BMW Shipping from TX Worries

[warrior3313]

I just purchased an E90 M3 from Texas and I am thinking of having it shipped since I don't really want to put 1,700 miles on it in two days driving it back.

I was quoted $750 for the shipping for an open trailer. A closed trailer is about $1,350-$1,500. I am a little concerned with shipping my car on an open trailer. Does anyone have any experience doing this? I am concerned its going to get chipped or dinged. Did anyone wrap their car in something before they shipped it?

Sorry for the dumb questions just want to see if anyone has any experiences they can share with me. I am trying to decide whether I should fly down and pick her up or have her shipped.

Thanks again.

[Edward]

It very well can get chipped or dinged but even new cars are routinely shipped in open trailers (albeit with some protective film or covering).

I think this is the order of ideal to least ideal if I were you.

Ship enclosed,
Ship open

Drive it. But putting 1700 miles on your car and wasting $300+ in gas plus call it $115 a night in a shitty hotel along the road to try and knock that out in two days sounds like the worst damn idea.

[warrior3313]

Yea, Driving it back is not my optimal choice but it could be a fun road trip back to CT haha. The shipping just gets so expensive.

[M3Bimmer77]

There are many threads on this. I quoted once with Revcargo, Montway and Plycar. Make sure you ask for enclosed, one truck all the way and how soon will they pick up the car and how soon will it be in front of your house, not NEAR your house. Needs to be delivered right in front of your house. You don't want your car to be reloaded 3 or 4 times and also you don't want your car week or week and a half on the road. I saw an M3 first one on the front on the lower deck jack knifed by the truck when making a sharp turn. Any thing can happen hopefully nothing to your but better be covered than sorry. Do not cover it with your regular car cover of you are considering open truck. It will burn the paint.

[warrior3313]

Originally Posted by M3Bimmer77

There are many threads on this. I quoted once with Revcargo, Montway and Plycar. Make sure you ask for enclosed, one truck all the way and how soon will they pick up the car and how soon will it be in front of your house, not NEAR your house. Needs to be delivered right in front of your house. You don't want your car to be reloaded 3 or 4 times and also you don't want your car week or week and a half on the road. I saw an M3 first one on the front on the lower deck jack knifed by the truck when making a sharp turn. Any thing can happen hopefully nothing to your but better be covered than sorry. Do not cover it with your regular car cover of you are considering open truck. It will burn the paint.

Yea, I am more so considering an open truck as the Enclosed prices are so damn expensive right now from Texas to CT. So I am wondering what people do if anything to protect their car on the trailer.

[Flying Ace]

drive it. best way to fall in love with your new car!

[Iyzmi]

I had mine shipped 1,000 miles on an open trailer in the middle of winter. No issues.

[whats77inaname]

I had 2 Subarus shipped to Tx, one from FL, one from MD, via open trailer. No problems w/either.

[Yugo]

I had my e90 shipped last year from OK to VA open trailer, no issues whatsoever. Wasn't worth paying extra for enclosed for a car that's daily driven. Also not recommended to cover the car w anything on an open trailer.

[AriuSen]

used before open trailer......same thing....no issues except the car came really dirty since it was snowing on the way...bought it brand new and had no rock chips. it wasnt my m3.

[Beemdog]

Hopefully they don't damage the car taking the rifle rack out of it...

[dparm]

Open trailer is fine. I've done it plenty of times. The car will likely need a thorough washing once it arrives, but it's fairly safe. It's insured while in their possession so if the truck gets in a wreck or whatever, it's their problem.

Also, they won't let you cover it with anything because they will probably need to move the car on or off the trailer depending on who else's cars they're transporting. I think there are also laws about how the plates need to be visible in case they get pulled over or something like that.

[warrior3313]

Thank you for all the comments! Eases my mind a bit using an open trailer. The company I am likely to uses goes doorstep to doorstep and fully insures the vehicle until it's delivered and I sign for it. Think I am going to do it instead of driving it 25hrs and 1,750 miles home haha.

[cenix]

if you have the time, a road trip is called for regardless of the distance. it's always wonderful to see places you'd never see otherwise. i've done it once before and would probably do it again if the timing were right.

[javarithms]

I'll echo what everyone else said about open trailer. Had mine shipped in December of last year from Virginia to WA...no problems except I drove myself crazy by worrying about worst case scenarios

Only advice I can give you is to make sure the shipper doesn't offload the vehicle once en route. 2 bad things can happen: 1) they could damage it during offloading/on-loading 2) your car could get stuck where ever it's offloaded until the next shipper picks it up which can sometimes take several weeks and increase the risk of theft and joy ride.

Good luck!

[warrior3313]

Good point about making sure they don't offload it. Didn't think about that. I'll make sure they don't do that.

[javarithms]

Originally Posted by warrior3313

Good point about making sure they don't offload it. Didn't think about that. I'll make sure they don't do that.

Make sure you get it in writing since a lot of them lie to get your business.

[Agent-GHQ]

Really??? Car cover on burns the paint on open trailer?!?! I believe the top speed for trailer is 55mph anyways so definitely protect the car.

I plan to rent a Penske truck with a trailer and if they have that front deflector the merrier.

[Stein]

I had mine shipped enclosed, it's come all the way across the country. I didn't want to risk it. Was significantly more expensive though.

[Bomiz]

I just paid for shipped enclosed from Chicago to Los Angeles. Should be here Friday and was going to originally do it opened until I got a good enclosed price. Was $1150 shipped enclosed 2,000 miles. I literally can't wait until it shows up

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by Beemdog

Hopefully they don't damage the car taking the rifle rack out of it...

Where do I sign up?

[burtonsbs5114]

I think driving it back would be fun....