BMW: 3-Series News
#641
Race Director
Considering that you can get every feature on the entry level sedan vs. mid-level (IS vs GS, E90 vs E60) this business of being in a different class is not quite so true anymore. The only diff between IS and GS is size and layout (and perhaps marginally better materials) - the features are the same. E90 vs. E60 is a bit different cause of all the aluminum used in the E60, but again all of the same features available on both.
So nowdays you're not paying so much to move up in class as you pay for move up in size. This will be lost on many folks who had the traditional outlook on classes of cars. So to image obsessed Americans a $40K 525 (215HP now) is a better car than a $50K 335, because it's in a better "class".
So nowdays you're not paying so much to move up in class as you pay for move up in size. This will be lost on many folks who had the traditional outlook on classes of cars. So to image obsessed Americans a $40K 525 (215HP now) is a better car than a $50K 335, because it's in a better "class".
#642
Fahrvergnügen'd
Originally Posted by Crazy Sellout
not like it matters but that 1k price is including bi-xenon with adaptive lighting. Not just xenon alone.
Also its $800 option, not 1k. You pay for technology, if you want it that is.
Also its $800 option, not 1k. You pay for technology, if you want it that is.
#643
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I guess these cars are finally hitting the street.
I just got this E-Mail:
Hi Shawn,
The new 2006 3 series BMW's (325i and 330i) are here at Daniels BMW. Please give
me a call at your convenience so we can schedule a time for you to drive this
new and exciting vehicle.
Don't wait to long,
Daniel Mulik
Internet Client Advisor
Daniels BMW
I just got this E-Mail:
Hi Shawn,
The new 2006 3 series BMW's (325i and 330i) are here at Daniels BMW. Please give
me a call at your convenience so we can schedule a time for you to drive this
new and exciting vehicle.
Don't wait to long,
Daniel Mulik
Internet Client Advisor
Daniels BMW
#645
Team Owner
iTrader: (1)
I think the following quote best describes the general American car buying public...
"Perhaps, Mmmm. But, you know, this is the one. Yes, yes yes... I saw three of these parked outside the local Starbucks this morning, which tells me only one thing. There's too many self-Indulgent wieners in this city with too much bloody money!"
-Memphis Rheins (as played by Nicolas Cage in Gone in 60 Seconds)
"Perhaps, Mmmm. But, you know, this is the one. Yes, yes yes... I saw three of these parked outside the local Starbucks this morning, which tells me only one thing. There's too many self-Indulgent wieners in this city with too much bloody money!"
-Memphis Rheins (as played by Nicolas Cage in Gone in 60 Seconds)
#646
Race Director
Unlike the release of the E46 I think the sales will flatten sooner and the discounts are going to start sooner. There's just too much good competition out there this time. When looking at the E90 prices relative to the E46 prices are virtually flat. The only reason the E46 is cheaper than the E90 is due to heavy BMW incentives at the end of model run.
Biker, who already test drove the 325 last month.
Biker, who already test drove the 325 last month.
#654
The hair says it all
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Originally Posted by cob3683
I think that they just photoshopped a removable hardtop to the cabrio body from the lower picture and are calling it a coupe.
#660
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U.S. orders for BMW 3 series beat expectations, CFO says - - Reuters / May 09, 2005 - - Source: Automotive News
MUNICH -- U.S. orders for German luxury carmaker BMW's new 3-series car have got off to a better-than-expected start, Chief Financial Officer Stefan Krause told Reuters on Monday.
"The pre-launch orders are very, very good, far above expectations," he said on the sidelines of an industry conference. He did not give any concrete numbers.
The new 3 series -- BMW's top-selling model which has also beaten expectations in Europe since its launch in early March -- hits the U.S. market on May 6.
Krause reiterated BMW's target of boosting 2005 unit sales by 6 percent to 9 percent.
He said BMW remained positive about the U.S. market despite the sluggish sales from domestic heavyweights General Motors and Ford Motor Co.
"There is still enormous potential in the United States," he said, noting that BMW was not affected by the "American problems" weighing on GM and Ford such as health care and pension liabilities and Standard & Poor's downgrades of their debt to junk status.
He also suggested the premium segment of the overall U.S. car market was relatively underdeveloped and thus had upside potential.
The U.S. market is BMW's biggest, accounting for around a quarter of car sales. BMW is more than 50 percent hedged against its dollar exposure this year.
Krause said there was no target on how much to boost this level, adding it was continually making tactical hedging transactions but eschewing long-term strategic hedges given the unfavurable euro-dollar exchange rate at present.
"The pre-launch orders are very, very good, far above expectations," he said on the sidelines of an industry conference. He did not give any concrete numbers.
The new 3 series -- BMW's top-selling model which has also beaten expectations in Europe since its launch in early March -- hits the U.S. market on May 6.
Krause reiterated BMW's target of boosting 2005 unit sales by 6 percent to 9 percent.
He said BMW remained positive about the U.S. market despite the sluggish sales from domestic heavyweights General Motors and Ford Motor Co.
"There is still enormous potential in the United States," he said, noting that BMW was not affected by the "American problems" weighing on GM and Ford such as health care and pension liabilities and Standard & Poor's downgrades of their debt to junk status.
He also suggested the premium segment of the overall U.S. car market was relatively underdeveloped and thus had upside potential.
The U.S. market is BMW's biggest, accounting for around a quarter of car sales. BMW is more than 50 percent hedged against its dollar exposure this year.
Krause said there was no target on how much to boost this level, adding it was continually making tactical hedging transactions but eschewing long-term strategic hedges given the unfavurable euro-dollar exchange rate at present.
#661
Race Director
For all the other makers shooting for the standard in this segment this will be bad news. The new IS and other cars may match the 3 series but it won't dent the sales.
#662
Outnumbered at home
Originally Posted by biker
For all the other makers shooting for the standard in this segment this will be bad news. The new IS and other cars may match the 3 series but it won't dent the sales.
the car is entrenched now. They would have to just make a disastrous move to mess up their sales.
#664
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Originally Posted by biker
For all the other makers shooting for the standard in this segment this will be bad news. The new IS and other cars may match the 3 series but it won't dent the sales.
#665
Lola
Originally Posted by gavriil
I think the new 3 has more to fear from the current and next G coupe than from the IS. THe IS will take 2-3 years to establish itself.
G35(V35 worldwide)has been hurting 3-series sales for 3 years.
#670
Just saw one on the GW bridge going to NYC
a 330i Black brand spanking new crossing the GW bridge early evening... the TL look so much nicer and sharp....I can careless about the specs.
Now I like my car even more.... Whoever design the NEW 3 s/b shot dead
Now I like my car even more.... Whoever design the NEW 3 s/b shot dead
#671
Yeah, ok. And while you're firing bullets, shoot whoever designed everything nissan has released since 2000, the toyota IS, GS, SC, the M-B CLS, SLK, the Mustang and the Cayenne.
And shoot some caffeine into honda/acura designers so maybe they'll wake up and design something halfway exciting to look at.
And shoot some caffeine into honda/acura designers so maybe they'll wake up and design something halfway exciting to look at.
#672
Originally Posted by MSZ
G35(V35 worldwide)has been hurting 3-series sales for 3 years.
The 3 is the class leader still. The motoring press worldwide (as in WORLDWIDE, not 1 country) is raving about this car.
There seems to be room for all these players in the segment. Not sure if its b/c people are wealthier or we just have MORE people (probably a mix of both).
I do know the 3 will continue to be THE car to have in its class.
#673
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Redesigned BMW 3 Series gets more equipment, but sees only small price hike - - RICK KRANZ | Automotive News - - Source: Autoweek
PITTSBURGH -- The 2006 BMW 3 Series has been redesigned, and the standard equipment list has been lengthened. Yet, despite a weak dollar, the car's U.S. sticker price took only a small bump upward.
Sticker to sticker, the 325i sedan is $1,000 higher than the 2005 model at $30,995, including shipping. The 330i is a mere $600 more than the 2005 model. BMW executives say that on a comparably equipped basis, the 325i is $150 above the 2005 model's price, and the 330i is $100 less.
Wolfgang Epple, the 3 Series director, while not revealing specifics, said, "The cost target was a stiff one, a challenging one" because BMW added features such as a new family of higher-horsepower engines, run-flat tires and a six-speed manual transmission.
"It wasn't that easy," he said.
The magic formula? BMW's cost-cutting moves included:
>>> Sharing components and assembly processes with the 1 Series subcompact.
>>> Reducing production sites for subassemblies.
>>> Purchasing components from suppliers outside Germany.
The 2006 model is the first redesigned 3 Series since 1999. The model is a crucial product for BMW in the United States, accounting for 41 percent of sales last year with 106,549 units. The total includes sales of the performance M3 model. The 3 Series is expected to face credible competition from the 2006 Lexus IS 330, a redesigned sedan that bows this year. Setting the right sticker price is vital.
Competition intensifies
The competition is tougher than when the previous-generation 3 Series was introduced, says Jeff Schuster, director of product analysis for J.D. Power and Associates. "There is a lot of product out there now that is much more performance-oriented," he says.
The 3 Series "is already priced higher than most of the competitors," Schuster says. "So I think for them to keep it at least in line was extremely important because it already has a price premium associated with it." Other 3 Series competitors include the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the Infiniti G35 and, to a lesser extent, the Cadillac CTS, he says.
Cost targets
Epple, who was interviewed on May 6 at a BMW 3 Series event here, said that currency hedging helps ease pricing issues for the German-built car in the United States. The weak dollar has made it hard for European automakers to avoid price increases here.
But BMW also increased part-sharing. It co-engineered the 1 and 3 Series to share a wide range of components and processes. Among the items shared are axles, the electrical system, steering column, steering system and the four-cylinder engine sold outside the United States.
"The chassis and suspension are identical except for the dedicated suspension settings and the weight of the car," Epple said. Also, the 1 and 3 Series models are produced on the same assembly line. "Now we get bigger volumes and economies of scale," Epple said. Subassemblies for the previous-generation 3 Series were created at two BMW plants in Germany.
Today, one plant handles the workload. "The tooling for the subassemblies, the cost of jigs and fixtures, is quite a few million in investment costs," Epple said. "So we have reduced it by 50 percent."
Relocating production
Some suppliers reduced costs by relocating production to Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and other eastern European countries, passing the savings on to BMW. "Labor cost is a fraction of what they pay in Germany," Epple said. "It is like the eastern part of Europe is (to Germany) what Mexico is to the United States."
The 325i and 330i sedans are larger and significantly more powerful than the 2005 versions. The cars are new from the ground up, with a redesigned frame that is 25 percent stiffer than the 2005 model, resulting in improved ride and handling. Sales of both sedans begin this month; the wagon goes on sale this fall.
BMW expects to sell about 106,000 units this year, a combination of 2006 and remaining 2005 models. The redesigned coupe and convertible are expected to be introduced next year.
Sticker to sticker, the 325i sedan is $1,000 higher than the 2005 model at $30,995, including shipping. The 330i is a mere $600 more than the 2005 model. BMW executives say that on a comparably equipped basis, the 325i is $150 above the 2005 model's price, and the 330i is $100 less.
Wolfgang Epple, the 3 Series director, while not revealing specifics, said, "The cost target was a stiff one, a challenging one" because BMW added features such as a new family of higher-horsepower engines, run-flat tires and a six-speed manual transmission.
"It wasn't that easy," he said.
The magic formula? BMW's cost-cutting moves included:
>>> Sharing components and assembly processes with the 1 Series subcompact.
>>> Reducing production sites for subassemblies.
>>> Purchasing components from suppliers outside Germany.
The 2006 model is the first redesigned 3 Series since 1999. The model is a crucial product for BMW in the United States, accounting for 41 percent of sales last year with 106,549 units. The total includes sales of the performance M3 model. The 3 Series is expected to face credible competition from the 2006 Lexus IS 330, a redesigned sedan that bows this year. Setting the right sticker price is vital.
Competition intensifies
The competition is tougher than when the previous-generation 3 Series was introduced, says Jeff Schuster, director of product analysis for J.D. Power and Associates. "There is a lot of product out there now that is much more performance-oriented," he says.
The 3 Series "is already priced higher than most of the competitors," Schuster says. "So I think for them to keep it at least in line was extremely important because it already has a price premium associated with it." Other 3 Series competitors include the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the Infiniti G35 and, to a lesser extent, the Cadillac CTS, he says.
Cost targets
Epple, who was interviewed on May 6 at a BMW 3 Series event here, said that currency hedging helps ease pricing issues for the German-built car in the United States. The weak dollar has made it hard for European automakers to avoid price increases here.
But BMW also increased part-sharing. It co-engineered the 1 and 3 Series to share a wide range of components and processes. Among the items shared are axles, the electrical system, steering column, steering system and the four-cylinder engine sold outside the United States.
"The chassis and suspension are identical except for the dedicated suspension settings and the weight of the car," Epple said. Also, the 1 and 3 Series models are produced on the same assembly line. "Now we get bigger volumes and economies of scale," Epple said. Subassemblies for the previous-generation 3 Series were created at two BMW plants in Germany.
Today, one plant handles the workload. "The tooling for the subassemblies, the cost of jigs and fixtures, is quite a few million in investment costs," Epple said. "So we have reduced it by 50 percent."
Relocating production
Some suppliers reduced costs by relocating production to Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and other eastern European countries, passing the savings on to BMW. "Labor cost is a fraction of what they pay in Germany," Epple said. "It is like the eastern part of Europe is (to Germany) what Mexico is to the United States."
The 325i and 330i sedans are larger and significantly more powerful than the 2005 versions. The cars are new from the ground up, with a redesigned frame that is 25 percent stiffer than the 2005 model, resulting in improved ride and handling. Sales of both sedans begin this month; the wagon goes on sale this fall.
BMW expects to sell about 106,000 units this year, a combination of 2006 and remaining 2005 models. The redesigned coupe and convertible are expected to be introduced next year.
#675
Senior Moderator
Well i just ate my words. I went to the dealer today to look at the E90 and the interior is really not that bad in person. I would go as far to say that i like it.
Only complaint was that they moved the window switches from the center. They are also a far each on the left side.
Didnt drive it since i was too hungry and was on the way to dinner
Also they had a carbon fiber front lip on one, looked really sharp!
Only complaint was that they moved the window switches from the center. They are also a far each on the left side.
Didnt drive it since i was too hungry and was on the way to dinner
Also they had a carbon fiber front lip on one, looked really sharp!
#676
Originally Posted by AcuraGT-3
I do know the 3 will continue to be THE car to have in its class.
#678
Originally Posted by AcuraGT-3
Where worldwide is the G35 sold? I see G35 in America, Skyline in Japan.....What on earth R U talking about?
The 3 is the class leader still. The motoring press worldwide (as in WORLDWIDE, not 1 country) is raving about this car.
There seems to be room for all these players in the segment. Not sure if its b/c people are wealthier or we just have MORE people (probably a mix of both).
I do know the 3 will continue to be THE car to have in its class.
The 3 is the class leader still. The motoring press worldwide (as in WORLDWIDE, not 1 country) is raving about this car.
There seems to be room for all these players in the segment. Not sure if its b/c people are wealthier or we just have MORE people (probably a mix of both).
I do know the 3 will continue to be THE car to have in its class.
Class leading in what way? The US is a HUGE market if not the largest market for a lot of brands, so when a brand doesn't do well here, it hurts at that brands homeland. The Caddy CTS, let alone the G35 put such a hurting on the 330i sales in the US, it would be silly to even argue.
#679
Lola
Originally Posted by AcuraGT-3
Where worldwide is the G35 sold? I see G35 in America, Skyline in Japan.....What on earth R U talking about?
And I didn't say 3-series isn't the class leader, but G35/V35 Skyline has been highly successful in the past 3 years.
#680
Race Director
Originally Posted by heyitsme
Class leading in what way? The US is a HUGE market if not the largest market for a lot of brands, so when a brand doesn't do well here, it hurts at that brands homeland. The Caddy CTS, let alone the G35 put such a hurting on the 330i sales in the US, it would be silly to even argue.