Just saw the new M3's. A coupe and the sedan. Both were $85,000 bucks . Get this, the base on them was $57,000, a $30,000 differance . What a joke. Really did not like the look to much, looked like a bloated 3 series. He said the new 1 series will be in next week. I bet they will be asking over $45k for them. Oh yea, the covertible M3 will be $10k more, $95k .

 

Where's the extra $30k coming from? Is that the dealer markup??? Even fully-optioned, I don't think you can get the MSRP on an M3 coupe above ~$72, so it sounds like there's some gouging going on.

And $95k for an M3 convertible is crazy, when you can get a convertible M6, with 500 horsepower worth of V-10 goodness, for $105k

 

 

$15k in upgrades and another $15k in markup. He said "you won't see a base M3", well duhhh, BMW is great for that.

 

I drove a new M3 about two weeks ago. I was not impressed considering the price. I've got an 07 335i and like it much better than the new M3.

 

I remember when the E39 M5's came out, the CA dealers had $50k markup. And the Z8 had a $100k markup. Heck, I recently saw Ford Mustang GT500 in a showroom with a $30k markup, marked SOLD, the dealer even put the name of the person who sold it on a mirror tag.

If it's new and hot, someone will pay up for one.

 

Dealers are marking these cars up BIG time. Im not a fan of the new M3. I'd much rather take my E46 then the new one. Besides the body lines on the E46 are much nicer

 

In that price range is competition is much better cars for the buck. Still a nice car for what the MSRP is. I would save a few more grand and buy a GT-R

 

there are many who will pay over MSRP... They either have too much money to care, or want the convinience of a local purchase. Everyone should say "screw you" to dealers that mark up.

Matt

 

You know what, just because the dealers are marking up I'm not buying an M3! Yeah... that's why I won't get one

Join me people!!! Don't buy a new M3!!!

 

 

but there are lots of BMW dealers. For the Mini and our MDX, I cancled an order on the MDX, and never made an offer at a local dealer for the Mini cause of mark ups. The cost of a Southwest ticket (<$100) got me what I wanted at no mark up. And I let the dealers know why they lost my business. While my Mini was only a hair over $25k, the MDX dealer lost out on a $43k check (paid cash for that one). While it's not M3 price, it's getting closer.

Sure, the M3 is an expensive car, but $15k is a lot of money as well. There's probalby a dealer out there somewhere that wants your business enough to sell it without a markup. Some GT500s and Ford GTs were sold at sticker (though not many). All it takes is some phone work. Reward those that sell at MSRP, and don't reward those that mark up!

Matt

 

Yep, the dealer mark ups are insane, seen them in person and can't imagine paying what they are asking for that car (of course, to be honest I'm not a huge fan of it to begin with and think the MSRP is high to begin with).

Also, to add insult to injury, I've heard from someone reliable that the sales people are not, how shall I say, not exactly driving those cars following break in procedures...

 

Does anyone know if the Ferrari dealers will negotiate?

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but as I understand it Ferrari dealers are not allowed to mark up new cars - only 'used'

 

I talked to one, and they're pre-sold pretty much forever. (But it wasn't so much as a mark-up situation, as demand is so high vs supply, that you have to have an "in" to get a reasonable place in line.) So much so, that they actually put some "consignment" cars in thier show room so that they can move more than thier allotment.

At least that's how it is up here.

Matt

 

Yep, even a broker could do better than our local BMW dealer here in Fresno, they have a terrible reputation, both on selling and service. We, well my wife, was in the market for a Z4, we went to BMW, it was like the guy didn't want to sell a car that day . We walked across the street, to the Acura dealer, and bought a 03 Z4 with 11k miles. We went back to BMW and showed the jerk our car . Anyway the M3 even without a markup dosen't seem to be worth it .

 

You do have to love that business model. We will always build one less than there is demand for. A sure fire way to have built in exclusivity.

 

maybe it's one of the good ones that didnt need repairs?

 

Wouldn't that be a Honda?

 

There was an interesting article in Automobile or R&T recently about Ferraris and Ferrari dealers. The spoke with owners, would-have-been-owners, Ferrari dealer sales people who wanted to remain annonymous, and even Ferrari mucky-mucks, and the consensus was pretty much that if you don't already own a Ferrari, you ain't gettin' a new one. They apparently steer you into a used one(s) first, and after you've been an owner/customer for a while, you might get a chance at getting on a waiting list for a new model.

 

and Mini owner as well, wanted a 430. He owns two Ferraris. He gave up due to a combination of price and wait time. Found that he could get one from eBay sooner than via a dealer! Then he lost the urge and is still happy with the two he has.

Matt

 

*Not trying to derail the thread but just gotta ask*

JIMINNI, how does the Z4 compare to your MINI? I'm considering picking up a used one when I pay down my MCS a little, probably the coupe version by then - god that thing is sex on wheels. But I'm very curious to hear from current MINI/Z4 owners how they like both cars and how they compare.

 

Well they are very different cars. We have the 3.0 roadster. So it being a covertible is, I would imagine, going to be very different than the Z4 coupe that you will buy. That being said, it has a wonderful smooth engine, nice sound, and like you said is a beautiful car. The convertible, even with the top down has good trunk space. Now the not so good stuff. I wish it had alittle more power, my Mini is just as fast, and I am hoping once the runflats wear out that the ride improves, its bad! So in the end they compliment themselfs good .

 

The M3 both coupe and sedan have a 10k markup at the dealer around my area, the new 135i have a 3k markup on them