How to Custom Order a BMW in California

The order, stage by stage

1. Configure the carChoose the model, trim, packages, paint, wheels and interior, either with a Client Advisor or on your own in the Build Your Own configurator and then send it to us. Check that every option is available on that model year; some combinations can't be built together.
2. Confirm the price and the order in writingBefore submission you'll see the MSRP of your exact build, the agreed price and, if you're leasing or financing, the terms. We confirm every figure in writing before the order goes in.
3. Submit against allocationBMW Centers place factory orders against the allocation BMW gives them. An order waiting for an allocation slot is submitted but not yet scheduled.
4. Production number and build weekOnce BMW accepts the order it gets a production number, and later a scheduled production week. From this point you can track it.
5. Built, shipped and deliveredAfter production the car ships to a U.S. port (if built abroad) or leaves the plant, and is transported to San Rafael. You take delivery here, or, for eligible orders, at the BMW Performance Center in South Carolina.

How long it takes

Where the car is built makes the biggest difference. Most BMW X models sold in the U.S. (including the X3, X5, X6, X7 and XM) are built at BMW's plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, so they reach California without an ocean crossing and tend to arrive toward the shorter end of the window. Most other models are built outside the U.S., in Europe or Mexico, and the extra shipping adds weeks. An imported build can run past twelve weeks.

The other variable is allocation. An order can't be scheduled until it has a production slot, and demand for a particular model can push a popular build back. Ask when you order how that model's allocation looks, and treat any date before a production week is assigned as an estimate.

The six-to-twelve-week window and free custom build requests are from BMW of San Rafael's own vehicle finder page. Timing for a specific order depends on the model, plant and allocation.

Tracking your BMW while it's built

Once your production number is assigned, add it (or the VIN, once one exists) to the Garage section of the My BMW App to see a status timeline. The codes behind that timeline are widely documented, and these are the ones that matter to a buyer:

Status codes as documented by BMWBLOG and the Bimmerpost order-status chart; production-number timing per BMW USA. Exactly when a change is still possible depends on the option and the plant; your Client Advisor can confirm for a specific order.

BMW Individual: going beyond the standard palette

BMW Individual is BMW's personalization program. On a factory order it's the difference between choosing from the regular color chart and choosing a special paint or interior that most stock cars won't have.

Two practical points. Individual paint is only offered on some model and trim combinations, and the list changes by model year, so check the configurator or ask before planning around a particular color. And because Individual options are factory-fitted, they're almost always ordered rather than found on a dealer lot.

2026 X1 colors and pricing as reported by BMWBLOG. Check the configurator for your model and model year; availability depends on model and trim.

Speccing an order for Bay Area driving

A factory order lets you build around how you'll actually use the car. These are the questions Marin, San Francisco and North Bay buyers most often need to settle before the order goes in:

• Will it fit the garage?Garages and driveways in older Marin homes can be tight. Check the model's length and mirror-to-mirror width against your space, and consider the parking-assistance equipment the configurator offers for that model.
• How will it handle the daily commute?For a Highway 101 and Golden Gate Bridge commute, driving-assistance packages matter more than they do on a weekend car. The choice between gas, plug-in hybrid and fully electric depends on home charging and daily mileage.
• Is it going to Tahoe in winter?BMW's xDrive all-wheel drive is offered on every X model line and on many sedans and coupes, so decide on it when you configure. If you'll be on I-80 in chain-control season, think about the wheel and tire setup you order, since large performance wheels leave fewer winter-tire options.

Package names and availability change by model and model year; confirm each option for your exact build in the configurator.

Order it, or take one from stock?

Many people do both: order the exact car, and ask us to watch incoming inventory in case a matching build appears sooner. The vehicle finder is free to use for either.

Taking delivery: San Rafael or South Carolina

You can take delivery at BMW of San Rafael, 1599 Francisco Blvd E, with a walkthrough of the car's features and the My BMW App; BMW Genius product experts are there for questions afterwards. If you'd rather make an event of it, a factory-ordered BMW can be delivered at the BMW Performance Center in Greer, South Carolina, near the Spartanburg plant. The program includes a driving session and a delivery presentation for eligible U.S. customers; current terms and dates are on the Performance Center delivery page, and the car is then shipped home to California.

For a Marin, San Francisco or North Bay buyer who doesn't want to handle configuration, allocation and delivery themselves, the BMW Concierge Experience gives you one Client Advisor from the first configuration call to delivery day.

Common questions