7,427 of 10,000 SOLD

[BlackJetE90]

Since the launch on March 22nd. BMW has sold 7,427 units of the 10,000 units coming to the US. In only 4 months.

[Lovesound]

Good information. Not only the big three are losing. BMW, Mercedes and Porsche do too.

[ptack]

Wow, it looks like the 1 has eaten up a bunch of Z4 sales. I wonder if they saw that coming. At the rate 1s are selling they should all be gone by October - a successful launch.
Also note the cliff dive for X3 sales.

[RockyRoad]

Wow, it looks like the 1 has eaten up a bunch of Z4 sales. I wonder if they saw that coming. At the rate 1s are selling they should all be gone by October - a successful launch.
Also note the cliff dive for X3 sales.

That's "B follows A, therefore A must have casued B" logic..
YTD sales of MB SLK, Audi TT & Z350 are also down by the same percentages,,Are they all also buying 1ers???

[BlackJetE90]

Good information. Not only the big three are losing. BMW, Mercedes and Porsche do too.

Seems that just about every car company is hurting right now.

I see people writing there are too many 1ers on lots, are they selling?

Apparently they are.

[Vitacura]

Wow.. no wonder why my dealer only has one on their lot right now. :)

[cdp1276]

Is this 2008 US limit of 10,000 for full year 2008? When can people start ordering 2009's?

[tturedraider]

Is this 2008 US limit of 10,000 for full year 2008? When can people start ordering 2009's?

This is just speculation on my part, but I have a feeling BMW may run 2008 model 1ers until the end of 2008 rather than have such a short model year. This would also allow them to extend the "Year of the One".

[jtm964]

In the same month(July), 11,303 3 series were sold, compared to 1,326 1 series. If the 1 series is such a good car/bargain, why isn't it selling more? Price is not too bad and it is a four seater with good performance.
I went to Classic BMW in Plano with my wife the other day, and her first reaction when she saw the 1 was: "eeeel, it does not look good... I don't like it... the 3 series looks better" Maybe for the general public who do not know much about cars (like my wife)... this is what they perceived about the 1 ?

[Fulltone74]

1 series is priced almost like a 3 series.
3 series has much more utility in size.
The 1 series looks a bit too narrow for its height.
And the bangle lines are a bit jarring.

[New Motors]

the interest rate on the 3 helps too. Nothing on the 1

[RockyRoad]

In the same month(July), 11,303 3 series were sold, compared to 1,326 1 series. If the 1 series is such a good car/bargain, why isn't it selling more? Price is not too bad and it is a four seater with good performance.
I went to Classic BMW in Plano with my wife the other day, and her first reaction when she saw the 1 was: "eeeel, it does not look good... I don't like it... the 3 series looks better" Maybe for the general public who do not know much about cars (like my wife)... this is what they perceived about the 1 ?

Yah, it appears that women generally think the 3er is prettier than the 1er (as did your wife).
The 1er is more of a guys car. Smaller and more sporty.
I didn't get my wife's opinion before I ordered the 1er.:yikes:
Maybe there are more of you than there are of me..:rofl:

[vocalthought]

The 1 vert looks pretty cute.

[RockyRoad]

The 1 vert looks pretty cute.

You must be a guy..:D

[saiKeYo]

In the same month(July), 11,303 3 series were sold, compared to 1,326 1 series. If the 1 series is such a good car/bargain, why isn't it selling more? Price is not too bad and it is a four seater with good performance.
I went to Classic BMW in Plano with my wife the other day, and her first reaction when she saw the 1 was: "eeeel, it does not look good... I don't like it... the 3 series looks better" Maybe for the general public who do not know much about cars (like my wife)... this is what they perceived about the 1 ?

Looks are subjective and should not be taken into account.

3 series are in much larger production than the 1 series, with many dealers receiving very little allocations. The interest rate definitely helps push more 3ers. There's plenty of other unknowns as well.

[jtm964]

Looks are subjective and should not be taken into account.

3 series are in much larger production than the 1 series, with many dealers receiving very little allocations. The interest rate definitely helps push more 3ers. There's plenty of other unknowns as well.

If that's the case all of the ones should have been sold then. But I saw 6 to 7 1 series sitting on dealer's lot for a while.
And I say looks should be taken into account.

[BlackJetE90]

If that's the case all of the ones should have been sold then. But I saw 6 to 7 1 series sitting on dealer's lot for a while.
And I say looks should be taken into account.

3-series lease deals are way better than the 1-series.

Most people getting the 1-series are purchasing them.

[uofmtiger]

If they were having any problems selling the one, they would be giving away free automatic transmissions and great leasing and buying offers (the three series is offering all three). Also, the 3 is established and has been the best selling BMW for many years.

Many areas do not even have 1 series cars, so we have no idea how they would sell. As an example, the BMW dealership here in Memphis had two 135i convertibles (at least one without the sports package) and zero 135 coupes or 128is. On the other hand, Nashville had nine 135i convertibles on their lot. Seems like BMW did a bad job of spreading them out. I bought mine from Adrian in South Atlanta. My local dealership was overrun with 3 series sedans. I could have probably named my price on a 3 series if I did not want a 135.

Also, I have yet to see a commercial for a 1 series on TV. I have a friend with a 335 vert and when I told her I got a 135i vert, she said she had never heard of the one series. She did like it when I showed mine to her.

The 3 offers a more practical solution for people that often transport people in the backseat and many people have no reason to want to switch to anything else. My guess is that the 3 series sedan (which has been reported to be the top selling luxury sedan in the US) sells at a much brisker pace than the coupe. Does this mean the 3 series coupe is ugly or does it mean that 4 door sedans are more practical for a lot of buyers?

[jtm964]

3-series lease deals are way better than the 1-series.

Most people getting the 1-series are purchasing them.

But remember, there are only 10,000 units for the year 2008 in the whole US. If you can't even move 10,000 entry level model ( the 1 series isn't a sports car, it has 4 real seats so it can be the only car for a small family), there is something wrong with the picture.
Seems like people are thinking of excuses rather than reasons.

[RockyRoad]

But remember, there are only 10,000 units for the year 2008 in the whole US. If you can't even move 10,000 entry level model ( the 1 series isn't a sports car, it has 4 real seats so it can be the only car for a small family), there is something wrong with the picture.
Seems like people are thinking of excuses rather than reasons.
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Who cares exactly how many are sold?:dunno:
I bought a 2003 Z4 and held it for 5 years - it was the most fun car I ever had and never had to take it in for even the most minor problem.
On the Z4 message board people went on endlessly trying to figure out why it wasn't selling better. All that blather had zero impact on my enjoyment of the Z4. In fact, I was kinda happy not to see another Z4 for weeks on end.
Now I bought a 1er and love it. Whether the 1er is a sales hit or miss will have no effect on the performace, handling and fun factor of my 1er.
I just hope that they won't become as ubiquitous on the streets as the 3-series.:yikes:

[uofmtiger]

I gave several reasons above. You can blame BMW for all of them. I still love their cars, though.:thumbup:

[Meiac09]

The two dealers near me have a bunch.
Two reasons.
All step.
The only non step, is a NONsport 6-speed Jet/Taupe 135i convert.
They want sticker (not awd = tough sell in the NE)
:dunno:

[jtm964]

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Who cares exactly how many are sold?:dunno:
I bought a 2003 Z4 and held it for 5 years - it was the most fun car I ever had and never had to take it in for even the most minor problem.
On the Z4 message board people went on endlessly trying to figure out why it wasn't selling better. All that blather had zero impact on my enjoyment of the Z4. In fact, I was kinda happy not to see another Z4 for weeks on end.
Now I bought a 1er and love it. Whether the 1er is a sales hit or miss will have no effect on the performace, handling and fun factor of my 1er.
I just hope that they won't become as ubiquitous on the streets as the 3-series.:yikes:

But the topic is "7427 of 10,000 sold". Not "is it a fun car or not". I am interested in finding out the reason, that's why I respond to this topic. Your post does not help matter a bit.

[uofmtiger]

But the topic is "7427 of 10,000 sold". Not "is it a fun car or not". I am interested in finding out the reason, that's why I respond to this topic. Your post does not help matter a bit.

Every other car in or near its class is being sold with huge incentives (financing, money off of sticker, free automatic transmissions, etc..). This not only includes the 3 series, but Audi, Infiniti, etc.. are also offering incentives.

The car is new and being sold without incentives (many lots will not even budge off of the sticker price). While people may love it (if they have ever heard of it), most people are going to be practical and go for an industry leader like the 3 series with huge savings....especially when they can find the 3 series in abundance on the same lot.

BMW obviously feels that they will sell all 10,000 without needing to offer any incentives at this point. I am sure if they still have a lot out there by the end of the month, they will offer more competitive financing.

What else do you need to know?

[jtm964]

What else do you need to know?

I need to know a lot of things, but you may not have the answers.

[uofmtiger]

I need to know a lot of things, but you may not have the answers.

Then again, maybe I do. However, since I did not get a "Thank you" for answering your last question, I doubt I would waste my time with it.;)