What is the highest base price you are willing to spend on the E92/E90/E93 M3?

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by josowski

It's a sorry state of affairs, but the decline on the value of the dollars versus the Euro could hammer all M3 buyers unless BMW is willing to lose profit to maintain some sort of market share.

But how do you know at which point they would lose profit. My guess: BMW could sell the M3 at ~40k and still make money on it. I believe BMW has one of the highest profit margins in the industry, with Porsche being (somewhat notoriously) the highest.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by Davo2003

As for what I would get instead? A pristine 01 Ferrari 360 Modena F1 can be had for 120K, seriously thinking to sell a house in 2009 and take the plunge.

WTF? Do you mean, sell a very large house as a real-estate agent and buy a car with the commision? Or are you literally saying that you'd sell a house of your own just to buy a car?

Also, why buy a 6 year old car, for $120k - double the price of a new M3? I mean if you can genuinely spend $120k on a car, I would be seriously looking at a brand new 997 GT3 which will likely murder the F360. Why even consider the M3 at all if your budget allows such cars? I mean at the very least, even if you go conservative, you could still be in a 997S.

[footie]

Originally Posted by UltimateBMW

If you're willing to go up to $120k for a used 360, the Audi R8 comes in at around $108k brand new. You could also get a new Aston Martin V8 Vantage for about $120k.

As for the M3, my upwards limit would be $66k like a few others. $70k for a M3, while reasonable and maybe justifiable based on equipment and the global market, just plainly seems a bit too high.

There is no justice in this world, you guys are talking about not willing to pay anything more than $66K for an M3 and here in the UK I place the order for my M3 specced at £55K which at today's exchange rate of $2.09=£1 means I am paying $115K for the privilege.

Guys get a grip, you don't know when you are getting it good.

[UltimateBMW]

Originally Posted by footie

There is no justice in this world, you guys are talking about not willing to pay anything more than $66K for an M3 and here in the UK I place the order for my M3 specced at £55K which at today's exchange rate of $2.09=£1 means I am paying $115K for the privilege.

Guys get a grip, you don't know when you are getting it good.

Oh I have no doubts that we have easy-mode over here in the US. The fact that we will be buying the same car for most nearly 1:1 (maybe 1.5:1 for the nit-pickers) ratio in price when the currency is roughly 2:1 is ridiculous. But remember that the markets and living costs are completely different as well. I've never lived or even visited Europe but if they were even remotely similar I would be shocked.

Also, the poeple that have posted an upwards limit aren't trying to be cheap or smug or spoiled about getting lower prices. The limit they posted is just that, their limit to how much money they could stretch to spend on the car. Plus on a side note everything has personal (sentimental) worth to poeple, it's only natural that said worth would be different depending on the currency or country you hail from.

[devo]

Originally Posted by footie

There is no justice in this world, you guys are talking about not willing to pay anything more than $66K for an M3 and here in the UK I place the order for my M3 specced at £55K which at today's exchange rate of $2.09=£1 means I am paying $115K for the privilege.

Guys get a grip, you don't know when you are getting it good.

Although the relative pricing of the M in the US market vs. other markets may be low, the price of the M relative to other cars in the states is a very important consideration to us.

[UltimateBMW]

^ Also a good point.

[2002 Tii]

The current devaluated dollar does make purchase prices in other currencies seem like a bargain, but we are not trading currencies here.
I would not spend a penny over 65K for an M3 equipped with the options I want, base price with BMW is meaningless. I don't need a four seater and a loaded, nicely moded 997S is very easy to find at that price, used of course.
Plus the car has already gone thru its greatest depreciation, so operating cost will be much lower than the new M3.

[Davo2003]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

WTF? Do you mean, sell a very large house as a real-estate agent and buy a car with the commision? Or are you literally saying that you'd sell a house of your own just to buy a car?

Also, why buy a 6 year old car, for $120k - double the price of a new M3? I mean if you can genuinely spend $120k on a car, I would be seriously looking at a brand new 997 GT3 which will likely murder the F360. Why even consider the M3 at all if your budget allows such cars? I mean at the very least, even if you go conservative, you could still be in a 997S.

Ya, I have a house to flip by then...well, sell, that's not really flipping. Anyway, ya I like AM and Porsche, I will look at them if I do it. But, I will also look at depreciation / re-sale. Not looking to be unwise either. Hopefully the M3 base will be 55-57K and I'll let the houses keep building equity.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by westwest888

To clarify for anyone who is dense, I bought a 2006 model in the calendar year 2005. I'm not going to buy a 335i just because I have a different valuation than you on the M3. I already drive a new car.

So you sadists think it's going to be:

328i: 35,300
335i: 40,100
M3: {62,000; 69,000; 64,000}

Doesn't add up guys. $10-$12k is a huge premium for new mechanicals, revised styling, etc. A $25k premium over the lesser iteration isn't happening. It adds up to greater performance, but not to a greater price.

They're aiming to sell 100,000 of these cars over the life of its production, mostly to US consumers as they face a bursting housing bubble, a weak stock market, a dollar crisis, and are maxed out on credit. I don't think they're going to price gouge everyone with dealer lots full of $75,000 sticker M3s.

No matter how you slice it, that's a volume model - over 10,000 units a year once production ramps up for the US market.

Well, BMW tried already that with the M6, the M5 and the Z4M prices and at least my local dealers have plenty of them sitting in the lot, and for a long time.

BMW definitely have to thread lightly with the M3 prices or the same fiasco will happen again...

[swamp2]

Originally Posted by Davo2003

If it's over 60K I will rethink the whole situation, especially in light of the fact that we do not get individual options and the color combos offered so far are dismal. I know many won't agree with that but anyway, my 2 cents.
As for what I would get instead? A pristine 01 Ferrari 360 Modena F1 can be had for 120K, seriously thinking to sell a house in 2009 and take the plunge. I really love the BMW brand and the new M3, but wtf? I will see what they do on pricing and options first. I'm deployed now anyway, I will just extend and push my driving dreams back a year.

I COMPLETELY understand the allure and driving pleasure you would get from a 360. The M3 is not in the same category nor class. Before the 430 came out that was about on the top of my list as well. However, it is not an amount I am willing to spend on a car (nor the insurance...).

Do keep in mind the the two cars are incredibly close in performance. Some contests the M3 will win and others the Ferrari will win, but from all the numbers I have seen they are really close. Definitely a drivers race. To me this is still an amazing concept. 4 useable seats, useable trunk, comfortable daily driver, half the price of a used 360 and every bit as fast. Good times, boys!

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by westwest888

So you sadists think it's going to be:

328i: 35,300
335i: 40,100
M3: {62,000; 69,000; 64,000}

Doesn't add up guys.

I might have missed it - I haven't read the whole thread - but can you explain why the next value below 62,000 is 52,000 on your apparent number line?

Regarding the price difference between the 328i and the 335i, there - literally - you are paying for the engine, plus more standard options. So that's a good example of what BMW charges when they change the engine.

For the M3, they do a whole lot more. If all the M3 was was an engine upgrade, your $52k price would be much too high. In fact I would go as far as to say that $52k for a 335i with a V8 would be quite sadistic.

[dechoong]

About US$190k for a well optioned M3, which is about the same price as a loaded 730Li locally. Anything higher I'll rather pay a little more for a low mileage 997 C2S.

[dechoong]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

WTF? Do you mean, sell a very large house as a real-estate agent and buy a car with the commision? Or are you literally saying that you'd sell a house of your own just to buy a car?

Also, why buy a 6 year old car, for $120k - double the price of a new M3? I mean if you can genuinely spend $120k on a car, I would be seriously looking at a brand new 997 GT3 which will likely murder the F360. Why even consider the M3 at all if your budget allows such cars? I mean at the very least, even if you go conservative, you could still be in a 997S.

Agree.

Between a 360 Modena and a new GT3, it's a no brainer unless you are after the posing value of a ferrari. A 997 GT3 will run circles round the 360, not to mentioned much tougher built for sustained track abuse.

[NavNurs]

I can only imagine the debate they had determining the US price; the most important decision over engineering and design. Do you think the delay is to watch sales in other markets to determine the price point?

All of the testing and improvements are simply to increase profit, not to make us happy drivers.

If they price it too high the volume sold will go down, reducing profit. Too low and there will be one on every corner.........wait, how many did I see on the way to work today................Ya, um, too low and ..................ok people, I work in the healthcare arena not in the business world. Can someone with an MBA lend a hand here?

[Technic]

Originally Posted by NavNurs

Do you think the delay is to watch sales in other markets to determine the price point?

I think that the delay is due mainly to the M-DCT introduction, and then the full assault combo of a Coupe and Sedan with it as an option.

[TheBry]

Since I don't like car payments I usually pay cash for my cars up front. I'm prepared to pay as much as $75K out the door for an E93 M3 Convertible. It's difficult to imagine what I'd buy instead (if the price is beyond $75K). I don't think there's another convertible on the market that comes close to what the E93 M3 will offer.

[TheBry]

Since I don't like car payments I usually pay cash for my cars up front. I'm prepared to pay as much as $75K out the door for an E93 M3 Convertible. It's difficult to imagine what I'd buy instead (if the price is beyond $75K). I don't think there's another convertible on the market that comes close to what the E93 M3 will offer.

Think my assumption (regarding base for convertible) is close to accurate? I can't imagine a 3-series costing any more than that.

[lucid]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

I might have missed it - I haven't read the whole thread - but can you explain why the next value below 62,000 is 52,000 on your apparent number line?

+1

[lucid]

Originally Posted by westwest888

To clarify for anyone who is dense, I bought a 2006 model in the calendar year 2005. I'm not going to buy a 335i just because I have a different valuation than you on the M3. I already drive a new car.

So you sadists think it's going to be:

328i: 35,300
335i: 40,100
M3: {62,000; 69,000; 64,000}

Doesn't add up guys. $10-$12k is a huge premium for new mechanicals, revised styling, etc. A $25k premium over the lesser iteration isn't happening. It adds up to greater performance, but not to a greater price.

They're aiming to sell 100,000 of these cars over the life of its production, mostly to US consumers as they face a bursting housing bubble, a weak stock market, a dollar crisis, and are maxed out on credit. I don't think they're going to price gouge everyone with dealer lots full of $75,000 sticker M3s.

No matter how you slice it, that's a volume model - over 10,000 units a year once production ramps up for the US market.

You wanna bet on this? I will bet you $100 that the base price of the E92 M3 will be higher than $54k. Up for it?

[Smoltz]

Originally Posted by lucid

You wanna bet on this? I will bet you $100 that the base price of the E92 M3 will be higher than $54k. Up for it?

-Adam

[NavNurs]

Beautiful!!!!

[swamp2]

Originally Posted by westwest888

I see your bet and raise you to $200. Find the most trusted person on the forum and we'll both send s/he $200 to hold in escrow. Winner gets back his principal and the loser's $200. Here is the bet:

"The North American spec e92 (coupe) M3 will carry an MSRP of USD$54,000 or greater for the first model year it is released not including destination charge, gas guzzler tax, or other fees or surcharges."

I bet that WILL NOT happen; in other words I think the MSRP will $53,999.99 or less. You'd be dumb not to take this bet because you win either way: it could be higher and you'll win money to pay it down; or it could be lower and you'll save money but owe me.

Someone should really start a futures contract for this on the CBOE...

I already have such a bet with JEllis at $57k. The loser has to sticker his car with ricey stickers! I don't bet money on forums but if I was a $ betting man I would take you up on this at nearly any amount. Base price >$54k, period.