We just may lose BJ to a heart attack. Rental 328i?

Originally Posted by captainaudio

There is a Zipcar outlet in my neighborhood that has 328is

CA

+1 same here in SF

Originally Posted by sf_loft

I wonder how BMW will put this on their balance sheet. As a separate line item or lumped into the overall number of vehicles sold in the U.S. If the later, it could be a sign that sales is slowing down and they need this to sustain growth. By doing so, they can sell cars to dealerships at a discount to be used as rentals and after a couple of years in circulation, they will go on the CPO market. It's a win-win situation for BMW and is actually a good idea. The downside and potential backfire is if this actually has the reverse effect and lower sales due to dilution of the brand. They are making BMW accessible to all now, good for those who want a long-term test drive before buying, but bad if people don't see a reason to buy one if they can simply rent one when they need to.

Like someone else mentioned, your Friday night date or HS prom will never be the same. It's in pilot and it can fail miserably, but BMW has the opportunity to pull out if not successful. Just not sure why I would want to rent an M3 or M5 just for a few hours or the weekend. High-end rental is not a great business without a membership fees.

BTW, in SF 328's are rentable through ZipCar. I've seen a few around and it must have been a refurbished lemon.

BMWNA has been setting sales records pretty much every month for at least the last 24 months. I don't think they need to pad their numbers.

So let me get this straight, for just $140 plus a $750 deductible one can enjoy the privilege of crashing a brand new BMW?

Originally Posted by sea6speed

So let me get this straight, for just $140 plus a $750 deductible one can enjoy the privilege of crashing a brand new BMW?

Yes. Just have the wreckage back to the dealer with a full tank of fuel by 9:00 the next business day.

BJ

Originally Posted by tturedraider

BMWNA has been setting sales records pretty much every month for at least the last 24 months. I don't think they need to pad their numbers.

Quarterly profit is down 28% compared to the same quarter last year. Although last year was an exceptionally profitable quarter. Margin is down from 13.9% to 11.6%.

BMW needs to sell more 3s, yet compitition is more and more fierce in this segment.

Originally Posted by dtc100

Driving an M at 150 mph in straight line is not the same as driving on a racetrack either. I would imagine BJ will like to rent an M if available, he knows a few years down the road he will join the mid-life crisis people. So this program should include the Ms.

There were many roads in Europe that I enjoyed driving as much as a track day. Haven't found many roads like that in the US.

I would definitely use this program if I was interesting in buying the car - you just can't get to know a car from a test drive.

But if it's just a regular 328i, I can get those as a loaner from my service dealer.

Originally Posted by dtc100

Quarterly profit is down 28% compared to the same quarter last year. Although last year was an exceptionally profitable quarter. Margin is down from 13.9% to 11.6%.

BMW needs to sell more 3s, yet compitition is more and more fierce in this segment.

Spin much?

There's no inventory. Hard to anniversary last year with no cars to sell.

BJ

Originally Posted by boltjaM3s

Spin much?

There's no inventory. Hard to anniversary last year with no cars to sell.

BJ

You would think if inventory is very low, profit margin would go up, yet BMW had to increase incentives last month.

Originally Posted by Chris90

But if it's just a regular 328i, I can get those as a loaner from my service dealer.

As it stands now, I don't think this program is designed for BMW owners.

BMW must have flooded the market with 328i luxury models, and since they are sitting on dealer lots, they need to help move them anyway they can.

Originally Posted by beden1

BMW must have flooded the market with 328i luxury models, and since they are sitting on dealer lots, they need to help move them anyway they can.

Quite the opposite with the F30. They've been in short supply pretty much from day one.

Originally Posted by tturedraider

Quite the opposite with the F30. They've been in short supply pretty much from day one.

Exactly. The issue is that those that want the Sedan haven't been able to get XDrive and Coupe and Covertibles are an aged design that future buyers know are being replaced in a few months. BMW has to work on short margins to get that E92 and E93 moved through.

It's timing, certainly not surprising.

BJ

Originally Posted by boltjaM3s

Yes. Just have the wreckage back to the dealer with a full tank of fuel by 9:00 the next business day.

BJ

Originally Posted by sf_loft

I wonder how BMW will put this on their balance sheet. As a separate line item or lumped into the overall number of vehicles sold in the U.S. If the later, it could be a sign that sales is slowing down and they need this to sustain growth. By doing so, they can sell cars to dealerships at a discount to be used as rentals and after a couple of years in circulation, they will go on the CPO market. It's a win-win situation for BMW and is actually a good idea. The downside and potential backfire is if this actually has the reverse effect and lower sales due to dilution of the brand. They are making BMW accessible to all now, good for those who want a long-term test drive before buying, but bad if people don't see a reason to buy one if they can simply rent one when they need to.

Like someone else mentioned, your Friday night date or HS prom will never be the same. It's in pilot and it can fail miserably, but BMW has the opportunity to pull out if not successful. Just not sure why I would want to rent an M3 or M5 just for a few hours or the weekend. High-end rental is not a great business without a membership fees.

BTW, in SF 328's are rentable through ZipCar. I've seen a few around and it must have been a refurbished lemon.

I think its smart...And while I agree it could indicate some issues with slowing numbers, I think it may just be another way to get already happy owners back in the door. As much as I love cars there are some you just can't even test drive, and I'd love to take an M6/m5 out for a spin and really see if its something I could live with, especially the DCT. Now I just hope they offer insurance

Originally Posted by sea6speed

So let me get this straight, for just $140 plus a $750 deductible one can enjoy the privilege of crashing a brand new BMW?

Sign me up if its the new m3/m5/m6 or x6m

Originally Posted by boltjaM3s

No worries, my manservant is all over this. He has a way of persuading people to do as he says.

BJ

He can't wait for only half his yearly wages he's going to get to be you for 3 days a feeling some of us can only dream of

The $750 deductible means any fender bender you will have to pay for the repair. I am sure one can pay another $50 ahead of the time to have the deductible waived, if crashing the car is part of the plan.

Originally Posted by dtc100

You would think if inventory is very low, profit margin would go up, yet BMW had to increase incentives last month.

Just curious if you know the incentives right now there is on "12 328s

Originally Posted by sf_loft

+1 same here in SF

Ive only seen 4 , f30s since release of this year in Texas

but when I went to CA for 2 days, i saw over 10 f30's

Originally Posted by NewToCarBuying

Ive only seen 4 , f30s since release of this year in Texas

but when I went to CA for 2 days, i saw over 10 f30's

I have seen 3 so far on the road here in McLean VA where you can say its the Meca capital in the east coast for BMWs. All 328i.

I have not seem any.

I will use the rental program often.

Originally Posted by captainaudio

I have not seem any.

I get mine on Wednesday.

My 328iL is going to be so exclusive. Just like my 428i all over again.

BJ

Originally Posted by boltjaM3s

I get mine on Wednesday.

My 328iL is going to be so exclusive. Just like my 428i all over again.

BJ

I'll send you a weekend cruise recommendation.
Do you have a preference of what direction you want to head in?

CA

I wonder if this is a way to monetize idle service loaners.

Originally Posted by NewToCarBuying

Ive only seen 4 , f30s since release of this year in Texas

but when I went to CA for 2 days, i saw over 10 f30's

California is not representative of other markets. Down in LA, a BMW is like the bare minimum requirement to "fit in." When I go there, just seems like everyone is pressured into the image is everything mentality. Parking lot at the local diner is filled with Lexus, mb, BMW, and audi, and I refuse to believe that everyone there is that successful. This especially true in the Asian communities.

In San Francisco / NorCal, you have silicon valley. Companies like Apple, Google, Facebook, LinkedIN, etc generating new millionaires every day which brings up housing cost in the area. Where I work, new college grads in computer science with a Masters are getting offers anywhere from 90k-110k. I lost a really good candidate to a competitor even after offering 125k + 25k signing bonus + stock. Even the average ones are getting about 105k or so. So it is really easy and affordable to lease or finance an entry lvl lux car if you're making this kind of money. Many of these grads live with roommates, don't know or care about 401k yet, and live with the mentality that they have a lot of future earning potential ahead. Many people have always dreamt of making six figures, but in bubble areas like SF, you dream about that as your starting salary. Six figures is not a lot when your average home is north of $700k and when you bid on a 900k house you get outbid by 95k. BMW of SF has this mentality that someone will pay for dealer markups on premium models. I looked at an M3 a long time ago and it had a 15k markup. I said wtf and asked to pay msrp today, they said no. A week later that car was sold. Too many people to throw money around and **** will sell.

Originally Posted by captainaudio

I have not seem any.

I live in a town of 17,000 ( recently featured in The New Yorker) - Already have three F30s here and I'm sure more to come. BMW, Audi and MB are common.

As for the rental program from BMW, I would do it in a heartbeat - Will never own an M5 but would happily rent it for a day.