E92 Price Speculation

My better half is tucking my daughter to bed so I have a few moments to play with the numbers. Here are my 2 bits.

I'm guessing that the E92 328 is priced at $34500. Car review sites (a la Edmunds) have Editors picks with ranges such as Coupes under $15K, $25K, $35K, etc. I don't think BMW can afford to price the base model higher than $35K lest it compete with cars in the next higher range. As for the 335, I'd guess a base price of $40,065. This would be approx. 16% higher than the base price. 16% differential is the current 3 series (non M) average between base and next higher trim/engine level.

I agree; great valuation.

Remember most of the sport package is included, so it'll only run you like $800 for the seats, steering wheel and summer tires.

US spec base MSRP e92 328: $33,300
US spec base MSRP e92 335: $39,400

Based on HK price 680,000 , subtracting 20% dealer markup and tax
The US base price of E92 335i should be ~45K
Our 335i price here is 36% more than 330i. (high dealer markup, may be more options comes as standard)

Originally Posted by Rudolfo

My better half is tucking my daughter to bed so I have a few moments to play with the numbers. Here are my 2 bits.

I'm guessing that the E92 328 is priced at $34500. Car review sites (a la Edmunds) have Editors picks with ranges such as Coupes under $15K, $25K, $35K, etc. I don't think BMW can afford to price the base model higher than $35K lest it compete with cars in the next higher range. As for the 335, I'd guess a base price of $40,065. This would be approx. 16% higher than the base price. 16% differential is the current 3 series (non M) average between base and next higher trim/engine level.

Great reasoning.

If 328/335 sedan do come, for obvious marketing reasons, I believe BMW will put them under $35k and $40k. Coupe - maybe in range, maybe over the border. The 3 coupe is usually more expensive than sedan. In addition, coupe is considered non-basic "fun car", or niche product compared to sedan, the butter-and-bread product, so BMW could charge more. It won't surprise me if we see 335 sedan at $39.5k and 335 coupe at $41-42k.

Originally Posted by klu123

Great reasoning.

If 328/335 sedan do come, for obvious marketing reasons, I believe BMW will put them under $35k and $40k. Coupe - maybe in range, maybe over the border. The 3 coupe is usually more expensive than sedan. In addition, coupe is considered non-basic "fun car", or niche product compared to sedan, the butter-and-bread product, so BMW could charge more. It won't surprise me if we see 335 sedan at $39.5k and 335 coupe at $41-42k.

Historically the 3er coupe is ~$1K more than the sedan.

I predict that the 328i Coupe will be within $1,000 of the current 325Ci (i.e. <$34,000) and the 335i Coupe will be within $2,000 (<$40,000) of the 330Ci.

BMW is adding NOTHING to the car......
The 335i is a different story since it's getting 2 turbos.


CZ

Originally Posted by czachari

BMW is adding NOTHING to the car......
The 335i is a different story since it's getting 2 turbos.


CZ

The coupes always cost more. They added style.

E90 335i will be 45K
E90 M3 will be 68-70K

Originally Posted by cntlaw

E90 335i will be 45K
E90 M3 will be 68-70K

Christ dude, the E90 335 will NOT be 45k. Are you out of your mind?

Look, in the US, there are multiple sources that state that the 325 and 330 will be replaced by the 328 and 335.

Do you HONESTLY think that BMW is going to move the 330 replacement NINE THOUSAND dollars upmarket? I mean what are you smoking?

I'm sorry that the 335 will probably only be a couple grand more than your 330, but that's the way it is. You are making statements as if you KNOW for a fact what the price is going to be, and even there, your speculations just seem to be there to make yourself feel better about not waiting for the 335.

I predict the 335 will start @ $39,995 excluding destination, tax, title & registration (and whatever else BMW can get away with).
The 328 will be somewhere in between the 325 & the 330.

I agree with Rich. BMW needs to be able to sneak into those <40K comparisons. If the 328 is left alone in that segment it's going to get pwned.

As it is, the ONLY thing that people complain about with the 330 when compared to it's main competitors is the relative lack of power. If the only BMW in that segment is the 328, then BMW is in trouble with the mag comparisons. Therefore, they HAVE to squeeze the 335 into that segment, somehow.

Besides, 40K for the 335 is worth every penny. The 330 is already better than the competition; the 335 will DEMOLISH anything that Infinity and Lexus can throw this way.

Keep in mind that $39,995 is about $3600 OVER the base price of the E90 330 when it first came out last year.
Couple that with all of the impending BMWNA bullsh*t about "delayed Euro-delivery allocation" and "no discounts",
and I'm pretty sure a 335 would have cost me way, way more than I ever would have expected.

Frankly, I was shocked last year when I was given $1500 over invoice just for the ask, and Euro-Delivery available right away.
Now I think I see why.

Ohh....very choice vocabulary rprasad...I think "DEMOLISH" pretty much covers it.

Originally Posted by RichReg

Keep in mind that $39,995 is about $3600 OVER the base price of the E90 330 when it first came out last year.

Yeah; that 3600 could have gone towards my sports and premium packages on the 330

But I like to look at it this way; 3600/48 = 75 a month (plus interest).

So, all else being equal, 75 a month more will get me the 335. Ok, so one fewer expensive meal a month. Is it worth it? I don't know. Sometimes I think that if I end up saving, and then buying a 335, I might have to compromise on other things I want to do in life, and just eat Ramen noodles for 48 months

But if I get the 328, I'm going to feel pangs everytime a 335 smokes me.

The only upside to all of this (other than the turbos) is that BMW will likely add more standard equipment. So the question becomes whether or not a particular buyer is really going to want the extra stuff that the 335 gets, or just settle for it.

Most of the extras I got on the 330 I like but, personally, I could do without the fancy-schmancy Xenon lights that turn in the direction you're going.
I'd rather have paid $800 less.

Originally Posted by RichReg

The only upside to all of this (other than the turbos) is that BMW will likely add more standard equipment. So the question becomes whether or not a particular buyer is really going to want the extra stuff that the 335 gets, or just settle for it.

Most of the extras I got on the 330 I like but, personally, I could do without the fancy-schmancy Xenon lights that turn in the direction you're going.
I'd rather have paid $800 less.

I understand where you are coming from on that. Lucky for me much, if not all, of what they put standard into a coupe is what I want anyway. The nice part in past coupes is the standard equipment is slightly less than what it would have cost if they were options. Coupes have been $1000 more than the sedans but get more than $1000 in standard equipment upgrades. For me I say the more standard equipment the better – saves me on the final bill.

Originally Posted by user1

I understand where you are coming from on that. Lucky for me much, if not all, of what they put standard into a coupe is what I want anyway. The nice part in past coupes is the standard equipment is slightly less than what it would have cost if they were options. Coupes have been $1000 more than the sedans but get more than $1000 in standard equipment upgrades. For me I say the more standard equipment the better – saves me on the final bill.

I agree.
But according to the ordering guide, it would appear that the only additions above & beyond the 330 are Satellite prep & Dynamic Cruise Control.
Kind of regret not getting the Satellite prep (only $75 on the E90), but the DCC I could do without. So it would seem that
the extra $3600 (if that's what it'll be) won't go very far. Luckily, the Sports suspension will be the big desire for most of us.

Originally Posted by rprasad

I agree with Rich. BMW needs to be able to sneak into those <40K comparisons. If the 328 is left alone in that segment it's going to get pwned.

As it is, the ONLY thing that people complain about with the 330 when compared to it's main competitors is the relative lack of power. If the only BMW in that segment is the 328, then BMW is in trouble with the mag comparisons. Therefore, they HAVE to squeeze the 335 into that segment, somehow.

Besides, 40K for the 335 is worth every penny. The 330 is already better than the competition; the 335 will DEMOLISH anything that Infinity and Lexus can throw this way.

I don't know how worried BMW is about sneaking into mag comparisons. Perhaps BMW doesn't want to be even put in the same category as Infiniti and Lexus. The MB CLK350 has a starting MSRP of 45,750. It is a 268 hp sport luxury coupe. Maybe BMW will be happy trouncing that car with the E92.

BMW might decide to go upscale with the coupe and make some bigger profit on a car that everyone will want. Maybe not. We'll know when the prices are announced. But I don't think cntlaw is just making up numbers to make himself feel better (or you worse), he is speculating based on other markets. At $42k the 335 E92 would still be worth every penny. Think about it, when has BMW offered a 3 series car here with a class leading (or demolishing) engine like this before aside from the M cars. This is uncharted territory.

Originally Posted by RichReg

I agree.
But according to the ordering guide, it would appear that the only additions above & beyond the 330 are Satellite prep & Dynamic Cruise Control.
Kind of regret not getting the Satellite prep (only $75 on the E90), but the DCC I could do without. So it would seem that
the extra $3600 (if that's what it'll be) won't go very far. Luckily, the Sports suspension will be the big desire for most of us.

Are the option lists out for the US e92? I've seen them from the UK and Canada but the US always gets more standard equipment than both of those countries.

Either way, I haven't poured through the option sheets for Canada or the UK but I think the e92 gets standard sport suspension (the most expensive part of the sport package). I'm sure the coupe will get more items standard over the sedan. I believe DCC is standard on e90s as well as e92s. It's the ACC that is optional on all 3er models right now.

In this situation its not fair to use a possible $3k difference in price of an e92 335 over an e90 330. Coupes have always been ~$1K more than their equivalent sedans. I think the e92 335 will be ~$1k more than an e90 335. And the extra standard equip in the e92 will (as it has in past coupes) make up for that extra $1k.

Originally Posted by rprasad

Christ dude, the E90 335 will NOT be 45k. Are you out of your mind?

Look, in the US, there are multiple sources that state that the 325 and 330 will be replaced by the 328 and 335.

Do you HONESTLY think that BMW is going to move the 330 replacement NINE THOUSAND dollars upmarket? I mean what are you smoking?

I'm sorry that the 335 will probably only be a couple grand more than your 330, but that's the way it is. You are making statements as if you KNOW for a fact what the price is going to be, and even there, your speculations just seem to be there to make yourself feel better about not waiting for the 335.

You made some points.

1. 45K is worked out based on our local price 680,000(~us$86K) subtracting 20% dealer markup and the huge tax. Yes, agreed, based on majority of BMW fans predict, it does not make sense. But do we ever know ? How long ago did we confirm BMW will put the 310hp Tubo to the E92? Did we know IS350 costs a fortune too? Did we ever have 310hp 3-series in history except M ?

2. If the E92 coupe/convertible were there the same time as when I got my 330i, I would get the 328i coupe/convertible only. E90 is my second car which I was really only after a 200+ hp 325i budget and ended up with a 330i was just because I wanted the bixenon and AS and so I might as well fill a bit more cash for a 330i. (My major car is already a 367hp 2004 C55 W203 which will probbaly still smoke a 335i with one foot and my eyes half closed)

3. I would definitely not feel any better as you have guessed; if I were paying here locally an addtional $180000 (us$22.5K) for a 335i with 15% more power here instead of the 330i.

4. The still rumour detuned 230hp 328i E90 is the replacement of 330i E90. If the rumour of the cease of 330i E90 were true, this makes a very significant performance gap , (80hp) between the announced 328i and 335i E92. This also means the 335i will stand on its own as a high performance car for higher price. Many people underestimated the price of the coming 410hp V8 M3 E92 (~$68-70K+), this makes a big error of the guesstimation of 335i price too.

5. Actually, it is the other way round, the people who have waited for E92 for sake of a bit more cheap power than a Coupe , should get a E90 330i now before you only get a detuned 230hp 328i next year.

I really hope the US price comes out ok and see more 335i around.
Have a nice day.

canadians have been paying crazy prices for 3ers. i don't see how the market is different in the US.

Originally Posted by user1

Are the option lists out for the US e92? I've seen them from the UK and Canada but the US always gets more standard equipment than both of those countries.

Yup....here they are:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18057

Originally Posted by user1

Either way, I haven't poured through the option sheets for Canada or the UK but I think the e92 gets standard sport suspension (the most expensive part of the sport package). I'm sure the coupe will get more items standard over the sedan. I believe DCC is standard on e90s as well as e92s. It's the ACC that is optional on all 3er models right now.

Oops...you're right. I got Acc and Dcc confused!
So that's one more thing that's NOT included above & beyond the 330.
Sports suspension by itself I would think is worth about $800;;you'll still have to pay extra for the Sports Seats and bigger wheels.
Obviously, we'll have to see the final E92 335 base price.

Originally Posted by user1

In this situation its not fair to use a possible $3k difference in price of an e92 335 over an e90 330. Coupes have always been ~$1K more than their equivalent sedans. I think the e92 335 will be ~$1k more than an e90 335. And the extra standard equip in the e92 will (as it has in past coupes) make up for that extra $1k.

Well, to echo Mr. Revok's sentiments, BMW may have already decided to go upscale with this car and make a bigger profit.
Our economy is doing very well, and despite high gas prices people are still buying these cars. But the Euro is still very high, and hedging strategies have run out for BMW last year. So I also agree that at $42k, people will still pay.

Also, Revok is correct: When has BMW offered a 3 series car here with a class demolishing engine like this before, aside from the M cars?
Unless BMW is doing this in the same way that Lexus foresaw the 255 hp E92 and decided to put out an IS350.
Maybe BMW is afraid of the next G35? Either way, this is uncharted territory.

Originally Posted by cntlaw

..

1. 45K is worked out based on our local price 680,000(~us$86K) subtracting 20% dealer markup and the huge tax. ...

I know it's been pointed out repeatedly, but I have to add another objection to your logic. How much a certain car costs in overseas market has very little to do with how much it would cost here in the US. This is especially more so in the luxury segment.

You can buy a Hyundai Accent for about $10K in the US. And I guarantee you that you won't find it a lot cheaper or more expensive anywhere else in the world. You basically pay for the production cost plus a small amount of margin.

Luxury cars, on the other hand, have much more pricing flexibility, and it's more marketing than anything that determines the price of a car. You always pay for the "badge", and the price of the "badge" differs greatly depends on where you are. This obviously allows the company to extract much higher profit per vehicle, which is why everyone wants to "move upmarket" these days.

If BMW is replacing the 330i with the 335i in the US, then they will not make it significantly more expensive than the 330i. It's not like they will lose money if they can't get $45K for it, even at $39K I'm sure they make a decent profit out of it.

That demolishes the 328i. Basically the low end bimmers are getting totally overpowered by MUCH cheaper japanese cars. New study shows that in the US Lexus overtook BMW in prestige ratings among affluent buyers.


CZ