[disco4me]

Is BMW likely to halt production between model years on the 2 series? If so, how long?

[SuitedUp]

Doesn't sound like it. I think I've heard of June production dates for '14's, and the MY15 starts in July.

[disco4me]

I assume they have to make some minor changes for the MY 2014 to MY 2015 change, as subtle as they might be. Would you guess it is a few hours, day, a week or a few weeks?

[BEM-S4]

I've bought and sold a number of manufacturing companies over the years, they don't typically "shut down" everything to put in a change, especially when you're talking about relatively minor changes like we are here. There's not just one line making each vehicle, so to the extent necessary they'd run at something like 80% capacity as they cascade the changes through. Most of the stuff we're discussing as potential "changes" like new colors, upholstery choices etc. are a procurement, not a production issue. The guy and machine bolting your seat in doesn't have to do anything differently if it's oyster with black carpet as opposed to oyster with oyster carpet. There's a TINY bit of inventory management that needs to be done, logistics etc. to get the different color to the spot on the line but that can all be done well ahead of time so they'd be ready to go before flipping the switch on production.

[disco4me]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

The guy and machine bolting your seat in doesn't have to do anything differently if it's oyster with black carpet as opposed to oyster with oyster carpet.

Thanks BEM-S4. And, I can only hope this option becomes reality on the M235i in the U.S. Can I pay that guy to go grab the black carpeting and door inserts off the 228 line? No one will ever know.

[BEM-S4]

This is a German manufacturing operation we are talking about here, they have EVERYTHING accounted for. Nothing falling off the back of a truck or getting lost

Seriously though I sold a company in Germany the attention to detail from a manufacturing standpoint is amazing.

[yep]

Hmph...almost makes me want to delay the order. What is the earliest 2015 M235i delivery date? July?

[disco4me]

Originally Posted by yep

Hmph...almost makes me want to delay the order. What is the earliest 2015 M235i delivery date? July?

From what I have been able to gather...order late June, production July and delivery 2 months afterwards.

[yep]

So the 2014 model went on sale in March 2014, and they'll be delivering 2015 models in July 2014? Something doesn't add up there. Oh well, I want the car ASAP anyway.

[disco4me]

Originally Posted by yep

So the 2014 model went on sale in March 2014, and they'll be delivering 2015 models in July 2014? Something doesn't add up there. Oh well, I want the car ASAP anyway.

Car went on sale in January.
Production of 2015's starting in July + 2 months delivery to U.S. = September delivery.

[mikeyymonster]

Originally Posted by yep

So the 2014 model went on sale in March 2014, and they'll be delivering 2015 models in July 2014? Something doesn't add up there. Oh well, I want the car ASAP anyway.

Yeah, I wish the car was released earlier so we don't run into these in between issues. My car is going to go into production around June with a delivery of around August. If the only difference is 1 month of wait time then I might as well just wait.

[Delnari]

When I bought my last motorcycle, a Husqvarna TR650 which was owned by BMW at the time there was a big delay in releasing the 2013 bikes from port. The company was in the middle of sale from BMW to an major partner at KTM and BMW put a halt on all release of the bikes after they had been built and sitting in crates at the port. After the sale was finalized in August, BMW was able to release the bikes for shipping, but due to the delay, they pulled all the VIN tags and re-coded them as 2014 models .

This allowed BMW to removed themselves legally away from the bikes and not respond to warranty work if they had the 2014 VIN; was now the new owners problem. Who knew that they could just change the VIN numbers and bam! you have a new model year!

[yep]

Asking the dealership about delaying the order to get a 2015 model. Seems to make sense if I can get a 2015 in July instead of a 2014 in June.

I get the impression that demand for the 2 series is pretty high...

[mikeyymonster]

Originally Posted by yep

Asking the dealership about delaying the order to get a 2015 model. Seems to make sense if I can get a 2015 in July instead of a 2014 in June.

I get the impression that demand for the 2 series is pretty high...

Let me know what they say about that.

[yep]

Originally Posted by imalazeeass

Let me know what they say about that.

I decided that I'd rather have the car on June 11 to tear around Europe in. That is worth a few grand to me. If I delay I might not have a 2015 model until late September which would mean the European winter is just around the corner.

[Spitfi-r]

I read somewhere the first two weeks of July production is stopped for worker vacation, factory maintnance, and re-tooling.
I have a late June ED so I'm getting one of the last 2014's.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by Spitfi-r

I read somewhere the first two weeks of July production is stopped for worker vacation, factory maintnance, and re-tooling.
I have a late June ED so I'm getting one of the last 2014's.

EU has crazy vacation compared to here. Half of it shuts down all of August, Germany has 20 bank holidays for religious reasons, etc. You want a cushy gig, work in France. Only have to show up like 3 days a month and it's impossible to get fired, and if you do it's like 2 years severance.

[Stall]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

EU has crazy vacation compared to here. Half of it shuts down all of August, Germany has 20 bank holidays for religious reasons, etc. You want a cushy gig, work in France. Only have to show up like 3 days a month and it's impossible to get fired, and if you do it's like 2 years severance.

+9000

There is no bullshit with this statement.