[Mark Venture]

Does anyone have any insight to how allocations actually work? I've spoken to a few dealers about ordering a G26. None of them have an allocation, but all of them estimate either 3 months, or 3-4 months. I've asked them about how they actually get allocations from BMW, but they don't ever give any real detail, they just talk about what they believe the delivery time will look like and won't elaborate on how the allocations really work.
I've always assumed the numbers of allocations given to a dealership must be tied to their sales volume. Larger dealers, who move a lot of inventory, will get more allocation slots than a smaller volume dealer. I was also guessing BMW gives these out around the first of every month, although that's just a guess.
And then there's the question of what the allocations are for. Does BMW earmark an allocation as only for a specific type of car? For example, BMW gives a dealer an allocation for a 5 series, and the dealer can only use it to build a 5 series, no other model. Or is an allocation just a slot, and the dealer can tell BMW they want that allocation to be whatever model they think they can sell - a 3 series, 5 series, X model, etc.

[calbears]

BMW assigns allocations for a particular vehicle. For example, a 430i Gran Coupe. That cannot be changed to something else. Note that there is some flexibility allowed, so a 430i GC can be flexed to a 430i GC xDrive (and vice versa)--this varies by month.

Allocations are "usually" assigned 5-6 weeks before a production month (that has not been consistent for over a year). So the next round is for September production, and that could appear towards the end of July.

[Mark Venture]

Good to know thank you. So *if* these dealers are getting allocations from BMW for a G26, it might be a decent time to complete a custom order if the end of July timeframe holds up

[Cammy440iGC]

I highly recommend completing a custom order and placing your deposit for a G26. Allocations are scarce.

I placed and order and put down a $1,000 deposit on my G26 M440i XDrive back on June 17 as my dealer was suppose to get a G26 allocation in early July.

They did NOT get the anticipated allocation.

However, because I had placed my order and deposit they got to work in trading another dealer for their G26 allocation.

Success on July 12.

Now my Portmao Blue M440i GC is in the production queue.

Been in the queue for 1 week...

But get your oder and deposit in...the dealer will then work hard to get an allocation. At least mine did.

[toddwalton]

Some good advice here but will also point out that dealers can be selective on who they give their allocations to. They will take care of their long time customers first, those with superior credit ratings second, those with an appealing trade-in or lease return third, those who aren’t pushing very hard or haggling on discounts, and so on. An allocation is currency these days.

[Mark Venture]

Originally Posted by Cammy340i

I highly recommend completing a custom order and placing your deposit for a G26. Allocations are scarce.
...
But get your order and deposit in...the dealer will then work hard to get an allocation. At least mine did.

Done and done. Put in the order, put down a $1.5K deposit, and had my allocation a day later. Basically won the lottery, got very lucky.

[Cammy440iGC]

Good for you. Now the waiting begins you can track the factory build on My Garage BMW.

I check it once a day.

My build is still in the factory production queue.

I think once the factory actually starts building the car...they take about a week depending on options.

The longest and most varied time seems to be the time you car may spend at port waiting to get loaded.

Seems like some cars get on a ship after just a few short days...others are at the port 30 days or longer.

Just seems like luck on timing when it comes to getting on a ship.

[Mark Venture]

when do we get to use My Garage, does it start to become usable at status 112? Or does it need to wait until 150?

[toddwalton]

Originally Posted by Mark Venture

when do we get to use My Garage, does it start to become usable at status 112? Or does it need to wait until 150?

150. You will get used to daily updates with status changes for the first week, you will think you are doing well. And then you’ll get to the port. And then nothing will happen for several weeks.

So it’s sort of exciting and encouraging early on and then gets really frustrating. Then you wind up on a boat that has already left three days before you even knew your car was loaded on it.

Your pointer finger will be sore from hitting the zero on the keyboard 8 times until you finally get through to a customer service agent who can tell you more about your ship. Or not. They are fun nonetheless.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by Mark Venture

when do we get to use My Garage, does it start to become usable at status 112? Or does it need to wait until 150?

You can enter your vehicle into MyGarage as soon as you get your production number. It will then show you the the various tracking stages and what status you are at. Once you hit 150 then you can use the "F12" process to look at the data behind the screen in order to get your scheduled production date as well as all of the option codes locked not your build.

[zoepup]

Just to add... you never know until you know..
We went car shopping the first of May. We had a lease coming due in 4 months and were hoping that was enough time in case we had to order a convertible.
Both dealers I spoke to had G23 allocations. The one I ordered from said it should arrive in late July to end of august but as we know, nothing is guaranteed in this supply chain climate.
Less than one week into the order it was scheduled for production. BMW said it was pulled up to an earlier date. The car arrived just a few days short of 8 weeks!
Good luck on your journey.