1 Series sales sluggish after early adopters purchased?

[SF_VR6]

The 1 series seemed to be the hot ticket at launch for the last couple of months. The media hyping it up, and early adopters slapping down cold cash for their order.

Now that we've passed the 6months mark, I have a feeling that it will be increasingly harder for dealers to sell them, due to the economy, credit crunch and gas prices.

Also, seems like people are getting good deals on these. (under msrp)

What do you think?

:iono:

[bozola]

I agree.. Could this be the Ti of 08?

Originally Posted by SF_VR6

The 1 series seemed to be the hot ticket at launch for the last couple of months. The media hyping it up, and early adopters slapping down cold cash for their order.

Now that we've passed the 6months mark, I have a feeling that it will be increasingly harder for dealers to sell them, due to the economy, credit crunch and gas prices.

Also, seems like people are getting good deals on these. (under msrp)

What do you think?

:iono:

[TP 135i]

Hmmmmm...the 6 month mark?
The official launch date was March 22. That's like 2.5 months ago.
What 6 month mark are you referring to?

[RobLS]

Euro release?

[BimmerBoi2100]

I know my dealer only get a few at a time and the only 1 that seems to stay on the lot are the convertible version. My dealer didn't even get their first shipment til April 14th. It's still waaay to early to make that kind of call. For all we know BMW might be right on track. Give it a year.

[larryn]

Remember that every dealer HAD to buy 3-4 launch cars in March. That greatly inflates the initial month by over 1000 sold 1 coupes in the US.

[ptack]

My CA has been guessing that BMW may offer better finance terms on the 1 later this summer. I suspect it's because the whole market is slowing down, including 1 sales. Like the old saying goes - "it's the economy Stupid".

[roadburn]

Are you reading the financing thread?


"Check out the BMW web site. It looks like they are now offering 3.9 or 2.9% financing on almost every series - EXCEPT THE 1!!! Ok, also not M3s, M5s or X6s. Is the demand for 1s that high or is BMW already figuring that their margin is too low for incentives? I thought the idea was to bring people to the BMW brand via the 1. They been pretty panned for the 1 pricing and this doesn't help, especially in comparison to pricing a 3."


"These things are currently selling faster then they can make them, they have no reason to offer incentives. Once the demand calms down they'll probably get the same incentives as the rest of the series."

[2snail]

I got 3.9 financing on my 135i. I used bmw's college grad program for financing and I got the 3.9 apr. :roundel:

[balaroue]

About 10 days ago, my dealer had 3 verts & 4 coupes. I stopped in this week... they had sold 6 out of the 7.

They did have 4 new (dif) ones.

[IDBMW]

Originally Posted by SF_VR6

The 1 series seemed to be the hot ticket at launch for the last couple of months. The media hyping it up, and early adopters slapping down cold cash for their order.

Now that we've passed the 6months mark, I have a feeling that it will be increasingly harder for dealers to sell them, due to the economy, credit crunch and gas prices.

Also, seems like people are getting good deals on these. (under msrp)

What do you think?

:iono:

You can walk into a dealer and buy a 128i today off the lot but you have to work to find a 135i on a lot especially with a MT. I could find exactly what I wanted in a 335i from dealer’s inventory today if I went that route. Until I see 135i’s sitting on the dealer lots I would say they are still high demand. In fact, customers ordering 1 series today are waiting longer than when I ordered mine.

The economy, credit crunch and gas prices are not going to hurt the 1 series IMO. The car gets good gas mileage considering the performance. The big SUV and truck market are going to take more of a hit.

And you could get under MSRP for most cars today.

I guess I don’t see your point. Were you going to buy the 1 series and getting cold feet? I am trading in my Z4 and took a big hit on the car but the fun factor was well worth it and I drive away with a big smile on my face every day. To me that is worth way more than worrying about demand of the car
or if I paid more than the next guy on the forum.

[dbtheo]

I don't know, outside of the sedona red car that we have, 1 series sales have been outstanding for us & getting better. The convertibles in particular have just been on fire

[1Ronnie]

Every time I have been down at my dealer, there have been people crawling all over the 1ers. Not to mention the wait times for getting a build date are still huge, no slowdown yet.

[dbtheo]

Originally Posted by IDBMW

You can walk into a dealer and buy a 128i today off the lot but you have to work to find a 135i on a lot especially with a MT..

For us right now, the 128i coupe is the much harder car to get

[lib]

Originally Posted by dbtheo

For us right now, the 128i coupe is the much harder car to get

That's what my CA was telling me a couple weeks before my car came in.
It seems as if BMWNA has the "magic model dial" (wouldn't it be great if it was that simple) in the factory turned towards 135i production.

[Nixon]

The hottest selling cars in the US all get 35+ mpg. The Prius sales were so hot earlier this year that Toyota has literally run out of them.

BMW could send 1-series sales through the roof with a 45+ mpg 123d.

[dbtheo]

Originally Posted by lib

That's what my CA was telling me a couple weeks before my car came in.
It seems as if BMWNA has the "magic model dial" (wouldn't it be great if it was that simple) in the factory turned towards 135i production.

I think BMW underestimated the popularity of the 128i & therefore cut back production to fill the needs 135i customers. I personally wish the split were more even, would make my job easier:biggrin:

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by dbtheo

I think BMW underestimated the popularity of the 128i & therefore cut back production to fill the needs 135i customers. I personally wish the split were more even, would make my job easier:biggrin:

Maybe they were overly influenced by this board!
Tom

[blklacker]

Originally Posted by roadburn

Are you reading the financing thread?


"Check out the BMW web site. It looks like they are now offering 3.9 or 2.9% financing on almost every series - EXCEPT THE 1!!! Ok, also not M3s, M5s or X6s. Is the demand for 1s that high or is BMW already figuring that their margin is too low for incentives? I thought the idea was to bring people to the BMW brand via the 1. They been pretty panned for the 1 pricing and this doesn't help, especially in comparison to pricing a 3."


"These things are currently selling faster then they can make them, they have no reason to offer incentives. Once the demand calms down they'll probably get the same incentives as the rest of the series."

I got 3.9 for my 135, seattle wa, I financed throu local credit union thou

[hansenc]

My credit union did 4.48% thats as low as I could find.

[Hobdul]

Originally Posted by IDBMW

You can walk into a dealer and buy a 128i today off the lot but you have to work to find a 135i on a lot especially with a MT. I could find exactly what I wanted in a 335i from dealer’s inventory today if I went that route. Until I see 135i’s sitting on the dealer lots I would say they are still high demand. In fact, customers ordering 1 series today are waiting longer than when I ordered mine.

The economy, credit crunch and gas prices are not going to hurt the 1 series IMO. The car gets good gas mileage considering the performance. The big SUV and truck market are going to take more of a hit.

And you could get under MSRP for most cars today.

I guess I don’t see your point. Were you going to buy the 1 series and getting cold feet? I am trading in my Z4 and took a big hit on the car but the fun factor was well worth it and I drive away with a big smile on my face every day. To me that is worth way more than worrying about demand of the car
or if I paid more than the next guy on the forum.

I asked my dealer why so few 1ers around (I've only seen one on the road out here in SF). He (BMW of Mountain View) reported that they are being conservative with their orders to feel out what demand is. He also said that BMW NA doesn't want to saturate the market early on--apparently fine with this as a niche vehicle.

[1ToBeOn2Wheels]

I never want to read the words "gas prices" or "Prius" written on this forum again. WGAFF.