2013 and earlier BMW 3-Series Prices Paid and Buying Experience

blueangel

glaker -- you are right. i dont know why i wrote performance. i meant premium. thanks for the correction.

Kyfdx -- thanks for your opinion. I have tried to get my favorite dealer down farther but he wont budge. i think this dealership just does a great business. They are not even my local dealer but they are located in a town where I do business once a week so I know i could service the car there. I think I am just going to sit with it for a few days.

glaker

Like Kyfdx, I think $500 is a lot of money to save on a deal IF the distance you travel to the dealership to actually pick up the car isn't too far away to offset the savings. The decision in this case is a personal one. I purchased my 5 series from a dealer 2 1/2 hours away and my wife's 330 from a dealer who is 1 1/2 hours away because the deals were far better than anything I could get close by (saved more than $1000 each time). The initial deal started from internet correspondence.
In your case I might try asking the distant dealers with the better price to e-mail you a firm price on the car. Once you have that you can then reply and clearly ask whether the price they are quoting is the full bottom line or if there are any additional fees for document preparation, advertising, etc. (I ended discussions with one dealer when, after I thought we had agreed on a price, he told me about the additional $500 MACO and $250 dealership document fees.) Should you agree on a price, you can give the dealer a $500 deposit on your credit card and have him fax you the paperwork as you'll need that for your insurance company paperwork or any financing you might want to pursue. If the dealer balks at this, he's just trying to get you into the showroom to beat you up. DON'T GO! YOU'LL TAKE A TRIP FOR NUTTIN'!
But I wouldn't go through the e-mail process unless I was fully prepared to travel the necessary distance to far away dealer to actually buy the car. Just as you don't want a dealer playing games with you, you shouldn't use this method to get a price quote from him and then take it to the local guy to get a better price. You've already asked the local dealer to match the deal he said "no". His inflexibility is his loss.

cargal2

Hi again,

I went down to see the 2003 BMW. I don't think I mind the green. I do wonder what I'll do without the washer fluid for the headlights, though, as well as the lack of heated seats.

It is a beauty, though. And, I've checked around, it's tough to find a 325AWD for under $30K.

At the same time, the manager was trying to persuade me that I might need more room (which I tend to agree). He showed me a spotless white 325i 2003 wagon.

I really, really liked it. However, there are no heated seats, no little headlight washers, and the biggie: no all-wheel-drive.

It is $28,9K. It has 10,000 miles. I drove it. It seems a little different than the xi sedan. It's certified up to 100,000 miles and I can buy an extended maintenance.

I live near New York City, and I have a real bad feeling that we're gonna have lots of snow this winter. The manager was telling me that I wouldn't even need snow tires with this rear-wheel-drive wagon, and I was fretting too much about it. I asked if they could include a set of snow tires in the deal, and was told that's too expensive to give away.

Okay....

This car is going to be my one car, and only. I will not have another car to drive in the snow. I won't have anyone to tow me out of the snow, if I get stuck. I know that I can get pretty cold and stiff in the winter, and I know my Saab has gotten through most snow storms (without snow tires), but it's a front-wheel drive.

What would you all think of this deal. Love the wagon. Six of one, half dozen of another. I need a car, pretty quick.

Tried to Audi, today. Yuck! The Volvo s60 turbo was plush, and not too bad.

Kind of liked the Passat diesel with it's 45 mpg. But heard it could have a problem starting in the cold weather. The v6 is comfortable.

But many people would not mention Passat and 3 series in the same breath....

Oh, I'm lost.

Really appreciate some help. Is it hopeless to have a regular 325it in the winter?

Thanks for all your help!

mia10

This is the deal I'm about to sign on. Not sure if it's the best I can do for a lease deal.

2004 330i, Orient Blue (metallic paint), Automatic, Premium Package, BMW car alarm.

MSRP $41,645
Residual @ 55%
Sales Price $36,654.12
  (which includes $35,785.12 price + $595 for car alarm + $1,024 "capped fees" - $750 "cash cap reduction")
M.F. .00165
$1,511 inception
  (1st month pmt. + $750.00 "cap cost reduction" + $195 "upfront fees" + $52.50 cap reduction/rebate tax)
Monthly pmt $480.19 + tax / 15K / 36 months

Thanks in advance

medman2k1

I am in SOuth FLorida
740 FICO

2004 330Ci Black sapphire metallic, Premium, Auto, Xenon, Alarm

I know this is a "dumb" way to go but this is how I negotiated given that I researched the price and finanicng before, so i knew about where i wanted monthly payment in relation to the price.

3yr/36k lease
Payment-464.29/mo + tax

Inception(includes 1st month payment,) 1,200

MSRP-42445 or 43445?,
I think, because sales guy said that the BMW Alarm was a 1k option, which I never heard of, or read about......I had not accounted for that in my previous calculations, but the final figure I calculated ends up just a few dollars less than the one proposed
 

I am trying to back out to what the sale price is?

I think this is a good offer, not great, but certainly not a complete hosing, especially given it is the color I want, with the options I want.

What do u think?

vsaxena

If the BMW alarm is a 1K option, you are much better off paying slightly more for a zero deductible on the comprehensive policy. Since you are leasing, you are not concerned about your loss if the car is stolen. However, you can save a bundle on you deductible if you ever need to make a claim against the comprehensive insurance policy (glass damage, vandalism, theft etc.). I am sure the increase in the premium will be about $100 an year, and much less than the $1000 being quoted for the alarm.

BTW, if I remember correctly, the alarm should be a few hundred dollars and not a $1000.

sebzx79

Subaru is not linked to Ford but GM.

The new Outback XT rocks, is fast, awd and you can get it in a wagon at a resonable price.

Worth checking out.

glaker

I just had an alarm put in a new 330. I ordered the alarm from a BMW dealer in NJ thru an ad in Roundel ($225+ $14 shipping)and had it installed by a local dealer for $107 (about 1 1/2 hours of labor). But, I did have one local dealer quote list price of $300 on the alarm and two hours of labor @ $86 per hour. So the moral is you gotta check it out first and, if the dealer you're buying from doesn't want to deal on it, have it done later.
Oh, BTW, the insurance savings is only 10% per year on comprehensive portion of bill in NY. In my case I save about $40 per year - certainly not a good cost offset, but we wanted the alarm anyway. Good luck with your negotiations!

kyfdx

medman...

It is a good offer.. coupes are more expensive to lease than sedans.. $465/mo with minimal upfronts on a $42K coupe is a good deal.

The alarm.. I doubt they are charging you $1K for it.. That is just to make the deal seem better.. If that is the price, leaving it off should save you $30/mo.. The car already has an ignition immobilizer, which means it can't be driven without the key... My guess is.. if you leave it off, they will only knock the lease price down by about $10/mo. I wouldn't even pay that for it..

I don't have the exact numbers to back out to your sale price, but they should reveal the CAP cost to you. The only incentives on the coupe are high residuals and low money factors, so the sale price is probably within $3K of MSRP.. I think you have a good deal.

regards,
kyfdx

kyfdx

1) Sale price of $35785 is good.

2) $1024 of fees in cap cost, plus another $195 of fees at inception? That is $1219 of fees.. Unless you are in NY, the acquisition fee is $525, so what is the other $694 for? Seems like a little padding going on here..

3) IMHO, I wouldn't pay $595 for an alarm.. If the car is stolen, you have nothing in it but the monthly payment....

4) The payment with the amounts given comes out exactly with what was quoted.. that is good.

5) I assume no security deposit? I think that is why the MF is bumped up to .00165 from .0015

This is how I would want it structured.

MSRP $41,645
Residual @ 55%
Sales Price $36,310.12
  (which includes $35,785.12 price + capped fee of $525 acquisition fee)
M.F. .0015
$1,156 inception
  (1st month pmt. + $195 "upfront fees" + $500 security deposit)
Monthly pmt $461.19 + tax / 15K / 36 months

I dropped the alarm.. took out the cap cost reduction, added a security deposit (which you will get back in 3 years), took out $499 in fees (my guess is they were charging you $725 for the cap cost reduction and a $299 document fee). I left in the $195 of upfront fees, just to give them the benefit of the doubt.

As you can see, your upfronts dropped $350 and your payment by $19/mo.. plus you get the $500 back in three years for a total savings of $1534.

But, let's assume you can't get any of those fees waived.. Just by dropping the alarm.. and making a security deposit instead of a cap cost reduction.. your MF comes down to .0015 and your payment would be $476/mo with $200 less cash up front and another $500 coming back from the deposit at lease end.

You have really done well at getting good info, and I think you are close to making a good deal.

regards,
kyfdx

P.S.. by the time you add tax, your payment may be over $500/mo.. If that is the case, your security deposit would be $550 instead of $500.

kyfdx

cargal...

What is it with all the cars up there without heated seats? At my local dealer (Cincinnati), they don't order any cars without them. Especially on an AWD model.

As you can see, there is always another used car out there on the horizon.. Since you seem open on the issue of color, I would wait until I found a car with the options I wanted.. and I wouldn't take one without heated seats.

It is NOT hopeless to drive a 325iT in winter, but you will HAVE to put winter tires on it. With winter tires, it should do as well or better than your Saab with all-season tires.

However...it seems a lot of the wagons are optioned with AWD..they shouldn't be that hard to find.. If an '03 is too much, look for a CPO '02 model.

Headlight washers: Not worth worrying about.
Heated seats: A must in NY, from my perspective.

The green car? I'm sure it looks great.. but they probably got it $1000 cheaper than what they would pay for silver or gray. If you like it, fine, but it will be worth less on re-sale.. that was my only point on the color.

Take your time, and find the right car.

regards,
kyfdx

teach3

I have ordered a 2005 330i from a dealer about 250 miles away (2k cheaper!). It has been built and should be arriving in less than a month -- thats the good news

Since I would hate to travel 250 miles and find the car with a problem (so much harder to get home!), my question is whether anybody knows whether the dealer performs a pre-delivery checklist (ostensibly performed by their mechanics?). I am assuming there is such a procedure and that it would be done as a matter of course without charge -- is that correct? and what are the usual items checked? should I request that certain items be checked that are not always checked? any other advice concerning pre-delivery pickup is also appreciated

thanks in advance --

peakpro

Can someone give me an idea of what wouldbe consider a good deal on a 2005 325xi?

Only options are paint, automatic, and heated seated.

List is 33,995.

thanks

kyfdx

$1200-$2000 off.. there isn't much spread at that MSRP.

peakpro

thanks

mia10

kyfdx, thank you so much for the information!

scgilber

Did anyone cathc the BMW NA commercial yesterday claiming a 349 mo/36 lease with 2500 down deal during the nfl games yesterday?

Now I cant find anything about it, even google cant help...

shainemo

Anyone get any quotes on an '05 325 coupe yet?

Im looking at a base model (5 speed / Black) with or without navigation and/or sport package, depending on price.

Thanks

kyfdx

Are you sure? The national ad that has been in the paper, is for $459 (or something close to that) with $2500 down for a 525i..

I think maybe you misread or misheard (is that a word?) the ad....

regards,
kyfdx

paule

I just bought an '05 xi. Once you figure in the doc fees, I paid $1,400 below MSRP. The car was also fairly low optioned such as what you are looking at.

ru777

Can anyone tell me what is the cut-off date for placing an order for a 2005 325xi.

I called a few dealers and they dont seem to have definite answer. They hover around Dec-Jan. That seems too early.

I need a 325xi with sports/auto and is very hard to find one.

Thanks!
Ru777

ru777

Congrads!

Is it with the sports pkg ? If so did you have to order it?

Ru77

Kirstie_H

Since this is a pricing discussion, your post has been moved to our regular BMW 3-Series discussion, where you can get feedback from other owners.

kirstie_h
Roving Host & Future Vehicles Host

paule

Yes, it was with the sports pkg. Only other options were metallic paint, fold down rear seat, and auto.
I did have to order it. I ordered it middle of Sep. and should see it sometime around Thanksgiving. I wanted a low option car so that I could afford it but wanted some specific options (mainly color and auto).
It's kind of tough to wait that long.........

paule

....and has unbelievable turbo lag. Try like 2-3 seconds from a standing start.

ru777

I plan to order the prety much the same. 325xi with auto/sport/xenon/heated seats.

I'd Appreciate if you can tell your shopping strategy.
Did you email dealers for quotes ? fax ?
Thanks!
Ru777

paule

I live in an area where the closest BMW dealer is 3 hours away so I decided to give all of the dealers within an 8 hr drive a shot. I faxed a "request for quote" letter to the "internet/fleet" representative of all of the dealers. I used the BMW website to get fax numbers of all of the dealers. Probably about 75% of the dealers I sent a fax to responded.
In the letter I outlined the invoice price of the car as I speced it out along with destination charge. The one thing I did not have was MACO (advertising charge) and training costs. I left that as a question mark. I then stated I WOULD be buying/ordering a car within the next week and I was a serious buyer.
I requested a quote OTD minus TTL (out the door minus tax, title, and license).
I received several phone calls with quotes and a couple of faxed responses. Some dealers will try to lure you in with a lowball quote and then hit you up with an obscene doc fee once you get to the real serious stage. You need to be very clear with them that they need to include all doc, plate, tire fees in the quote.
Good luck!

njmarcy

HI there,

I purchased an 325XI at J M K Auto sales in Springfield for $2000 off MSRP. But bear in mind, the pricing came via an internet quote, I didn't just walk in off the street.

Good luck! if you haven't purchased it already.

paule

Just curious; are we talking '04 or '05 on the $2,000 off MSRP?

kyfdx

There is a $1500 dealer incentive on every '04 325 sedan.. You can get under invoice now.. By late December, it is likely all of the '04s will be gone.

fcboi

Just leased a new 2004 BMW 330i with Premium package, Xenon, titanium silver, steptronic, 36 month / 12k miles, $1,000 down including 1st month payment and $469 per month + tax of 8%.

MY research tells me that this is a pretty good deal. Anyone confirm? THANKS

medman2k1

fcboi

Well i think you got taken for atleast an extra 1800 or so. There was a 3k incentive on the 330i sedan.

I just leased a 2004 330Ci with premium, xenon, metallic paint, Auto, and MW alarm

1200 inception( includes 1st month pmt) 467+tax/mo

I felt like a left too much on the table, but i wanted the car and didint want to wait for 2005,

cota99

I hope they still have a few somewhere. If not, I'll look into a 2005 TSX. I love the 325, but I cannot get it until late December.

fcboi

MedMan2k1: My feeling was that I left about $500 on the table but I just wanted to get the deal done, The Edmunds TMV on this was $37645 and dealer invoice was $38,165 and the value of vehicle agreed to on my lease lease was $35998 down from MSRP of $41,700. The $2,100 of the marketing support was used to knock down the price of the car below dealer invoice which means I left $900 on the table. PArt of this was used to support the financing as a below market money factor was used and a higher residual of 65% was assumed on the actual value of the car.

Either way I feel pretty good about the deal. Edmunds was a huge help in getting a great deal! Enjoy your car!!!

bmwccc

DRHARRIS

How are you licking the SMG now? I am close to getting a 33Ci and am leaning towards the SMG over the Steptronic.

Let me know, thanks!

pharmd2b

Hello. I am looking to purchase an 05 330ci in the next 6 months. My question is, if I am to get an 05 model, in what month do you guys think I would get the best deal?
I've been reading people here getting about 2K off MSRP with the 05's. Is that deal likely to get better early next year? Thanks in advance for all your help!

bmwccc

I am going in at the end of the year around Xmas and new years. My 2005 330Ci I configured is $43,570 msrp and invoice at 39,930. I think i could get at least $1,500 off msrp but $2000 may be optimistic.

What do you think KYFDX??????????????????

Also, what kind of lease payment would you expect to pay for a 2005 330Ci at the negotiated price around 42,000.

Thanks

p.s. I ran the same configuration for the 330i and made the price on both cars come out exactly the same, but the lease payment was $26 higher per month on the 330Ci, any thoughts on that?

jpl

Hi; Looking for the same car & eqpt., live in NY, how long is the lease, Miles per year, & buyout.
                      Thanks in advance!!

                              jpl

curtain

I'm looking at buying a 2004 330cic covertible with cold weather pkg,prem pkg,automatic transmission and xenon lights, Lowest price so far is 46,235 including destination but not 6% sales tax. Invoice is 45,130..what do you think? Do these ever go for below invoice?????? What about a lease?
Thanks

kyfdx

Coupes generally have higher lease payments, because they have lower residuals than the sedans.. I haven't heard too much on the market so far.. just what I read here.. $1500 off MSRP shouldn't be too hard, though..

If leasing, February and March seem to have great deals... Otherwise, the week between Xmas and New Years seems to be primetime, also..

In general, the later in the model year, the better the price you can get.. This will be a strange year for coupes, because the new sedan will be out this summer, but they haven't released a timeline for the new coupes yet.... I wouldn't be able to guess how pricing will be as we get closer to that roll-out.

regards,
kyfdx

kyfdx

$1K over invoice on a convertible is good, even this late in the year... The only deals on convertibles last year were very low money factors on leases in February and March.. When April arrived, the deals were gone..and haven't returned yet.

bmwccc

Thanks for the feedback KYFDX. I have a question re: transmissions. The only choice I have not settled on is SMG, Steptronic or Manual. Does anyone have any experience or knowledge or opinions on these options?

Which transmission is the fastest 0-60 ( non performance package)?

What is the main difference between SMG and Steptronic? Which is faster? Which is more reliable? Which is more active or aggressive to drive between SMG and Steptronic? What are the negatives with SMG. And finally, how does the SMG compare to the manual for 0-60 times and pure driving / shifting enjoyment?

Thanks

kyfdx

First.. I haven't driven an SMG.. So, I'll just pass on what I have heard..

1) I'm almost positive that the SMG would be the fastest, assuming you don't like to rev up and clutch dump a manual.. In real world driving (flooring it from 10 MPH or so), I doubt there is much difference between any of them.

2) Steptronic is an automatic transmission. It does give you the ability to change the shift points (sport mode) or even shift through the gears manually (still auto, no clutch, no need to lift off throttle).
SMG is actually a manual with an automatic clutch. It shifts much faster than you can with a manual, and also has an automatic mode.

3) I haven't heard of any reliability problems with the SMG, but the Steptronic has proven to be very reliable.

4) The SMG would be more "aggressive" than the Step.

5) The SMG might be a little quicker than the manual, but I personally like using the clutch, and don't really want to learn a new system.

6) Negatives? (and this is just what I hear).. The SMG makes a poor substitute for an automatic.. If you are going to leave it in auto mode most of the time, you are better off with the step. If you like to shift yourself, most say it is less satisfying than a manual.. Some have bought it, because the second driver in the household can't drive a manual.. and they need the auto mode for those few times when it has to be driven by driver #2.

Hope this helps,
kyfdx

designman

Let me add a couple of things to what kyfdx said.

A major characteristic of SMG is the jerky shifts. It’s almost like popping the clutch on every shift, nothing like a conventional automatic. This can wear you out in no time. The one you would be getting is SMG II. The new M5 has SMG III. It is a more advanced version and is supposedly smoother in addition to shifting 20% faster. I can’t be sure, but common sense says future 5s and 3s will also have a more advanced version so if SMG floats your boat, I would wait on this since the technology can stand to be improved. And when it does improve, resale of older versions will be affected.

I was hot for it but soured very quickly after trying it. Also, IMO there is no substitute for the sportiness of a manual clutch where you can modulate the power transfer and skip gears out of sequence. The speed you will save with SMG may be good for track but intereferes with driving pleasure in diverse, real world situations IMO. Others report liking it but under no circumstances would I suggest buying it without considerable test driving. Be darn sure it’s for you.

kyfdx

Yeah.. what he said..

If I had paid attention in school, that is the way my post would have read. thanks, designman..

designman

You do a great job around here. I enjoy reading your posts.

bmwccc

Designman and KYFDX, thanks a lot for the reply. I have heard of a few of these issues as well but have never driven one yet.

If anyone else has input, please let us know.

Thanks

ua01682

Me too.

bmwccc

Did you test drive the SMGI or II version and on what vehicle? Last year around this time was the first opportunity the 330Ci had an option for the SMG. So i assume they used the SMGI and for 2005 it is the SMGII.

jb_shin

SMG I was only used for European and some other market E36 M3 models. The current iteration in the E46 M3 is SMG II using Getrage transmission and Magenetti Marelli software. The other 3 series models use the ZF hardware and Siemens software (I may have the SW reversed), which are considerably different than the true SMG II used in the M3. BMW now calls them both SMG for marketing purpose, but they are quite different.

While there is an "auto" mode in the SMG logic, it is a manual box being shifted by computer, so the rough gear change is a "feature" :-)