[PsychDoc]

I believe it does. Here's the description on the Build-your-own BMW website.

Luxury Seating Package
$1,350

On long-distance trips, you’ll travel in ease and arrive refreshed with the Luxury Seating Package. Ergonomically designed Multi-contour front seats circulate cool or warm air to keep you comfortable behind the wheel.
Add to buildBack to build
Included Options
Option images may represent an alternate vehicle than the one being configured.

Multi-function seats
Multi-function seats
Ergonomically designed multi-contour seats offer totally tailored comf [...]

Front and Rear Heated Seats
Front and Rear Heated Seats
Passengers front and rear are offered three levels of seating warmth. [...]

Front ventilated seats
Front ventilated seats
Ventilated front seats gently move air through the micro-perforated le [...]

[Turfer]

Originally Posted by tsbrown

If you’re in the US, I highly recommend taking delivery at the Performance Center in Spartanburg. You get a half day of driving instruction in the same model as you ordered, off road in an X model, an outstanding delivery experience, and a tour of the Spartanburg plant. The factory is truly impressive. Almost forgot the hot laps as a passenger in the M5 with one of their instructors at the wheel. What a ride.

Unfortunately performance center delivery for all models not actually built in Spartanburg has been suspended. I ordered a 540 in November and was told this. Also confirmed this with BMW (I tend not to believe car sales people). They said they may resume at some future date.

[tsbrown]

Originally Posted by Turfer

Unfortunately performance center delivery for all models not actually built in Spartanburg has been suspended. I ordered a 540 in November and was told this. Also confirmed this with BMW (I tend not to believe car sales people). They said they may resume at some future date.

That’s too bad. I wasn’t aware of the change. Hopefully soon they resume delivering other models.

[SkykingUSA]

My car finally hit Production Begins today (Jan 17, 2024), and thanks to this thread I can see that its production date is Feb 1, 2024. Hopefully that means it will be built on Feb 1 and will then start it's journey to the port and then on a ship.

Scrapula and RichardInCA, since your cars were delivered to Washington state and California, I imagine your cars were also delivered to Port Hueneme like mine will be. Do you remember how long it took for your car to arrive after it was finished production? I'm just trying to get an idea of when mine may arrive in southern California. My dealership is only about 65 miles from Port Hueneme so it shouldn't be too long from when it arrives in port to the dealer's lot.

I'm guessing I should expect to take delivery sometime in March but not sure if it will be early or late. The excitement is building...

[SpaceSilver.X1]

Originally Posted by SkykingUSA

I'm guessing I should expect to take delivery sometime in March but not sure if it will be early or late. The excitement is building...

The most fun part was after the ship left port. Tracking the ship via GPS was both interesting and excruciating. Apparently the oceans are pretty big and ships are kind of slow.

Once you get your ship name, FleetMon.com will be your friend for 2+ weeks.(or longer for those on the West Coast)

most ship tracking websites offer only have land based AIS tracking. Fleetmon lets you track via GPS satellite for one ship, with a free trial account.(which should last for the duration of your ship's journey across the Atlantic)

and if you are into ship stalking... then there are also numerous port, bridge, beach and hotel live webcams so you can catch glimpses of your ship as it enters/leaves ports.

for you peeps in the East, a lot of BMWs are unloaded at the BMW VPC in Brunswick(Georgia). Here's beach/hotel live cam that was pointed at the entrance to port of Brunswick. Hundreds(thousands?) of new Bimmers from Deutschland were on that ship(the Hawaiian Highway). It was a magnificent sight.. although... let's face it, car carrier ships are essentially unattractive giant floating metal bathtubs, but all those pretty Bimmers inside give the ship inner beauty!

also recommend this guy's channel with some very interesting videos.(but not for the faint of heart because of car carrier shipwreck videos)

[Scrapula]

Here was my timeline which was pretty much on spot based on my estimates for number of days at each status:

Ordered Vehicle Oct 17
Production Begins Oct 30
Body Assembly Oct 30
In Paint Booth Oct 31
Entered Assembly Line Nov 2
Assembly in Progress Nov 2
Quality Check Nov 2
Final Assembly Nov 3
Ready for Transport Nov 3
Awaiting Carrier Assignment Nov 3
Dispatched from Factory Nov 6
At the Port Nov 8
In Transit Nov 18 (agonizing wait)
Panama Canal Dec 5
At Port Hueneme Dec 14
Assigned to Carrier Dec 21
Shipped Dec 24
At Dealer Dec 26
Ready for Delivery Dec 29

It seemed like forever at the time but it was really quick.

[SkykingUSA]

Originally Posted by Scrapula

Here was my timeline which was pretty much on spot based on my estimates for number of days at each status:

Ordered Vehicle Oct 17
Production Begins Oct 30
Body Assembly Oct 30
In Paint Booth Oct 31
Entered Assembly Line Nov 2
Assembly in Progress Nov 2
Quality Check Nov 2
Final Assembly Nov 3
Ready for Transport Nov 3
Awaiting Carrier Assignment Nov 3
Dispatched from Factory Nov 6
At the Port Nov 8
In Transit Nov 18 (agonizing wait)
Panama Canal Dec 5
At Port Hueneme Dec 14
Assigned to Carrier Dec 21
Shipped Dec 24
At Dealer Dec 26
Ready for Delivery Dec 29

It seemed like forever at the time but it was really quick.

Thanks for sharing. So, it was about 7 weeks between the time your car was built to the time it was at the dealer. So if I'm lucky, I should get mine mid March. Just in time to kick off Spring!

[PsychDoc]

Well, after over a month in the absurdly named "production begins" status, it looks like my car is finally being built! Should be completed by next Tuesday or Wednesday and then off to find a ship going to NJ. Hoping for delivery by mid March.

[RJH52]

Originally Posted by PsychDoc

Well, after over a month in the absurdly named "production begins" status, it looks like my car is finally being built! Should be completed by next Tuesday or Wednesday and then off to find a ship going to NJ. Hoping for delivery by mid March.

Has your SA mentioned an apolstry protection package? My local dealer has it for either $850 or $950 and they coat the seats to prevent dye transfer. If it stains and they can’t get it out they will get the seats reupholstered. May be worth considering with the smoke white.

Car will look sharp!

[PsychDoc]

Originally Posted by RJH52

Has your SA mentioned an apolstry protection package? My local dealer has it for either $850 or $950 and they coat the seats to prevent dye transfer. If it stains and they can’t get it out they will get the seats reupholstered. May be worth considering with the smoke white.

Car will look sharp!

Thanks for the heads up. As we get closer to delivery I'll discuss this with him.

[LVBMW]

Originally Posted by PsychDoc

Well, after over a month in the absurdly named "production begins" status, it looks like my car is finally being built! Should be completed by next Tuesday or Wednesday and then off to find a ship going to NJ. Hoping for delivery by mid March.

Looks like it's right on schedule for the production date you were able to view online. Mine was in the paint booth status for about 48 hours but not sure if that's typical or not.

[RichardInCA]

Originally Posted by SkykingUSA

My car finally hit Production Begins today (Jan 17, 2024), and thanks to this thread I can see that its production date is Feb 1, 2024. Hopefully that means it will be built on Feb 1 and will then start it's journey to the port and then on a ship.

Scrapula and RichardInCA, since your cars were delivered to Washington state and California, I imagine your cars were also delivered to Port Hueneme like mine will be. Do you remember how long it took for your car to arrive after it was finished production? I'm just trying to get an idea of when mine may arrive in southern California. My dealership is only about 65 miles from Port Hueneme so it shouldn't be too long from when it arrives in port to the dealer's lot.

I'm guessing I should expect to take delivery sometime in March but not sure if it will be early or late. The excitement is building...

I’m embarrassed to admit I was solely at the mercy of my SA - and didn’t find out how much we could even track until I joined this forum (LOL). My timeline was something like this:

Jun 17 - placed my deposit
Jul 1 - completed the online build on July 1st
Sep sometime - production occurred sometime
Oct 28 - notified it was on the vessel
Nov 20 - arrived atthe dealer
Nov 24 - collected by yours truly