[The X Men]

According to the Sep. 2012 sales reports: BMW 3 series, Sep 2012 compare to Sep 2011, -16.8% and year to date -3.1%. The MB C class, Sep 2012 compare to Sep 2011, +14.7% and year to date +25.2%. The Audi A4, Sep 2012 compare to Sep 2011, +12.8% and year to date +6.9%.
For a car that is recently redesigned and considering that both the C-class and the A4 is at the end of their design cycles, the new 3 series should be be posting much better sales numbers.

[Jamesons Viggen]

I think it's a bit early to tell.

A year ago, the E90 was an end term, full roll out, meanwhile the F30 has been RWD for almost a year now, we are finally seeing X-drive trickle in. That leaves the E9x wagons, verts and coupes which people know are being replaced.

Also, at the time a year ago I was looking at silly low lease deals on E90's, $199 a month for RWD, $229 for X-drive. Then boom, the F30 comes out at $459-$399. Leases make up a LOT of 3 series sales.

So I think it's a bit premature.

[JoeyO]

BMW marketing execs felt Americans were hankering for the Lines and therefore charged extra from them. Too bad few people want to pay extra from them.

[BigKutta]

Could it be because the car just came out and the pipeline is filling up? I live in the DC area and have only recently begun to notice the F30 on the road. And now I see the daily. Give it time

[justinnum1]

During the F30 lifecycle, it will outsell c class and A4, and ATS. Guaranteed.

To early to tell.

[Eric Tsang]

I think a lot of sales used to come from coupes and verts which are probably not selling at all. Which drags down the 3. Maybe BMW should provide a breakdown of f30, E91-93

[DerekS]

The lack of Xdrive sedans, until very recently, has severely curtailed F30 sales in Canada and I suspect in all of the northern US states. Where I live in the pacific Northwest, Xdrives make up approximately 90% of 3 Series sales ! It's hard to believe that so many folks have abandoned RWD for the heavier, and thirstier Xdrive version. It's a testament to BMW's marketing success of Xdrive !!!

[The X Men]

The F30 X-drive have been available for the full month of Sep 2012, yet sales still went down almost 17% compare to the same month last year. A lot of you are right, its still too early to tell, but if this trend continues, we can expect to see some pretty deep discounts for the F30, lease rate is already down to $349 a month.

[E36toF30]

I agree that it's too early to tell with the xDrive sedans just being introduced, wagon about to be introduced, and the coupe/convertibles about to be redesigned.

[ric124]

Could be because they are not building fast enough as yet? I took a friend to the dealer to check out a 335 so he could get a real test drive because I was not going to make him drive my car hard but the dealer had none.

Plus dont see much or any F30 on the lot that does not already have a owner waiting to pickup.


Just did a inventory search and there are only 10 2013 BMW 335i within 500 miles of my location. There is a lot of 328i's tho 847

[The X Men]

Originally Posted by ric124

Could be because they are not building fast enough as yet? I took a friend to the dealer to check out a 335 so he could get a real test drive because I was not going to make him drive my car hard but the dealer had none.

The 335i is in pretty low demand now with the introduction of the N20 engine, even lower than the E90 version since power band of the two engines are much closer now. Not sure about FL, but up here in the Northeast, the dealer's lots have plenty of 328xi to choose from.

[justinnum1]

Originally Posted by Sol01

C class sedan is outselling F30 in US like for like. that must be worrying.

Not our problem. Those that like the c class will buy it. As an enthusiast the c class doesn't come close to the f30

[sean10mm]

Originally Posted by DerekS

The lack of Xdrive sedans, until very recently, has severely curtailed F30 sales in Canada and I suspect in all of the northern US states. Where I live in the pacific Northwest, Xdrives make up approximately 90% of 3 Series sales ! It's hard to believe that so many folks have abandoned RWD for the heavier, and thirstier Xdrive version. It's a testament to BMW's marketing success of Xdrive !!!

BMW hardly markets xDrive at all.

[DerekS]

Originally Posted by sean10mm

BMW hardly markets xDrive at all.

Not true in Canada where BMW spends a huge chunk of their marketing budget advertising Xdrives.

[DerekS]

Originally Posted by The X Men

The F30 X-drive have been available for the full month of Sep 2012 .

This might have been true for the east coast, but it certainly was not the case for the west. It takes 2-3 weeks longer for shipments to get to the central and western regions of North America.

[iwannabimmer]

Originally Posted by justinnum1

During the F30 lifecycle, it will outsell c class and A4, and ATS. Guaranteed.

To early to tell.

I'll bet you that the ATS will steal some shares from the F30 in US.

Originally Posted by justinnum1

Not our problem. Those that like the c class will buy it. As an enthusiast the c class doesn't come close to the f30

BMW doesn't count just on enthusiasts for their sales though.

[justinnum1]

Originally Posted by iwannabimmer

I'll bet you that the ATS will steal some shares from the F30 in US.



BMW doesn't count just on enthusiasts for their sales though.

And i bet the F30 will steal some shares from lexus and mercedes.

[mhabs]

Part of the problem is that all the new BMW's are beginning to lose a fair number of comparison tests (especially the non-3s) and consumers pay attention to those. Even in C&D's two most recent tests, said they preferred the E90. In the comparo with the ATS (which did lose out to the 3er, but barely), C&D said "We are convinced that the E90 would handily win a comparison test against the F30"

[boltjames]

The same types of 3 Series declines were felt in 2005/6 with the launch of the E90. An initial burst of E90 sales, a falloff, immediate slump in the Coupe, Convertible, and Wagon models due to the anticipated line change, double-digit percentage drops for three consecutive quarters, etc.

BJ

[r3dbimmer89]

Originally Posted by iwannabimmer

I'll bet you that the ATS will steal some shares from the F30 in US.



BMW doesn't count just on enthusiasts for their sales though.

+1 and dynamically an F30 non Sport Line handles and drives pretty much like a W204 C Klasse. No real big difference.

[boltjames]

Originally Posted by iwannabimmer

I'll bet you that the ATS will steal some shares from the F30 in US.

BMW doesn't count just on enthusiasts for their sales though.

LOL.

You realize that 95% of all 3 Series sold do not have manual transmissions, do not have sport suspensions, do not have a sport package of any sort?

You realize that the average BMW owner is a 47 year old female on a 36 month lease in a car that she took off the lot to look stylish on her way to the nail salon?

"BMW doesn't count just on enthusiasts for their sales though."

LOL. Ya think? This forum is entertaining and all, but please, grab a lawn chair and sit at a busy intersection, profile the 3 Series drivers, tell us what you see.

BJ

[mhabs]

Same complaints are being logged with the new M cars. Lack of road feel, too isolated, too large, inferior driving dynamics vs prior generation.

http://www.insideline.com/bmw/m5/201...and-video.html

When the competition (Cadillac) is using the E46 and E90 as the dynamic and size/dimension benchmarks (per latest C&D comparo), it's a pretty strong endorsement for how good the prior gens really were. I recently had a new 328i as a loaner, and while it has a very nice balance between comfort and handling ability, in terms of pure handling and dynamics in the hills/twistys, I preferred my previous 2003 330i...it was so much more fun. As a daily comfortable driver, the new 3er is the better car, and that is what seems to be preferred by the average BMW customers these days. In years past, BMW would cater more specifically to the sporty driving demographic (which is a much smaller market).