[TBro2002]

I'm within a few days of starting a serious negotiation with dealer on placing a 228i order for ED in late April or early May. I've been going through all of the information on the forums about the 228i and how to get the best price. Thanks for all the great information. The 228i will be my wife's daily driver and my weekend fun car. This will be my second BMW, my first was a 1975 2002.

Here is my build:

228i
Melbourne Red
Premium Package
Technology Package
Lighting Package

MSRP on this build with destination charge is $40,700. Invoice price would be $37,544. With the additional ED discount on the 228i the price is $35,376. I plan to add $500 dealer profit to that final ED price, so my target price with the dealer is $35,876 for a total discount of $4,824 off MSRP.

Some of my questions:

Does my calculation on the price make sense from what the rest of you have experienced on these deals?

On my first communication with the dealer, do I communicate the total price I want to pay only, or do I include a detailed breakdown on how I arrived at the price? I have a spreadsheet I'm using to calculate discounts. I know sometimes in business deals less detail is better, but not sure in this case.

Any feedback on the wording of the initial communication to lock the deal?

Build feedback?

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

[BMW F22]

Let them give you the price. Compare that to what you came up with and go from there. I personally like the tech package with navi. I don't like how the screen looks without the navi. Other than that, your build looks fine.

[Bimmer86]

If you have multiple dealers in your area, I would recommend emailing/calling all of them. You could definitely push for invoice with ED discount pricing or even lower because they still have hold back money and dealer fees to make a profit.

Do you have any interest in sportline or m-sport? Also, if you add the auto highbeams, you can recode the anti-dazzle function.

[TBro2002]

Originally Posted by Bimmer86

If you have multiple dealers in your area, I would recommend emailing/calling all of them. You could definitely push for invoice with ED discount pricing or even lower because they still have hold back money and dealer fees to make a profit.

Do you have any interest in sportline or m-sport? Also, if you add the auto highbeams, you can recode the anti-dazzle function.

Thanks for feedback. I'm working within a budget, so I prioritized options based on features helpful to my wife as her daily driver. If it was my full time car, I might have prioritized performance options. I'll have the car on the weekend and even the base 228i has enough fun factor driving to make me happy.

The auto high beams is something I might consider adding.

[TBro2002]

I'd like to thank both of you guys for this advice. I sent out 5 requests for quotes today and got 3 back so far. And yes, one was actually below ED invoice price. I'm going to wait for the last two quotes to come out in and hopefully make a deal sometime this week.

[Vector Pilot]

Good luck and keep us posted. I for one am interested doing a 228 Vert Euro Delivery.

[turbine50]

Subbed...

Mercedes is persuading me to cancel my order with their high ED lease rates. I haven't got an official answer but I heard they want .002+.
If that's the case, I will go with the 228i.

[TBro2002]

I placed my order on Friday for our 228i. So we are now official BMW owners (again). I went with a +$500 over ED invoice price quote with a dealer with good reviews on handling ED. I had another quote earlier in the week that appeared to be slightly lower than ED invoice, but the dealer was not very specific. I sent him an email asking for more detail to ensure he priced the options right and didn't get a response until after I placed the order. As it turned out this other dealer was right at ED invoice price, but a day late getting back to me. No big deal, as I still ended up with a great deal.

MSRP on 228i with my options was $41,600, selling price was $36,745. Savings was $4,855 or 11.7%. Got a 39 month, 10k mile a year lease, $348.07 a month (plus state sales tax), with a $4000 drive off payment.

There may still be some more savings. IF BMWNA offers any cash incentives between now and when the lease is signed, it will get applied to my deal.

I requested a delivery date the last week in April or first week in May.

[TBro2002]

Here is the build on the 228i I ordered.

[turbine50]

I'm headed to the dealer tomorrow. Where do I get the ED invoice numbers?

Here's my car:

[TBro2002]

This is what I used and was within $50 of the price I was quoted with the $500 dealer profit added.

Base MSRP of vehicle x .92 = USA Invoice $. USA Invoice $ x .93 = ED Invoice $.

Options MSRP x .91 = USA Invoice $. There is no ED discount on options.

Add the USA Invoice $ on options to ED invoice of vehicle, plus $950 distination charge and you have the total ED Invoice price of car. Add in a dealer profit of $500 to $1000. If you shop around you will find dealers at $500 over ED invoice and with me I found one at the ED Invoice price.

For me finding a dealer with a good deal was easy. I live in Southern California and have a dozen BMW dealers to request quotes from.

[turbine50]

Awesome. Thanks.

[TBro2002]

Good luck in Houston, I've read on some of the forums the dealerships there are hard to get a deal with.

[huma]

Originally Posted by TBro2002

Good luck in Houston, I've read on some of the forums the dealerships there are hard to get a deal with.

From Houston myself. I spoke with four dealerships before I found an acceptable deal. It is going to be difficult for turbine50 to get a good deal off the bat unless he has some kind of hook up.

[Bimmer86]

Originally Posted by TBro2002

Here is the build on the 228i I ordered.

Decided not to get the Automatic high beams? I actually just coded the Anti-Dazzle High-Beam Assistant along with a bunch of other stuff last night and it's very nice.

[TBro2002]

Originally Posted by Bimmer86

Decided not to get the Automatic high beams? I actually just coded the Anti-Dazzle High-Beam Assistant along with a bunch of other stuff last night and it's very nice.

Living and driving mostly in Souther California I did not see much use for auto high beams. Same for back-up camera, I never use the one in my other car. I was driving with a business client in an Audi A6 with a beautiful back-up camera, and he never once used it, always turned his head around to look out back window.

[bluebuffalo]

TBro2002, thanks for all of the helpful information on your experience. Can you tell me the dealerships who you recommend in SoCal? I have found it very difficult to get good quotes online/over email from SoCal dealerships. Thanks!

[TBro2002]

Originally Posted by bluebuffalo

TBro2002, thanks for all of the helpful information on your experience. Can you tell me the dealerships who you recommend in SoCal? I have found it very difficult to get good quotes online/over email from SoCal dealerships. Thanks!

I PM'd you with info.

[TBro2002]

Just an update to my OP. I signed my lease documents last Saturday. This Saturday we leave for Munich for a Monday ED. The process has gone very smooth.

A couple of interesting things when we signed documents. We live in California were front license plate is required. The dealer gave us the option of not having holes drilled in the bumper for the front plate. We just signed a waiver so dealer is not responsible if we get a ticket.

The other interesting document we signed was an agreement not to export the car to another country for one year. I think this has to do with the problem BMW is having in China, where people are buying up dozens of new BMW's in the USA to resell in China.

[shark715]

Originally Posted by TBro2002

The other interesting document we signed was an agreement not to export the car to another country for one year. I think this has to do with the problem BMW is having in China, where people are buying up dozens of new BMW's in the USA to resell in China.

I had to sign a similar document when I bought my Mercedes SLK 10 years ago. I never understood what the concern was.

[cehlion]

Originally Posted by turbine50

I'm headed to the dealer tomorrow. Where do I get the ED invoice numbers?

Here's my car:

I noticed this message is a bit dated, so this might get to you after you have already pulled the trigger. But since this feedback might help someone else, I'll articulate my thought. Whenever I see someone heavily optioning a 228i, I always have a M235i in my mind (DEPENDING on the options).

Ex. The original poster buying the vehicle for his wife is a good example of someone who likely should stick with the 228i because they chose luxury/tech items that would be add'l cost options on either car.

But Turbine, your spec calls for M Sport, Track handling, Lighting and Moonroof. These 4 options are ALL options that come standard on the M235i. The difference between 228i ED Invoice and M235i ED invoice is only about $8500. The invoice cost of these 4 options is approx. $6000. So the upgrade cost to the M235i for this build is only about 2500 + tax and fees on the difference. Now some folks might prefer the 228i for reasons often mentioned (lighter, better fuel economy etc). But I think most folks if for no other reason than resale would drop the extra $2500 to get the faster sled.

I was in the same boat (originally had a 228i on US order)...fast forward a few months... now I'm picking up my ED M235i in 3 weeks in Munich.

Just my 2 cents!