My 3500Li arrived mid December 2009. I am a lucky one, drove it right out of the crate. I had been watching these blogs for awhile and also saw youtube video of a fella uncrating his last year. Saved me a lot of problems. The packaging includes a bubble wrap tied around the handles (and brake levers.) The fella in the video had problems getting the wheels off the crate... I think he had his brakes tied down. Anyway, mine rolled right off. I opened the seat and READ THE MANUAL first.