1er coupe U.S. price point???

[Deutsch]

Originally Posted by alex2364

That's only $1-3k less than a 3 series depending if you compare it to sedan or coupe. There is no way BMW is that stupid.

Agreed. That would put the 135i only $3k below the 335i Coupe!!!

[imported_tdc]

It won't be that high. BMW isn't retarded.

The 1-series coupe is the replacement for the now larger (some may even say bloated) 3-series.

BMW isn't going to doom the 1-series by setting the pricing so close to the 3-series. It desperately NEEDS the 1-series to be a huge hit in the US market and that price point will undoubtedly kill it.

I still stand by my under-$30k mark for a base 128i and $32k for the base 135i. Trust me, with options such as the Premium Package and Navigation (which most people will order), you're going to hit $40k pretty easy anyway so BMW knows it's going to be making a killing on this car.

[SCA]

Originally Posted by tdc

It won't be that high. BMW isn't retarded.

The 1-series coupe is the replacement for the now larger (some may even say bloated) 3-series.

BMW isn't going to doom the 1-series by setting the pricing so close to the 3-series. It desperately NEEDS the 1-series to be a huge hit in the US market and that price point will undoubtedly kill it.

Don't shoot the messenger. Only repeating what was disclosed to me in confidence. Time will tell...

[eMINI]

graveyard dead

[Deutsch]

Originally Posted by TheUltimateDriver

A BMW NA employee that is currently conducting BMW Center training throughout the United States. I can not disclose my dealing with this said person as I risk the loss of my employment. :wink:

And you shouldn't, and that is expected.

I seriously don't see the coupe going this high on the price scale, that is simply too much for this class of car. Maybe for avg. transaction prices I'd expect that or a little higher, but most certainly not base.

[imported_tdc]

Originally Posted by TheUltimateDriver

Don't shoot the messenger. Only repeating what was disclosed to me in confidence. Time will tell...

Who's shooting the messenger?

And if this information was passed along to you at the BMW Experience, it's hearsay. BMWNA hasn't finalized pricing for the 1-series yet. And they probably won't until after Frankfurt.

[SCA]

Originally Posted by tdc

And if this information was passed along to you at the BMW Experience, it's hearsay. BMWNA hasn't finalized pricing for the 1-series yet. And they probably won't until after Frankfurt.

It was not... disclosed to me late this evening. Obviously US 128i/135i pricing is not finalized, but this is what NA Bass currently is considering. Trust me, I do not want to hear this anymore than anyone else on this board. I have wanted this car ever since I saw it on the cover of Automobile.

[The Stig]

Originally Posted by TheUltimateDriver

Don't shoot the messenger. Only repeating what was disclosed to me in confidence. Time will tell...

We arent trying to shoot the messenger.

But come on. NO WAY IN HELL that the 128i will start at 31k.

BMW would literally have to have thier head so far up thier ass it would completley turn me off from not only the car, but more than likely the entire brand for being that stupid.

[The Stig]

Originally Posted by TheUltimateDriver

It was not... disclosed to me late this evening. Obviously US 128i/135i pricing is not finalized, but this is what NA Bass currently is considering. Trust me, I do not want to hear this anymore than anyone else on this board. I have wanted this car ever since I saw it on the cover of Automobile.

Are your friends eyes brown???

Because i think he is full of shiiiiiiiiit.

HAHA. Just kiddin, but seriously, the car will not start that high. Trust me.

[The Stig]

Originally Posted by tdc

It won't be that high. BMW isn't retarded.

The 1-series coupe is the replacement for the now larger (some may even say bloated) 3-series.

BMW isn't going to doom the 1-series by setting the pricing so close to the 3-series. It desperately NEEDS the 1-series to be a huge hit in the US market and that price point will undoubtedly kill it.

I still stand by my under-$30k mark for a base 128i and $32k for the base 135i. Trust me, with options such as the Premium Package and Navigation (which most people will order), you're going to hit $40k pretty easy anyway so BMW knows it's going to be making a killing on this car.

Couldnt have said it better out of my own mouth...i find myself in agreement with you quite alot on this site.

[SCA]

Originally Posted by HH007

We arent trying to shoot the messenger.

But come on. NO WAY IN HELL that the 128i will start at 31k.

BMW would literally have to have thier head so far up thier ass it would completley turn me off from not only the car, but more than likely the entire brand for being that stupid.

Well, the Germans have been known to be arrogate.


Edit: I hope that the info I have shared is not true, but if it is....? FYI, I am in line just like many of you here and if the 135i is priced as high as I have stated then I will hang onto what I have.

[kindtree]

I can see the 135i coming out with a base of $37k. That would not surprise me, considering the options which already come standard, and because BMW would just do something like that.... But, the 128i at $31k is ludicrous. There won't be a market for it at all. That is obviously not going to happen. BMW knows they can make assloads of money off the 1, but they're not stupid enough to price it like that.

[Pretender]

Originally Posted by kindtree

I can see the 135i coming out with a base of $37k. That would not surprise me, considering the options which already come standard, and because BMW would just do something like that.... But, the 128i at $31k is ludicrous. There won't be a market for it at all. That is obviously not going to happen. BMW knows they can make assloads of money off the 1, but they're not stupid enough to price it like that.

The difference between E90 328i and E90 335i is $6500. Why not 1-series? I would be very surprised if 135i are coming out with a base of $37k. With that price, I'd rather spend an additional $1800 to go for the E90 335. If 128i is priced at $27k, will we see 135i at $32k-$33k range? That's the reasonable price imo for BMW to have markets for them in the US or they will end up just like the 318ti.

[HKF]

I think a starting number of 29K for the 128i is probably reasonable. It's less of an issue for me, since I just plan to pick up a CPO 2011 128i in around 2014 or so.

[kindtree]

Originally Posted by Pretender

The difference between E90 328i and E90 335i is $6500. Why not 1-series? I would be very surprised if 135i are coming out with a base of $37k. With that price, I'd rather spend an additional $1800 to go for the E90 335. If 128i is priced at $27k, will we see 135i at $32k-$33k range? That's the reasonable price imo for BMW to have markets for them in the US or they will end up just like the 318ti.

Think about it for a minute.... Can you honestly believe that the 135i, which comes LOADED already(300hp, brembos, aero pkg, etc....), will only be $5k more than the 128i? That's insanity, but it would be heaven if it turned out to be true. I'm guessing the difference will be around $7k. My problem isn't with BMW thinking people will jump into the 135i if it's closely priced with the 335i, because even then, people will sometimes still just want a smaller, sportier package. However, I can't see the 128i starting out above $30k. People just won't pay that much for it.

[BForbes]

Originally Posted by kindtree

Think about it for a minute.... Can you honestly believe that the 135i, which comes LOADED already(300hp, brembos, aero pkg, etc....), will only be $5k more than the 128i? That's insanity, but it would be heaven if it turned out to be true. I'm guessing the difference will be around $7k. My problem isn't with BMW thinking people will jump into the 135i if it's closely priced with the 335i, because even then, people will sometimes still just want a smaller, sportier package. However, I can't see the 128i starting out above $30k. People just won't pay that much for it.

What you say makes perfect sense Kindtree. But I think we've underestimated the 128i. After all I suspect the 128's are going to outsell the 135i 4 to 1. Were all blinded by that awesome twin-turbo motor in the 135i and we forget about the standard. The 325's and 328's are what we see more of. After a long careful thought, I can see people paying 30k for a 128i. I mean look at other coupes from japanese and american manufacturers. They arent far at all. So I've adjusted my guess of pricing to 29 for the 128 and 36 for the 135i.

BTW, do you expect to get that MARVELOUS warranty from BMW for 27grand?

[kindtree]

Originally Posted by onehots2k

What you say makes perfect sense Kindtree. But I think we've underestimated the 128i. After all I suspect the 128's are going to outsell the 135i 4 to 1. Were all blinded by that awesome twin-turbo motor in the 135i and we forget about the standard. The 325's and 328's are what we see more of. After a long careful thought, I can see people paying 30k for a 128i. I mean look at other coupes from japanese and american manufacturers. They arent far at all. So I've adjusted my guess of pricing to 29 for the 128 and 36 for the 135i.

BTW, do you expect to get that MARVELOUS warranty from BMW for 27grand?

True, the 128i isn't just some crappy afterthought. It will be a great car, but I also think pricing it too close to a 3 will kill it.

And, yeah the warranty... hmm... I think chances are, I'll end up voiding it, no matter how hard I try not to....

[BForbes]

Originally Posted by kindtree

True, the 128i isn't just some crappy afterthought. It will be a great car, but I also think pricing it too close to a 3 will kill it.

And, yeah the warranty... hmm... I think chances are, I'll end up voiding it, no matter how hard I try not to....

If it kills the 128i, then so be it I guess. I think BMW is trying to kill 3 birds with 1 stone. They want to:

1. Produce a small car with AWESOME dynamics(to shut everyone up)
2. Boost the image of the 3(it wont be entrylevel anymore)
3. Establish a new benchmark and bring others to the brand

And they need to do this without brand dilution. I doubt its they're aim to have a 1coupe at every corner of an intersection in North America. It took them a long time to get to where they are on the prestige scale and I doubt their going to throw it away to make our pockets happy....

Btw, I'm not going to void mine.(AS MUCH AS I WANT TO) I'll drive a 135i for 3yrs and then upgrade to an M1.

[atr_hugo]

Originally Posted by onehots2k

And they need to do this without brand dilution. I doubt its they're aim to have a 1coupe at every corner of an intersection in North America. It took them a long time to get to where they are on the prestige scale and I doubt their going to throw it away to make our pockets happy....

Good points - I suspect their intention is conquest sales, not existing customers. One thing about pricing in the US market - overlap with a base model of a larger car can kill sales of the smaller car. American's - in general - equate size to value.

Personally I want a smaller car with decent luxury/sporting features - I want something that can take me and my wife through the American west (mountains) swiftly and comfortably. I gotta lot of sightseeing to do and a lot of roads to drive before I kick the bucket - and time ain't on my side. ; -)

[Deutsch]

No matter what a BMW costs it's always going to be a premium product, so you really need to dump the badge snobbery mentality- price isn't reflected in image but the value for dollar quotient that's entirely unique to BMW.

[BForbes]

Originally Posted by atr_hugo

Good points - I suspect their intention is conquest sales, not existing customers. One thing about pricing in the US market - overlap with a base model of a larger car can kill sales of the smaller car. American's - in general - equate size to value.

Personally I want a smaller car with decent luxury/sporting features - I want something that can take me and my wife through the American west (mountains) swiftly and comfortably. I gotta lot of sightseeing to do and a lot of roads to drive before I kick the bucket - and time ain't on my side. ; -)

Very well put Hugo!!

[Propagator]

Here's the thing. If the price diffference between a 128i and a M sports 135i is less than $6K, then I will just overspend a little and get the 135i. Also, if the price difference between a 128i and a 328 sedan is less than $4K, and the weight difference less than 200lbs, I will just get the 328i sedan. Others might not feel this way, but especially since the 1 coupe does not look significantly better than a 3 sedan in my eyes, it's a no brainer for me.