[PlasticEngine]

During the ordering process, my BMW's CA took my credit card number. They said that it was fully refundable, even if I decided not to take the car when it got to the dealership. I just assumed that they would change me the $1000(?) deposit. However, nothing was ever authorized or charged. I asked the CA and was told that the dealership would only charge the deposit once the allocation became available and production was about to start.

Was talking to them again yesterday because they told me that after over 2 months, my X1 was finally going into production... sometime this week or early next week. I asked about not being charge for the deposit.

I was told that they didn't do that anymore. Customers could place orders and all they needed was contact info.

Do the other BMW dealers do that? Why would the dealer not require a deposit?

Not that I care either way, but them not charging me the $1000 two months ago almost cost me 80,000 United Airlines miles because I needed to meet a $3000 spend during the first 3 months. Fortunately, I discovered that I was a $900 short, due to the dealer never charging me the $1000 two months ago, so I used the card to pay my utilities that month.

[RonBuck]

Here in Australia, I had to pay $3,000 deposit on an iX1 I ordered in December….

[04S]

$1000 deposit here, but only because I had the option of choosing any car in the first batch of X1s coming to Australia for the launch. First time I have paid a deposit for a while. Regular customer of the dealership .....

[thenew3]

I have had dealers not charge a deposit for ordered cars. Here the law requires them to give a full refund if the buyer backs out. So there's no sense in charging a deposit that may have to be refunded down the road. So some of the larger dealers don't bother asking for a deposit. Especially with cars they can sell easily, if the buyer backs out, they have others lined up that will take it.

[ronime]

£1,000 deposit minimum here in the UK. Refundable up to the point where the build spec is locked down for production planning.

[Jmills74]

I paid 7K as a down for my order here in japan

[MontyB1]

Originally Posted by ronime

£1,000 deposit minimum here in the UK. Refundable up to the point where the build spec is locked down for production planning.

We were ask for only £500, mind you let's see how long it takes to confirm a factory order No. maybe its quicker if you pay more.

[Mechta]

Interesting discrepancy around deposit amounts in Australia,

$2000 deposit paid for iX1 here.

[tex2670]

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. If you backed out, they'd give you the deposit back anyway. It's symbolic,and more dealers should do this.

[ronime]

Originally Posted by MontyB1

We were ask for only £500, mind you let's see how long it takes to confirm a factory order No. maybe its quicker if you pay more.

Probably varies by dealership, depending on how confident they are of shifting your ordered spec if you back out.

Ordered 12/11/2022 with £1,000 deposit, delivered 30/12/2022. Read into that what you will.

I suspect that there was (is?) much less demand for sDrive20i and sDrive18d models, certainly compared to the PHEVs and of course the issue with the PHEV drive motors has probably compounded the order/production backlog for those models.

[bcdx93]

$1000 non-refund deposit of us.

[PlasticEngine]

Originally Posted by bcdx93

$1000 non-refund deposit of us.

non-refundable?

what is the name of that BMW dealership? (in case I ever need to order another BMW in the future)

Thank you!

[MontyB1]

Originally Posted by ronime

Probably varies by dealership, depending on how confident they are of shifting your ordered spec if you back out.

Ordered 12/11/2022 with £1,000 deposit, delivered 30/12/2022. Read into that what you will.

I suspect that there was (is?) much less demand for sDrive20i and sDrive18d models, certainly compared to the PHEVs and of course the issue with the PHEV drive motors has probably compounded the order/production backlog for those models.

Yeah completely agree, we were going to get a 20i she doesn't need any performance, but she does didn't like the hesitation in the DCT. They gave us a 23i for a day and a half as a demonstrator so we got to drive it around a bit and just didn't like it at roundabouts and the 25e removes much of that in most situations so she is spending the extra pennies and in fairness she was looking for a Plug in Hybrid before we started looking.

[bcdx93]

PM me when you want to deal this dealer next time.

Originally Posted by PlasticEngine

non-refundable?

what is the name of that BMW dealership? (in case I ever need to order another BMW in the future)

Thank you!

[ronime]

Originally Posted by MontyB1

we were going to get a 20i she doesn't need any performance, but she does didn't like the hesitation in the DCT

They all have a DCT gearbox, apart from the iX1. Although given that a PHEV is going to be able to provide some electric drive 95% of the time that should put paid to most if not, all hesitation issues.

To be fair, the hesitation phenomenon occurs very rarely on our sDrive20i. I suspect it is more to do with the auto-hold not releasing quickly rather than a problem with the activation of the clutches in the DCT.

[tex2670]

Originally Posted by bcdx93

Attachment 3100014
PM me when you want to deal this dealer next time.

That's where I just cross out "non-" on the form.

[MontyB1]

Originally Posted by ronime

They all have a DCT gearbox, apart from the iX1. Although given that a PHEV is going to be able to provide some electric drive 95% of the time that should put paid to most if not, all hesitation issues.

To be fair, the hesitation phenomenon occurs very rarely on our sDrive20i. I suspect it is more to do with the auto-hold not releasing quickly rather than a problem with the activation of the clutches in the DCT.

This was rolling into a roundabout type activity and I switched Auto-hold off as she hadn't used it before, more it being asked to suddenly do something caught it on the hop. I felt it myself a few times but I drove in more stop / start traffic. She noticed it without me mentioning it before as it wasn't something I'd made her aware of and she didn't like it, she has an 8speed auto in the current X1. The fact that it was a major negative in the Autocar review I read (link below) afterwards seems to be they found the same, it wasn't as glowing a review as I or probably BMW was hoping, we liked it but they are less convinced.

BMW X1 Review

[thenew3]

Originally Posted by bcdx93

$1000 non-refund deposit of us.

Check your local laws. Some states require deposits to be fully refundable for any reason.

[FlashMonkey929]

I had a $1,000 deposit as well, fully refundable.

[huma]

Originally Posted by ronime

They all have a DCT gearbox, apart from the iX1. Although given that a PHEV is going to be able to provide some electric drive 95% of the time that should put paid to most if not, all hesitation issues.

To be fair, the hesitation phenomenon occurs very rarely on our sDrive20i. I suspect it is more to do with the auto-hold not releasing quickly rather than a problem with the activation of the clutches in the DCT.

This is what I have surmised as well. I think it gets better once the vehicle is broken in.