Dealer Inventory

[CSBM5]

As of 8/15/2014 just on Autotrader there are 56 2015 M3s and 152 M4s at dealers in the country. Nobody should be paying over MSRP and deals should definitely be available if the sales rate doesn't pick up one would think. Looks like BMW has provided plenty of supply at this point.

[mic_crispy]

I think that most dealerships have systems that automatically enter cars into inventory... even if they are spoken for / ordered or not even there yet.

i called a dealership earlier on that said they had an m3 and that was the case. I have a feeling like a majority of those are that case.

[mattwhite]

I've noticed the same. My local dealer here in Houston (Advantage BMW) has 4 - apparently all sapphire black. Apparently they are not too interested in moving them. I was #2 or 3 on the list with a deposit placed but told them I wanted to drive one first. They, of course, sold their demos without even calling me. Now they have 4 on the lot and I still don't rate a call. At least they are consistent, I guess.

But what is the deal on this excess inventory? There were literally no E46 M3s sitting on dealer lots (for several years, at least), and the E92 M3 was a waiting list car for quite a while as well.

[mattwhite]

Originally Posted by mic_crispy

I think that most dealerships have systems that automatically enter cars into inventory... even if they are spoken for / ordered or not even there yet.

i called a dealership earlier on that said they had an m3 and that was the case. I have a feeling like a majority of those are that case.

This isn't dealer inventory, these are cars that have been specifically listed for sale on autotrader.com - as of right now, there are 152 M4s!

[JoeFromPA]

Originally Posted by mattwhite

This isn't dealer inventory, these are cars that have been specifically listed for sale on autotrader.com - as of right now, there are 152 M4s!

Yes, dealers list on autotrader automatically many times to show cars they have in stock to generate interest/visits even if the car is pre-sold.

I'm just saying it could be wrong.

[CSBM5]

Originally Posted by mattwhite

This isn't dealer inventory, these are cars that have been specifically listed for sale on autotrader.com - as of right now, there are 152 M4s!

I think you misunderstood his point which is that some of these are listed by dealers who have computer systems to automatically list them for sale. Some portion of these might represent that, but there is clearly a reasonable supply at various dealers around the country. A couple of weeks back I was surprised to see my two local dealers have cars in stock since they didn't list them on Autotrader or on their web sites...the exact opposite of what that point was. Fortunately was able to check out the M3 sitting in the showroom.

[mattwhite]

Originally Posted by CSBM5

I think you misunderstood his point which is that some of these are listed by dealers who have computer systems to automatically list them for sale. Some portion of these might represent that, but there is clearly a reasonable supply at various dealers around the country. A couple of weeks back I was surprised to see my two local dealers have cars in stock since they didn't list them on Autotrader or on their web sites...the exact opposite of what that point was. Fortunately was able to check out the M3 sitting in the showroom.

Got it - just another annoying thing that dealers do to mislead people.

[JoeFromPA]

Originally Posted by CSBM5

I think you misunderstood his point which is that some of these are listed by dealers who have computer systems to automatically list them for sale. Some portion of these might represent that, but there is clearly a reasonable supply at various dealers around the country. A couple of weeks back I was surprised to see my two local dealers have cars in stock since they didn't list them on Autotrader or on their web sites...the exact opposite of what that point was. Fortunately was able to check out the M3 sitting in the showroom.

Since I don't know actual inventory, Ill just point out that the M registry says,

NA-spec M3 sedan, LHD): 5,867 examples produced from 11/2007 through 10/2011
NA-spec M3 coupe, LHD),: 15,799 examples produced from 11/2007 through 06/2013
NA-spec M3 convertible, LHD),: 8,590 examples produced from 02/2008 through 10/2013

So this means ~30k M3s were sold between 07-13 (6 model years), or about 5,000 per year

This indicates to me we should see about ~400-500 per month delivered to the U.S. and we are now completing the 2nd full month of U.S. deliveries, right?

Granted things are ramping up, but I'd assume we've got 500+ in the U.S. at this point if BMW planned this right.

Seems reasonable we might see ~200 of those on autotrader including those that are already sold...?

Just thinking aloud

[CSBM5]

My point in the thread was really more toward those who might think these cars are in short supply and therefore fall for an MSRP deal or even pay a premium. Sort of the same thing happened when the E90/92 M3 hit the market in a way...people were paying up for them initially, MSRP and higher, but it was Spring 2008 and the economy was about to nose dive. By the Fall there were plenty of M3s in inventory and were cleared out with incentives.

The most in-demand at launch and after BMW I can recall was the E39 M5. My two local dealers had waiting lists to order cars from 1999 through mid-2002 or so. Of course many paid over sticker on them too, especially out West.

From a quick survey of dealers within a reasonable drive from here, it looks like they have 13 M4s and 2 M3s in stock. It's definitely harder to come by an M3 at the moment for people not ordering one.

[irablumberg]

USA TODAY just ran a story this morning about brisk auto sales as of late. The M4 was cited as the 4th fastest selling car in the US. I think the M3 was 6th or 7th. This was all based on average days on the lot before sale. The M4 was 12 days and the M3 was 12.5 days as I recall. The average that dealers shoot for was cited as 60 days. The article said dealers are not making deals on any of these fast selling cars.

[Herolad]

I know in Arizona there are only two M4's available on the lot, and they are listing 10 M3/4 for sale on cars.com.

[mattwhite]

I guess the question still gets back to why there are any cars on dealer lots at all given that both previous versions of the M3 (E46 and E92) were basically all presold via waiting lists for at least a year (E46 even longer). I have no idea, just asking. Especially when the economy is doing much better now. Is this car just not going to be as popular as previous versions (my sense) or is the supply greater?

[Onetime237]

So given this...what should we be getting from a price perspective. What percentage off MSRP?

[Drizz]

Guess it depends if dealer inventory automatically goes on Autotrader for a particular dealership. I've seen cars on dealership websites before and when I show up they told me it was already sold before it arrived, but their websites don't reflect it.

[Sir Loin]

The USA Today article:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/...ales/13962521/

[ufgtrs2007]

Originally Posted by mattwhite

I guess the question still gets back to why there are any cars on dealer lots at all given that both previous versions of the M3 (E46 and E92) were basically all presold via waiting lists for at least a year (E46 even longer). I have no idea, just asking. Especially when the economy is doing much better now. Is this car just not going to be as popular as previous versions (my sense) or is the supply greater?

I think a possible explanation is that the new M3/M4 approaches almost 90K fully loaded with average MSRP of $74-$79K, unless dealers are not optioning them out. That almost elevates the M3/M4 into a new price bracket, which in turn limits the number of potential buyers. The competition starts getting stronger as well as the MSRP increases.

[onatuesday]

I have personally been contacted by 3 dealers to see if I was interested in purchasing their m4s. I have a custom ordered SO/SO one so I'm not interested in the typical black/white ones all the dealers seem to have. I think this is part of the issue. It is also true that on Autotrader most of the cars listed are already spoken for, it's just to generate interest for the dealer. That said I sincerely hope nobody is paying over MSRP for these cars. It's completely unnecessary at this juncture.

[CRtoE92]

It doesnt mean they have the unsold car in stock. Many of them can be appeared as soon as the dealership puts cars jn their system because a lot of time, Its automatic listing which means dealers inventory system is directly linked to autotrader ads.

[dave885]

When I looked a number of the cars offered for sale are those that are still in transit so it appears there are more cars available. Technology and dealers use of it has also come a long way since the E46 and E9x M3's were introduced so we are more aware of inventory than 6 to 13 years ago. Hopefully, it works in the buyers favor and we find it easier to get what we want at a better price.

[Onetime237]

I heard some people were getting close to invoice.

[WVUDrJay]

I asked the dealer in Charlotte and he would not sell me his Launch car. Some dealers do some don't. He told me the launch car got him 7 orders. My dealer in Charkeston WV sold their launch car first day. His quote, "we are not proud!"

[fuddman]

Originally Posted by CSBM5

As of 8/15/2014 just on Autotrader there are 56 2015 M3s and 152 M4s at dealers in the country. Nobody should be paying over MSRP and deals should definitely be available if the sales rate doesn't pick up one would think. Looks like BMW has provided plenty of supply at this point.

Not to belabor the point, but, the total count is actually 270 on Autotrader as of 8/15. And climbing.
Deals were recently offered at this address: http://www.chapmanbmw.com/