Slow sales F30 3 Series?

Stallingrad

Where are all the new 3 series, I've seen a few on the roads but not half as many as I expected. Are they all waiting until January or is the 3 not proving to be the hit BMW would expect?

Tea 1000

Stallingrad wrote: »

Where are all the new 3 series, I've seen a few on the roads but not half as many as I expected. Are they all waiting until January or is the 3 not proving to be the hit BMW would expect?

I'm wondering the same. It's a fantastic car, and finally the 3-Series has a new fantastic interior, which it never had before, yet people don't seem to be buying it.

Tragedy

It's quite a hideous looking thing though, in all fairness. Looks like an ugly e90. Interior really is fantastic though, could never get over how poor the interior in the old model was, especially compared to the e60.

Bigus

Larger 5 series too tempting for the price,I'd say

along with no road tax incentive or

vrt incentive to go for smaller 3 series or indeed no fuel consumption penalty, with the larger 5

so apart from the slightly higher capital cost , why buy a 3 series NOW compared to the past when compelling lower running cost influenced buyers only a few short years ago.


plus the country's still fecked, which might have a slight influence.

However how anybody could buy an Audi ahead of the latest Bm's beats me, and I'll drive anything.

Tea 1000

Tragedy wrote: »

It's quite a hideous looking thing though, in all fairness. Looks like an ugly e90. Interior really is fantastic though, could never get over how poor the interior in the old model was, especially compared to the e60.

I think it's not different enough to the E90 to be either hideous or fantastic! I like the new look, but it's the least dramatic change from one generation to the next that I ever remember in the 3.

Tea 1000

Bigus wrote: »

Larger 5 series too tempting for the price,I'd say

along with no road tax incentive or

vrt incentive to go for smaller 3 series or indeed no fuel consumption penalty, with the larger 5

so apart from the slightly higher capital cost , why buy a 3 series NOW compared to the past when compelling lower running cost influenced buyers only a few short years ago.


plus the country's still fecked, which might have a slight influence.

However how anybody could buy an Audi ahead of the latest Bm's beats me, and I'll drive anything.

The new 3 is better than the 5 for economy and lower CO2, which will make a difference after the budget. It's fantastic for economy.
I can't see how the A4 sells at all. I'd either save the money and get an Accord which is better or go for the 3-series which is much, much better, or if I wanted to be different, C-Class.

Tragedy

Tea 1000 wrote: »

I think it's not different enough to the E90 to be either hideous or fantastic! I like the new look, but it's the least dramatic change from one generation to the next that I ever remember in the 3.

It's like they took the front end of a 3 series and squashed it. It really does just look like someone modified an e90, and did a cack job :pac:

Stallingrad

The front end does look like a car that's been in a shunt, drooping down as it does. Head on it does not have the presence of a Merc or Audi IMO.

Rear and flanks are fine, interior is very nice. The outgoing E90 was a very handsome car with fine proportions, barely having dated at all, this one already looks dated to me.

Wicklowandy

The current 5 was a nice evolution, but the 3 series is one ugly car

mailforkev

A lot of that type of "junior executive" car are bought or leased for people rather than by them, so the 520d is probably too close in price and is a big step up in car.

I live and work near a couple of BMW garages and I still haven't seen that many F30s. A few saloons over the past few months and 1 estate I saw the other day. Whereas you can't walk down the road without bumping into a 5 series.

Stallingrad

If it is a slow seller BMW has a problem, the 3 series has always been it's big breadwinner. It is telling that they already throwing in free leather so soon after launch.

MrDerp

Stats say sales are up on last year

A lot of people might have availed of run-off E90s, but I reckon it's not significant - really slow start in January indicates people waited for the new F30

There's a lot of E90s in Ireland though, I reckon the F30s just aren't catching your eye.

bazz26

It's too expensive imo. An F30 320d SE costs just under €40k, you can buy an entry level F10 520d Efficent Dynamics for €43k or the next up 520d SE for €44k. Granted you can buy a F30 316d ES for under €35k but I'm trying to use comparitable specs between F30 and F10 to show that the F10 is better value imo.

I'm also convinced that they are not sellling in large numbers either especially compared to the F10. In our company carpark I can count over a dozen F10s, there is one F30.

Personally the F30 does nothing for me and I'd rather stump up a few extra grand for an F10.

Tea 1000

bazz26 wrote: »

It's too expensive imo. An F30 320d SE costs just under €40k, you can buy an entry level F10 520d Efficent Dynamics for €43k or the next up 520d SE for €44k. Granted you can buy a F30 316d ES for under €35k but I'm trying to use comparitable specs between F30 and F10 to show that the F10 is better value imo.

I'm also convinced that they are not sellling in large numbers either especially compared to the F10. In our company carpark I can count over a dozen F10s, there is one F30.

Personally the F30 does nothing for me and I'd rather stump up a few extra grand for an F10.

But how do the prices compare for the 316d, 318d, and 320d when looked at in direct comparison to the A4 120bhp, 140bhp and 170bhp?
I think part of BMW's problem in this country is that people got so used to the 1.9 A4 that the 120bhp in the 2 litre was a happy normal, with some opting for the "higher powered one" in the 140. Most considered the 170 then as "not worth the extra". The opposite was true of BMW, the 320d was the norm, then when they brought out the 316d and 318d to compete directly on price and power to the 120 and 140 A4, everyone adapted the attitude that "ah sure what's the point in going for that one? Typical cheap paddy spec". It makes no sense that it's OK for the Audi but not OK for the BMW.

Drummerboy08

Slightly ot btw also related kinda...

Take a look at Audi's pricing. An A4 177 Sline is more expensive compared to its bigger A6 brother.

Makes no sense.

bazz26

Tea 1000 wrote: »

But how do the prices compare for the 316d, 318d, and 320d when looked at in direct comparison to the A4 120bhp, 140bhp and 170bhp?
I think part of BMW's problem in this country is that people got so used to the 1.9 A4 that the 120bhp in the 2 litre was a happy normal, with some opting for the "higher powered one" in the 140. Most considered the 170 then as "not worth the extra". The opposite was true of BMW, the 320d was the norm, then when they brought out the 316d and 318d to compete directly on price and power to the 120 and 140 A4, everyone adapted the attitude that "ah sure what's the point in going for that one? Typical cheap paddy spec". It makes no sense that it's OK for the Audi but not OK for the BMW.

No idea on price comparisions of the A4 as I really haven't any interest in them, to be honest. But the perception out there maybe seems that an Audi A4 TDi with 120bhp/140bhp has a bit more cred than a 316d/318d. Not sure why though.

Bigus

Just to give you an idea of how good value a 520 d is now ,

a new 520d in 2008 was over 70000€ and you can buy one now for 43k along with lower road tax, no wonder there seems to be more of them on the road than focus's ,

and believe it or not today, Renault Belgard have a new Laguna initial manual for 33000 :eek: would cost a helluva lot less to run the 5 series for any amount of time, but I'm making the point you could have a 5 series for not a whole lot more,than a poxy renault peageot or mondeo ,compared to a few years ago.

Tragedy

RRP on a 520d SE was €54,250 in Jan 08.

Alanstrainor

Bigus wrote: »

a new 520d in 2008 was over 70000€ and you can buy one now for 43k along with lower road tax, no wonder there seems to be more of them on the road than focus's ,

Where are you getting that price from?!

It was less than 50k in 08, depending on spec, but no where near 70

Bigus

Tragedy wrote: »

RRP on a 520d SE was €54,250 in Jan 08.

Sorry 07 before the c02 reduction of vrt,

Tragedy

Bigus wrote: »

Sorry 07 before the c02 reduction of vrt,

That didn't come in until mid 08. July 07 RRP was €53,750
In contrast, a base spec 1.5 dci Laguna was €26590 in 01/2008, and is €24990 today.

Padraig Mor

Bigus wrote: »

Sorry 07 before the c02 reduction of vrt,

€54k was before the VRT reduction - which knocked about €8k off.

Bigus

I'll check but a colleague bought a basic enough one auto leather and black,for near 70 k and re traded in the same year for a new 523i and got most of his 70 back with the petrol one invoiced at 73 k.

carsfan

I have a f10 520d and am changing in new year for a f31 330d.
The cost is not much different to a change to another 520 but the 520 is getting too common and the 330 performance and handling will be in another league.
If you spec a 320 to the same as a 520 spec it costs more or less the same which is crazy.
I think this, coupled with the fact that the whole range was not previously available is why you see more 5 series. Now that the 316, 318 are available I reckon you will see a lot more of them around.
I think BMW Ireland could change its name to 520d's R US

Padraig Mor

Jan 08 prices (before VRT changes):

520d SE auto: €57825.
523i SE auto: €62485.

Other costs:
Delivery c €800
Metallic c €1100
Leather c €2500.

Tea 1000

Bigus wrote: »

I'll check but a colleague bought a basic enough one auto leather and black,for near 70 k and re traded in the same year for a new 523i and got most of his 70 back with the petrol one invoiced at 73 k.

He didn't buy a basic one then. They were €54k approx. The E-Class at the time was €57k for the E220 CDI. After July that year, BMW passed on the almost €8k saving on the 520d directly to the customer, so it cost them nothing. Mercedes on the other hand at that time didn't have as efficient of a diesel engine so they stood to only see their E-Class become something like €5k cheaper, but they actually reduced the price of it so that after July it was around the same price as the 520d, so they must have had to knock around €6k off the list price.
I know someone who bought a brand new 520d in 2007 also, with a few extra's, and it cost him close to €70k, and he traded in nothing for it. A year later he could have saved quite a bit more than 8k, because all extra's would have come down by a similar percentage.

Bigus

carsfan wrote: »

I have a f10 520d and am changing in new year for a f31 330d.
The cost is not much different to a change to another 520 but the 520 is getting too common and the 330 performance and handling will be in another league.
If you spec a 320 to the same as a 520 spec it costs more or less the same which is crazy.
I think this, coupled with the fact that the whole range was not previously available is why you see more 5 series. Now that the 316, 318 are available I reckon you will see a lot more of them around.
I think BMW Ireland could change its name to 520d's R US

There's a test of a 330 d estate in the paper version of autocar today, 0-60 in 5.5 secs and they make the point that it'd be quicker than a Ferrari 348 tb with 55mpg realistic if you took it handy.......enjoy carsfan !

dingus12

an msport 520d auto with the 2k cream leather front seat option and comfort access/key less start was 67k on the road in 2007.

R.O.R

I think the 3 Series in on course to outsell the A4 for the final quater of this year, but that's not saying much to be honest.

Had our first couple of F31's in at the start of this month, and I was pretty shocked at how small the boot was - doesn't look a patch on the A4 Avant.

I do think it will outsell the A4 next year, and finish top of the small premium podium. I'm pretty mystified about the slow start, and I think BMW are too.

carsfan

The boot is actually 15 litres larger than A4 at 495 litres apparently according to road tests but have to agree that doesn't look massive.
If boot space was a priority wouldn't look at 3 series,A4 or c class would be in a skoda superb combi.

RedorDead

Think BMW were shocked A4 outsold it this year - thus the free leather panic measure.

ICOTY award today might help it for 2013. It should really outsell A4 given its new-ness and pricing.

larchill

Bigus wrote: »

Sorry 07 before the c02 reduction of vrt,

Wonder where this'll go come January - expect some nasty changes!:rolleyes: