Comments on: BMW expects to sell more than 100,000 M3s

By: BLISS

BLISS — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 15:25:07 +0000

THIS IS VERY NICE CARE….SO I BELIEVE THEY WILL SELL EVEN MORE…..IMPRESSIVE

By: mkM3

mkM3 — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 00:25:05 +0000

I agree with Spud – the additional sales will come from the new sedan. It seems likely to me that they will actually sell less E92 M3 coupes and E93 M3 convertibles than they sold E46 M3 coupes and convertibles due to the presence of the sedan this generation. I would even venture to guess that the sedan will make up a large percentage of the total M3 sales – probably 30-35%.

By: Driven

Driven — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 20:31:28 +0000

You are referring to an RS and an M3 – track cars but not true sports cars. These are not exclusive cars or anywhere near the level of the sports cars you are comparing.

Making an RS exclusive by limiting the production is a joke for a car at the entry level of the track/touring car segment. There is no need to be exclusive for the RS as producing more would mean more sales and more profit. BMW has proven this with the increase in M3 production on the previous generation. The more you produce the more you sell when you have a hit like the M3. VW fails to see this with the RS and artificially keeps the demand high by limiting production.

Anyone buying an RS for exclusivity is a joke to all the real sports car owners. Talk to anyone that owns a true sports car and they dont drool over the M3 and RS. BMW has the right business model by creating almost enough Ms for demand. Maybe that’s why BMW can be a highly profitable company without needing a mass production parent company to infuse money when needed. This is not a slight at Audi, just a thought at how BMW can do so well on their own.

By: Wickedated

Wickedated — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 19:55:41 +0000

Its a good policy. I think exclusivity plays a major part in everyone’s buying decision, especially in the sports car world, even if subconsciously. This is why cars like the Phantom Drophead, the LP640, the Enzo, the MC12 and Pagani Zondas all sell out even before they are manufactured. The feeling of owning something that very few other people own plays a major factor in the buying process for everybody, at one level or the other, from sneakers, to watches, to cars. A whole lot more people buy cars based on exclusivity than their track capabilities.

By: Driven

Driven — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 18:52:46 +0000

Wickedated, you are exactly right. The RS policy is all about keeping the prices high and the customers feeling special. The problem is the special feeling is just that, a feeling. The RS is not that special and IMO its sometimes not as good as the M3. Buying a car just because it makes you feel exclusive is the wrong reason to buy any of these RS/M3 cars. Get the better track car in the M3 and forget about the artificially created exclusivity.

spud, I didnt even think about the M3 being in coupe and sedan form. No the 11% increase in production for this M3 run seems like a minimal increase. BMW must be expecting sedan sales to canabalize coupe sales if they are only predicting 10,000 more M3s produced over the previous generation which was only in coupe form. I wonder what BMW expects for the breakdown of coupe and sedan M3s. 60/40 resulting in 30 former coupe buyers purchasing sedans? Those figures would be more telling about how MW is structuring M3 sales. LLN do some investigating instead of reposting real journalists stories.

By: Karkat

Karkat — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 16:04:40 +0000

I think id take the C63 over the M3 because i know not many ppl are gonna own a C63. I dont like the thought of being “common” That being said, im sure the M3 is a marvel of engineering.

By: Wickedated

Wickedated — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 14:39:42 +0000

I think Audi’s RS policy is about exclusivity and keeping their RS customers feeling happy, like they own something special, unlike what has been said on this article about BMW, who is aiming at high volume. It has nothing to do with capacity, Audi is owned by the VW group, they could easily make arrangements to accommodate a full line of RS vehicles, the process is not that much more involved, the cars aren’t hand-built or anything like that. Again, between the RS4 and the M3, I’d take the Audi.

By: spud

spud — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 08:21:52 +0000

There are two points for this story really.
1. Which has been mentioned – so far the journos have been panning the new M3 since it’s not involving. I also know quite a few current M3 owners who are seriously thinking about not upgrading to this car

2. The point which has been missed above – there will also be a 4 door and for the first time an M3 estate which makes “this” car more appealing than the old M3’s coupe only body style. THIS I believe is where the new M3 sales will be coming from.

I’m among the buyers who would not have wanted the coupe, but will be seriously looking at an M3 estate – especially since by then the RS4 Estate won’t be on the market due to the RS6 & Audi’s “One RS at a time” policy due to capacity.

By: Saud

Saud — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 06:34:14 +0000

Well, it’s possible.

By: Tree

Tree — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 05:22:07 +0000

Aah. Ok. If you click the link it works, even if it doesn’t look like it will.

By: Tree

Tree — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 05:20:58 +0000

Wait, something happened with that link. It redirects me to a deisel engine comparison page, with pics of an M3.

Here is the link from a Google cache with the text above. Thanks Jason, it’s a good read.
http://216.239.51.104/search?q=cache:dXawKI_B6jQJ:www.automobilemag.com/reviews/coupes/0707_2008_bmw_m3/index1.html+%22The+biggest+letdown+-+and+it%27s+a+huge+one+-+is+the+steering.+Whereas+other+3-series+(and+all+previous+M3s)+read+the+road+surface+to+your+fingertips,%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=usi

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 01:59:56 +0000

The magazines are thrashing the new M3, here’s a clip from Automobile mag:

http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/coupes/0707_2008_bmw_m3/index1.html

“The biggest letdown – and it’s a huge one – is the steering. Whereas other 3-series (and all previous M3s) read the road surface to your fingertips, the M3 is frustratingly numb on center. It transmits only the largest of messages, and effort is too light and doesn’t build naturally. The ratio is wonderfully quick but, to add insult to injury, the M3’s turning radius feels vastly larger than any other 3-series.

Brake feel is excellent, but pedal effort rose precipitously during lapping of the 26-turn Ascari racetrack in Spain despite aggressive (read: noisy) pads. Even though we had to pull into pit lane for a few minutes after each lap, brake fade set in after a few laps. The M3’s hefty curb weight is to blame – we expect it to weigh more than 3,700 lb when it arrives stateside. And while BMW has gone to great lengths to keep curb weight down – the carbon fiber roof, a huge cost item, saves eleven pounds – the fact is that the M3 has gained almost a half ton in twenty years.

The list of 3-series parts redesigned and re-engineered for M3 use is staggering – the V-8 car shares surprisingly few parts with those with a six-cylinder under the hood. BMW isn’t known for frivolous modifications, and all of the changes serve a performance purpose. Unfortunately, they seem to also dilute the driving experience. Once a direct, raw, and frenetic monster, the M3 has morphed into a polished and refined grand tourer.

The original M3 was a track-ready, high-strung performer that made no excuses in its performance. As fun in a 15-mph school zone as it was at ten-tenths on a race track, it dominated everything that came its way. And while it’s likely that the new M3 is faster around the Nordschleife than its competitors, it’s lost a good bit of the driver involvement that has made previous Ms legends.

At the end of the day, we don’t just expect fast lap times from an M3, we expect it to put a big smile on our faces. And this time around, the smiles just aren’t as big.”

By: jamaicandude

jamaicandude — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 01:59:38 +0000

If they build twice that amount, I wouldn’t bet against them selling them all.

By: 1c3d0g

1c3d0g — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 01:28:28 +0000

I don’t applaud BMW’s decision in that they want the M-brand to become a high-volume vehicle…I feel all the exclusiveness of the M-brand is lost if every dork had one next to their station wagon.

By: jJayC08

jJayC08 — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 00:45:19 +0000

The M3 isn’t that high end, you just end up thinking it is because of the mark… Like Mercedes, not all of their cars are exotic.

I’d rather take Audi, but then again I’m not really in the market for either.

By: obsessedwithautos

obsessedwithautos — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 23:55:37 +0000

Driven, a Porsche 911 isn’t a high end sports car, which is what this is practically going after?

By: Wickedated

Wickedated — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 22:48:59 +0000

Andre, it’s not THAT high end. I get what you mean though, it’s a 70k car for all intents and purposes. I’d take an RS4 instead, but that’s just me.

By: Driven

Driven — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 22:08:38 +0000

Typical lifecycle of BMW model is 7 years. They sold 90,000 e46 M3s in 7 years. BMW is looking to sell 10,000 more e9x M3s than they sold with the e46 M3s over the next 7 years. Its not like this is big news or an unattainable goal.

The M3 is not a high end sports car and it hasn’t been a unique car for over a decade. 90,000 produced the last 7 years and now 100,000 produced the next 7 years. Its basically an 11% increase in production. I wouldn’t consider this high volume yet. It makes sense that the BMW expects to sell more M3s over the next 7 years given the increase in demand for a trackable entry level sports car. This increased demand is why every major automaker is creating a car in this segment.

If you want a high end sports car you have to look in the 6 figure range to start, not a M3. That’s entry level to this segment. Its a great car but not high end compared to other offerings. I don’t see how anyone paying under 90K nowadays expects their car to be unique. Of course the M3 is looking to become high volume – makes sense for long term business.

By: Z06ified

Z06ified — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 20:48:03 +0000

I would say the only way they will meet these sales targets is if they keep the new M3’s price the same or less than the E46 M3. However, all indications I’ve seen is it will be $10k MORE than the old M3. I think they’re smoking crack. Either that, or they plan to keep this new M3 in production for many more years than the E46 was. They didn’t exactly say how long it would take to sell 100,000 M3’s or how long they plan this generation to sell for. If they make this car for 10 years, then 100,000 will be no problem.

By: Andre Neves

Andre Neves — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 19:01:37 +0000

LoL, that’s EXACTLY what I want to happen when I buy myself a high-end sports car. For the to be one on each block in my town. (sarcasm)

By: johnnyw

johnnyw — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 19:00:40 +0000

What’s amazing is that BMW is expecting to sell considerably more despite a considerably higher price. It’s pretty clear that the M3 is now a great car with a very desirable badge. Instead, the hardcore should look for the M3 CSL as the true enthusiast’s derivative.

I can’t wait to see these things on Boylston in Boston. What will be hugely thrilling is seeing the M3 guys vs. the new Nissan GT-R guys.

By: A4

A4 — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 18:59:30 +0000

it all depends on the MSRP!

By: SR

SR — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 18:57:41 +0000

^^^No, your mom’s a porker.^^^ That car is tits. Hurry the xxxx up and start making it, BMW!

By: wushuhsu

wushuhsu — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 18:49:31 +0000

That thing’s a porker.

By: Wickedated

Wickedated — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 18:29:27 +0000

I’ll probably see one in every corner here in Boston.

By: LP640

LP640 — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 17:23:34 +0000

of course they’ll be selling like hotcakes its an M3