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      11-09-2012, 12:23 AM   #22
Racer Louis
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Drives: 2019 M5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stealth.pilot View Post
I think this argument that the VPC has a ton of work is off. First of all BMW built the entire car in a week and we drove that car, so there can't have been that much more to do.

Second, the cars are now fully US Spec on ED pickup. They even have the US maps on them (last year the VPC had to load those) and the US software settings (which is why the orange side markers were lighting up even when we were in Europe).

The reality is BMW inspects the car, and if there is nothing wrong, it clears for shipping to dealer the next day. Last year, my ED car cleared VPC within 1 day of customs clearance because there was nothing to fix. This was two weeks before thanksgiving so around the same time we are now.

So for the case of new and pristine cars without oil pump recalls or chip/dent repair, the process should be quick. I know there may be seasonality in shipping volumes, but if customs was able to clear the entire boat in 48 hours (they inspect every car individually too), then why can't BMW inspect every car in 48 hours. Most cars should be ready for VDC to ship in that timeframe. Oil pump recall cars are an exception obviously.

What is evident here is that BMW has a massive backlog in the inspection process while US Customs does not have a massive backlog in their comparable inspection process. This tells me BMW is less competent at labor forecasting and planning than the US government. Shame on them!
An example of you don't know what you don't know! An opinion stated like a fact doesn't make it a fact.

On the west coast the Customs impound lot is located on the VPC property -- last week it was completely full; I was there. The west coast VPC can process about 250 cars a day. Some RoRos can carry upwards of 7,000 cars. The ship arriving at the west coast VPC made one stop on the way, in San Diego where they don't have much dock space for cars at the dock where the ship stopped. After the BMW VPC the ship went to Japan to pick up Japanese cars. (It was a Japanese shipping comany - NYK Line).

To check a single car for shipping body damage alone takes several minutes, I've watched them do it. In additionn, each car is run through a carwash that takes about 5 minutes, not including the time it takes to drive it to the wash equipment. Then there is a software process that needs to take place to "wake" the car from shipping mode. There's many other things including polishing them.

Also, RPiM5 reported his CA told him: "Well my CA made a good point saying that since BMW decided to redirect their unsold cars from Europe and China to the U.S. Market, the cargo ships are fully laden with BMW's. Making the VPC's flooded with brand new BMW's getting off the ships. Thusly slowing down VPC processing." My CA told me essentially the same thing -- BMW is sending them so many cars they don't know where to put them.

Your underlining premise -- your first sentence -- is "off." The resulting opinions are not factually correct.
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