Lack of Options in the US vs. German Build

[BigApple]

SO i Ordered my M3 e93 car a few weeks ago through the BMWUS website.
Then the other day i checked the German BMW Website and noticed they have sooo many more options then the BMWUS site.

e.g Shadowline Trim (Black instead of the Chrome look)
or Digital TV build in to the Navi. and other stuff.

It seems it is very hard to upgrade to these options afterwards.

I wonder why BMWUS prevents us from having these options available to us here in the US.

The Shadowline Trim (Option A0760) for example costs $700 as an option when you build your car. Ordering the parts aftewards costs you above $2000 just the parts only. Labor is a whole story by itself.

[Carl L]

Spec a german-market car the same as a loaded US version and you're looking at $120,000. That's reason enough for me to not mind a couple of little customization options. The only other place that has comparable pricing is the UK, but the options there are 2.5 times the price.

[BigApple]

Originally Posted by Carl L

Spec a german-market car the same as a loaded US version and you're looking at $120,000. That's reason enough for me to not mind a couple of little customization options. The only other place that has comparable pricing is the UK, but the options there are 2.5 times the price.

why would BMW not be interested in selling additional options to us. Dont they make money of it ? The higher Car price in europe is surely not good and good for us here that we pay less... but the less we pay wouldn't it make sense to offer more options to us to increase the bottom Price?

[Foodle]

Originally Posted by Team Plutonium

What more crap do we need?

This is America! We always need more crap!

[Foodle]

Originally Posted by BigApple

e.g Shadowline Trim (Black instead of the Chrome look)
or Digital TV build in to the Navi. and other stuff.

Some of this is due to differences in local laws, regulations, and technical specifications. For example, I'd guess that German digital TV is not the same as what is available in the US. Plus, it might be illegal in the US to factory install an entertainment unit in the front display (not sure about this one). There are a number of other regulations that require certain build options for the US (e.g., the hated reflectors). Most likely to simplify the manufacturing lines, BMW has limited the available options for US spec cars.

We can't get the awesome BMW (Recaro) Performance racing seats in the US either. If you really want them, you can privately import and install them, potentially in the violation of some US regulations. But an official BMW parts reseller can't import or install them for you.

[4corners]

Originally Posted by Foodle

Some of this is due to differences in local laws, regulations, and technical specifications. For example, I'd guess that German digital TV is not the same as what is available in the US. Plus, it might be illegal in the US to factory install an entertainment unit in the front display (not sure about this one). There are a number of other regulations that require certain build options for the US (e.g., the hated reflectors). Most likely to simplify the manufacturing lines, BMW has limited the available options for US spec cars.

We can't get the awesome BMW (Recaro) Performance racing seats in the US either. If you really want them, you can privately import and install them, potentially in the violation of some US regulations. But an official BMW parts reseller can't import or install them for you.

I would guess BMW didn't crash test the performance seats, so no NTSB certification. I think you're right about the tv monitor in the front.

[bigjae1976]

Americans mostly buy off of the lot so we like simple packaging for our simple minds. Then we are so price sensitive, these packages can't be too expensive or you lose buyers.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Do NOT complain in the US because.............
For example here in Belgium a ///M3 BASE-model costs...77.870 Euro-(101.539 USD) !!!
First time in traffic....registration- road-tax 5.000 Euro-(6.519 USD)!!!
Annual road-tax 1.886 Euro-(2.459 USD)!!! yes each year ! keep her 10 years ?!?! (24.590 USD)
So.... for a one year ///M3 drive.....BASE-model !
Let's count....101.539+6.519+2.459 = 110.519 USD !!! yes....h@ly-sh@t !!!!
And not to forget.....1 liter fuel 98/ron octane...1,80 Euro- (2,35 USD) !!!
Therefore i think now.....
GOD BLESS AMERICA

[Foodle]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Do NOT complain in the US because.............
For example here in Belgium a ///M3 BASE-model costs...77.870 Euro-(101.539 USD) !!!
First time in traffic....registration- road-tax 5.000 Euro-(6.519 USD)!!!
Annual road-tax 1.886 Euro-(2.459 USD)!!! yes each year ! keep her 10 years ?!?! (24.590 USD)
So.... for a one year ///M3 drive.....BASE-model !
Let's count....101.539+6.519+2.459 = 110.519 USD !!! yes....h@ly-sh@t !!!!
And not to forget.....1 liter fuel 98/ron octane...1,80 Euro- (2,35 USD) !!!
Therefore i think now.....
GOD BLESS AMERICA

The OP's issue is about option availability, not price.

And if this is going to be a thread about 'merica, then don't use any of that fancy European numbern' with the "." where your "," should be

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Foodle

The OP's issue is about option availability, not price.

And if this is going to be a thread about 'merica, then don't use any of that fancy European numbern' with the "." where your "," should be

To Foodle....you are very kind ?!?!

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by BigApple

SO i Ordered my M3 e93 car a few weeks ago through the BMWUS website.
Then the other day i checked the German BMW Website and noticed they have sooo many more options then the BMWUS site.

e.g Shadowline Trim (Black instead of the Chrome look)
or Digital TV build in to the Navi. and other stuff.

It seems it is very hard to upgrade to these options afterwards.

I wonder why BMWUS prevents us from having these options available to us here in the US.

The Shadowline Trim (Option A0760) for example costs $700 as an option when you build your car. Ordering the parts aftewards costs you above $2000 just the parts only. Labor is a whole story by itself.

You see the Germans in general purchase a car then live with it ... No upgrades they just keep it as is ... As Stock ... Most of them anyway, very few mod there cars after purchase.

Then BMW knows how North Americans like to mod the cars so you have to pay for it ... After-all upgrades and spare parts is what is most profitable to them ... So lets say it's smart marketing on there part.

BiTW my 2011 M3 was delivered with black shadow line here in Canada, mind yo my car is a e92, perhaps we have different choices as well. I never checked into that.

I do however, agree with others BMW should give everyone the same choices.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

Americans mostly buy off of the lot so we like simple packaging for our simple minds. Then we are so price sensitive, these packages can't be too expensive or you lose buyers.

This is the main reason. In most of Europe, roughly 50% of cars sold are ordered cars because Europeans are actually patient and don't mind waiting for things. In the US, our more "gotta have it now" culture overall means we want to walk onto the lot and drive off with a car. In order to make it more likely that something that appeals to us is available on the lot, BMW has to keep the number of configuration options lower. You probably didn't mind having chrome trim until you learned that shadowline was available somewhere else, right? There's also "choice anxiety". Sometimes too many choices overwhelms people to the point of not wanting to deal with it at all and they end up preferring an alternative with fewer options because it's less mentally taxing, even though it's more limited. Look at the number of people who post threads here because they're agonizing just over COLOR!

Remember, very few people are like the members of these boards who are picky about little details and don't mind doing tons of research, comparing pictures of various combinations, etc. Lots of people just want a car of a particular size, number of doors, (maybe) luxury factor, (maybe) feature set, (maybe) power level, and price, and if it looks good too, well that's just a bonus. My mom is like that, and I ended up helping her get an Accord. But it was actually a fairly frustrating process for me because I was trying to narrow down model choices based on their differences and she didn't really care about any of them. After the only test drive we took, I asked her what she thought of the Accord, and she basically said, "I dunno, it's a car." BMW has those buyers too.

[Carl L]

Originally Posted by M3RD

BiTW my 2011 M3 was delivered with black shadow line here in Canada, mind yo my car is a e92, perhaps we have different choices as well. I never checked into that.

All fixed roof M-cars have the shadowline trim. Been that way since the E36 was first released. Looks far nicer than the chrome.

[BigApple]

Originally Posted by jphughan

This is the main reason. In most of Europe, roughly 50% of cars sold are ordered cars because they're actually patient and don't mind waiting for things. In the US, our more "gotta have it now" culture overall means we want to walk onto the lot and drive off with a car. In order to make it more likely that something that appeals to us is available on the lot, BMW has to keep the number of configuration options lower. You probably didn't mind having chrome trim until you knew that shadowline was available somewhere else, right? There's also "choice anxiety". Sometimes too many choices overwhelms people to the point of not wanting to deal with it at all and they end up preferring something that's easier because it's less mentally taxing, even though it's more limited. Look at the number of people who post threads here because they're agonizing just over COLOR!

Thanks for your thoughts... No i had planned to either wrap or paint those after i got the car... I was also told when the chrome trim is removed some parts (clips) will break off and can no longer be used. Need to buy new parts.

SO when i should get it done right i need to buy the parts ... or i cut corners and wrap them with 3M foil... but i was told it wont look as good or last as long..

[M3 Esq]

Who needs digital tv in the car??You're driving!!!

[benn.]

I feel like we shouldn't complain because luxury cars are incredibly cheap here in the US compared to other parts of the world..
and in regards to the digital TV and such it violates safety requirements/laws in the US.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by CatherinJame

it might be illegal in the US to factory install an entertainment unit in the front display

It's illegal if it works while the car is moving and can be viewed by the driver. Mercedes is able to do front seat entertainment in some of their models even in the US because they have an LCD that can display a completely different image when viewed from two separate angles, so the driver can see a navigation interface while the passenger watches a movie, both looking at the same physical display. Pretty cool.

[BigApple]

FWIW

Shadowline Trim Parts Ordered Seperate $2000
Install at Dealership ~$1600

~$3600 to get that in the US what would have cost 570 Euro ($700) as an Option at the german BMW site (A0760)

Very sad (:

[Foodle]

Originally Posted by BigApple

FWIW

Shadowline Trim Parts Ordered Seperate $2000
Install at Dealership ~$1600

~$3600 to get that in the US what would have cost 570 Euro ($700) as an Option at the german BMW site (A0760)

Very sad (:

But the base car in Germany is 75,900 euro ($99,200 USD), while in the US the base car is $68,750. Not sure what the differences are in the included options, but it can't be $30k worth.

Given the base price difference, the additional cost for shadowline trim doesn't seem that bad. I'm sure many German buyers would live with the chrome trim if they could get the US base price.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Foodle

But the base car in Germany is 75,900 euro ($99,200 USD), while in the US the base car is $68,750. Not sure what the differences are in the included options, but it can't be $30k worth.

Given the base price difference, the additional cost for shadowline trim doesn't seem that bad. I'm sure many German buyers would live with the chrome trim if they could get the US base price.

To Foodle........
Now you're the one who speaks about fancy European numbern .....
Remember your post from 10.16.2012 (07.13 PM) on this page....
I can not understand you anymore ?!?!

[Foodle]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

To Foodle........
Now you're the one who speaks about fancy European numbern .....
Remember your post from 10.16.2012 (07.13 PM) on this page....
I can not understand you anymore ?!?!

In the US, we use "," to separate thousands from hundreds, thousands from millions, etc. For example, one million, two hundred thousand, forty three is written as 1,200,043. In many places in Europe, a "." is used for this. So you would write this as 1.200.043.

Similarly, in the US, we use a "." to demark decimal places, while in Europe, a "," is used. For example, one tenth, is written as 0.1 in the US, but as 0,1 in Europe.

Mainly, I was just making fun of the typical inability of Americans to understand/appreciate the way things are done in other parts of the world.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Foodle

In the US, we use "," to separate thousands from hundreds, thousands from millions, etc. For example, one million, two hundred thousand, forty three is written as 1,200,043. In many places in Europe, a "." is used for this. So you would write this as 1.200.043.

Similarly, in the US, we use a "." to demark decimal places, while in Europe, a "," is used. For example, one tenth, is written as 0.1 in the US, but as 0,1 in Europe.

Mainly, I was just making fun of the typical inability of Americans to understand/appreciate the way things are done in other parts of the world.

So........we understand each other......LOL !
Why remarks....talk about...The ultimate driving machine !