[Fenerbahce]

Taking European Delivery of an M car and driving it through Europe has been a lifelong dream. For years, my wife and I have wanted to take the ultimate trip, and we even entertained buying an M2 and doing ED for our honeymoon. But living in the city of Boston and not having a garage meant we wouldn’t have a suitable place to park it. While searching for a home with a garage, we also welcomed our wonderful baby daughter into the world, further complicating any ED plans. However, after finally purchasing a house late last year, we decided to make the dream come true.

Knowing the M2 Competition was coming, we put our name on a “list” at our local dealer last December and patiently waited for more information. While waiting, we struggled back and forth trying to decide between an M2C and an M3. The M3 was the practical choice given we had a little-one to haul around, but we felt this car wasn’t going to be an everyday car, and consequently decided on the M2C since it felt more special and we loved the smaller feel. Also, having a 135i, we knew what we were getting ourselves into with respect to toting our daughter around in a small coupe. We also had faith the packaging wizards at BMW designed a car to be comfortable enough for our small family.

Once allocations started to come out and we received our production number from the dealer, the next step was to decide on a delivery date. We hoped to do it in August but were informed September 17th was the earliest available date for the M2C. That didn’t work for us, so we settled for a date in October.

The next step was to finalize our options. Exec pack and 6MT were easy decisions (I fear the day when manual transmissions will no longer be available!). Deciding between Hockenheim Silver and Alpine White paint, “black” or silver wheels, and blue or orange interior stitching was much more difficult. These decisions tested my sanity, not to mention my ability to focus on day-to-day tasks. Eventually we settled on HS / Black Wheels / Blue stitching.

Over the following couple months, we booked our airfare and planned our itinerary. However, the majority of the planning was done the week before our departure date! We wanted to drive the Stelvio Pass and Furka Pass, and we also wanted to go to Lake Como, so we planned our trip with those locations in mind. Taking delivery in October, I was a little nervous about the possibility of snow on the mountain passes. One look at a Stelvio Pass webcam the week before our departure further fueled my worries as the roads were snow covered! Frequently checking the weather, we remained hopeful we could stick to our desired itinerary and not need to make any last minute changes.

Day 1 – Arrival in Munich

Our direct flight from Boston arrived in Munich early in the morning. Feeling exhausted, we were thrilled to ride in a comfortable 750Ld and went straight to our hotel, the Leonardo Royal.



We napped for a couple hours then took the subway to Oktoberfest . Oktoberfest didn’t quite live up to our expectations, but perhaps this was because we had just gotten off the plane earlier in the day, or because we were traveling with our 14-month-old, or perhaps because we weren’t our 20-something selves anymore. Since we were scheduled for an 8:30AM check-in at the Welt the next day, we decided to head back to the hotel and get some rest.

Day 2 – Delivery Day

We were up early the next day, had a light snack, and then headed to the Welt. The hotel was walking distance to the Welt, but since we had a heavy car seat and stroller, we decided to take the train. Once at the Welt, we checked-in, took care of the paperwork, and ate breakfast while waiting for our delivery time. Tip – there is delicious, complementary food at the Welt, so get there early, take your time, and enjoy what the Welt has to offer! Overall, the Welt service was amazing and everything was very clean. They even had a section called Kinderwelt, which was a sound insulated room with a variety of toys for the kids. While eating breakfast consisting of delicious sausages and other goodies, we watched a blue M2C take laps in the delivery area. As we wrapped up breakfast, our delivery specialist waited for us and then showed us to the individualized technical presentation for our car. Afterwards, we proceeded down the Stairway to Heaven and finally saw our M2C!



Even our daughter knew it was something special and couldn’t stop crawling into it!



After getting the overview of the car, securing the car seat, and loading the trunk, we started the car up and proceeded to take a couple laps in the Welt. Pulling out of the delivery center, we immediately turned into the valet parking area and reluctantly left the keys so we could go back and continue to explore the Welt. After spending way too much time and Euros in the gift shop, and walking through the museum, we decided to hit the road since our next destination was a couple hours away and we were going to hit rush hour traffic. Originally, our plan was to stay at a hotel near Neuschwanstein Castle, but since we booked so late, we ended up staying a little further away in Austria. We were easily able to secure a toll vignette at a gas station closer to the Austria border, and going between the two countries was seamless. After a drive that became progressively more beautiful and fun, we arrived at our destination, a fantastic little hotel called Haus Diana.



It was child friendly and the mountain views were beautiful. Spacious parking, a key factor in most of our lodging choices, was plentiful. We tucked the M2C away for the night while we enjoyed a nice dinner and some much needed sleep.

Day 3 – Neuschwanstein Castle

After having a tasty breakfast at the hotel, we took a few pictures and enjoyed the views.





We then took the 25-30 minute drive to Neuschwanstein Castle. I wasn’t a fan of the parking at the castle. It was a weekend day and very crowded, so they were really packing the cars in tight. Since everyone parks in order based on instructions from the attendants, we were at least able to watch the next car park next to our M2C. Good thing too, as I actually had to intervene to prevent a Volvo door from being slammed into her! Needless to say, I wanted to make sure our visit was quick enough for us to be out of there before the clumsy Volvo passengers were getting back into their car. We were there a few hours and hiked up to the castle and then to Marienbrücke.









After having a late lunch, we returned to fortunately find the car unharmed. Leaving Neuschwanstein, we snagged the mandatory castle picture and continued driving back through Austria and into Italy towards the Stelvio pass.



Down to about 1/3 a tank, we filled up for the first time and then continued to Hotel Gallia in Gomagoi, Italy.





It was cold and drizzling as we arrived at the hotel which made us a little concerned about our plans to tackle the Stelvio the next morning. After asking the hotel staff about the weather and conditions, we felt reassured about our plans the next day. We wrapped the day up with a delicious dinner at the hotel restaurant (the octopus and veal were both yummy!). Overall, this was another great hotel we would highly recommend, especially for anyone planning to drive the Stelvio Pass.

Day 4 – Stelvio Pass to Lake Como

We woke up to a beautiful, warm morning and set out for the Stelvio Pass immediately after breakfast.





It felt relatively empty and we really enjoyed the winding road ascending the mountain. We were about 30 minutes from the peak and the entire drive was phenomenal. A seemingly endless number of tight, hairpin turns allowed us to give the M2C a healthy workout which we referred to as the “Stelvio Break-in”. Most of the other traffic on the road was comprised of other sports cars and bikes, so most folks were moving up the mountain at a pretty good clip. Obviously I took it pretty easy on the rather blind turns, especially given the precious cargo, but if the car had been broken in, I probably would have punched it up the straights and wound out the engine a little more. Regardless, the car was great and it was cool seeing so many other enthusiasts driving a public road, with slower traffic sometimes yielding to the faster traffic. As we went above the tree line and approached the peak, the views became increasingly breathtaking.











At the summit, we took a break and enjoyed an espresso before starting down the mountain towards Bormeo.







The road down was also fun but we missed the feel of accelerating up the mountain. Going down was comprised of some longer, sweeping turns and lots of tunnels further down the mountain. My passengers started to fuss a little bit, and although my wife mentioned feeling whoozy, we were able to make it down without incident.











We stopped for a quick pizza and coffee break in Tirano before continuing on our once-in-a-lifetime adventure.



The road from Tirano to Lake Como was comprised of mostly flat, straight roads traveled at low speeds of 70 to 90kph. There were some cool vineyards and apple orchards to see, but after the sensory overload and adrenaline rush in the morning, we were feeling desensitized and even slightly bored until we got to Lake Como. As we drove along the lake, we pulled over for a few quick pictures on our way to the town of Menaggio.





We got lost looking for our bed and breakfast (Le Eriche) in Menaggio, but once we found it, we appreciated the gorgeous view from high above the lake, and equally important, a nice parking spot for the M2C to also enjoy the view!





Day 5 – Lake Como

We spent the day in Lake Como, walking down to town and taking the ferry between Mennagio, Varenna, and Bellagio. Varenna was particularly interesting as it felt like the whole town was comprised of narrow alleyways and streets.







Day 6 – Gotthard Pass via Tremola / Furka Pass / Grimsel Pass to Lucerne

After the day off from driving, we were ready to get back on the road. Packing the car, our daughter insisted the M2C trunk actually felt smaller than our old 135i's.



As we passed the Italy / Switzerland border, we filled up on gas again and also purchased the Switzerland toll vignette. We first went through the Gotthard pass via Tremola. I wasn’t expecting the cobblestone road, but it was a neat experience.





Next we went through the Furka Pass which was our favorite. Being a James Bond fan, I was particularly excited to traverse the same roads Sean Connery drove in a DB5 in the movie Goldfinger. The roads were also a little wider and easier to drive than the Stelvio pass which made it more enjoyable in some respects.











Next, we drove the Grimsel Pass.





And then continued on to Lucerne, where we stayed at the Hotel Continental Park which had a nice parking garage underneath the building. We walked around and explored the town before grabbing dinner and returning to the hotel.

Day 7 – Lucerne to Strasbourg

The next morning, we did some sightseeing in Lucerne and enjoyed a picnic lunch at a park next to the hotel.





We then set off to Strasbourg. It was an uneventful drive mostly on the highway. Unfortunately, our daughter spiked a fever as we got close to the hotel (Hotel Beaucor), and we could tell she wanted out of the car. We gave her some Tylenol and she patiently tolerated Daddy finding the perfect parking spot on the top floor of the garage.



We checked in at the hotel and went walking around town. Strasbourg is a very beautiful place and we fell in love with the old building and streets. We sampled the local cuisine at a restaurant recommended by the hotel. For the entire trip, we were very lucky with our hotel choices. This one was also exceptional. Very old, very romantic. Even better was the parking garage directly across the street!



Day 8 – Strasbourg to Munich

The next morning we planned to tour Strasbourg some more, but our daughter’s fever continued so we spent most of the morning trying to get in touch with her pediatrician. We were told to continue with the Tylenol and take her to the doctor if there was no obvious reason for the fever. We did as we were told, quickly took another walk around the town, and then set off for Munich.



We drove via Freudenstadt in order to see some of the Black Forest scenery.



From there, it was mainly autobahn driving. The kind folks at BMW had programmed the speed warning to the break-in-recommended 105 mph. Needless to say the warning chime sounded quite a few times. The first time it sounded, my wife commented with an excited “oooooh”, but by the 10th or 15th time, she was over it and hardly noticed. We generally didn’t go much faster than the 105mph given BMW’s break-in recommendations, and also because of the little passenger quietly sleeping in the back. Quite a few cars flew by us and it was a test of self-control to not peg the car to 155mph.



We arrived safe and sound to our hotel in Munich. We chose to stay at the Marriott Courtyard due to its proximity to the city center and because of the parking under the hotel. Pulling into the small garage, we saw another US spec M2C parked.



Day 9 – Drop Off

The next morning, we decided to ask the front desk for a pediatrician recommendation and they were very helpful. My wife took our daughter to be seen while I went to drop off the car. Following recommendations on Bimmerpost, I stopped at the Agip gas station by the airport and used the wash bays to get the grime off the car. As many of you are aware, the car must be clean in order to avoid customs issues during shipment. As I approached the drop off location, I received a call from the shipping company asking if I was nearby and if they should have the truck wait for my car. Being literally two minutes away, they waited and I was able to get the M2C on the truck leaving for Bremerhaven that day. The shipping company offered to take a final picture before I took the train back into the city.



On the way back, my wife informed me that the pediatrician didn’t have any serious concerns regarding our daughter’s fever. We all met back at the hotel and then explored Munich more for the remainder of the day. We made sure to get the required sausage picture during the final dinner of our trip.



Day 10 – Return to Boston

We had brunch the next morning and then set off for the airport to catch our flight back to Boston.

Final Impressions

Overall, European Delivery was an amazing experience surpassing our expectations. The BMW Welt, driving through Europe, and getting to visit many different, beautiful places made this trip truly memorable. We hope we can do it again someday, but if we can’t, this is a trip we’ll remember for a very long time. Now we just wait in anticipation for the car to arrive to us stateside. It just came off the vessel Don Carlos in New Jersey, and it should hopefully be at our dealer in the next week or so.

[airborne777]

Congratulations on your new "baby"! :-)

Great post and wonderful pictures. Inspiring post of your ED adventure! Am looking to do my second ED (first with my wife) so your post is timely!

Kudos to you and your wife for the excellent choices in color and gearbox. As well as taking your baby along for the adventure!

..now to wait for delivery! which is the second hard part! :-)

[FD777]

Originally Posted by Fenerbahce

We arrived safe and sound to our hotel in Munich. We chose to stay at the Marriott Courtyard due to its proximity to the city center and because of the parking under the hotel. Pulling into the small garage, we saw another US spec M2C parked.

I've been spotted! Congrats on your trip. It's memorable and something most people will never ever experience.

[///M Houbi]

What a nice writeup and lovely pictures!

Congratulations and ENJOY the new car!

[nomoracin]

My wife and I had an amazing time as well...I'm just a little bitter not receiving my car back yet.

[CosmosMpower]

Great write up and nice to know it's doable with a toddler. Last time when I went in 2015 we didn't have the kiddo yet and since I'm going in the dead of winter I'm not bringing the family for my M2C, maybe for the G80 M3.

[Fenerbahce]

Originally Posted by CosmosMpower

Great write up and nice to know it's doable with a toddler. Last time when I went in 2015 we didn't have the kiddo yet and since I'm going in the dead of winter I'm not bringing the family for my M2C, maybe for the G80 M3.

Yes, it's definitely doable! We tried to limit our driving to no more than four hours in a day, and it also helps to coordinate driving time with nap time. With the M2C, it's good to pack light. We shared a single large suitcase to leave room for the umbrella stroller, baby backpack, diaper bag, and another backpack.

[pnosker]

Awesome trip!

[BAN_M2C]

This is a great summary!

You were right behind me from the get go!

I remember seeing you with the stroller in front of the Welt while I was putting the temporary XPEL on my car!

Also did Castle, Stelvio and Lake Como. You were just trailing me on the same route probably by hours!

Pics look great!

Our tags are off by a couple numbers!

[Fenerbahce]

Originally Posted by BAN_M2C

This is a great summary!

You were right behind me from the get go!

I remember seeing you with the stroller in front of the Welt while I was putting the temporary XPEL on my car!

Also did Castle, Stelvio and Lake Como. You were just trailing me on the same route probably by hours!

Pics look great!

Our tags are off by a couple numbers!

Very nice picture of the Belvedere! I wish I had seen you wrapping the front end, as I would have swung by to chat. But then again, perhaps I would have felt guilty for driving mine "without protection".

It was a great route overall, and probably a logical one for anyone wanting to see Stelvio, Furka, and Lake Como. I just tried putting the full route into google maps, but I couldn't get it to work since many of the roads are closed in the winter. I think we were very lucky - couldn't have had better weather!

[BAN_M2C]

Originally Posted by Fenerbahce

Very nice picture of the Belvedere! I wish I had seen you wrapping the front end, as I would have swung by to chat. But then again, perhaps I would have felt guilty for driving mine "without protection".

It was a great route overall, and probably a logical one for anyone wanting to see Stelvio, Furka, and Lake Como. I just tried putting the full route into google maps, but I couldn't get it to work since many of the roads are closed in the winter. I think we were very lucky - couldn't have had better weather!

Weather really was amazing! Would have loved chatting with you. My wrap which I estimated taking 1.5 hours ended up taking almost 3 hours because I had like 10 people stop to chat about the car and wrap!

[Reid]

Originally Posted by BAN_M2C

Our tags are off by a couple numbers!

Let me fill in the gap:

[BAN_M2C]

Originally Posted by Reid

Let me fill in the gap:

Awww yeeeah! Looking good!

[KevinM]

Congratulations - great trip and nice post!

[2011M3V8]

Originally Posted by BAN_M2C

This is a great summary!

You were right behind me from the get go!

I remember seeing you with the stroller in front of the Welt while I was putting the temporary XPEL on my car!

Also did Castle, Stelvio and Lake Como. You were just trailing me on the same route probably by hours!

Pics look great!

Our tags are off by a couple numbers!

Any tips on how to install the tracwrap at the Welt? Did you bring scissors and a spray bottle? Or dry installation? I'll be going through this in March with mine

[BAN_M2C]

Originally Posted by 2011M3V8

Any tips on how to install the tracwrap at the Welt? Did you bring scissors and a spray bottle? Or dry installation? I'll be going through this in March with mine

Be patient and let Welt know you want to do it so you can find a place to install it.

I could not find scissors or a spray bottle beforehand so I told them at the front desk as soon as I arrived and they were able to source me some. I was lucky cause the facilities cleaning team was in that day and gave them a fresh bottle.

I did in front of Welt right at the entrance which resulted in about 15 people stopping to ask what I was doing and why and asking about the car. I don't mind talking to fellow enthusiasts but not everyone is like that so if you want to concentrate and not get questions tell Welt to find you a different spot not right in the entrance.