Title

[r1200rforme]

Would anyone know the process is that is used for the dealer to obtain title to a new m/c? from BMWNA For example, my dealer has had my R for two weeks and claims he has a problem getting the title fom BMWNA, don't return calls, etc. The problem is at BMW's end according to the dealer. In this day and age it should take minutes not days so I think maybe there is another problem?? I am about to make some phone calls and would like to know the process.

[ErikM]

BMW NA or any manufaturer does NOT provide a Title to a dealer. The dealer gets what called an MSO this stands for Manufacturers Statement of Origin. This document is then taken to a DMV office and used to appply for a title. All veichles have an MSO it usually comes to the dealer along with the invoice. FYI the MSO is an actual paper document, so the electronic angle is totally not applicable. If BMW has not forwarded the MSO yet to your dealer, they (your dealer) can not apply for a title. Period.

[r1200rforme]

And that is exactly the problem, no title and no sales agreement tieing the m/c VIN to me because the VIN is not in BMW's system.

[ErikM]

Do you have the bike?? Only way there can be no VIN in BMW's system is if they totally F'ed up. There has to be a VIN on the invoice to the dealer otherwise there would be no way to track or account for the bike.

[Lost Rider]

I would go to a different dealer and buy the bike. Period.
Even if it's not their fault they should be returning your calls...
If they treat you like this while selling you the bike, how are they going to treat you when servicing it?

[Echo]

I had my local town office misfile my MCO two years ago when I registered my GS. My dealer ordered a replacement from BMW but it never arrived. I lucked out and the original was finally located by the town within the month.

You are giving the dealer loads of money for a new bike. Give them a deadline and if they can't produce the MCO, you should shop elsewhere.

You really don't want to deal with problems applying for title.

[r1200rforme]

The dealer has had the bike for two weeks. BMWNA was not returning calls to the dealer. But wait, after two weeks, it showed up this afternoon! I now have a sales order, the VIN is in the system and if everything goes as planned delivery on Sat. Now what else can go wrong??

[Echo]

You just got the bad stuff out of the way upfront so nothing else will go wrong. Enjoy the bike.

[ErikM]

I'd make sure that they showed me the MSO before I signed or paid for the bike!

[r1200rforme]

Echo, I like that, so far so good. All paperwork complete except the check and that's tomorrow.

[ka5ysy]

One thing to be aware of:

As noted, dealers are provided with an MSO instead of a title. An exception to this to be aware of is that if the dealership is using a floorplan finance agreement with the manufacturer, the MSO is not released until such time as the dealer actually pays for the motorcycle or provides the appropriate finance documents to the dealer finance organization. That is normally why we never see an MSO and the dealership will call with your license plate in a lot of instances.

In representing some buyers, I have run across situations where a particular dealership is in trouble with the manufacturer for selling vehicles and not immediately forwarding funds for the financed bike because they needed to pay bills or other urgent money needs. The manufacturer would not release the MSO for registration of the title to the new owner, and I ended up in court with my clients suing everybody involved to get the bike registered. Bad for my clients initially, but very good for me and the client eventually.

If you are lucky enough to have a dealer who actually is in good financial shape and pays for the stock in the store up front you will never run into such a problem.