New M3 - Dealer sets $30K Premium over list

[Kirby]

BMW’s latest M based performance car, the 2008 BMW M3 coupe is starting to trickle into dealers across the US. Powered by a 4.0 Liter 32 valve V8 engine putting out 414 horsepower and 295 pounds of torque, BMW’s new high RPM screamer has been eagerly anticipated to arrive stateside.


We’re not sure how bad buyers are looking to get into this new M, but dealers are trying their best to make the most of out of it, pictured below is a new M3 sitting in a California showroom with a $70k+ MSRP and an obnoxious $30k dealer market adjustment, for a grand total of $100,720.00!

 

[Big Daddy]

A dealer I would never support! I remember when I bought my first Z3, ordered in 96 and a few dealers were getting a premium, not like this, but 2-5k over MSRP. I refused and waited until I found a dealer who sold me the car for MSRP.

 

[Kirby]

Hey Adam!!! Drive over and smack this dealer in the KOPF!!!!! [slap]

 

[Big Daddy]

Yeah Adam, do it! [bmwkick]

 

[deutsch100]

Hey Dan and Kirby.....OH NO!! That's my dealer. We've purchased 9 BMWs from them since 2004! We've never paid over sticker for 1 car there, even though they did try with the X5 4.8is (we ended up getting it below sticker, quite a bit actually....and the sales manager was fired for doing the deal, we felt awful!!)

Here's a pic of my new 4.8i, and you can see the Century West plates on my car.

Kirby, how did you get pics inside Century West BMW, which is here in North Hollywood, CA (or they like to say Universal City, CA ) ??

I emailed our contact at CW BMW, and told them they should be ashamed of themselves. I am shocked, actually, that they would try $30k over sticker. I expected $5k-8k, max!!

 

[Kirby]

Kirby, how did you get pics inside Century West BMW, which is here in North Hollywood, CA (or they like to say Universal City, CA ) ??

I have a really big zoom lens on my camera!!!


I pilfered the photo and article from another web site...

 

[Big Daddy]

I assume my Z8 is parked to the left of that white beauty?

 

[tool fan]

People have no shame..... 30k over sticker, hell that is another new NICE car

 

[Kirby]

For less money you can buy an M5.

 

[Detrich]

Holy Crap!

 

[selavia]

I like the asterick next to the total price. Haha. I wonder if BMW of North America approves of this; I would probably think not; it seems that the overly high sticker price would have a negative impact on the image of the car. I sometimes see a BMWNA representative on this website; perhaps they should look into this. I'm sure BMW has some sort of mark-up ceilings for its distributors.

Also, I wonder if the owners of this dealership understands simple economic principles of equilibrium. There is no way that $100k for this car is going to capitalize their profits; their is no way this market, given the economy, can sustain that price on that car. Quite frankly it's moronic and stupid.

Adam, if you get a response from the dealer, ask the powers to be to question who ever did this and to state his reasoning. I think it would be interesting.

 

[William330]

It reflects poorly on BMW North America to allow such dealer gouging.

If I was running BMW, I would giver this dealer two options:

1) Pay a $30,000 fine (as determined by the gouging amount).

2) No longer sell BMWs.

 

[MrElussive]

That is crazy, man. I love this new M3, but it's barely worth the sticker price. The $30K premium is ridiculous, I thought we're in an economic recession.

 

[Tom]

LOL they must be smoking crack.


I'm glad Mercedes doesn't allow such poor business practice.

 

[deutsch100]

LOL they must be smoking crack.


I'm glad Mercedes doesn't allow such poor business practice.

Pretty sure Mercedes doesn't have a particlular rule against it. Before I got the 2008 E350, I looked at the G500, and G55. Some dealers wanted $10k over sticker for the G55, some dealers were set on the MSRP and one dealer discounted it about $2k.

I remember back in 2003, when the new SL500 debuted, many dealers were trying to say than since it was the first all new SL since 1990, they wanted upwards of $20k over sticker.

 

[Kirby]

I am surprised that the dealer thinks this does not affect their image negatively. Personally, I would never buy from that dealer. The message to me is "We try to screw our customers whenever we can."

It may not be true, but it's the perception, and in sales and service, perception is reality.

 

[deutsch100]

I am surprised that the dealer thinks this does not affect their image negatively. Personally, I would never buy from that dealer. The message to me is "We try to screw our customers whenever we can."

It may not be true, but it's the perception, and in sales and service, perception is reality.

Hey Kirby,

I emailed our contacts at CWBMW, and sent the pics of that white 08'M3 with the $30k markup.

My salesman said he and many others are furious and disgusted with the owner and Mgmt. for doing this. They too feels it cheapen the dealerships (actually great) reputation, and makes them look like sharks!

Btw, the Service Dept. at Century West is the BEST I've ever used. They are "separate" from sales and parts. Great guys (and 1 gal there

 

[MrElussive]

LOL they must be smoking crack.


I'm glad Mercedes doesn't allow such poor business practice.

It's California that is on crack. I've heard of many California dealerships that charge mark-ups for their cars all the time. That kind of stuff barely flies here on the East Coast.

 

[Detrich]

totally...

if the dealer wants to put a hold on the car in the showroom to draw in browsers & potential buyers, then just be cool about it and put a sticker on it that says "not for sale"- at least until they are ready to really sell it. how hard is that?

otherwise, arbitrarily putting a $30k markup to accomplish this objective is basically like saying, "screw all of you. we are not selling this car yet, because we're arrogant pricks. and, if you are desperate enough to have to buy it now, then bend over and we'll shove it up your ass until it comes out your eye balls."

honestly, my experience with the sales people at both new century dealerships- both NC West and NC in alhambra- has been awful at best.

in fact, when i was shopping for my 3 back in august 1998 i went to new century. and, i was dressed very casually- ie in shorts & a tank top- only because it was like freaking 90 degrees out. and, it was so hot that there were no other customers there whatsoever. and, 3 sales guys who were sitting around doing nothing noticed me and then walked by, made eye contact, eye-balled me up and down, and then walked away without even acknowledging my presence- even though i was trying to get their attention to ask some questions about the new 3.

that pissed me off beyond, so i just left & then bought my car from assael (now monrovia) bmw instead.

trash in, trash out i tell u.

 

[Kirby]

A good salesperson knows "not to judge a book by it's cover", so from your experience it's clear that they have some lazy, arrogant or clueless salespeople. They didn't deserve your business.

One of the many hats I wear at my company is engineering/software project sales (we have no dedicated sales people). I can't even begin to count the number of times I have sold $x00K projects to people who didn't "look" the part.