E90 M3 Deposit Without a #

[ACZakka325i]

So I went in today and put a deposit on the e90 m3. The guy seemed to be very honest and we talked for a while. When i signed the papers and got his and his managers signature, I asked what number I was. He told me that he really didnt know absolutley for sure. He did say he thought there was one other person waiting for the e90 m3.

I told him i was disappointed to not have an actual number. After going back and forth, he said to me "in good faith" that I was absolutely in the Top 3, and more likely number 2.

Does this sound normal to other people on the waiting list for the sedan? I dont want coupe people telling me i got screwed this and that. It seems legit, and i guess its because the sedan is a little farther off than the coupe.

By the way, i got it at MSRP for $500 bucks fully refundable.

The other dealer in my town wanted $1000 for the coupe, and 10% of the MSRP at time of options configuration/ production time.

[ACZakka325i]

No one?

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by ACZakka325i

So I went in today and put a deposit on the e90 m3. The guy seemed to be very honest and we talked for a while. When i signed the papers and got his and his managers signature, I asked what number I was. He told me that he really didnt know absolutley for sure. He did say he thought there was one other person waiting for the e90 m3.

I told him i was disappointed to not have an actual number. After going back and forth, he said to me "in good faith" that I was absolutely in the Top 3, and more likely number 2.

Does this sound normal to other people on the waiting list for the sedan? I dont want coupe people telling me i got screwed this and that. It seems legit, and i guess its because the sedan is a little farther off than the coupe.

By the way, i got it at MSRP for $500 bucks fully refundable.

The other dealer in my town wanted $1000 for the coupe, and 10% of the MSRP at time of options configuration/ production time.

I don't believe that the sedan waiting lists are as long as the coupes at this time, so he may very well be correct in assuming that you are in the top 3. Was the GM on site the day that you were there? Also, the sedan is supposed to debut alongside the coupe (..in the U.S.), so your wait shouldn't be long.

F.Y.I...Good job on not going to the other dealer!

[mdrobc13]

I would check on the part about them not "knowing' what your order # is on the list. Every dealer I've checked with in the DC area has been able to give me a firm number of wait list people who are waiting for production orders. Its ranged from #15+ about 1 month ago at an MD dealer to #5 at a VA dealer. But all could basically tell me where that put me. FYI the #16 at the MD dealer had him speculating on a late 2008 early 2009 delivery if past e46M3 allocations held firm.

That is why I went with military sales...will get a summer 08 delivery likely and an MSRP so far of $49500! (per the signed purchase order with BWM NA at the top!) Which leaves plenty of room for options!

[Big Windy]

dude your dealer is screwing you. by not telling you exactly where you were in the order, they can easily say that you were further behind in the list than they thought when some chump shows up and is willing to pay 10,000 over msrp. there is a reason why they are often called stealerships. just my .02

[ACZakka325i]

Originally Posted by redmtclimber

dude your dealer is screwing you. by not telling you exactly where you were in the order, they can easily say that you were further behind in the list than they thought when some chump shows up and is willing to pay 10,000 over msrp. there is a reason why they are often called stealerships. just my .02

good call man. It really doesn't sit well with me, although i did say that they guy seemed to be honest enough. He was actually a young kid, probably around my age (24), so he might not know these things as he could be relatively new. I just emailed him telling him he needs to find out for me. Ill let you guys know what he says when he gets back to me.

In my email i said that other people that have reservations (you guys) all know where they are. But, then again almost all of you are waiting on the coupe, which will be here sooner.

[Big Windy]

no man, the coupe and the sedan are going to be released at the same time. check out the thread posted today in the general m3 forum about bmw's production and release plan for the coupe and the sedan. both cars should be coming to the market at the same time. it is really sad that salespeople take more time practicing how to be manipulative than they do on learning about the cars that they sell. good luck with your dealer. if you are putting money down they at least owe it to you to let you know where you stand.

[ACZakka325i]

absolutely! Its like what did i give you $500 for then?!

On another note, there is a Ferrari Enzo parked outside my apartment right now!

[SD330i]

Originally Posted by ACZakka325i

So I went in today and put a deposit on the e90 m3. The guy seemed to be very honest and we talked for a while. When i signed the papers and got his and his managers signature, I asked what number I was. He told me that he really didnt know absolutley for sure. He did say he thought there was one other person waiting for the e90 m3.

I told him i was disappointed to not have an actual number. After going back and forth, he said to me "in good faith" that I was absolutely in the Top 3, and more likely number 2.

Does this sound normal to other people on the waiting list for the sedan? I dont want coupe people telling me i got screwed this and that. It seems legit, and i guess its because the sedan is a little farther off than the coupe.

By the way, i got it at MSRP for $500 bucks fully refundable.

The other dealer in my town wanted $1000 for the coupe, and 10% of the MSRP at time of options configuration/ production time.

Every dealer has a list for what car is coming out. It may be that there is not a list yet and therefore they were not able to give you a number. I would like to point out that if you do enough business for a dealer then you dont pay anything (like me). With that said I would say that they should not make you pay and I would say "create the list, put me on there, tell me my number and I will give you the $". Just so you know the "list" is a piece of lined paper with your name and phone number on it. Also, if you are on the list and someone wants to pay more then your price, guess what? After all the people who will pay more then MSRP. The good news is that if you are high on the list you will certainly get your car before someone who is lower then you or is not on the list that is going to pay sticker. i hope that makes sense.

[ACZakka325i]

Im not quite sure how someone can get the car before me even if they want to pay more. But most of the other things you were saying make good sense.

[Big Windy]

Originally Posted by SD330i

I would like to point out that if you do enough business for a dealer then you dont pay anything (like me)

so you are saying that you get cars for free? i find that a little hard to believe. somebody is paying for that thing. what do you do?

[lucid]

You should really try to get everything that matters to you in writing: your spot on the list and that they will sell at MSRP. If they say, we can't do that, tell them dozens of other dealerships around the US are doing exactly that. That said, I am not a lawyer, so I am not sure if such a note would be binding--meaning, if someone was offering to pay over MSRP, they might very well push you down the list depending on their professional ethics. How would anyone know about such a thing happening or not happening anyway unless you have access to the dealer's inventory records or something like that. Finally, I think the demand will be softer than it's built up to be (sure that depends on announced pricing, but still). Just look at what's happening in the UK with dealers calling customers down the list and saying they now have spots for them for build dates a few weeks out...

[SD330i]

Originally Posted by redmtclimber

so you are saying that you get cars for free? i find that a little hard to believe. somebody is paying for that thing. what do you do?

No of course not, but that would be sweet! I was only talking about the deposit.

Not they I want to say that dealerships are unethical, I just know that is important to have a good rep on your side to ensure you get your allocation. Lucid makes some good points and I would always get any promise in writing.

I have yet to hear of someone getting it writing that they will get specifcally the second allocation of a specific dealership. What they are getting is a promise to sell one of their allocations to them at MSRP. Obviously if someone provided this then I would stand corrected.

[ACZakka325i]

To keep you all posted. I asked my SA about this issue. His email response is as follows:

Adam,

Once our allocation comes I will know how many cars I will have. At this point you will be able to configure it prior to arrival. Lets say we get allocated 3 M3 sedans, the first will be our demo car and the third will be
yours ( you are second on the list). I hope this info helps.

Dave


So As you can see, I confirmed my hopes of being the second on the list. Which means my car will hopefully be coming in April (assuming it gets built December/January).

And to address the post above me, Here is your proof of someone getting specifically, a dealerships 3rd allocation by being 2nd on the list.

[SD330i]

Originally Posted by ACZakka325i

To keep you all posted. I asked my SA about this issue. His email response is as follows:

Adam,

Once our allocation comes I will know how many cars I will have. At this point you will be able to configure it prior to arrival. Lets say we get allocated 3 M3 sedans, the first will be our demo car and the third will be
yours ( you are second on the list). I hope this info helps.

Dave


So As you can see, I confirmed my hopes of being the second on the list. Which means my car will hopefully be coming in April (assuming it gets built December/January).

And to address the post above me, Here is your proof of someone getting specifically, a dealerships 3rd allocation by being 2nd on the list.

I want you to know that I am not attempting to dampen your situation. I am simply pointing out the other side of things.

This statement really does not confirm that you will get your car in April it is saying that you will get the 3rd car that is allocated. In the first round most dealers do not get a bunch of cars at the start. So lets say your dealer gets 4 cars confirmed for allocation, which will be for first production. They get 2 coupes and 2 sedans. Guess what? From the statement from you SA he has already "padded" it by saying it will be a demo. You are definitely #2 on the list, the question now is when .

I want to apologize in advance, in my line of work details are everything. Always get it writing and it should be very clear, otherwise there will always be wiggle room.

[ACZakka325i]

i appreciate the advice. If its earlier - good for the fun of it, if its later - even better for the wallet.

[SD330i]

Originally Posted by ACZakka325i

i appreciate the advice. If its earlier - good for the fun of it, if its later - even better for the wallet.

No worries. I really want the new M3 too. I bought my wheels in anticipation of putting them on the M3. The wife wants a new house right now so it is going to be a tough sell. we shall see. keep me posted.