[praxis218]

Originally Posted by BMV///M3

Wow....i was considering one to replace my M3 next June to hold me over till the G80, but optioned out my M3 was 69k and change. No way i'd pay over 60k for a 3 series unless the residual was mid 60's. You can get an S4 or S5 sportback for less than this....BMW might have priced themselves out of this one.

I doubt G80 will be cheap either...

[hans007]

Originally Posted by Falafel Combo

So what's the point really? Unless a base M3 starts over $70k this car will be priced out of its segment.

base m3 is already over that unless you get a manual.

[calicolorado]

56K is a pricing milestone. What I find funny is that the (admittedly top line) 3 series is 56K, though it has long been possible to option one up to that price. When I was a kid, my grandfather told me how much his 1989 735il cost-56 grand. It was Alpine White with a beige interior and had reclinable rear seats. When I turned 15 1/2 years old, he let me drive it with him all the time. I asked him how fast he went in it and he told me "I went 105 passing a line of trucks" on the way to their winter place in Palm Desert. He traded it in 1994 for a 740il in the same color combination (sans rear reclining seats) not long before he died. He encouraged me to "floorboard it" a few times when I drove it. My aunt, who could afford almost anything, still has the 740 and it's got moon mileage on it...

56K for a 3 series...inflation is crazy.

[Falafel Combo]

Originally Posted by hans007

base m3 is already over that unless you get a manual.

Wow, you are correct. Good grief!!! And yes, last M3 I ordered was manual (so will my next one).

[NYC_340i]

Originally Posted by calicolorado

56K is a pricing milestone. What I find funny is that the (admittedly top line) 3 series is 56K, though it has long been possible to option one up to that price. When I was a kid, my grandfather told me how much his 1989 735il cost-56 grand. It was Alpine White with a beige interior and had reclinable rear seats. When I turned 15 1/2 years old, he let me drive it with him all the time. I asked him how fast he went in it and he told me "I went 105 passing a line of trucks" on the way to their winter place in Palm Desert. He traded it in 1994 for a 740il in the same color combination (sans rear reclining seats) not long before he died. He encouraged me to "floorboard it" a few times when I drove it. My aunt, who could afford almost anything, still has the 740 and it's got moon mileage on it...

56K for a 3 series...inflation is crazy.

Well this is inflation that can apply to anything and every car so I don't find the point of comparing the price of a 1989 car to a 2018 car. $56k in 1989 is around $110k today which aligns with a nicely optioned 7 series today. A 2000 330ci started at $34k so it's not far off the M340i price today adjusted for inflation.

[Galex999]

At $57k starting MSRP, the new M340ix will likely be over $60k even with absolute bare essential options (leather, HK audio) and most dealer-ordered ones will be priced close to or even over $70k. I like new M340ix but some folks would rather go with 2019 Audi S5 Sportback Premium that comes pretty much fully loaded at $54k MSRP and you can easily get ~4k discount.

I know M340ix will be slightly faster 0-60 with ~30hp advantage and handles better, but S5 has identical torque value of 369 lb-ft at nearly $20k bargain. And S5 Sportback offers better cargo practicality with its rear liftback design. I think BMW priced M340ix too aggressively…

[praxis218]

Originally Posted by Galex999

At $57k starting MSRP, the new M340ix will likely be over $60k even with absolute bare essential options (leather, HK audio) and most dealer-ordered ones will be priced close to or even over $70k. I like new M340ix but some folks would rather go with 2019 Audi S5 Sportback Premium that comes pretty much fully loaded at $54k MSRP and you can easily get ~4k discount.

I know M340ix will be slightly faster 0-60 with ~30hp advantage and handles better, but S5 has identical torque value of 369 lb-ft at nearly $20k bargain. And S5 Sportback offers better cargo practicality with its rear liftback design. I think BMW priced M340ix too aggressively…

How are the residuals and money factors on those?

The S5 Sportback looks ridiculously good in real life. It doesn't photograph that well.

[xlover]

Originally Posted by Galex999

At $57k starting MSRP, the new M340ix will likely be over $60k even with absolute bare essential options (leather, HK audio) and most dealer-ordered ones will be priced close to or even over $70k. I like new M340ix but some folks would rather go with 2019 Audi S5 Sportback Premium that comes pretty much fully loaded at $54k MSRP and you can easily get ~4k discount.

I know M340ix will be slightly faster 0-60 with ~30hp advantage and handles better, but S5 has identical torque value of 369 lb-ft at nearly $20k bargain. And S5 Sportback offers better cargo practicality with its rear liftback design. I think BMW priced M340ix too aggressively…

While I do agree in principal that the M340 is at the high end of the pricing leverage... probably slightly overpriced. your example is an exaggeration

an M340 with premium pack, leather, HK is the rough equivalent of an S4 prestige with S sport, cold weather, and napa leather... those two cars will share many of the same features. If you do not agree with this assumption check out the G20 order guide as the package contents have changed from what most assume they used to be (example premium now includes, NAV, HUD, active cockpit, heated steering wheel)

for the S4 at 2018 prices you are looking at an MSRP of 61,600 (options paint, S sport, cold weather, napa leather) the S5 you used as an example above would cost even more but the appropriate comparision is the S4
For the 2020 model year M340 and using the 330 G20 order guide as a source for ballparking
56995 + 995 [dest] + 550 [paint] + 2800 [prem] + 875 [h/k] + 1700 [lthr] = 63,915
difference of 2315... while notable the price gap not really as significant as the 20k you called out, especially considering that audi MSRP is going to go through 2 model year price increases which will close that gap somewhat (2019 and 2020)
the traffic jam/driver assist packages are priced pretty evenly as are the mettallic paints

obviously depending on personal taste and preffered options the gap will rise or shrink

As I noted in above posts I think that those that will feel the most pain are those who are looking for/happy with a more bare bones car or the cheapest car at the tier they are looking in.

I think the typical car on lot is going to be around 65... and smaller amount around 67-68 with driver assist and exec

[JS919]

Has anyone compared prices to a '19 C43 with similar power or a less powerful S4? It seems to me that they are in a similar price range. You can easily option out a C43 to $70K. The S4 is a little cheaper, but from what I can see, it should be.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by JS919

Has anyone compared prices to a '19 C43 with similar power or a less powerful S4?

The answer to that question is "yes". Please read the post directly above yours.

[R N M]

Besides the increase in MSRP, the residual value for M340i/xi will probably be a few percentage points lower than 330i.
BMW has recently began doing different leasing programs based on specific trims! I remember before it was the same for the whole series including M variant.

All about less incentives and higher profit margins......

[xlover]

Originally Posted by R N M

Besides the increase in MSRP, the residual value for M340i/xi will probably be a few percentage points lower than 330i.
BMW has recently began doing different leasing programs based on specific trims! I remember before it was the same for the whole series including M variant.

All about less incentives and higher profit margins......

Actually it is a bit wonky currently... the 340 has a slightly higher residual than the 330... but the M has a residual lower than the both of them. with the G20/G80 who knows till the rates come out... fundamentally looking at changes in the leasing program BMW is working very hard to protect "down the road profitability" and is moving more to a lease credit system, taking the hit a point of sale

[JayPichardo]

M340i 382 HP 4.2 0-60

C43 362 HP 4.6 0-60

S4 349 HP 4.4 0-60

[Germanauto]

I'll hopefully be in the market within the next 3 yrs.

Tack on a couple necessary packages to this and it'll easily hit ~$62K. Why wouldn't I just look into a CPO ///M4 at that point?

The current 340 starts at $50K. Totally reasonable. A $5K price hike is blasphemous.

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by spiff56747

The G70 looks appealing overall but there's no manual option on the 3.3 liter, and the interior design doesn't look very premium.

Finally somebody said it.

The reviewers are so biased toward the underdog car they don't even make mention of it's plain jane looking interior. Sure, quality looks good especially with the Nappa leather option, but the design does not fit the compact executive class at all.

Throw in an unknown dealership network and the poor residuals of the Genesis division, and that car just doesn't provide me enough of a reason to look outside the German brands or Lexus.

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by ThatKrazyPolak

This is the stupidest move from a business standpoint. The M340 is essentially a poorer mans M3, but its goal is to remain on par with competitive 6 cylinder sedans and the top of the 3 series line. If your telling me I'm getting a naked 6 cylinder for more then 55K, then I'm sorry, but this is a ripoff.

An M3 starts at 66K, so by the time you deck out an M340 will all package options, it will, essentially, cost the same as an M3 which has a higher output anyway. The 10K price buffer is not really that competitive. This does not make any sense there is no incentive at that point to buy an M340. This is beyond frustrating.

Lets not even begin to describe the lack of competitive pricing as compared to an S4....

May as well just pick up an early lease trade in ///M3. There are plenty with 5-10K miles. All you're giving up is 1 year of the manufacturer's warranty.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by NH_F36

C43 362 HP 4.6 0-60

It has 385hp now, and the acceleration will improve as a result.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a1...middle-c-news/

S4 349 HP 4.4 0-60

It has 354hp.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a1...cing-released/

[insanecoder]

Originally Posted by NH_F36

M340i 382 HP 4.2 0-60

C43 362 HP 4.6 0-60

S4 349 HP 4.4 0-60

Tesla 3 Perf 3.3 0-60 (big difference)

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by insanecoder

Tesla 3 Perf 3.3 0-60 (big difference)

It has a $64k starting price which puts it into C63 and outgoing M3 territory. Yes, you can get it down to about $60k with the tax credit (which is $3750 unless you take delivery of one in the next three weeks - half of what it used to be), and yes it has AWD whereas those cars are RWD.

I do think that the Model3 generally represents good value despite questions such as build quality issues and long term heath of the company. Still, I wouldn't necessarily pit the high end Performance model against the mid-range models from the German trio.

[MacklinUSOB]

First production year cars are likely to get a stack of base options across the range to simplify production and increase margins to get out of red on the platform as fast as possible.

I understand why they're doing it, but for my needs/wants I'm not a fan of this practice. Cars with less options are better for long term ownership, particularly without real knowledge of how reliable or expensive they are to keep working. With the current options configuration the M340i is off my list simply because I am too tall to wear a helmet in a moonroof car.

I'd expect a shake up of standard options after a production year or two, hopefully they reshape the base pricing prior to G80 release as to not hurt sales for one or the other.

[Kevinduma]

Man just imagine what the M440i coupe and Gran Coupe will be

[praxis218]

Originally Posted by MacklinUSOB

First production year cars are likely to get a stack of base options across the range to simplify production and increase margins to get out of red on the platform as fast as possible.

I understand why they're doing it, but for my needs/wants I'm not a fan of this practice. Cars with less options are better for long term ownership, particularly without real knowledge of how reliable or expensive they are to keep working. With the current options configuration the M340i is off my list simply because I am too tall to wear a helmet in a moonroof car.

I'd expect a shake up of standard options after a production year or two, hopefully they reshape the base pricing prior to G80 release as to not hurt sales for one or the other.

I seriously doubt it, all of the the M-Performance cars (like the X3 M40i, X4 M40i) are like this now. There was a PowerPoint slide posted a while back that listed the stratification of base cars, M-Performance cars, and different tiers of M cars going forward.

Originally Posted by Kevinduma

Man just imagine what the M440i coupe and Gran Coupe will be

There was recent quote from a BMW spokesman stating that the 4 will be even more separated from the 3 for next generation, so reading between the lines prepare for sticker shock

https://www.motoring.com.au/new-bmw-...tional-115947/