Is there an explanation for F80 allocation shortage?

[apgpa]

If someone posted a definitive explanation in another thread, I missed it. A lot of people are reporting a shortage of F80 allocations and this has been going on for months. Is BMW making less M3s in 2016 than 2015, or is there just more demand this model year and the allocations can't keep up with it?

[dalto]

From my perspective allocations have never been highly available for the F80.

Also, they are not easy to find but they are out there. Where there are waiting lists, most seem to be fairly short.

[Salvanas702]

Originally Posted by apgpa

If someone posted a definitive explanation in another thread, I missed it. A lot of people are reporting a shortage of F80 allocations and this has been going on for months. Is BMW making less M3s in 2016 than 2015, or is there just more demand this model year and the allocations can't keep up with it?

There was 2 available F80 allocations from LB BMW last week. Khoi, who was my POC just resigned and moved on to do better things. Just pm me if you need my new contact.

[G35POPPEDMYCHERRY]

I wish I knew. Seems like its so much easier to get your hands on an M4 than an M3. I hope getting a manual didn't push me back even further....This waiting game is going to be quite an emotional roller coaster. I'll probably be numb by the time I take delivery.

[saleen556]

It was tough getting an allocation. Now I have a local dealer with 5 M3s. Just don't get it.

[dalto]

Originally Posted by G35POPPEDMYCHERRY

I wish I knew. Seems like its so much easier to get your hands on an M4 than an M3.

Supply seems to have caught up with demand on the M4. Seemingly lots of them available on dealer lots. They also make more M4's though.

[BMW F22]

I wonder if it's the economics of things. Coupes are generally more expensive to make (hence higher prices). The other way to help lower the cost is to make more of it. So in this case, perhaps BMW wants to make more M4's than M3's to realize some kind of economies of scale.

[BavarianFanatic]

I think it's more a function of demand is simply outpacing their projections and they simply can't make any more than they are. Remember the the M3 is built in Regensburg along with many other different models. It's probably a case of demand literally exceeding capacity.

[rr006rbc]

I can't believe that there is still a shortage after the car has been out for almost 2 years now. I had a hard time getting my F80 but I thought by now there would be an abundance.

[BMW F22]

Originally Posted by BavarianFanatic

I think it's more a function of demand is simply outpacing their projections and they simply can't make any more than they are. Remember the the M3 is built in Regensburg along with many other different models. It's probably a case of demand literally exceeding capacity.

Perhaps. One would expect BMW to know that sedans sell more than coupes though. If anything perhaps BMW is purposely pushing buyers toward the coupe. It doesn't quite make sense that there are more allocations fo M4 than M3. I can't imagine the two differ that much in regards to production capability.

[BavarianFanatic]

Originally Posted by BMW F22

Perhaps. One would expect BMW to know that sedans sell more than coupes though. If anything perhaps BMW is purposely pushing buyers toward the coupe. It doesn't quite make sense that there are more allocations fo M4 than M3. I can't imagine the two differ that much in regards to production capability.

M4 is built in multiple locations, but ALL M3s are built in Regensburg. It's all a function of the time it takes to build a certain chassis and how it can move along the lines with the other models.

I'm not 100% certain that they DO sell more sedans than coupes. If you look at total E36 and E90 production, I'm pretty sure there are way more coupes than sedans (globally).

[dalto]

Originally Posted by BMW F22

Perhaps. One would expect BMW to know that sedans sell more than coupes though. If anything perhaps BMW is purposely pushing buyers toward the coupe. It doesn't quite make sense that there are more allocations fo M4 than M3. I can't imagine the two differ that much in regards to production capability.

Actually, with the M3/M4 I think the coupes do more volume than the sedan.

[Kossos]

From what I was told at my dealer BMW wasn't ready for the F80 demand. The coupe always sold better so they were more prepared. It has more to do with the volume of supporting parts being produced then then actual build taking any longer.

Like I said, that's what my dealer told me when I ordered my F82 so I'm just passing it along.

[SMV_M4]

Originally Posted by BavarianFanatic

M4 is built in multiple locations, but ALL M3s are built in Regensburg. It's all a function of the time it takes to build a certain chassis and how it can move along the lines with the other models.

I'm not 100% certain that they DO sell more sedans than coupes. If you look at total E36 and E90 production, I'm pretty sure there are way more coupes than sedans (globally).

M4 is actually only built at the Munich plant.

[BMW F22]

Originally Posted by dalto

Actually, with the M3/M4 I think the coupes do more volume than the sedan.

Interesting. I never paid attention to the month end sales numbers that are posted on here so I only speculated from the regular series.

[BMW F22]

Originally Posted by BavarianFanatic

M4 is built in multiple locations, but ALL M3s are built in Regensburg. It's all a function of the time it takes to build a certain chassis and how it can move along the lines with the other models.

I'm not 100% certain that they DO sell more sedans than coupes. If you look at total E36 and E90 production, I'm pretty sure there are way more coupes than sedans (globally).

That could be it. I just can't picture how the M4 can be so readily available and not the M3. Maybe BMW underestimated how many people want the practicality and wider looking fenders of the M3 this time around. I can see how with the E9x more M3 coupes were sold (it was definitely better looking than sedan).

[MRCUR]

Originally Posted by BMW F22

Interesting. I never paid attention to the month end sales numbers that are posted on here so I only speculated from the regular series.

Traditionally, the M3 coupes sold far (as in, it was a 4:1 sales ratio) more than the sedans and it seems as though BMW predicated the same would happen with the F8X generation.

Of course we all know they thought wrong since the M4 is hideous compared to the M3.

[BwoodBMW]

Simple ... f80s are awesome

[Xtabi]

Originally Posted by MRCUR

Traditionally, the M3 coupes sold far (as in, it was a 4:1 sales ratio) more than the sedans and it seems as though BMW predicated the same would happen with the F8X generation.

Of course we all know they thought wrong since the M4 is hideous compared to the M3.

Well I suppose I can't disagree with this theory!

[BavarianFanatic]

Originally Posted by SMV_M4

M4 is actually only built at the Munich plant.

Convertibles are Regensburg.

[SMV_M4]

Originally Posted by BavarianFanatic

Convertibles are Regensburg.

Ahh fuck you're right. Good call.

[vonmayr]

The real reason is unknown, no official comment from BMW. Speculation is that they based the model projections on previous generations of M3 where the coupe outsold the sedan 4 to 1. The sedan was always end of production a couple of years before the coupe (and it is the plan for the F80 to end 2 years before the F82).

So that might explain the MY 2015 allocation issues - which were certainly present when I was searching for my car in December 2014. But it doesn't explain at all why BMW hasn't adjusted production to bring more M3's to the US. There has to be an explanation - something like plant capacity or something like that. The bodies are different but all the hard to source stuff *(engine, transmission, etc) are common.