335i sedan: Any trunk money?

[Robert A]

Question on incentives: Can anyone tell me if there is trunk money on the 2008 335i sedan presently?

[tturedraider]

There's a credit for the automatic transmission. That is all.

[Robert A]

Bummer. I'd be interested only in a MT.

There's a credit for the automatic transmission. That is all.

[tturedraider]

Bummer. I'd be interested only in a MT.

Too bad you weren't buying in June. :( There was a loophole they've since closed that allowed the amount of the automatic transmission credit whether or not it actually had it.

[Robert A]

My present lease doesn't run out until late October anyway. It's way underwater and I'm looking at various options including, possibly an Audi. If the 3 series is being updated in the fall, it would seem that there'd be incentives across the pre-LCI models at this time. But then, there's still September and October before those cars are gone.

Too bad you weren't buying in June. :( There was a loophole they've since closed that allowed the amount of the automatic transmission credit whether or not it actually had it.

[tturedraider]

Well, it's not trunk money, but the current incentive is 60 month 0.9% financing pretty much across the board.

[Robert A]

That, I think, is BMW's way of getting away from losses on future leases. I've owned a 5 series before and I know how fast they depreciate. 3-series cars fare a little better in the resale market, but all cars except really fuel efficient models, aren't holding resale value too well at this time.

Well, it's not trunk money, but the current incentive is 60 month 0.9% financing pretty much across the board.

[JStyres]

I got my 335i on July 14th. I got the automatic transmission credit (I had to ask for it), but nothing else.

My SA did throw in mats and a tank of gas, but that was it.

Moreover, I had worked my deal off pre-June pricing by paying a deposit even though I was taking Juky delivery. 0.9% had been going on for about 2 days, so I felt I was getting the best deal I could get.

From the intel gained off this board, I believe I paid only $350 over invoice, but you never know what other incentives BMW NA might have with the dealerships. Probably from this point forward, the "risk" is going to be if low financing with BMW FS will continue and if remaining 08 inventory will meet your specs because it is my understanding from my SA that they have stopped taking 08 orders on the 3-series.

I guess I could have waited for a 09, but when I bought mine, no specs were out yet. I really like the facelifted hood of the 09, but looking at my deal, I can't say its worth the increase. Might have been worth it for the updated i-drive, though.

[adrian's bmw]

My present lease doesn't run out until late October anyway. It's way underwater and I'm looking at various options including, possibly an Audi. If the 3 series is being updated in the fall, it would seem that there'd be incentives across the pre-LCI models at this time. But then, there's still September and October before those cars are gone.


There's a pull ahead program for your car, so BMW would be able to get you out of your October maturity.

Why should it be a bummer that there's no automatic option credit for a manual? The manual is already $1,325 less expensive. There's tons of automatics out there and that's why they're offering this credit. Hardly any manuals available. You can check though.

The incentive is the 0.9% or special lease rates and automatic OC and the pull ahead to get you out of your lease now. What more incentive should there be? :dunno:

[D.J@RichmondBMW]

Now is a good time to buy, BMW has never offered so many good programs at one time.

[BMWFanboy]

If you are going to buy and finance then it is definitely a better deal to get the manual now even though you don't get the auto trans. credit on the manual anymore. You save a hell of a lot more in interest than you would by getting the auto trans credit.

[pilotman]

If you are going to buy and finance then it is definitely a better deal to get the manual now even though you don't get the auto trans. credit on the manual anymore. You save a hell of a lot more in interest than you would by getting the auto trans credit.

but, as others have noted, you may lose the benefit of that great interest when you go to sell, because BMW is obviously betting that the residual value of their vehicles won't be that great....they have some pretty saavy finance/market people doing this analysis, and they know that leasing is a bad deal and financing is better for them, even if it is almost 'free' money, because the residuals on their vehicles are going downhill.

There is a reason they are offering cheap financing, because it is good for them...they make it sound like it is good for you too, but it is primarily based upon the fact that residuals are dropping, so BMW is shifting the risk of lowering residuals to you...

Problem is, cheap financing has a tendency to further lower residuals....

[Robert A]

I wasn't aware of the pull ahead program but I'm also waiting to see what kind of negotiating my dealer may be able to do to enable a discounted buyout on my 530i.

I'm told with a pull ahead program that the dealer still has to take the car back into inventory and I'm not sure they're going to want a 530i manual. BMW will sell them the car for $33,500 plus my two remaining payments plus CPO, etc. When you add it together, it'll be hard for them to make much of a profit reselling the car to someone else.

As for the auto/manual price differential on a new car, it's not exactly a free ride when it comes to resale. Manuals are harder to sell due to thinner demand and ultimately command a lower resale price, especially with the 335i that has a better autobox than most.

There's a pull ahead program for your car, so BMW would be able to get you out of your October maturity.

Why should it be a bummer that there's no automatic option credit for a manual? The manual is already $1,325 less expensive. There's tons of automatics out there and that's why they're offering this credit. Hardly any manuals available. You can check though.

The incentive is the 0.9% or special lease rates and automatic OC and the pull ahead to get you out of your lease now. What more incentive should there be? :dunno: