[duluthtwo]

Posted this before in another thread but I'm in NE Atlanta and have never seen another 240. There are many dealers in the ATL area so I'm kind of puzzled as to why there aren't more around

[shark715]

Originally Posted by Motorsport_235i

They need to lower their prices !!
M235i is not worth 55K with taxes in canada in my opinion !!
It should around 40K

Are they even making $15,000 profit for every 235 they sell?

[3rdcoast228i]

No way they are making that much.

Dealers and BMW both have to make a profit. BMW probably makes less than 5k on a car. Dealers profits are variable but don't believe the old sob stories about how they are only making few hundred dollars. Bottom line is dealers are out to take as much money from you as possible.

[Dylan86]

Originally Posted by shark715

Are they even making $15,000 profit for every 235 they sell?

They're not making many profits off of vehicle sales, these days from what I gather. All comes back through service and warranties.

These cars are not badly priced at $45k base, IMO. The packages and costs for what you get moving above base takes the price up very quickly though. But you can still have one, with some fair options for about $50-52k. A base Golf R is $42k, so put that into perspective. This is a higher quality, stout and more engaging road car, hands down. The Golf R would have been my choice if I needed a 12-month vehicle.

Show me what we can buy in the sports coupe category for under $60k that has a turbo six, or better, and actually handles the way it should for its segment. Canadian dollars, that is, don't forget. Grabs popcorn..

[RotorOver]

Originally Posted by duluthtwo

Posted this before in another thread but I'm in NE Atlanta and have never seen another 240. There are many dealers in the ATL area so I'm kind of puzzled as to why there aren't more around

There's at least one more! I'm right next door to. Your right though. I've seen a couple M235is recently- way more M2s. If you go to Caffine & Octane tomorrow you'll see at least 5 in the BMW section. I've never seen any other 2er there though.

[duluthtwo]

Originally Posted by RotorOver

There's at least one more! I'm right next door to. Your right though. I've seen a couple M235is recently- way more M2s. If you go to Caffine & Octane tomorrow you'll see at least 5 in the BMW section. I've never seen any other 2er there though.

Was going to C&O to look around but weather today sux

[RotorOver]

Originally Posted by duluthtwo

Was going to C&O to look around but weather today sux

Same here.

[ORIGIN M.]

Well Mercedes killed-it!

[msej449]

I've posted elsewhere how you have to interpret these numbers with care. The 2 Series sales numbers in North America are highly variable month-to-month and often between any month this year versus last. They are very quarterly-driven and so February and May are often way down versus March and June. There is also the effect I know from my own dealer that BMW does all sorts of sales incentives each quarter that will focus their people on selling another more slow-moving model/stock. YTD numbers are tricky to use as predictors of annual sales, until you're into Q4. And as mentioned, all this has to be normalised against other manufacturers sales, which may have a different pattern. Also bear in mind the 2 Series includes the Active Tourer as well as the Coupé/Convertible, and that convertible sales are notoriously seasonal.

Notwithstanding that, there are some interesting trends:

In the USA, the 2 Series coupé/convertible steadily increased as a proportion of sales against the 5 series. It's now close to the same ratio as in Europe. So the 2 is of more, not less importance to BMW in both the home and US market.

2 Series sales have increased year-on-year since it was first introduced to the US, much on a par with the trend in Europe. Yes, the YTD indication is that sales are levelling-off, even if you normalise for a depressed auto market. But it isn't clear whether this is a 'problem' as such or just a natural 'plateau' (where most potential 2 series owners now have one). And it's only 5 months into 12 for a model that has very volatile monthly variations. This contrasts with a clear trend in reduced 5 Series sales over the last couple of years. So again, the 2 is doing a good job for them in generating delivery and lifetime profits.

Overall, I'm fairly pleased that I switched from a 3 to a 2 Series and I don't think that it's in danger of losing it's identity and/or resale value. I suspect that quite a few people are switching 'down-market' from 5->3 and 3->2 especially given how all models have got 'middle age spread' over the last few years.

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by msej449

I've posted elsewhere how you have to interpret these numbers with care. The 2 Series sales numbers in North America are highly variable month-to-month and often between any month this year versus last. They are very quarterly-driven and so February and May are often way down versus March and June. There is also the effect I know from my own dealer that BMW does all sorts of sales incentives each quarter that will focus their people on selling another more slow-moving model/stock. YTD numbers are tricky to use as predictors of annual sales, until you're into Q4. And as mentioned, all this has to be normalised against other manufacturers sales, which may have a different pattern. Also bear in mind the 2 Series includes the Active Tourer as well as the Coupé/Convertible, and that convertible sales are notoriously seasonal.

Notwithstanding that, there are some interesting trends:

In the USA, the 2 Series coupé/convertible steadily increased as a proportion of sales against the 5 series. It's now close to the same ratio as in Europe. So the 2 is of more, not less importance to BMW in both the home and US market.

2 Series sales have increased year-on-year since it was first introduced to the US, much on a par with the trend in Europe. Yes, the YTD indication is that sales are levelling-off, even if you normalise for a depressed auto market. But it isn't clear whether this is a 'problem' as such or just a natural 'plateau' (where most potential 2 series owners now have one). And it's only 5 months into 12 for a model that has very volatile monthly variations. This contrasts with a clear trend in reduced 5 Series sales over the last couple of years. So again, the 2 is doing a good job for them in generating delivery and lifetime profits.

Overall, I'm fairly pleased that I switched from a 3 to a 2 Series and I don't think that it's in danger of losing it's identity and/or resale value. I suspect that quite a few people are switching 'down-market' from 5->3 and 3->2 especially given how all models have got 'middle age spread' over the last few years.

This. The number of knee jerks on Bimmerpost regarding this and other things is amazing to me. I mean, this really isn't rocket science.

LCI = Life Cycle Impulse. It's a term coined specifically to allude to the central factor that's going on with current sales numbers -- they're starting to decline, so to pique interest in the model again (IOW, create an impulse of renewed interest) before its redesign, certain aspects of the model are freshened.

I agree that the lack of U.S. dealers stocking anything but base 2 Series builds has negatively affected sales. But at the same time, two-door coupes are not selling well pretty much everywhere. BMW, yet again, hedges its bets -- and it's not like sales have been horrible during the 2 Series' life. Why increase the stock of something that's already selling to target (or even above)?

[Elvisfan]

Originally Posted by crabu2

I bought a 230xi vert that had a sticker of almost $53K US. I like the car, but I do feel a bit ripped off because of the lack of a few options and all the options I had to pay for that are standard on other brands that costs thousands less.

I assume no one twisted your arm and forced you to buy the car. Yes there are cheaper cars with features that BMW doesn't offer on the 2. However,those cars don't offer something only BMW offers. The name and the driving experience. We all make our choices. I wanted blind spot detection. Oh well.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by Motorsport_235i

They need to lower their prices !!
M235i is not worth 55K with taxes in canada in my opinion !!
It should around 40K

My M235i was almost $55k USD without taxes

[opfreak]

Originally Posted by Luftwaffe1O1

Well one other factor is crappy lease rates at the moment. For a couple of years, the lease rates were really good from what I recall. When I got my car originally, I think residual was 63% or something, when my lease was up, in order to get into an M240i it would have been a lot more expensive. First off the MSRP was 1000 more than my car, and secondly, the residual was like 55 or 57%. So in effect I would be paying a couple hundred more per month for the same car.

I ended up just buying out my lease, but you figure with worse off lease rates, and higher prices, probably not a lot of incentive at the moment.

My lease is up next june, and I started looking at my options, if I wanted a similar m240 vs my current m235 I'd be paying ~150 more per month.

In 2 years since I got the car bmw raised prices, lowered its service plan, lowered ED discount, removed MSD. over 3 years it would cost me 5400 MORE then my current lease. Pass.

[Marmugmotleocay]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

My M235i was almost $55k USD without taxes

Mine also.

[duluthtwo]

Has anyone seen a 240 tv commercial? Not me, but Audi/Mercedes/Nissan F Sport seem to be pushing their brands. The 240 was among the 10 best cars of 17 by Car and Driver, highly rated by Consumer Reports, etc but the model is invisible in advertising

[DF]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

My M235i was almost $55k USD without taxes

Mine stickered more than 58k

[Howzer]

Originally Posted by opfreak

My lease is up next june, and I started looking at my options, if I wanted a similar m240 vs my current m235 I'd be paying ~150 more per month.

In 2 years since I got the car bmw raised prices, lowered its service plan, lowered ED discount, removed MSD. over 3 years it would cost me 5400 MORE then my current lease. Pass.

Amen to the above, my lease ends july 18th, checking out other options, I've only owned BMW, maybe I'll get a used one from carmax and throw a warranty on it even though CM is overpriced.

[msej449]

So here are the numbers of sales of 2, 3 and 5 Series in Europe and the USA.

US Pro rata 2-Series sales for 2017, based on the YTD sales, will be 9,775 compared to 15,519 for 2016 (estimate) [-37%]

US Pro-rata 2017 3-Series, based on YTD, will be 92,258 vs 106,221 in 2016 (estimate) [-13%]

US Pro-rata 2017 5-Series, based on YTD, will be 32,204 vs 32,408 in 2016 (estimate) [+0.6%]

The US ratio of 2:3 Series (i.e. for every 2 series they sell n 3 Series) is 1 to 7 (2016), 1:11 (2015) and 1:20 (2014).

The US ratio of 2:5 Series is 1 to 2 (2016), 1:3 (2015) and 1:7 (2014).

In Europe the pro-rata 2-Series 2017 sales based on YTD will be 29,640 compared to 33,461 in 2016 [-11%]

Make of these what you will!

[p912guy]

Originally Posted by Howzer

Amen to the above, my lease ends july 18th, checking out other options, I've only owned BMW, maybe I'll get a used one from carmax and throw a warranty on it even though CM is overpriced.

Why not just buy out your lease, unless you've had problems with your car? At least you know the history of your vehicle as opposed the one you might buy at CM.

[Howzer]

Originally Posted by p912guy

Why not just buy out your lease, unless you've had problems with your car? At least you know the history of your vehicle as opposed the one you might buy at CM.

Very true, I thought about it, but someone keyed the driver fender, door and hood when I was visiting a friend out of town. It irks me knowing the paint isn't 'factory'... Maybe I'm nuts.

[Sir Thomas Bombadil]

Originally Posted by RotorOver

There's at least one more! I'm right next door to. Your right though. I've seen a couple M235is recently- way more M2s. If you go to Caffine & Octane tomorrow you'll see at least 5 in the BMW section. I've never seen any other 2er there though.

2er checking in from downtown. There's me and at least one other in my building.

[bimmerfile]

Originally Posted by Howzer

Very true, I thought about it, but someone keyed the driver fender, door and hood when I was visiting a friend out of town. It irks me knowing the paint isn't 'factory'... Maybe I'm nuts.

Maybe???