128i slow sales? Good deals to be had end of year?

[SF_VR6]

I've noticed that every dealer I've been into (SF Bay Area) have at least 3-5 or more 128i coupes and verts sitting around.

Maybe some good deals on these towards the end of summer?:iono:

[sluday]

Originally Posted by SF_VR6

I've noticed that every dealer I've been into (SF Bay Area) have at least 3-5 or more 128i coupes and verts sitting around.

Maybe some good deals on these towards the end of summer?:iono:

I don't think so. they will be eaten up real soon. I don't think dealers will move on price until they have 08's and 09's on the lot at the same time. Even then only 10000 cars for the states, I doubt there will be any 08's left in October.

[Citizen Z]

Where do you get the 10000 car limit for the States from? Did BMW put it in a press release at some point?

[ein-er]

Took a test drive this afternoon. See my previous post for details.

The salesman said that even though his dealership has sold five of the six cars they've received, the car doesn't sem to be jumping out the door. He thinks this is because of the way the dealers ordered the cars equipped. He said the 135i was going after a new demographic - younger urban professionals with SOME discretionary income. Yet the dealers ordered their 135i inventory loaded to the gills with options. He told me they received a 128 vert with every option and an MSRP of over $50k!!! He said they somehow found a buyer. He felt the car would be doing much better if the dealers had primed the pump a little more by placing in inventory cars more lightly equipped. Can't say as I disagree with his analysis.

The dealer also said there were only 10k cars coming to the US in '08. He said BMW was carefully watching market reaction to gauge whether or not to open the floodgates on 1-series production for the US.

BC

[rdkind62]

There is a lot of information on here about how many of each car are being released but 10,000 total for both is correct. Also, I think that initially they sold more 135's than 128's because the car enthusiasts were aware of the car long before the general public and those people placed their orders first. So, most of the cars out the door first were 135's but I think you will find that as more people become aware of it the 128 will ultimatley be more popular. We are already seeing $550 discounts on both the 128 and the 135 so I don't think it will be long until you begin seeing discounts on cars that sit on lots for more than 2 or 3 months.

[Jack in Jax]

One add'l data point: 2 128i's - the only 1'ers my local dealer has - have been sitting in the same spots for 3 weeks now, nestled in a l-o-n-g line of 3 series sedans. Neither is highly optioned, neither has an odd color/interior combo. My sense is that the car hasn't found it's market niche yet in this area (have yet to see one on the road), that high-end car sales generally are slow right now, and I wonder just how inclined a salesman is to push a 1'er when s/he has a wide selection of colors & options in the 3 series.

I think SF VR6 is asking a good Q and we don't yet know the answer.

Jack

[ein-er]

Also bear in mind that BMWFS has, or is about to have, some rather compelling financing and leasing products on the 335i. The sales guy I drove with said these programs will allow a buyer to drive off in a new 335i with more options and a lower payment than on the 1. Seems like nobody in marketing told BMWFS about the 1.

BC

[nordique14]

Remember that the 135 convertible is just hitting the showroom floors now. 2 weeks ago the dealer here in Santa Clara had four 128 cabrios. On Friday it was only one 128 cabrio and two 135 cabrios. The mix a the dealerships will change in the next few weeks.

Also, it seems crazy that they would option the 1-ers up so they are the same price as the 3-series. They won't get too many sales that way.

[Jack in Jax]

Here's one additional data point related to SF VR6's Q:

BMW sales are down 9% in the 1st Q 2008 for N America. BMW's way of addressing this in their quarterly summary was to suggest that 2nd half 2008 sales would be better...which is a 'stretch goal' right now, given the U.S. economy. If BMW sales remain depressed...

How are 1 sales going? Does anyone else find it surprising that, with all the pre-release build up of demand, BMW NA only sold 400 more 1 Series units than Mini Clubman (also a new release).

Sales of 3 Series were also down 9% for Q1. Looks like BMW NA is experiencing soft sales so far...

Jack