The ultimate check your BMW 3 Series F30 deal thread

Etiquette question: Should I use this thread to get input on my specific lease offer from the dealer, or start my own unique thread cross-linking back to this thread for the xls?

Great question - I think it actually may be best to start you own thread and reference this one if you need to even though I wanted to create this to somewhat reduce the volume of "rate my deal" threads.

Problem is that if this thread grows to be pages long, its going to become more difficult to navigate for useful information, though I'll just keep editing the first post with updates to keep it relevant given any important changes to BMW's leasing/financing policies.

So perhaps the spreadsheet provides a means of giving you some basic numbers and the ability to see how those numbers vary with different payment options. This way you can direct your new thread so that its focused more on the payment alternatives you prefer best that you want opinions on.

Awesome. Just did that and cross linked back here.

Quick question!
I am having problems matching this with my dealer lease info.
Does your calculations include monthly tax?
Thanks and very useful

I've searched threads and have not found much info on Vehicle Inventory Tax.

Should I be charged this fee even though I am ordering my vehicle? The dealer is charging $93.40.

Thanks for this spreadsheet!

No - the dealer should be eating that fee for not moving their inventory quick enough. Not your fault they cant sell cars so why should you bear the cost?

Thanks! I figured that was the case but wasn't able to find enough info on it.

Many thanks for this spreadsheet! Two questions:

1. No values show up for 5C - Monthly Payment, Total Interest Paid or Total Cash Out. The fields show "#VALUE!" I cannot edit the fields to input values without a password...or should the spreadsheet be calculating these values?

2. With respect to "Potential Negotiating Margin"...if one receives this amount of discount, has the dealer sold the vehicle for cost?

Thank YOU Thank YOU Very well done and truly timely as I attempt to "run" numbers for a new 428 convertible!

Is there a simple way of putting in part of the Tax up front? My county insists on collecting the Tax for any Lease at the outset, maybe even for a purchase, but the City & State collect it monthly.

Also entering in the base cost plus options less delivery fee (BMW) does not seem to allow for any negotiations as to discounts that might be offered. I noted a $ 1000 regardless of the price (several different examples) but have received perhaps ~ 6% discount offers from MSRP and also have USAA options.

Thanks again for great work, really took my calcs to a whole new level !

Originally Posted by Beowulf65

Many thanks for this spreadsheet! Two questions:

1. No values show up for 5C - Monthly Payment, Total Interest Paid or Total Cash Out. The fields show "#VALUE!" I cannot edit the fields to input values without a password...or should the spreadsheet be calculating these values?

2. With respect to "Potential Negotiating Margin"...if one receives this amount of discount, has the dealer sold the vehicle for cost?

Negotiating margin is basically the combination of 3 things:

1. The amount you are explicitly paying in excess of dealer cost.
2. Paperwork fees in excess of $200
3. The sum of all interest you would accrue on a lease if the car is leased at a MF higher than BMW's base money factor (changed monthly)

As for the #VALUE issues, something must not be entered correctly. Email me your spreadsheet and I'll take a look

Originally Posted by Archivist

Thank YOU Thank YOU Very well done and truly timely as I attempt to "run" numbers for a new 428 convertible!

Is there a simple way of putting in part of the Tax up front? My county insists on collecting the Tax for any Lease at the outset, maybe even for a purchase, but the City & State collect it monthly.

Also entering in the base cost plus options less delivery fee (BMW) does not seem to allow for any negotiations as to discounts that might be offered. I noted a $ 1000 regardless of the price (several different examples) but have received perhaps ~ 6% discount offers from MSRP and also have USAA options.

Thanks again for great work, really took my calcs to a whole new level !

Unfortunately, I didn't put in any provisions to split the tax into different payment forms. However, what you could do is add in the amount of tax collected up front into the paperwork fees while neglecting the impact it has to the negotiating margin as the tax is non-negotiable.

Just make sure you have the option set so that paperwork fees are not taxed so that you don't double book keep that portion of the overall taxes.

Hi guys! I got an offer for a 4series with 8k off msrp. What you guys think about it?

Originally Posted by 335iskokie

Hi guys! I got an offer for a 4series with 8k off msrp. What you guys think about it?

What does the spreadsheet say for your negotiating margin after you put in all the other numbers?

Originally Posted by dwlink

Negotiating margin is basically the combination of 3 things:

1. The amount you are explicitly paying in excess of dealer cost.
2. Paperwork fees in excess of $200
3. The sum of all interest you would accrue on a lease if the car is leased at a MF higher than BMW's base money factor (changed monthly)

As for the #VALUE issues, something must not be entered correctly. Email me your spreadsheet and I'll take a look

Thanks dwlink: I reopened the spreadsheet and reentered data and this time the actual values for finance charges worked fine.

My negotiating margin was $1470.77 and I got $1576.45 off. Not bad!

Originally Posted by Beowulf65

Thanks dwlink: I reopened the spreadsheet and reentered data and this time the actual values for finance charges worked fine.

My negotiating margin was $1470.77 and I got $1576.45 off. Not bad!

Excellent - sounds like you walked away with a deal right at dealer invoice. Well done!

Deleted - double post

Originally Posted by dwlink

Excellent - sounds like you walked away with a deal right at dealer invoice. Well done!

Thanks...now if my wife and I can just stand the wait until it arrives...

Hey guys! Can you kindly check out the offer I got from a dealer.
335i
36 months
$61,235 MSRP
$58,235 selling price
7 multiple security deposits .00081 MF
8.25% monthly
$690 a month
Thanks!

Originally Posted by 335iskokie

Hey guys! Can you kindly check out the offer I got from a dealer.
335i
36 months
$61,235 MSRP
$58,235 selling price
7 multiple security deposits .00081 MF
8.25% monthly
$690 a month
Thanks!

Use the spreadsheet - that's what its for. What is your negotiating margin?

I just NEED to say once again GREAT JOB! I wish I could buy you a drink. I have never used excel in my life. I am not great with numbers. I read your instructions and it worked perfect on the first attempt. Looks like I did well also, I have a $44.50 negotiating margin.

Originally Posted by Mykatie

I just NEED to say once again GREAT JOB! I wish I could buy you a drink. I have never used excel in my life. I am not great with numbers. I read your instructions and it worked perfect on the first attempt. Looks like I did well also, I have a $44.50 negotiating margin.

Thank you - glad to hear you were able to put it to good use.

Mind sharing your sales numbers as a validation point for my negotiating margin calcs?

Originally Posted by dwlink

thank you - glad to hear you were able to put it to good use.

Mind sharing your sales numbers as a validation point for my negotiating margin calcs?

Originally Posted by Mykatie

Attachment 502631

FYI you'll save approximately $360 over the life of the lease if you allocate your $1000 down to 2 extra security deposits instead. This does assume, however, that you'll get your full SD back. This is about a 11% annual return which if you factor in taxes makes it more like a 13-14% annual return - that rivals many well performing equity indices.

While the algebraic proof is incredibly ugly when taking into account all the variables used in the spreadsheet, it does work out that given the typical range of leasing figures, total cash spent on the lease is minimized by allocating money first towards security deposits, then any remaining towards a down payment.

However, not included in that math is risk. Should you return the car with substantial damage (very unlikely), BMW will already have a good chunk of your money in their pockets if you max out your SDs. In the end you'd likely be on the hook for it anyways so I guess you could argue its a moot point.

The $1000 is from the UDE autocross event. The dealer said the $1,000 credit for attending the event will be applied to the cap cost reduction. The spread sheet allows me to assure that I am paying what I sb when the figures popped in the cells. As far as getting what I think will be a fair price I will use Edmunds and or similar. Tried to work out figures that needed a different sales tax rate and the cell is now locked. It is requesting a password to change that cell.

Tried to work out figures that needed a different sales tax rate and the cell is now locked. It is requesting a password to change that cell. Anyone else get that issue?