Total annual M3 production???

[Raikkonen]

Hi everyone. Just a quick question out of curiosity. Does BMW limit the annual number of M3's produced? Do they predetermine how many will go to each country, or will they manufacture as many cars as people order/buy? I know dealer allocations vary by month to month, but if demand is high enough, will they just keep building them to satisfy the market?

How has it worked in the past? One of the reasons I ask is because of the fact there are a TON of last generation M3's on the market, and I'm just curious to see if BMW tries to maintain (aside from purchase price!) some exclusivity w/ the M3. Thanks!

[ScottyGams]

didn't somebody here post that because of the lack of 08 sales, BMW will be limiting production of 09s?

I think they are shutting down the plant in November, to not have workers manufacturer cars nobody is going to buy.

EDIT: found link http://www.bimmerfile.com/2008/10/14...pzig-shutdown/

[///MML]

BMW's goal was to sell 100,000 M3's (coupe/sedan/vert) over the 6 year run. USA gets half so about 50,000 in the US (~10,000 per year). BMW was making big profits on M3's so they decided to make it a more every day car and less exclusive. With the 08/09 global market downturn there is no chance 100,000 units will happen. BMW reported in the short term it will cut production by 2%. Don't know if this is across the board but one could assume so. If you do the math say 200 M3's will be cut from production for 2009 in the USA (rough estimate).

BMW is the GM of the luxury market with big production numbers. It might be a rough year for BMW but good if you want to buy a new BMW in the next 6-12 months. In the past M3's usually depreciated 10% per year but with double wammy of high production and a soft market used 08/09 M3's will be hit hard in the short run.

Remaining new 2008 M3's will be selling $4-5k below invoice by Dec 2008. Dealers cannot afford the carrying costs into 2009 and will take the 2008 tax write off. Starting Jan 2009 look for 2009 M3 deals at $500 over invoice plus financing at 1.9-2.9% from BMW. IMHO.

[Raikkonen]

Thanks MML. That's what I was trying to asses. I was just wondering if the market was going gangbusters, would BMW build as many M3's as people wanted, or "limit" production, like say Ferrari, who limits production regardless of demand (although that's company wide, and obviously a niche manufacturer).

Basically, are M3's exclusive?; by this I mean by production numbers/allocations, not just purchase price. 200/year in the US sounds pretty exclusive to me. I swear to god I see more new 911's than I do M3's!

This is also pretty promising news for someone like me who will be ordering my sedan around February.

[ndahbar]

I sure hope so. I'll be looking into deals myself come ~January/Feb.

What sux is, I believe 2009 M3 coupes/sedans/verts will NOT have the new idrive.

[///MML]

Originally Posted by Raikkonen

Thanks MML. That's what I was trying to asses. I was just wondering if the market was going gangbusters, would BMW build as many M3's as people wanted, or "limit" production, like say Ferrari, who limits production regardless of demand (although that's company wide, and obviously a niche manufacturer).

Basically, are M3's exclusive?; by this I mean by production numbers/allocations, not just purchase price. 200/year in the US sounds pretty exclusive to me. I swear to god I see more new 911's than I do M3's!

This is also pretty promising news for someone like me who will be ordering my sedan around February.

I think you misunderstood or I didn't explain it well. 200 is not the total number of M3's but the US cut in 2009 production based on my estimate. There will still be around 9,800 M3's produced for the USA in 2009 alone. That is not exclusive in my opinion.

If you want exclusive buy the C63. MB production numbers are much less, around 1,500 units in 2009 for the C63.

[aggie57]

Originally Posted by ndahbar

I sure hope so. I'll be looking into deals myself come ~January/Feb.

What sux is, I believe 2009 M3 coupes/sedans/verts will NOT have the new idrive.

Not true - there are plenty of posts already on this forum showing 09 cars with the new iDrive.

[Raikkonen]

Originally Posted by ///MML

I think you misunderstood or I didn't explain it well. 200 is not the total number of M3's but the US cut in 2009 production based on my estimate. There will still be around 9,800 M3's produced for the USA in 2009 alone. That is not exclusive in my opinion.

If you want exclusive buy the C63. MB production numbers are much less, around 1,500 units in 2009 for the C63.

Wow!!!
I thought 200 was a little low!!! 10,000 per year is DEFINITELY not exclusive. I can see how BMW could be getting very nervous in the upcoming months, if current and planned orders start piling up. All the better for those in the market for a new M3......

I do like the C63, but everything I've read says it just isn't in the same league (handling wise) as the M3.

Thanks for the clarification.