Am I the only person who thinks this car is overpriced?

"KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs" (kusabisensei)
09/12/2014 at 16:35 • Filed to: None

It's an M3. New, for the low, low price of $89,975. Plus tax, title, license, and doc fees. An M5 is only an extra $3600 or so...

DISCUSSION (22)

Textured Soy Protein > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
09/12/2014 at 16:38

So you took a German car, added almost every available option, and found the total price to be somewhat close to the next model up the range.

Welcome to pricing out every German car, ever.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Textured Soy Protein
09/12/2014 at 16:41

But the spread between a base 320i and an kitted M3 is insane. Almost $60000.

And considering the starting price of the M3 is $62000, there's not much value to be had on the options list.

It's still horrifically overpriced at $90,000.

Brian Silvestro > Textured Soy Protein
09/12/2014 at 16:41

THIS

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
09/12/2014 at 16:44

If you gave a group $100k to blow on a car I feel like there would be a lot more 911's, Vipers, and Jag F types than there would be M3's.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul
09/12/2014 at 16:47

This is exactly my point.

If you are rich, you really don't want to be driving the same (It's not exactly the same, but it's close enough for a rich person who doesn't care that much) car, minus the different engine, suspension, and drivetrain, as someone who leased a 320i.

The M5 is a bit easier to justify, since the base 5er starts at $50K now, but not the M3.

claramag, Mustaco Master > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
09/12/2014 at 16:52

Big Money Waster

Saracen > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
09/12/2014 at 16:59

Then...don't option the shit out of it.

Textured Soy Protein > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
09/12/2014 at 17:07

I think you missed my point. German car companies all have really long options lists that allow them to charge way more for a car than its base price. Getting a good price on a German car is an exercise in skipping unnecessary options.

So yes, a $90k M3 is overpriced, but that's an extreme example of M3. Let's take your build and delete things:

Driver Assistance Plus - $1900 for a bunch of annoying warning dingers
Lighting Package - $1900 for LED headlights when the standard HIDs are fine
19" wheels - $1200 and yet the 18s have the same width tires
Ceramic brakes - $8150 and I'm sure they're lovely on track but total overkill on a street car
Concierge services - $250 to pay someone else to google things for you
Parking assistant - $500 - park your own damn self
Power rear sunshade - $350 that doesn't need to be spent
Full Leather interior - $2650 when the Executive Package already includes Extended Leather

That's $16,900 worth of options that can be lost with absolutely no fuss whatsoever, and still leaves you with quite a well-equipped car, for $73,075.

Is a $73k M3 still "horrifically overpriced"?

Mosqvich > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
09/12/2014 at 17:21

The underpinning of the M3 has little commonality with the 3-Series. The suspension is way different. It's a different car. I think $75k is a good price. If you have the means.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
09/12/2014 at 17:51

I have the same reservations about cars with crazy ranges. EG: the Challenger. You can have the Hellcat but donk v6 bro will think you two are insta bros because in his delusional eyes you have the same vehicle. Now he and others start parking next to your hellcat - you're all now the Challenger bunch. Same can be said about v6 rental Mustangs vs Coyote's or Shelby's.

Now if I show up in a Viper everyone knows what level of superiority it condones - hell even if it's 20 years old a modern Viper owner would be happy if you two park together or are compared.

Kanaric > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
09/12/2014 at 18:41

lmao, you would have to be a fool to pay this much.

E92M3 > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
09/12/2014 at 18:41

The only options I would add are DCT, and the black 19's. Still too much dough for me though. Maybe in 4-5 years when they've depreciated 40-50%.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
09/12/2014 at 20:45

Where are you? in the US, an M3 the way I want it configured runs under 70K

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Mosqvich
09/12/2014 at 22:36

But if you strip the running gear, and a few select body panels, it's a 3 series shell.

If you don't take any options, $62K MSRP is actually decent value. However, BMW options aren't known for being good value.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul
09/12/2014 at 22:37

That's because the Viper has a higher price of admission to start with, and the only people who would buy a high mileage, low priced example, would skew towards enthusiasts.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > E92M3
09/12/2014 at 22:39

I wouldn't even take those. I'd have them build me an Alpinweiss M3 with no options for $62K.

But they won't build those except on special request. Got to have that margin, you know :)

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power
09/12/2014 at 22:39

That is US pricing. If you take every option, you are looking at a $90K 3 Series.

The way I'd have it configured, it's $62K MSRP. That is to say, zero extras.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Textured Soy Protein
09/12/2014 at 22:48

Actually, yes, yes it is horrifically overpriced. Because you really don't need *ANY* of the options (Unless you absolutely don't want a clutch, in which case a DCT M3 is $65K). At $62K, it's decent value. Once it swings past $65K (and definitely past $70K), then you really should be considering other options beyond an M3.

If you want an executive missile that isn't an M5, for the 7/10s driving that you encounter in non-track daily conditions, what exactly is wrong (if you must stay with BMW) with a 550i?

Mosqvich > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
09/12/2014 at 23:03

The suspension is not the same. The fifth-generation M3 and the M4 are the first M cars to use different chassis codes than the models they're based on. Ignore anyone who claims the M3 and M4 engine is a derivative of the N55 engine in the 335i. Both displace 3.0 liters and have six cylinders arranged in a straight line. The similarities end there. The M engine has a larger bore and a shorter stroke than the 335i's mill at 89.6 and 80.0 millimeters. Not to mention the two (rather than one) unique turbochargers, the forged crankshaft, the dry-sump oiling, and the water-to-air intercooler that make 430 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque possible.

E92M3 > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
09/12/2014 at 23:30

You can order one with no options, and get it cheaper than $62k with euro delivery. If you're a bmwcca member you get a $500-750 rebate after purchase as well. But yeah no dealer is going to order any of their allocations with zero options. If I had the money and they allowed I would ditch the power seats and mirrors, since I'd be the only one driving it I wouldn't need to adjust them very often.

Textured Soy Protein > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
09/13/2014 at 12:28

So you're saying a 550i at the same price as an M3 isn't overpriced, because the 550i is bigger than the M3?

You're right about one thing: the 550i is a much bigger car than the M3. 700 pounds bigger, in fact.

To someone who values the biggest most luxurious car for a given price, the 550i is a better value than the M3.

To someone who values the smallest, best-handling, fastest car that still has a decent back seat for a given price, the M3 is a better value than the 550i.

Luckily, BMW makes both cars.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
09/13/2014 at 12:33

ok but then it's unfair to say an M5 is $3600 more. a comparably equipped M5 would be about $130,000.