BMW M3 pricing.....grrrrrr

[ramblingboy42]

Been watching the Grand Am 24hr race on telly and during a caution period they did a feature on the M3 pace car. The car retails in USA for $47,000. Here in Australia $158,000. Up australia! Yeah, up Australia allright.

Anyone know how much a D4 is over there?

[Slunnie]

I wonder how much an importer could get you a RHD one for?

[Sully]

LR4 starts at $48500 in the US. That's US dollars..

EDIT.... Was just playing with the US website and even their HSE LUX with all the fruit attached is just a tad over $62,000.

Australian import taxes and luxury car taxes are a joke really.

[Slunnie]

LR4 starts at $48500 in the US. That's US dollars..

EDIT.... Was just playing with the US website and even their HSE LUX with all the fruit attached is just a tad over $62,000.

Australian import taxes and luxury car taxes are a joke really.
Somehow I dont think that the taxes dont account for the significant difference in price. I would bet even the US slaps something on, especially considering it isn't made in the good ol' USofA.

[Nero]

Somehow I dont think that the taxes dont account for the significant difference in price. I would bet even the US slaps something on, especially considering it isn't made in the good ol' USofA.

Luxury car tax kicks in around 57K ? and is 30% never mind we are a much lower volume market on top of that. Our dollar has only recently risen to its current level and most importers are running on hedged currency deals Rover Australia has also tried to position itself as a premium brand it cut back on dealerships to make it more exclusive. A bit stupid as they have a good basic work mans vehicle on the books for about 20K less than the competition. While the US may be cheaper have the look at the cost in Holland or Denmark for that matter suddenly its doesn't seem so bad.

[PhilipA]

Why listen to a commentator. this is from the BMW launch ad of the "frozen gray"
The first 2011 BMW M3 Frozen Gray Coupes will become available for delivery in late June 2010 through Authorized BMW Centers, and the production run will be completed by the end of July 2010. A complete equipment list is provided at the end of this press release. MSRP will be $77,600 Including $875 Destination & Handling and excluding $1,300 federal gas guzzler tax.

Regards Philip A

[Narangga]

Luxury car tax kicks in around 57K ? and is 30% never mind we are a much lower volume market on top of that. Our dollar has only recently risen to its current level and most importers are running on hedged currency deals Rover Australia has also tried to position itself as a premium brand it cut back on dealerships to make it more exclusive. A bit stupid as they have a good basic work mans vehicle on the books for about 20K less than the competition. While the US may be cheaper have the look at the cost in Holland or Denmark for that matter suddenly its doesn't seem so bad.

$57,488 and is 33%. It is paid on the GST inclusive price (up to $57,488) what's more. :eek:

[Hamish71]

Been watching the Grand Am 24hr race on telly and during a caution period they did a feature on the M3 pace car. The car retails in USA for $47,000. Here in Australia $158,000. Up australia! Yeah, up Australia allright.

Anyone know how much a D4 is over there?

Actually, they were talking about there new 1M Coupe.....the MSport Makeover of the 1 Series at that price. Having said that, they also quoted the best power to weight ratio of any BMW vehicle, so the thing would be better than an M3 anyway....handling/driving wise.

[PAT303]

$57,488 and is 33%. It is paid on the GST inclusive price (up to $57,488) what's more. :eek:

And you pay it on all the extra's you ask for also,with defenders that even means the floor mats.:mad:. Pat

[Narangga]

And you pay it on all the extra's you ask for also,with defenders that even means the floor mats.:mad:. Pat

:( I thought Defenders were exempt as they were considered 'commercial' or 'laod carring' vehicles. Is that not the case?

Obviously you are refering to genuine accessories purchased with the vehicle.

[PAT303]

Extra's are included in the price so you pay the LCT on them. Pat

[Narangga]

Extra's are included in the price so you pay the LCT on them. Pat

Were you not able to buy them as accessories after the sale?

I assume you are buying a 110 wagon which would attract the LCT due to its main function being to carry passengers?

[PAT303]

Your right,you have to get them after you buy it,unless you want to pay. Pat

[Sprint]

pfft...... the M3 is for girls..... gimme the M5.....

[PhilipA]

I dunno , you girlies always manage to steer the conversation around to Land Rovers Don't you.

OK , the reason that BMWs are so expensive in Australia is that they are low volume and that means the sales, marketing, parts, and office overheads are amortised across a small number of cars.

Because of this the mark up by the distributor is much greater than in larger markets, and approaches 50% both for BMW and AFAIK Mercedes . maybe less now the volume is 17000 per year vs 5000 when I was there, but probably 30-40%

When you consider that advertising needs about $5Million to make any impression , and you can only amortise that over say 1000 eg 5 series then its $5000 a car. In the US advertising is much more efficient and you may only have to spend say $1000 per car.

BMW always has and still does AFAIK require that each company owned distributor is self supporting.
Regards Philip A

[3toes]

As he says - low volume with the need to project an upmarket exclusive image equals high price for both purchase and ongoing maintenance for their rep mobiles.

Well as they are here in the UK anyway. The 3 series is a rep mobile with the 5 series executive mobile. You need at least a 5 series to be taken seriously in the car park badge snobbery stakes as the 3 series is now so common. They sell more 3 series than Ford can Mondeo.

If you and all your mates can resist the advertising hype they will bring the price down to increase volume. Not much chance of that though while the motoring press is in their pocket pushing the corporate line.

BMW here actually brought down the price of the 5 series M class by 20k a few years ago when the press drove it back to back with the Vauxhall Commodore. While BMW would not say it was so too many stories in the motor press saying that it was just not 40k better than the Commodore were hard to take and impacting on sales.

BMW is so volume driven (pun intended) that they appear in the top 10 volume UK cars with the 3 series.

[William]

I read this a couple of days back. Even allowing for a smaller Australian market, dealer costs, advertising, luxury tax and currency hedging etc.....How does it cost Australians $223,000 for a Porsche 911 and in America it's $77,200. There are more examples like Rolls Royce Phantom in Australia $1,068,000. America $373,000. Not that I can afford either but it is one hell of a difference:eek:

Why do Australians pay so much for luxury cars (http://news.drive.com.au/drive/motor-feature/a-quick-buck-20110415-1dgy7.html)

[spudboy]

Actually, they were talking about there new 1M Coupe.....the MSport Makeover of the 1 Series at that price. Having said that, they also quoted the best power to weight ratio of any BMW vehicle, so the thing would be better than an M3 anyway....handling/driving wise.

Maybe on paper. I've driven both in the last few weeks and the M3 is waaaaay the better vehicle.

The 1 series is still brilliant, although a bit cramped. Fabulous 6 speed manual. Twin tubo went like stink, with not a lot of lag.

However - the M3 is still the king of quick. I was getting 18.5L/100 out of it so it is very thirsty but damn it is quick. If anything, it has too much power, as it'll spin up a rear wheel with very little provocation. On the down side, it is getting 'bloated' with every imaginable electronic add-on possible, and it feels heavy.

I still prefer the previous model M3 with the straight 6. Much lighter and nimbler through the corners, a lot less 'fruit' and weight in general, and still a brilliant drive even though it is over 5 years old.

[frantic]

For the same $$$ get a new GTR.:D
Its faster.
Handles better.
And if there is any sort of moisture on the road will leave rear drive m3/c63/hsv's squealing their tyres at the lights. IMHO:)

[d3syd]

Maybe on paper. I've driven both in the last few weeks and the M3 is waaaaay the better vehicle.

The 1 series is still brilliant, although a bit cramped. Fabulous 6 speed manual. Twin tubo went like stink, with not a lot of lag.

However - the M3 is still the king of quick. I was getting 18.5L/100 out of it so it is very thirsty but damn it is quick. If anything, it has too much power, as it'll spin up a rear wheel with very little provocation. On the down side, it is getting 'bloated' with every imaginable electronic add-on possible, and it feels heavy.

I still prefer the previous model M3 with the straight 6. Much lighter and nimbler through the corners, a lot less 'fruit' and weight in general, and still a brilliant drive even though it is over 5 years old.

I have a 135i manual and imo in terms of performance it is probably about 4/5's a M3, so yes the M3 is still king. The new 1M Coupe is basically a factory tweaked 135i with a hotted up version of the new single turbo 135i engine and lowered wider suspension. It is still deliberately made to be slightly below the M3 in terms of performance as BMW couldn't possibily sell a M3 killer for less than a M3.

Having said that, some relatively cheap after market mods such a chipping and breathing/exhaust mods to a standard 135i would put you ahead the level of a M3.

[d3syd]

For the same $$$ get a new GTR.:D
Its faster.
Handles better.
And if there is any sort of moisture on the road will leave rear drive m3/c63/hsv's squealing their tyres at the lights. IMHO:)

The GTR is an amazing car. Performance of a Porsche 911 Turbo for around M3 money. Won the last Targa Tas too.

BUT, the running cost is eye-watering. I heard the cost of servicing (which is every 5000 kms or something) is breath taking.

[spudboy]

Meehhh - where can you really use cars like these anyway today? Occasionally on a track perhaps. It's not responsible to use them like they are intended to be used on the street, so it's all a bit academic.

I've only driven a GT-R once, but was mightily impressed. Gizmo heaven.

Top of the heap (for me) is still the basic Porsche 911. No turbo. No 4WD. GT3 if you can afford it. Simple, involving, driving brilliance. Not as practical as an M3, and not as easy to drive fast, but it is everything a sportscar should be.

[d3syd]

Meehhh - where can you really use cars like these anyway today? Occasionally on a track perhaps. It's not responsible to use them like they are intended to be used on the street, so it's all a bit academic.

I've only driven a GT-R once, but was mightily impressed. Gizmo heaven.

Top of the heap (for me) is still the basic Porsche 911. No turbo. No 4WD. GT3 if you can afford it. Simple, involving, driving brilliance. Not as practical as an M3, and not as easy to drive fast, but it is everything a sportscar should be.

I'm with you there actually. With the draconian speed enforcement in this country and the quality of some of our road surfaces, one can't enjoy such cars to their fullest. As a result I find going bush more enjoyable and will be selling my 135i soon.

I have the same utimate sports car desire. A basic 911 or 911S would be just perfect.:)

[Jamo]

GT3 would be sweet! I think I'd probably go for a Carrera 4S though.