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There is no reason for the cost of steel to affect a 3-Series price more than any other car from any other manufacturer.
With the 1-series for the US cancelled or delayed for years, if the 3-Series price jumps much, it only makes competing cars like the TL and G35 look that much more attractive.
You just have to decide if it is worth it personally to pay the extra money. They cost what they cost, and if that is the car you want, you have to pay it. Except for some rare exceptions on certain lease deals, it is almost always more expensive to get the BMW.
regards,
kyfdx
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The wider the price differential becomes, the harder it gets to justify for many people.
There will always be BMW fanatics who will pay "any price" to have a BMW especially if they want to be one of the first to own the new design.
Any thoughts?
Cheers!
My thoughts are that they will release the new model in 2005 as a 2006 model. The current 3 series is still a hot seller for them and still surpasses newer model cars in most every respect so there is no real benefit for BMW to introduce the new model so soon.
As well,they just released the new 5 series and X3 and I'm sure they will want to see how the sales go for these models.
Leave your order in and enjoy the car. There's a good chance the new model will only be marginally better than the one it replaces anyway and judging by the new 5 series,I'm sure there are alot of happy previous 5 series owners who feel much better about their car now.
Good luck!
- Bret
I agree on not waiting for the new model... It could very easily cost you $100 more a month to lease in the fall, even if the car is the same as the current one.
regards,
kyfdx
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And the current gen 3 is produced at several plants too. What's the big deal?
Wait a second the Z4 is made in the USA. God I hope the e90 isn't made here. I like BMWs but buying American made cars is asking a bit too much... "
First off the Z4 is the number one selling roadster! True BMW is having a hard time selling Z4's as roadsters are not very popular right now but they are awesome cars.
The E90 isn't going to be made in the USA but the X5 is made here and only here in the USA and has been a HUGE sucess to BMW. I would love for BMW to build all cars here in the USA the engine is still from germany but I know I had a hand in building a BMW!
Yeah the ole roadster is dying on the vine...
I don't much care if the X5 has been a financial boon to BMW. It's an SUV, the less said about it the better. The less said about the X3, even better.
At this point from what I've seen and read about the 2006 3 series, it's gonne be even fatter than my ZHP. That's a damn shame. My car's already too big, so hopefully BMW will get it right with the 1/2 series. If they even release them here.
kyfdx,
This is what BMWFS offered me. Let me know if it makes sense to you.
Order date 4/1
Lock the Lease on 4/30
Lease valid for 60 days till 6/30
This gives me 3 months or about 12 weeks which is enough time to get delivery of the vehicle.
Also, you mentioned lease deals peaking in March. Should I wait a month and order on 5/1?
PS. 325 Ci 36 month residual 60% and MF 0.0018. Can I do better? For the sedan, I was given a 64% residual with same money factor.
Thank you.
The current money factor on all 325 models is .00125 I was under the impression that dealers could only raise that to .00165 by BMWFS. I would doubt they would know what April numbers are in advance. Also, and I don't know this for sure... I didn't think the spread on residuals was that big from the sedan to the coupe. I'd run all this info by Car_man on the Lease Questions board in the Finance section.
Residuals aren't negotiable.. they are set by BMWFS. Money factors can be marked up, and that is negotiable if they are. It seems more and more BMW dealers are marking them up. Car_man could verify all your numbers, but he usually doesn't have the April numbers until 4-5 days after they come out.
regards,
kyfdx
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BMW comes out with new leasing programs on April 1st. I think they can only lock you until June 30th if they use the numbers from the new program. Since they are marking up your rate, it gives them some cushion, but if the residuals drop on April 1st, I think you'll get stuck with the new number if you want the lock through June.
The good part about it, is that if the numbers change in your favor at the time you take delivery (not likely), you can use the new numbers that are in effect at that time.
regards,
kyfdx
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Best regards.
I have narrowed my choice of a NY area body/repair shop to Habberstad BMW collision center and the Little Garage. Would anyone be able to recommened one over the other? Are there any advantages to taking it to an authorized center like Habberstad? Little garage has an excellent reputation and uses only OEM parts. Thanks for your advice.
I thought someone might have some new info in the next generation 3 Series and it is a post about body shops in NY.
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I live in Chicago and love the AWD. (The other cars I'll be considering if the E90 isn't out will be the Acura TL (which is rumored to be getting AWD and the Infiniti G35, which is rumored to be getting a much-needed interior face-lift)...
3 Series will be availbale in Oct of 2005
4 Series maybe Oct of 2006
BMW, unlike many Japanese companies, recognizes when you have a brand with a solid rep, you don't want to mess too much with it.
Calling the Acura Integra...oops, that's right the RSX...lol
http://www.salon-auto.ch/en/index.html
There is a "picture" of a 4 series coupe floating around the internet that turned out to just be a Photoshopped image of a photo of the current 6 series.
Based on what the current 5 series looks like will likley give some idea of what the 3 will look like. It makes sense that there will be a family resemblance as usual. It might even look a little like the fake photos floating around.
The only new model I really don't like is the 7 series. The 5 series styling doesn't bother me.
I am more concerned about potential major price increases on the new 3 series body style than new styling.
They may keep the weight the same (through more use of aluminum), but I think it's a bit heavy as it is right now [is it possible to make something solid, feel safe and also lighter?].
I really hope they decide to bring us the 1-series... [a bit off-topic, I know].
I'm actually looking for an E30 right now (and sell my E46)... it should be tons lighter and still have a 2.5 I6. Plus, getting rid of the monthly payments will look better to the bank as the wife and I look for a house (the Bay area is brutal in this regard).
Oops... back to the topic at hand...
Is the new 3 going to have that funky variable speed steering that has been perplexing some journalists in the new 5?
My current car is coming up on the lease, and I am deciding between a 330 convertible and an M3 convertible.
Slick.
My current car is coming up on the lease, and I am deciding between a 330 convertible and an M3 convertible.
I read that the mags did not like the variable assisted steering on the new 645i...they took big points off. I thought that previous pundits loved the X5 steering and said that BMW had overall one of the best steering responses...however, is this new type a step back ?
I like how the current 325 drives, though I don't mind the looks of the new one...
I think the same goes for I-drive, active steering, etc. It's strange at first, but with ownership you learn it and it becomes second nature.
regards,
kyfdx
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How much better and improved is the engine
The price especially compared to the competition
Will the upcoming 2 Series have the same engine options as the 3 series. If that would be the case, I would select the 2 series since gizmos and interior options is not what drives me to buy a car.
The model I'm excited about is actually the M2 coupe that's supposed to be coming. I actually think my 3 series is about as large a car as I'd want and the recent 1-series "first drives" are saying that it might even be a more fun ride and better handler than even the z4 and 6-series. I'm guessing the price would fall into mid-range 3 territory (and hopefully obtainable without the I-drive, electro everything, etc...)
Garris
'01 330I
And I obviously wouldnt want i-drive in it, or even worse: active steering... I tried 530i w/ actve steering and I found it overly sensitive, its harder to drive normally at slow speeds (nearly hit curbs twice).
Oh and i heard the new 1-series wont be on sale in US area, does anyone have any news about that?
wrt to the 1-series, it seems like BMWNA's answer changes every week. Latest that I've heard is that it's coming to the states, but only as a coupe (2-series).
The 2 series cannot compete there. It is way too tiny.
There has to be a 325 equivalent for 2006 in around the same price range as the current 325i or they will lose thousands of sales a year to the competition. Entry level buyers don't want a $40K+ 3-Series and won't downgrade to a $30K 6 cylinder 2 series when they can get a G35 for around the same price.
I also don't think the 1-series is tiny.. Just a couple inches off the current 3-series. It will draw people that want a BMW, but can't afford the new 3-series.
One thing I am positive about.. BMWs won't be getting any cheaper.
regards,
kyfdx
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The 2 series is very small. The 3 series is a compact already, the 2-series is likely into the subcompact range.
Actually, until recently there hasn't been much competition. Prior to the arrival of the G35 and IS300, what else really competed with the 330?
I think this new competition will encourage BMW to either hold the line on prices or add more standard content.
Of course, the new 5-series definitely exceeded the prices of the last generation. Did I just counter my own argument? Man, I hate it when I do that.