructor, has been there 19 years.

Interestingly, PCD cars are loaded on a truck and driven literally across to street from the factory to the PC rather than simply driven over. I suppose it's to reduce risk and to keep delivery miles low. Our car had 2 miles, which is the miles they do for prerelease testing near the end of the assembly line.
After the tour, we did the X course, which was the off road capability course then went to lunch. After lunch, our delivery specialist took us to our private delivery bay where we saw our car for the first time. Actually our car was in the lobby of the PC when we arrived so we actually saw it before it was moved into a delivery bay.

Nick went over our car for about 2 hours before we pulled it out and headed over to the museum for a self guided tour and more photo ops. From there we were off to western NC, via the Blue Ridge Parkway, for which it was a perfect match and provided ideal conditions for break in driving.

We enjoyed ourselves thoroughly and can't imagine not doing this every time special order a car in the future. Although next time we may "double dip" and do the Euro delivery and PCD, which is possible as long as it is a Euro assembled car.

Our build:
2019 M40i
Phytonic Blue
Oyster Vernasca Leather
Driving Assistance Package
Driving Assistance Plus
Premium Package with heated front and rear seats
Executive Package
M-Sport Diff
Adaptive M Suspension
20" Wheels
Acoustic Glass
Space Saver Spare
Wireless Charging/Hotspot

[MechX3M40i]

Excellent write up, made me feel kinda losing out for not doing PCD on my X3 last year.

You have a perfect combo of exterior color and wheel choice!

[sprokai]

Originally Posted by MechX3M40i

Excellent write up, made me feel kinda losing out for not doing PCD on my X3 last year.

You have a perfect combo of exterior color and wheel choice!

Yeah, that's a perfect description of the PCD activities. And, yes, that's almost exactly the same build as mine. Excellent taste!

[chicagofan00]

Excellent write up and congratulations on the new X3!

[b.guggenmos]

Great story. Maybe someday I will do a PC delivery? I am at 500 miles on my M40I. Not racking them fast enough!

[DigiSage]

Thanks for writing up your story! Very informative and entertaining.

[GOLFFRR]

PCD is such a great experience, def highly recommend it to anyone who can swing it.
x3 looks great

[ando]

Great X3 M40i build. Looks great on the 20 inch wheels. Terrific post and pictures. Congrats

[M3 Adjuster]

+1 great build. Great write up.

The details you quoted regarding the plant employees and their training are almost exactly what i recall from my trip to Leipzig and the factory tour there.

The way they cross train, the parts on demand delivery, and the way the line is programmed to the height of the worker ( and the cars on the line move UP and DOWN as they go along to be at the proper height for the worker ) is impressive.

I've driven a base model and will go back and check out the X3M40 vs X3M at some point. I am hoping they feel a little smaller/sportier than the X3M30 I drove. I think it's difficult to really justify all the power jumps, but for me a lower ride height and better handling would fit the bill.

[cfm56d7b]

Exceptionally informative write up. Thank you for taking the time.

The car looks great. Many happy international detours!

[ScottyRyan2019]

Enjoyed the write up!! Really wish we had the 20's on our blue M40i. If you have any closeups of them please post. Thanks!

[Kwando]

Great colour combo!

[danniexi]

Originally Posted by M3 Adjuster

I am hoping they feel a little smaller/sportier than the X3M30 I drove. I think it's difficult to really justify all the power jumps, but for me a lower ride height and better handling would fit the bill.

a proper M340i/M3 Touring would be nice, though we know that would never happen.

[2stroke_M3]

I believe they truck the vehicles over because otherwise the state makes them register the cars. It's cheaper to truck them over.

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by 2stroke_M3

I believe they truck the vehicles over because otherwise the state makes them register the cars. It's cheaper to truck them over.

To be driven on a roadway, a vehicle should be registered and also insured. This simply circumvents these issues and also prevents anyone driving cars across from getting into an accident and causing damage.

[ted99]

Which brings up the question about plates for a PCD. I'm going to postulate that home state sales taxes were paid at the dealership at the appropriate time, so the issue of SC sales taxes on delivery never came up. Are SC temp tags issued for travel back to "home"

[TBURKE555]

Yes, they cost $30.00 in 2016 unless you bring a temp from your state.

[speeddeacon]

Our dealer issued us temp tags when we signed the paperwork. Some brought a permanent tag from their state with them.

[positiveions]

Congratulations. Beautiful color option.

[PKL]

Need some pics of the white leather interior please!

[speeddeacon]

Originally Posted by PKL

Need some pics of the white leather interior please!

Here ya go!

[speeddeacon]

Originally Posted by ScottyRyan2019

Enjoyed the write up!! Really wish we had the 20's on our blue M40i. If you have any closeups of them please post. Thanks!

And here you go. 😄