BMW "In Transit" Status: What Does It Mean? And How Long Still to Wait?

BMW is easily one of the most desired car brands on the market. It's thus no surprise many people buy it. As a result, certain models may sell out. If you're keen on a particular BMW model, you'll have to order it straight from a factory.

The journey from placing the order to receiving your BMW can be quite long. During this time, you can track the status of your order online. But to do so effectively, you must first understand what the different statuses mean.

In this article, you'll learn the following about the BMW 'In Transit' Status:

• What it means
• How long it lasts
• Why it sometimes appears several times during the delivery process
• What statuses precede and follow it
• What codes you may see instead

What does the BMW 'In Transit' status mean?

The 'In Transit' Status of your BMW is one of the final delivery stages. It's followed only by the 'At the Dealership' and 'Delivered' statuses. If your BMW is still in this stage, it means it's on its way to your local dealership. The 'In Transit' status refers specifically to the time when your BMW to the dealership, and not to the time when just sits at the port.

How long does the BMW 'In Transit' status last?

It's hard to estimate the exact amount of time your BMW stays in the 'In Transit' status. It depends on factors such as the number of orders the factory currently has. It also depends on the location where BMW manufactures your vehicle. This usually happens either in South Carolina or Germany.

Logically, your delivery will be faster if BMW manufactures your preferred model in South Carolina. It generally builds BMW X3, X4, X5, X6, and X7 here. If BMW assembles your model in Germany, it will have to cross the Atlantic Ocean. This can considerably prolong the duration of the 'In Transit' status.

As a rule of thumb, the 'In Transit' status can last anywhere from 3 days to a whole month. Ironically, the shipping takes much longer time than manufacturing your BMW. The building process rarely lasts more than a single day.

Why do I see the BMW 'In Transit' status two or more times?

Sometimes, the status of your BMW might switch between 'At the Port' and 'In Transit'. This is because 'At the Port' can refer to both the departure and arrival port. Remember, the 'In Transit' status refers to the time when your BMW keeps moving. Whenever it's being processed at one port or another, it will switch to the 'At the Port' status. This is because BMW decided to simplify its tracking statuses.

Where can I track the status of my BMW?

You can track the status of your BMW directly on their website. Alternatively, you can use the BMW Genius Hotline feature. But which one is the better option?

While website tracking may seem like an innovative feature, it won't meet your expectations. The updates are very lax, meaning it sometimes takes the system up to two days to load the newest status. This is the reason why the 'In Transit' status may last much longer than it's supposed to.

Using the BMW Genius Hotline is a much more accurate option, though you may have to deal with phone bills. However, the BMW employee will be able to track the status much more effectively. Ultimately, it comes down to your preference. If you want the most accurate status updates possible, go for the BMW Genius Hotline. If you can't be bothered with calling the Hotline, you can make do with their website.  

What does a BMW order look like from start to finish? 16 stages that precede and follow the 'In Transit' status

The 'In Transit' status of your BMW is just one of the many steps from ordering your BMW to receiving it. It's preceded by several other statuses. If you're unsure what they are, you've come to the right place.

Here are the stages of a standard BMW order:

1) 'Order received'

This is the first stage you should see on the tracking website. It means the factory has received your order and is beginning to process it. The 'Order Received' status is rather short, meaning you may miss it completely.

2) 'Scheduled for production'

During this stage, the factory has processed your order and scheduled the beginning of your BMW production. But that doesn't mean they start working on your vehicle right away. Depending on how many orders the factory has, it can take up to a week before they begin assembling your BMW.

3) 'Production Begins'

This means the factory has all the parts it needs and can begin working on your BMW.

4) 'Production stages'

Production stages list specific steps during the creation of your BMW. They include the following:

• 'Exterior Body Assembly'
• 'In the Paint Booth'
• 'Entering Assembly Line'
• 'Assembly In Progress'
• 'Quality Check'
• 'Final Assembly'

5) 'Ready for Transport'

At this point, your BMW has been fully assembled. The factory performs final checks and prepares to ship the vehicle to your location.

6) 'Awaiting Carrier Assignment'

Your BMW is now fully ready for transport. The factory only has to find the right carrier before it sends it off to your nearest dealership.

7) 'Dispatched from Factory'

This means your BMW is being transported to a port (if made in Germany) or to a train (if made in South Carolina). BMW ships most of its German-made models from Bremerhaven, even if they've been made in another city.

8) 'At the Port'

When you see this status, it means your BMW has arrived at a port. This can refer to both departure and arrival ports.

9) 'In Transit'

The 'In Transit' status means your BMW is en route to your location. If your car has to stop in multiple ports on its journey to you, the website may alternate between the 'At the Port' and 'In Transit' statuses. This is because the BMW tracking website isn't very specific.

10) 'At the Dealership'

At this point, your BMW has arrived at the dealership where you originally order it. This means you can go pick it up. Just keep in mind the tracking website isn't very reliable. Some buyers even report going to the dealership in vain. To make sure your BMW has truly arrived, we recommend contacting the BMW Genius Hotline as well. It far surpasses the website in terms of reliability.

11) 'Vehicle Delivered to Customer'

This is the final status update on your BMW delivery. The whole process can take a very long time, sometimes even more than one month.

The list of codes you may sometimes see instead of the status

Sometimes, you may have to deal with a complicated code instead of a simple status. For instance, the 'In Transit' status may simply appear as code 190. Some employees may also use these codes instead of statuses when you call the BMW Genius Hotline. If you're ever unsure what they mean, you can refer to this list.

• 0 Order deleted by BMW NA
• 17 Order not Specified
• 37 Order is at BMW NA
• 87 Production Week Assigned
• 97 Order sent to AG
• 100 Order deleted by AG
• 101 Error in data transmitted
• 102 Special Order (no Production Week)
• 105 Order out of Production Period
• 111 Order Accepted at AG
• 112 Order scheduled for Production (You can still make some changes to your BMW order)
• 150 Production Started
• 151 Body Shop Started
• 152 Paint Shop Started
• 153 Assembly Started
• 155 Production Completed
• 160 Released to Distribution
• 168 AG Stock
• 170 Waiting Workshop
• 172 Planned for Workshop
• 174 Workshop Entry
• 176 Workshop Complete
• 180 Waiting for Export Dispatch
• 181 Waiting for Domestic Dispatch
• 182 Schedule for Carrier
• 190 In transit to port of exit
• 191 Returned to BMW AG
• 193 Arrived at Port of Exit
• 194 Selected for Shipment
• 195 Shipped from Port of Exit
• 196 Shipment Arrival at destination port

Our final thoughts on the BMW 'In Transit' status

BMW is undoubtedly one of the most popular car brands in the world. Many people stick with it for the rest of their lives. But because of the high demand, your preferred BMW model may not always be available at the dealership. This doesn't mean you have to part with your dream car - all you have to do is place an order.

Once you order your BMW car, you can track its status on the company's website. You can also call the BMW Genius Hotline for a more accurate update.

At one point, the tracking website may display the 'In Transit' status. This means your BMW has been built successfully and is currently en route to your chosen dealership. Your vehicle may reach the dealership either by ship or train (or possibly both).

How long the journey takes depends on what model you chose. Some are manufactured in South Carolina while others are made in Germany. Thus, the 'In Transit' status can last anywhere from a couple of days to a whole month.