Find the BMW you want: in stock, on the way, in production or ordered
A new BMW reaches a buyer by one of four paths. It is already on a dealer's lot, it is built and on its way, it is on the assembly line, or it hasn't been built yet and you order it to your own specification. Each path has its own wait and its own limits on what you can still change. Here is how they compare, and how BMW of San Rafael can search all four for you at no charge.
The short answer
To find a BMW that isn't on the lot, give a BMW Center the model, trim, color and options you want and ask it to search beyond its own stock. BMW of San Rafael looks through its upcoming vehicles and its network of partner dealers, and if no match exists it can have the car built for you. Its own CarFinder page says a car from a partner dealer, in transit or in production usually takes days to a few weeks, and a custom build takes six to twelve weeks depending on the order. Both the search and custom build requests are free.
The four sourcing paths, from fastest to most flexible
Every new BMW on a dealer's lot started as an order to the factory. What differs for you as a buyer is how far along that car already is when you find it. The further along it is, the sooner you drive it and the less you can change.
- In stockThe car is on a dealer's lot now, at our store or at a partner dealer. You can see it, drive it and take it home once the paperwork is done. A car at another dealer has to be brought to San Rafael first, which is where most of the "days" in "days to a few weeks" go. The factory specification is final; only dealer-installed accessories can be added.
- In transitThe car is built and on its way to a dealer, by truck or rail from a U.S. plant or by ship and then truck from an overseas one. It usually has a VIN and an expected arrival window, and it can often be reserved before it lands. The specification is fixed, so you are choosing a car that already exists, just not here yet.
- In productionThe car is scheduled at the plant or already on the line. Someone, often a dealer ordering for stock, chose its configuration, and if it matches what you want, it can be assigned to you. Once a car reaches the assembly line the build can't be changed. The wait depends on how far along it is and how far it has to travel.
- Factory or custom orderNo matching car exists, so one is ordered to your specification: model, trim, paint, interior, packages and, where offered, BMW Individual options. The dealership submits it to BMW, BMW assigns a production number and a build week, and you can usually still adjust the order until it is scheduled for production. This is the slowest path and the only one that gets you exactly the car you specified.
Timing, flexibility and how to start, side by side
| Path | Typical timing | What you can still change | How to start |
|---|---|---|---|
| In stock | Immediate at our store; days to a few weeks from a partner dealer | Dealer-installed accessories only | Browse new inventory or ask us to search partner dealers |
| In transit | Days to a few weeks | Nothing at the factory level; accessories after arrival | Ask what's inbound for the model you want |
| In production | Days to a few weeks, longer for a car built overseas that still has to ship | Nothing once it is on the assembly line | Send us your spec through CarFinder |
| Factory or custom order | Six to twelve weeks, depending on the order | Usually the full configuration, until the car is scheduled for production | Configure it, then send us the build for a written quote |
Timing is BMW of San Rafael's own guidance from its CarFinder page: "Finding a vehicle in our network of partner dealers or awaiting the delivery of an in-transit or in-production vehicle can take days to a few weeks. Custom building a vehicle can take six to twelve weeks depending on your order." A specific car's timing depends on the model, the plant and BMW's allocation.
Many buyers run two paths at once. They place a factory order for the exact car, and ask us to keep watching inbound and partner-dealer inventory in case a close match turns up sooner. If one does, you decide whether it's close enough. Our guide to custom ordering a BMW goes stage by stage through the order itself, including BMW Individual paint and the status codes you'll see along the way.
Where the car is built changes the wait
Once a car exists, the biggest variable in its arrival is distance. A BMW built in South Carolina crosses the country by land. One built in Europe has to cross the Atlantic, clear a U.S. port and then travel on to California.
BMW of San Rafael's six-to-twelve-week custom-order window applies whether the car is built in South Carolina or overseas, and BMW doesn't publish a typical wait by plant. A car built overseas still has an ocean crossing ahead of it that a South Carolina build doesn't, so ask which plant builds your model when you start the search, and treat any arrival date before a production week is assigned as an estimate.
Plant assignments from BMW Group Plant Spartanburg and BMW of North America's iX3 release and 2027 X5 release.
Two new BMWs where sourcing matters this fall
New-model launches are when the four paths matter most. Early cars are spoken for, configurations are limited, and the gap between "in stock" and "ordered" can be wide.
As of October 2026. X5 timing and prices from BMW of North America's 2027 X5 release; iX3 price, deposit and launch from BMW's 2027 iX3 pricing release. Prices are base MSRP and exclude destination (where not stated), tax, title, registration and dealer fees.
What to tell us so the search is quick
The more precisely you describe the car, the faster a match turns up, or the faster we can tell you it has to be ordered. These are the details that decide it:
- Must-haves and nice-to-havesSeparate the options you won't give up (xDrive, a package, a seat color) from the ones you'd trade for a car this month. A flexible list opens up in-stock and in-transit cars.
- Your timingTell us when you need the car. If your current lease ends in the spring, a factory order placed now has room to arrive before turn-in; if it ends next month, an in-stock or inbound car is the realistic path. The same goes if you are selling your current car.
- Colors you'd acceptPaint is the most common reason a near match falls through. Two or three acceptable colors widen the search a lot.
- A saved buildIf you've configured the car on the Build Your Own configurator, send it. It removes any guesswork about the spec.
- How you'll payLease, finance or cash. A car can be sourced either way, but knowing up front means the numbers arrive with the car, not after.
Following a car you've ordered
Production-number timing and tracking per BMW USA's FAQ.
Getting to BMW of San Rafael from Mill Valley, Petaluma and nearby
Whichever path your car takes, it is delivered at BMW of San Rafael, 1599 Francisco Blvd E, under a mile off US-101 where it meets I-580, so picking it up is a short trip from most of Marin and southern Sonoma County.
Drive times are without traffic, measured with OpenStreetMap routing in October 2026. For a map, see our directions page.
Finding a specific BMW: common questions
How do I find a BMW that is not on the lot?
Give a BMW Center the model, trim, color and options you want and ask it to search beyond its own stock. BMW of San Rafael checks its upcoming vehicles and its partner dealers, and can have the car built if nothing matches. The service is free.
What is the difference between a BMW in transit and in production?
An in-transit BMW is already built and on its way to a dealer, so its specification is final. An in-production BMW is scheduled at the plant or on the assembly line. Neither can be changed once it is on the line, and BMW of San Rafael's guidance for both is days to a few weeks.
How long does it take to custom order a BMW?
BMW of San Rafael's CarFinder page says custom building a vehicle can take six to twelve weeks depending on the order. A model built overseas also has an ocean crossing to make, so ask where your model is built when you order.
Can I change a BMW factory order after I place it?
Usually, until the car is scheduled for production. Once it reaches the assembly line the configuration is final. Your Client Advisor can confirm what is still possible for a specific order.
How do I track a BMW that is being built?
You receive a production number after the factory accepts and schedules your order. With it, BMW USA says you can track the order in the My BMW App or at MyBMW.com.
Does BMW of San Rafael charge to find or order a car?
No. "Find it for me" and custom build requests are free of charge. Every figure on the car itself is itemized in writing before you commit.
How far is BMW of San Rafael from Mill Valley?
About 7.3 miles, or roughly 15 minutes without traffic: East Blithedale Avenue to US-101 north, then Francisco Boulevard East. BMW of San Rafael is at 1599 Francisco Blvd E, under a mile off US-101.
Tell us the BMW you're looking for
Describe the car through CarFinder or send a saved build, and a Client Advisor will come back with where a match is, when it can be here, or what an order would take. If you'd rather handle the rest of the purchase remotely as well, our concierge buying experience keeps the same advisor with you from search to delivery. Call (415) 482-2000 or visit us at 1599 Francisco Blvd E, San Rafael.