BMW officially announces pricing for 3-Series Coupe
This has been sitting in the queue for a day because we thought we had covered it a couple weeks ago. We were operating under the assumption the pricing of the BMW 3-Series Coupe that "leaked" out was accurate. It wasn't. It was close, but a few clams short of what the actual MSRPs will be. The 335i coupe with the 300-horse twin-turbo six will start at $41,295 (not $40,600), the 328i Coupe will begin at $35,995 (not $35,300) and the inaugural 328xi will go for $37,795 (not $37,100). Does it matter the 3-Series Coupe will be more expensive than we thought? No. As BMW correctly points out, the base 328i offers more features and performance than the outgoing, top-of-the-line 330Ci Coupe, all for $2,500 less. That's progress we're willing to pay for.
[Source: BMW North America]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
bgdc 1:08PM (7/19/2006)
Actually, the car DOES start at 40,600. Like all BMWs, shipping adds 695 and there you get 41,295.
Sorry, the early numbers were right on the money.
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Michael Karesh 1:13PM (7/19/2006)
Exactly what I was going to write.
Prices and price comparisons (to 2006 and to the competition) here:
http://www.truedelta.com/models/3-Series.php
The increases over 2006 are VERY reasonable considering the additional power and standard features (most notably xenon lamps).
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Tim UF 1:17PM (7/19/2006)
well... ultimate driving machine or not, theyve priced themselves out of this young professional's market; unless i do that 'fly to germany and drive it for a while there before they export it to me as a used car' thing.
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bgdc 1:29PM (7/19/2006)
Tim,
ED the car arrives as a new car. It's not exported as a used car. Whomever told you that is full of it. How do I know? I'vew done Euro Delivery.
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jg 1:53PM (7/19/2006)
I'll just but used like I always do. BMW's age well. I have a 2001 330Ci that people simply don't believe is 5 years old.
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Dan 1:59PM (7/19/2006)
bgdc:
You're exactly right. I did ED with my M3 (you're kinda not supposed to be able to) but it definitely arrives as a new car (with a few fun miles on the odometer, racked up by self)
The purpose of ED by Audi, BMW, etc... is to encourage tourism in the country. Not to make the car "used" & reduce the price.
My wife is German (Bavaria) and one of her best friends is pretty high up in BMW (M division) so I have an an affinity for BMWs & their ED program :-)
Now I just need to win the lottery so I can acquire the new M-Funf!
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turd tunnel 2:01PM (7/19/2006)
hey look Karesh is linking to his crappy site again!
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Marj 2:10PM (7/19/2006)
They are moving the 3er a little too upmarket. The prices are fine, but they should introduce a 325i model in the US market as an entry-level model, just like they introduced a 525i to be a price-leader.
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Ryan 2:30PM (7/19/2006)
I have a quick question:
Why does BMW NEVER change the front end, it's always two peices of grill and two headlights on each side.
Why is it that everyone else knows how to update, but BMW keeps remixing the same thing. It works I guess, but dosen't it get boring after decades?
Are BMW's mass produced?
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Brian 2:37PM (7/19/2006)
Yes Ryan, BMWs are mass produced. In factories no less!
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Caleb 2:38PM (7/19/2006)
bgdc and Dan:
I think Tim was referring to the article written by Inside Line talking about the ED program. They claim that it the cars are imported as "used" cars and save a lot of money. Check out the article:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=115580
I know both of you mentioned that you have done it before. Maybe the law has changed since you last did an ED.
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Bob 2:41PM (7/19/2006)
Ryan, I actually like that they stay to close to their grille throughout the line-up and the years. They have rounded things out a bit more and taken away the slope that used to push the top of the grille out. It works for Porsche as well.
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Don 3:18PM (7/19/2006)
Relax Marj - the 1 series is coming and you won;lt be disapointed in the US version....
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Ryan 3:20PM (7/19/2006)
"11. Ryan, I actually like that they stay to close to their grille throughout the line-up and the years. They have rounded things out a bit more and taken away the slope that used to push the top of the grille out. It works for Porsche as well.
Posted at 2:41PM on Jul 19th 2006 by Bob 0 stars"
Well I guess somethings are just "timeless" apparently the rear ends of these are not as they don't give the rear end the same regards as the front :-)
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Ant 3:21PM (7/19/2006)
Ryan,
You obviously have no clue about character elements in design. The twin grills, long hood, short front and rear overhangs, quad-headlights, and kinked C pillar (known as the Hoffmeister kink) are all BMW design staples that both mirror and intersect with BMW's engineering philosophy of making great driving cars.
The long hood and and short overhangs are a result of function over form: all BMWs -- including the SUVs -- have near perfect 50:50 weight distribution between the front and rear axles, which can only be achieved by having a longer hood and short overhangs. In order to keep a sporty, 'raked' look, BMW uses a kinked C pillar that a lot of higher-end carmakers (Lexus/Infinit) are now 'copying'.
As for the twin-grills, when's the last time you saw a BMW in your rear-view mirror and thought it wasn't a BMW? That's why it's there and will always be there - you won't ever mistake a BMW for another car.
--tony
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Ryan 3:35PM (7/19/2006)
"14. Ryan,
You obviously have no clue about character elements in design."
Well I don't disagree. BTW thank you on the design lesson of BMW, I never knew there was that much thought put into essentially a simple "looking" design.
"As for the twin-grills, when's the last time you saw a BMW in your rear-view mirror and thought it wasn't a BMW? That's why it's there and will always be there - you won't ever mistake a BMW for another car."
Well don't put much seriousness into this but my first brand new car ever was when I finished up college. I purchased a new 2002 Hyundai Elantra, I always thought the front was BMWish (you can shoot me now for saying this :-)
One last question thought about BMW:
On some of there SUV's they seem to use those gross gray plastic bumpers and it looks horrible esp. when there is a white one without tinted windows. You know in the 90's when you would buy a base model car it usually came with the gross gray bumpers?! Like the Geo Metro/Chevy Cavalier, and many others. Is this what BMW is doing? OR it just has gray plastic bumpers period?! Sorry, thanks!
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Ryan 3:41PM (7/19/2006)
Also, I wanted to ask, do you guys think the price of this car is justifiable?
This is the deal,
I own a 2004 Mazda 3 and on the way home from work I got plowed on the freeway, I was going 65 she was going 75 in a Toyota 4 Runner. I'm getting the bumper replaced, the Mazda held up wonderfully. But I'm at a point where I might be able to purchase something like this at I'm worried about the following:
1.) If this car will soon look dated
2.) If you guys think the price is "good" for this car
3.) Or if you guys think I might like something else, I LOVE how the Mazda drives and feels so I'm not sure.
If any of you guys have time to answer that would be awesome, thanks!
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bgdc 3:41PM (7/19/2006)
Caleb...
Nothing changed. They were incorrect. I picked up my last BMW in April. Check Roundel - a BMW mag - and they have a full story on the history and origins of ED. Trust me, the car does not arrive "used."
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verdegrrl 3:43PM (7/19/2006)
Interesting.
When it came out in '00, the Audi S4 started at $38,000. 6 cylinders, twin turbos, awd, etc. Packages were basically sunroof, sport (aluminum traim and alcantara seat centers), cold weather, Bose, and nav. If you threw the kitchen sink at the car, it would end up just under $45,000.
Why do I mention this? Because it's the closest thing to the 335 - sans awd. The lack of traction will be the largest shortcoming of the 335. Looking at the price list, the baubles (and there are many) can add up to a lot.
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Calvin 3:50PM (7/19/2006)
Real drivers don't believe in AWD :) But since BMW is run by MBA types, they need to have the xi's to get that covered too.
The 335i should be faster than the '00 S4, has more cool equipment and gadgets (very important for a geek like me), more interior space (if space is not an issue, then get a 2-seater) so why not. The old S4 was just a smooth executive express with some semblance of good handling. It was never quite the ultimate driving machine that the BMW is. Audi seems to have gone better lately, but they are not there yet.
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