It took 2 easy train rides to get to the BMW facility in
Welt. It looked nothing like it did 8 years ago when Matt picked up his first
BMW. Back then, it was a big fenced in parking lot with temporary offices and a
buzzer on a gate and there was no visible activity. Their new facility was
completed in 2007. They have made a fully gold-plated customer experience. The
architecture alone is worth a trip. After check-in we enjoyed a complimentary
lunch, had time to tour the museum (way cooler than I expected) and got a
private tour of the behind the scenes logistics in what it takes to deliver a
BMW upon a client’s arrival. After a vehicle completes its final inspection it
is loaded into a bay that only contains 14% oxygen. A robotic system moves the
cars in and out of the bays, placing them into deliver elevators. Each car
rides up a glass elevator while the customer watches their car drive onto the
showroom floor. Once in position, it begins to rotate while being dramatically
lit with a mini light show. It was all so over the top. Last time we just
picked up the car in large bay and drove off.
Prior to walking down to the car, we were given a virtual
driving simulation test to get to know the features of the car. It made me a
little woozy. Finally, Matt was escorted down to his new red BMW 328 and was
given the full overview. Bystanders visiting the facility above could watch the
transaction (above the show room floor on the mezzanine level is a fully
interactive visitors center). The BMW rep, Chris, handed Matt both sets of
keys, loaded our backpacks into the trunk, and off we went to do our victory
lap around the show room floor. Once the victory lap was completed, we drove
down a ramp and the bay doors opened out into the city. Matt now had his car and
we were off to Berchtesgaden in Bavaria (90 minute drive).
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