BMW Pricing

J77

Is it just me or are there a few flaws within popular exec car pricing schemes? Particularly BMW. A new 116bhp 316d ES which barely comes with windows as standard has a list price of €33,450! Anyone else see something wrong with this?? As well as this I think there is a serious flaw when it comes to separating the classes: A new 520d SE with leather and cruise as standard comes in at €41,750 while a new 320d SE with less spec(without leather or cruise) costs €39,070. In fact I wouldn't be surprised that if you specced it up to the same as the 5 series the 3 series would cost the same if not more!


Does anyone know or understand why this is!?!

bazz26

Yeah, it doesn't make any sort of sense buying a decent spec new 3 Series at the moment. They are poor value for money compared to the 5.

copacetic

The 3 saloon with a decent engine is very poor value compared to the new 5. Presumably it'll be resolved when the new 3 comes next year.

unkel

copacetic wrote: »

The 3 saloon with a decent engine is very poor value compared to the new 5.

That was always the case. BMW make massive profits on the 3-series, moderate profits on the 5-series and virtually no profit on the 7-series

This was always clear in low car purchase tax (no VRT) markets like Germany and it is amplified these days over here because of the ultra low CO2 output of BMW 5-series diesel cars compared both to the competition and to smaller BMW cars.

copacetic

unkel wrote: »

That was always the case. BMW make massive profits on the 3-series, moderate profits on the 5-series and virtually no profit on the 7-series

I don't believe it was as clear as it is now. The pricing on the new 5 series is massively lower than it was on the previous model. While the 3 series has only come down a smaller amount with new pricing.

unkel

copacetic wrote: »

I don't believe it was as clear as it is now. The pricing on the new 5 series is massively lower than it was on the previous model. While the 3 series has only come down a smaller amount with new pricing.

You must have missed the latter bit of my post that you did not quote

Treehouse72

Not everyone thinks like petrolheads. For many people the 5 series is not an alternative to the 3 series. It is not as though 3 series purchasers are only not buying a 5 because they can't afford it. Indeed, many would be put off by the extra power and bulk of a 5. 5's are a bank manager's or travelling salesman's car. Totally unsuited to younger drivers, to women, and not at all as neat or groovy as a nifty little 3. And of course the 3 comes in 2-door editions which would be many people's preference. So I don't think the "Why would you buy a 3 when a 5 costs not much more?" question really holds up.

R.O.R

Don't worry, all of your 3 series buying quandries have just been solved with the introduction of the 316d ES Edition model.

I suppose I really should have started a "STOP PRESS" thread, as this is huge news. Below is the information I received from my BMW dealer last Thursday, apologies to all the Petrol heads for not sharing it sooner.

Good afternoon,

We are delighted to inform you about the new Edition for the 3 Series Saloon.

316d ES Edition is now available with the following spec for €995 over a 316d ES.

Dakota leather upholstery
Bluetooth telephone preparation
Rear park distance control
Sports leather sterling wheel

*The value of the above options are approx €3,774 so the customer saving is €2,779.

316d ES Edition RRP €34,535 and OTR €35,385.

oh yeah - [/Sarcasm]

Stevie Dakota

Good value, with free typos as well.

"Sports leather sterling wheel"

RobAMerc

I think you can expect big discounts on new 3's when you turn up at the forecourt though - no one pays the ful whack for one I would imagine.

i think there will also be a burst of special edition 3's coming out over the next few months as run off models before the introduction of the next generation 3 series.

pajo1981

copacetic wrote: »

BMW make massive profits on the 3-series, moderate profits on the 5-series and virtually no profit on the 7-series.

Is it not the other way around, with profits tighter on smaller cars?

I remember reading somewhere that it doesn't cost proportionally as much to build a larger car considering the extra money charged?

slinky2000

"316d ES Edition is now available with the following spec for €995 over a 316d ES. "


eh?

R.O.R

slinky2000 wrote: »

"316d ES Edition is now available with the following spec for €995 over a 316d ES. "


eh?

You get:

Dakota leather upholstery
Bluetooth telephone preparation
Rear park distance control
Sports leather sterling wheel

For an extra €995 over the cost of the standard ES model.

Actually good value for the extra's, but poor value overall.

Owen

No profits on the 7 series Unkel? You wouldn't believe the discounts that were there for 7 series sales in the good times!

Leonard Hofstadter

BMW said before that the 5 series is responsible for 50% of their profits, even though it sells less than either the 1 series or 3 series these days.

I agree that the pricing of the 3 series is silly, for the price of the poverty spec underpowered 316d you can have a Mondeo or Insignia with all the toys, and the argument that a BMW is a much better car to drive simply doesn't stack up because although the BMW is RWD, the 316d has only 115 hp and a similarly priced Mondeo or Insignia has around 160 so any handling(and I'm sure it is a much sharper car to drive being much better balanced) advantages are cancelled out by the deficiancy in power.

For the 3 series to be worth the step up from the Mondeo/Insignia etc you need something like a 320d, but when you spec that up to the 520d level, it is cheaper to buy the 520d so that makes no sense.

The only way it makes sense to choose the 3 series over the 5 series is if you want a Coupe, but a four cylinder 3 series Coupe makes baby Jesus cry.

copacetic

pajo1981 wrote: »

Is it not the other way around, with profits tighter on smaller cars?

I remember reading somewhere that it doesn't cost proportionally as much to build a larger car considering the extra money charged?

I didn't write that it was unkel, and I totally disagree with it..

ShiresV2

captainspeed wrote: »

but a four cylinder 3 series Coupe makes baby Jesus cry.

There's is/was a 318d convertible on show in Joe Duffy's. Nice, ready for the new owner to plaster it with ///M badges and German style plates!

RedorDead

copacetic wrote: »

The 3 saloon with a decent engine is very poor value compared to the new 5. Presumably it'll be resolved when the new 3 comes next year.

It should be solved with the big early new year 5 Series price increase. Price is way too low vis a vis 3 Series and other European countries (pre tax price)

Voodoomelon

Are there any plans for a 5 series coupe, like the the E-class coupe?

bazz26

Voodoomelon wrote: »

Are there any plans for a 5 series coupe, like the the E-class coupe?

I thought the 6 Series was the 5 Series coupe? There is a brand new 6 Series out soon.

bmw535d

ShiresV2 wrote: »

There's is/was a 318d convertible on show in Joe Duffy's. Nice, ready for the new owner to plaster it with ///M badges and German style plates!

your point?