der Bayerische May/June 2020 - 29

T H E

D I F F E R E N C E

B E T W E E N

The M vehicles were carefully reviewed and considered. To me, these
vehicles are the epitome of the saying, "you knew the job was dangerous when
you took it". My many evaluations of M vehicles always ended with a smile
on my face. However, due to the immaturity shown by some street drivers, as
well as the condition of the Washington, D.C. metro area roads (for my 135i,
I had to replace two bent wheels, thanks to the potholes in the local roads),
the temptation for an M2 Competition was tempered.
You all know how much I enjoyed both the i3 and i8. However, the lack
of charging facilities in the Washington metro area, as well as the aforementioned road conditions, forced me to eliminate them from my list.
Then there was the matter of new versus Certified Pre-Owned (CPO).
Due to the financial considerations, my preference was for CPO vehicles - let
someone else absorb the depreciation incurred since the time when the car
was new. In addition, I did manage to locate the 4 Series with the manual
six-speed transmission that I had previously reviewed - it was now a CPO
vehicle at a mid-western BMW dealer. However, BMW's elimination of the
CPO complimentary-maintenance program was enough to give me pause.
So, armed with a fair insurance settlement and a good number of
discounts and price incentives, I went new-car shopping.
The final decision was whether or not to buy another convertible.
Born and raised in Southern California, I had developed a perception that
owning a convertible anywhere but California was ridiculous. Having been
back in the D.C. area for over six years, though, I now appreciate how a
convertible can help one fully appreciate those few days of "perfect" weather.
I was still waffling on whether or not to buy a convertible when I toured
the Petersen Auto Museum in Beverly Hills. One of the display vehicles was
a classic, first-generation Porsche convertible. The placard stated that it was

W A N T S

A N D

N E E D S

on loan from a family. It reminded me that my daughters very much enjoyed
my previous four BMW convertibles, so the decision was made.
If BMW offered an M2 convertible, making that final decision would have
been a bit more challenging. However, when considering whether the
selected vehicle met all the criteria on my "want-and-need" list, the 2020
M240i convertible became the only choice.
Even with the unforeseen need to buy a car, the purchasing experience
was quite delightful. Scouring a 100-mile radius, no BMW dealer had an
M240i convertible in stock with the equipment options and colors I desired.
(I hope the trendy blacked-out grills, blacked-out wheels, and carbon-fiber
trim soon run their course). I also did not want x-Drive. So, I had the
pleasure of custom ordering my new vehicle.
My time "fantasy shopping" allowed me to quickly and easily navigate
the "build your own" section of the BMW website. I considered European
delivery, but work and family realities didn't make it practical. The real
pleasure, though, was using the BMW website to track the vehicle assembly
and delivery process.
After using the web site to "build" a 2020 Estoril Blue, Cognac leather
2020 M240i with Premium Package, fully adaptive LED headlights, HarmonKardon sound systems, bi-color wheels, and 8-speed automatic transmission
(I know, but this car will go to my daughters), I sent those specifications to
BMW of Alexandria, we negotiated a price, and the vehicle was ordered.
When ordering a new BMW, the "Owner's" tab on the BMW website is a
wonderful tool to track the progress of your build. You'll see when the order
was placed, your vehicle's assembly status, its shipping status, and the date
when your vehicle is ready for delivery. It also provides useful
educational videos about your new vehicle.

(Top from Left) CoCo mats give the car a classic BMW feel. Guess BMW took
the American desire for cupholders to heart. (Above) Loving the muted gunmetal look on the badging.

May I June

der Bayerische May/June 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of der Bayerische May/June 2020