So what's the deal: you bought a BMW, pick it up in Munich, drive it around a little bit, return it and they ship it for you to the US?
I never understood why that is cheaper. Is it for some tax, customs reason as the car is used by then? Do you drive around with an American configured car? (lights, etc. are different) Police might stop you for that but I guess BMW knows what you are doing.

BMW is the best. Happy driving!

Yes, that's the deal - it's a US-equipped car and gets shipped back and delivered through a US dealer. The car gets registered with German tourist "Z" plates. Savings are around 7% for US buyers.
To keep this on topic for FT, LH offers a 2-for-1 airfare deal. The 2nd ticket is not eligible for upgrade or FF miles but others have reported earning miles when a 2nd FF number is entered after booking. I got a better price for a single upgradeable ticket on UA.

I was actually thinking of going to BMW World, looks like it is out near the Olympic Park and the soccer stadium. Don't see too many BMW's here in the PHX area, but I did see a few while driving through Scottsdale a week or so ago. I will probably do that on Sun Dec 9, then maybe head to Salzburg on Dec 10 to check out that town for a few hours, make my way back to MUC for the opera that night to see The Magic Flute.

Looks like we'll just miss each other while there; I arrive this Sun Dec 2 around 11am, leave Mon Dec 3 around 12:30PM. Then I'm back Sun Dec 9 at 11am, leave Tues Dec 11 at 9:50am. My flights are all on US, except on Dec 11 I fly on LH MUC-FRA, connecting to US in FRA. Let me know if you'll be there any of the same dates, I'd love to see your new car!

So may I ask which one it is?

You're right, I arrive AM Dec 6 and leave MUC at 11:30 AM on Dec 9, around the time of your return. Enjoy your trip!
I'm afraid it's just a run of the mill E90 335i, deep green with beige leather interior. Even though the sedan may be boring to look at, it should be fun to drive. And I get the opportunity to bond with it at it's birthplace. I have no children but I've heard that's important!

Don't worry! No need to justify yourself! The 3335i is a great car, even better engine. I like your color selection. My mother would always go for the same, I would do dark blue instead!

Have fun!

Get some miles on it first and then try to get on the A94 towards Passau. It's just about 25 kms long but it has some nice "no speed limit" parts. If you go on it at night or at a time with low traffic, you can do easily a speed of more than 200 km/h. Just stick to the speed limit at those few parts where they have it. The police will take a picture of you speeding and send you a ticket.

Enjoy the speed but be careful!!

Hard to believe my first run is this weekend. I did get a guidebook (Lonely Planet), and have been reading it and all over online for ideas of things to do. I booked a small mom & pop hotel close to the main train station (hbf), 53 Euros/night (would rather the Hilton, but 160 Euros/night is a bit high for a mileage run).

I definitely plan to get to Augustiner-Bräu, and Hoffbrauhaus during the trips. Hoping to pick up tickets this week for the opera on Dec 10. Anyone know a good/convenient internet cafe where I can shoot off a few emails to let people home know I arrived OK?

I should have access to the LH lounges in MUC, as I'm a US/*A Gold. Does anyone know which would be the best to take a shower (after arriving) and maybe get a quick snack?

If anyone will be around, I'll buy a beer...just let me know. Otherwise, any last ideas/suggestions?

This one is right across from the Hauptbahnof. You can't miss it.

http://www.easyeverything.com/map/mun.html

I'm not sure if it is still there, but there was a bar/cafe with Internet computers in the corner of the Hbf itself - going from memory from a few years ago, if you were facing the front entrance from the outside, it was around the end of the LEFT corner of the building (it had windows looking out to the street).

Just a note that that soccer stadium is the "old" stadium, which is also the Olympic Stadium.

The new stadium, the so-called Allianz Arena, is out to the north of the city. AFAIK you can tour it, and it is easily accessible by subway.

If you're looking for a longer stretch of no-speed-limit and relatively low-traffic Autobahn, try the A92 past the airport towards Deggendorf. There you'll have over 100km of autobahn. You'll also zip by Landshut, which is a beautiful small city well worth a visit, especially now in the pre-Christmas season!

Yet another vote for the Augustiner .. I too try to have a meal there every time I am in MUC. Also you can walk through the xmas market on your way from the Augustiner to the HB-Haus:
http://www.marienplatz-muenchen.de/
It's already set up and will start hopping this weekend.

Wish I was there now but I'll be in GVA & FRA later in the month.

Thanks for all the tips, help, and suggestions. I survived my 1st MR to MUC with virtually no problems.

I went to both Augustiner and HB-Haus, as well as the Hard Rock (I collect the t-shirts), and all around the Christmas market. I was amazed how walkable the city really is. I walked from my hotel (near the Hbf) to all of that. I found an internet cafe around the corner from my hotel, 1E for 40 min (but difficult to adjust to the German keyboard).

I had wanted to check out some dept stores, buy opera tickets, etc.... But most everything is closed on Sundays. Does anyone know if the operas (specifically The Magic Flute, on Mon Dec 10) typically sell out in advance, or could I show up an hour before and get a seat?

For my next trip (2 nights), I'll probably do a quick trip to Salzburg for most of a day.

Oh, the LH Senator's Club @ MUC was incredible!!!!! Actually, the MUC airport was so nice...new, much larger than I expected, and the security people are actually nice. The customs/immigration agents didn't say a word to me on entry or exit.

Glad you had a good MR

How was Hotel Eder? I may be going to MUC next year so will look into staying there if it was OK.

No attitude from US Customs on your return??

Hotel Eder was good. Pretty basic, fairly small room...but I only had a backpack and was hardly in the room. I kept myself up until almost midnight so I'd sleep well. They had a really good breakfast (included). If I remember, I'll try to take some pics when I check-in on Sun.

US uses LH for most services at MUC, and the LH pre-ticketing agent couldn't understand why I was just there 1 day. I said, "cheap ticket," and many other things. She was totally clueless, but eventually put that little sticker on my passport and let me go. The actual check-in agent was fantastic, I would have given her a US A+B card if I could, she blocked the seat next to me, called to find hours of the Christmas market at the airport, told me to make sure to visit the lounge, etc (I was with her for at least 10 min).

US Customs....the immigration guy knew exactly what I was doing when I said I had only been gone 2 days (he said, "oh you're on a mileage run?"). The customs people did an x-ray of my backpack and looked through the Hard Rock bag that had some stollen bread, asked how many times I had been outside the US in the past year. Even with that, was maybe 20 min from plane to the US B-C club at PHL. Was glad I brought the bread on this trip, as hopefully I won't have any issues next time.