Dealer visit realise I will never get into a new BMW again
Discussion
Took my 2018 335d to have a service today.Walking round looking at the new cars in there with with no numberplate. I said to the Service Reception girl I could not believe the prices and that they are nuts.She agreed ,what else could she do. M240i £56k M440i £76k 7 series a 6.0 or something like that £140k . etc etc..........I was lucky enough to buy a new 330d 10 years ago on PCP it was doable .I am in the same situation financially but I could never justify those prices. When the time comes I will need to drop down a Marque or two.
I thought this was going to be about how fugly the new ranges are..! 
But yes, prices have gone nuts - and for that enormous expense you get the joys of nannying 'safety' aids with plenty of binging and bonging and trying to wrestle the steering wheel to prevent the car putting itself in a ditch because it's decided it knows better than you do about the road markings...
But yes, prices have gone nuts - and for that enormous expense you get the joys of nannying 'safety' aids with plenty of binging and bonging and trying to wrestle the steering wheel to prevent the car putting itself in a ditch because it's decided it knows better than you do about the road markings...
This is what I don’t get about everyone on here moaning about how expensive EVs are - errrrr….. everything is expensive. Even a base Fiesta must be not far off £20k now. Bonkers money.
“Luckily” I’m 56 now, and I reckon if I can get myself an SL400 R231 in the new year and look after it then that will probably see me into the 2040s and I’ll be done.
“Luckily” I’m 56 now, and I reckon if I can get myself an SL400 R231 in the new year and look after it then that will probably see me into the 2040s and I’ll be done.
Funk said:
I thought this was going to be about how fugly the new ranges are..!
But yes, prices have gone nuts - and for that enormous expense you get the joys of nannying 'safety' aids with plenty of binging and bonging and trying to wrestle the steering wheel to prevent the car putting itself in a ditch because it's decided it knows better than you do about the road markings...
Funny you should say that,bearing in mind I am a 10 year old when it comes to cars I did not even bother to walk round their used cars,blandness to the max.....also had a curtesy new 320i...I would give my F30 335d an 8 maybe 9 I love it.That new 320i probably a 4 for so many reasons and they wanted £40k plus for itBut yes, prices have gone nuts - and for that enormous expense you get the joys of nannying 'safety' aids with plenty of binging and bonging and trying to wrestle the steering wheel to prevent the car putting itself in a ditch because it's decided it knows better than you do about the road markings...
smashy said:
Took my 2018 335d to have a service today.Walking round looking at the new cars in there with with no numberplate. I said to the Service Reception girl I could not believe the prices and that they are nuts.She agreed ,what else could she do. M240i £56k M440i £76k 7 series a 6.0 or something like that £140k . etc etc..........I was lucky enough to buy a new 330d 10 years ago on PCP it was doable .I am in the same situation financially but I could never justify those prices. When the time comes I will need to drop down a Marque or two.
A 330D SE listed at £36k in 2014, and a 320i Sport at £29k in 2014.There's current no G3x 3-series diesels to compare the 330D price to, but the current 320i Sport is £40k - a 38% increase in 10 years - which is not much more than the UK inflation over that period of 34%.
Even if the 320i Sport price only increased in line with inflation, then it would still be £37.5k.
Edited by mmm-five on Tuesday 3rd September 19:48
mmm-five said:
A 330D SE listed at £36k in 2014, and a 320i Sport at £29k in 2014.
There's current no G3x 3-series diesels to compare the 330D price to, but the current 320i Sport is £40k - a 38% increase in 10 years - which is not much more than the UK inflation over that period of 34%.
Even if the 320i Sport price only increased in line with inflation, then it would still be £37.5k.
Have wages increased by the same amount? Interest rate changes certainly make a big difference to affordability.There's current no G3x 3-series diesels to compare the 330D price to, but the current 320i Sport is £40k - a 38% increase in 10 years - which is not much more than the UK inflation over that period of 34%.
Even if the 320i Sport price only increased in line with inflation, then it would still be £37.5k.
Edited by mmm-five on Tuesday 3rd September 19:48
mmm-five said:
A 330D SE listed at £36k in 2014, and a 320i Sport at £29k in 2014.
There's current no G3x 3-series diesels to compare the 330D price to, but the current 320i Sport is £40k - a 38% increase in 10 years - which is not much more than the UK inflation over that period of 34%.
Even if the 320i Sport price only increased in line with inflation, then it would still be £37.5k.
I knew someone would come on and do that, should have had a bet on it ,fair enough, I get it. My answer is wages are way behind unless you are a train driver. In 2004 I drove a new Alpina B3S Convertible over the summer Cherry Red ,Cream interior I was in heaven ,it was not mine but it was £40k now they are £89k non convertible level with inflation would be £69k. Whatever is the reality the fact is I will not be in a new BMW anytime soon.Plus actually there is nothing that takes my fancy. There's current no G3x 3-series diesels to compare the 330D price to, but the current 320i Sport is £40k - a 38% increase in 10 years - which is not much more than the UK inflation over that period of 34%.
Even if the 320i Sport price only increased in line with inflation, then it would still be £37.5k.
Edited by mmm-five on Tuesday 3rd September 19:48
OP you shot yourself, and everyone else, in the foot by taking PCP.
Screen prices are irrelevant to most buyers nowadays, it's the monthly payment that needs to be affordable.
A few years back with 1%-ish base rate a PCP buyers mortgage might be £500/mth and so they'd happily pay £1,000 for PCP as they could "afford" it. So the abundance of cheap mortgage and PCP rates meant the sticker price crept up and up. Manufacturers cashing in.
Of course Putin and the lack of parts has further pushed up prices but as interest rates have shot up the manufacturers have to increase prices further to make up for falling sales due to PCP payers mortgages suddenly tripling in cost and reality setting in.
Now, add in the consumer's (not company car drivers) hatred and loathing for EVs, the reluctance of manufacturers to make ICE cars for fear they overtake their ever increasing, year on year, liability to have to hit their EV % target, and you'll see popular used ICE car prices spiralling up in the next few years.
What's the solution? I don't see one.
Screen prices are irrelevant to most buyers nowadays, it's the monthly payment that needs to be affordable.
A few years back with 1%-ish base rate a PCP buyers mortgage might be £500/mth and so they'd happily pay £1,000 for PCP as they could "afford" it. So the abundance of cheap mortgage and PCP rates meant the sticker price crept up and up. Manufacturers cashing in.
Of course Putin and the lack of parts has further pushed up prices but as interest rates have shot up the manufacturers have to increase prices further to make up for falling sales due to PCP payers mortgages suddenly tripling in cost and reality setting in.
Now, add in the consumer's (not company car drivers) hatred and loathing for EVs, the reluctance of manufacturers to make ICE cars for fear they overtake their ever increasing, year on year, liability to have to hit their EV % target, and you'll see popular used ICE car prices spiralling up in the next few years.
What's the solution? I don't see one.
I agree; despite the ugliness of the current range, the insane pricing kill any chance of me buying one.
The M3 has always felt obtainable but the current prices are insane versus my wages. Hell, even the PCP payment looks nuts versus my mortgage payment.
The days of cheap cars are long gone. My M140i was zero deposit and £402 a month (covered by my car allowance).
The M3 has always felt obtainable but the current prices are insane versus my wages. Hell, even the PCP payment looks nuts versus my mortgage payment.
The days of cheap cars are long gone. My M140i was zero deposit and £402 a month (covered by my car allowance).
smashy said:
I knew someone would come on and do that, should have had a bet on it ,fair enough, I get it. My answer is wages are way behind unless you are a train driver. In 2004 I drove a new Alpina B3S Convertible over the summer Cherry Red ,Cream interior I was in heaven ,it was not mine but it was £40k now they are £89k non convertible level with inflation would be £69k. Whatever is the reality the fact is I will not be in a new BMW anytime soon.Plus actually there is nothing that takes my fancy.
Are you sure the Alpina was only £40k in 2004? I remember the E46 M3 being £42/43k new. I don’t think luxury/performance cars have ever been “cheap”.
Over the past 20 years I've seen cars go from almost within my grasp to being as impossible for me to own as a Bugatti/Ferrari/Lamborghini.
Things like M3s and Alfa Giulia Quadrafolio have shot up crazily in price even just over the past 5 years.
I nearly bought a new Veloce a couple of years back for £35k, now they are over £50k.
Meanwhile I earn around the same money that I was on 20 years ago when I bought a new Boxster 987 for £36k, are they not double that now?
Things like M3s and Alfa Giulia Quadrafolio have shot up crazily in price even just over the past 5 years.
I nearly bought a new Veloce a couple of years back for £35k, now they are over £50k.
Meanwhile I earn around the same money that I was on 20 years ago when I bought a new Boxster 987 for £36k, are they not double that now?
BMW massively discount some models, so the sticker price is irrelevant. You should easily be getting 10% on everything through brokers, and for some models there are 15-20% offers to be had.
Second, most of their cars depreciate very heavily across the range (related to the discounting), so the 1-2yr price will be 30%+ lower (and in some cases worse).
If it were me I'd look at used and no later than end 2023 before the nannying technology came in. Their AUC website has some 'bargains' compared to the new prices, but you'll need to be a cash buyer or get decent finance elsewhere as the rates are atrocious.
Second, most of their cars depreciate very heavily across the range (related to the discounting), so the 1-2yr price will be 30%+ lower (and in some cases worse).
If it were me I'd look at used and no later than end 2023 before the nannying technology came in. Their AUC website has some 'bargains' compared to the new prices, but you'll need to be a cash buyer or get decent finance elsewhere as the rates are atrocious.
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